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Showing posts from 2016

Laser Eye Surgery: A Look at the Pros and Cons

It’s the plain truth that most people who wear glasses to correct vision are not at all thrilled about it. After all, waking up and spending 10 minutes a morning trying to remember where glasses were laid out the night before is no fun at all. Neither is bumping into things thanks to blurry vision that makes the search even more difficult. While comical for friends and family, this routine is one most people with vision problems would like to leave behind them once and for all. Laser eye surgery offers an option that can deliver on the goal. Some people, however, are unsure if this type of procedure is right for them. A dive into the pros and cons, however, illustrates why thousands of people each year end their dependency on prescription lenses. The Pros Laser eye surgery procedures, such as Lasik, have come a very long way in recent years. More than 90 percent of patients, in fact, report satisfaction with the results. This outpatient operation seeks to reshape the eye so it fo...

Cataracts: What Are They?

An estimated 20 million people across the world suffer from cataracts. While the diagnosis is quite common, many people do not know what this condition nor do they understand the potential threat cataracts poses to their vision if they are allowed to go unchecked. Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens begins to cloud over. The progressive condition is most commonly associated with aging, but injury to the eye may also kick-start the development of cataracts. When the eye’s lens clouds, people are likely to notice such concerns as a blurring of vision, light halos, a loss of vision and other related concerns. Cataracts associated with age are the most common seen by eye doctors around the world. The condition, however, is one that some babies are born with. Still others may find that cataracts form due to use of certain mediations or following injuries to the eyes. While cataracts can and will lead to blindness if left untreated, they may progress for years before they are diagno...

Myths About Lasik Persist Despite Decades of Success

Eye surgeons have been helping people see more clearly through the use of Lasik surgery for more than two decades now. Even so, many would-be patients who might benefit from this procedure are hesitant to move forward. Oftentimes, the concerns about Lasik stem from myths that persist around the procedure and its chances for success. Here are just a few of the myths and the facts that debunk them: • Eye surgeons refuse to have Lasik – Many people believe that surgeons themselves do not feel refractive surgery is a good option. As it turns out, studies have shown that is simply not the case. A recent poll found that some 65 percent of surgeons have also had Lasik or another refractive procedure performed on them. A whopping 91 percent had recommended the procedure to their own family members. • Lasik creates halos and glare – Halos and glares, as it turns out, are much more common in people who use eyeglasses. Even so, it is important to note that some Lasik patients do experie...

Cataract Surgery: Why It Shouldn’t Be Avoided

It’s almost a given that no one relishes the notion of having their eyes operated on. After all, the concept can be a little angst producing even when elective procedures like Lasik are being considered. If cataracts are the concern, however, it is critical for people to follow through. Their vision can and does depend on it. And, thanks to modern advances, the surgery is a whole lot easier than many people realize. Cataracts form when the eye’s natural lens clouds over, generally with age. Injuries may also cause this condition to arise. Considered a progressive disease, a cataract will generally present initially with a slight blurring of vision. As time passes, however, vision will become more impaired, eventually leading to blindness if left unchecked. Cataract surgery is designed to remove the concern entirely by ridding the eye of the damaged lens or lenses. Although the procedure once required hospitalization and a rather involved surgery, that is simply no longer the case...

Cataract Surgery: It’s Now a Breeze

Aging has its share of ups and downs for certain. One of those downs that many, but not all, people may encounter involves the development of cataracts on the eyes. Although this condition can also strike at other times in life, it is most commonly associated with aging. Cataracts involves the gradual clouding of the eye’s natural lens over time. As the clouding becomes more pronounced, people with this condition will find their eyesight becoming blurry and hazy. If the condition is allowed to progress, blindness is the outcome. Enter cataract surgery. This remedy involves physically removing the damaged lens of the eye and replacing it with a new, synthetic one. While the surgery once required a stay in the hospital and a rather complex procedure, that is no longer the case. Courtesy of advances in lasers and laser surgery techniques, most cataract patients will find they can see more clearly in no time courtesy of a procedure that takes only a matter of minutes. Today’s modern versi...

Lens Regeneration After Cataract Surgery Might Be Possible

Cataract surgery has advanced tremendously over the past two decades. The introduction of medical grade lasers into this procedure took it from a major operating room ordeal to an outpatient undertaking that involves no overnight hospital stay. What’s more, most patients find they are back at their normal routines seeing better than they have in years within a few days. The current procedure to correct cataracts involves using a laser to gently remove the eye’s damaged natural lens. This lens is then replaced with a man-made design. While also highly advanced, man-made lenses are not always perfect. Prescriptions, for example, can be off slightly and other issues may arise with the synthetic products. But, what if people were able to regenerate their own natural lenses? Could that advance cataract surgery even further? Those are precisely the kinds of questions a group of researchers set out to answer recently. They did, as it turns out, manage to successfully help infants with damag...

Is Lasik Surgery A Good Choice For You?

Each year thousands of people say goodbye to glasses or contacts for good and hello to clearer vision thanks to Lasik surgery. This option has proven highly successful in helping people who are near or farsighted gain and retain 20/20 vision, or close to it, without the need for prescriptive lenses. But, is this option a good one for you? While the medical requirements are something a doctor will need to determine based on your unique case, the option is generally a good choice for those who are simply fed up with not being able to see clearly. Spending a lifetime being chained to prescriptive lenses to be able to see clearly can become very frustrating over time. If this is the case, it might be worth considering Lasik and the other options available today to correct vision permanently. Knowing a few facts about the procedure can also help in the decision-making process. Here are the big ones that most people find they are concerned with: •    Pain level – Lasik is gene...

5 Things To Know About Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a very common procedure that many people will face as they grow older. While cataracts are not 100 percent guaranteed to go along with aging, they often do. Sometimes it’s even possible for younger people to developing this sight-robbing condition. If cataract surgery is recommended for you or a loved one, chances are some questions have cropped up about what to expect. Here are some of the most common ones surrounding the condition and the surgical fix to stop it in its tracks: Just what are cataracts? Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This generally happens as people age, but illness and injury can sometimes make them present in young people, as well. How common is surgery to correct cataracts? Cataract surgery happens to be one of the most common procedures performed. In fact, it’s the most common in the population of people age 65 and older. Doctors across the country are highly trained in procedures that are designed to remov...

Laser-Guided Cataract Surgery Delivers Advantages

Living with the cloudy, blurred vision brought on courtesy of cataracts is not easy. When this condition threatens the normal pace of life, it’s time to take action. For some patients, laser-guided cataract surgery can provide the necessary fix while possibly delivering a bonus in improving vision in the process. Laser-guided cataract surgery is a relatively new option that is often able to treat both cataracts and astigmatism at the same time. The end result is clearer, crisper vision for many without the need for corrective lenses following surgery. Conventional assisted laser cataract removal involves the use of a hand-held blade to open the eye. A probe is then used to fragment the eye’s lens so it can be removed and replaced with an artificial lens. The laser-guided option relies on a laser for many of these tasks, providing more precision in the process. While both procedures produce tremendous results for patients, laser-guided procedures are considered easier on the eye. That...