Contact Lenses vs LASIK

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are worn directly over the cornea. They perform the same function as eyeglasses. Refractive errors are corrected by contact lenses and eye glasses. Contact lenses are safe to use and are a good alternative to eye glasses. 24 million people in the U.S.A. wear contact lenses.

Contact lenses are used to correct conditions such as:

• Presbyopia (Bifocals are needed)
• Astigmatism (Vision is distorted)
• Hyperopia (Far sightedness)
• Myopia (Near sightedness)

Choose an optometrist who is experienced. You must have a pair of eye glasses as a backup. Which contact lenses to choose depends on your medical condition. There are two kinds of contact lenses which are soft lenses and gas permeable lenses.

Contact lenses should not be worn for a very long time and must be removed at bed time. Damage can occur to the cornea if not properly used. The cornea can catch infections if it is not properly cleaned and cared for.

Intolerance can develop if lenses are not worn properly. Gas permeable lenses can cause damage to the cornea if not worn properly or worn during sleep. They can be hidden under the lid of the eye. They can pop out of the eye. Protein build up can cause lens related allergies. Discomfort and blurring can occur. It is important to clean the lens properly. People with allergies must use disposable or rigid gas permeable lenses.

Some conditions can stop you from wearing lenses:

• Not taking proper care of the lenses
• Dirty working environment
• Dry eye
• Allergies
• Eye infections

Contact lenses should be cleaned to remove germs and prevent any infections. They should be replaced every 3 months. Don’t use contact lenses solution again. Dispose off the lenses solution in the lens case after each use and let the case air dry. Do not put your lens in your mouth. Don’t use homemade cleaning solutions. Use only good quality eye drops. Wash hands before wearing lenses. Don’t share your lens. Don’t use fashion lenses.

Follow the guidelines of the optometrist. Consult an optometrist if your eyes are sensitive to light, your eyes are painful, your eye is red for more than two days, you have discharge coming out of your eyes, you have blurry vision or your eyes feel scratchy. Get your eyes checked every year as a precaution.

LASIK

LASIK is a better option for people with eye vision defects. This type of surgery is safer and has better long term benefits than wearing contact lenses. For the surgery your eyes will first be evaluated and surgery will then be scheduled.

Before the surgery don’t wear contact lenses for up to a week. Eat a light meal before the surgery and avoid wearing any head bands which may interfere in the surgery. The surgery lasts for 10 to 30 minutes. A medical device called microkeratome is used and the cornea is reshaped during the process. Local anesthesia is given to the patient during this time. Your vision may be blurred for some time after the surgery. This improves substantially after 24 hours and recovery is very fast. You must visit your doctor 24 to 48 hours after the surgery and at regular intervals for up to six months.

Advantages of LASIK:

The vision is corrected and you will have the desired vision after LASIK surgery. The patient experiences less pain because of the numbing drops which are used. Vision is corrected immediately or the next day. Bandages and stitches are not required after LASIK. Patients no longer need eye glasses or contact lenses after LASIK.

The possibility of eye infections is more in contact lenses wearers. An experienced surgeon must be consulted for LASIK. They must use the latest technology. Don’t let cost come in the way. Tell the surgeon your medical history. Consult your surgeon whenever needed.

Call us at 559-449-5050 to know which is the best option for you.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

How Can a LASIK Eye Surgery Procedure Help Your Eyesight?

There are different types of refractive surgeries that improve eyesight problems and eliminate dependence on visual aids. Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is one solution that has become quite popular because of the many benefits it offers.

What is LASIK and What Are It’s Benefits?

LASIK is a laser operation that uses ‘excimer’ UV rays to alter the shape of the cornea. This corrects any errors that cause visual impairment, when light does not focus accurately on the retina.

Data collected by research firm Market Scope estimated that over 600,000 LASIK procedures were performed throughout the USA in 2011 alone. Why, then, is there such a high patient count for a procedure that has been around since 1991?

The answer lies in the benefits that patients enjoy. Here’s why is a good treatment choice for those who qualify for it:

1. 1. Lasting Solution and Quick Vision Correction

Sight improvement after a LASIK procedure is, in most cases, permanent. Sometimes, blurry vision can reoccur, in which case patients have to follow up with LASIK enhancement to restore their vision. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that LASIK surgery has a success rate of up to 90%, with most patients recovering anywhere between 20/20 and 20/40 vision. As it is a laser procedure, it is quick and almost painless. This is hugely beneficial and convenient for the patient. The surgery only takes around 10 to 30 minutes.

1. 1. Low-Cost Procedure and Saves Money

Compared to other refractive procedures, LASIK surgery is more affordable. The average cost ranges between $1,700 and $4,000 per eye, depending on your chosen eye care center, geographical location, your vision problem, etc. Many eye clinics also provide flexible financing methods (medical insurance, monthly installments, credit card payments, etc.). Since the results of this surgery last for years to come and may also last a lifetime. This saves you a lot of money as you no longer need to invest heavily in eyeglasses or contact lenses.

1. 1. Fast Recovery and Minimal Pain

Your eye surgeon will make a small incision on the cornea, to create a flap of tissue that will be lifted during the surgery. Since the laser correction surgery is minimally invasive, recovery times tend to be fast. Some patients report improvements within a day or two, and most recover full vision function within a week. Contrary to the belief, this procedure is minimally invasive and hence is almost painless.

1. 1. Natural Facial Attributes

An added bonus of this procedure is that it allows you to maintain your natural facial look. After prolonged periods of wearing prescription glasses, the eyes eventually look smaller or larger, since corrective lenses increase the eyes’ axial length (the retina continually adjusts backward or forward for clearer vision).

1. 1. Ability to take part in different activities

Professional activities such as acting, athletics, defense etc., require correct vision. LASIK provides safe, reliable, quick, long lasting results and a near perfect vision. This allows the person to take up different activities which require correct vision.

1. 1. Reduced Risks of Allergies and Infections

Many patients who underwent LASIK have shared cases of reduced allergy symptoms. These include reduction in sinus due to lack of pain resulting from glasses sitting on the nose, lesser headaches and lack of irritation and redness in the eye due to constant use of contact lenses.

1. 1. Better Quality of Life

By eliminating visual aids, LASIK provides many other benefits. For instance, there will be less eye irritation, redness or allergic reactions caused by contact lenses. What’s more, not having to wear glasses will:

1. • Eliminate sinus pain caused by the bridge of prescription glasses pressing on your nose
   • Get rid of headaches caused by the muscles in your eyes becoming overworked by corrective lenses
   • Improve side vision, which is usually blocked by the frame of eye glasses
   • Reduce glare from lenses that causes poor night time vision

Who Makes a Good Candidate?

LASIK is often recommended to patients who suffer from hyperopia (farsightedness) myopia (shortsightedness) or astigmatism (a vision defect associated with distorted or blurry images).

It can also correct vision problems caused by glaucoma disease, but only if there is no damage to the optic nerve and intraocular pressure remains normal when wearing contacts or eyeglasses. A vision test will determine the severity of glaucoma symptoms and determine whether this refractive surgery is a viable treatment option or not.

Patients with dry eyes or thin corneas may not qualify for this procedure, and it cannot restore cataract-triggered vision loss. If you’re unqualified for Lasik surgery, an ophthalmologist can suggest alternative refractive or laser technology procedures like PRK, which offer similar results.

Is LASIK Safe?

Like any surgical procedure, LASIK has risks. For instance, migrations of the corneal flap can cause complications such as inflammation, infections or even excess lacerations. There is also a possibility of developing dry eyes, double vision or haloes (mild glare) in the eye.

In rare cases, vision clarity may even deteriorate further, especially when patients miss follow-ups or fail to abide by post-operative care instructions. Some patients may be more predisposed to complications than others, in which case other alternative treatment options should be considered.

A professional consultation will help determine if you meet the medical requirements for a LASIK procedure. Contact the specialists at Insight Vision Center today!

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

Difference between Lasik and PRK

In recent times, people have become more comfortable with corrective eye surgeries for treating vision problems caused by near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism, due to increased safety and enhanced technology. Two of the most popular surgeries include PRK and LASIK.

PRK, abbreviated for Photorefractive Keratectomy, is a type of surface ablation employed for eye surgery. Computer-controlled laser is used directly over the corneal surface after removing a part of it, which is then allowed to grow back the next few days; whereas in LASIK, the surgery is performed under a thin flap of cornea which is placed back after the procedure. Though both procedures have their own pros and cons, they give excellent results in the end. Read on to know more.

PRK vs. LASIK

The main difference between these two surgeries is based on how surgeons deal with the corneal surface. In PRK, eye surgeon removes the outer layer of cornea and performs vision-correction surgery directly on corneal surface. The exposed area is then allowed to reshape through cell regeneration. It makes a better choice for people with thin corneas or chronically dry eyes.

In LASIK surgery, an incision is made (either with laser or blade) in the cornea to create a flap of tissue. This flap is then lifted and computer-controlled surgical laser is used to reshape inner layers of cornea to repair curvature imperfections causing poor vision. Corneal flap is then put back in place which heals over the reshaped part of the cornea.

PRK is Better Than LASIK in Patients Over 40

Surface cells of eyes of people over 40 are not tightly bound. This can cause the flap to slip during LASIK which can lead to serious complications. With PRK, those risks are eliminated by the absence of flap, making it suitable for elders. Moreover, patients over 40 have slightly dry eyes which get aggravated if LASIK is performed over them.

Candidates for PRK and Lasik

Every patient who is a good candidate for LASIK can opt for PRK, but vice versa does not hold true. PRK is advised for patients with:

• Thin corneas
• Large pupils
• Irregular astigmatism
• Steep corneas
• Prior eye surgery
• History of dry eye syndrome

Additionally, people with high-risk occupations, sportspeople and athletes prefer PRK over LASIK to eliminate the risk of corneal flap displacement. Thorough checkup by a qualified eye surgeon is a must before you proceed with either surgery.

PRK Recovery vs. LASIK Recovery

Though both surgeries give almost the same results, their recovery times differ significantly. PRK recovery takes a little longer than LASIK since the outer corneal layer needs time to reconstruct and heal. Cell generation will result in itchiness, blurriness and discomfort for a few days post surgery. Prescription eye-drops are given to patients to promote healing and reduce discomfort.

In LASIK, the flap is placed back over the cornea when procedure ends, thus drastically cutting down recovery time. The itchiness lasts just a few hours. However, for both surgeries the vision continues to improve gradually for several months before reaching peak quality.

PRK vs. LASIK- What’s the Difference?

Let’s take a look at the differences between PRK and LASIK surgery:

What is Right for you

The best way to getting rid of your glasses and contacts is to visit a few of your local area eye doctors for a consultation and see if you are eligible for either or both procedures. It is possible that you may be a candidate for only one or both surgical procedures; these doctors will give you their professional opinions, options, and recommendations. It is advised that you visit a couple of eye doctors in your area and their professional opinions on what to do regarding your eyes after which you can draw up your own conclusion.

To learn more about the best laser corrective procedure for you, contact our professionals at Insight Vision Center in Fresno today! To schedule a consultation, call on 559-449-5050.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

Which LASIK Eye Surgery Is Right?

Which LASIK Eye Surgery Is Right for Me and How Much Would it Cost?

There are three kinds of people: those who love flaunting their quirky and cool glasses, second who swear by contact lenses and the third group consists of those who can’t wait to get rid of glasses/contact lens. If you fall in the third category, then LASIK is your savior.

LASIK, which stands for Laser in-situ Keratomileusis, is a corrective surgery used to fix common vision problems such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism. It uses specialized laser known as ‘excimer’ laser which reshapes the cornea to give better, clear and focused vision. Excimer laser precisely removes extremely tiny amounts of tissue without disturbing adjacent tissues.

Types of LASIK Eye Surgery

There are three types of LASIK procedures. Consultation with your doctor will help in determining which one will give you the best results.

• • Conventional LASIK:

This primarily uses your prescription for contact lenses or eye-glasses. Based on that, laser settings are determined to reshape the cornea. The level and accuracy of vision correction is similar to that of the familiar procedure of choosing glasses in a vision test – “which offers better clarity: this or that?”

• • Custom LASIK: 

Custom LASIK allows surgeons to customize laser treatment according to patients’ individual eyes. It uses Wave Front technology that creates a customized map of all unique attributes of your eye. This further enables your surgeon to address unique visual correctional requirements of an individual. Surgeons can achieve sharper and clearer vision by addressing higher order aberrations and correcting refractive errors, including subtle vision problems.

• • Bladeless LASIK: 

Bladeless LASIK eliminates the need of blades to cut corneal flaps before surgery. It uses a gentle laser instead of a manual blade to create a uniform and precise corneal flap. The laser is operated at an extremely high speed and is controlled by a computer, which allows the tissue to be targeted and divided at a molecular level without damaging the surrounding tissue. Recovery time is faster since the flap is more accurate and falls back naturally into place.

• • Costs of LASIK Eye Surgery:

The cost of LASIK surgery varies according to geographic location, surgical experience of the doctor and technology used. Avoid those who present extremely low prices and shady offers. Risking the safety of your eyes to save a few bucks may end up costing you more in the long run.On an average, LASIK eye surgery (bladed) costs about $1,700 per eye. Alternatively, state-of-the-art technologies such as bladeless Custom-Wavefront LASIK can be around $2,500 per eye. Depending on eye’s health and magnitude of vision problem, the cost may even go up to $4,000 per eye.

Typically, insurance does not cover the cost of laser eye surgery unless your job requires perfect vision. Combat fighters and athletes usually qualify for full insurance cover. Feel free to ask your insurance company for negotiated rates and membership discounts that are applicable for AAA holders or those in military. US employees have an FSA, HSA, or HRA to cover health expenses with income-tax-free accounts. The cost of laser eye surgery is an eligible expense for all these accounts. Check with your tax preparer if you qualify for the same.

Book an appointment to visit us and know more about the options.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

LASIK Surgery – 101

The human body, although amazingly designed, does suffer from some serious design flaws. An obvious example of this is the rate at which your vision deteriorates with age. With the dependence on technology and electrically operated gadgets increasing, more and more people, ranging from kids to the elderly, have started having vision issues.

Nearly two-thirds of the adult population wears prescription eyewear, according to the statistics from the Vision Council of America. Another twenty percent use contact lenses. However, wearing glasses and contact lenses have their own limitations. The good news is that with one simple LASIK eye surgery you can have restored vision. LASIK uses lasers to reshape the cornea, enabling proper focus of the light that passes through it onto the retina situated at the back of the eye. The inevitable result of this procedure is a significant improvement in eyesight.

How Is LASIK Performed?

• First, your surgeon uses a femtosecond laser or a microkeratome, a mechanical surgical tool to create a circular thin flap in the cornea.
• Thereafter, the surgeon folds the flap that was hinged back, in order to access the underlying cornea or the stroma, and uses an excimer laser to remove the corneal tissue.
• An ultraviolet light beam is then used to remove the tiny amounts of tissue from the cornea in order to reshape it so that it can focus light more accurately on the retina for an improved vision.
• For people suffering from nearsightedness, the goal is to flatten the cornea. For people with farsightedness, a steeper cornea will work.
• Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is then put back in its place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed. After this is done, the cornea is allowed to heal naturally.
• This surgery involves application of only topical anesthetic drops for the healing to take place. No bandages or stitches are required. Quite a relief!

Preparing for LASIK

• Before you undergo LASIK, your eye doctor will perform a thorough examination of your eyes to ensure that they are healthy enough to undergo this procedure. Important aspects such as the thickness and shape of your cornea, moisture content, pupil size as well as the presence of any refractive errors will be evaluated.
• The curvature of the front surface of your eye is measured using an automated instrument called a corneal topographer which also creates a “map” of your cornea.
• You also are likely to undergo a wavefront analysis to provide an even more precise map of aberrations that affect your vision.
• Since contact lenses usually alter the natural shape of your cornea, you will be asked to discontinue wearing contact lenses for sometime as advised by your doctor, before you undergo the surgery.

What Happens During LASIK?

• LASIK is performed individually on each eye, with each procedure taking just about five minutes. It’s really quite simple.
• First and foremost, numbing eye drops are applied to your eye to prevent any sort of discomfort that you may face during the procedure. Required medication may also be administered to help you relax.
• Thereafter, using an eye-lid speculum, your eye will be positioned under the laser. The speculum will keep your eyelids open throughout the surgery.
• Your eye surgeon will mark the cornea using an ink marker before creating the flap. A suction ring is then applied to the front of your eye in order to prevent any eye movements or loss of contact that might affect flap quality.
• Once the corneal flap is created, the surgeon will then adjust the excimer laser for your particular prescription, with the help of a computer.
• Next, you will be asked to focus on a particular beam of light for a short time. Meanwhile, your surgeon, using a microscope, will watch the eye as pulses of light are sent upon the cornea with laser.

Post-Surgery Scenario

• Once your LASIK eye surgery is over, your surgeon will have you rest for a while. You might feel momentary itching or burning sensations right after the procedure. You will also, most likely, experience some blurry vision and haziness immediately following the surgery. However, clarity should start improving by the very next morning.
• You will be asked to take certain precautions post your LASIK and it is recommended that you refrain from doing any arduous exercise for at least a week, since this can traumatize the eye and affect healing.
• You also will have to take care of little things such as not rubbing your eyes and making sure you wear glasses both during the day and nighttime.

LASIK eye surgery is a breakthrough for curing eye vision related issues. It is by far the most effective procedure for correcting common sight problems. It is relatively painless and quick and the benefits following this surgery make the entire process totally worth it. Say goodbye to your boring glasses and irritating contact lenses because what you now have is this brilliant treatment called LASIK.

Considering LASIK? To get the best rates book an appointment with Insight Vision Center, an eye care center in Fresno, CA.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com