laser eye surgery orange county Tag

Can Too Much Screen Time Really Harm Your Eyes?

What’s The Difference Between Relex SMILE and Contoura Vision LASIK?

What Contoura Vision is All About

Do You Have To Keep Your Eyes Open During LASIK Eye Surgery?

What’s The Difference Between VISIAN ICL and LASIK?

Patients often get confused about the differences between Visian ICL and LASIK. Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, is quick to tell us that it boils down to individual factors. Some patients are usually best suited for one procedure over the other, depending on their own personal requirements. Nonetheless, there are various differences between these two procedures. 

LASIK is a laser eye surgery procedure that is able to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism by reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser. On the other hand, Visian ICL is only suitable for myopia. It is very similar to having permanent contact lenses, so the cornea’s shape is not altered. 

To be fair, Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, stresses the fact that many types of refractive errors can be corrected with LASIK. However, individuals who have thin corneas or chronic dry eye may select Visian ICLs instead to avoid possible side effects.

Some patients will be happy to learn that LASIK is a shorter procedure, less costly, and has a faster recovery time compared to Visian ICL. The lenses used with Visian ICL may offer a reduced risk of side effects, better long-term correction, and they can be removed if the patient wishes to do so. 

The procedure you choose is fundamentally up to you and your eye doctor. LASIK Eye professionals in Orange County can recommend the best option for you and your specific situation. 

The Many Differences Between Visian ICL vs. LASIK

For several years, people who suffered from refractive errors had only two options for managing their condition: glasses or contact lenses. These options need regular eye exams to monitor the advancement of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Afterward, regular updates to the lens prescription are required to continue correcting changes in the cornea.

Medical researchers have been working on new and improved methods since the 1990s to manage refractive errors. These include implantable lenses and laser-based surgery. These new treatment methods provide patients more options than ever before and can, in the course of time, free them from having to wear contact lenses or eyeglasses on a daily basis. 

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is one of the most well-known developments since contact lenses for correcting refractive errors. A laser removes tissue from your cornea to reshape it, which causes light to refract more clearly to the back of your eye. There, the retina receives the light and transmits it to your brain through your optic nerve.

LASIK has allowed millions of people all over the world to stop wearing glasses or contact lenses. It provides an easy, fast solution that can be positively life-changing.

On the flip side, they could be a reason that an eye surgeon does not recommend someone as a good candidate for LASIK. Hence the fact, that this has made scientists research other options. Implantable contact lenses, such as the Visian ICL series, let people who have thinner corneas or other eye conditions stop wearing glasses or contact lenses for years without undergoing laser-guided surgery.

Visian ICL vs. LASIK

LASIK and Visian implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs) are very different technologies that can correct your refractive error to 20/40 visual clarity or better in specific circumstances. Before you make your decision on which is more suitable for your requirements, it is best to have a good understanding of both procedures. 

LASIK

Even though there are various types of laser eye surgery to correct refractive errors, LASIK is the most recognized type of this procedure and what most eye surgeons perform. This outpatient operation can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness not due to aging), and astigmatism, so you can often see 20/40 or better.

The process doesn’t take long at all, usually 15 minutes per eye, with much of that time involving prep for the operation. The patient receives numbing eye drops and a device to hold your eyelids open. Then, either a microkeratome (a special, small surgical knife) or a laser will cut a flap from the top of the patient’s cornea.

Then, an excimer laser removes tissue from strategic locations on the inside of the cornea to alter its shape. The surgeon puts the flap back in place and sends the patient home to relax for the rest of the day.

Many people experience good vision the next day, although having dry eyes is expected. Also, it is possible to experience halos or glares around lights and some blurry vision for a few days. Most people experience a slight decrease in these symptoms over six months while their eyes heal.

Visian ICL

Despite the fact that some surgery is involved with Visian implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs), no lasers will remove tissue from the patient’s cornea to reshape that part of your eye. Instead, Visian ICLs are a brand of phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) similar to permanent contact lenses. Visian ICLs are manufactured by Staar Surgical, and they are designed to be implanted behind the iris but in front of your natural lens. They were approved for use in adults by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 to treat nearsightedness.

On the contrary to LASIK, Visian ICLs and other types of phakic IOLs do not treat other refractive errors such as farsightedness. If you have astigmatism and myopia, you may experience some improvement in your astigmatism, but they are not meant to treat just astigmatism.

Similar to LASIK, the implantation process for these flexible Collamer lenses takes around 15 minutes per eye, using a very small incision from a laser or a microkeratome. Recovery time after this outpatient procedure is slightly longer than LASIK, with vision returning to almost full clarity after seven days. Even though healing takes more time, there are fewer side effects reported with Visian ICLs.

If you want to learn more about how LASIK or Visian implantable Collamer lenses can help your eyesight, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255 or visit our website. Our expert team and highly reputable LASIK surgeon, Dr. Moosa, are happy and willing to answer all your questions. 

When Is The Best Time To Get LASIK?

If you are thinking about booking a laser eye surgery procedure in Orange County, you may be thinking about the best time to go ahead with it. This could bring about many questions for you, the entire LASIK procedure, and your personal life situation. 

Apart from that, you are probably wondering if you are in the right phase in your life for LASIK? Is there an age that LASIK works better or worse? You shouldn’t be so concerned about scheduling laser eye surgery or the LASIK procedure because it is easier than you think. 

LASIK surgeon like Doctor Moosa understands that you may be eyeglasses or contact lens wearer. Undoubtedly, there is going to come a time when you get fed up with fussing around with prescription eyewear and start to think about having a LASIK procedure. Also, this is when many people begin to wonder if now is the appropriate time to consider LASIK. 

When Is The Best Time To Have LASIK? 

Here are a few reasons that will tell you it is an excellent time to book your laser eye surgery. 

You Want A Better Quality Of Life

The sooner you get LASIK eye surgery, the better. You have more years to enjoy the extraordinary advantages it brings. No matter how old you are, experiencing the freedom to see without wearing eyeglasses or contacts after you get LASIK is worth it. 

You Are Planning A Getaway

If you are planning a vacation anytime soon, you know that glasses and contacts can be annoying. You know the deal; you have to make sure you pack contact lens solution and bring sufficient contacts for the duration of your vacation, and if you run out, finding contacts when you are abroad is a difficult task. 

LASIK eye doctors can tell you themselves that just like many glasses wearers, you probably don’t have an extra pair of glasses to take with you, so what do you do if you break or lose your glasses during your holiday?

Plus, as most contact lens wearers who have flown know, your eyes can really dry out during a flight. LASIK is a good option so you can travel without any concerns about your glasses and contacts. 

When You Are Just Over Wearing Glasses And Contacts

There are many reasons that individuals say they are completely done with glasses and contacts as a suitable vision correction solution. These include, but are restricted to:

• Contact lens-induced infections
• Broken or lost glasses
• Can’t see when waking up
• Activities such as scuba diving, swimming, running, exercise, etc. that are interfered by glasses and contacts
• Fed up of spending money year after year on glasses and contacts

LASIK is a good vision correction procedure if you want to stop using glasses and contacts as a temporary solution and you want to stop spending a lot of money every year. 

For instance, a person in their twenties who wears disposable contacts could spend around $29,000 on contacts over their life. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, you only pay for your LASIK eye surgery once, and they are very reasonable payment options. 

Weather Doesn’t Matter When You Have LASIK

You can have LASIK at any season, and it isn’t affected by things such as temperature or humidity. However, if there is a season in which you are particularly very active, it probably isn’t the best time to have LASIK. For most people, it is best to put it on hold until after the summer, so their surgical recovery won’t make it a problem for them to swim, boat, waterski, or just participate in any popular water activity in the summer. 

You Don’t Have To Put Your Life On Hold

Since you don’t have to go through so much downtime, LASIK isn’t difficult to schedule in your life. You can even go to work a few days after their surgery, so it is probably a good idea to take a two-day vacation. If you have a physically demanding, you may want to schedule a week off, as strenuous activity can get in the way of the healing process. 

If you have a big event on the calendar, make sure you consider your post-operative appointments when you are booking your LASIK surgery. 

You Can Get LASIK At Any Age

You can receive LASIK treatment if you are 18 years or older. However, many eye experts will recommend the ideal age to have this procedure is when you are between the ages of 21 and 40. The reason being is that even though 18-year-olds can still go ahead with LASIK, eyes can change between 18 and 21. 

When a person reaches over 40, the eyes can be affected by presbyopia, which needs a monovision procedure involving only one eye correction. Cataracts and dry eyes are common issues for older individuals, so cataract surgery may be a more suitable option. 

You May Have To Put Off LASIK If…..

If you have persistent or have dry eye syndrome, it may prevent you from getting LASIK treatment. The only way to know if LASIK is a good option for you is to talk to your eye doctor at a reputable LASIK clinic. Your eye doctor will inform you of the most appropriate ways to receive LASIK with your dry eye condition. 

Ultimately, scheduling your LASIK procedure may not be a big issue; however, choosing the right doctor is very important. Although the technology used in LASIK is extraordinary, it has to be in the hands of a qualified and experienced ophthalmologist to achieve the best results.

If you’re looking for an ophthalmologist or LASIK surgeon in Orange County, Los Angeles, Excel Laser Vision Institute is the best choice for you. For over 25 years, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa and his team have provided their patients with personalized eye care using top-of-the-line technology. For more information or schedule an appointment, call (888) 957-3255 or contact us through our website.

How To Check For Your Dominant Eye According To A LASIK Expert in Orange County

You have probably heard the term dominant eye and ocular dominance before whether from a LASIK expert in Orange County, on the internet, in books and magazines, or elsewhere. However, some laser eye surgery patients aren’t too sure about what they mean or how you perform a dominant eye test? Here are few elementary things you should know:

What Is A Dominant Eye? 

In a nutshell, a dominant eye is an eye that gives you a slightly greater extent of input to the visual part of the brain and more precisely relays information about the location of objects. Normally, the term “dominant eye” is used when explaining the normal visual condition where two eyes work well as a team and have equal visual acuity. One eye is just the leading or preferred eye. 

Nevertheless, there are times that the term dominant eye is used to describe the normally sighted ad functioning eye in dysfunctional cases such as amblyopia and strabismus.

Dominant Eye Test

You can do this simple dominant eye test at home to find out which eye is your preferred eye:

1. Bring your arms out in front of you and create a triangular opening between your thumbs and forefingers by placing your hands together at a 45-degree angle.
2. With both eyes open, center this triangular opening on a distant object — such as a wall clock or doorknob.
3. Close your left eye.
4. If the object stays centered, your right eye (the one that’s open) is your dominant eye. If the object is no longer framed by your hands, your left eye is your dominant eye.

You can also do this easy dominant eye test:

1. Extend one arm out, holding the thumb of that hand in an upright position. (Or you could use your index finger instead of your thumb.)
2. Keeping both eyes open and focused on a distant object, superimpose your thumb on that object. (Don’t worry if it looks like your thumb partially disappears — that’s normal.)
3. Alternately close one eye at a time.
4. The eye that keeps your thumb directly in front of the object while the other eye is closed is your dominant eye.

Both of these dominant eye tests are classified as “sighting” tests because they entail aligning a visual target with a makeshift sighting device. Essentially, this copy cats the “sight” on the barrel of a rifle).

Some studies have revealed that sighting dominant eye tests, even though they are easy to perform and are usually accurate, can be influenced by handedness and other non-visual factors. 

To prevent these confusing aspects, some researchers bicker about the fact that non-sighting dominant eye tests could be a more precise method to find out a person’s dominant eye, which is also referred to as ocular dominance.  

During these tests, the person has to keep both eyes open, and visual stimuli are shown to each eye separately just using special optical devices. So, this is the limitation of non-sighting dominant eye tests, the equipment, and expertise of a LASIK surgeon in Orange County needed to perform them are usually only located in specialized vision clinics such as the LASIK clinic, or research facilities. In many instances, straightforward sighting eye tests such as the ones described above will precisely reveal an individual’s dominant eye. 

Eye Dominance And Handedness

The LASIK doctors in Orange County make it very clear that eye dominance and handedness ( whether you are right or left-handed) are not directly associated, these characteristics are greatly linked. 

Studies conducted on a large mass of people reveal that around 90% of subjects are right-handed and about 67% are right-eye dominant. 

Furthermore, research has shown that the probabilities of a person who is right-handed being right-eye dominant are high with about 2.5 times more probability than the odds of that person being left-eye dominant. So, it is unlikely you can predict eye dominance just on handedness alone. 

Is It Possible Not To Have A Dominant Eye? 

Is it likely that a person does not have a dominant eye? Yes, it is possible but very uncommon.

If there isn’t a strong level of dominance in a dominant eye test, it’s more likely the individual has mixed ocular dominance, which is sometimes known as ocular dominance. In a situation like this, one eye is dominant for specific functions or tasks, and the other eye is dominant at varying times. 

Some people may do a sighting dominant eye test and realize that the visual target is not accurately aligned with the triangular opening between their hands with their thumb with either eye. 

Sometimes eye dominance falls on a spectrum among certain individuals, and the same goes for handedness. Therefore, some people could have one eye that is very dominant, while others may have less of a difference in the dominance of two eyes. 

To some extent, most of the time eye dominance is inbred in your brain. 

The visual cortex, which is the part of the brain that processes visual information, are strips of nerve cells (neurons) known as dominant eye columns. These bands of neurons appear to respond alternatively to input from one eye or the other and are important to the development of binocular vision, varying and sometimes being incomplete in some people. 

If you are a shooter, photographer, or athlete and would like to level up your performance, then speak to a LASIK professional at Excel Laser Vision Institute, a reputable LASIK clinic in Orange County. Laser eye surgery can treat many refractive errors and ensure that your vision is in tip-top shape before your next sporting event, hunting season, or the photo session you have lined up. LASIK professionals will conduct a thorough evaluation of your eye health and condition before determining if you are eligible for LASIK eye surgery or a comparable procedure. 

Call Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255. Our team of staff is highly trained and knowledgeable. In our Orange County clinic, we also have Dr. Moosa, a well-esteemed LASIK surgeon that has a Harvard education and a wealth of experience working with different prescription levels. Dr. Moosa has helped many professionals achieve their vision goals, from athletes to models to military personnel. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.exceleye.com/.

Eye Experts Discuss Sports Glasses

For many sports, optimal vision plays a key role in the success of the player. That’s why so many athletes have looked into LASIK at Excel Laser Vision Institute. Along with high visual acuity, players must invest in eye protection that will reduce glare, block UV rays, and prevent anything from hitting their eyes. Sports glasses can significantly enhance a player’s performance by helping them overcome environmental conditions so that they can react faster in the game. 

Professional athletes agree that sports glasses can make or break your performance in a game. Paired with laser eye surgery, this is the ultimate secret weapon. Not everyone has a perfect vision, but many people can achieve this with the right resources. That’s why many professional sports teams hire an eye doctor to support their players throughout the season. According to Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, sports glasses can give athletes an edge in many ways, including:

• Increasing Contrast – This lets players better distinguish objects at a distance. Sports that most benefit from this feature include baseball, hockey, golf, and tennis. 
• Reducing Glare – This allows players to react quicker in bright conditions, which is especially helpful for outdoor sports.
• Ensuring Clarity Between Light Settings – With this, players can easily transition between light and dark environments, allowing them to react quickly in a game. 
• Protection – Sports glasses can ultimately protect players from injury of flying objects or limbs as well as UV rays. 

With all of these features, sports glasses can improve a player’s precision, comfort, safety, and confidence in their sport.  There are sports glasses for just about every outdoor sport and hobby. For example, basketball players can find wraparound glasses, cyclists can find glasses with anti-scratch and anti-fog coating, golf players can find polarized transition sunglasses, and runners can find polycarbonate lenses that protect against debris and wind. Football players typically have impact-resistant polycarbonate shields on their helmets and professional snowboarders or skiers can find polarized sunglasses with mirror-coated lenses. The list goes on and on. Essentially, for any sport, there is sportswear that is made to protect the eyes and improve a player’s overall performance. 

If you are an athlete and would like to level up your skills, then speak to an eye care professional at Excel Laser Vision Institute, a reputable LASIK clinic in Orange County. Laser eye surgery can treat many refractive errors and ensure that your vision is in tip-top shape before you invest in those expensive sports glasses. LASIK professionals will conduct a thorough evaluation of your eye health and condition before determining if you are eligible for LASIK eye surgery or a comparable procedure. 

Call Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255. Our team of staff is highly trained and knowledgeable. In office, we also have Dr. Moosa, a well-esteemed LASIK surgeon that has a Harvard education and a wealth of experience working with different prescription levels. Dr. Moosa has helped many professionals achieve their vision goals, from athletes to models to military personnel. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.exceleye.com/ 

LASIK Experts Share Home Remedies for Dry Eyes

Many people experience dry eye syndrome to varying degrees. For some, it’s common during allergy season or when they wear their contacts too much. For others, it’s a constant struggle. Some people report minor symptoms of dry eye after laser eye surgery, which is why LASIK doctors in Orange County like Doctor Moosa are quite knowledgeable on the subject. 

Dry eye can be caused by environmental factors, medical conditions, and certain medications like antidepressants, antihistamines, nasal decongestants, oral contraceptives, and acne medication. There are certain demographic and lifestyle factors that can increase your risk for dry eye as well. These include being a woman, aged 65 and over, frequently using contact lenses, prolonged screen use (low blink rate), smoking, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. 

Dry eye can be uncomfortable and can increase your risk of developing infections. That is why it is important for your LASIK surgeon to determine if your condition is too severe for laser eye surgery before you are approved as a candidate. Regardless, it is a good idea to have some home remedies on hand to mitigate these symptoms. If you notice your eyes becoming drier after getting laser eye surgery in Orange County, then speak to your eye doctor about prescribed eye drops and other medical solutions.

Here are some of the top home remedies for relieving dry eye: 

Conduct a Simple Cleaning Procedure

If your eyes are feeling dry, then that means that they are not producing enough tears. Use warm water and a gentle, chemical-free soap to wash your upper and lower eyelids. Follow this with a warm compress to help your eyes properly moisten. 

Rest Your Eyes

Too much screen time can contribute to dry eye syndrome. If your eyes are irritated from computer screens or tv screens, then you might need to look away for a while. Consciously increase your blinking rate and maybe even shut your eyes for a few minutes.

Consume More Essential Fatty Acids

According to Doctor Moosa, a leading LASIK expert in Orange County, foods like salmon, flax seeds, and walnuts are high in omega-3. This is great for your vision and your tear glands! Incorporate more fatty acids into your diet in order to improve your dry eye. 

Try Vitamin Supplements

Researchers have found a link between dry eye and low vitamin D intake. If you have known vitamin deficiencies, then you should definitely supplement this with some eye-friendly vitamins. Your eye needs vitamin D, C, E, B6, B9, B12, A, riboflavin, niacin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and thiamine. 

Consume Less Alcohol

The National Institutes of Health have detected higher cases of dry eye with those who indulge in alcoholic beverages due to the dehydrating effects of alcohol. If you are struggling to keep your dry eye symptoms under control, it can’t help to eliminate this possible cause. 

Drink More Water

When your eyes lack lubrication, a good thing to do is drink more water. Hydrating your body will allow your eyes to produce more tears, clean out debris, and blink more often. Experts recommend eight to ten glasses of water a day for proper hydration. 

Sleep More

Did you know that lack of sleep can affect your tear ducts? According to the National Institutes of Health, dry eye can be worsened for those that don’t get enough sleep at night. Experts recommend 7 to 8 hours of regular sleep. 

LASIK Experts Discuss What Shingles Does to the Eyes

Some of us may be familiar with the viral infection known as shingles. It’s often referred to as “chickenpox for adults.” However, many people don’t know that shingles (otherwise known as herpes zoster) can affect eye health. According to LASIK experts in Orange County, the viral infection can lead to eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and scarring of the cornea.

The reason that shingles is likened to chickenpox is because both infections are caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This virus can actually remain dormant in a person’s body. If, for example, someone had and recovered from chickenpox as a child, then that virus may be reactivated as shingles later in life. Experts who perform laser eye surgery in Orange County say that shingles affects about 1 in 3 Americans each year. 

For the most part, shingles affects people later in life. Usually, after age 50. Medical experts believe that the natural decline in a person’s immune system is one of the reasons the virus becomes activated. When your immune system weakens over time, it may not be able to recognize certain viruses or know how to attack them. Other conditions that affect your chances of developing shingles include auto-immune diseases, HIV, and cancer. If you are taking steroids, transplant medications, or chemotherapy drugs, you may also be susceptible to the virus. 

Shingles manifests in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most common symptoms that you might notice:

• Burning, tingling, or numb skin
• Skin sensitivity
• Painful rashes 
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Fluid-filled blisters
• Mild itching 

According to Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, 10-20% of people who get shingles can also develop ophthalmic herpes zoster, which is shingles around the eyes. This can lead to cataracts, corneal scarring, glaucoma, and vision loss. If left untreated, the virus can affect the nerves of the eye, causing symptoms such as:

• Dry eye
• Blurry vision
• Redness/rashes in and around the eye
• Face tingling
• Pink eye 
• Throbbing pain
• Light sensitivity
• Optic nerve swelling

Fortunately, there are some treatments available to those with ophthalmic herpes zoster. Antiviral medications  may be given within the first 72 hours of a patient showing symptoms. Numbing medicine or cream may help relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Painkillers may also be given to relieve the patient, although they will not stop the infection itself. Hydrating eye drops, cooling compresses, and anti-bacterial eye drops will help target symptoms affecting the eye. 

If shingles have affected your eyes, then you may require procedures such as cataract surgery from a LASIK clinic. Be sure to contact your eye doctor in Orange County such as Doctor Moosa immediately after noticing symptoms. The eyes are a sensitive part of the body, which means that they require excellent care and attention. The effects of shingles may last a long time if your eyes are having a hard time healing. Follow the care routine set in place by your doctor and schedule regular checkups to track your progress. Shingles typically last 2-4 weeks and, while it is possible to get it more than once, most people don’t.