LASIK is a medical procedure aimed to help you see clearly.With so much information on the internet, how do you find out about LASIK? Where do you go to research the procedure and how it works? How do you make yourself comfortable enough to finally contact a LASIK practice to being the process?ARSC, or the American Refractive Surgery Council, has a few pointers that may help you out. EYE ON HEALTHGoing Online To Learn About LASIK | |
| (NAPSI)-Social
networks and blogs have taken the information-rich resources of the
Internet and made them a part of everyday conversation: According to a
recent Pew Internet study, 80 percent of Internet users, or 59 percent
of U.S. adults, look online for health information. Networks like
Facebook, review sites such as HealthGrades and Yelp, and comments and
questions posted online are extremely useful tools for researching
personal health matters. Popular topics of inquiry include learning
about procedures, specific medical conditions, understanding treatment
options and finding a doctor. When considering an elective procedure,
such as vision correction with LASIK, having access to online resources
can make becoming an informed patient much easier. The American Refractive Surgery Council offers these tips on using the Internet and social networking to research whether LASIK is right for you. • Use Facebook and other social networks to ask friends and followers about their LASIK experiences. Were they happy? What surgeon would they recommend? • If you're curious about exactly how the surgery is performed, you can check out surgery videos on YouTube or Vimeo. These videos of actual procedures can be very instructive (though be warned, they are graphic). Also, many surgeons post procedure videos on their sites. • Use forums, message boards and other online discussions to hear from other people firsthand. Literally thousands of communities have formed around common areas of interest where LASIK can make a difference-from parents to outdoor enthusiasts. This is a great avenue for finding people who share your interests and hearing about their experiences with the procedure. • You can find out about prices online; just remember, getting a great deal should not be the deciding factor for any surgical procedure. A consultation with a refractive surgeon should be balanced, detailed and personalized to you and your vision. It should never feel like a sales process. • Use authoritative medical websites such as WebMD or the Mayo Clinic to learn about the procedure. Research the risks as well as the benefits and understand what the procedure can and can't do. For example, LASIK can free you from glasses and contact lenses-or reduce your dependence on them. But it has limitations. In particular, LASIK can't stop the aging process. Your eyes will continue to age and you may need glasses for reading at some point in the future. Finally, some common sense about using the Internet: Because anyone can put anything on the Web, the source matters. Make sure the information you are relying on to make a medical decision comes from a credible source and that you verify the information with your surgeon or personal physician. Learn more at www.americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org. Information online and in social networks can help you make up your mind about LASIK. | |
Thursday, July 26, 2012
How to Learn About LASIK Without Being "Sold"
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Super Human Vision
Superhero powers are only a thing of comic books. No one person has super powers.
Or do they?
Scientists have begun to uncover an ability found in only about 12% of women – the ability to see more colors in the color spectrum than originally thought possible. While studies are still being performed to test this new vision ability, the thought that our world holds more color than most can see is quite intriguing.
The eyes are a very powerful thing.
To read the full article, click here.
Or do they?
Scientists have begun to uncover an ability found in only about 12% of women – the ability to see more colors in the color spectrum than originally thought possible. While studies are still being performed to test this new vision ability, the thought that our world holds more color than most can see is quite intriguing.
The eyes are a very powerful thing.
To read the full article, click here.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
LASIK and Your Retina
There is a misconception when it comes to LASIK and your retina. Some patients think that because they are having LASIK, the issues with their retina will also be corrected.
This is not true.
Your retina is found at the back of your eye. It is responsible for sending messages to your brain. These messages tell your brain what you are looking at.
You have LASIK to correct a refractive error. Refractive errors occur when the cornea in your eye is misshapen. The cornea, which is found in the front of your eye, should be round and bowl-shaped. If the cornea is not perfectly shaped, then you will experience a refractive error: nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Light is reflected off of objects and is filtered by the cornea of your eye. When the cornea is perfectly shaped, this light will refract directly onto your retina. If the cornea is misshaped, then the light will not shine directly onto your retina, and this causes double vision, blurry vision, or fuzzy objects.
LASIK works to reshape the cornea into a bowl-shape so that the light will reflect directly onto your retina. It does this through the use of a laser, guided by a surgeon. The laser only affects the cornea and not the retina, therefore it does not correct any issues you may be experiencing with your retina.
A board-certified surgeon should carefully analyze your eyes prior to approving you for LASIK surgery. Most of the risks associated with LASIK occur because the person may not be an excellent candidate for LASIK. Some of these risks include double vision, a fixed or rotating glare, rings of light (“halos”) or starbursts of light. There is also a risk of dry eye, however most patients will experience dry eye for a short time after surgery.
To learn more about LASIK and how to find out if you’re a good candidate for laser vision correction, please visit our website.
This is not true.
Your retina is found at the back of your eye. It is responsible for sending messages to your brain. These messages tell your brain what you are looking at.
You have LASIK to correct a refractive error. Refractive errors occur when the cornea in your eye is misshapen. The cornea, which is found in the front of your eye, should be round and bowl-shaped. If the cornea is not perfectly shaped, then you will experience a refractive error: nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Light is reflected off of objects and is filtered by the cornea of your eye. When the cornea is perfectly shaped, this light will refract directly onto your retina. If the cornea is misshaped, then the light will not shine directly onto your retina, and this causes double vision, blurry vision, or fuzzy objects.
LASIK works to reshape the cornea into a bowl-shape so that the light will reflect directly onto your retina. It does this through the use of a laser, guided by a surgeon. The laser only affects the cornea and not the retina, therefore it does not correct any issues you may be experiencing with your retina.
A board-certified surgeon should carefully analyze your eyes prior to approving you for LASIK surgery. Most of the risks associated with LASIK occur because the person may not be an excellent candidate for LASIK. Some of these risks include double vision, a fixed or rotating glare, rings of light (“halos”) or starbursts of light. There is also a risk of dry eye, however most patients will experience dry eye for a short time after surgery.
To learn more about LASIK and how to find out if you’re a good candidate for laser vision correction, please visit our website.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Eyesight
Omega-3 fatty acids are definitely a plus in your diet. They are known as a ‘good fat’ for your diet – one that protects the cell membrane and is reported to protect you from certain health issues. One of these health issues, as reported by NPR (National Public Radio), is age-related macular degeneration.
Age-related macular degeneration generally occurs in older adults. This condition results in vision loss in the middle of your line of sight, due to retina damage. According to the article, “Women who ate fish, a prime source of omega-3s, at least once a week were less likely to get age-related macular degeneration compared with women who ate fish just once a month, a new study finds.”
While all of this information is interesting to look at, the article also points out that the study is not complete.
There are always studies being done on vitamins and minerals. It’s important to know what is fact and what is fiction. Doing your homework is essential in preventative medicines, but the most important thing is having a complete eye examination. You eyesight is like a fingerprint – it is unique to you, and what may work for 5 or 10 other people may not necessarily be the best thing for you. If you think you may have an eye disease or your family has history of eye diseases, you should schedule regular eye exams for the best way to keep on top of it.
Dr. Donelson owns Donelson Eye Associates. He is an eye surgeon that provides LASIK and Cataract surgery to his patients. He can also help treat for macular degeneration.
If you would like to read the article, you can find it here.
Age-related macular degeneration generally occurs in older adults. This condition results in vision loss in the middle of your line of sight, due to retina damage. According to the article, “Women who ate fish, a prime source of omega-3s, at least once a week were less likely to get age-related macular degeneration compared with women who ate fish just once a month, a new study finds.”
While all of this information is interesting to look at, the article also points out that the study is not complete.
There are always studies being done on vitamins and minerals. It’s important to know what is fact and what is fiction. Doing your homework is essential in preventative medicines, but the most important thing is having a complete eye examination. You eyesight is like a fingerprint – it is unique to you, and what may work for 5 or 10 other people may not necessarily be the best thing for you. If you think you may have an eye disease or your family has history of eye diseases, you should schedule regular eye exams for the best way to keep on top of it.
Dr. Donelson owns Donelson Eye Associates. He is an eye surgeon that provides LASIK and Cataract surgery to his patients. He can also help treat for macular degeneration.
If you would like to read the article, you can find it here.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Contact Lenses and Eye Safety
Approximately 1 out of 20 people will have contact lens related problems.
Are you one of them?
Through recent research it has been found that contact lenses can affect several different areas of the eye. These effects could be simple irritation to more sight threatening complications. You may have experienced some of these problems or just had a concern about them.
The weather, oxygen and their effect on your eyes.
The weather and the wearing of contacts both have an effect. The eye cleans itself from harmful bacteria and other foreign substances through the process of creating what is known as the tear film. Not only does it protect the eye but it also carries the moisture and oxygen to help and protect the eye. The reduced amount of oxygen on the surface of the eye in turn reduces the blood flow to the cornea, which can create complications. While soft contact lenses have less of an effect on this than hard lenses it still does have an effect. And there are other problems that contacts can cause with your eyes.
Now throw in dry weather, the wind and the fluctuating temperatures you can see what your eyes are dealing with on a daily basis. In many instances, the risk to the health of your eyes is greater from wearing contact lenses than from today’s LASIK eye procedure.
And there are the aspects of “chronic wear and tear” from continual contact lens wear to the eye from simply having this foreign substance or particle in the eye. This can predispose an eye to infections and if you might have even experienced these difficulties yourself.
What are your alternatives?
LASIK is the alternative to contact lens wear. While not having them to affect your eyes in a potentially dangerous way is of great benefit you will also receive the benefit of having very improved eyesight if not 20-20.
Are you one of them?
Through recent research it has been found that contact lenses can affect several different areas of the eye. These effects could be simple irritation to more sight threatening complications. You may have experienced some of these problems or just had a concern about them.
The weather, oxygen and their effect on your eyes.
The weather and the wearing of contacts both have an effect. The eye cleans itself from harmful bacteria and other foreign substances through the process of creating what is known as the tear film. Not only does it protect the eye but it also carries the moisture and oxygen to help and protect the eye. The reduced amount of oxygen on the surface of the eye in turn reduces the blood flow to the cornea, which can create complications. While soft contact lenses have less of an effect on this than hard lenses it still does have an effect. And there are other problems that contacts can cause with your eyes.
Now throw in dry weather, the wind and the fluctuating temperatures you can see what your eyes are dealing with on a daily basis. In many instances, the risk to the health of your eyes is greater from wearing contact lenses than from today’s LASIK eye procedure.
And there are the aspects of “chronic wear and tear” from continual contact lens wear to the eye from simply having this foreign substance or particle in the eye. This can predispose an eye to infections and if you might have even experienced these difficulties yourself.
What are your alternatives?
LASIK is the alternative to contact lens wear. While not having them to affect your eyes in a potentially dangerous way is of great benefit you will also receive the benefit of having very improved eyesight if not 20-20.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Eye Strain Issues?
If you work in front of a computer, you have probably experienced eye strain. Here is a great video with a few tips to help keep your eyes in top performance!
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