Discover the Full Spectrum of Color Blindness
The eye doctors can tell you that there are various ways a person can be colorblind, and it is very rare for a person to see only in black and white.
The laser eye surgeon of Excel Laser Vision Institute, Doctor Moosa, explains to us that complete color blindness is known as monochromacy, and it is so rare that only one in 33,000 gets it. For a lot of people with color blindness, it only affects specific colors, and a few factors influence which ones and the reasons for it. Let us closely examine the different types of color blindness.
What Are The Basics Of Color Vision?
When it comes to color blindness, it is critical to understand the principles of color vision. The first step in the vision process is light hitting the photoreceptors in our eyes, which appear in two types: rods and cones. Rods are good for differentiating between the quantity of light the person is seeing, which is important for things such as night vision, while cones recognize differences in color.
A person with normal vision has three types of cones that absorb light from various parts of the visible spectrum. Some process short (blue) wavelengths, some process medium (green) ones, and some process long (red) ones. It is very similar to the way tiny red, green, and blue phosphors on old TVs could come together to create millions of colors.
Do Genetics Play A Role In Color Vision?
A lot of the time, color blindness happens because of a mutation on the X chromosome. Since it’s a recessive gene, women, who usually have two X chromosomes, have two possibilities to have the gene for normal color vision. On the other hand, men only have one. A woman, who has sons, and a copy of the color blindness gene but isn’t colorblind herself could have a 50% chance of having a son that is colorblind. For this reason, about a dozen men are colorblind but only one in every 200 women is!
What Are The Types Of Color Blindness?
Although the only way for color vision to be correct is known as trichromacy, there are a few ways for it to go wrong. A person with anomalous trichromacy has all the types of cones but some of them fail, and the outcome is limited color vision almost to a point of someone with dichromacy, which means they are completely missing one type of cone.
The most common color blindness is red-green since it’s probably because the red cones (protanomaly/protanopia) or the green cones (deuteranomaly/deuteranopia) fail or they are absent. No matter what, the person sees the world as a landscape of dull brownish-yellows, and this type of color blindness affects more men than women.
Blue-yellow color blindness is the least common with only 5% of cases. Eye doctors realize that it’s this type of color blindness if tritanopia cones are missing or tritanomaly are failing. This doesn’t originate from X chromosomes and so it’s split evenly between the sexes. As a result of this type of color blindness, the person sees a palette of pinks, teals, and browns.
Can Laser Eye Surgery Correct Reading Vision Issues?
If you feel it’s getting more and more challenging to focus on words when you are reading a page, you are getting headaches after reading for long stretches of time, the LASIK Orange County eye doctors are here to let you know that you’re probably feeling the effects of age and you’re beginning to lose your reading vision.
Throughout the years, the eyes lose their muscular strength, making it more difficult to focus at close distances. The best laser eye surgery doctors in Orange County call this condition presbyopia. It’s an age-related refractive condition that develops in the loss of focus up close. The eye’s lens becomes less flexible, and it usually means that you’ll require eyeglasses to read.
Presbyopia can happen in individuals who in any other way have good vision, but it can also come about in people who are already affected by other optical conditions such as hyperopia, astigmatism, and myopia. Fortunately, there are vision correction treatments at Excel laser Vision Institute which can assist in correcting this very common problem.
What Are The Symptoms Of Presbyopia?
The LASIK Orange County eye doctors tell us that there are several common symptoms that people with presbyopia suffer from. So, if the following problems sound like something you’re going through, then you may have to think about your options, or book a consultation at Excel Laser Vision Institute to find out how we can assist.
Problems focusing on objects that are closeby
Suffering from headaches or eye pains when doing work close-up or reading.
Experiencing fatigue when focusing for long periods of time
Depending on brighter or increased lighting
You have to hold cell phones, books, and other reading materials at arm’s length to correctly focus on them
When presbyopia begins, it usually happens from the age of 40 and becomes more apparent after that. When a person reaches the age of 60, many individuals will have lost the elasticity in the lens that lets them focus on objects close up.
Can Reading Vision Be Enhanced?
When you come for your free consultation, the LASIK Orange County eye doctors will let you know about all your options. However, the most common option for individuals with reading vision issues is to wear reading glasses. These types of glasses are usually specially designed to help the lens focus at short distances.
Since reading glasses are only required for short distances, they can be slightly annoying. Some people place them on a chain around their necks so they can conveniently get to them. While others carry them around in a case. However, having to always put them on and take them off just to read a recipe or an article in the paper can get on a person’s nerves. This is when LASIK eye surgery swoops in and saves the day!
Do You Want To Get Laser Eye Surgery For Reading?
Due to advancements in technology and surgical procedures, there are currently many alternatives available that provide a more permanent solution to reading vision issues.
Laser eye surgery is very well known as a successful treatment for correcting reading vision. With the help of a precision laser, your eye surgeon will reshape your cornea to correct any vision impairments you may have.
There are several different laser eye procedures to treat presbyopia which include:
Conductive keratoplasty
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
Let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
Conductive keratoplasty
This is when your eye surgeon uses radiofrequency energy to apply heat to very small spots around the cornea. The heat makes the edge of the cornea to slightly get smaller, increasing its curve (steepness) and focusing ability. The outcome of conductive keratoplasty is different for everyone and might not last long.
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
This procedure involves the eye surgeon to cut a thin, hinged flap away from the front of the eye. Then the surgeon uses a laser to take off inner layers of your cornea to steepen its domed shape. LASIK recovery time is fast and less painful than other corneal surgeries.
Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)
The eye surgeon makes a very thin flap just inside the cornea’s outer protective cover, also known as the (epithelium). Then the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea’s outer layers, steepening its curve, and lastly replaces the epithelium.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
Similar to LASEK, but in PRK the surgeon completely removes the epithelium, then uses the laser to reshape the cornea. The eye surgeon doesn’t replace the epithelium because it will grow back naturally, adjusting to the cornea’s new shape.
Besides laser eye treatments there are these options.
Lens Implants
Some eye doctors use a procedure that involves removing the lens in each eye and replacing it with a synthetic lens. This is known as an intraocular lens.
Many types of lens implants are available for correcting presbyopia. Also, there are lens implants that let you see things near as well as far. There are some that change position or shape within the eye (accommodative lens). However, lens implants can result in a decrease in the quality of a person’s near vision, and you may still require reading glasses.
Your eye doctor will inform you of the possible side effects such as blurring and glare. Plus, this surgery has the same risks that are linked to cataract surgery, which are infection, bleeding, inflammation, and glaucoma.
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Corneal inlays
You could be one of those individuals who have huge success with a presbyopia treatment that consists of inserting a small plastic ring with a central opening into the cornea of one eye. The opening behaves similar to a pinhole camera and lets light focus inwards so the person can see close objects. If for any reason you don’t like the results of your corneal inlay procedure, your LASIK Orange County eye surgeon can take out the rings, and you can go forward with another treatment option.
If you want to learn more about Presbyopia, get in touch with the Eye laser Vision institute at (310) 905-8622.
Understand the Difference Between LASEK and LASIK Los Angeles
If you aren’t a doctor or didn’t study medical terms, it can be confusing when you come across certain medical terms and jargon. The LASIK Los Angeles eye doctors believe you should go ahead and do your research into laser eye surgery, and if you encounter something you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles about the terminology. Most of the time, patients don’t know the difference between vision correction procedures that are available to them, and that also goes for the differences between LASIK and LASEK.
The LASIK surgeons Los Angeles have to admit that LASIK and LASEK are nearly identical names, which doesn’t help matter much, but there are easy, noticeable distinctions between LASEK and LASIK that patients have to understand before going ahead with laser eye surgery.
What’s Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a vision correction procedure that’s purpose is to make the patient less dependent on glasses or contact lenses.
Oftentimes known as laser vision correction, laser eye surgery utilizes lasers to alter the shape of the cornea (the front surface of the eye) which provides enhanced focus. Laser eye surgery can sufficiently correct both long and short-sightedness, as well as astigmatism. Although LASIK Los Angeles is known as ‘surgery’, it doesn’t require an incision.
The two main types of laser eye surgery are LASEK and LASIK. Their fundamental difference is based on the way the top corneal layer is taken off.
What’s LASIK?
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis and is the best laser eye surgery in Los Angeles. It consists of two separate lasers. The first is a femtosecond laser that makes a thin, round flap on the cornea, which the doctor then folds back to enter the stroma or underlying part of the cornea.
When this step has been completed, the doctor utilizes an excimer laser to change the shape of the stroma. This takes away tissue from the cornea, to provide better vision and focus.
LASIK is usually a painless procedure, and both eyes can be treated in as short a time as fifteen minutes. Typically, patients recover within 24 hours.
What’s LASEK?
LASEK or Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy, also known as (LASEK), is slightly different from LASIK since the process only uses one laser. Rather than using a laser to create a flap in the top corneal layer, the eye surgeon applies an alcohol solution which helps to soften the surface layer, supporting it to be moved to the eye’s side.
When this top corneal layer has been removed, the eye surgeon can change the shape of the cornea with a laser. The top corneal layer is then brought back to its original position, and a protective contact lens is placed on the eye to magnify comfort during the healing process. In many situations, this can be taken off after four days.
Most eye surgeons will recommend LASEK to patients who have thin corneas, or other problems which may make conventional laser eye treatment complicated or risky. Similar to LASIK, both eyes can be treated on the same day, but the recovery process is a tad slower, usually lasting up to two weeks.
What’s The Difference Between LASIK And LASEK?
The most significant difference between LASIK and LASEK procedures is the method that the cornea is uncovered. With LASIK, this is carried out with a laser; when it comes to LASEK, the top layer of the cornea is removed using an alcohol solution.
Some LASIK Los Angeles patients, particularly those with thin corneas, will be told by their eye surgeons that their eyes are unsuitable for LASIK treatment and will be advised to go for a LASEK procedure.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of LASIK?
The advantages of LASIK are simple. The procedure can be done within fifteen minutes, and the patient normally recovers within 24 hours. The primary disadvantage of LASIK is the fact that patients with thin corneas are not suitable candidates for LASIK, and it’s not the most efficient procedure to treat individuals with severe short-sightedness. Also, patients who are at high risk of suffering an eye injury may want to avoid LASIK, since there is a possibility of the corneal flap being detached.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of LASEK
The best thing about LASEK is the fact that it’s suitable for all patients, and this includes those with thin corneas, pre-existing medical conditions, and severe short-sightedness.
Because the procedure does not require the eye surgeon to create a flap in the cornea, there is less risk for the patient to suffer from dry eyes than with LASIK. Also, this means LASEK patients can return to contact sports sooner than is recommended with LASIK.
LASEK’s main disadvantage is the recovery time, which is longer, and usually more uncomfortable than LASIK’s.
What’s The Cost Of LASIK VS LASEK?
Because LASIK Los Angeles needs more complex equipment to carry out a procedure compared to LASEK, the cost of the surgery is usually slightly higher. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we have various financing options to suit your needs.
Before you decide on the type of procedure you want to do, make sure you talk to a medical professional who specializes in this sort of treatment. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we offer free consultations, which you can book here. Or else, you can call us on (310) 905-8622, to book an appointment with us.
How Long Does Laser Eye Surgery Last?
If you have been thinking about getting laser eye surgery at Excel Laser Vision Institute’s Orange County clinic, one of the main questions you could have is how long does laser eye surgery last? Honestly, Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, tells us that there isn’t one surefire answer to how long laser eye surgery will last a person. This is because we are all different, and similar to any procedure or surgery, the results will vary.
Also, there’s so much more that goes into it, and the experienced LASIK Orange County staff understands that choosing laser eye surgery to improve your eyesight is most likely a serious decision you’ll make. That’s why this matter is broken down in more detail down below.
How Long Does Laser Eye Surgeries Such As LASIK Last?
If you’re getting sick and tired of squinting when you have to read small print or you find yourself reaching for your glasses to read anything from an intriguing article in your favorite rag to instructions on food packaging, you may be considering laser treatment to correct your eyesight as a long-term solution. With a laser eye treatment, you will definitely improve your vision and correct most of your refractive errors because the procedure reshapes the cornea.
When Should I Consider Laser Eye Surgery?
If you are affected by the following symptoms below, you should consider a laser eye surgery procedure and ask about LASIK eye surgery cost.
If you are affected by the following symptoms, you should consider LASIK:
You get headaches when you read for a few minutes.
You lose focus when looking at the small print.
You find you always have to put your reading glasses on.
You are getting embarrassed by the fact you have to squint at labels, and you still can’t make out what they say.
When text is too close, you see it blurred.
If the above speaks to you, bear in mind you’re not alone. As we age, our eyes lose their muscular power and flexibility. When this happens, it becomes more challenging to focus on words or objects that are nearby, LASIK Orange County eye doctors refer to this condition as presbyopia. It affects a majority of people who are age 40 and over, and it usually means you have to wear glasses for reading.
Nevertheless, there’s an option to become reliant on glasses or contact lenses and Excel Laser Vision Institute has many vision correction treatments which can easily correct this common eye condition.
What Are The Top Long-Lasting Laser Eye Surgery Solutions?
Excel Laser Vision Institute has three different laser eye surgery solutions for achieving exceptional long-term vision: LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE.
LASIK: This is the most common laser eye surgery procedure. The eye surgeon uses a laser to make a flap in the eye which is lifted to help reshape the cornea.
LASEK: When a patient is not suitable for LASIK because they have dry eyes, thin corneas or serious problems with focusing. Even though LASIK makes a flap, LASEK consists of loosening the surface of the cornea and folding it back to then reshape it.
SMILE (ReLEx SMILE): It is a less invasive treatment that helps to reshape the cornea through a keyhole procedure rather than creating a flap.
How Long Should Expect LASIK, LASEK, Or SMILE To Last?
If you’re thinking about LASIK, LASEK, or SMILE and would like more information about how long laser eye surgery lasts. You’ll be happy to learn that all three eye laser procedures are permanent.
Besides the fact that these procedures are permanent, most patients who get LASIK surgery achieve 20/20 vision, which means they can see an object that’s twenty feet away. For your information, 20/20 vision is when a person has ‘normal’ eyesight, without requiring eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Nevertheless, regardless of whether you opt for LASIK, LASEK, or SMILE laser eye treatment, it is crucial to be aware of specific factors which may result in vision changing after the procedure. To be fair, there is no clear-cut answer to how long a laser eye surgery lasts. Everyone is an individual, and just like any surgery or procedure, the results will vary.
For instance, when the eye begins to age naturally it leads us to presbyopia territory, even after having laser eye surgery, some people may find we still require eyeglasses for tasks such as driving or reading small print. Although in some instances a person’s need for glasses will be significantly reduced.
Is Laser Eye Surgery A Permanent Solution For Everyone?
Bear in mind that there are other factors which can result in vision changing after the procedure such as vision slowly going back towards your original prescription, even though this is rare.
Plus, specific health conditions can affect the result of how long laser eye surgery lasts. For instance, in the unlikely probability that the surgery does not heal properly, or if hormonal imbalances happen, such as during pregnancy or menopause, or if a person has diabetes.
Another eye issue such as a cataract could also have a negative influence on a person’s eyesight after laser eye surgery.
Who’s A Good Candidate For Laser Eye Surgery?
When you have your first consultation at Excel Laser Vision Institute, your LASIK Orange County eye surgeon will assess your eyes to make sure you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery. They will be looking out for the following criteria:
A healthy eye and cornea
A constant eyeglass prescription for about two years
Can Laser Eye Surgery Correct Astigmatism?
Yes. If you have astigmatism, laser eye surgery can help you correct it. Also, it can correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and the symptoms of presbyopia.
If you are starting to get frustrated with your bad vision and you can’t tolerate eyeglasses or contact lenses any longer, laser eye surgery may be just the solution you’re looking for. It can help you achieve permanent vision correction, so you no longer have to live with limitations. Make sure to contact Excel Laser Vision Institute to book your free LASIK Orange County eye consultation with us today!
How To Take Care of Your Eyes After Cataract Surgery
The cataract surgeon in Los Angeles and Orange County tell us that cataract surgery is a very common surgery, and it usually takes about ten to thirty minutes to perform. Although the surgery is easy compared to other medical procedures, it’s still just as critical to take care of yourself post-surgery and give your eyes time to heal properly. Make sure you do your research and ask your surgeon some questions, especially what the recovery after surgery looks like and what it involves.
Before you meet up with your cataract surgeon at Excel Laser Vision Institute, read below what cataract surgery involves and how to best take care of your eyes after surgery.
What are Cataracts?
When an eye is infected with cataracts, there’s a cloudy film that forms over the eye’s lens and impairs a person’s vision. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes. Some research has connected cataracts to diabetes, smoking, and alcohol abuse, but many are just a consequence of years of wear and tear to the eye.
What’s The Best Cataract Treatment?
In the beginning, patients with cataracts usually report mild symptoms that can easily be treated by glasses or contacts. However, cataracts are progressive, and as cataracts develop further, symptoms become more obvious and more challenging to treat with corrective eyewear. In the long run, the only method to effectively restore vision is to surgically replace the clouded lens with an artificial lens.
Once you know the eye surgery cost but you still feel that the concept of cataract surgery is nerve-racking, it may be encouraging to be reminded that based on information from the National Eye Institute that cataract removal is one of the safest, most effective, and most common operations performed in the United States. Around ninety percent of cataract cases report having better vision afterward.
What Does Cataract Surgery Involve?
The cataract surgeon in Los Angeles and Orange County replace the clouded lenses with intraocular lenses (IOLs). These lenses let patients receive clear vision again, usually with very limited requirements for contact lenses and eyeglasses. The procedure is carried out in thirty minutes and doesn’t require sutures.
What Happens After Cataract Surgery?
After your cataract surgery in Los Angeles or Orange County, you’ll most probably wait in a recovery room until the anesthesia starts to wear off. Even though you feel good enough to drive yourself home, the eye doctors will be strongly against this idea and recommend to all their patients to have a friend or family member drive them home after cataract surgery.
Besides the side effects of anesthesia, many people have clouded vision right after cataract surgery, which is the reason why doctors suggest you have someone else drive you home as a safety precaution.
Additionally, having a friend or family member by your side before the procedure is a good way to help you calm any nerves you may have. Also, this friend or family member can stay with you for the rest of the day as you recover.
You shouldn’t eat or drink before the surgery. Your cataract surgeon will inform you on how many hours before surgery you should stop eating and drinking. Furthermore, don’t forget to remove any contact lenses before surgery, and also removing make-up is highly recommended.
How To Take Care Of Your Eyes After Cataract Surgery?
Once you arrive home after cataract surgery, you should just take it easy. Get as much rest as you can. Eye doctors even tell their patients to take a nap when they get home if they can. If you see any bruising around the eye from the anesthesia, or popped blood vessels from the pressure your eyes went through, don’t be concerned. These side effects should go away on their own within a few days.
After you’ve had a good rest of at least a couple of hours at home, you can go ahead and watch some television, bathe or shower, and work on the computer. However, you should avoid swimming pools and hot tubs for up to one week. Over the next few weeks, you shouldn’t do activities that may result in getting dirt or dust in your eyes, such as dusting or gardening.
Furthermore, doctors usually advise patients to avoid cooking for at least a week after cataract surgery. The reason being is that cooking could irritate your eyes as they recover from cataract surgery. As you cook, steam and water could get to your eyes. Although this is not something you would normally be concerned about, it’s important that your eyes don’t become wet for a week after cataract surgery. Plus, patients are also told to avoid extreme heat, something that exists when cooking. Because of the above explanations, you shouldn’t cook for at least a week after cataract surgery.
Make Sure To Take Your Medications
If your eye doctor prescribed antibiotic eye drops, take them for the entire course as prescribed, even if your eyes feel normal. The eye drops help the healing process and help hinder infection. You’ll have to attend several visits with your ophthalmologist in the next few days and weeks after cataract surgery. Your doctor will examine your eyes to confirm that everything is healing as expected. Also, you will be fitted with a new pair of glasses, if you need them.
You should do your best to follow the instructions above to make sure your cataract surgery goes ahead smoothly without or with very few complications to worry about. This will help you recover much faster and help you get back to your normal routine quicker. If you have any particular questions about getting over cataract surgery, the teams at Excel Laser Vision Institute’s Los Angeles and Orange County clinics are ready and happy to answer them.
How To Reduce The Possible Pain and Discomfort After A LASIK Procedure?
Doctor Moosa, a Lasik Los Angeles surgeon, wants to make it perfectly clear that LASIK is the safest and most successful surgical procedure anyone can undergo. Overall, the recovery time after LASIK is very quick and comfortable, particularly when there are no complications during the surgery itself.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK pain and discomfort is nevertheless a possible risk; however, we reduce that risk by utilizing only the most state-of-the-art laser vision correction technologies and techniques. Also, our LASIK eye surgeons use a thorough screening process that makes sure that only the most suitable candidates will be submitted to undergo the procedure.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, you’ll find a cutting-edge LASIK Los Angeles eye care facility that always puts patient safety, comfort, and overall satisfaction above everything else.
Although when you get your corrective eye surgery done, our team will do everything possible to make sure you have a fast, comfortable recovery, you will have obligations as a patient, too. You will be handed a set of instructions on the dos and don’ts, and you have to follow it to a ‘T’ to ensure you make your healing process as free from stress and discomfort as possible.
What Does LASIK Surgery Involve?
As mentioned above, LASIK is the safest and most effective surgical procedure in the world. People who experience blurry vision because of farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism are suitable candidates for traditional LASIK, custom LASIK (which includes the use of wavefront mapping to correct higher-order aberrations), or bladeless LASIK (which is the use of a femtosecond laser rather than a blade microkeratome to make the corneal flap to get clear vision. Nonetheless, regardless of the LASIK treatment patients opt for, there are still those who report some level of discomfort after surgery.
What’s Basic Discomfort After LASIK Surgery?
Once you have found out the Lasik eye surgery cost and decide to go through the LASIK Los Angeles procedure, you should keep in mind what to expect. Fortunately, severe pain after LASIK surgery is very rare and should not be anticipated on the whole. Nonetheless, some minor discomfort and soreness can be expected. This discomfort could be burning or itchiness, and more commonly, patients experience a sensation of something foreign in their eyes.
Additionally, patients may feel sensitive to light and experience extreme tearing throughout the first few hours after surgery.
Your Harvard-trained LASIK surgeon, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa, may prescribe you a pain reliever to help alleviate this discomfort. Also, you may find using liquid tears handy in managing any burning, itching, or redness that you’re feeling. Overall, though, these unwanted side effects will lessen within three days, if not within a couple of hours after your surgery.
What’s Severe Pain After LASIK Surgery?
Even though it’s very rare, severe pain has been reported by some patients after LASIK surgery. If you ever experience severe pain, particularly if it’s followed by tearing, you should get in touch with your eye care clinic as soon as possible. You should be seen immediately so that an eye doctor can diagnose the reason for your pain. The most common reason for severe pain is flap distortion and other flap-related issues, which can be fixed.
One of the most prevalent causes of flap issues is a failure to follow post-operative instructions. For example, patients should not rub their eyes within a week of surgery, no matter how itchy or irritated their can might get. When you rub your eyes right after LASIK surgery, you could cause the corneal flap to become dislodged. Similarly, patients should stay away from streaming water coming into contact with the eyes, for instance, which can happen during a shower. When these instructions are not followed, it can lead to painful flap-related conditions.
Other Ways To Reduce Pain And Discomfort
Here are other methods you can alleviate discomfort immediately after your LASIK surgery.
Take A Nap Right After Surgery
When surgery is being performed, the eye surgeon applies numbing eye drops to the patient’s eyes. These drops stop any discomfort during the actual procedure. So, patients only feel pressure on the eye while the surgeon creates the corneal flap and the cornea tissue is reshaped. Nevertheless, when the numbing eye drops wear off, which usually happens within an hour after surgery, patients start to feel discomfort. The pain is normally its worst for a few hours after the numbing medication loses its effects.
While this is happening, eye doctors will recommend taking a nap. When you keep your eyes closed, the eyelid is halted from rubbing against the healing corneal flap. Plus, the eyes will probably not dry out when they are closed.
Despite the fact that patients may feel they can’t take a nap, particularly if the surgery is carried out in the morning, the calming medication that is distributed before surgery can lead to patients feeling drowsy after surgery. When patients take advantage of this fatigue, they can sleep through this time that’s linked to the highest level of discomfort.
Apply Lubricating Eye Drops
Even though most of the discomfort is gone by the next morning after surgery, some patients say they experience a dry, gritty feeling in their eyes. Applying lubricating eye drops can ease this kind of discomfort. Make sure to check the eye drop’s label to prevent overuse.
Take Pain Medication
Patients should be ready to take pain medications before any discomfort appears. Most patients take their first dose of medication instantly before or after surgery is completed. When this is done, the pain medication takes effect before the numbing eye drops wear off.
Patients should make it a point to take the second dose of pain medication on time instead of waiting for any pain to become apparent because discomfort is normally at its worst the day the surgery is performed, pain medication should be taken based on the label’s instructions for the first day after surgery.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK eye surgery enhances your vision. Nevertheless, proper care has to be taken before and after the LASIK surgery. If you want to know more about LASIK Los Angeles surgery, please do not hesitate to call us at (866) 923-9235.
Can I Drive After Having LASIK?
There are a good number of LASIK Los Angeles patients who want to get rid of their dependence on eyeglasses with LASIK surgery. Vision issues, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, can be corrected with laser eye surgery in Los Angeles. No matter the LASIK eye surgery cost, LASIK is an effective procedure. However, your eye surgeon will warn you prior to the surgery that it can make your vision blurry immediately afterward, which makes it unsafe to drive straight away.
Typical Patient Questions Before A LASIK Procedure
Prior to a patient’s decision to undergo LASIK surgery, many candidates have questions about what they can or cannot do after the LASIK Los Angeles procedure. They have questions such as:
When can I take a shower?
How soon can I wear makeup?
Will I need glasses?
When can I drive?
When can I go back to work?
Keep on reading down below to get the answers to these questions and more.
How To Prepare For LASIK Surgery?
Once you have booked a date at LASIK Los Angeles procedure, you’ll have to arrange a lift to drop you off at the clinic or travel on public transport. After the surgery has been performed, LASIK eye center Los Angeles surgeons like Doctor Moosa do not recommend going back home alone. If you want to use public transport for your return home, do so with someone accompanying you. The best-case scenario is that someone picks you up after your treatment.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Wear Make-Up?
Eye surgeons recommend you not wear eye makeup after LASIK because it can get into your eye and cause an infection if the makeup is not put on and taken off carefully. Therefore, most LASIK eye doctors will recommend you wait a week after LASIK before putting on eye makeup. Again, it depends on the patient, and some may be ready to put on makeup after a few days, but plan for a week. So, keep that in mind when making your appointment. If for any reason, you have to wear makeup less than a week after a LASIK procedure, it’s probably best to put the surgery on the back burner for a while.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Take A Shower?
You don’t have to skip out on your showers after LASIK. However, you will have to make it a point to make sure you keep your eyes completely closed to stop any shampoo, soap, and water from getting into your eyes. Also, you’ll have to avoid rubbing your eyes when you’re washing your face.
Will I Require Glasses After LASIK?
The short, sweet, and honest answer is, maybe. The main reason why some LASIK patients will have to wear glasses after LASIK is for reading.
As we age, the ciliary muscles in the eye start to lose elasticity. This elasticity is what lets people focus on objects, such as the things they are reading up close. This is known as presbyopia and is usually a part of aging, which is a reason why some people who have never had to hassle with wearing glasses in their life require reading glasses when they get older.
Most of the time, LASIK is carried out to correct distance vision problems and other issues such as refractive errors instead of presbyopia. Nevertheless, the requirement for glasses can lessen if the patient decides to undergo monovision. This procedure corrects one eye for seeing distances, and the other is corrected for seeing near. This is not as adequate for repairing vision, but it helps to relieve the requirement for reading glasses after a LASIK procedure.
When Can I Go Back To Work?
For many patients, about two days off work after a LASIK procedure is the only time they need. Nonetheless, you should remember that you may need up to a week off. Considering that everyone is different, it completely depends on the type of laser eye treatment you have undergone and how quickly you can heal. Your laser eye surgeon will talk to you about this during your free consultation and your first post-op examination.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Drive?
Not everyone’s the same, so everyone’s recovery is going to be different. However, most patients can notice an improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours of their surgery. Throughout that time, any medications would have also subsided. A day after surgery, you’ll be expected to return for a post-operative exam, have your vision tested, and have the eye doctor confirm that your eyes are healing. If your eyes aren’t sufficiently recovered to drive, you’ll only require another day or so to completely heal.
Once Your Eye Doctor Gives You The Okay To Drive
When your LASIK Los Angeles doctor tells you it’s fine to start driving again, there are still a few things you have to keep in mind after surgery.
Some people experience glare, particularly from bright lights, in the weeks after LASIK surgery. As a result of this, you could face some challenges when driving at night when encountering oncoming headlights. That’s why it’s a good idea to be a passenger at night first, to check whether you feel comfortable driving yourself.
Issues with glare usually improve greatly within the first couple of weeks after treatment and carry on improving over the first three months.
Also, you should consider that even though laser eye surgery Los Angeles can significantly enhance your vision, it isn’t a 100% cure, and you may find that you still need your eyeglasses for specific tasks such as driving.
If you’ve still got questions about laser eye surgery, Excel Laser Vision Institute would love to assist you. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with Dr. Ferzaad Moosa to find out if you’re a suitable candidate here.
More About Contoura Vision Eye Surgery
The LASIK Orange County eye surgeon tells us that with the progression in technology in eye surgery, an eye surgical procedure has become more sophisticated, and the patient encounters fewer complications.
Doctor Moosa, one of the best laser eye surgery doctors in Orange County, tells us of one such example of an advanced eye surgery known as Contoura Vision. This surgical procedure is technically more advanced and provides more accurate results than your standard laser surgery. When the LASIK eye surgeon performs Contoura vision surgery, corneal mapping divides the cornea into different elevation points. This helps to eliminate the irregularities of the cornea to the smallest level resulting in more clear vision. The surgery does not involve any blades and has fewer post-operative complications.
Contoura surgery immediately improves vision with a greater reduction in dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Since highly sophisticated and modern instruments and ophthalmic expertise are involved, Contoura Vision eye surgery’s cost is slightly higher than traditional LASIK. When considering a Contoura Vision surgery, the patient should always choose a reputable LASIK eye surgeon like the one found in Orange County.
What Is Contoura?
The most advanced and upgraded LASIK eye surgery technique is Contoura Vision. Presently, the LASIK technique is around fifteen years old and only corrects the eye’s refractive power. At the same time, Contoura is one step higher since it restores both the refractive power of the eye and the corneal irregularities. Because of this, a much better outcome than conventional LASIK treatment.
Can You Detect Contoura Vision?
Of course! Your eye doctor can detect Contoura Vision with corneal topography and slit-lamp examination. Nevertheless, it is tough to detect it with simple examination methods in medical evaluation.
What Are The Permanent Effects Of Contoura Vision?
During a Contoura Vision procedure, the corneal surface tissues are permanently removed from the cornea’s surface, located in the front of the eye and maintains long life and permanent effects.
Nevertheless, in some instances, because of changes that happen inside the eye lens, effects may worsen over time, leading to distorted and blurred vision. If an issue similar to this happens and becomes a nuisance, the follow-up enhancement procedure is performed to restore the vision to a normal and clear one.
What Is A Contoura Vision Procedure?
Contoura Vision works on the basis of topography and is performed by an expertly trained LASIK surgeon. It focuses on the natural axis of the eye, for example, the visual axis. The eye surgeon uses a special topolyser to pinpoint and eliminate abnormalities in order to improve the quality of vision.
What Are The Differences Between Contoura Vision And LASIK?
LASIK surgery has been around for about 15 years, whereas Contoura applies the most recent Lasik technology, the key differences being:
The eye surgeon supervises the Contoura technique at all times; meanwhile, LASIK is a surgery that uses a mechanized keratome technique.
Contoura Vision removes irregularities that exist on the corneal surface irregularities are removed. LASIK does not.
The Contoura vision works on the visual axis and the superior axis. In LASIK surgery, the focus is on the pupil axis.
Contoura Vision saves more contoura vision.
LASIK is sometimes blade-free, while Countoura is always blade-free.
Contoura vision can achieve results better than 6/6 vision, whereas LASIK may not.
Does Countoura Vision Use Any Blades?
No. Contoura Vision is bladeless and consists of the use of two lasers. The first is the Femtosecond laser used to make a corneal flap, and the second is the Excimer laser that reshapes the cornea. The procedure is bladeless, painless, and stitchless.
What Are The Advantages Of Contoura Vision?
Contoura vision was created to upgrade and do away with the side effects of LASIK surgery. The advantages of the Contoura vision are:
You can do it at any age.
Lessening the dependence on eyeglasses or contact lens reduces.
Difficulty in driving at night reduces
Sensitivity towards light scales down
Painless
No hospitalization is needed.
Blade-less
Stich-less
No injection is used.
Minor side effects
What Makes Countoura Vision Different Than Smile (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)?
The two have similarities, but it is crucial to understand the key differences, such as:
SMILE can only correct nearsightedness.
Every section of the eye is inspected in Countoura Vision, while SMILE focuses on the cornea.
Results of Countoura Vision have been better than 6/6. This is not always guaranteed with SMILE.
There are fewer reported side effects in Contoura Vision.
If you are considering Contoura Vision LASIK in Orange County and want to speak to someone about any questions you may have, do not hesitate to contact Excel Laser Vision Institute today!
What Is Cataracts And How to Treat It Properly
The Cataract surgeon in Los Angeles and Orange County tells us that there is a natural lens inside our eyes. This lens bends (refracts) light rays that enter the eye to help us see. As any eye doctor can tell you, the lens should be clear.
What Are The Vision Problems You Can Experience With Cataracts
When there is a cataract in the eye, the lens becomes cloudy. The person affected by the cataract may describe how they see as if they are looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Objects appear blurry, hazy, or less colorful with a cataract.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts?
Below are some vision changes you may observe if you have a cataract:
Blurry vision
You see a double or a ghosted image out of the eye with cataract
Feeling extra sensitive to light (particularly with oncoming headlights at night)
Having problems seeing well at night or requiring more light when you read
You see bright colors as faded or yellow instead
If you notice these cataract symptoms, talk to your cataract surgeon in Los Angeles or Orange County.
What Causes Cataracts?
The cataract surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that aging is the most common cause of cataracts. This is because of normal eye changes that start to occur after 40. Around this time, normal proteins in the lens begin to break down. This is what the best laser eye surgeon say causes the lens to get cloudy. People who are over the age of sixty usually begin to have some clouding of their lenses. Nevertheless, vision issues may not occur until years later.
Here are a few other reasons why you may get cataracts:
You have parents, brothers, sisters, or other family members who have cataracts.
You have particular medical problems, such as diabetes.
You smoke.
You have had an eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatments on your upper body.
You have spent a lot of time in the sun, especially without sunglasses that protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays
You use certain medications, such as corticosteroids, which may cause the early formation of cataracts.
Most age-related cataracts develop slowly. Other types of cataracts can progress more quickly. For instance, those in younger people or those in people with diabetes. Doctors cannot foresee how quickly a person’s cataract will develop.
You Can Slow Down The Advancement Of Cataracts
You can probably decelerate the development of cataracts. Doctors recommend that you should protect your eyes from sunlight. The best method to do this is with sunglasses. Wear sunglasses that block out the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light rays. Also, you can wear eyeglasses that have a clear, anti-UV coating. Discuss with your ophthalmologist to find out more.
Cataract Diagnosis
Typically, an eye doctor will examine and test your eyes to make a cataract diagnosis. This thorough eye exam includes dilation, which means the doctor will use eye drops to open up the pupils.
Slit-lamp exam
The ophthalmologist will examine the cornea, iris, lens, and the other areas located at the front of the eye. The special slit-lamp microscope makes it simpler to find abnormalities.
Retinal exam
When your eye is dilated, the pupil is widened, the doctor can see the back of the eye more clearly. The doctor uses a slit lamp, an ophthalmoscope or both to look for signs of cataract. Also, an ophthalmologist will check for glaucoma and take a look at the optic nerve and retina.
Refraction and visual acuity test
This test checks the sharpness and clarity of a person’s vision. Each eye is tested on its own for the ability to see letters of varying sizes.
What Do Cataracts Look Like?
Cataracts appear in many different forms and develop for many various reasons. Here are a few types of cataracts.
Mature Cataract (Nuclear)
A mature cataract is when the cataract has become large and dense. When there is a mature cataract, the eye’s lens is opaque, which means you can’t see through it, and there is severely limited vision. This type of cataract is a nuclear cataract, which means it begins deep in the center of the lens (nucleus).
Congenital Cataract
A congenital cataract is when it is found in a baby’s eye at birth. Children’s eyes and vision keep developing until they are about ten years old. If a congenital cataract is not treated early, a child’s vision can be affected for life.
Diabetic Snowflake Cataract
Individuals with diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of developing cataracts. Uncontrolled levels of blood sugar cause changes in the eye’s lens. Normally, people with uncontrolled diabetes have a diabetic or “snowflake” cataract. The eye has a grayish-white starburst or snowflake appearance.
Traumatic Cataract
Also, a cataract can develop due to trauma to the eye, either by blunt force such as a blow to the eye or something that penetrates the eye. A cataract can be seen as the cloudy, white area in the middle of the eye, and part of the iris is separated (see the brownish-orange area on the right side). Thousands of eye injuries happen every day, yet nine out of ten of them are preventable by wearing proper safety eyewear.
After A Cataract Diagnosis, What Should I Do?
Have an eye exam every year if you’re older than 65, or every two years if younger.
Protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses that block at least 99 percent UV and a hat.
Quit smoking. Smoking is a main risk factor for cataracts.
When reading or doing other activities use brighter lights. If you want, you can also use a magnifying glass.
Do not drive at night when night vision, halos or glare become issues.
Take care of any other health issues, particularly diabetes.
Get suitable eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.
When it becomes difficult to complete your regular activities, think about cataract surgery.
Make an informed decision about cataract surgery. Have a discussion with your ophthalmologist about:
the surgery
preparation for and recovery after surgery
advantages and possible complications of cataract surgery
cataract surgery costs
other questions you have
How Can You Treat Cataracts?
You can only get rid of cataracts through surgery. If you can live with your cataract symptoms, you may need a new eyeglass prescription to help you see better. It would be best to think about surgery when cataracts hinder you from doing your daily routine or things you want to do.
Will the Covid-19 Vaccine Affect Your Vision?
Some LASIK Los Angeles patients are apprehensive about the COVID vaccines and how it affects their vision. There are fears of side effects as well as vision issues. Doctor Moosa, one of the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles says it is the main reason some people are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. At the moment, there’s no evidence that any of the vaccines cause overall vision-related side effects. Presently, three vaccines are being used in the United States:
Pfizer-BioNTech, now completely approved by the FDA under the brand name Comirnaty.
Moderna.
Johnson & Johnson / Janssen.
The CDC says, many vaccine side effects are moderate, and are “normal signs that the body is building protection.” LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that they do not include eye- or vision-related symptoms.
These common side effects include:
Redness, pain, and/or swelling in the arm where you got the injection.
Fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and/or nausea.
These prevalent reactions usually go away within a few days.
What Are The Rare Reactions To The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine?
In some instances, a blood-clotting condition called TTS (Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) can happen in the weeks following a Johnson & Johnson vaccination. TTS is extremely rare and happens in around 3 in every 1 million adults.
The best laser eye surgery doctors in Los Angeles say that blurry vision can be a symptom of TTS, plus several other symptoms.
Also, the rare nerve condition Guillain-Barre syndrome has been noticed in around eight in every one million adults vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Guillain-Barre syndrome can cause eye-related symptoms such as double vision and issues moving the eyes, along with other neurological symptoms.
If you detect any symptoms of TTS or Guillain-Barre in the days or weeks after a J&J vaccine, get medical help immediately.
Although these are uncommon reactions, the CDC has emphasized that — compared to a COVID-19 infection — the advantages of the J&J vaccine cancel out any risks.
Eye Issues Linked To Other Vaccines
Although the COVID-19 vaccines have still not caused notable side effects yet related to vision, vaccines for many other conditions have been connected to eye and vision issues.
Seasonal flu vaccine
In exceptional cases, some patients who’ve got the flu vaccine experienced mild symptoms such as eye redness, eye pain, and blurred vision.
Common side effects of the flu vaccine include:
Headache
Redness, soreness, or swelling at the injection spot
Fever
Nausea
Muscle aches
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
Some studies reveal that optic neuritis is an unusual complication from the vaccine for the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. Optic neuritis is inflammation altering the optic nerve that transmits cues from the back of the eye to the brain.
Typically, side effects of the MMR vaccine include:
Mild rash
Swollen cheek or neck gland
Fever
Temporary joint pain (significantly in adolescent and adult females)
Rare side effects consist of short-term seizures and low platelet count. The MMR vaccine can lead to deafness, long-term seizures, coma, or brain damage in sporadic instances.
Chickenpox and shingles vaccines
Research has found rare corneal inflammation in children (chickenpox) and adults (shingles) after receiving the zoster virus vaccine for both conditions.
Common side effects from the chickenpox vaccine consist of the following:
Temporary joint pain and stiffness
Mild rash and soreness at the injection spot
Fever
For the shingles vaccine, typical side effects are:
Swelling, redness, soreness, and at the injection site
Muscle pain
Tiredness
Headache
Fever
Shivering
Stomach pain and nausea