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Showing posts from 2018

New Laser Vision Correction Technology Gives Vision Improvement Without the Wait

Lasik eye surgery has been around for several years now, and the procedure has helped thousands of people see more clearly. And as with most medical technological advances, Laser Vision Correction has taken on a more precise technique that gives patients a quicker recovery, less risk and very importantly, allows them to see better within a day or two of the surgery. The Lasik Eye Center in Columbia, SC Leads the Field in Laser Vision Correction Eye Surgery By using the Visx STAR S4 Excimer Laser, the Lasik Eye Center physicians provide patients with the most accurate results in vision correction. The high tech device uses two separate lasers to reshape the cornea and thus eliminates the previous practice of combining blades and lasers to make the corrections.   Additionally, by using the STAR S4 Excimer Laser, doctors at The Eye Center in Columbia can combine the Variable Spot Scanning and the Variable Repetition Rate features. And by using these procedures, known as th...

Having Fun Outdoors with Dry Eye

Fall is here, and the temperatures are perfect for outdoor picnics, hiking, even enjoying a football game in the backyard. While this all sounds enjoyable, you have dry eyes. Every time you walk outside, your normal routine of rubbing your eyes and getting out those drops begins. Right now, you may not be eager to participate in outdoor adventures. Don't lose hope, there is a way to start having fun outdoors again. New Discovery for Dry Eye Sufferers Ophthalmologists in Columbia SC at The Eye Center have been treating dry eye sufferers for many years. They have discovered an issue called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). This discovery has helped to end dry eye symptoms and get people outdoors and enjoying life again. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is known to be a leading cause of dry eye. Of patient presenting dry eye symptoms, 86% of those patients have MGD. The Eye Center’s ophthalmologists in Columbia SC will explain the ch...

Goodbye Dry Eyes!

Have you ever wondered why your eyes are so dry? Most people attribute dry eyes to their environment or wearing contacts. Let’s take a moment to consider the other factors that may be causing your dry eye problems. Why are my eyes so dry? Dry eyes can be caused by environmental factors and those who wear contacts may be more prone to the condition. These are not the only two origins of this pesky condition. Causes of dry eye could be from: A medical condition Dehydration Gender Sorry ladies, but you are more prone to dry eye than men. The phenomenon of menopause or pregnancy can be a culprit. Medications used for birth control and the aging process can be a trigger for dry eyes to develop. Even people with a vitamin A deficiency can suffer. Of course, contacting an ophthalmologist at The Eye Center in Columbia, SC can help you to make this determination. How to Say Goodbye to Dry Eye Because of the aggravating, painful, and sometimes debilitating nature of...

Lasik Eye Surgery: Everything You Need To Know

There are several different types of Lasik eye surgery, which is why determining which Lasik surgery is right for you can be a difficult task. Refractive surgery can eliminate the need to use glasses or contact lenses to see. This includes the correction of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism or the abnormal curvature of the eye, and presbyopia (inability to read close up). Common Lasik procedures include Thin-Flap Lasik, Epi-Lasik, or AST, which reshape the cornea of the eye. On the other hand, other procedures such as Prelex or Presbyopic Lens Exchange changes the lens within your eye. This is common for individuals with astigmatism or those who use bifocal glasses or contact lenses. Start off with these steps when considering Lasik eye surgery: 1 - Determine Candidacy for Lasik The Lasik surgeons at The Eye Center suggest that the ideal candidate is a patient in their 20s or 30s who does not have trouble reading up close. Patients ...

5 Signs of Cataracts You Need to Learn Now

Cataracts are a condition causing cloudiness of the eye lens. While cataracts are not harmful to your health, they can be debilitating to your eyesight. This cumbersome condition usually happens at age 60 or over, but can develop in one’s 30s, 40s, and 50s.  Dim light troubles Our eyes are designed to adjust to the amount of light available in a room. When cataracts rear their ugly heads, our eyes cannot give us our due diligence. If you find yourself not being able to read without a high wattage bulb or having increasing trouble seeing at night, consider consulting an ophthalmologist .  Yellow is not your favorite color Cataracts are the result of proteins in the eye clumping together, therefore not allowing light to move within the eye properly. The result is colors will become faded. Unfortunately, most of what you see will have a yellowish tint. Like an old photograph which has faded over time, everything you see becomes tinged with yellow. Sunlight troubles Whil...

Cataract Surgery Most Performed Operation in the Country

In an aging population, over 22 million people aged 40+ suffer impaired vision from cataracts; Top symptoms and treatments for cataracts Cloudy, blurry vision.Fading colors. Glare from lights of all types. Bad night vision.Double vision.Frequent eyeglass and contact lens prescription changes. These are the most frequent signs of cataracts. Before the symptoms progress in severity, a patient must visit an ophthalmologist to rule out other eye problems or to plan treatment before the cataracts get worse. What’s Age Got to Do with It? Researchers think that the protein in the lens of the eye changes from usage over the years. When this protein clumps together, it clouds a small part of the lens. This cloud is the cataract. •   As more time passes (as the patient ages), the cataract may grow and make it more difficult to see. •   As even more time passes, the clear lens changes to a yellow-brown color. This gives a brown, almost sunglass-like, tint to the image...

Breast Cancer May Be Cured if Diagnosed and Treated Early

Cure rates are given in terms of 5- and 10-year survival rates; Stages I, II and III cancers weigh in at different percentages for years-of-life survival Is cancer cured? Or is cancer in remission? Distinguishing between cure and remission is important. A patient is considered in full remission when all symptoms of breast cancer are gone. After a patient has been free of symptoms for 5 or more years, some oncologists consider their patients cured. However, it is possible that some cancer cells may stay in the body for many years following treatment. American Cancer Society 2018 Statistics and Estimates The 5-year survival rate for most breast cancer cases diagnosed at the localized stage, i.e., not having spread to lymph nodes or other places outside of the breast, is estimated at 99 to 100%. This is Stage I. About 62% of all breast cancer cases are diagnosed at this stage. The 5-year survival rates for Stages II and III are estimated as follows: •       Stage ...

The Eye Center: Giving Clear Sight to the Residents of South Carolina

The Eye Center in South Carolina provides the highest level of eye care, with doctors that are trained and certified to give the best Ophthalmology services in Columbia. They specialize in eye surgeries with most surgeries being refractive. The Eye Center focuses on giving the best quality for their patients and offers various other services, such as eye exams and an in-house clinic, with their FDA approved and cutting-edge equipment. Services offered by the clinic ●    Eye health exams: The Eye Center tries to catch eye diseases before they happen as well as fixing them once they do. Their health exams can determine if glasses are needed, can evaluate peripheral vision and can inspect eyelids and the inside of the eye. Then the doctor will talk about exam results and discuss the type of glasses or contacts that will work best for each individual. ●    Fixing Dry Eyes: The Eye Center can help people determine if they have dry eyes and can help them fix t...

Glaucoma Treatment: Causes and Fixes

Appearing within the eye, glaucoma is a disease that causes changes in vision. While there are usually no symptoms, if excess pressure is felt in the eye it should be checked by a medical professional immediately. While it can appear in anyone, risk factors include: ●    Anyone over the age of 40 ●    African Americans and Mexican Americans ●    Those with a family history of the disease The most common form the disease takes is open-angle glaucoma, which has no symptoms. The fluid in the eye is draining too slowly and can build up, causing damage to the optic nerve and leading to the disease; open-angle glaucoma. There are other forms the disease takes where the fluid doesn’t drain at all, and ones that are congenital and appear in children, both of which should have surgery performed immediately. Injury can also cause glaucoma by preventing the normal drainage of fluids, so having a check-up after an injury near the eyes is recommended. Th...

The Eye Center P.A. and Dry Eyes

The Eye Center in Columbia, South Carolina is the premium place to get your eyes checked and cared for, as it not only provides routine eye checkups but also provides surgery and manages eye emergencies. For any and every problem your eye could have, The Eye Center can fix it. One of the specialized options they offer is to treat and care for dry eyes, to ensure a simple problem is not something worse. Symptoms Dry eyes often have symptoms of pain or stinging, itchy eyes, redness, and watery eyes, and The Eye Center suggests you contact them if you have these symptoms for a prolonged period of time. Some causes of dry eye disease are dry air damaging the film in your eyes, medications or being in a very frigid climate. Treatments •    Artificial tears – These are specialized eye drops that are used to hydrate and lubricate the eyes. This option is often recommended to people who wear contact lenses and those who suffer from occasional dry eye prompted by such things as...

Ophthalmologists Warn Against "Affordable" LASIK Surgery

Those who have been using glasses and contact lens may find advertising on cheap LASIK surgery rather tempting. The ads often promise that the surgery is as low as $400 for one eye. With the contacts or glasses going at the same rate, the deal certainly sounds appealing. However, experienced ophthalmologists warn everyone to stay away from such deals. Most ophthalmologists argue that the deal is a bait and switch tactic. They say that once patients pay the low rate, they are told their eyes don’t suit the affordable version. He warns that there is no cheap way to have LASIK surgery performed safely and accurately. Competent ophthalmologists perform LASIK surgery painlessly and accurately, and most even offer a Money Back Guarantee to their patients.  Here are important facts about LASIK surgery: •    LASIK surgery is one of the safest surgeriesfor vision correction. •    It only takes minutes to perform. •    Millions of surgeries have...

Gastric bypass patients sustain long-term weight loss, comorbidity reduction

Most patients are concerned and wary about the fact that they might gain weight after undergoing gastric bypass surgery . Based on a published study, the patients that endure their first bariatric surgery can with stand major weight loss. This study was conducted on patients suffering this disease overa period of seven years to testify the condition. Analysts found out that the surgery not only helped in losing substantial amounts of body weight but kept it off. The study was conducted by Lead researcher Anita P. Courcoulas, MD, MPH. A total of 2,348 patients were studied at ten different hospitals in the United States of America. This study was deemed to be the first study to compare and measure the weight loss innon-surgery and surgery patients for a long period of time. About three-fourths of these patients went through the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. 80% of these patients were women with median age of 45. These patients showed the best results in weight loss. The rest of the patient...

New Implant May Help Improve Vision in Glaucoma, Cataract Patients

Researchers and analysts have found that approximately three million Americans are affected by glaucoma. If this disease is not treated, it can lead to loss of sight. Our eyes constantly produce a fluid that should be drained. Glaucoma occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases and the fluids are not able to discharge. The high pressure on the optic nerve eventually leads to loss of vision if left untreated. Patients are not able to notice the symptoms until they start to notice their vision deteriorating. The treatment requires the patient to receive three or more eye drops every day. Most patients don't even bother to follow the prescribed eye drop routine.Unfortunately, once vision is lost from glaucoma, there’s no getting it back.  Recent research about a new implant has brought hope to doctors in helping their glaucoma and cataract patients restore their impaired vision. Those glaucoma patients who also needed cataract surgery were presented with the opportunity to get...

Best Eye Care Services in Columbia

Most of us do not realize the importance and necessity of getting our eyes regularly checked byour ophthalmologist. Usually, we don’t make an appointmentwith our eye doctor until we absolutely need to. You can find some of the best eye care services in Columbia (South Carolina). When is it time to go in for eye care services ? Problem in Focusing or Sudden Blurry Vision You should seriously consider visiting your ophthalmologist or optometrist if you are experiencing blurry vision or are having problems in focusing. This is a sign that you need to take seriously since it could be a serious health issue. Sudden visions of flashes of light or floaters If you are encountering visual disturbances, it could be a serious sign of having eye problems such as aretinal tear, retinal detachment, or retinal hole. These could be indications of severe vision-threatening disorders and need to be checked right away.  Ongoing Blurring of Vision If you experience blurry vision constantly, it’s time...

The One Surgery You Should Not Avoid

When it comes to problems with vision, cataract is as common as they come. A common problem amidst older adults, the condition makes your lens unclear, making it difficult for a clear vision. All it requires is a simple surgery to remove the cataract but many avoid it due to fear of surgery. Here are a few benefits of undergoing the surgery. •    Longer life - Studies have revealed that undergoing cataract surgery had associated benefits of reducing early death by all causes, including those of accidents, lung, heart and other neurological conditions. Some studies even suggest that women who underwent cataract surgeries took better care of themselves after their surgery. •     Quick procedure with a short post-op recovery time – The procedure itself takes under 20 minutes, and in one to three days, patients can start experiencing an improvement in their vision. •    Prevention is better than cure - Although the odds are tilted in favor of ...