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.
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.
Is Cataract Surgery Safe?
If you have cataracts, you may probably need cataract surgery in Orange County or Los Angeles. It’s a procedure that stores cataract-related vision loss. When your surgeon performs the corrective eye surgery, the clouded lens inside your eye gets replaced with a clear artificial lens. The procedure is entirely painless, and it typically takes around 15 minutes. Normally, it’s an outpatient procedure and you don’t have to stay overnight at the hospital according to the cataract surgeon in Los Angeles and Orange County.
At first, some patients think cataract surgery is scary. However, it’s one of the most risk-free and efficient vision surgeries around today. Every year, millions of cataract surgeries are carried out in the U.S., and many individuals have excellent results. The more senior a person is, the higher the potential need for cataract eye surgery since cataracts usually develop or worsen.
Based on facts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cataracts affect
Around 1 in 20 of people aged 50-54
An estimated half of people aged between 75 to 79
More than 2 in 3 people over the age of 80
What Does Cataract Surgery Involve?
The cataract eye surgeon in Orange County and Los Angeles will remove the cloudy lens inside your eye and replace it with a clear artificial lens during surgery. The device that’s used is called an intraocular lens, or IOL for short.
An IOL restores the clear vision you had before the cataracts developed. During any cataract removal in Los Angeles or Orange County, special safety measures are taken to ensure the patient is as pain-free and relaxed as possible. The most a patient will experience is a slight feeling of pressure, but this sensation isn’t painful.
A modern cataract surgery procedure will usually follow these actions:
The surgeon creates a small incision along the side of the cornea.
A high-frequency ultrasound device or laser is utilized to break up the cloudy lens into small fragments carefully.
The lens fragments are carefully removed from the eye using a suction device.
Once all the fragments have been removed, the surgeon puts in the IOL behind the pupil and the colored part of the eye, the iris, in the same place your natural lens used to be.
The incision doesn’t require any stitches to heal.
Your eye surgeon will put a protective shield over your eye to keep it safe during the early stages of recovery.
If you require surgery in both eyes, your cataract surgeon will typically wait for one to three weeks between procedures to allow the first eye to heal.
What Are The Two Different Options For Cataract Surgery?
When you ask for cataract eye surgery cost, you want to know what options you have available for cataract surgery. The most familiar type of cataract removal surgery is known as phacoemulsification, or phaco for short. A phacoemulsification procedure involves high-frequency ultrasound waves to break up the cloudy lens.
Currently, the phaco operation is performed with smaller incisions than ever before, so healing is faster with a much lower risk of complications.
Three main kinds of IOL can be implanted during cataract surgery:
Monofocal lenses – One of the most common options for most surgeries. These may still need the use of eyeglasses or reading glasses after the corrective eye surgery. If prescription glasses are required, your ophthalmologist will prescribe them about a month after surgery. Optionally, presbyopia can be treated by modifying the power of one of your monofocal IOLs to create a condition called monovision.
Accommodating lenses and multifocal lenses – Convenient for individuals who have presbyopia. These lenses can correct your reading vision without surrendering your distance vision. Both of these IOLs offer a huge range of vision after cataract surgery than traditional monofocal lenses.
Extracapsular surgery – rather than break up the cloudy lens with an ultrasound, an eye surgeon will take out the core in one piece, then the rest with a suction device. Extracapsular surgery consists of a longer incision, and antibiotic eye drops before the procedure. This type of cataract surgery procedure is usually only carried out in complicated cases.
Laser cataract surgery, or Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (ReLACS), is more contemporary option that utilizes more advanced technology.
Instead of ultrasound energy, a specialized laser is brought in to disrupt the existing cataract. The laser doesn’t need as much energy as an ultrasound, which can lower the risk of complications even more.
In some instances, laser surgery can also enhance visual outcomes.
Laser surgery is usually more pricey than standard phaco cataract surgery. During your cataract removal consultation, your eye surgeon can help you understand which procedure is the most suitable for your individual requirements.
How To Get Ready For Cataract Surgery?
Prior to your scheduled cataract surgery, your eye doctor will carry out a thorough eye exam to evaluate the overall health of your eyes and figure out if anything will prevent you from having surgery.
Also, the ophthalmologist will carry out a refraction test to find out if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, and/or astigmatic prior to surgery. Other measurements of your eyes will be taken to determine the shape of your eye and which type of implantable lens you’ll require.
Before your eye surgery, the medical team will advise you on what to expect before, during and after your procedure. This information will help you to make an informed decision about going forward with surgery.
Your eye doctor will discuss with you any medications and supplements you’re on. Some of these can boost your risk of complications and may need to be stopped for a short time
If you have any queries or concerns about cataract surgery, make sure you talk about them with your cataract surgeon and optometric physician before signing the “informed consent” documents that authorize surgery.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we have a team of experienced and dedicated staff easily answer all of your questions and put you at ease about your corrective eye surgery. We only use cutting-edge laser technology to perform cataract surgery, and other vision correction alternatives. Our Harvard-trained surgeon, Dr. Moosa, serves at our Orange County as well as at the Los Angeles offices. Once we assess your prescription and eye health, we can talk about which eye correction treatment is best for you, financing, and the next steps. Begin your journey towards a clear vision that eliminates your dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses today.
Binge Watch Your Favorite Shows again with Cataract Surgery in Orange County
While many people are raving about their Netflix subscriptions, your cataract problem may be hindering you from binge-watching your favorite shows. Don’t let this be the case. Consult your doctor right away and schedule your cataract surgery in Orange County.
What You Need to Know about Cataract
A cataract is a phenomenon wherein the eye’s natural lens becomes clouded. It develops as a risk of aging, diabetes, obesity, and smoking, among others.
This condition can not only hinder you from enjoying the most popular fantasy series or the sitcom everyone’s talking about; it can also affect your daily activities, including reading and communicating, among others. As such, it is imperative that you have this condition addressed immediately through corrective eye surgery.
Qualifying for Corrective Eye Surgery
Corrective eye surgery is a crucial decision because of the delicate procedure involved. For instance, cataract surgery involves a delicate process of removing the cloudy lens in your eye and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). In addition, this procedure requires certain qualifications before allowing the patient to go through the procedure. These qualifications are listed below:
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Dysfunctional lens syndrome
Dysfunctional lens syndrome is a condition that is observed when driving at night. This is characterized by blurry night vision and seeing irritable headlight glare and halos.
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Visual acuity of 20/40 or worse
20/40 is the legal vision requirement for an unrestricted driver’s license in most states. Without proper vision, you reduce your chances of acquiring a driver’s license. In addition, people who suffer from poor vision will not be able to see things as they are, impairing their ability to do things.
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Insurance and financial considerations
Depending on the insurance company, cataract surgery is considered to be medically necessary. Review your insurance policy’s details to know if your vision is qualified for cataract surgery as a necessary expense.
By investing in Los Angeles LASIK vision correction, you can stream your favorite shows or movies worry-free! Before you think about binge-watching, however, make sure that you get the right intraocular lens (IOL) that is tailor-made for your condition.
Lenses for Eye Correction Surgery
When undergoing cataract surgery, you will be offered different lenses depending on your eye condition. Here are just some of the IOLs offered:
- Accommodating-focus monofocal – This type of lens has a single focus strength, but it can respond to eye muscle movements, allowing you to focus on distant and near objects.
- Fixed-focus monofocal – This lens has a single focus strength for distance vision. This type of lens is usually used for reading.
- Multifocal – Multifocal lenses are comparable to glasses with progressive lenses. Each area of the lens has different focusing strengths, which permit far, medium, and near vision.
- Astigmatism correction – Astigmatism occurs when the eye’s cornea is irregularly shaped, or the lens inside the eyes is misshapen. This condition causes blurred vision. A toric lens—a lens with varying optical power and focal length, comes in two orientations perpendicular to each other—can help correct significant astigmatism,
Eye Care After the Operation
After surgery, you can expect your vision to improve in a few days, but it may take 4-6 weeks for the eyes to heal completely. You also need to visit your doctor within 1-3 weeks to check on your condition. To be safe, do not expose your eyes to any device until you are given the signal to do so.
To prevent damage to your eyes, remember the following tips when binge-watching:
- Avoid digital eyestrain. Long hours of being glued to screens can result in irritated and dry eyes. Small pixelated images force eyes to work harder for focus. Do the “20-20-20 technique:” Rest your eyes every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 ft away from the screen for about 20 seconds.
- Keep the lights on. Having a well-lit room helps make sure that you don’t lose sight of your time, It also lessens the strain on your eye, so you can see things clearly without getting a headache.
- Set a limit. Either set 2-3 episodes per viewing or set a time limit for your movie marathon so that your eyes don’t get strained
Plan Your Corrective Eye Surgery Now
Regain your vision and enjoy the blessings in front of you —make this possible with immediate eye surgery. If you want the best results, trust only Excel Laser Vision Institute. Let our reliable LASIK Eye surgeon in Orange County handle your eye care needs. Contact us at 866-923-9235 for a free consultation regarding your eye surgery.
Top Mistakes that Slow Down Recovery Time after a Corrective Eye Surgery in Orange County
Corrective eye surgery in Orange County is well-known for its quick recovery. Many people are led to believe that Lasik is a simple and short procedure; that is why most patients do not take recovery seriously. Do not commit the same mistake. Avoid these common mistakes post-eye surgery to speed up your recovery time.
Post-Lasik Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Like all forms of surgery, recovering from Lasik or cataract eye surgery in Orange County requires patience and effort on the patient’s part to speed up the process. It usually takes at least a week or two before you can see at your sharpest focus—but if you wish to speed up the healing process, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:
- Driving
Typically an hour or two after the surgery, the images around you may appear blurred or distorted. That is why it is best to steer clear of the road after the surgery.
Make sure that you are fully recovered from your surgical procedure before you resume driving. There should be no distracting effect of pain or any pain relief medication you are taking to be able to concentrate fully on driving.
- Heavy Lifting
It’s best to keep yourself well-rested instead of doing some heavy lifting around the house. Stay in bed whenever possible, and rest your eyes for as much as you can. This will significantly reduce the strain in your eyes.
- Rubbing Your Eyes
This is the last thing you would want to do after your corrective eye surgery in Orange County, especially during the first seven days post-surgery. Rubbing your eyes can cause a dislodged flap, which can lead to severe damage to your cornea and overall vision. Rubbing your eyes exposes it to worse complications including eye infection and irritation.
- Wearing Eye Makeup
Some eye makeup products are flaky,
which can be risky because any element that goes into your eye may serve as
potential damage. To avoid other potential risks, avoid wearing eye makeup for
a week or two after your corrective eye surgery.
- Being Impatient
Waiting for a week or two for your eyes to fully recover can be hard—but as they say, patience is a virtue! Remember to take it easy, get a lot of rest, and just be patient with the recovery process. In no time, you can enjoy 20/20 vision!
Give Your Eyes the Best Treatment!
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we go the extra mile to give our patients the eye care that they deserve. Our expert surgeons will take care of you from consultation to perfect vision. We also offer the best Lasik financing around Orange County, making Lasik accessible to anyone who needs it. Call us at 866-923-9235 Give, and let’s see if you’re the right candidate for the procedure!
Your Eyes after Retirement: Is it Time for Corrective Eye Surgery in Orange County?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 Americans of retirement age is suffering from a visual impairment. Interestingly, many of those can regain their vision with corrective eye surgery in Orange County, but not everyone is aware of it.
Why Retirees are in the Dark about Eye Health
Many Americans consider retirement as their golden years. While it’s supposed to be a time for slowing down, it becomes the complete opposite for most. Holding consultancy jobs, further expanding their business, traveling the world, gaining a new hobby, you name it — retirees just get busier over time.
However, many of them are also unaware of the age-related risks connected to vision problems and eye disease. In a recent national survey, the American Academy of Ophthalmologists found that:
- Only 10% of people aged 65 and up consider themselves at risk for eye disease.
- More than a third of all retirees do not get eye exams annually.
- Of those with a family history of eye problems, only around 17% are aware that family history is a risk factor for age-related eye diseases.
- In people who do not wear glasses, only 14% considered themselves at serious risk for eye disease. Unfortunately, good vision in middle age does not lessen one’s risk for age-related eye disease.
- A very low 15% of the population know the listed risk factors for eye diseases.
Worse, an alarming number of retired individuals simply accept their deteriorating vision as a natural consequence of aging, and something that cannot be reversed.
Thanks to corrective eye surgery and cataract surgery in Orange County, retirees now have an excellent option to bring back excellent vision.
Laser Eye Surgery after Retirement
There is currently no upper age limit for laser eye surgery. In most cases, all you need is a clean bill of health, and you’re good to go. Some vision problems that corrective eye surgery can help treat are:
- Presbyopia
- Astigmatism
- Near-sightedness
- Far-sightedness
For those who don’t have cataracts yet, laser eye surgery can even prevent these from forming in the first place. At the very least, consulting a LASIK surgeon will give you a clear look into your present eye health and what you can do to improve or preserve your eyesight.
To qualify for laser eye surgery, your LASIK surgeon will evaluate whether you are a good candidate for the operation. You can also discuss Lasik financing in Orange County during the consultation. Your LASIK surgeon will help you decide the best course of action for your eyes.
Look Forward to Your Golden Years with Clear Vision!
With retirees being busier than ever, recovery time is a natural concern. Here’s the good news — in general, recovery after laser eye surgery requires very little downtime and relatively has few complications.
Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your golden years with amazing vision, often without the use of glasses or contacts! Call Excel Laser Vision Institute at +1 866-923-9235 and schedule a consultation with our LASIK surgeon today.
Get Roadworthy Vision with Laser Eye Surgery in Orange County
Vision problems spell trouble for safe driving. Driving involves several visual capabilities, such as night vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to switch focus at any given moment. If even one of these visual capabilities is compromised, you should start looking at laser eye surgery in Orange County as a viable option.
Driving Requires Complex Visual Skills
Research suggests that when it comes to middle-aged drivers, one in five take the road with imperfect sight. This makes sense, as age-related vision problems typically manifest when you enter your 40s. A lot of drivers don’t think much about the wide range of skills necessary to drive properly. Here are seven vision-related skills you need to navigate roads well.
- Night Vision
You should be able to see properly in low light levels, as well as recover quickly from headlight glare.
- Colour Vision
You should be able to distinguish various colors, which is critical for processing traffic lights, pedestrians, traffic signs, and other visual cues.
- Muscle Balance
When driving, you should be able to point your eyes at any given object while driving easily. This capability is essential for the field of vision, two-eyed vision, and depth perception.
- Accommodation
This is the ability to look quickly and easily from a near object to a far object and vice versa, such as looking at the dashboard to the road, then back again.
- Field of Vision
Your eyes should always be on the road, but you need to be able to look out of the corner of your eyes without moving your head. This allows you to take in pedestrians and crossroad traffic without taking your eyes off the road.
- Depth Perception
Perhaps one of the most common problems among drivers, depth perception is the capability to judge distances accurately between moving objects. This is vital for driving skills like changing lanes.
- Distance Acuity
This is the ability to see clearly and focus even at far distances. Distance acuity is crucial when it comes to making quick driving reactions.
Today’s roads are busier than ever, so a defect in even one of these visual skills can make it hard to drive safely. Keep in mind that almost 90% of decision you make on the road are based on information you get through your eyes. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of alternatives to choose from when it comes to vision correction.
Eyeglasses and Contacts May Not Be the Safest Option
One of the easiest ways to correct your eyesight is by wearing glasses or contacts. You run the risk of getting too much glare. They can also hinder your ability to distinguish road hazards, pedestrians, and vehicles while you’re driving.
In addition, vision problems may also stem from eye problems like glaucoma or cataracts. In such cases, you may also have to undergo cataract surgery in Orange County to ensure that your sight works well enough for the road.
For many drivers, corrective eye surgery offers the best chances of regaining excellent vision with minimal disruption to your driving routine. Visit the Excel Laser Vision Institute and talk to our expert Lasik surgeon in Orange County to determine if laser eye surgery is right for you.
In Your 40s? You’re Not Too Young for Cataract Surgery in Orange County
Cataracts manifest mostly in the elderly, usually after hitting 60 years old. So if you’re still in your 40s, you shouldn’t be thinking about undergoing Lasik surgery in Orange County, right? Not so fast.
According to Dr. David Chang, Clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, around 2% of patients that undergo cataract surgery are in their 40s. That number may seem negligible, but note that these are just individuals with cataracts mature enough to interfere with their lifestyle. Many people around this age are already developing cataracts in one or both eyes, and are simply not aware of it.
How Cataracts can Catch You Unaware
A recent study in Minnesota’s Olmsted County focused on cataract surgeries done in the last four years. They found that more and more people under the age of 65 are having cataract surgeries done, comprising 20% of patients in that single county alone.
Cataract symptoms start out as minor inconveniences. It might start out as haziness in the eyes that’s blamed on contact lenses or dirt. You might be driving one day, and the street signs suddenly become a little bit blurry. You might experience an annoying glare or halo effect when you’re out at night. Or your vision might not be as good as before, and you start thinking about getting new prescription glasses.
All of these can be early symptoms of cataract formation. One of the biggest problems with this condition is that most don’t get an eye exam until the symptoms seriously interfere with their day-to-day functioning.
People in Their 40s Don’t Want to Slow Down
If you’re in your 40s, you probably don’t want anything to slow down your active lifestyle. You’re busy with work, the kids, your social commitments, and countless other things that you love doing. You might be worried that undergoing cataract surgery in Orange County will completely change that amazing routine.
Here’s good news for you. Advancements in cataract surgery have made it as convenient as running to the store— precise, pain-free, and leads to rapid recovery.
Are You Experiencing these Cataract Symptoms?
In the beginning, that cloudiness in your vision can seem like something you can blink away. As the cataract grows bigger, however, it will affect a larger part of your eye lens. Here are some warning signs that a cataract might be looming in your near future:
- Dim or blurry vision
- Increased sensitivity to glare and light
- Presence of halos around the source of light
- Yellowing or fading of colors
- Double vision
- Repeated changes in contact lens or eyeglass prescription
- Difficulty seeing at night
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, consider visiting Excel Laser Vision Institute as soon as you can. From the initial consultation to the day you walk out our doors after your laser eye surgery in Orange County or Los Angeles, you can expect our expert eye surgeons to be thoroughly involved in your care.
Call us today at +1 866 923 9235. Let’s talk about restoring your vision so you can go back to your lifestyle without missing a beat!
Everything You Need to Know About LASIK Surgery
Ever wondered about the buzz on LASIK surgery in Orange County and across Southern California? LASIK is a popular eye treatment for people with vision problems. If you are considering undergoing laser eye surgery, be sure that you know all the fine details first. Let us discuss the things you need to know about LASIK.
What is LASIK Surgery?
LASIK stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis. It is one of the various surgical techniques that are used to reshape the cornea and correct vision problems. This procedure is designed to reduce vision problems. During the surgery, an excimer laser gently reshapes the cornea with computer-controlled precision.
cor·nea
: the outermost layer of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupils
: it is a highly organized tissue that acts as a barrier against dirt, germs, and other particles that can harm the eye
Certain conditions, such as injuries, allergies, and dryness, affect the cornea; thus, causing vision problems. Thanks to LASIK surgery, common vision problems can now be easily resolved. Many people in Orange County consider laser eye surgery as a revolutionary procedure as it eliminates the need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses in performing everyday tasks.
What are the advantages of LASIK surgery?
With laser eye surgery, common vision problems are becoming less of an issue. In Orange County, LASER eye surgery is mostly performed on individuals who are near-sighted, farsighted, and/or have astigmatism. Here are some of the advantages of undergoing laser eye procedure.
- No Bandages or Stitches
LASIK is associated with little to no pain. Another advantage is it requires no bandages or stitches, hence living no marks of eye procedure on your face. - Improved Vision
For some, the best or highest degree of vision can only be achieved by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. Most patients in areas, such as Orange County, who have undergone LASIK surgery have reported a dramatic decline in eyeglass or contact lens dependence. A large number have also said that after surgery, they no longer need vision support at all. - Safe Procedure
LASIK eye surgery has been around for over 25 years. Around 96% of patients who have undergone this surgery have achieved their desired vision. With further enhancements and the latest technologies, this percentage will increase.
Although many people have gained the benefits of undergoing eye procedure, a big population is also clueless about it. LASIK is commonly confused with cataract surgery. Do not be confused, though. Let us differentiate the two.
LASIK vs. Cataract Surgery
Laser eye surgery and cataract surgery are two different procedures.
How do they differ?
LASIK is the most common laser eye surgery. This procedure is typically performed on both eyes in the same session. LASIK surgery is not an option for individuals with cataract.
On the other hand, as most people in Orange County know, cataract surgery is a treatment applied to the lens of the eye. Unlike LASIK, cataract surgery corrects near-sightedness and farsightedness but not astigmatism. Its primary function is to remove the cloudy lens inside the eye and replace it with a clear plastic implant.
How are they the same?
Both procedures incorporate lasers in at least some of the surgical steps, providing patients with 20/20 vision or even better. These two procedures are also performed under local anesthesia while the patient is awake. Lastly, there is no recovery time for these two procedures.
Answers to Common LASIK Questions
To end our discussion about LASIK, here are answers to frequently asked questions about the procedure.
- LASIK is a safe procedure. It was approved in 1995 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and since then, no laser vision correction surgery complications have yet been filed.
- It is a pain-free procedure. Many patients are surprised to not feel any pain during their surgery. This is because anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye before the surgery.
- Depending on your condition. You can resume normal activities the following day. Most patients are able to see clearly a day or two after the surgery.
Now that we’ve discussed everything you need to know about LASIK eye surgery, the next thing you need to do is to consult your doctor before undergoing the procedure. Do you have more questions? Schedule a consultation with our resident doctor, and learn more about the procedure.
Cataract Surgery Recovery: Five Tips for a Smoother Recovery Period
The cataract surgeon tells us that cataract surgery, also referred to as Phacoemulsification, is a fast and straightforward procedure. Typically, the eye surgery operation is a day case. When the patient arrives at the hospital or clinic, the surgical team will have to prepare his or her eyes for surgery.
This involves the eye surgeon putting some drops in the patient’s eyes to dilate his or her pupils to make them wider. Also, the patient is asked to sign some consent documents and is handed a surgical gown to wear.
How Long Is Cataract Surgery?
When the patient is in the operating theater, the cataract surgery takes about 15 minutes and he or she will be discharged from the hospital when they feel ready to leave. Your visit will take no longer than four hours.
An eye surgeon can perform cataract surgery using eye drops to numb the area or else under local anesthetic. If you have cataract surgery with eye drops only, your eye surgeon will advise you to wear a transparent shield over your eye until you arrive home.
If your eye surgeon uses a local anesthetic, you will have to wear an eye pad and a shield for a few more hours until the anesthetic wears off.
What Are The Side Effects Of Cataract Surgery?
Right after surgery, your eye will water and feel a little gritty. However, don’t worry because that is a normal side effect. Also, your vision will be slightly blurred, and your eye may also feel sensitive to light and look red or bloodshot.
The drops that were used to dilate your pupils before surgery, will take at least 24 hours to wear off. During this time, don’t be alarmed if you notice your pupil is larger than average. Additionally, your vision will be blurred while you wait for the drops to wear off.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Cataract Surgery?
Again, don’t freak out if your vision seems cloudy, distorted, or blurry when your cataract surgeon first takes off the eye shield. It can take a while for your visual system to get used to the removal of the cataract and get familiar with the intraocular lens used to replace the eye’s natural lens.
Some patients have claimed to see “wavy” vision or distortions during this familiarization period. This phenomenon, if it exists, should only last for about an hour.
Furthermore, red and bloodshot eyes are common because of the temporary damage to blood vessels on the white part of the eye (sclera) during cataract surgery. While the eye heals, the redness should disappear within several days. If the eye surgeon administered an injection of anesthesia through the skin into the lower portion of your eye, you may see some bruising that looks like a black eye. Again, this will also fade within a few days.
Most patients say their vision clears up within several hours after cataract surgery. However, everyone heals differently, and you may require at least a week or two before you see images in their sharpest focus.
Typically, you will have a follow-up appointment with your cataract surgeon the day after the procedure to ensure there are no complications. Also, if you feel pain or immense discomfort in the days following the visit, you should let your eye surgeon know.
Occasionally, some patients make known to their eye doctor some dry eye or “scratchiness” after cataract surgery. These feelings should lessen as the eye heals unless the person already had issues with dry eyes before having the procedure.
A complete cataract surgery recovery should happen within around a month when the eye is entirely healed.
What Are The Best Ways To Help Cataract Recovery?
Surprisingly, many patients feel very good and find they can easily get back to their normal activities even the day after cataract surgery.
Nevertheless, you should pay attention to a few preventive measures during the first week to guarantee you avoid any complications during your cataract surgery recovery.
Typically, your cataract surgeon will prescribe antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection, and anti-inflammatory eye drops to help lessen any internal inflammation. You have to apply the eye drops several times daily for at least the first week following surgery.
Revolving around how much postoperative inflammation you have, you may require the drops for a few weeks to a month. It’s recommended to use these drops precisely as prescribed.
For instance, oral pain relievers such as acetaminophen may be prescribed, if required. Normally, however, you should feel a little discomfort after cataract surgery.
To make sure you have a safe and quick recovery, read the advice below.
- Avoid driving on the first day following surgery – You should talk to your eye doctor about when you can safely get back behind the wheel since it’s all based on your recovery.
- Don’t do any strenuous activities for a few weeks – Don’t do any rigorous exercise and activities that involve heavy lifting for a few weeks to reduce the possibility of increased eye pressure. The reason being is that high eye pressure can disrupt the incision before it completely heals. You should avoid getting into positions that place your head below your waist. For instance, bending over can increase eye pressure and should be avoided immediately after surgery.
- Avoid Pools And Shower Carefully – After cataract surgery, exposing your eyes to water increases your risk of infection. So, do your best to avoid pools and shower carefully until your eye has healed completely. Most eye surgeons will recommend giving yourself at least one night of sleep before showering and don’t allow a stream of water to hit your eye directly. You should ask your doctor when it is safe to start swimming or using a hot tub. In many instances, you will resume these activities within a few weeks.
- Protect Yourself From Irritants And Other Trauma – When you arrive home from your cataract surgery, it is normal to feel that you have an object in your eyes such as a particle of sand or an eyelash. Overall, expect your eyes to feel sensitive to the environment for about a week after surgery. It’s a good idea to get wraparound sunglasses to protect yourself from exposure to dust, pollen, and dirt, and these sunglasses will help with sensitivity to light.
Additionally, your eye doctor will provide you with an eye shield for you to put on while sleeping during your recovery time to prevent you from rubbing or touching your eyes.
Abide By Your Cataract Surgeon’s Orders
You should ask your doctor about precautions you can take, such as the ones listed above, and the appropriate timelines for getting back to normal activities. Also, you should contact your cataract surgeon right away if you experience any of the following symptoms after your cataract surgery:
- Vision loss
- Spots (floaters) or flashes in your vision
- Eye pain
- Nausea, vomiting, or excessive coughing
Make sure to follow the dosage instructions of the prescribed medications, such as eye drops or pain relievers. Every patient and every eye has particular requirements, so your eye doctor will give the best directions for a successful recovery.
On the whole, you can carry out these activities within a couple of hours of your surgery:
- Computer work
- Light TV watching
- Showering or bathing
To get the best cataract surgery recovery results ever possible, make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions on how to protect your eye following your procedure. Typically, these instructions are provided to you as a handout that you can take home on surgery day.
If you require cataract surgery in both eyes, your eye surgeon will usually wait about a couple of days to two weeks for your first eye to recover before performing a procedure on the second eye.
