LASIK Eye Surgery Rochester

By April | March 26, 2008

Are you searching for a quality LASIK eye surgery in Rochester? Are you looking for a reputable company that you can trust but don’t know where to turn? Hopefully you will have a better idea in this article so that you can find a LASIK eye surgeon in Rochester.

The necessary first step in finding yourself a surgeon is to make some appointments with surgeons in your area. You will find that the surgeons will be more than happy to meet and talk with you about all the different procedures and answer any questions. They want your business so it’s their job to not only carry out the procedures but also talk to you about what is involved. They will have dealt with many hundreds of people just like yourself so they know what people want and are worried about. Therefore they will already have been asked many questions by patients previously and so will know what to talk to you about. Of course, make sure you ask as many questions as you can so that you are comfortable with whatever choice you make.

Once you have made your appointment you will want to ask them about what their level of experience is along with all the prices of all the eye corrective procedures they carry out. You’re eyesight is very important so you don’t want to base your decision soley on price. In saying that, you shouldn’t go with the most expensive surgeon either just because you assume they must be the best. Always make your choice based on the answers you receive to your questions.

If you have any friends or family who have has eye surgery in Rochester you should ask them for advice and ask them who they used and if they were any good. Although patients can all have different experiences with the same surgeon, it is a good starting point. Finding someone you know who has gone through LASIK surgery, or any other type of eye surgery for that matter, will be able to put your mind at rest. A lot of people are scared of having eye corrective surgery in Rochester but it’s actually no where near as bad as people fear.

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Contact Lenses v LASIK Eye Surgery: The Advantages and Disadvantages

By April | January 15, 2008

Are you getting fed up with spending a small fortune on buying, maintaining and replacing contact lenses along with annual eye examinations? If so then you might feel like a change. Either you could go for a 30-day contact lens which you can wear continuously or you could have a look at the more permanent LASIK eye surgery. Not sure which one is the best choice for you? Well, keep reading…

Advantages of 30-day Continuous Wear Contact Lenses

Quick - The results on your vision is both immediately noticeable and guaranteed. The instant you place one of these contact lenses onto your eye you will see perfectly. If it’s uncomfortable it means you’ve been given the wrong prescription so it’s a problem which is easy to fix.

Low Cost – These lenses will end up costing you less than a daily cup of coffee from your favourite café. When you reach the end of the 30 days you simply throw them away and pop in a new pair. This eliminates the need for all those cleaning solutions and other lens maintenance products. Although it’s recommended you keep a bottle of cleaners to hand, it’ll last for some time.

New Technology – The silicone hydrogel which is used to make these lenses are much more efficient at allowing oxygen into the eye. This keeps your eyes healthier and irritation-free.

If a recent eye examination shows you need to change your prescription this is a very easy process.

Disadvantages of 30-day Continuous Wear Contact Lenses

Despite new technology being used, some people still find it awkward to sleep with contact lenses on. If so then the 30-day lenses may not be the best choice for you. Also you have an increased chance of developing infections if you leave contact lenses in place whilst asleep.

Because your eyes can change over the years it’s strongly advisable to keep going for annual eye examinations to make sure your prescription is still valid.

Advantages of LASIK Eye Surgery

The success rates of LASIK eye surgery have improved considerably over the years due to better technology, training and experience. For those who choose surgery you will more than likely end up with 20/20 vision, or even better with results that are long-lasting.

The results you get from LASIK are pretty much immediate and a lot of patients can drive home after the operation.

Disadvantages of LASIK Eeye Surgery

Cost is one of the biggest prohibitive factors in choosing surgery. The cost is around $2,000 per eye so you may simply not be able to afford it. However many surgeons offer financing options.

LASIK eye corrective surgery is also not guaranteed and like other types of surgery mistakes can happen. There have been patients who haven’t seen any improvement and side effects can include glare, dry eyes and the appearance of spots.

Some people cannot have the surgery because their eyes are not healthy enough or overall health is not that good.

Although surgery is long lasting, you may still need to wear prescription glasses in years to come with presbyopia becomes an issue.

You will also need to continue your eye examination as normal.

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Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

By April | January 14, 2008

For the most advanced type of eye procedure, look at Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery. It combines the best of the traditional LASIK surgery with that of the LASEK and PRK laser procedures. Epi means Epithelial whilst LASIK means Laser in situ Keratomileusis. Essentially this procedure involves lightly separating the epithelial from the top of the cornea. An epikeratome is used to achieve this rather than slicing the top of the cornea to create a hinge which is what happens in LASIK.

Someone who would want this type of surgery would be some one with a very thin cornea and has with moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Like other types of laser eye surgery, vision is achieved through the use of laser beams that reshape the cornea.

What are the Benefits of Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?

The two main advantages of Epi-LASIK is the recovery time and the speed of restored vision. The cornea isn’t cut with a microkeratome (a sharp blade) which means the cornea doesn’t have to heal. Also, only a very thin layer of the epithelial is separated so it can also heal very quickly. There are also no risks which can happen from incorrectly cutting the cornea. You will therefore be able to avoid the potential of losing your vision and other associated problems. Also the pain is less.

Risks of Epi-LASIK

It is important to remember that there is no such thing as risk-free surgery. However by having a thorough diagnostic testing you’ll be able to severely reduce your chance of problems.

The Epi-LASIK procedure

Like other laser eye treatments, the Epi-LASIK procedure will take less than 10 minutes to perform. To reduce pain and discomfort, anesthetic drops are put into your eye. From there, the epithelial must be moved off to the side so that the laser can reach the intended target area.

Specialist equipment is first of all needed to stabilize your eye. The epithelium separator then passes across the eye to flatten the cornea making to easier to separate the epithelial. It is not removed completely; instead it remains attached in the middle as apposed to the side which is what happens with LASIK.

To remove excess tissue from the cornea, a laser emits pulses of UV light. The procedure continues until the correct amount of tissue is removed. Afterwards, antibiotic drops are placed in the eye to prevent infection and a bandage similar to a contact lens is put in place. Those opting for the Epi-LASIK procedure can usually continue normal life the day after the procedure. Several follow-up visits are required to monitor healing and vision.

Be very careful when choosing your Epi-LASIK eye surgeon. Find out as much as you can about their experience with this particular type of procedure along with success rates. You will also want to know what level of care you will receive before, during and after the procedure. And of course all the associated costs.

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LASEK Laser Eye Surgery

By April | January 14, 2008

LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) eye surgery combines the best elements of two types of surgery – LASIK and PRK. This makes LASEK are very effective surgical operation.

Whilst LASIK uses a sharp blade to remove the top of the cornea, LASEK instead uses a solution of diluted alcohol. This loosens the epithelium’s thin layer so that it can then be moved over to the side.

What are the Benefits of LASEK Laser Eye Surgery?

One main benefits of LASEK is the fact that is removes the risks connected with the corneal flap. In the case of LASIK surgery, a sharp blade is used to cut the corneal flap. The problem is that very occasionally the flap can be removed completely which is not supposed to happen. This can result in some serious problems with your vision.

Healing is typically faster when LASEK is performed due to the fact that no cutting is involved. Also the epithelial flap can also be used as a bandage of sorts when the procedure has finished. Also LASEK surgery is much less likely to produce glare after the procedure compared to PRK.

Are there Any Risks or Disadvantages of LASEK?

Any risk associated with eye surgery is greatly reduced with LASEK maily because no sharp instruments are used for cutting the cornea. There may be some pain but this is pretty minimal and can usually be treated with over-the-counter medication. No eye surgery can guarantee perfect results with no halos, dry eyes or glare.

The LASEK Procedure

Before having LASEK surgery you will be required to give your surgeon details of your medical history. You will undergo eye tests and other diagnostic procedures to make sure you are a good candidate for surgery. When you go to have your surgery your eye will be cleaned and prepped with eye drops to numb your eye. Your eyelids will then be held in place with a special tool to prevent your from blinking.

The alcohol solution is then applied and the epithelium is loosened and gently placed out of the way. Pre-defined beams of UV light are pulsed onto your cornea and after a minute of so the procedure is finished.

For most patients, blurred vision will be present initially so it’s not a good idea to drive home. You’ll probably need a day or two for recovery.

The best results will be achieved by eye surgeons who are experienced with LASEK.

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Dry Eye Syndrome

By April | December 4, 2007

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is something that many people have to deal with. In the US it is estimated that 10 million people suffer from it. The problem occurs when something is wrong with either the quantity or quality of the tear which is needed for lubricating the eyes.

The importance of tears is very underestimated. The production process is very complex and there are three separate layers; each layer having its own purpose.

The mucous layer coats the eye and acts link an adhesive. In the middle of the tear is a watery layer which helps deliver nutrients and oxygen into the cornea. Also, the reason tears taste salty is because it contains salt. The outer layer of the tear is designed to be oily, keeping moisture in so it doesn’t evaporate. Tiny glands surrounding the eyes produce the ingredients needed for the various layers of tear, and excess tear fluids drain into tiny ducts.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

When you have dry eye syndrome you’ll be mostly aware of your eye feeling irritated. They’ll feel itchy, burning and will appear red. Ironically, excessive production of tears can cause symptoms of dry eyes. That’s because the eyes produce tears in response to many conditions including protecting eyes from injury.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can suffer from dry eyes however it is more commonly found in the elderly. When our bodies age we produce less oil than before. This means that less oil is available for the outer layer of tears. Due to the lack of oil, the middle layer cannot be sealed as well which causes evaporation. This leads to dry areas on the cornea.

Because of hormonal changes occurring during the menopause, older women suffer from dry eye syndrome than med. Smoking doesn’t help either. Air conditioning, hot and dry climates along with wind and high altitudes can have an effect too. People who read a lot or work at a computer all day complain more of dry eyes because they tend not to blink as much.

People who have dry eyes also are either taking certain medication, suffer from lack of vitamin A or have some sort of medical condition such as Parkinson’s disease.

Early Detection and Treatment

You’ll probably know whether you have dry eyes or not however it is always best to consult with an eye doctor. Detection takes place using special eye drops that help the eye doctor gauge tear production and associated rates of evaporation.

The most common form of treatment is artificial tear drops which you place into the eye. Collagen or silicon plugs can also be placed into the tear drains to prevent them from draining. It’s important to keep you body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoiding eye rubbing and blinking more frequently also help alleviate dry eye syndrome.

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