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In recent times, people have become more comfortable with corrective eye surgeries for treating vision problems caused by near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism, due to increased safety and enhanced technology. Two of the most popular surgeries include PRK and LASIK.

PRK, abbreviated for Photorefractive Keratectomy, is a type of surface ablation employed for eye surgery. Computer-controlled laser is used directly over the corneal surface after removing a part of it, which is then allowed to grow back the next few days; whereas in LASIK, the surgery is performed under a thin flap of cornea which is placed back after the procedure. Though both procedures have their own pros and cons, they give excellent results in the end. Read on to know more.

PRK vs. LASIK

The main difference between these two surgeries is based on how surgeons deal with the corneal surface. In PRK, eye surgeon removes the outer layer of cornea and performs vision-correction surgery directly on corneal surface. The exposed area is then allowed to reshape through cell regeneration. It makes a better choice for people with thin corneas or chronically dry eyes.

In LASIK surgery, an incision is made (either with laser or blade) in the cornea to create a flap of tissue. This flap is then lifted and computer-controlled surgical laser is used to reshape inner layers of cornea to repair curvature imperfections causing poor vision. Corneal flap is then put back in place which heals over the reshaped part of the cornea.

PRK is Better Than LASIK in Patients Over 40

Surface cells of eyes of people over 40 are not tightly bound. This can cause the flap to slip during LASIK which can lead to serious complications. With PRK, those risks are eliminated by the absence of flap, making it suitable for elders. Moreover, patients over 40 have slightly dry eyes which get aggravated if LASIK is performed over them.

Candidates for PRK and Lasik

Every patient who is a good candidate for LASIK can opt for PRK, but vice versa does not hold true. PRK is advised for patients with:

  • Thin corneas
  • Large pupils
  • Irregular astigmatism
  • Steep corneas
  • Prior eye surgery
  • History of dry eye syndrome

Additionally, people with high-risk occupations, sportspeople and athletes prefer PRK over LASIK to eliminate the risk of corneal flap displacement. Thorough checkup by a qualified eye surgeon is a must before you proceed with either surgery.

PRK Recovery vs. LASIK Recovery

Though both surgeries give almost the same results, their recovery times differ significantly. PRK recovery takes a little longer than LASIK since the outer corneal layer needs time to reconstruct and heal. Cell generation will result in itchiness, blurriness and discomfort for a few days post surgery. Prescription eye-drops are given to patients to promote healing and reduce discomfort.

In LASIK, the flap is placed back over the cornea when procedure ends, thus drastically cutting down recovery time. The itchiness lasts just a few hours. However, for both surgeries the vision continues to improve gradually for several months before reaching peak quality.

PRK vs. LASIK- What’s the Difference?

Let’s take a look at the differences between PRK and LASIK surgery:

Difference PRK LASIK
Type Laser-based corrective vision
surgery so as to help the
patient reduce dependency on
glasses or contact lenses.		 Laser-based corrective vision
surgery so as to help the
patient reduce dependency on
contact lenses or glasses
Treatment for Preferred for people who have
a thin cornea, Myopia or
Nearsightedness, Hyperopia or
Farsightedness, Astigmatism		 Nearsightedness or Myopia,
Farsightedness or Hyperopia,
Astigmatism
Eligible Age 21-40 21-40
Pros Decreased depth of laser
treatment, no complications regarding corneal flap, corneal
thickness regulated		 Speedy recovery, decreased
risk of post-surgery infection, lower post-operative
discomfort, peak vision
achieved quickly as compared
to PRK, both eyes can be done
at the same time
Cons Recovery slower as compared
to LASIK, increased risk of post-
operative complications,
greater post-operative
discomfort, patients sometimes
have to wait for up to one to
two weeks before operating
the second eye		 Possible complications from
corneal flap, increased depth of
laser
Potential Side Effects Dry eyes, infection, night
blindness – halos around lights,
light sensitivity during night
time		 Night blindness – halos around
lights, dry eyes, infection,
dislodged corneal flap, light
sensitivity during night time
Cons Recovery slower as compared
to LASIK, increased risk of post-
operative complications,
greater post-operative
discomfort, patients sometimes
have to wait for up to one to
two weeks before operating
the second eye		 Possible complications from
corneal flap, increased depth of
laser
Criteria No history of dry eyes, no eye
injuries or infections within a
year, stable prescription for
minimum one year		 Normal depth cornea, no
history of dry eyes, stable
prescription for at least one
year and no injuries or
infections within a year
Healing and Recovery Takes up to six months before
peak accuracy is achieved and
clarity in vision is reached.
Requires around one to three
days for blurring and
discomfort to subside		 Vision improved immediately,
blurring and discomfort gone
within 24 hours
Outcome 20/20 vision or better 20/20 vision or better

 

PRK vs LASIK

What is Right for you

The best way to getting rid of your glasses and contacts is to visit a few of your local area eye doctors for a consultation and see if you are eligible for either or both procedures. It is possible that you may be a candidate for only one or both surgical procedures; these doctors will give you their professional opinions, options, and recommendations. It is advised that you visit a couple of eye doctors in your area and their professional opinions on what to do regarding your eyes after which you can draw up your own conclusion.

To learn more about the best laser corrective procedure for you, contact our professionals at Insight Vision Center in Fresno today! To schedule a consultation, call on 559-449-5050.

color vision deficiency

Color vision deficiency, or color blindness, is the inability to distinguish certain shades of colors. In highly severe cases, people can’t see the concerned colors at all though very few people are completely color blind (who can see things only as black, white and shades of gray). Color blindness occurs when there is a damage or loss of ‘cones’, which are the photoreceptors in the retina making color vision possible. If the cones lack one or more light sensitive pigments, there will be a deficiency in the color perception, making it difficult to see one or more of the three primary colors.

Types of Color Vision Deficiencies

  • The Red-Green Color Deficiencies
    The most common color vision deficiency, this affects more men than women. People have difficulty in distinguishing between different shades of red, green and yellow. Either they all appear to be a similar color, appear dull or can only be distinguished by slightly different brightness and intensity. They may even confuse red with black. Shades of purple will appear blue as you won’t be able to see the red component in them.
  • Deuteranopia And Deuteranomaly
    This occurs when there is a loss of M-cones. It’s a less severe form of red-green color vision deficiency where you’ll have trouble differentiating between different shades of the same color in the red-yellow-green spectrum.
  • Protanopia And Protanomaly
    Loss of L-cones leads to protanopia. You’ll confuse colors in the red-yellow-green spectrum if you suffer from this deficiency. Protanomaly is a less severe form where you won’t be able to distinguish different shades of the same color in the red-yellow-green spectrum. Those suffering from either disease are likely to see red colors as darker than normal.
  • Blue-yellow color vision deficiency
    This deficiency is quite rare and is caused due to a deficiency of S-cones. It’s also known as Tritanomaly or Tritanopia. With this deficiency you will have difficulty distinguishing between blue and green, with green appearing as a shade of blue. Some even see yellow as a pale shade of grey or purple.

 

Symptoms and Signs to Look Out For

Common symptoms to identify color blindness include:

  • Inability to distinguish between colors
  • Difficulty in differentiating or seeing tones and shades of the same color
  • Rapid eye movement in very rare cases

Causes of Color Vision Deficiency

Most cases of color deficiency are genetic and are passed from the parents to kids. Apart from that, certain diseases and medical conditions may also lead to a loss in color recognition. Some include:

Other factors also include:

Medication: Drugs used for treating nervous disorders, heart problems, high blood pressure and psychological problems can affect color vision.

Chemical Exposure: Prolonged exposure to some fertilizers and chemicals has caused loss of color vision in some individuals.

Aging: As a person ages, his/her ability to see and recognize colors diminishes.

Treating Color Blindness

In most cases there is no cure, but if it’s caused due to an illness or an eye-injury, treatment may improve the color vision. Color cues and other methods can help color-deficient people to compensate for their inability to distinguish colors.

  • Organizing and labeling your furniture, clothes and other colored objects will help in easy recognition.
  • Some objects such as traffic signals have a fixed order of colors. Remembering such order of things rather than focusing on the color will help in identifying colors correctly.

If you suspect colorblindness in yourself or a loved one, go to an eye doctor immediately. Give InSight Vision Center a call and make an appointment today for a comprehensive diagnosis.

Cataracts occur when there is a clouding of the clear lens, located directly behind the iris leading to clouded and misty vision. This mostly occurs in older people, but it may develop in infants and kids too. In fact, some people can even be born with a cataract. Let’s understand more about childhood cataracts.

They can be divided into two categories:

Congenital cataracts: When cataract is present in the baby at birth or shortly after it’s born

Developmental, infantile or juvenile cataracts: When cataracts are diagnosed in children that are 2 years and above.

Symptoms of Cataracts in Children

Cataracts in kids can affect one or both eyes. The symptoms include:

  • Blurry vision
  • ‘Wobbling’ eyes
  • Asquint (both eyes pointing in different directions)

Spotting these signs in infants is not easy, which is why your baby’s eyes should be routinely examined within 72 hours of birth. The test should be followed when they are 6-8 weeks old. It’s possible that cataracts can develop in children after these screening tests too. Detecting cataracts in children at early stages is important to reduce the risk of long-term vision problems.

Causes of cataracts

There are numerous reasons for cataracts to occur in children. Some possible causes include:

  • Genetic reasons when it is inherited from the parents
  • Injury to eye after birth
  • Certain genetic conditions that include Down’s syndrome
  • Infections that affected the mother during pregnancy

Treatment of Childhood Cataracts

Contact lenses: They can be used after eye surgery for bilateral or unilateral cataracts in kids under the age of two. Contact lenses can be used by older kids as well, however they are highly recommended for those under two as their eye and focusing power changes quickly during early infancy.

Intraocular lenses: These are artificial lenses that can be implemented to replace the natural lenses in children. Though this method isn’t widely used and is still under study for infants, there have been excellent results for those who opted for it.

Glasses: When cataract surgery has been done in both eyes and contact lenses failed to do the needful, then eyeglasses are recommended. They are even used when intraocular lenses are inappropriate. At times when focus needs to be managed very carefully, kids might have to wear glasses along with a contact or an intraocular lens, as the focus needs to be managed very carefully.

Risks of Cataract Surgery

Though it is successful in most cases with a low risk of serious complications, cataract surgery does have a few risks. The most common is a condition that can affect the artificial lens implants called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This causes cloudy vision to return after the surgery. Glaucoma is another risk when pressure starts building inside the eye. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause irreversible and permanent damage to the eye and vision.
Most complications can be treated with further surgeries or medication. It is crucial that cataracts are detected in early stages and is treated quickly. Failing to provide immediate cataract care can result in a permanent lazy eye or even blindness, depending on the severity of the case.

How Can Childhood Cataract be Prevented

Cataracts that are genetically passed may not be prevented, however taking precautions during pregnancies to avoid infections may drastically reduce the chances of your child being born with cataracts. Genetic counseling may help if you are planning another baby after having a child with childhood cataracts.

If your child is complaining of compromised vision or if you observe any cataract symptom in the kid, contact our Eye doctor in Fresno at InSight Vision Center immediately.

There are a number of people suffering from glaucoma. Unfortunately there is no cure for this eye disease, but the good news is that it can be controlled through medication. The glaucoma treatment primarily focuses on lowering the IOP (intraocular pressure) to a level that doesn’t cause optic nerve damage. Elevated IOP damages the optic nerve significantly, which is why containing the pressure is critical. The pressure to be achieved is known as the ‘target pressure’ or ‘goal pressure.’ This varies from one person to the other, and it may change during the course of treatment.

The ophthalmologist will study your glaucoma symptoms and prescribe the medication accordingly to lower the pressure on your eye. In the recent years, there has been an increase in the choices for topical treatment of glaucoma – prostaglandin analogs and prostamides being two of them. A prostaglandin analog medication is a preferred choice of many doctors for treating any kind of glaucoma, including congenital glaucoma.

How Do Prostaglandin Analogs or Prostamides Work

These medicines increase the outflow of aqueous humor, thus lowering the intraocular pressure. Aqueous humor is a fluid that the eye continually makes and is crucial for proper functioning of eye. These medications should be taken once a day.

What Kind of Medication Do Prostaglandin Analogs Include

These medications comprises of:

  • Latanoprost (Xalatanâ)
  • Bimatoprost (Lumiganâ)
  • Travoprost (Travatanâ)

Possible Side Effects of These Medications

Though most medications, including eye-drops, are safe to use – some may have side-effects. People may experience the following symptoms as side-effects:

  • Redness of the eye
  • Darkened or brown iris. The change gets noticeable only after a few months or years
  • Irritation or itching in the eye
  • Blurry vision
  • Increased growth, thickness and pigmentation of the eyelashes
  • Muscle aches and headaches though they are rare
  • Darkening of the eyelid skin

It is advised that people with a history of eye problems such as uveitis, history of retinal swelling or ocular herpes infection use these medications with caution. If you suffer or have suffered from any kind of eye ailments, discuss with your doctor before proceeding with any kind of treatment for glaucoma treatment. It is important that you take your glaucoma medications regularly as prescribed for them to show the desired results.

Medication Tips

Before you start taking any medication that your ophthalmologist prescribes, you should understand certain things.

  • The name of the medication
  • How the medicine should be ingested or applied
  • Frequency of medication
  • The right manner to store it
  • Possible side effects that you might face
  • How to address these side effects, if you experience any
  • What should be done if you miss a dose

How will these medications react with the medication of a different treatment you might be on. It is of utmost importance that your doctors know about the different medications that are prescribed to you. Include the non-prescription medications as well. This will help them in planning the appropriate treatment plan for you, without any risk of threatening medical problems or side effects.

If you or a loved one is suffering from glaucoma, then it is advisable to visit a doctor immediately to control the condition before it worsens any further. Even if you don’t have glaucoma right now but your family has a history of this ailment, you should get regular check-ups to detect it in the early stages. Once you are on medications, you have to be disciplined about taking them without fail. Request an appointment with InSight Vision Center and get a consultation today.

When the shape of the eye prevents the light rays from focusing directly on the retina, and rather focuses in the front or back of the retina, refractive error occurs. Factors such as length of the eyeball, aging of the lens and change in the shape of the cornea contribute to refractive errors.

What is Refraction

The phenomenon of bending of light when it passes from one object to another is called refraction. Light rays bend when they pass through cornea and lens, enabling one to see objects. Optical refractive index refers to the number that measures how much light gets refracted in the eye, which gives an idea if you are suffering from a refractive error or not.

Types of Refractive Errors

  • Myopia
    Also known as nearsightedness, it occurs when the eyeball is too long for the refractive power of the cornea and lens. Due to the long size, the light gets focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it. The person suffering from myopia has trouble seeing the distant objects clearly.
  • Hyperopia
    This is a common refractive error where people have trouble seeing near objects as compared to faraway objects. It’s also known as farsightedness and this occurs when the eyeball is too short for the refractive power of the cornea and lens. This causes the light to focus behind the retina, which makes it difficult to focus clearly on objects that are near.
  • Astigmatism
    When the cornea or lens isn’t perfectly round or spherical, astigmatism occurs. In this condition the eye cannot focus the light evenly onto the retina, which causes objects to appear stretched out and blurred at any distance.
  • Presbyopia
    This is an age-related condition where one loses the ability to focus on anything up close. When people turn 40 years and above, the lens becomes stiff and can’t change its shape easily. This doesn’t allow the eye to focus on close objects clearly.

What Causes Refractive Errors?

  • Genetics: Children whose parents suffer from certain refractive errors are more likely to develop refractive errors themselves.
  • Environmental: Factors like age and health issues can greatly affect the health of the eye and cause refractive errors.

Signs and Symptoms of Refractive Errors

The most common symptom of refractive error is blurred vision. Others include:

  • Double vision
  • Halos around bright lights
  • Haziness
  • Headaches and eye strain
  • Red, itchy and dry eyes
  • Constant watering of eyes

Treatment for Refractive Errors

  • Eyeglasses
    The most common treatment of refractive errors consists of eyeglasses. Based on the degree of error, doctors prescribe appropriate lenses to correct it and give you clear optimal vision.
  • Contact Lenses
    Made of plastic, contact lenses provide clearer and a wider field of vision. They act as the first refractive surface for the light rays entering the eyes and causes precise focus or refraction. They offer great comfort too. However, it is crucial to wash your hands and clean the lenses before putting them on to reduce the risk of infection. Discuss with your doctor if your eye condition supports the use of contact lenses.
  • Refractive Surgery
    This surgery changes the shape of the cornea permanently. By doing so, the focusing power of the eye is restored as it allows the light rays to focus precisely on the retina for improved vision. Before opting for refractive surgery, consult with your doctor if this is the right treatment for you.Do not take blurred vision and watery eyes for granted. These may be symptoms of underlying refractive errors. Book an appointment today & get an accurate diagnosis at InSight Vision Center and have it rectified at the earliest to keep complications at bay.

People in certain professions are at a constant risk of an eye-injury. However, while their chances of hurting their eyes are higher than others, almost everyone else is also equally prone to an eye injury. Accidents around the house such as a flying objects or hitting the head against something can hurt your eye. Thankfully, you can prevent most eye-injuries or further aggravate an injury by taking a few precautions.

Simple Tips to Prevent an Eye Injury

The following tips will immensely help in preventing eye injuries on different occasions:

  • Using Protective Eye-Wear During Outdoor Activities And Sports
    Safety glasses and goggles are a must when your work exposes you to dust or flying particles. Activities such as welding, metal grinding etc. require protective eye gear. Use the right protective eye wear while playing sports such as tennis, swimming etc. too.
  • Being Extra Careful While Using Chemicals And Cleaners
    Read instructions carefully before using chemicals and cleaning supplies such as bleach, pesticide spray etc. Keep them away from the reach of children.
  • Supervise Your Child’s Use Of Sharp Tools And Objects
    Household items such as knives, scissors, forks, wire hangers, paper clips, fishhooks and even rubber bands can cause serious damage to the eye. Supervise kids when they are using these items and keep them away from their reach when not in use.
  • Don’t Buy Certain Children’s Toys
    Keep projectile toys such as darts, missile-firing toys away from children. Don’t allow them to play with non-powder rifles such as pellet guns and BB guns as well.
  • Avoid The Use Of Laser Pointers
    Laser pointers can permanently damage the retina when directly exposed to the eye. Partial vision loss is also possible. Don’t point the beam toward anyone’s eyes directly.
  • Exercise Caution While Cooking Or Using Hot Objects
    Splattering oil or high flames in kitchen can be dangerous. Use grease shields to keep the eyes safe. Avoid using a curling iron or hair-straightener near your eyes.
  • Eliminate Hazards Caused By Sharp Objects
    Cover sharp edges and corners of furniture with padded materials. Secure the railings and pointed objects too.
  • Leave Fireworks To Professionals
    Do not handle fireworks by yourselves and don’t let kids use them. If you want to indulge in fireworks for any occasion, call the professionals.
  • Open A Champagne Bottle With Extreme Caution
    Point the bottle away from yourself and bystanders. Place your palm over the while removing the wire hood and grasp the cork tightly until it comes out of the neck instead of letting it pop and fly.
  • Car Safety Measures
    Secure your child in a car-seat and seat belt. Keep loose and sharp objects in the truck.

Signs and Symptoms of an Eye Injury

  • Immense pain in the eye
  • Unusual pupil shape or size
  • Blood in the eye
  • Prominent sticking out of one eye
  • Torn or cut eyelid, or foreign object under the eyelid/on the eye
  • Blurred vision or restricted movement of one or both eyes

What to Do In Case Of an Eye Injury

Go to a doctor immediately, even if the injury seems minor. Delaying could further damage the eye, leading to permanent loss of vision. You should take the following precautions too:

  • Don’t rub, touch or apply pressure to the hurting eye
  • Flush out any chemicals the eye has been exposed to with clean water
  • Do not self-medicate
  • Don’t try to remove any foreign object stuck in the eye
  • Shield the eye with a gauze patch till you get medical attention

For any eye-related query or treatment, get in touch with your eye doctor in Fresno today!

Contact lenses can significantly affect lifestyle choices of those with weak vision. This area of eye-wear has seen technological improvement in terms of materials used and designs of contact lenses, allowing greater flexibility to all the users.

You can choose between daily wear contact lenses and extended wear contact lenses. The difference between these two is that the daily wear contact lenses are designed to be removed each day for cleaning and are to be removed before you sleep or nap, and the extended wear contact lenses can be worn continuously for up to 7 days before they need to be removed for cleaning. The daily wear contact lens should not be worn for extended time as misuse can lead to temporary or permanent damage to the cornea.

The latest favourite is extended wear contact lenses. These are contact lenses that can be worn continuously for six nights and seven days, some even for a month. You can keep these lenses on even while you sleep.

Are Extended Wear Contact lenses Good For Me

If you wear contact lenses regularly or for a long time every day, extended wear contacts will be a good option to consider. The modern day extended wear contact lenses are made with silicone hydrogel lens which allow more oxygen to pass through the lenses to the eyes. It decreases the risk of hypoxia which is responsible for making the cornea more susceptible to inflammation and infection.

Moreover, almost all the extended wear contact lenses are disposable that can be discarded after 2 weeks or a month. This prevents build-up of proteins and other lens deposits that cause eye inflammation and discomfort and create a hospitable environment for the growth of infection-causing microorganisms. All these factors suggest that wearing extended contact lenses is definitely a good idea.

Benefits of Extended Wear Contact lenses

Apart from the obvious benefit of not having to constantly remove the lenses, there are other benefits as well.

  • People with highly active or unpredictable lifestyles will benefit the most. It is great for those who are outdoors for long periods of time and aren’t always able to clean or handle the lenses properly. Extended wear contact lenses eliminate the need for regular care. Military personnel, emergency
    workers, pilots etc. would greatly benefit from these lenses.
  • Contact lenses are worn by people with weak sight, but some have exceptionally bad vision. Those who suffer from high refractive errors will find it helpful to have a clear vision at all times. The difference can be felt when you wake up in the morning or unexpectedly at night and see
    everything clearly.
  • Those with binocular abnormalities, including amblyopia, can be tackled with extended contact lenses and the continuous vision correction it provides.

Risks and Preventive Measures

One of the biggest risks that come with using extended wear contact lenses is eye infections. Most of these infections, especially fungal eye infections can potentially lead to blindness. It might develop a condition where the blood vessels in your eye grow toward your iris in an attempt to address a need for oxygen. This is known as neovascularization. You may experience irritation and inflammation in the eyes as well.

The good news is that these risks can be minimized by taking some precautions like:

  • Removing extended lenses, whenever possible, before sleeping
  • Avoiding smoke or poorly ventilated conditions
  • Always washing hands before handling the lenses
  • Removing the lenses before swimming or cleaning them after the swim
  • Never wearing the lenses after their expiry date

What Are the Best Extended Wear Contact Lenses for Me

There are a variety of extended contact lenses in the market. Choose the lenses based on two factors: the lens type and eye doctor’s evaluation of your eyes’ tolerance for overnight wear. Consult with your doctor and weigh all the pros and cons before making the final decision. If you experience irritation, redness or inflammation in the eye, or if the lenses hinder with your vision, remove them immediately and visit a doctor. Make an appointment with the eye care in Fresno and welcome the comfort and flexibility that extended wear lens bring.

Smoking is one vice that is more harmful than it looks. It is linked to numerous health problems and is a leading cause of high number of deaths across the world. It affects nearly every organ in the body. It’s common knowledge that it causes cancer and heart diseases, but not many know that smoking greatly affects the eyes and vision as well.

Exposure to cigarette smoke causes biological changes in the eye which leads to loss of vision. The chemicals present in tobacco smoke hinder with the body’s ability to protect itself from high levels of oxidants and decreases the antioxidants levels in the body. Further, smoking constricts the blood vessels to the eye and reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the macula causing macular degeneration.

Smoking-Related Eye Diseases

Cataracts

Cataracts cause blurry and clouded vision, loss of contrast, and sensitivity to bright light and glare. Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts at an early age and impairs your vision. In most cases, surgery is the only option to get rid of cataracts. Smokers double their chance of forming cataracts, and continue to increase the risk with constant smoking.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration affects the center of retina and causes ‘blind spots’. It impairs central vision severely and is the leading cause of permanent vision loss and blindness in those over the age of 65. Smoking triples this risk and increases the severity of the disease.

Uveitis

Uveitis is a condition where the eye’s middle layer, uvea, gets inflamed. It’s a serious eye disease that leads to complete vision loss. When you smoke, you double the risk of developing uveitis. This can further lead to glaucoma and cataracts.

Diabetic Retinopathy

This eye disease is caused when the blood vessels of the retina are damaged, resulting in vision loss. High sugar content in the blood stream further promotes this condition. Studies suggest that smoking may be linked to diabetic retinopathy. Smoking is known for increasing the risk of diabetes, thus affected your eyes as well since diabetes is a leading cause of cataracts. There is a causal relationship between smoking, and the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy apart from other diabetic complications.

Dry Eyes

Eyes get dry when you don’t produce enough tears to keep them comfortably lubricated. This condition is call dry eye and can get quite itchy. Smoking worsens this condition as it acts as an irritant and worsens the symptoms of itchiness, scratchiness and burning of the eyes. The cigarette smoke makes the eyes really red and causes excess tearing from the irritation. Smokers are nearly twice as likely to have dry eyes.

Infant Eye Disease

Smoking during pregnancy affects the eye sight of the baby and it increases the risk of having a baby with facial detects involving eyes such as crossed eyes or underdevelopment of the optic nerve. The chances of lazy eyes in the baby also shoot up. Additionally, smoking during pregnancy is associated with premature birth and low birth rate. Premature babies are given oxygen therapy to sustain their lives, which can cause retinopathy of prematurity, leading to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Resources that help you quit smoking

If you are a smoker who’s always looking for a smoke break, it is crucial that you make a serious effort to kick the habit. You can reduce the risk of developing serious eye diseases as soon as you quit. Don’t hesitate to take help from your doctor or a local community associated with the cause. Make annual eye check-ups a priority to detect any smoking-related eye disease at early stages.

Eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of eyelids by removing the skin from the eyelid or adding/removing fat from them. Also called as blepharoplasty, it can be performed on either the upper and lower lid or both. It is done to either improve the facial appearance or to cater to any functional problems caused by the eyelids. People in good health are good candidates for eyelid surgery. At the same time, it is crucial to have realistic expectations from blepharoplasty.

Prepping for the Surgery

Preparation is an absolute must before any type of eye surgery. Without the right kind of preparation, the number of risks increases and you may not get the desired results.

The first step of preparation is a physical examination. Your surgeon will conduct a thorough examination that may include testing your tear production and measuring parts of your eyelids. Once that is done, you have to take an examination to test your vision, including peripheral vision. Doing this will support an insurance claim. Lastly, the surgeon will take multiple photographs of your eyes from different angles. This helps in planning the surgery and assessing its immediate and long-term effects in addition to supporting an insurance claim. (read more here about the costs: Final Expense Insurance 101: What You Need to Know).

The Procedure

If you are undergoing upper and lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon would generally start with the upper lids first. The doctor will deliver anesthesia and once it is under effect, he/she will cut along the fold of the eyelid. Then the excess skin, fat or muscle is removed. Once the required amount is taken away, the incision is closed.

For lower lid surgery, the surgeon will make a cut just below the lashes on the eye’s natural crease or inside the lower lid. The excess fat, skin or muscles are either removed or redistributed. The final step is to close the cut carefully. A procedure called ptosis can also be performed if your eyelid droops close to your pupil.

The entire procedure takes about two to three hours, depending on the amount and location of the tissue being removed.

Recovery After the Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty has a short recovery period. There will be immediate bruising and swelling after the surgery, and it may worsen the next day. However, it starts subsiding quickly. To reduce the swelling and bruising in the first 48 hours, you can use cool compress around the eyes and on your face. Thin bandages will be placed over the incisions sites and the stitches will remain for almost a week. Some doctors may even use self-absorbing stitches that don’t require removal. You may experience blurred vision, watery eyes, sensitivity to light or even double vision. There will be some redness and pain where the cuts were made. Your eyelids might even feel puffy and numb. All these conditions are temporary, so there is nothing to worry.

While resting is important, you can indulge in light physical activities. However, avoid strenuous activities such as going to the gym, swimming etc. Do not strain your eyes and avoid rubbing them if it itches around the stitches. Avoid contact lenses for 2 weeks if you use them and use sunglasses for a few weeks after the surgery. You can return to normal activities after 7 to 10 days.

At the end of week 2, a majority of the bruising and swelling will be resolved. You should avoid certain medicines; consult with your doctor and avoid using those for a few days. There will be a significant change to the shape of the eyes after the surgery.

Eyelid surgery is a common procedure like LASIK eye surgery in Fresno. So, if you are considering it make an appointment with us soon.

As you age, the lens of your eyes also age. As it grows old, a few of its cells die and accumulate, thus turning the lens cloudy and yellow. This results in problems like blurry vision, fuzzy images of yellowed or fading colors. This condition is known as cataract. Anyone can be at a risk of cataract. Let’s understand more about this condition and its various types.

Types Of Cataracts

  • Sub-capsular cataract
    This occurs when the back of the lens gets clouded and blurs the vision. Those suffering from diabetes or people taking high doses of steroids are at a higher risk of developing this kind of cataract.
  • Nuclear cataract
    This is usually associated with aging and forms deep in the nucleus of the lens.
  • Cortical cataract
    This type of cataract is seen in the part surrounding the central nucleus called the lens cortex. It is characterized by white colored wedge-shaped opacities that start at the periphery of the lens and reach the center, resembling white-colored spoke.

Cataracts Symptoms and Signs

The symptoms of cataract differ based on the type of cataract you have. If you experience any of the following signs, consult an eye doctor immediately.

  • Cloudy and blurred vision: Cataract will start out small and will hardly affect your vision initially. Eventually, the blurriness will increase and your vision will start getting hazy.
  • Enhanced brightness: The sun, lamp or headlights will seem too glaring and bright as compared to before. On the other hand, brightness of colors will decrease. There will be an increased difficulty with vision at night
  • Halo effect: You will see halos around any light source.
  • Frequent change in lens or glass prescription

Different types of cataracts will give different symptoms. In case of nuclear cataract, you might experience a temporary improvement in your near vision, known as ‘second sight.’ This will be a short-lived phenomenon and will disappear soon, worsening the cataract. Contrarily, a sub-capsular cataract may not produce any symptoms until it’s well-developed.

What Causes Cataracts

The lens inside the eye focuses light onto the retina and allows us see things clearly. This lens is made up of protein and water, and the arrangement of protein is such that it keeps the lens clear and allows the light pass through it. However, with age, some of this protein starts clamping together and clouds a part of the lens. This is cataract, which may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

Age is the primary reason for causing cataract, but there are other factors that elevate the risk. Some include:

  • Diabetes or hypertension
  • UV radiation from sunlight
  • High myopia
  • Family history
  • Excessive smoking or drinking
  • Previous eye surgery, eye injury or inflammation
  • Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications

Preventing Cataract

Though there is no concrete proof that cataract can be successfully prevented in a patient, there have been studies that suggest that certain nutrients and nutritional supplements may reduce the risk of cataracts. Vitamin E, Vitamin C and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cataract risk. Covering your eyes every time you step out in the sun will greatly help.

It should also be noted that eye drops will not help prevent or dissolve small cataracts because they are not a particular ‘substance’ which can be dissolved. Even the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) hasn’t approved of any eye drops which can cure or delay cataracts. Any such eye drops only lessen the burning and itching sensation in your eyes.

Cataract Treatment

As soon as initial symptoms begin to appear, you can aid your vision through glasses, appropriate lighting, strong bifocals and other visual aids. As the condition worsens, surgery is the only option.
Cataract surgery is a simple, painless and most commonly performed treatment which helps regain a clear vision. The surgery is recommended when the vision is seriously impaired and starts affecting your daily life. Cataract extraction is done with this surgery in a 15 minutes procedure which involves the use of a laser. This surgery gives really successful results. 9 out of 10 people who underwent this surgery are known to regain a vision as good as 20/20 and 20/40.
The surgery involves removal of your clouded lens and in most cases replacing them with clear, plastic intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery recovery is a must after the operation.

Post-Surgery Care

  • Do not rub or press your eyes
  • Don’t lift heavy-weight for the next few weeks
  • Heavy exercises should be avoided
  • Normal routine activities can be resumed the day after, once the eye patch is removed

If you or a loved one is suffering from cataract or is showing symptoms of the same, contact our eye care in Fresno immediately.

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