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Many people are curious about LASIK eye surgery. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about LASIK eye surgery to help you learn more about this popular treatment.

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is laser surgery that is performed to correct vision. It can be used to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. LASIK is a type of refractive eye surgery.

Is LASIK eye surgery painful?

No. Anesthetic eye drops are given before the procedure to prevent pain, and during surgery most patients report only feeling slight pressure on their eyes. After surgery there will be little or no discomfort.

Are you awake for LASIK surgery?

Yes, patients are awake for surgery. The procedure is performed in the ophthalmology center and typically takes just a few minutes per eye.

Can I see right after LASIK refractive eye surgery?

Yes, but your vision will be blurry. It is normally recommended that you rest your eyes by keeping them closed for most of the day following surgery but you can open them and blink normally.

What are some of the possible complications of LASIK?

Infection after surgery is a potential risk but it is relatively rare. Other complications can include dry eye, haze, night glare, and under or over correction. To ensure the best results follow the post operative instructions provided by your eye surgeon and go back for your check-up appointments even if your eyes seem fine.

If you are farsighted, a condition formally called hyperopia, then you can see objects clearly if they are far away from you, but you can’t see close objects clearly. Your condition might be mild or severe. Your eye is focusing images behind the retina, instead of focusing them exactly on the retina, and the distance between the image and the retina is what causes the image to be blurred. There are several reasons why this might occur, such as a flattened cornea or not enough distance between the cornea and the retina.

Farsightedness Treatments

To treat farsightedness, you can usually correct your vision with glasses and contact lenses, or you can have surgery. If you have astigmatism as well as being farsighted, surgery can correct that as well. The options you should consider include the following.

LASIK Surgery

During LASIK eye surgery, the doctor uses a laser to cut a small flap into the surface of the cornea and then corrects the shape of the cornea underneath the flap. The doctor then replaces the flap. As the eye heals, the flap heals as well, but the shape of the cornea is permanently changed.

PRK Surgery

PRK eye surgery is an alternative to LASIK eye surgery, used in cases where the cornea is too thin, too steep, or too scarred. It is slightly less comfortable and takes longer to heal than LASIK eye surgery but is otherwise very similar to the LASIK procedure.

LASEK Surgery

LASEK eye surgery is an alternative to LASIK eye surgery, used in cases where the cornea is too thin or too steep. It is slightly less comfortable and takes longer to heal than LASIK eye surgery. LASEK should be performed by an especially experienced specialist.

 

Contact our London ophthalmology clinic today to schedule an appointment to learn more about farsightedness and available treatment options.

LASEK is a refractive surgery procedure that can be used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Like LASIK, this surgery is carried out with the assistance of a laser that the surgeon uses to reshape the patient’s cornea. However, LASEK does not require the surgeon to cut a thick flap in the patient’s corneal tissue. The flap made during LASEK has been described as “ultra-thin.”

Advantages of LASEK

Patients and doctors like LASEK because it carries a lower risk of complications than traditional LASIK. LASEK can also be used to improve the vision of patients who are not good candidates for traditional LASIK. For example, patients with thin corneas or with steeply sloped corneas will get better results from LASEK.

Disadvantages of LASEK

Some patients experience a longer healing time with LASEK, and some doctors have observed that the healing period involves more discomfort than that of other laser eye surgery procedures.

Treatment Overview

During the LASEK procedure, the patient is given anesthetic eye drops to numb their eyes. Then the surgeon takes a tiny blade called a trephine and uses it to create a very thin epithelial flap. A diluted alcohol solution is applied to the eye for about 30 seconds to loosen up the edges of the flap. Then the flap is gently folded back, and the surgeon uses an excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. When the resculpting is finished, the surgeon gently smoothes the flap back into place. After surgery, some patients experience side effects such as blurred vision. It can take five to seven days before a patient’s permanent vision is obtained. It’s also common to feel discomfort for a few days after the LASEK procedure. Your doctor will prescribe eye drops and protective lenses to minimize the pain.

If you’re not a good candidate for traditional LASIK, LASEK laser eye surgery might be just the answer you’re looking for. Contact our London ophthalmology clinic today to schedule an appointment to learn more about this treatment option.

Glaucoma is an eye condition that is sometimes hard to detect. Left untreated, glaucoma can rob people of their sight. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about glaucoma and its treatment options.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure. This can result in serious vision loss, and, if not treated, complete blindness. Glaucoma usually develops during the later stages of life but it’s important to undergo regular eye exams to prevent glaucoma from affecting your vision.

What are the types of glaucoma?

There are five different types of glaucoma. Chronic glaucoma is the most common type of the disease. Acute glaucoma affects the inside of the eye and is one of the more severe types. Congenital glaucoma is a rare type of the disease that can often be detected at birth or during childhood. Secondary glaucoma is glaucoma that is caused by another eye disorder such as injuries, eye inflammation, or cataracts. Finally, normal tension glaucoma occurs in those who have normal eye pressure and is similar to chronic glaucoma.

Are there any treatments for glaucoma?

There are treatments for glaucoma. However, it’s important to understand that these treatments will not restore the sight that has already been lost. Instead, these treatments act as a preventive measure to ensure that you do not lose anymore of your vision. Glaucoma eye drops are typically the first course of treatment. If medication is not effective, laser eye surgery may be necessary. It’s important to continue regular eye exams to check for glaucoma. The best treatment method is catching the disease before it begins to damage your eyes. Contact our London ophthalmology clinic today to schedule an appointment.

Many people suffer from vision impairment in one form or another. Some are easily fixed with eyeglasses or contacts, others require surgery to correct. One common condition, especially among older individuals, is cataracts.

Condition Overview

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. They are mostly found in the elder population; however children can sometimes be born with this condition. Most eye surgeons will wait to perform surgery until the cataract is causing significant problems with your vision. Should your cataract reach surgical necessity, be assured that this is one of the most commonly preformed surgical procedures to date. Many doctors have years of experience performing cataract surgery on numerous patients.

Treatment Overview

The process of cataract surgery is carried out by your eye surgeon, who first makes a small incision in the eye. The lens is then removed and in most cases an intraocular lens will be inserted in its place. Most insurance plans cover the standard cataract surgery procedure. Some patients may still need reading glasses after this process is complete, but your overall vision is usually greatly improved. Although side effects are not very common, they are always possible with surgical procedures. After cataract surgery, patients may experience discomfort, bleeding, swelling, and infection.

Before signing up for any surgical procedure, be certain to thoroughly research all available avenues of treatment. Visit your ophthalmology clinic for any additional resources necessary to put you at ease.

Blurry vision can sometimes be caused by astigmatism, a refractive error where the cornea and lens of the eye have an irregular shape. In a normal eye, the cornea is round and smooth. In an eye with astigmatism, the cornea has an asymmetric shape. This condition is quite common and can be corrected with a variety of methods. 

Do I have astigmatism?

Blurry vision, both near and far, is a sign that you may have astigmatism. Those affected by astigmatism also complain of headaches, fatigue, and eye irritation. However, these symptoms can also signify another refractive error, so it's important to be examined by an ophthalmologist to determine if you have astigmatism.

Diagnosing Astigmatism

Your ophthalmologist can diagnose astigmatism during an eye examination. A visual acuity test and measuring your eye's refraction is often enough to make a conclusive diagnosis. A special instrument called a keratometer can also be used to determine the eye's curvature, which can reflect the presence of astigmatism and its severity.

Treatment Options for Astigmatism

There are various treatment options for patients with astigmatism. The preferred method to correct astigmatism remains eyeglasses or contact lenses. Refractive surgery is also gaining in popularity. LASIK surgery can reshape the irregular cornea to improve vision. This procedure takes roughly 15 minutes to complete and is the most performed refractive surgery available today. If your corneas are very thin or flat, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) or LASEK may be recommended. Implantable contact lenses are another option used to treat astigmatism. In this procedure, your lens is replaced with an artificial lens to help you see clearly.

If you have astigmatism or the symptoms of astigmatism and would like to know more about your treatment options, contact an ophthalmology clinic to schedule an appointment.

When it comes to laser eye surgery, LASIK is the most recognizable procedure. But it’s not the only laser-assisted eye surgery that can restore a patient’s vision. A totally different method known as photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is also a popular and widely used procedure.

How PRK is Performed

PRK refractive surgery involves the use of an excimer laser to shave off thin layers of the patient’s corneal lens. This lens is responsible for 80% of the eye’s focusing ability. When it is misshapen, patients find themselves suffering from vision impairment. After the lens has been reshaped through PRK, the patient is better able to focus on objects up close and at a distance.

Conditions Treated with PRK

PRK is used to treat a number of vision problems. Its predecessor, radial keratectomy (RK) was developed to treat nearsighted patients. Unfortunately, it was only effective for relatively mild cases. When doctors started using PRK, they found the new treatment to be effective for patients with moderate to severe myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.

PRK Results

Patients who undergo PRK surgery enjoy a high rate of success. Statistics show that 65 to 70% of PRK procedures result in 20/20 uncorrected vision. 95% of PRK patients achieve uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better. There is a very low rate of negative side effects associated with this surgery.

Possible Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of PRK are discomfort, sensitivity to light, and unusual lighting effects such as visible halos around light sources. These symptoms typically fade over time. Serious complications are extremely rare, and may include infection, delayed healing, scarring, or improper visual correction. Further surgery can help patients whose vision is over- or under-corrected during PRK.

Many ophthalmologists consider PRK to be the procedure of choice because of its high success rate, minimally invasive nature, and low number of complications. Speak with your eye surgeon to find out if PRK is right for you.

Cataracts are a common complaint, especially among the elderly. Fortunately for cataract sufferers, cataract surgery is a quick and virtually painless way to restore clear vision. Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions about cataract surgery.

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are hazy or cloudy spots on the eye which interfere with a patient’s vision. They can develop as the result of age, disease, or eye injury. They can also be present from a young age as the result of a congenital disorder.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is the removal of cataracts through ultrasound (phacoemulsification) or mechanical implements (phacofracture). The eye surgeon uses a local anesthetic to numb the eye. Then he or she will make a small incision in the cornea, through which the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a crystal-clear intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure takes as little as 10 minutes per eye.

Is cataract surgery safe and effective?

Yes. Cataract surgery is an extremely common surgical procedure. While all surgeries come with the risk of infection or eye trauma, 95% of patients who undergo cataract surgery come away with 20/40 to 20/20 vision.

How much does cataract surgery cost?

Unlike procedures like LASIK, cataract surgery is typically covered by most insurance plans. Health care financing is also available to pay for any part of the surgery not covered by insurance. If you were to cover the entire cost yourself, you could expect to pay an average of $3,300 per eye.

What can I expect during post-surgical recovery?

After surgery, you will be fitted with a protective eye patch. Most cataract surgery incisions don’t require stitches. If the doctor must use sutures, they typically use the dissolving kind. You will be advised to wear your protective eye shield while sleeping for one week following your cataract surgery. Bending, lifting, and other strenuous activities should be avoided for at least a week. Your doctor will also provide you with dark glasses to protect your eyes from bright light. Always follow your doctor’s post-surgical instructions to avoid complications and delayed recovery.

Poor eyesight often accompanies old age. One primary cause of age-related vision loss is macular degeneration, a disease that destroys a person’s central vision. Left untreated, this disease can lead to complete vision loss. Let’s take a look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for macular degeneration.

Macular Degeneration Causes

Unfortunately, nobody knows the exact cause of macular degeneration. It occurs most frequently in Caucasians over the age of 50. Women, smokers, and those with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing macular degeneration.

Types of Macular Degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration: wet form and dry form. The dry variety accounts for 90% of all macular degeneration cases. While its cause remains unknown, doctors speculate that diseased eye tissues cause the breakdown and eventual destruction of light-sensing cells. Wet macular degeneration is more severe. It involves the growth and leakage of blood vessels within the eye. When the vessels leak fluid and blood into the retina, blindness can rapidly result.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms

The symptoms of macular degeneration can be mistaken for typical age-related vision loss, so they often go undetected until the condition is advanced. Symptoms include blurred central vision, dim vision, difficulty seeing details up close, and line distortion. In wet macular degeneration, these symptoms are frequently more noticeable. Left unchecked, the disease progresses through three stages: asymptomatic, blurred central vision, and complete central vision loss.

Treatment for Macular Degeneration

Treatment for dry macular degeneration is largely unavailable. Through nutrition and antioxidant supplements, doctors can help their patients slow the condition, but not stop it altogether. Wet macular degeneration can be treated through laser eye surgery, but only if the condition is diagnosed in its early stages. Anti-vascular drugs can be prescribed to inhibit the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye.

If you suspect that you may be experiencing macular degeneration, schedule an appointment at an ophthalmology clinic as soon as possible to learn about your treatment options.

Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, is a refractive disorder of the eye. People who suffer from nearsightedness find that they can focus clearly on objects in their near vision, but have trouble seeing objects that are far away. Myopia is mostly harmless, but some forms of nearsightedness are progressive and can lead to more serious conditions. What causes myopia, and how can it be treated?

Symptoms of Myopia

Most cases of myopia begin in childhood, between the ages of eight and twelve. When kids squint, hold their books very close to their face, or have trouble picking out details at a distance, they might be nearsighted. Sufferers of any age might have frequent headaches and eye strain because their eyes struggle to focus on faraway objects.

Causes of Myopia

Nearsightedness is thought to be an inherited condition. That is, if your parents were nearsighted, chances are good that you will be, too. Nearsighted people have eyes that are more elongated or steeply curved than normal. This aberration in the shape of the eye interferes with the way light is refracted. Myopia causes incoming light to focus in front of the retina rather than right on it.

Myopia Detection

Eye exams are the best way to detect and diagnose nearsightedness. Ophthalmologists use eye charts to discern how good or how poor a patient's distant vision is. Most cases of myopia are mild to moderate, but there is a rare condition known as degenerative myopia that causes the eye to keep elongating over time. It can eventually lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and even blindness.

Myopia Treatments

Luckily, myopia is highly treatable. It can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, LASIK surgery, and other vision correction treatments. If you think you might be nearsighted, make an appointment at an ophthalmology clinic. There, you will receive a thorough examination, including a refraction assessment to determine your degree of nearsightedness.

LASIK laser eye surgery is an increasingly popular treatment. People are signing up in numbers to throw away their glasses and see clearly. How exactly does LASIK work? Before you decide to undergo the LASIK procedure learn how the treatment is performed and why it works so effectively to improve your vision.

What is LASIK Surgery?

LASIK is an acronym that stands for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. In basic terms, LASIK is a medical procedure that changes the shape of a person’s cornea to correct vision abnormalities. The cornea is a clear covering on the front of a person’s eye.

During the Procedure

During LASIK laser eye surgery, the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser. First, either a laser or a surgical instrument known as a microkeratome will be used to cut a small flap in the cornea. The flap is folded back and the middle-section of the cornea, which is called the stroma, is revealed. Pulses from the laser are then used to vaporize and reshape the stroma. Once the stroma is reshaped the flap is replaced and the procedure is basically complete.

After the Procedure

After the LASIK procedure, the flap acts as a natural bandage for the stroma. The cornea may take a few days to heal when you have laser eye surgery. During this time your vision may be blurry and you may have other side effects like haloing or glare. Once the cornea heals a few days after laser eye surgery these side effects will slowly disappear.

After the procedure is completed the eye surgeon will give you special glasses to wear when you are out in the sunlight. These glasses will help protect your eyes and promote healing. Most patients resume normal activity within a few days of LASIK and some can even see clearly immediately following the LASIK procedure.