Archive for the ‘contact lenses’ Category

Discerning The Facts About Laser Eyer Surgery Can Educate You For The Operation

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Individuals who get weary of wearing eyeglasses or feel they look best when their not wearing them might look to corrective surgery applying laser technology to rejuvenate their vision. If you are really thinking of taking the alternative of laser eye surgery then you truly require getting  all of the lastest and most dependable information available on the subject.. Lasik vision surgery isn’t for everyone and you can quickly decide whether or not you qualify beforehand by reading all of the relevant facts. After seeing all of the facts about the process you can then move on, if you so determine,being a well educated patient
There are several laser eye surgery facts that likewise point to the success rate of the procedure. Studying what can be anticipated before the surgical procedure, during the operation and the proper follow through care is an all important portion of the decision-making process and the laser eye surgery facts can assist in providing that info as well. One of the key facts is that most insurance policies do not underwrite the surgery if it is desired only for aesthetic purposes.

Individuals who wear contacts may have to postpone while their eyes return to their regular form before receiving the surgery, implying they will be required to wear specs until the day of the procedure. They may likewise have to don glasses to rectify the sight in the one eye that is not fixed according to the obtainable laser eye surgery facts.

Success Rates Are In Potential Patients’ Favor

In spite of the chances affiliated with laser surgery, the lasik eye surgery statistics are in favor of the patients as there are many more success stories than there are of surgeries that go horribly wrong. While the danger elements are enclosed in the lasik eye surgery facts, the experience and knowledge of the surgeon doing the surgery will greatly increase the chances of success.

The patient will be under localized anesthetic only with a localized sedative for the eyeball on which the procedure is being performed. In most cases, the patient will leave the clinic the same day to set about the healing process and with the appropriate follow up maintenance, after their recuperation they will be blessed with much better sight than they had pre-op.

The cost of the procedure is rather discouraging for most people, but when the cost of optic exams and contacts over their lifetime is estimated, the laser eye surgery facts call to attention that it can be a respectable cost savings over the years succeeding the surgery.

Lasik Eye Procedure – What Happens During A Lasik Eye Surgery

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

People that were forced to wear contacts or glasses all their life can now leave these aids behind by using a new and innovative LASIK procedure called the LASIK eye surgery.

This new type of refractive eye surgery can be risky but in most cases after detailed testing and consultation the final result is a good one. If you worry about the duration of the surgery, you should know that everything lasts only a few minutes but in order to obtain good results you should be very careful about the pre and post operative appointments.

It is very important to choose a good eye surgeon and after he evaluates he´ll establish the details of the procedure. He´ll let you know if you´re a good candidate or not, he´ll explain the procedure, the complications, the risks and the final result and together you´ll set the post-op appointment.

A few weeks before the LASIK eye procedure it´s recommended that you use only glasses and no contact lens because the shape of the cornea plays the most important role during evaluation.

When the procedure starts you´ll be sitting in a chair while the doctor will put numbing drops in your eyes. After he cleans up the area around the eyes, he´ll use a machine that will keep your eye lids open.

You might feel pretty weird because our eye lids are programmed to shut but if you stay relaxed you won´t feel a thing. The lasik eye surgeon use various types of machines and that´s why the level of discomfort can vary a lot from one patient to another.

Next, you´ll have to look straight into a laser placed over your eye while the surgeon will complete the procedure.

Everything happens very fast and the discomfort will only last a few seconds. All the above mentioned details sound scary and when you think that everything happens in the eye you might reconsider but you shouldn´t. LASIK eye procedure is very safe and most candidates leave the hospital with excellent results.

Wondering how much does lasik cost? Visit my lasik eye surgery site for more information.

LASIK Procedure to Correct Eye Problems

Monday, December 8th, 2008

The term LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileuses. LASIK eye surgery is a medical procedure performed on a patient who has eye problems. These eye problems can be any of the following: being farsighted or nearsighted, and astigmatism. Furthermore, LASIK eye surgery is performed so that a person with any of the aforementioned eye problems would not have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Nowadays, LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common medical procedures that an eye doctor performs on a patient.

Obviously there are still a lot of people with concerns regarding Lasik and these is based on the larged amount of LASIK doctors available now a day. Once a patient decides to undergo this kind of surgery, the shape of the cornea will be permanently changed. This is because a rounded “flap” is created on the cornea. Afterwards, with the use of laser or an instrument called the ‘microkeratome’, there is a part of the eye which will be vaporized to correct the eye problem.

LASIK eye surgery has become quite popular in the medical circle because of its painless-free operation. One more advantage that it has over other medical procedures to correct an imperfect vision is that the results are instantaneous. Right after the operation, you just need to let a day or two pass and you will see a definite improvement with your vision. However, there are some disadvantages to this type of medical procedure. First, the rates can be quite steep so you better check with your eye doctor or ophthalmologist if you plan to undergo such a surgery.

And since LASIK is like any other medical procedure, there are still possible unwanted complications a patient might suffer after the procedure. Third, some job types will not allow an employee to undergo any form of eye surgery. If you decide to go for LASIK eye surgery, you need to do your part and research so that you will know everything about the procedure. Also, have a thorough talk with your doctor so that you would know what to do before the operation. Finally, you can ask about the results and improvements with your vision problem right after your LASIK eye surgery.

How Bad is Laser Eye Surgery Side Effects?

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

As recent as in the last few years, laser eye surgery has become a very popular alternative to people who has been dependent on their eye glasses or contact lenses all their lives.

In a rush to leave their glasses and contact lenses behind people are rushing for this new treatment. Likewise wee see lasik eye surgery treatment centers and private clinics mushrooming in every cities.

What many people are unaware of is that there is risk involved in the surgery procedures. A laser surgery is not for everyone.

The procedure is not suitable to some people due to their health and medical condition. The eye surgeon would normally advise the patient during consultation if they are the right candidate for the surgery.

Laser eye surgery complications does exist to a certain degrees. Although the percentage is very very small and almost negligible.

May be most people might have thought of complications in terms of serious consequences such as blindness or serious infections.

The fact is that the most common complications or rather side effects is called regression. Regression is simply your eye sight vision turns back to the state before the surgery.

This includes blurred vision again or your eyes might become very sensitive to lights and also another problem is dry eyes that could become painful at times.

So mistakes do happen sometimes due to eye doctors misjudgment or patients willingness to take risk despite chances of higher risk in some people.

The bottom line is to get yourself educated with all the fact and figures before jumping into the surgery room. Find the eye doctor with the right credential and experience to work with.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and clear any doubt that you have during the screening process. This is very important in order to determine the right surgery procedures that you need.

Majority of people have a great success with laser eye surgery. The failure rate is far too small to outweight the success stories.

A Clear Vision with Lasik Eye Surgery

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Usually if we need our vision corrected we wear graded eyeglasses or contact lenses. These would work great and oftentimes solve our vision problems. But would it be great if there is some other way to see clearer. Eyeglasses tend to be awkward to use especially when you are engaged in physical activity. On the other hand, contact lenses are very troublesome to wear. You really need to maintain it a lot and if you are not careful this might irritate your eyes. Now there is a medical procedure that could improve you vision without going through the ordeals of having eyeglasses or contact lenses; this is the Lasik Eye surgery.

Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keartomileusis) is a type of lasik eye surgery used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.  This technique was developed in the 1950’s by Dr Jose Barraquer of Spain. He is the one who developed the first microkeratome which is used to cut thin flaps on the cornea. In 1958 Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik and some group of scientist developed the excimer laser. These discoveries lead to the enhancement of Lasik surgery which we know today.

This procedure could both benefit near-sighted and far-sighted people. For near-sightedness the corneas are usually flatten. For far-sighted people the goal is to make the cornea contour steeper. It could also smoothen out irregular corneas, which is the case for persons with astigmatism.

Before undergoing the procedure, patients with contact lenses are advised to stop wearing them for 5 to 7 days before surgery. Doctors then will  determine the thickness of your cornea by using a pachymeter. Using a topographer, the doctors will make a topographic map of your corneas. This will enable them to see the exact shape and contour of the cornea. It is needed so the doctor could determine the exact location and amount of the corneal tissue that will be removed.

The operation is performed in a clinical setting with a patient wide awake. A patient could be given a mild sedative (like valium) or some anesthetic eye drops.

The first thing that the doctor will do is to make a flap in the cornea. A corneal ring is applied to the eye so that it will be immobilized. Once immobilized a flap is created by using a mechanical microkeratome with a metal blade. A hinge must be left at the edge of the flap so that it could be folded back; this procedure could be irritating. Once it is folded back it will reveal the middle section of the cornea which is the stroma.

The second part is where the excimer laser will cut off excess tissue of the stroma. Removal of tissue is done is microns and no heat is generated during this procedure.

Finally the flap is returned back again to its original position. The flap does not need to be sutured back into place as it will heal and adhere naturally

After all this the patient could continue back to his or her normal life with an assurance of a much clearer vision ahead.

Contact lenses provide a wide array of solutions to vision problems.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Contact lenses provide a wide array of solutions to vision problems.

Due to the way the eye and vision system work, it’s comparatively simple today to design contact lenses that correct most vision issues. Producing systems have been raised to a high art and the majority of the study now goes into finding materials for longer wear or less chance of eye health issues. That makes choosing a contact lens a snap today. A modern, pro examination allows for intensely accurate measurement of the eye and vision correction wishes. The result’s a prescription that fits you perfectly in any of plenty of designs and types you could need.

 

Soft contact lenses have been in use for a generation now and they remain the choice of millions. Today’s soft lenses come in disposable, extended wear and plenty of other options, including various kinds of tinting or coloring. Some tints are only intended to make the contact simple to see and handle and hard to lose. Others are intended to shift or change wholly your eye color.

But firmer lenses are still desired by or required by many . RGP ( firm gas permeable ) types are the commonest here. Midway between a tough lens and a soft lens, they permit considerable oxygen thru the lens to optimize eye health. Their additional firmness makes them a good selection for those with mild astigmatisms or who need additional long life in a contact lens. Toric lenses, especially the prosite type, are helpful for those with additional articulated astigmatisms. They are also a good selection for those that need a multifocal lens, for example bifocals or progressives.

Whichever sort of contact lens you get, they can typically be comfy and supply wonderful vision, if cared for and used in the correct way. That suggests cleaning them when required, inserting and removing them according to the maker’s and your doctor’s guidance. It also suggests using them the correct way, not making an attempt to treat daily contacts like extended wear, as an example.

Dry eye, blurred vision, discomfort and other issues do occur to a small proportion of contact lenses users. In a few cases, conjunctivitis, corneal erosions and other eye health issues are possible. When they occur, take the contacts and consult your consultant right away. Often the difficulty can be cleared up quickly and you can resume wearing your contacts shortly. Get a careful examination, buy from credible dealers and use your contacts the way they were supposed to be worn and you can enjoy years of perfect vision.

Modern contact lenses.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Modern contact lenses.

The modern contact lens actually has its beginning round the turn of the 20th century.

Adolf Fick gets the credit for inventing the 1st practical pair in 1887. But, it was Carl Zeiss, the famed lensmaker, who developed a glass contact lens that fit over the cornea that formed the prototype for all later work. It was still to be many decades before Touhy invented the 1st plastic corneal lens, using Plexiglas as a material. Whilst work commenced in 1952, it wasn’t till 1971 the modern hydrophilic soft contact lenses came on the market. That word, ‘hydrophilic’ ( meaning ‘water loving’ ), is the key to fresh contact lenses.

Today’s lenses are made from a plastic polymer ( pHEMA ) that allows the contact lens to absorb water. Some lenses were formed in a molding process called spin-casting, where the plastic is spun into the required shape. Early techniques needed last shaping with a lathe, but today the method is so correct the lenses can be made wholly thru molding alone. The lathe process may still be employed in some areas of the Earth, though, particularly for hard contact lenses that still make up anywhere up to 25% of those sold. In this strategy a tiny circle called a blank is cut from a plastic rod and fastened onto a lathe with wax. That is carried out by polishing the result into actual curves on both sides of the lens. Today, a P. C. Controls the method, which is kept correct by being fed info from the individual patient using data gathered during the eye exam. The lens is then sterilised, regularly by being boiled in salt water for many hours, which also softens it. They are then packed in a glass vial containing a sterile saline ( salt water ) solution.

As the lens material is hydrophilic it soaks up a lot of the solution, making it up to 75% water in the final analysis. As the solution is analogous to human tears that moisturize the eye, the contact feels good and works well during use. Research continues into finding materials that are longer lasting, more comfortable and safer to use.

Some comparatively fresh advances, as an example, include the Stiff Gas Permeable lens ( RGP ) invented in 1979, but marketed much later. That makes them more snug and safer to use over the long run. Several can now be worn steadily for so long as a week to a month. On the leading edge are new implantable contact lenses that are essentially placed into the eye and never need changing or cleaning.

Weighing up the options, contact lenses or laser surgery.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Weighing up the options, contact lenses or laser surgery.

Both the good points and bad points of purchasing contact lenses versus having laser surgery can be boiled down to some straightforward suggestions. Any call made between getting contacts or laser surgery on your eyes should be made in talks with your eye care pro, naturally.

These are some rules that may help you go in prepared. Cost is the 1st consideration for most folk, and it is a valid one. Whilst everybody rightly considers their health supreme, most of us won’t look into the health hazards till they know if they can afford the options. But, they are comparatively low cost compared to laser surgery and are way more frequently covered by insurance programs. 2 contact lenses may run anywhere from $20 to $100, but there are more expenses associated with this option, including cleaning solution and doctor visits. Still, the total might be less than $200 each year, excluding the value of your time expended in the doctor’s office. Laser surgery, in contrast, can cost anywhere from $2,000 per eye to $5,000 per eye. Include doctor visits and the total is about $4,500 to $11,000. On the upside, it’s an one off cost and some insurance programs will help in part to offset it. The convenience factor concerned is no little matter to most of us, either. The concept of having one process that is ( sometimes ) painless, temporary and trustworthy versus having to wear contacts for a lifetime is terribly interesting to many . Whilst contacts have developed significantly over time, they continue to need daily to monthly changing and replacement each 2 to 3 years. Disposables are modified from each day to once a month. Still, the health risks - whilst low for either option - shouldn’t be discharged.

But some patients do experience dry eye ( dropped capability to provide tears, leading to discomfort and reduced vision ). Whilst rare, it’s probable for surgery to basically reduce vision acuity. More frequently, though still extremely atypical, patients report halos, reduced capability to see obviously in mist or lower light, and other issues that meddle with good vision. All contact lenses cut back the amount of air that gets to the outside of the eye. That increases the chances of corneal infection. Modern RGP ( firm gas permeable ) lenses allow five times more oxygen thru than contact lenses of the past. But it is still not the same as wearing no contacts at all. Contact lenses can also lead to corneal or sclera scarring. Sclera is the comparatively hard surface tissue of the outer eye that protects the eyeball. That is much more likely if a bit of grit gets between the contact and eye. The overpowering majority of folk come thru laser surgery with seriously improved vision. Virtually everyone who wears contact lenses of any type daily, if extended wear or daily-wear, have no issues at all. They adjust quickly, keep them clean and sanitary, and do not have to think about them during use. Look to your financial position and consult your surgeon about the options, guaranteeing to have a frank conversation about risks and likely benefits. You can then arrive at the choice that is best for you.

Disposable contact lenses provide many options.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Disposable contact lenses provide many options.

Disposable contact lenses one of the most popular options for contact lens wearers. They are cosy, safe and come in a selection of different types. Disposables are built to be worn and dropped either daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. But it is crucial to remember an excellence, that between the replacement schedule and the wear schedule. Some are engineered to be worn daily and dropped daily.

But some that are labeled dailies are removed daily, cleaned and stored, then reused up to their intended lifetime. That lifetime can be one week, 2 weeks, or so long as a month. Ensure you note which is which when you choose your lenses. The more frequently you change your contacts the lower the percentages of health issues. Even the best of contacts cut back the amount of oxygen that gets to the outside of the cornea. Longer wear cycles also increase the chances of corneal erosion, conjunctivitis and other eye health issues. However, changing lenses more often can increase the chances of introducing other categories of health issues. For instance, some preservative solutions could cause an allergic reaction to some contact lens users. Wearing two disposables steadily for a week, then simply throwing them away, eliminates that chance. They come packed in a sterile solution, so they never have to be cleaned unless they are removed and re-inserted. Convenience is a massive factor in disposables, not amazingly. Daily insertion and removal still needs cleaning, sterilizing and regular placement of the lens.

While several contact lens wearers create a routine, others find the practice something they might wish to elude. Some are built to be worn once and then just tossed. Many sorts of extended wear disposables can stay in overnite, or a week, or maybe up to a month. Since those are inserted only once, they never have to be cleaned or sterilised at all. You simply clean your hands, insert them, then throw them away after the wear period. Cost is an element to think about and it is not necessarily unimportant. Whilst costs alter over time, disposables are usually costlier over the long run. But the daily costs are lower, since the lens is meant to be used only for a brief period. One way makers can do that, of course, is to use different materials and production strategies. The result’s a safe, cushty lens but one that isn’t give the same optimally pointy vision that another style can. Still, plenty of sports enthusiasts enjoy disposable contact lenses thanks to their tight fit, which leads to them being very hard to knock loose. And if the quality is ok for them, it’ll possibly be satisfactory for most everybody. Investigate your options in disposable contact lenses and you may very well find one that is just your kind of thing and your way of life.

How do contact lenses function?

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

How do contact lenses function?

A clear, comparatively hard mound of tissue called the cornea sits before the pupil of the eye.

Behind the pupil is the lens that focuses light onto the retina, which creates reactions that excite the optic nerve to send signals to the visible cortex in the brain. With age ( usually ) or disease, or just because of genetics, the form of the lens and eyeball can and do become distorted. The change in shape causes the light rays to focus out front of the retina, behind it, or to be scattered in many directions. That is the power to see things near, but far things appear out of focus.

Reading a book is easy, reading road signs whilst driving can be hard or very unlikely without contact lenses or glasses. When the rays would focus at the crossroads behind the retina the effect is to supply farsightedness, also called hyperopia. Farsightedness is the capability to see things sharply that are ( comparatively ) far away, but things up close look blurry. Reading road signs is simple, reading text on your PC without contact lenses or glasses becomes not possible. In this example, the eyeball can be misshapen or out of round, making the cornea and lens an improper shape. That produces a condition called astigmatism, the effect being to make images appear blurry if near or far. That double-whammy is an example of the reasons that, till not long ago, it was hard to produce contact lenses or use laser eye surgery to fix this.

This works like a camera, that has multiple pieces of glass that will work in partnership to focus the rays onto the film. For centuries, this was done by trying glasses, today, contact lenses provide an option enjoyed by millions. The additional lenses ( the contact lenses ) ‘float’ on a thin layer of tear-like moisture over the cornea. Due to liquid surface tension and the shape of the eye - fastidiously matched by shaping the contact lens just right - the lenses can stay on and stay in effect. Refract is merely a fancy word meaning ‘to bend’. It’s bent a bit more by the cornea, lens and liquid in the eye and - when everything is changed just right - the light is targeted sharply onto the retina. The net result’s to provide the sort of array the visible cortex can properly process as ‘car’ or ‘baby’ or whatever you occur to be having a look at.