corrective eye surgery Tag

Eye Muscle Imbalances And How They Should Be Treated

Getting Blurry Vision? Know More About IOL Here

If you are age 60 and above and have noticed a decline in your vision, it could be time to get in touch with a surgeon at Excel Laser Vision Institute, a cataract and LASIK clinic in Los Angeles. Doctor Moosa, our LASIK eye surgery doctor, says that it is very normal for people at this age to experience blurry or even cloudy vision, which may be a tell-tale sign that they have cataracts. It is a typical condition in older adults and can be treated by your eye doctor in Los Angeles through laser vision correction.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts? 

Cataracts usually start off slowly. As a matter of fact, eye specialists at a cataract and LASIK clinic in Los Angeles say that you may not know you have them until they begin to block light. After that, you may notice the following:

• Vision that is cloudy, blurry, foggy, or filmy
• Nearsightedness (in older people)
• Changes in the way you see color
• Complications driving at night (glare from oncoming headlights, for example)
• Problems with glare during the day
• Double vision in the affected eye
• Issues with eyeglasses or contact lenses not working well

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts happen when protein accumulates in the lens of your eye and makes it cloudy. This prevents light from passing through clearly. As a result of this, a person may experience loss of eyesight. Also, there are many types of cataracts. 

How Your Eye Functions

Your eye has a lens, which is a window made of clear protein and water that sits behind the pupil. The lens focuses light onto the retina, which transmits it to your brain. 

As a person starts to get older, the proteins alter, and parts of your lens turn cloudy. This is referred to as a cataract. It can make objects appear blurry or give them a brownish tint.

Cataracts are the main cause of blindness, particularly in the elderly. However, they can be corrected through cataract surgery that is performed over 2 million times a year in the United States. 

What Is An Intraocular Lens Implant?

If you are considering corrective eye surgery at a cataract and LASIK center in Los Angeles, it may be a good idea to understand what an intraocular lens implant is. Essentially, an intraocular lens implant (IOL) is an artificial replacement for the lens of your eye. It forms part of the surgery to treat cataracts.  An intraocular lens implant, or IOL, consists of clear plastic material, and it is around a third the size of a dime. There are various different types:

Monofocal IOL

This is the most common intraocular lens implant. It is very different from your natural lens, which can stretch or bend to help your eye focus since this implant stays focused at one fixed distance. If yours focuses at a distance, you might be able to see things far away but need glasses to read or see close up.

Multifocal implant

This implant is similar to glasses with bifocal or progressive lenses because this lens has areas that help you see things at different distances. It could take several months for your brain to get used to so your vision appears natural. Keep in mind that it can sometimes cause more halos or glare around lights than a monofocal lens. 

Accommodating IOL

This is a more flexible option, especially if you are looking for a lens that mimics a lot like your natural lens and focuses at more than one distance. It can prevent you from requiring reading glasses.

Toric IOL: Your eye surgeon may recommend this if you have astigmatism or a cornea that’s more football-shaped than round. This can make vision blurry all over, not just close up or far away. This lens reduces astigmatism, so you won’t need glasses to correct it after your surgery.

How Is the Surgery Performed? 

If you have a cataract, you should visit an ophthalmologist. This doctor specializes in cataract surgery and other issues requiring surgery. They will most likely let you know that it is recommended to remove the cataract until it begins to affect your daily life. They can perform the surgery at a hospital or an outpatient clinic. 

To prepare you for surgery, your doctor will do the following:

• Measure your eye. This will help them select the right implant for you.
• Give you medicated eye drops to take for a few days ahead of time
• Ask you to stop taking some medicines or to avoid wearing contact lenses for several days beforehand

On the day of surgery, they will tell you to do the following:

• Numb your eye
• Administer a drug to help you relax. You may see light during the procedure, but you should feel nothing or only gentle pressure.
• Create a tiny cut through your cornea to get to the lens
• Break the lens up into pieces and remove it bit by bit
• Put the implant in place.
• Let the cut heal by itself. You will not have any stitches.

You can usually go home in less than an hour, but it is important that someone else drives you. 

Follow-Up Care

It takes around 8 to 12 weeks to heal fully. During that time:

• Keep your eye protected with sunglasses as much as possible, and sleep with your eye shield at night.
• Don’t rub or press your eye, even if you have the urge to scratch it or you notice the eye begins to ooze a bit of fluid.
• Take the medicated eye drops your doctor prescribes. You may have to use them for several weeks to help your eye heal.
• Avoid most exercise or heavy lifting. The doctor will advise you when you can do those things again.

If you want to learn more about intraocular lens (IOL) implants, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255 or visit our website. Our expert team and well-esteemed cataract and LASIK surgeon, Dr. Moosa, is ready to answer all your questions. 

How Do You Prepare For LASIK Surgery?

The most challenging step that you will take before having LASIK in Los Angeles is finding the appropriate clinic with the most sophisticated technology and the best Lasik eye surgery. This is the most crucial aspect that ascertains the quality of the surgery you are going to undergo. 

Also, it really helps to establish how smooth your recovery will go and guarantees you achieve optimal vision from laser vision correction. 

When you have chosen LASIK for your corrective eye surgery, your eye doctor has conducted a baseline evaluation to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure, then you can prepare for the surgery. 

Doctor Moosa, the eye surgeon at Excel Laser Vision Institute, believes that if a patient prepares well for surgery, there is a higher probability they will be in a better condition for the procedure. 

The LASIK clinic has several years of experience preparing patients for LASIK surgery under their belts, and they have some tips below to help you prepare for the procedure. 

Take a look at the best way to be ready for LASIK surgery here:

Drink Plenty Of Water Before The Procedure

This tip is true for any procedure you go through. It is crucial that you drink more water unless your doctor tells you not to. When you undergo a LASIK procedure, you are doing more good than harm by stepping up your water intake. Increasing your water intake will help you to maintain hydration and encourage the healing process after your procedure. 

The most common side effect of LASIK eye surgery is temporary dry eye. Drinking more water is an easy way to keep your eyes lubricated. 

If you have already booked your LASIK procedure, do not want any longer to start increasing your water intake. You want to set a target of at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day. It sounds like a massive of water to consume, but it is the basic minimum you should be drinking to maintain sufficient hydration.

If you are determined to drink more water but you are apprehensive about keeping track, there are apps available to help you oversee your water intake, let you know when it is time to fill up your glass, or help to calculate your body’s optimal water intake. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your water intake before your LASIK procedure, do not hesitate to talk to Dr. Ferzaad Moosa and his experienced team. 

Stop Wearing Contact Lenses When Instructed To

Before your LASIK procedure, your eye surgeon will advise you to stop contact lens use for at least one week for soft contacts and one month for hard contacts. The reason for discontinuing contacts prior to LASIK surgery is because wearing contacts can change the shape of your cornea and affect the results of your LASIK procedure. 

Also, it is a good idea to give your eyes a rest, i.e., switch to eyeglasses for a while before your surgery. 

When to stop wearing contacts is a significant conversation that you should have with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor will recommend how long before your procedure you should stop using contact lens based on your eye evaluation. 

Get A Comfortable Outfit Prepared

Your outfit on the day of your LASIK surgery matters a lot. You will be awake during the LASIK procedure, so it is essential to be wearing comfortable clothing. Choose loose clothes that you can easily take off when you get back home. 

Comfortable clothing such as leggings, athletic shorts, a zipper hoodie, or a soft t-shirt is suitable. When you receive LASIK, the first thing you want to do when you arrive home is sleep. It is simpler to rest at home when you are wearing clothes that you can rest in or easily get out of. 

Plus, try not to wear clothes that produce lint. So, avoid clothing items such as faux fur or anything that could be shed. This is important because you keep contaminants out of the operating room. LASIK is a safe and sterile procedure, so make the extra effort to avoid bringing unnecessary contaminants. 

Designate A Driver

During LASIK, the patient is not put to sleep. Instead of this, numbing eye drops are put in the eyes. If you are nervous about the procedure, you may get medication to help you relax. 

The purpose of numbing eye drops is to make certain you don’t feel any pain when undergoing LASIK. These drops wear off after a few hours once the procedure is over. 

Even though the patient is not put under during LASIK, you are not allowed to drive yourself home afterward. You should have a family member or friend drive you to the procedure and back home again. 

Most LASIK patients are told by their eye doctors that they are good to drive during their follow-up appointment the next day. When you get cleared by your eye doctor, then you can safely be back behind the wheel. 

Go Through Your Paperwork

The team at Excel Institute will give you a LASIK consent form before you go for your procedure. You should read your paperwork thoroughly, and ask any questions you have regarding your LASIK procedure. You should have peace of mind that you are making an informed decision about the procedure ahead. 

On The Big Day, Do Not Wear Any Perfume, Lotions, Or Makeup

On the day of your LASIK procedure, do not apply heavy makeup, perfumes, or lotions. If possible, go as bare as you can. You should take a shower and make sure your face is clean of any contaminants the morning of the LASIK. Do not apply any perfumes or hand or face lotions either since this can make your skin greasy. It is best to go to your LASIK procedure clean and prepared, and usually, greasy lotions tend to get into the eyes. It is always a good idea to play it safe before you have your LASIK surgery. 

When Do You Know Your Blurry Vision Is Serious? A LASIK Surgeon In Los Angeles Explains

LASIK doctors in Los Angeles can all agree that blurriness is one of the most common complaints they have from patients, and most of the time it is nothing to worry about. That is because most experts of LASIK eye surgery will tell you that blurriness could just be a sign that your glasses or contacts prescription requires updating. However, there are times that doctors notice that a patient’s fuzzy vision is something more to worry about. 

Many corrective eye surgery physicians will tell you to always look into what is causing your blurry vision. Sometimes understanding the reason behind your fuzzy vision could mean the difference to your overall perfect vision. 

Here are a few instances when blurry vision may be a symptom of a serious eye problem.

Eye conditions and diseases

If all of a sudden you experience blurry vision in one eye and are over the age of 60, you could have developed a macular hole in the central zone of your retina.

Unexpected blurry vision may also be a sign of a detached retina, eye herpes, or optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve).

Specific eye conditions and diseases can result in permanent loss of vision, so it is vital that you see a LASIK surgeon in Los Angeles like Doctor Moosa for diagnosis and treatment if you experience out-of-the-blue blurriness. 

Cataracts

If you are starting to notice vision changes such as blurred or cloudy vision and glare and halos around lights at night, you may have cataracts. If cataracts are left untreated, they can eventually get worse and obstruct vision to the stage of blindness. However, if you go to a cataract doctor to remove your cataracts and replace them with artificial lenses, cataract surgery is very successful in restoring lost vision. 

Glaucoma

If you are experiencing blurry vision or “tunnel vision”, this could be the first symptom of glaucoma. Without treatment, vision loss will carry on, and permanent blindness can follow. 

Age-related macular degeneration

Blurry vision and visual distortions can make straight lines look wavy or broken which are symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a prominent cause of blindness among older people.

Diabetic retinopathy

If you suffer from diabetes, unexplained blurred vision may be because of the onset of diabetic retinopathy, which is a sight-threatening disease that damages the retina of the eye.

Cardiovascular disease and other systemic diseases

Blurred vision, often when it is associated with double vision, can be a symptom of an underlying health emergency such as a stroke or brain hemorrhage. Additionally, it could be an early sign of multiple sclerosis. If you have sudden blurry vision or double vision, visit an eye doctor right away.

You have a concussion

If you have recently banged your head severely hard, and are now experiencing vision issues, you may be suffering from a head injury. Concussions can result in blurry vision, and many other visual changes such as double vision, difficulties with shifting gaze shifting from one point to another, problems focusing, and loss of binocular vision, or otherwise known as eye alignment. If you believe you are suffering from a concussion, you should talk to your doctor immediately. 

You are stressed out

Stress and anxiety can greatly affect your health in various ways, and that includes your vision. Not many people know how stress can deteriorate their vision and eye health. Sometimes stress can cause the pupils to needlessly dilate and adrenaline can escalate pressure on the eyes. 

Even though the long-term impact of stress on the eyes can vary, most mild discomfort can be dealt with by just naturally lowering your stress level. Nevertheless, continuous heightened stress levels can cause permanent vision loss. Therefore, to prevent stress-related vision issues, you should try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, take frequent visual breaks from screens and technology, and practice other stress-reducing activities such as meditation and exercise.

You have a rare condition called uveitis

If you are experiencing eye blurriness and dryness that is accompanied by inflammation in or around the eye, then you could be suffering from uveitis, a group of diseases that can be linked with auto-immune or infectious disease, however, it is usually restricted to just the eye. 

The number of people with uveitis is very low, but the damage it can cause is very severe. Symptoms can vary depending on what part of the eye is affected. For instance, if there is inflammation in the front part of the eye, there is usually redness, light sensitivity, and pain, while inflammation in the back part of the eye presents floaters, fuzzy vision, and flashing lights. 

Stroke

You could have blurry or lost vision in both eyes after having a stroke that has affected the part of the brain that controls vision. A stroke that involves your eye causes blurred or lost vision in only one eye. 

There are also other symptoms that accompany a stroke, such as weakness on one side of the body or the inability to communicate. 

Transient ischemic attack

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke that lasts less than 24 hours. One of its symptoms can sometimes be a blurred vision in one or both eyes.

Wet macular degeneration

In the middle of your retina, you have something that is called the macula. When abnormal vessels grow, it can result in blood and other fluid to leak into the macula. This is known as wet macular degeneration. 

It results in blurriness and vision loss in the center part of a person’s visual field. This is very different to dry macular degeneration since this type can start suddenly and progress very quickly. 

On the flip side, if you have mild blurry vision that comes and goes, this could just mean you are overworked, have eye strain, or you are over-exposed to sunlight.

Nonetheless, sudden or continual changes in vision such as blurriness, double vision, tunnel vision, blind spots, halos, or dimness of vision could be symptoms of serious eye disease or other health issues according to Doctor Moosa, a LASIK expert in Los Angeles.

If you have unexpected changes to your vision, you should always see your eye doctor for laser vision correction as soon as possible. 

LASIK Experts Explain Watery Eyes

Every once in a while, some of us will experience watery eyes, whether we’re extra tired or laughing hysterically from a joke one of our friends told. This is normal. However, there are some cases in which watery eyes happen without an obvious reason. Eyecare experts from Excel Laser Vision Institute, a LASIK clinic in Los Angeles, are here to explain why we experience this phenomenon and what we can do to improve the condition. 

To understand watery eyes, we have to understand how our eye works. The tear glands are especially built to lubricate parts of our eye, like the cornea. This moisture protects the internal structure of the eye and helps filter light. Ultimately, our tear glands ensure that our vision is working properly and that the corneas do not dry out. 

Tears are made up of water, fatty oils, and mucus. All three of these ingredients are necessary to coat the cornea, focus our eyes, and sharpen our vision. If our eyes are producing excessive tears, then this means that there is an imbalance within our glands; either producing too many tears or not sufficiently draining these tears (possibly as a result of blockage).

Here are some of the most common reasons for watery eyes: 

A Dry Environment 

Our eyes will naturally produce more tears as a reaction to a dry environment. Why is this? Well, think of it as an overcompensation. Many people find that using a humidifier can help regulate their tears as well as avoiding direct contact with fans. 

Too Much Computer Time

When we’re looking at our phones, computers, and tablets, our eyes are hyper-focused. This can naturally reduce our blink rate, which may then lead to dry eyes. As a reaction to this, our eyes may begin reflex tearing. In order to avoid this, LASIK doctors, particularly Doctor Moosa, recommend taking breaks every 20 minutes to look at something off-screen or rest your eyes.

Contact Lenses

Wearing contacts for an extended period of time can actually cause tears to evaporate more quickly. As a response to this, our eyes will start to accelerate the production of tears. If you’re tired of dealing with this sensation, then you may want to look into getting corrective eye surgery so you can kiss your contacts goodbye. 

Makeup Contamination

Eye makeup like mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow can flake off into the eye and cause irritation. This may cause excessive watering in order to expel foreign objects. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be inconvenient to deal with. Avoid practices like tightlining (applying eyeliner on the inside margin of eyelashes) and always remove makeup thoroughly each day. 

Clogged Meibomian Glands

Our eyelids release an oil right along with the watermark which allows our eyes to stay lubricated. When these glands are blocked, it may cause our eyes to create an excess of tears. Eye doctors that perform laser vision correction commonly see this with pink eye, blepharitis, rosacea, and other inflammatory conditions. 

Allergic Reaction

Those of us who suffer from allergies know that watery eyes come with the territory. When our bodies are exposed to an allergen, this can cause a release of histamines to combat the allergen. Watery eyes are just a way of our body fighting off irritants with histamine chemicals. 

Chronic Dry Eye

While this may seem counterintuitive, dry eyes can actually cause watery eyes. For example, when a person is sleep-deprived, they may experience burning or stinging sensations in their eyes as well as blurred vision, light sensitivity, and eye fatigue. When this happens, our bodies want to go into defense mode. Watery eyes can be a result. 

What to Know Before Getting in the Water After LASIK

It’s almost summertime, which means that many people are already making beach-day and pool-day plans. There’s nothing like a dip in the water to cool you down. If you’ve recently had LASIK eye surgery, then you may be wondering how this will affect your summer plans. LASIK experts in Los Angeles particularly Doctor Moosa are here to answer all your post-surgery questions and let you know the best way to protect your eyes while you’re enjoying the sunshine. 

One of the reasons that people get corrective eye surgery is because it allows them to do certain physical activities more freely. Swimming, for example, can be a pain with glasses or contacts. Either you have to swim blindly, with your glasses on the side of the pool, or you run the risk of losing your contacts in the water and developing an eye infection from bacteria and chemicals. Once patients receive laser eye surgery, they are liberated from this summertime struggle.

The best way to approach your life, post-LASIK, is to follow the instructions given by your LASIK surgeon. They know the status of your eyes better than anyone and will evaluate their healing process in order to give informed opinions about how careful you should be. Predictably, you might need to wait a little before you can enjoy certain activities in order to avoid irritating your eyes while they are in the stages of healing. Here are some general guidelines that you may hear from your doctor after getting laser vision correction in Los Angeles: 

• After One Week: The corneal incision is likely still recovering. LASIK patients should stay away from pools to avoid developing an infection.
• After 2-3 Weeks: By now, the corneal incision has likely closed up. However, it is still a good idea to avoid any activities that require water submersion (lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc.). 
• After One Month: At this point, doctors will typically allow patients to swim again. However, they will suggest wearing goggles and not opening eyes underwater. 

Beyond this, LASIK surgeons recommend always wearing sun protection when spending an extended period of time outside. Whether or not it is a sunny day, sun exposure can have a damaging effect on eyes. Sunglasses should have 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays. LASIK experts also recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat, along with glasses, to prevent any irritation or sunburns. 

Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy your crystal clear vision from LASIK. So, make sure to follow the recovery steps and exercise caution in order to preserve the work of the surgery. LASIK professionals recommend drinking plenty of water in order to offset any dry eye symptoms. This will support the eye’s tear ducts and prevent extreme irritation. Eye drops may also be prescribed to help alleviate any discomfort. Use your drops every day as directed by your surgeon. 

You may need to wait a little bit before enjoying your cold plunges into the pool, but it will all be worth it! Before you know it, you will be splashing away the summer days. To learn more about LASIK recovery or to determine if you are a LASIK candidate, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 363-1583.

How Hormones Affect Vision and LASIK

Hormones are responsible for many processes in our body, including growth, metabolism, and even vision. As we age and go through bodily changes like pregnancy, our hormones can shift slightly, altering the quality of our eye sight. It’s no wonder that prospective patients for LASIK are examined closely and consulted on any current physical conditions before their surgeon will move forward with the procedure.

Different kinds of hormones carry out different functions in our body. When levels are unbalanced due to pregnancy or other conditions, this can affect a patient’s natural prescription. Those who are interested in laser vision correction in Los Angeles will be vetted thoroughly to ensure that hormonal imbalance, among other things, is not an issue. Here are some of the critical hormones that can affect our state of vision:

• Testosterone
• Progesterone
• Estrogen
• Insulin
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 
• Thyroid hormones: tetraiodothyronine and triiodothyronine 

Hormonal changes may happen as a result of age, such as menopause, or from a condition such as diabetes. People may experience slight or drastic changes in their hormones that affect their vision through a variety of life events. Here are some of them: 

• During puberty, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone travels to the pituitary gland and begins the release of other hormones. Pre-teens may experience growth spurts that temporarily change the shape of their eyeball, which can cause nearsightedness. Patients must be at least 18 years of age to get LASIK in Los  Angeles, which helps eliminate the risk of hormonal imbalance from this stage of maturation. 

• During pregnancy, fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen can affect the glands of the eyelids and eyes. This may cause symptoms of irritation such as dry eye. Estrogen may also change the shape of the cornea, which can cause a temporary vision impairment. Usually, this is reversed after pregnancy, which is why doctors suggest waiting for hormones to rebalance before getting your corrective eye surgery. 

• During menopause, eyes may become drier and less elastic as a result of a decrease in estrogen. This can lead to a more serious case of dry eye or even blurred vision. Women who have reached menopause may also have a higher level of intraocular pressure that could increase their chances of developing glaucoma. Eye care is especially crucial during this time of life to preserve vision and health. 

• Middle-aged men may experience a drop in testosterone levels, which can lead to blurred vision and dry eye. This hormonal shift is similar to the stage of menopause for women. Men who are experiencing issues with creating moisture in their tear ducts should seek out an eye care professional for an expert opinion. 

• Anyone with excessively low or excessively high thyroid hormones will also experience vision changes. High levels of the T4 hormone can actually increase a patient’s risk of age-related macular degeneration. Thyroid hormones can also affect the cells responsible for color vision. 

• Anyone with diabetes may notice excessive dry eye as a result of low insulin levels. This affects both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. If you are interested in getting laser eye surgery and have diabetes, then you should definitely consult an expert on your condition. Some patients may not be eligible for LASIK, but may qualify for an alternative refractive surgery. 

How to Better Care For Your Eyes: From Lifestyle Changes to Cataract Surgery

It’s easy to take our eyes for granted. Every day of our lives we rely on our vision, from the most baseline activities to our passions and work. Very often, people forget how important this is until some part of their eyesight is compromised. Fortunately, technology can help us out when this happens. Procedures like LASIK and cataract surgery in Los Angeles allow people to regain clarity of sight and move forward with their lives.  

Since our eyes contribute so much to our quality of life, we have to maintain ocular health in order to maintain ocular function. This is true for almost anyone, regardless of measured visual acuity. Those looking into laser vision correction in Los Angeles need healthy eyes just as much as people who have never worn a corrective lens in their life. Here are some of the ways that we can take better care of our eyes: 

Eating a well-balanced diet

Diet affects nearly every aspect of our health, including our eyes. There are certain foods that will promote healthy eyes such as green leafy vegetables and yellow vegetables. Fruits that are high in vitamin C can contribute to healthy blood vessels and combat cataracts. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to improve eye pressure and reduce the risk of glaucoma. These can be found in halibut, salmon, and tuna. 

Getting enough exercise

According to corrective eye surgery experts, exercise can play a large role in eye health as well. Many people don’t realize that conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can often lead to chronic eye issues that damage vision. In order to lower your risk of developing these problems, it is imperative that you follow regular health-conscious practices according to your personal needs. 

Protecting your eyes from the sun

Many patients who receive cataract surgery in Los Angeles have been told that UVA and UVB protection is the key to preventing cataract development. While spending time outside is great for most people’s health, it is important to limit sun exposure to the eyes. Other eye conditions that can develop as a result of harmful sun rays are corneal growths, keratitis, and age-related macular degeneration.   

Filtering blue light 

In this digital age that we live in, it’s hard to get away from screens. We are constantly on our phones, tablets, and computers. Then, when we get home, we watch TV. Unfortunately, these screens emit a high energy blue light that can damage eyes over time. The best way to offset this exposure is to take supplements like zeaxanthin and lutein. You can also take frequent breaks to look at something off the screen and blink more often. 

Practicing good ocular hygiene 

There are certain things that we do without thinking and one of those is touching our eyes. Whether we feel an itch or we are adjusting our contacts, it’s easy to reach up and rub around the area without thinking. However, our eyes are very sensitive and require the utmost care at all times. In order to protect your eyes from any irritants, it is important to always wash your hands before making contact with them and never use rough motions. 

Getting laser eye surgery

It’s important to understand our limitations when it comes to eyesight. If you are someone who has worn contacts and glasses all your life or most of your life, then you know that having a refractive error can affect your day to day life. Fortunately, advancements in technology and ocular knowledge have allowed us access to procedures like LASIK. This vision correction alternative is a long-term solution that often eliminates the need for contacts or glasses entirely. For people with contact lens intolerance or who often suffer from fogged up glasses, this is life-changing. Contact a LASIK clinic near you to schedule a consultation with a surgeon. You can ask them questions like, “How much does LASIK cost?” and “How long does LASIK last?” They will walk you through every aspect of the procedure and determine whether or not you qualify for this form of vision correction.  

LASIK Surgery Versus Cataract Surgery Explained

While LASIK and cataract surgery are probably two of the most popular corrective eye surgeries in Los Angeles, many people forget how to distinguish the two procedures from one another. The fact is that each of these works to solve a problem in the eye and can result in better visual acuity for the patient; however, they require different methods and cater to different eye conditions. 

What conditions does each corrective eye surgery treat? 

LASIK eye surgery is known for improving the vision of patients with astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Typically, patients who receive LASIK or an alternative laser vision correction are doing so to fix their natural prescription. Many LASIK patients are able to achieve 20/20 vision or better and become independent from the use of glasses or contacts.  

Cataract surgery is a specialized form of corrective eye surgery used to treat cataracts. Many people naturally develop cataracts, which contribute to eye lens clouding, as they get older. This cloudiness can cause blurred or hazy vision that makes it difficult to see. Besides age, some other causes of cataracts include heredity, UV radiation exposure, eye trauma, medications, diabetes, and other eye diseases. If not treated, cataracts can eventually cause blindness. Yearly exams with your eye care professional ensure that cataracts are discovered early and treated when necessary. 

How does each corrective eye surgery work? 

LASIK eye surgery is completed with state-of-the-art laser technology that can precisely reshape the tissue in the cornea. This laser modification of the cornea allows light to better focus through the eye and thus improves vision.

When you’re receiving cataract surgery in Los Angeles, you will notice a different method. Eye surgeons remove the cloudy natural lens of the patient and replace this with an artificial intraocular lens or IOL. This method eliminates cataracts from further impeding vision and can improve close-up and distance vision, spending on the IOL. 

How long does LASIK last compared to cataract surgery? 

According to eye care professionals, LASIK eye surgery takes around 10 minutes per eye and both eyes can be performed on the same day. A cataract surgery appointment can as long as 20 minutes, depending on the severity of cataracts, and will only focus on one eye at a time. Many clinics will wait a few days, until the first eye has healed, until performing cataract surgery on the second eye. 

LASIK Surgery vs. Cataract Surgery

Both LASIK and cataract surgery are incredible procedures that have helped many people treat their vision problems and achieve their vision goals. Some patients can even have both procedures completed in their lifetime! If you still have questions about these procedures, then make sure to schedule an appointment with your eye care professional to have a comprehensive eye exam and discuss your vision goals. After a thorough analysis of your eye condition and health, your doctor will be able to tell you if your vision qualifies you for one or the other and be able to help you prepare for the surgery. 

How To Maintain Strong Vision After Cataract Surgery

Usually, the first thing that happens to people after getting cataract surgery is that they feel relieved. With cataracts gone, their vision is restored and they can see incredibly well. However, this feeling of relief is often followed by a desire to keep their visual acuity at this level. During this time, people are motivated to do what it takes in order to keep their vision strong, including eating well, exercising, eliminating any tobacco, wearing UV protection, and monitoring other health conditions. 

Cataract surgery can significantly improve a person’s vision by replacing a clouded lens with a clear, artificial one. This new lens can help light rays better reach the retina and, therefore, achieve clarity of vision. This corrective eye surgery is common for people that are prone to age related macular degeneration. According to eye care experts, macular degeneration can be triggered by cumulative oxidative stress to the macula, which is in the center of the retina. In order to prevent age related macular degeneration from backtracking the success of cataract surgery, a patient must focus on their macula health. 

The very center of the macula, known as the fovea, is responsible for five degrees of vision as well as facial recognition and reading. The fovea also holds three macular pigments ( meso-zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein) which work to filter short-wavelength blue light and have antioxidant properties. The denser the macular pigment, the more capable it is of protecting retina cells from oxidative stress and harmful blue light. This contributes to overall better quality of vision, especially in low light situations.  

The best way to reduce your risk of getting age related macular degeneration is to treat your body with the right nutrients and supplements. You can find zeaxanthin and lutein in foods like corn, carrots, leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits. According to laser vision correction experts in Los Angeles like Doctor Moosa, meso-zeaxanthin is harder to find in a Western diet and, therefore many people are deficient in this macular pigment. Fortunately, there are many natural, food-based supplements that one can take to increase their meso-zeaxanthin. This can improve visual functions and contrast sensitivity.

Visual deterioration is a common symptom of age. This is why so many people face conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, presbyopia, temporal arteritis, and dry eye. However, many people are able to restore their vision through healthy habits and corrective procedures. Eye care experts recommend taking dietary supplements to protect against oxidative damage and getting cataract surgery to replace cloudy natural lenses. As long as people stay on top of their eye health, they will be able to prevent more serious conditions from affecting their vision. One of the easiest ways to maintain eye health is to schedule yearly check-ups and share any occurring symptoms that you may have noticed with your doctor. 

Once achieving clarity of vision, people are more equipped to go about their daily lives, chase their passions, and improve their overall quality of life. In order to determine if you qualify for cataract surgery or any other vision corrective procedure, visit an eye care clinic like Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles and schedule a comprehensive exam.