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Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are worn directly over the cornea. They perform the same function as eyeglasses. Refractive errors are corrected by contact lenses and eye glasses. Contact lenses are safe to use and are a good alternative to eye glasses. 24 million people in the U.S.A. wear contact lenses.

Contact lenses are used to correct conditions such as:

  • Presbyopia (Bifocals are needed)
  • Astigmatism (Vision is distorted)
  • Hyperopia (Far sightedness)
  • Myopia (Near sightedness)

Choose an optometrist who is experienced. You must have a pair of eye glasses as a backup. Which contact lenses to choose depends on your medical condition. There are two kinds of contact lenses which are soft lenses and gas permeable lenses.

Contact lenses should not be worn for a very long time and must be removed at bed time. Damage can occur to the cornea if not properly used. The cornea can catch infections if it is not properly cleaned and cared for.

Intolerance can develop if lenses are not worn properly. Gas permeable lenses can cause damage to the cornea if not worn properly or worn during sleep. They can be hidden under the lid of the eye. They can pop out of the eye. Protein build up can cause lens related allergies. Discomfort and blurring can occur. It is important to clean the lens properly. People with allergies must use disposable or rigid gas permeable lenses.

Some conditions can stop you from wearing lenses:

  • Not taking proper care of the lenses
  • Dirty working environment
  • Dry eye
  • Allergies
  • Eye infections

Contact lenses should be cleaned to remove germs and prevent any infections. They should be replaced every 3 months. Don’t use contact lenses solution again. Dispose off the lenses solution in the lens case after each use and let the case air dry. Do not put your lens in your mouth. Don’t use homemade cleaning solutions. Use only good quality eye drops. Wash hands before wearing lenses. Don’t share your lens. Don’t use fashion lenses.

Follow the guidelines of the optometrist. Consult an optometrist if your eyes are sensitive to light, your eyes are painful, your eye is red for more than two days, you have discharge coming out of your eyes, you have blurry vision or your eyes feel scratchy. Get your eyes checked every year as a precaution.

LASIK

LASIK is a better option for people with eye vision defects. This type of surgery is safer and has better long term benefits than wearing contact lenses. For the surgery your eyes will first be evaluated and surgery will then be scheduled.

Before the surgery don’t wear contact lenses for up to a week. Eat a light meal before the surgery and avoid wearing any head bands which may interfere in the surgery. The surgery lasts for 10 to 30 minutes. A medical device called microkeratome is used and the cornea is reshaped during the process. Local anesthesia is given to the patient during this time. Your vision may be blurred for some time after the surgery. This improves substantially after 24 hours and recovery is very fast. You must visit your doctor 24 to 48 hours after the surgery and at regular intervals for up to six months.

Advantages of LASIK:

The vision is corrected and you will have the desired vision after LASIK surgery. The patient experiences less pain because of the numbing drops which are used. Vision is corrected immediately or the next day. Bandages and stitches are not required after LASIK. Patients no longer need eye glasses or contact lenses after LASIK.

The possibility of eye infections is more in contact lenses wearers. An experienced surgeon must be consulted for LASIK. They must use the latest technology. Don’t let cost come in the way. Tell the surgeon your medical history. Consult your surgeon whenever needed.

Call us at 559-449-5050 to know which is the best option for you.

Natural lens of the eye is removed to be replaced by an intraocular lense in Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE)

What is Extracapsular Cataract Extraction?

Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a type of eye surgery in which the lens of the eyes are removed, leaving the elastic capsule covering the lens which is left partially attached to allow the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL).

Purpose

The main purpose of ECCE is to restore clear vision by removing the clouded and discolored lens and replacing it with an IOL. Cataract operations are some of the oldest recorded surgical processes dating back to 1750 B.C.

It is a cataract surgery that involves removing the eye’s natural lens while leaving the back of the capsule which holds the lens in place. This process requires a much smaller incision as compared to the older process called Intracapsular Cataract Extraction. A modified version of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction is called Phacoemulsification and uses an even smaller incision which requires no sutures at all.

The natural lens become cloudy, usually due to the aging process. This cloudy lens is called a cataract. The main objective of modern cataract surgery is to remove this hazy lens and replace it with a tiny plastic prescription lens that will be permanently implanted in your eye.

Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

Extracapsular Cataract Extraction is a method of cataract surgery that involves removing the eye’s natural lenses while leaving the back of the capsule that holds the lens in place. This procedure requires a much smaller incision than the older process called Intracapsular Cataract Extraction in which the lens and the entire capsule were removed.

In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the white of the eye near the outer edges of the cornea. The size of this depends on whether the lens of the nucleus is to be removed all in one piece or whether it will be dissolved into tiny pieces and then vacuumed out. The surgeon then enters the eye through this incision and carefully opens the front of the capsule that holds the lens in place. After the nucleus or hard center is removed, you may need sutures if your cataract was removed in one piece. If the phacoemulsification technique is employed, sutures are usually not required to close the incision.

Demographics

  • Cataract extraction is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in industrialized countries. Around 300,000-400,000 cases of disabling cataracts occur annually in the USA alone. 1 to 1.5 million cataract extractions are performed annually in the United States.
  • Estimates by the WHO in 1997 state that cataracts are responsible for 50% of the cases of blindness globally. This figure is expected to rise to 50 million by 2020. 1.2% of the population in Africa is blind of which cataracts are responsible for 36% of such cases.
  • About one person in every 50 of the American population will eventually have to have a cataract removed. Rates of cataract formation varies from group to group though. 50% of people over the age of 60 have some degree of cataract formation, with the figure rising to 100% for those aged 80 and above.

Risk Factors that Come with Age

  • Genetic Factors
  • Sex
    Women are a bit more likely to develop cataracts over time.
  • Exposure to Ultra-Violet Rays
    Cortical cataracts are more likely to occur to people who are exposed to sunlight frequently.
  • Smoking
    People who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day are more likely to develop nuclear or PSC cataracts.
  • Heavy Alcohol Consumption
  • Use of Steroid Medication
  • Socioeconomic Status
    People with college education have lower rates of cataract formation than people who did not finish school.
  • Chronic dehydration, Diarrhea and Malnutrition.

There are different types of refractive surgeries that improve eyesight problems and eliminate dependence on visual aids. Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is one solution that has become quite popular because of the many benefits it offers.

What is LASIK and What Are It’s Benefits?

LASIK is a laser operation that uses ‘excimer’ UV rays to alter the shape of the cornea. This corrects any errors that cause visual impairment, when light does not focus accurately on the retina.

Data collected by research firm Market Scope estimated that over 600,000 LASIK procedures were performed throughout the USA in 2011 alone. Why, then, is there such a high patient count for a procedure that has been around since 1991?

The answer lies in the benefits that patients enjoy. Here’s why is a good treatment choice for those who qualify for it:

    1. Lasting Solution and Quick Vision Correction

Sight improvement after a LASIK procedure is, in most cases, permanent. Sometimes, blurry vision can reoccur, in which case patients have to follow up with LASIK enhancement to restore their vision. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that LASIK surgery has a success rate of up to 90%, with most patients recovering anywhere between 20/20 and 20/40 vision. As it is a laser procedure, it is quick and almost painless. This is hugely beneficial and convenient for the patient. The surgery only takes around 10 to 30 minutes.

    1. Low-Cost Procedure and Saves Money

Compared to other refractive procedures, LASIK surgery is more affordable. The average cost ranges between $1,700 and $4,000 per eye, depending on your chosen eye care center, geographical location, your vision problem, etc. Many eye clinics also provide flexible financing methods (medical insurance, monthly installments, credit card payments, etc.). Since the results of this surgery last for years to come and may also last a lifetime. This saves you a lot of money as you no longer need to invest heavily in eyeglasses or contact lenses.

    1. Fast Recovery and Minimal Pain

Your eye surgeon will make a small incision on the cornea, to create a flap of tissue that will be lifted during the surgery. Since the laser correction surgery is minimally invasive, recovery times tend to be fast. Some patients report improvements within a day or two, and most recover full vision function within a week. Contrary to the belief, this procedure is minimally invasive and hence is almost painless.

    1. Natural Facial Attributes

An added bonus of this procedure is that it allows you to maintain your natural facial look. After prolonged periods of wearing prescription glasses, the eyes eventually look smaller or larger, since corrective lenses increase the eyes’ axial length (the retina continually adjusts backward or forward for clearer vision).

    1. Ability to take part in different activities

Professional activities such as acting, athletics, defense etc., require correct vision. LASIK provides safe, reliable, quick, long lasting results and a near perfect vision. This allows the person to take up different activities which require correct vision.

    1. Reduced Risks of Allergies and Infections

Many patients who underwent LASIK have shared cases of reduced allergy symptoms. These include reduction in sinus due to lack of pain resulting from glasses sitting on the nose, lesser headaches and lack of irritation and redness in the eye due to constant use of contact lenses.

    1. Better Quality of Life

By eliminating visual aids, LASIK provides many other benefits. For instance, there will be less eye irritation, redness or allergic reactions caused by contact lenses. What’s more, not having to wear glasses will:

    • Eliminate sinus pain caused by the bridge of prescription glasses pressing on your nose
    • Get rid of headaches caused by the muscles in your eyes becoming overworked by corrective lenses
    • Improve side vision, which is usually blocked by the frame of eye glasses
    • Reduce glare from lenses that causes poor night time vision

Who Makes a Good Candidate?

LASIK is often recommended to patients who suffer from hyperopia (farsightedness) myopia (shortsightedness) or astigmatism (a vision defect associated with distorted or blurry images).

It can also correct vision problems caused by glaucoma disease, but only if there is no damage to the optic nerve and intraocular pressure remains normal when wearing contacts or eyeglasses. A vision test will determine the severity of glaucoma symptoms and determine whether this refractive surgery is a viable treatment option or not.

Patients with dry eyes or thin corneas may not qualify for this procedure, and it cannot restore cataract-triggered vision loss. If you’re unqualified for Lasik surgery, an ophthalmologist can suggest alternative refractive or laser technology procedures like PRK, which offer similar results.

Is LASIK Safe?

Like any surgical procedure, LASIK has risks. For instance, migrations of the corneal flap can cause complications such as inflammation, infections or even excess lacerations. There is also a possibility of developing dry eyes, double vision or haloes (mild glare) in the eye.

In rare cases, vision clarity may even deteriorate further, especially when patients miss follow-ups or fail to abide by post-operative care instructions. Some patients may be more predisposed to complications than others, in which case other alternative treatment options should be considered.

A professional consultation will help determine if you meet the medical requirements for a LASIK procedure. Contact the specialists at Insight Vision Center today!

Beta Blockers for Glaucoma

A lot of treatments today are designed to lower or control intraocular pressure (IOP), which may damage the optic nerve that transfers visual information to your brain.

Glaucoma eye drops are usually the first option over glaucoma surgery which may be quite effective at controlling IOP to prevent eye damage. If you are an eligible candidate for glaucoma eye drops, you may be prescribed more than one type to achieve the best IOP control.

Continue reading Beta Blockers for Glaucoma

Sports are fun, but they can also expose players to eye injuries, some of which result in impaired eye vision or even irreversible blindness. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, each year sees over 40,000 cases of sports-related eye injuries!

Although the statistics seem grim, there is hope. Prevent Blindness America, a leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, reports that 90% of all reported eye injuries in sports can be prevented if you take the necessary precautions and use protective eyewear.

Which Sports Can Cause Eye Injury?

Sports that expose players to eye injury are usually classified into 3 groups:

  • Low risk sports involve zero bodily contact and no flying or swinging tools (like balls, pucks, bats, and rackets). E.g. car racing, track/field running, cycling, gymnastics, and swimming.
  • High-risk sports (or collision sports), involve flying objects and a significant amount of body contact between players. E.g. lacrosse, tennis, baseball, football, and basketball.
  • Very high-risk sports that involve extensive body contact and players often aren’t allowed to use protective eyewear, increasing maximum exposure to possible eye injuries in sports like wrestling, MMA, boxing, etc.

Types of Sports-Related Eye Injuries

  • Abrasions: Medically referred to as a corneal abrasion, this is the least serious form of sports-related eye injury. It usually occurs when something sharp (e.g. fingernail or fencing sword) scrapes the outer surface of the eye, which is usually quite painful.
  • Eye Trauma: This is the most common injury type and occurs when something (fist, ball, knee, etc.) hits the eye with significant force. Eye trauma can cause mild (e.g. bruise) or severe (e.g. retinal bleeding) damage, depending on size, hardness, and velocity of the object hitting the eye.
  • Penetrating Injuries: These are the most serious eye injuries, almost always resulting in sight-threatening damage. They occur when foreign objects (e.g. BB pellets, pieces of eyeglasses) hit and pierce the eye.
  • Radiation Injuries: Caused by over-exposure to UV rays, these are quite rare and only occur with snow- and water-related activities.
  • Orbital Fracture:: Usually caused by a blunt force that breaks the bone surrounding the eyeball, the orbital fracture can also include optic nerve damage and facial trauma.

Depending on the severity of eye injuries in sports, certain cases can also result in permanent blindness. Any type of vision impairment will not only keep you out of the game for months but also affect your day-to-day life. This is why the importance of protective eyewear cannot be understated. Eye protection gear is easily available for all mainstream games including football, cricket, basketball, racquetball, lacrosse, skiing, golf as well as water polo.

Safety glasses not only ensure eye protection against foreign matter and flying balls but also keep the risk of impaired eye vision at bay.

Common Eye Injury Symptoms

  • Pain and/or bruising over affected eye
  • Blurred vision or visual loss
  • External or internal hemorrhage
  • The feeling of a foreign body within the eye

Preventive Tips and Precautions

  • Wear protective eyewear with cushioning along the eyebrows and polycarbonate lenses (that are powerful enough to protect against a .22 caliber bullet).
  • Being extra careful when engaging in sports that involve sharp or flying objects.
  • Wearing helmets and other face shields when appropriate.
  • Perfecting your dodging skills!
  • Get professional helps when picking your eye protection gear to ensure you are wearing relevant eye guards or goggles that shield your eyes against harmful UV rays.

Returning to Sports after an Eye Injury

Only an ophthalmologist can accurately predict how long an injured eye will take to fully heal, after conducting a thorough eye checkup. This is why it’s crucial to visit an eye doctor immediately after sustaining a sports-triggered eye injury.

Why Athletes Should Consider LASIK

Visually impaired athletes are at a great disadvantage. Their vision is less than a 100%, but corrective visual aids don’t help. Contact lenses get easily irritated by dirt or sweat, while eyeglasses can shatter while playing, and possibly even pierce the eyes. The best solution is LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery.

This special form of laser operation corrects a number of eye problems. With successful LASIK surgery and full recovery (usually at least 2 weeks), a visually impaired athlete will be able to play without wearing contact lenses or glasses. Tiger Woods, Greg Maddux, and LeBron James are some famous athletes who have enjoyed the benefits of LASIK.

Other than wearing a faceguard or protective eyewear that will bear the brunt of any impact during a game, visiting an eye care center for LASIK surgery could be your smartest move. At Insight Vision Center, we have an experienced eye care team that specializes in eye injury treatment and can efficiently address all your vision related issues. So, if you are ever faced with an eye injury, book an emergency appointment with us and keep your vision intact.

Your kid has made a successful visit to an eye doctor without causing any problem and has come out with a prescription for glasses. But the challenging part may begin now if he/she refuses to wear the glasses. The following suggestions will help you get the kids acclimatized with their new glasses.

Important Tips

  • Ensure The Glasses Have A Perfect FitThe frame should not pinch the ears or nose of your child. A well-fitting frame sits comfortably without leaving any pressure marks on the nose-bridge or ears. Check regularly if there is any skin irritation – change the frame if any signs of irritation show up. Most frames for infants and young kids are made of rubber-like materials for comfort. They also have bands that wrap around the head which prevents constant falling of the glasses, and also makes it difficult for kids to remove them frequently.
  • Check If The Prescription Is CorrectIf you child complaints that he/she can’t see clearly even with glasses or if they constantly look over the glasses, then chances are that the prescription is incorrect. Visit an eye doctor to get the accuracy of prescription rectified.
  • Take Baby StepsYoung children may find glasses very obtrusive when they first start using them and may start coming up with excuses not to use them. Don’t force it upon them – rather tell them to start wearing it for a few hours every day. Gradually increase their wearing time to full day. This gradual transition will allow them to get accustomed to glasses and, before they know it, they will be start wearing it regularly.
  • Make It A RoutineDeveloping a routine around the glasses will be beneficial for the children. Encourage them to put on the glasses after waking up and take them off only while sleeping or bathing. It might take some time but once they get into a daily routine, it’ll come easily and naturally for them to use glasses on a daily basis.
  • Practice Positive ReinforcementLetting the kids know that they look good in glasses will encourage them to wear the glasses. Treat them with a present for wearing the new glasses. Praise them every day, till they get comfortable, as positive reinforcements go a long way in convincing them to wear glasses regularly.

What If My Child Refuses To Wear Glasses

It’s normal for a child to resist wearing glasses when they are new for them. However, don’t let their resistance and annoyance make you lenient. Ensure that the prescription is correct and then gently explain why it’s important for them to wear glasses regularly. Positive reinforcement usually works. Be persistent and eventually the kids will start wearing them regularly.

Precautions to Take While Playing Sports

Children are prone to dozen of eye injuries on the sports fields and courts when they play without protecting their eyes. Protective eye-gear come in prescription and non-prescription lenses. If your kid participates in any of the following sport, make sport goggles a must in their sporting kit.

  • Baseball/softball
  • Soccer
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis/racquetball
  • Karate/martial arts

Children may hesitate to wear protective lenses if they are the only ones using the glasses in their team. Convince them to put on their glasses nevertheless. Allowing kids to choose their own eyewear will persuade them to wear the glasses.

If your child can’t see distant or nearby objects clearly, make a visit to an eye doctor or an optician to get their vision checked. Once prescribed, make sure they diligently use the eye glasses to prevent further damage to the vision.

One of the most common tricks that parents use to encourage or trick their kids to eat vegetables is to amplify the ‘good’ a particular vegetable can provide. The common ones include eating spinach for strength, broccoli to make you smarter, drinking milk will make you taller etc. But one of the oldest and the most popular saying remains – ‘Eat carrots to get excellent eyesight’. Tricking younger kids may be simpler but there may come a time when they will start questioning the authenticity of such claims.

Let us delve into the history to see of how this adage came into existence and became one of the most used statements by parents across the world.

The History

Bugs bunny’s favorite food became associated with strong eyesight during World War II when the British Royal Air Force managed to gun down German aircrafts even at nights. The air force fabricated a story of how their skilled fighter pilot John “Cats’ eyes” Cunningham attributed his excellent night vision due to a carrot-enriched diet. Soon, everyone began to eat more carrots get stronger night vision so that they could work in the dark as well. However, it turned out to be mere propaganda as the Air Force was, in fact, utilizing radar to locate the German bombers.

Why Should You incorporate Carrots in Your Diet

Even though it started as a myth, having carrots do help in maintaining healthy eyes due to the presence of the following nutrients:

Vitamin A

It is extremely essential for healthy eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a carotenoid pigment which is an essential precursor for vitamin A. If you don’t get enough Vitamin A, you risk getting cataracts, macular degeneration and xerophthalmia (A disease characterized by dry eyes, corneal ulcers and swollen eye lids). Deficiency in vitamin A also leads to blindness.

Lutein

This is an important antioxidant which is present in carrots. Food products that are rich in lutein are known to increase the pigment density in the macula. When the pigment density increases, the retina is protected more, thus reducing the risk for macular degeneration.

How Many Carrots is too Many Carrots

 

Even though carrots are rich in nutrients, binging on them won’t improve your eyesight significantly. Once there is enough beta-carotene in your body, it will no longer convert to vitamin A. In fact, it’ll regulate the excess vitamin A to prevent accumulation of toxic levels of the substance in the body. Though there is no ‘ideal number’ of carrots one should consume, it can safely be said that having a moderate amount in your daily diet will be helpful. Most eye and vision problems are either genetic, due to aging, disease or an accident. Just eating carrots and infusing beta-carotene and lutein will not help in such situation. The right medication and eye treatment are essential.

We can safely say that eating carrots every day will not sharpen your eyesight beyond a certain measure and will definitely not restore the vision to 20/20, nor can it correct certain optical deformities such as astigmatism, diseases like glaucoma and conditions like strabismus. If you have weak eyesight, using prescribed glasses or contact lenses is recommended. That definitely doesn’t mean that carrots don’t make a healthy snack – eat it to satiate those hunger pangs between meals and pack it in the lunches for your kids. But don’t let them believe that they can ditch their glasses just because they will get superman-like vision just by eating carrots.

When you parents and grandparents told you to eat carrots for good vision, they weren’t entirely wrong. But if you are facing vision problems, visit a doctor instead of just relying on a carrot-rich diet.

laser skin resurfacing

Laser Skin Resurfacing, also known as a laser peel, laser vaporization, and lasabrasion is a technique to uses laser beams to reduce facial wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. With laser technology, surgeons have a higher level of control and precision around delicate areas, thus offering better results.

Continue reading All You Need to Know About Laser Skin Resurfacing

Human Eye vs Eagle Eye

Eagles are beautiful birds known for their majestic frame and incredible hunting abilities. They have the reputation of having one of the best visions on the planet. What makes ‘eagle eyes’ a thing of envy? Let’s find out.

Continue reading Human Vision Vs Eagle Vision

macular degeneration diet

What is Age-Related Macular Disease or AMD?

Age-Related Macular Disease or AMD is an acquired ocular disorder that occurs in people over sixty years of age. It is the leading cause of vision loss in the US. This eye disease affects the central part of the retina known as the macula and destroys it through retinal detachment. Macula is responsible for providing a sharp and clear central vision that is required for reading, writing, and other visually demanding activities such as driving, stitching, etc. The risk of AMD increases with age.

Continue reading How Can Nutrition Help With Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

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