Can LASIK Help Me Cope With My Migraines?
When LASIK patients in Los Angeles ask, “can LASIK cure my migraines?” The short and sweet answer is, no. Unfortunately, LASIK is not a cure for migraines. However, if you think long and hard about it, neither can a bandage heal a wound. In order for our bodies to heal, we can only improve the settings and leave a huge amount of detailed work to biochemistry. Therefore, if you were to ask the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles whether LASIK can help cure migraines, the answer is a slightly more complicated answer rather than a simple “no.”
Ocular And Visual Migraines: What Are The Prevention And Treatment Options
When an ocular migraine happens, it can be very shocking since the symptoms usually cause temporary blindness. Although ocular migraines are rare when a migraine does happen it can have a very debilitating effect. If you have a medical history of migraines or you are experiencing this condition for the first time, it is best to talk to your LASIK eye doctor in Los Angeles to find suitable treatment options for you.
What Are Ocular Migraines?
An ocular migraine refers to a wide range of migraine subtypes that cause visual disturbances. Other forms of migraines are distinguished by severe headaches and other symptoms. However, ocular migraines are unique because temporary vision issues can happen without pain or headache.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ocular Migraines?
The LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that the symptoms of ocular migraines are different from person to person, but an individual can have varying symptoms for each migraine. The most common symptoms that ocular migraines bring are the following:
- Temporary vision loss
- Temporary blindness (usually in one eye)
- Blindspot (usually in one eye, affecting central vision)
- Headache
The word “migraine” is usually linked with a very bad headache. Although a headache is part of the experience of having an ocular migraine, there are many instances when patients experience vision problems without the pain of a headache.
The Difference Between Visual Migraines And Ocular Migraines
Sometimes patients at LASIK Los Angeles clinics mistakenly use the words “visual migraines and “ocular migraine” interchangeably. Although the reality is they are both two separate conditions. Another word that is usually used for a migraine that causes visual disturbances is an “optical migraine.”
And though some of the symptoms are similar, there are a couple of unique symptoms that happen with a visual migraine, which is sometimes known as an aural migraine:
- Wavy ring of light
- Zig-zagging light
- Flickering blind spot
- Visual migraine aura
- A blind spot that moves in the field of vision
In the beginning, an ocular migraine starts off as something small. However, over time the spot becomes larger and causes more disruptions to a person’s ability to see.
In some instances, ocular migraine symptoms have a duration of 30 minutes or less. Nevertheless, there are times when symptoms stick around for an hour before a person’s vision returns completely.
Another massive difference between ocular migraines and visual migraines is how the eyes are affected. If you are experiencing an ocular migraine, then it usually affects only one eye. On the flip side, both eyes are usually affected when a person has a visual migraine.
What Causes Them?
For the most part, the cause of regular migraines and ocular migraines are very much alike. Research has confirmed that changes happen in the blood flow in the eye when the migraine is occurring. These alterations may be the cause of a reduction in blood flow or a blood vessel spasm, which affects the retina that is in the back of the eye.
Although these changes in blood flow have been recognized through imaging studies, researchers are still hesitant about the exact cause of the reaction. It shows that an outside trigger activates an area within the brain that releases inflammatory substances. This inflammatory response is what affects the nerves and blood vessels in the brain as well as the head.
Apart from your overall blood flow, genetics makes a huge difference in a person’s risk of being susceptible to them. Studies have shown that those who suffer from ocular migraines usually have a close relative who also experiences migraine headaches.
Furthermore, it is not unusual for a trigger to bring about each episode. These triggers are different from person to person. Therefore, it is recommended to track your migraine patterns to see if you can spot environmental factors that happen before the migraine began.
The most common triggers include stress, glaring lights, flickering lights, lack of sleep, strong odors (cigarette smoke or strong perfume), or consuming specific ingredients (MSG, caffeine, chocolate, red wine, aged cheese, or artificial sweeteners).
What Can LASIK Do For Migraines?
Since blood flow and visual strain are the most common factor for migraines, it makes sense to relieve visual strain to cure migraines. However, if migraines are not at all related to visual strain, then LASIK may not have any effect. So, although LASIK cannot cure migraines, it can certainly cure eye strain, and that helps a person who suffers from consistent migraines to give them a bit of relief.
When Should You See Your Eye Doctor?
Whenever you experience vision loss, it is highly advisable to consult with an eye doctor. Although the symptoms of an ocular migraine are temporary, you should find some medical help to look out for signs of other eye conditions that could lead to permanent vision loss.
It is a good idea to quickly have an eye exam to find any signs of a more serious condition. As a matter of fact, the symptoms of an ocular migraine are very similar to those of retinal detachment. If you are experiencing retinal detachment rather than an ocular migraine, immediate treatment is required to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
Contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255. Our team of staff is highly skilled and experienced. In the 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. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.exceleye.com/
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.
How To Cure Your Blurry Vision
The LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles explain the blurry vision to us as a loss of sharpness of eyesight that makes objects look out of focus and hazy.
The main causes of blurred vision are refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism or presbyopia. However, there have been patients who come for laser eye surgery complaining about a blurry vision that could be one of the first symptoms of something more serious, such as potentially sight-threatening eye disease or neurological disorder.
Plus, blurred vision can affect both eyes, however, some individuals experience blurry vision in one eye only.
LASIK eye center doctors explain cloudy vision – when you see objects as obscured and appear “milky,” is equivalent to blurry vision. Normally, cloudy vision is a symptom of particular conditions such as cataracts. Both blurry vision and cloudy vision are symptoms of a serious eye problem, especially if they happen suddenly.
LASIK experts in Los Angeles recommend that the best way to find out if you have blurry vision and what is causing it is to visit an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam.
Blurry Vision: What Are The Causes And Treatments?
Myopia: Myopia, or nearsightedness, has various symptoms which include squinting, eye strain, headaches, and blurry vision in one or both eyes. Myopia is the most common refractive error and leads to a person seeing distant objects in a blurred manner.
Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery such as LASIK and PRK are the most common ways to correct nearsightedness.
Hyperopia: Hyperopia, or farsightedness, allows people to see distant objects clearly but their eyes can’t focus properly on close-up objects. If they try to, it causes unusual eye strain and fatigue. Also, when an individual suffers from severe farsightedness, even distant objects may appear blurred.
Similar to myopia, hyperopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive eye surgery.
Astigmatism: This is when a person experiences blurred vision at all distances. It is a type of refractive error, and it is usually caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.
With astigmatism, light rays fail to come to a single focus point on the retina to create a clear vision, no matter how far away the viewed object is from your eyes.
Astigmatism, similar to nearsightedness and farsightedness, can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Presbyopia: If you’re over the age of 40 and are beginning to notice blurry vision up close especially when reading a text message, a restaurant menu, food label, or other small print, for instance — most likely this is because there is the onset of presbyopia, a normal age-related vision problem.
While the symptoms of presbyopia are very similar to those that cause hyperopia (blurry near vision; eye strain when reading), presbyopia is an age-related loss of ability to focus on near objects because of the hardening of the lens inside the eye.
Normally, your optometrist will provide you with the most common treatments for presbyopia which include progressive lenses, bifocals, and reading glasses. If that isn’t suitable for you, there are also presbyopia surgery options such as corneal inlays, monovision LASIK, and conductive keratoplasty.
When you select eyeglasses to correct refractive errors and presbyopia, clarity and comfort can be improved with an anti-reflective coating and photochromic lenses. Make sure to ask your optician for more details.
Chronic dry eyes: Dry eye syndrome can affect your eyes in various ways, including causing variable blurry vision. Although artificial tears (lubricating eye drops) can help, more advanced cases of dry eye may need a prescription medication or punctal plugs to keep your eyes comfortable, healthy, and seeing properly.
Pregnancy: Blurry vision is not uncommon during pregnancy and sometimes pregnant women also experience double vision (diplopia). Hormonal changes can change the shape and thickness of your cornea, causing your vision to blur. Dry eyes also are normal to see in pregnant women and can cause blurred vision.
If you have any vision disturbances during your pregnancy, you should always let your doctor know. Although blurry vision is no always serious, in some instances it could be a sign of gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.
Ocular migraines or migraine headaches: Even though for the most part blurred vision, flickering light, halos, or zigzag patterns are harmless and temporary, they are all common symptoms before the beginning of an ocular migraine or migraine headache.
Eye floaters: Vision can be blurred by temporary spots or floaters that aimlessly move in your field of vision. Floaters usually appear when the eye’s gel-like vitreous starts to liquefy with age, resulting in microscopic bits of tissue within the vitreous to drift around freely inside the eye, casting shadows on the retina.
If you see an abrupt onset of floaters, this could be a sign of a torn or detached retina and you should see an eye doctor immediately.
Blurry vision after LASIK: Your vision may be blurry or hazy right after LASIK or any other type of refractive surgery. The clarity of your eyesight normally improves within a few days, but it may take more time for your vision to stabilize completely.
Eye drops and medication: Particularly eye drops — especially eye drops that contain preservatives — can cause irritation and blurry vision.
Additionally, some medications such as allergy pills can cause side effects of dry eyes and blurred vision. During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor can advise you whether any of your medications may be the culprit to your blurry vision.
Over-wearing contact lenses: Wearing disposable contact lenses (or any type of contacts) for longer than your doctor recommends will cause proteins and other debris in your tear film to accumulate on the lenses. This can cause blurry vision and increase your risk of eye infections.
When you experience blurry vision that lasts for a long time or is very frequent, it is always advisable that you speak to a LASIK expert in Los Angeles like Doctor Moosa of Excel Laser Vision Institute immediately to rule out any serious vision problems.
Understanding Retinal Tears from a LASIK Expert in Los Angeles
Our eyes are an amazing, sensitive, powerful system that needs to be protected. According to the LASIK experts in Los Angeles like those of Excel laser Vision Institute, there are certain eye conditions that people should always look out for. Whenever noticing something different with vision, it is important to consult your eye doctor and determine the severity of the issue. Retinal tears, for instance, pose a serious threat to eye health and visual acuity.
Doctor Moosa, one of the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles, describe the retina as a lining of tissue on the back of the eye that is very sensitive to light. This thin layer is made up of cells that translate light waves to electrical impulses which go to the brain. When light hits the retina, it travels through the optic nerve to the brain, where the images can be processed. The retina can be torn in many different circumstances: from an injury, from age, or nearsightedness. This tearing of the retina occurs when vitreous gel fills the eyeball and pulls at the retina, causing it to separate from the inner wall. Retina tears can then become retinal detachment, which can ultimately lead to vision loss if it is not properly treated.
LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles are trained to avoid any retinal tearing during refractive surgery. However, there are cases in which other forms of eye surgery may result in some injury to the retina. Here are some of the signs of retinal tearing to look out for:
- Hazy vision
- Flashing lights
- Floaters, specks, dots, or cobwebs
- Vision loss
- Shadows or dark spots
Retinal tears can be treated on a case by case basis. Depending on the size and the severity of the injury, it may require different procedures. Smaller tears that do not affect central vision may be repaired with a retinal laser in a procedure known as laser photocoagulation. According to LASIK professionals in Los Angeles, laser technology has allowed for much improvement in eye care over the years, including this retinal procedure as well as refractive surgeries like LASIK, SMILE, and PRK surgery.
A more extreme treatment for retinal detachment is called vitrectomy. This surgery removes the vitreous gel and replaces the retina on the eyewall with a laser. Then, a gas bubble is placed in the eye to hold the retina still while it heals. Over time, the gas becomes absorbed by the eye and is replaced with a natural fluid. The full healing process can take several months and patients must avoid high altitudes. Patients who receive a vitrectomy may require cataract surgery in the future or another kind of eye surgery to restore vision.
Eye experts know that no two retinal tears are the same. That’s why it’s so hard to predict the exact timeframe of the healing process. Fortunately, many patients are able to recover most of their vision if they have the procedure done in a timely manner. If you are experiencing any of the signs of retinal tears or detachment, then please contact your eye doctor 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.
LASIK Experts Explain the Danger of Sleeping with Contacts
Wearing contacts is a responsibility. Like glasses, they can be expensive to obtain. Then, you have to make sure that they don’t get lost or damaged, are regularly cleaned, and are taken out when you go to sleep. Contacts are not for low-maintenance people. In fact, the inconvenience of contact lenses is what pushes many people to look into LASIK eye surgery. LASIK experts like Doctor Moosa say that wearing contacts actually increases your risk of developing harmful eye conditions, especially when forgetting to take them out at night. Below, we will delve into the science of sleeping with contacts and some helpful tips for those who are using these corrective lenses for the time being.
Oxygen Restriction
Our eyes, like other parts of our body, require oxygen to function. When they are open, they can receive a necessary supply from the air around us. However, contact lenses can block this process from happening. This means that contact users have a greater chance of developing inflammation, redness, irritation, fungal infections, bacterial infections, and corneal ulcers. This risk increases when contact users go to sleep without giving their eyes a break. Closed eyes will already receive less oxygen and, coupled with the barrier of contacts, this can cause serious issues and may even lead to impaired vision.
Pink Eye
Dr. Moosa, a Harvard-trained surgeon at a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles, Excel Laser Vision Institute, says that pink eye is a common problem amongst contact users. Anyone who falls asleep with their contacts on has a chance of developing conjunctivitis or another type of eye infection. Why is this? Studies have shown that our corneas are more susceptible to microscopic tears when wearing contacts for an extended period with our eyes closed. These mini tears can introduce fungi and bacteria into the eye.
Eye Ulcer
If you’re wondering why so many people are trading in their contacts for laser eye surgery, then let us introduce to you, corneal ulcers. Another risk of sleeping with contacts is developing an ulcer in your eye. This condition is actually one of the leading causes of blindness. Corneal ulcers are microscopic open wounds that festers when blocked from oxygen. If ulcers are not treated in a timely manner, they can cause lifelong damage to a patient’s vision.
Red Eye
Contact Lens Acute Red Eye (CLARE), otherwise known as Tight Lens Syndrome or Contact Lens Overwear Syndrome, is a common condition that people experience when they sleep with contacts. Symptoms of this include redness, tearing, decreased vision, and light sensitivity. If this condition persists, contact users may experience worse symptoms and potentially suffer vision loss.
Preventing Contact-Related Infections
The best way to prevent infections from contacts is to opt for another eye correction solution. LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and other refractive surgeries can help many people achieve 20/20 vision without the need of contacts or glasses. So, if you’re interested in replacing your contact lenses with clear, independent vision, then get LASIK from Excel Laser Vision Institute. Until then, here are some helpful tips for contact users:
- Avoid rubbing your eyes
- Always wash your hands before inserting or removing contacts
- Never reuse disposable contacts
- Remove contacts before swimming
- Remove contacts before sleeping or napping
- Never share contacts with anyone else
- Avoid costume contacts
LASIK Experts Discuss What Foods Impact Your Eye Health
The food that we chose to put in our bodies can greatly affect how we feel. Why is this? Food is fuel. If we eat unhealthy meals, then we are giving ourselves bad fuel, which in turn can lead to health problems down the road. Conversely, good food can make our bodies operate at its highest capacity. According to Doctor Moosa, one of the top LASIK professionals in Los Angeles, there are many types of food that can impact our eye health in particular.
Here are some of the best foods to eat for ocular health:
Berries
The best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles say that berries contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C! This means that they are a great food to incorporate in your diet for healthy eyes. Blackberries and raspberries are especially high in these nutrients. If you’re eager to add more fruit into your diet, then you may also want to try more grapefruit and oranges, which also offer vitamin C and antioxidants.
Corn
While sometimes debated for its health benefits, corn has actually been found to have high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. These are macular pigments that act as a natural shield from harmful sun rays. With more lutein and zeaxanthin in your diet, you decrease your risk for developing eye problems like cataracts.
Eggs
LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles particularly Doctor Moosa vow by eggs for eye health. Why? While they provide lutein and zeaxanthin, the yolks also have high levels of zinc. By eating more eggs, you can help fight against macular degeneration. And, after all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
Leafy Greens
Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and kale…oh my! Green vegetables are great for your eyes. Whether it’s a handful of spinach in your smoothie or some chard in your sandwich, you can incorporate these veggies in many ways. Green vegetables are known for their high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. The more vegetables you eat, the better chance you have for increasing your ocular health.
Legumes
If you ask a LASIK expert in Los Angeles how to help your retinal health, then they may recommend legumes! Everything from lentils to black-eyed peas to kidney beans contain bioflavonoids and zinc. These ingredients protect your retina, which can lower your chances for health problems in the future.
Salmon
The key to eye health is omega-3 fatty acids. There are a variety of food options that provide this, but salmon is at the top of the list. Salmon is a healthy and light protein that can provide those omega-3s, which protect your blood vessels.
Turkey
Last, but certainly not least, is turkey! If you’ve always been a fan of Thanksgiving, then you’ll be happy to hear that turkey has lots of zinc, niacin, and vitamin B! These ingredients can help protect your eyes from developing cataracts.
Conclusion
Now that you know what foods promote good eye health, you can tackle your next meal with confidence. Foods that are not conducive to ocular health include fried food, margarine, and sugary drinks. Swap out your unhealthy choices for something more nutritious and enjoy your healthy eyes.
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.
Why You Should Consider Getting LASIK This Spring/Summer
We’re in the thick of spring. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and more people are getting their vaccines! What better time to look into getting LASIK in Los Angeles? For many people, this coming summer represents a much-needed sigh of relief. Finally, families can rest assured that their loved ones are protected and enjoy public activities again.
Here Are Some Of Our Top Reasons For Considering Laser Eye Surgery This Spring or Summer:
Enjoy Stylish and Convenient Eye Protection
Are you tired of wearing that one pair of prescription sunglasses that you own? Don’t want to worry about putting in contacts when you’re at the beach? With 20/20 vision, you won’t have to rely on corrective lenses to enjoy your time in the sunshine. Prescription glasses can be an expensive purchase (and also vulnerable to activities like biking, volleyball, and swimming). Enjoy your vacation and protect your vision without worrying about losing your one pair of prescription sunglasses.
Swim Freely
Taking a dip in the pool when it’s hot out can be just the thing for a summer day! Unfortunately, for those who wear glasses or contacts, swimming can be a huge challenge. If you take off your prescription lenses to swim, then you won’t be able to see! Those who wear contacts may fear losing their invisible lenses in the pool or contaminating them with the chlorine. This can lead to costly replacements or even an eye infection! When you achieve your vision goals through LASIK, you can swim freely with peace of mind.
Avoid Accidents
When the weather is warmer, many people like to get outside and do something active, whether that be exercising or playing sports. Glasses or contacts can be a hindrance to these kinds of spring and summer activities. Perspiration and heat can cause fogging, streaks, and other visual barriers for those who wear glasses. Meanwhile, those who wear glasses run the constant risk of developing an infection from dirt, dust, and other outside particles that attach to the lenses. With clear vision, you won’t have to worry about losing or damaging your only vision source.
Mitigate Allergies
During the spring and summer, there may be a greater concentration of pollen in the air. This can be difficult for those who experience eye irritation with their seasonal allergies. Contact lenses can exacerbate the situation by trapping dirt and pollen or drying out. Even wearing glasses can be a hassle when your eyes are red, itchy, swollen, and dry. Visit Excel Laser Vision Institute, a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles, to learn how laser eye surgery might improve your seasonal allergies over the long term.
Savor the Spring and Summer
It finally feels like we’re reaching the light at the end of the tunnel! Celebrate this time with a life-changing procedure. LASIK has helped many people achieve their vision goals and improve their overall quality of life. Schedule your free LASIK consultation at Excel Laser Vision Institute. Our team of skilled eye care professionals will determine whether you are an eligible candidate for laser eye surgery and will jumpstart the process so you can savor the days ahead with clear vision.
How Your Blood Pressure Can Affect Your Eyes – A LASIK Expert In Los Angeles Explains
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force that it takes for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. According to Doctor Moosa, a LASIK expert in Los Angeles, having a blood pressure that is too low or too high can have significant effects on your eyes. Twenty-six percent of the world’s population has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This means that the heart is working extra hard to circulate blood in the body. Meanwhile, thirty-one percent of the world’s population deals with low blood pressure, or hypotension. This indicates that the heart is not working hard enough, which contributes to improper circulation. People on the low/normal end of the blood pressure spectrum may have perpetually cold feet and hands.
It is normal for our blood pressure to fluctuate during the day. However, when an abnormal rate is sustained for a long period of time, this can cause physical ailments that affect the whole body. The best LASIK surgeons say that patients with abnormal blood pressure may require medication or lifestyle adjustments in order to maintain a healthier balance. Some of the most typical causes of high blood pressure include sleep apnea, kidney disease, abnormal thyroid function, tobacco smoking, diet (too much salt), obesity, pain relievers, decongestants, and other medications. Low blood pressure can be caused by stress, not breathing properly, orthostatic hypotension, and certain prescription medications.
LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles particularly Doctor Moosa say that high blood pressure can affect the retina by damaging connecting blood vessels and causing fluid buildup. This can, in turn, lead to hypertensive retinopathy or an eye stroke. Patients with high blood pressure thus risk damage to their optic nerve and even vision loss. Fortunately, if you do regular exams, your doctor should be able to prevent these serious symptoms by detecting high blood pressure early. If you begin to notice an onset of pain, blurry vision, or sudden floaters, then you should speak to your eye doctor and have a thorough examination.
Many people have a blood pressure that is slightly lower than normal, but do not experience symptoms. This is known as low/normal blood pressure. When blood pressure begins to drop too low, patients may begin to have difficulty concentrating, nausea, weakness, and light-headedness. Low blood pressure can also cause blurry vision or fading vision because the eyes are not getting sufficient blood supply. In order to avoid these problems, people should schedule regular checkups with their primary care physician and eye doctor.
If you are wondering how your blood pressure might affect your ability to get a procedure like LASIK in Los Angeles, then feel free to call Excel Laser Vision Institute and speak to one of our experienced staff. LASIK is a refractive surgery that has been proven to correct certain levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. We can help you determine if you are eligible for LASIK or other vision correction alternatives such as PRK and SMILE. Call Excel Laser Vision Institute at (877) 981-3003 and schedule your free LASIK consultation.