Understand the Difference Between LASEK and LASIK Los Angeles
If you aren’t a doctor or didn’t study medical terms, it can be confusing when you come across certain medical terms and jargon. The LASIK Los Angeles eye doctors believe you should go ahead and do your research into laser eye surgery, and if you encounter something you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles about the terminology. Most of the time, patients don’t know the difference between vision correction procedures that are available to them, and that also goes for the differences between LASIK and LASEK.
The LASIK surgeons Los Angeles have to admit that LASIK and LASEK are nearly identical names, which doesn’t help matter much, but there are easy, noticeable distinctions between LASEK and LASIK that patients have to understand before going ahead with laser eye surgery.
What’s Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a vision correction procedure that’s purpose is to make the patient less dependent on glasses or contact lenses.
Oftentimes known as laser vision correction, laser eye surgery utilizes lasers to alter the shape of the cornea (the front surface of the eye) which provides enhanced focus. Laser eye surgery can sufficiently correct both long and short-sightedness, as well as astigmatism. Although LASIK Los Angeles is known as ‘surgery’, it doesn’t require an incision.
The two main types of laser eye surgery are LASEK and LASIK. Their fundamental difference is based on the way the top corneal layer is taken off.
What’s LASIK?
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis and is the best laser eye surgery in Los Angeles. It consists of two separate lasers. The first is a femtosecond laser that makes a thin, round flap on the cornea, which the doctor then folds back to enter the stroma or underlying part of the cornea.
When this step has been completed, the doctor utilizes an excimer laser to change the shape of the stroma. This takes away tissue from the cornea, to provide better vision and focus.
LASIK is usually a painless procedure, and both eyes can be treated in as short a time as fifteen minutes. Typically, patients recover within 24 hours.
What’s LASEK?
LASEK or Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy, also known as (LASEK), is slightly different from LASIK since the process only uses one laser. Rather than using a laser to create a flap in the top corneal layer, the eye surgeon applies an alcohol solution which helps to soften the surface layer, supporting it to be moved to the eye’s side.
When this top corneal layer has been removed, the eye surgeon can change the shape of the cornea with a laser. The top corneal layer is then brought back to its original position, and a protective contact lens is placed on the eye to magnify comfort during the healing process. In many situations, this can be taken off after four days.
Most eye surgeons will recommend LASEK to patients who have thin corneas, or other problems which may make conventional laser eye treatment complicated or risky. Similar to LASIK, both eyes can be treated on the same day, but the recovery process is a tad slower, usually lasting up to two weeks.
What’s The Difference Between LASIK And LASEK?
The most significant difference between LASIK and LASEK procedures is the method that the cornea is uncovered. With LASIK, this is carried out with a laser; when it comes to LASEK, the top layer of the cornea is removed using an alcohol solution.
Some LASIK Los Angeles patients, particularly those with thin corneas, will be told by their eye surgeons that their eyes are unsuitable for LASIK treatment and will be advised to go for a LASEK procedure.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of LASIK?
The advantages of LASIK are simple. The procedure can be done within fifteen minutes, and the patient normally recovers within 24 hours. The primary disadvantage of LASIK is the fact that patients with thin corneas are not suitable candidates for LASIK, and it’s not the most efficient procedure to treat individuals with severe short-sightedness. Also, patients who are at high risk of suffering an eye injury may want to avoid LASIK, since there is a possibility of the corneal flap being detached.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of LASEK
The best thing about LASEK is the fact that it’s suitable for all patients, and this includes those with thin corneas, pre-existing medical conditions, and severe short-sightedness.
Because the procedure does not require the eye surgeon to create a flap in the cornea, there is less risk for the patient to suffer from dry eyes than with LASIK. Also, this means LASEK patients can return to contact sports sooner than is recommended with LASIK.
LASEK’s main disadvantage is the recovery time, which is longer, and usually more uncomfortable than LASIK’s.
What’s The Cost Of LASIK VS LASEK?
Because LASIK Los Angeles needs more complex equipment to carry out a procedure compared to LASEK, the cost of the surgery is usually slightly higher. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we have various financing options to suit your needs.
Before you decide on the type of procedure you want to do, make sure you talk to a medical professional who specializes in this sort of treatment. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we offer free consultations, which you can book here. Or else, you can call us on (310) 905-8622, to book an appointment with us.
How To Reduce The Possible Pain and Discomfort After A LASIK Procedure?
Doctor Moosa, a Lasik Los Angeles surgeon, wants to make it perfectly clear that LASIK is the safest and most successful surgical procedure anyone can undergo. Overall, the recovery time after LASIK is very quick and comfortable, particularly when there are no complications during the surgery itself.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK pain and discomfort is nevertheless a possible risk; however, we reduce that risk by utilizing only the most state-of-the-art laser vision correction technologies and techniques. Also, our LASIK eye surgeons use a thorough screening process that makes sure that only the most suitable candidates will be submitted to undergo the procedure.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, you’ll find a cutting-edge LASIK Los Angeles eye care facility that always puts patient safety, comfort, and overall satisfaction above everything else.
Although when you get your corrective eye surgery done, our team will do everything possible to make sure you have a fast, comfortable recovery, you will have obligations as a patient, too. You will be handed a set of instructions on the dos and don’ts, and you have to follow it to a ‘T’ to ensure you make your healing process as free from stress and discomfort as possible.
What Does LASIK Surgery Involve?
As mentioned above, LASIK is the safest and most effective surgical procedure in the world. People who experience blurry vision because of farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism are suitable candidates for traditional LASIK, custom LASIK (which includes the use of wavefront mapping to correct higher-order aberrations), or bladeless LASIK (which is the use of a femtosecond laser rather than a blade microkeratome to make the corneal flap to get clear vision. Nonetheless, regardless of the LASIK treatment patients opt for, there are still those who report some level of discomfort after surgery.
What’s Basic Discomfort After LASIK Surgery?
Once you have found out the Lasik eye surgery cost and decide to go through the LASIK Los Angeles procedure, you should keep in mind what to expect. Fortunately, severe pain after LASIK surgery is very rare and should not be anticipated on the whole. Nonetheless, some minor discomfort and soreness can be expected. This discomfort could be burning or itchiness, and more commonly, patients experience a sensation of something foreign in their eyes.
Additionally, patients may feel sensitive to light and experience extreme tearing throughout the first few hours after surgery.
Your Harvard-trained LASIK surgeon, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa, may prescribe you a pain reliever to help alleviate this discomfort. Also, you may find using liquid tears handy in managing any burning, itching, or redness that you’re feeling. Overall, though, these unwanted side effects will lessen within three days, if not within a couple of hours after your surgery.
What’s Severe Pain After LASIK Surgery?
Even though it’s very rare, severe pain has been reported by some patients after LASIK surgery. If you ever experience severe pain, particularly if it’s followed by tearing, you should get in touch with your eye care clinic as soon as possible. You should be seen immediately so that an eye doctor can diagnose the reason for your pain. The most common reason for severe pain is flap distortion and other flap-related issues, which can be fixed.
One of the most prevalent causes of flap issues is a failure to follow post-operative instructions. For example, patients should not rub their eyes within a week of surgery, no matter how itchy or irritated their can might get. When you rub your eyes right after LASIK surgery, you could cause the corneal flap to become dislodged. Similarly, patients should stay away from streaming water coming into contact with the eyes, for instance, which can happen during a shower. When these instructions are not followed, it can lead to painful flap-related conditions.
Other Ways To Reduce Pain And Discomfort
Here are other methods you can alleviate discomfort immediately after your LASIK surgery.
Take A Nap Right After Surgery
When surgery is being performed, the eye surgeon applies numbing eye drops to the patient’s eyes. These drops stop any discomfort during the actual procedure. So, patients only feel pressure on the eye while the surgeon creates the corneal flap and the cornea tissue is reshaped. Nevertheless, when the numbing eye drops wear off, which usually happens within an hour after surgery, patients start to feel discomfort. The pain is normally its worst for a few hours after the numbing medication loses its effects.
While this is happening, eye doctors will recommend taking a nap. When you keep your eyes closed, the eyelid is halted from rubbing against the healing corneal flap. Plus, the eyes will probably not dry out when they are closed.
Despite the fact that patients may feel they can’t take a nap, particularly if the surgery is carried out in the morning, the calming medication that is distributed before surgery can lead to patients feeling drowsy after surgery. When patients take advantage of this fatigue, they can sleep through this time that’s linked to the highest level of discomfort.
Apply Lubricating Eye Drops
Even though most of the discomfort is gone by the next morning after surgery, some patients say they experience a dry, gritty feeling in their eyes. Applying lubricating eye drops can ease this kind of discomfort. Make sure to check the eye drop’s label to prevent overuse.
Take Pain Medication
Patients should be ready to take pain medications before any discomfort appears. Most patients take their first dose of medication instantly before or after surgery is completed. When this is done, the pain medication takes effect before the numbing eye drops wear off.
Patients should make it a point to take the second dose of pain medication on time instead of waiting for any pain to become apparent because discomfort is normally at its worst the day the surgery is performed, pain medication should be taken based on the label’s instructions for the first day after surgery.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK eye surgery enhances your vision. Nevertheless, proper care has to be taken before and after the LASIK surgery. If you want to know more about LASIK Los Angeles surgery, please do not hesitate to call us at (866) 923-9235.
Can I Drive After Having LASIK?
There are a good number of LASIK Los Angeles patients who want to get rid of their dependence on eyeglasses with LASIK surgery. Vision issues, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, can be corrected with laser eye surgery in Los Angeles. No matter the LASIK eye surgery cost, LASIK is an effective procedure. However, your eye surgeon will warn you prior to the surgery that it can make your vision blurry immediately afterward, which makes it unsafe to drive straight away.
Typical Patient Questions Before A LASIK Procedure
Prior to a patient’s decision to undergo LASIK surgery, many candidates have questions about what they can or cannot do after the LASIK Los Angeles procedure. They have questions such as:
When can I take a shower?
How soon can I wear makeup?
Will I need glasses?
When can I drive?
When can I go back to work?
Keep on reading down below to get the answers to these questions and more.
How To Prepare For LASIK Surgery?
Once you have booked a date at LASIK Los Angeles procedure, you’ll have to arrange a lift to drop you off at the clinic or travel on public transport. After the surgery has been performed, LASIK eye center Los Angeles surgeons like Doctor Moosa do not recommend going back home alone. If you want to use public transport for your return home, do so with someone accompanying you. The best-case scenario is that someone picks you up after your treatment.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Wear Make-Up?
Eye surgeons recommend you not wear eye makeup after LASIK because it can get into your eye and cause an infection if the makeup is not put on and taken off carefully. Therefore, most LASIK eye doctors will recommend you wait a week after LASIK before putting on eye makeup. Again, it depends on the patient, and some may be ready to put on makeup after a few days, but plan for a week. So, keep that in mind when making your appointment. If for any reason, you have to wear makeup less than a week after a LASIK procedure, it’s probably best to put the surgery on the back burner for a while.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Take A Shower?
You don’t have to skip out on your showers after LASIK. However, you will have to make it a point to make sure you keep your eyes completely closed to stop any shampoo, soap, and water from getting into your eyes. Also, you’ll have to avoid rubbing your eyes when you’re washing your face.
Will I Require Glasses After LASIK?
The short, sweet, and honest answer is, maybe. The main reason why some LASIK patients will have to wear glasses after LASIK is for reading.
As we age, the ciliary muscles in the eye start to lose elasticity. This elasticity is what lets people focus on objects, such as the things they are reading up close. This is known as presbyopia and is usually a part of aging, which is a reason why some people who have never had to hassle with wearing glasses in their life require reading glasses when they get older.
Most of the time, LASIK is carried out to correct distance vision problems and other issues such as refractive errors instead of presbyopia. Nevertheless, the requirement for glasses can lessen if the patient decides to undergo monovision. This procedure corrects one eye for seeing distances, and the other is corrected for seeing near. This is not as adequate for repairing vision, but it helps to relieve the requirement for reading glasses after a LASIK procedure.
When Can I Go Back To Work?
For many patients, about two days off work after a LASIK procedure is the only time they need. Nonetheless, you should remember that you may need up to a week off. Considering that everyone is different, it completely depends on the type of laser eye treatment you have undergone and how quickly you can heal. Your laser eye surgeon will talk to you about this during your free consultation and your first post-op examination.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Drive?
Not everyone’s the same, so everyone’s recovery is going to be different. However, most patients can notice an improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours of their surgery. Throughout that time, any medications would have also subsided. A day after surgery, you’ll be expected to return for a post-operative exam, have your vision tested, and have the eye doctor confirm that your eyes are healing. If your eyes aren’t sufficiently recovered to drive, you’ll only require another day or so to completely heal.
Once Your Eye Doctor Gives You The Okay To Drive
When your LASIK Los Angeles doctor tells you it’s fine to start driving again, there are still a few things you have to keep in mind after surgery.
Some people experience glare, particularly from bright lights, in the weeks after LASIK surgery. As a result of this, you could face some challenges when driving at night when encountering oncoming headlights. That’s why it’s a good idea to be a passenger at night first, to check whether you feel comfortable driving yourself.
Issues with glare usually improve greatly within the first couple of weeks after treatment and carry on improving over the first three months.
Also, you should consider that even though laser eye surgery Los Angeles can significantly enhance your vision, it isn’t a 100% cure, and you may find that you still need your eyeglasses for specific tasks such as driving.
If you’ve still got questions about laser eye surgery, Excel Laser Vision Institute would love to assist you. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with Dr. Ferzaad Moosa to find out if you’re a suitable candidate here.
Will the Covid-19 Vaccine Affect Your Vision?
Some LASIK Los Angeles patients are apprehensive about the COVID vaccines and how it affects their vision. There are fears of side effects as well as vision issues. Doctor Moosa, one of the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles says it is the main reason some people are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. At the moment, there’s no evidence that any of the vaccines cause overall vision-related side effects. Presently, three vaccines are being used in the United States:
Pfizer-BioNTech, now completely approved by the FDA under the brand name Comirnaty.
Moderna.
Johnson & Johnson / Janssen.
The CDC says, many vaccine side effects are moderate, and are “normal signs that the body is building protection.” LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that they do not include eye- or vision-related symptoms.
These common side effects include:
Redness, pain, and/or swelling in the arm where you got the injection.
Fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and/or nausea.
These prevalent reactions usually go away within a few days.
What Are The Rare Reactions To The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine?
In some instances, a blood-clotting condition called TTS (Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) can happen in the weeks following a Johnson & Johnson vaccination. TTS is extremely rare and happens in around 3 in every 1 million adults.
The best laser eye surgery doctors in Los Angeles say that blurry vision can be a symptom of TTS, plus several other symptoms.
Also, the rare nerve condition Guillain-Barre syndrome has been noticed in around eight in every one million adults vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Guillain-Barre syndrome can cause eye-related symptoms such as double vision and issues moving the eyes, along with other neurological symptoms.
If you detect any symptoms of TTS or Guillain-Barre in the days or weeks after a J&J vaccine, get medical help immediately.
Although these are uncommon reactions, the CDC has emphasized that — compared to a COVID-19 infection — the advantages of the J&J vaccine cancel out any risks.
Eye Issues Linked To Other Vaccines
Although the COVID-19 vaccines have still not caused notable side effects yet related to vision, vaccines for many other conditions have been connected to eye and vision issues.
Seasonal flu vaccine
In exceptional cases, some patients who’ve got the flu vaccine experienced mild symptoms such as eye redness, eye pain, and blurred vision.
Common side effects of the flu vaccine include:
Headache
Redness, soreness, or swelling at the injection spot
Fever
Nausea
Muscle aches
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
Some studies reveal that optic neuritis is an unusual complication from the vaccine for the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. Optic neuritis is inflammation altering the optic nerve that transmits cues from the back of the eye to the brain.
Typically, side effects of the MMR vaccine include:
Mild rash
Swollen cheek or neck gland
Fever
Temporary joint pain (significantly in adolescent and adult females)
Rare side effects consist of short-term seizures and low platelet count. The MMR vaccine can lead to deafness, long-term seizures, coma, or brain damage in sporadic instances.
Chickenpox and shingles vaccines
Research has found rare corneal inflammation in children (chickenpox) and adults (shingles) after receiving the zoster virus vaccine for both conditions.
Common side effects from the chickenpox vaccine consist of the following:
Temporary joint pain and stiffness
Mild rash and soreness at the injection spot
Fever
For the shingles vaccine, typical side effects are:
Swelling, redness, soreness, and at the injection site
Muscle pain
Tiredness
Headache
Fever
Shivering
Stomach pain and nausea
How Safe is LASIK During the Pandemic?
Sadly, many hospitals and medical practices have been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because of the many changes in protocol. Therefore, several LASIK Los Angeles procedures have also been influenced during the pandemic.
LASIK eye surgery is not a medical emergency but rather a selective laser vision correction Los Angeles procedure. Globally, LASIK is the most popular surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
How Does Covid-19 Affect The Eyes?
Several organs in the body, including the respiratory tract, have a mucous membrane lining. The membrane is vulnerable to coronavirus. Also, it lines the surface of the eye and inside of the eyelids and is referred to as the conjunctiva. The virus transmission via the conjunctiva is a rare condition but can result in conjunctivitis. Your eye looks pink when you have this condition, and the inner membrane (conjunctiva) gets inflamed.
Typically, general body symptoms correlated with the coronavirus are fatigue, fever, and a dry cough, and the primary method of transmission is infected droplets. Although the evidence of infection transmission through the eyes is not well studied nor documented, it is possible that the coronavirus may spread through the eyes.
Are There Any Risks?
Many people who are looking into LASIK surgery wonder if the procedure is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the increased risk of spreading infection through a contact lens, many individuals go for LASIK for corrective eye surgery.
LASIK surgery helps the patient eliminate the need for contact lenses or dealing with foggy glasses, particularly in health care professionals who have a high risk of acquiring the virus. The LASIK Los Angeles procedure is done safely and is carried out by professionals who take the necessary precautions.
How To Get Ready For LASIK Surgery During Covid-19?
Once you have found out the LASIK eye surgery cost, you have to take the right steps to get ready to treat your eyes with LASIK surgery. Think about the following actions to prepare for the surgery.
- Look for a skilled and experienced surgeon who carries out the surgery with the highest level of safety and care.
- The doctor performs a COVID-19 test before the surgery.
- If you qualify, you should get vaccinated for COVID-19.
- Before getting inside the center, you should be checked for body temperature and other symptoms such as cough. The surgery should not occur if a patient is diagnosed with any of the symptoms.
- The patient should practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. They should wear their mask.
- The patient should arrive relaxed and have eaten something to avoid having the surgery on an empty stomach.
How Has The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased LASIK Enthusiasm?
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, many people in the medical field thought it would significantly lower LASIK procedure volume, as in past economic crises. This was probably due to our knowledge that LASIK and refractive surgery are usually motivated by consumer sentiment and need a lot of unrestricted income. What came as a surprise to many industry experts, including medical equipment manufacturers, commercial LASIK operators, and independent physician LASIK center owners—procedure volume has been strong, with a renewed level of enthusiasm. Many LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles haven’t witnessed such enthusiastic growth since before the 2007-2008 crisis. Again, many say the cause is a perfect storm of many factors.
What Are The Three Main Factors?
The three primary factors that are responsible for this perfect storm of revival in LASIK enthusiasm are the following:
Financial motivators (which always play a huge part)
Lifestyle changes
Safety Concerns
Financial motivators: For the past several years, there has been an evident change to the millennial generation which makes up about 80 million of the world’s population who are seeking LASIK. Even though this is a challenging population to market to persistently, many meet the economic and clinical criteria for a good LASIK candidate.
Alas, the millennial demographic was evidently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-MArch of 2020, many nonessential workers began to work from home. A majority of this group of potential refractive surgery patients did not lose their jobs. They did not leave their homes, their meetings with coworkers were carried out through Zoom, they had more screen time, and their workday became likely undetermined.
Since this group of individuals had nowhere to spend their disposable income due to lockdowns almost overnight, millennials had money to spend on medical procedures instead of clothes, salons, entertainment, travel, and gym memberships.
Lifestyle changes: Another factor that creates the perfect storm for refractive surgery volume to boost is the extra time at home, with people staring at the computer, phone, and tablet screens more. People soon started to figure out that looking at a screen all day causes an increase in eye fatigue, and this was even more apparent for individuals who wore contact lenses.
Safety concerns: The last but not the least motivator is safety. This means the possible viral transmission through hand-to-eye contact. At the beginning of the pandemic, many articles in the media indicated that the novel coronavirus could be passed through tears. Because of the media teaching us all about this, patients became very knowledgeable of the potential transmission route.
LASIK is an elective surgery since it does not treat any life-threatening disease. Moreover, similar to other surgeries, the risk of COVID-19 spread is not high because patients are not so close to surgeons. Many studies reveal that a LASIK procedure is safe if the surgeons follow all the necessary COVID-19 protocols and access personal protective equipment.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK surgery enhances your vision and provides you with extra benefits. Nevertheless, proper care has to be taken before opting for LASIK surgery. If you want to know more about our COVID-19 protocols during the LASIK Los Angeles procedure, please do not hesitate to call us at (310) 905-8622.
Should I Get Contoura or LASIK Surgery?
Over the years, the LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles have seen technologies advanced in the healthcare field, which has made patients feel more comfortable and healthier. The laser eye surgery professionals stress that it is essential that there are technological advances in the medical field since many patients can’t take advantage of the technologies available in the industry. For instance, some patients are suffering from a new disease or have gone into an advanced stage and are not being treated with the present system of medications and surgery.
And when we talk about the LASIK eye surgery cost, eyeglass removal surgery is not set apart from these advancements. Researchers are attempting to do their best to make surgical treatment with very few complications and the most desired results. An example of such an advanced eye surgery at the LASIK eye center in Los Angeles is Contoura Vision surgery, which is also referred to as Topography-guided LASIK surgery.
When any patient asks for LASIK eye surgery cost, they find out that a Contoura Vision surgery is a version of LASIK surgery and offers enhanced benefits to patients thinking about undergoing spectacle removal surgery. Besides the fact that this surgery is very effective, it gives excellent results to patients who were initially not eligible for LASIK surgery because of irregularities in the cornea. The LASIK eye specialist in Los Angeles informs us that USFDA has approved Contoura technology for specs removal surgery.
History Of Contoura Eye Surgery
Wearing eyeglasses to correct vision dates back to the 13th century. In the 1800s, contact lenses were ready for use in Switzerland and were manufactured from hand-blown glass. Back then, these were non-invasive ways for correcting a person’s vision and improving clarity. Nevertheless, these devices lead to discomfort for those who wear them and need a lot of careful handling.
As a result of this, invasive methods were introduced to correct vision. A Russian eye specialist created radial keratotomy, which consisted of the use of a diamond knife to make an incision on the cornea and change its curvature. The process is still used today to manage astigmatism. Afterward, in the 1990s, USFDA approved a more robust procedure for correcting the vision. The process is referred to as photorefractive keratotomy, which has a prolonged vision correction effect. LASIK needs the benefits of both the above techniques and eliminates their disadvantages, leading to more comfort to the patient. These techniques are highly successful and still believed to be the Gold standard in vision correction surgery.
In 1999, a customized procedure came out and was carried out through LASIK with wavefront analysis. The technique was called the Contoura technique and gave 22000 points on the cornea. Compared to Contoura, the conventional LASIK maps just 200 points on the cornea.
Who Is NOT Eligible For Contoura Vision Surgery?
Unfortunately, not everyone who has vision problems can have Topography-Guided LASIK treatment. Typically, the LASIK ophthalmologists in Los Angeles conduct a thorough evaluation of the patient’s eye health to determine whether Contoura vision surgery would benefit in improving visual clarity or correcting refractive error. Below is the criteria for patients who are NOT eligible for undergoing Contoura vision surgery:
Individuals who are less than 18 years of age due to instability in vision.
Those suffering from immunodeficiency diseases
Individuals with vascular disease
Persons with myopia higher than 9.00 D
Those with prominent nose and brow that obstructs reflection.
What Is The Difference Between Contoura Surgery And Lasik Surgery?
Here are a few differences between Contoura vision surgery and LASIK:
Better outcome: The outcome achieved with Contoura surgery is better than LASIK when it comes to visual clarity and correction in refractive error. On average, patients experience corrections better than 6/6.
Broader scope: The whole point of Contoura is not restricted to vision correction. Instead, it can treat the abnormality found within the corneal curvature.
Advanced technology: The technology used in Contoura surgery is more state-of-the-art compared to traditional LASIK surgery. Although traditional LASIK surgery maps only 200 points on the cornea, the Contoura vision surgery maps 22000 points on the cornea.
Fewer complications: Contoura vision surgery has more minor complications than traditional LASIK surgery, and the damage to the tissue is nearly more minor and has a faster healing time.
What Are The Advantages Provided By Contoura Vision Apart From Vision Clarity?
Here are some of the advantages provided by Contoura vision surgery:
High safety standards: The Contoura LASIK has high safety standards. The complications are lower, and the healing is quicker.
USFDA approved: Contoura LASIK has been approved by USFDA for vision correction. This proves the safety, efficacy, and authenticity of this technology.
Patient’s comfort: Contoura surgery has no stitches, no bandages, no injections, no pain, and the patient can go home the same day of surgery.
What Is The Procedure For Contoura Vision Eye Surgery?
Contoura vision surgery’s process is similar to LASIK surgery. However, the technology involved is different from traditional LASIK surgery. Detailed eye check-up of the patient is done to exclude any disease or infection. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. In this advanced technology, the machine used produces about 22000 points on the cornea through topography.
Every point is analyzed for abnormality and is corrected through LASER. The machine used in the Contoura vision includes WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser Systems and WaveLight TopolyzerVario Diagnostic Device. Post-surgery eye care is a crucial part of the treatment to get the targeted result. Different eye drops, including anti-inflammatory and antibiotics, are prescribed to the patient to counteract inflammation and infection.
How To Take Better Care of Your Eyesight as You Age
We all want to stay in our 20s or 30s forever so that we won’t have to experience all the downsides of getting older, but unfortunately, we cannot prescribe a fountain of youth to you, so the next best thing we can do for you is advise you on how to take care of your eyesight over the course of your life. While some people naturally have better eyesight than others due to genetics, there are still things you can do to help yourself. In fact, it is imperative that you prioritize your eyecare because some forms of damage are irreversible. Here are some tips on how to prioritize the best care for your eyesight today:
Always wear your glasses or eye contacts
This sounds like a given, but if you have naturally poorer eyesight and have not yet committed to laser eye surgery in Los Angeles, why would you want to go out and not be able to see anything? Even if your eyesight is not terrible without them, you should be using them at all prescribed times regardless. Also remember to clean your prescribed products accordingly exactly as your specialist instructed you. Don’t cut corners!
Eat an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables
Remember hearing “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” While this very simplistic advice, the point is, just because mom and dad aren’t around to force you to eat your veggies anymore doesn’t mean you should stop. Your diet can have a direct impact on how well you can see and your overall health. It is recommended that you consume foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E.
Take breaks from screen time
If you work in an office, then you are spending roughly 8 hours a day in front of a computer screen. Remember to take frequent breaks from the screen, even if it’s just to get up and get coffee for a couple of minutes. White collar workers also have a higher risk of certain health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity from sitting down in a chair too much, so it’s important to ensure that you are maintaining a healthy diet and exercising enough when you are not on the job. We know it’s difficult in this day and age because nearly everything is done online now, but also consider limiting your cell phone usage since you’re already working on the computer so much most days of the week. You should also stop using all your devices at least half an hour before you go to sleep.
Wear sunglasses
If you are constantly exposed to UV radiation, not wearing the proper sunglasses will come with dire consequences. You will eventually experience blurry vision or in the worst case scenario, blindness or even eye cancer, if you do not wear sunglasses when you need them. You can get UVA ray and UVB ray-blocking sunglasses at your local drug or convenience stores for relatively cheap, so you don’t really have an excuse to not have at least one pair on you!
Protect your eyes when performing certain tasks
If you are in a woodshop class, you must wear the proper eye protection gear at all times. If you are an avid swimmer, make sure that you are wearing goggles every time you take a dip.
Keep it clean
Living in a dirty space can result in dust getting into your eyes. Don’t let any dirt build up in your home or workspace. It’s not only annoying but unsanitary for your overall well-being.
Be wary of your eye make-up
Don’t use certain products if they give you an allergic reaction. You must also always remember to remove your make-up entirely before you go to bed and cleaning your brushes periodically. Failing to do so will result in bacteria forming on your eyes and a higher risk of an infection.
Ditch the cigarettes
It turns out that smoking isn’t only terrible for your lungs, but also for your eyes, but yet a couple of years ago it was surveyed that 34.1 million adults in the United States still smoke cigarettes. While more people are reportedly quitting, it’s best to be aware of the risks before you ever consider picking up the habit. Your body – and your vision – will definitely thank you later.
Be aware of your family history and risks
If you have a family history of certain eye conditions, be sure to communicate this clearly with your optometrist. They will be able to provide you with the best medical advice and treatment plan specifically for you.
If you have other health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, get that in check.
All of these conditions can directly impact your overall eye health. Ensure that you are getting the treatment you need by visiting your physician or other medical specialist whenever you are due for an appointment.
The bottom line
At Excel Eye, our team is committed to the highest quality care specifically for you. Your eyes are unique to you alone and we want you to feel proud of them. As one of your five senses, we have obtained the highest expertise and technology available on the market so that you can start living your life better today. Our devotion to our patients is not something you will have to “see to believe!” So if you are in need of laser vision surgery, do not put it off any longer. Contact one of our offices in Los Angeles or in Orange County today. As one of the top LASIK eye surgery professionals in Los Angeles, we look forward to assisting you in your eye surgery journey and changing your life for the better.
The Symptoms and Causes of Myopia
The LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles let us know that Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is the most prevalent cause of impaired vision in people under age 40. Recently, it’s becoming more common at an alarming rate. Around the world, research suggests that in the year 2000, an estimated 25 percent of the world’s population was nearsighted, but by the year 2050, it’s anticipated that roughly half the people in the world will be myopic.
What Are The Symptoms Of Myopia?
When you speak to the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles and find that you are nearsighted, you will find it very challenging to read road signs and see distant objects clearly. However, you will find that it is a lot easier to see and do close-up tasks such as computer use and reading.
The LASIK surgeons say that the other symptoms and signs of Myopia consist of squinting, eye strain, headaches, and feeling fatigued when driving or playing sports. All these are symptoms of uncorrected nearsightedness.
If you notice these signs or symptoms while wearing your glasses or contact lenses, schedule an eye exam with your LASIK doctor in Los Angeles to see if you need to modify your prescription to something stronger.
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia happens when your eyeball is too long, with respect to the focusing power of the lens and cornea of the eye. As a result, light rays aim attention at a point in front of the retina instead of directly on its surface.
Essentially, the best laser eye surgery simplifies this by saying that Myopia happens when light concentrates too distant in front of the retina.
Also, nearsightedness can come about when the cornea and/or lens are too curved for the eyeball length. In some cases, Myopia happens because of a combination of these factors.
Typically, Myopia starts in childhood, and you may have a probable chance of having it if your parents have nearsightedness. In most situations, nearsightedness stabilizes in early adulthood, but sometimes it carries on to progress with age.
What’s The Treatment For Myopia?
There are some effective myopia control methods for children with progressive nearsightedness, including myopia control glasses, atropine eye drops, myopia control contact lenses, and Ortho-k contact lenses.
For the rest of us, nearsightedness can be corrected with standard contact lenses, prescription eyeglasses, or refractive surgery.
Depending on how bad your Myopia is, your eye doctor may advise you to constantly wear your eyeglasses or contact lenses or only when you require very clear distance vision. For instance, when you’re driving, seeing a whiteboard, or watching a movie.
Suitable selections for eyeglass lenses for nearsightedness include high-index lenses (for thinner, lighter glasses) and lenses with anti-reflective coating. Also, think about photochromic lenses to protect your eyes from UV rays and high-energy blue light and to scale down the need for a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.
If you’re nearsighted, you may notice that the first number (“sphere”) on your eyeglasses prescription or contact lens prescription will be ahead of a minus sign (–). Keep in mind that the higher the number, the more nearsighted you are.
Refractive surgery can lower or even stamp out your need for eyeglasses or contacts. An eye surgeon carries out the most common procedures using an excimer laser.
- In PRK, the laser takes off a layer of corneal tissue, which flattens the cornea and lets light rays focus more precisely on the retina.
- In LASIK, which is the most prevalent refractive procedure, a thin flap is made on the surface of the cornea, a laser gets rid of some corneal tissue, and then the flap is brought back to its original position.
Last but not least, there is orthokeratology, which is a non-surgical procedure where you wear special rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) contact lenses at night that reshape your cornea while you sleep. When you take off the lenses in the morning, your cornea for a short period keeps to the new shape, so you can see clearly during the day without having to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Orthokeratology and an accompanying general practitioner contact lens procedure known as corneal refractive therapy (CRT) have been shown to temporarily correct mild to moderate amounts of Myopia. Both methods are excellent alternatives to surgery for individuals who are too young for LASIK or are not suitable candidates for refractive surgery.
Additionally, implantable lenses called phakic IOLs another surgical option for correcting nearsightedness, especially for persons with high amounts of Myopia or thinner-than-normal corneas that could escalate their risk of complications from LASIK or other laser vision correction procedures.
Phakic IOLs work similarly to contact lenses, except they are surgically placed within the eye and are usually permanent, which means no upkeep is required. Unlike IOLs used in cataract surgery, phakic IOLs do not replace the eye’s natural lens, which is left intact.
How To Control Myopia?
Since many people are becoming nearsighted, there is a lot of appeals to discover methods that control myopia progression in childhood.
Various techniques have been attempted, including fitting children with progressive lenses, bifocals, and gas permeable contact lenses. All of these have brought mixed results.
Recent clinical trials revealed that low-dose atropine eye drops could decelerate myopia progression in school-age children, with far fewer side effects compared with higher concentrations.
However, some children don’t respond well to atropine drops.
Based on a 2017 study from the American Academy of Optometry meeting, a dual-focus disposable contact lens decreased the progression rate of Myopia with children between the ages of 8 and 12 years when on par with a single vision lens.
Make sure to visit Excel Laser Vision Institute if you’re having problems seeing near objects or find yourself holding your smartphone or reading material further away to make out the words. The professional, dedicated and caring staff at Excel Laser Vision Institute can treat your nearsightedness.
What Causes Dry Eyes for LASIK Patients
Patients who come to get LASIK in Los Angeles complaining of dry eyes are told that their eye condition is a chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the eye’s surface. The eye needs a sufficient and consistent layer of tears on its surface to maintain eye health, remain comfortable, and help a person to see correctly.
Laser vision correction doctors in Los Angeles told us that tears wash the eye’s surface to keep it moist and clear away dust, debris, and microorganisms that could harm the cornea and cause an eye infection.
A normal tear film includes three crucial components:
An oily (lipid) component created by meibomian glands in the eyelids
A watery (aqueous) component is produced by lacrimal glands found behind the outer visible feature of the upper eyelids.
A mucous-like (mucin) component created by goblet cells in the conjunctiva that covers the white of the eye (sclera).
Each component of the tear film has an important role. For instance, tear lipids help keep the tear film from vaporizing too quickly and boost lubrication. Mucin helps anchor and spread the tears throughout the surface of the eye.
The outcome of dry eyes stretches from subtle but consistent eye irritation to serious inflammation. Also, it could cause scarring of the front surface of the eye.
Besides being known as dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease, or just “dry eye,” alternative medical terms used to characterize dry eyes include:
Keratitis sicca. Typically used to describe dryness and inflammation of the cornea.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Used to talk about the dry eye that affects the cornea as well as the conjunctiva.
Dysfunctional tear syndrome. Used to stress that poor quality of tears can be as critical as low quantity.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
There are many causes of dry eyes:
Aging – Dry eye syndrome can happen at any age, but it becomes more common when you get older, particularly after age 50.
Menopause – Post-menopausal women are at higher risk of dry eyes than men of the same age.
Computer use – When working at a computer, using a smartphone or other portable digital device, we usually blink our eyes less completely and less frequently. As a result, there is greater tear evaporation and an increased risk of dry eye symptoms.
Contact lenses – It can be challenging to understand how much worse contact lenses can make dry eye issues. However, dry eyes are the main reason why people stop wearing contacts.
Indoor environment – Air conditioning, ceiling fans, and air heating systems all can lower indoor humidity. This can accelerate tear evaporation, leading to dry eye symptoms.
Outdoor environment – Dry climates, high altitudes, and dry or windy conditions amplify dry eye risks.
Air travel – The airflow in the cabins of airplanes is very dry and causes dry eye problems, particularly with frequent flyers.
Smoking – Besides dry eyes, smoking has been associated with critical eye issues, including macular degeneration, cataracts, and uveitis.
Health conditions – Specific diseases such as diabetes, thyroid-associated conditions, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome can result in dry eye issues.
Medications – Many prescription and nonprescription medicines boost the risk of dry eye symptoms, including antidepressants, antihistamines, specific blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers or diuretics, and birth control pills.
Eyelid problems – Incomplete closure of the eyelids when blinking or sleeping, known as lagophthalmos), can result in severely dry eyes. Severe dryness can cause a corneal ulcer if left untreated. Lagophthalmos has many origins, including eye infections, natural aging, and nerve damage from trauma or cosmetic blepharoplasty.
LASIK – LASIK and other corneal refractive surgery can sometimes result in dry eyes. In most situations, however, dry eye discomfort after LASIK is short-term and clears up within a few weeks of the procedure. If you have dry eyes before your Los Angeles LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend dry eye treatment before your procedure to ensure your best corrective eye surgery results.
Wearing a mask – Many masks, particularly those worn to protect against the spread of COVID-19, can dry the eyes because they force air out the top of the mask and over the surface of the eye. When you wear glasses with a mask, the air can pass over the eyes even more.
Allergies – Allergies can result in dry eyes, and as mentioned above, taking antihistamines to relieve allergies can also result in dry eyes.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Symptoms and signs of dry eyes and dry eye syndrome are the following:
Sore eyes
Dryness sensation
Red eyes
Itchy eyes
Aching sensation
Heavy eyes
Fatigued eyes
Mucus in or around the eyes
Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
Burning sensation
Feeling like something is in your eye
Photophobia (light sensitivity)
Blurred vision
As strange as it may come across to some LASIK patients in Los Angeles, watery eyes can also be a symptom of dry eye syndrome.
The reason for this is dryness on the eye’s surface can sometimes bring about the overproduction of the watery part of your tears as a kind of protective mechanism. However, this “reflex tearing” does not remain on the eye long enough to repair the underlying dry eye condition.
Besides these symptoms, dry eyes can cause inflammation and sometimes permanent damage to the eye’s surface.
Also, dry eye syndrome can affect the results of LASIK and cataract surgery. So be sure that you don’t suffer from dry eyes when you ask for Lasik eye surgery cost.
Treatment And Prevention Of Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome is an ongoing and chronic condition. Revolving around its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable.
Nevertheless, in most situations, dry eyes can be managed successfully. Normally, treatment results in greater comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and, in some instances, sharper vision.
Here is a list of dry eye treatments that eye doctors typically use to lower the symptoms and signs of dry eyes. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe only one of these dry eye treatments or a mix of treatments, depending on the cause(s) and seriousness of your condition.
Artificial tears eye drops
Restasis
Xiidra
Steroid eye drops
Lacrisert
Punctal plugs
Meibomian gland expression
Warm compresses
LipiFlow
Intense pulsed light
Nutritional supplements
If you suffer from dry eyes, do not hesitate to get in touch with Excel Laser Vision Institute. These expertly trained LASIK doctors will help you recover from your dry eyes and also prepare those who wish to do LASIK after their dry eye conditions.
How Diabetes Affects the Eyesight of Patients Who Need LASIK
LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles advise those who have diabetes to make sure they have their annual eye exam because it could save their sight. The Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Diabetes Association encourage everyone over 65 to have yearly eye exams.
Doctor Ferzaad Moosa, laser eye surgery doctor in Los Angeles tells us that Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, affects over 30.3 million Americans. This includes one-fourth of individuals over 65. Also, for those with diabetes, about a quarter don’t even know they have it and are blissfully ignorant of any threat of vision loss.
How Does Diabetes Deteriorate Eyesight?
The LASIK eye center doctor in Los Angeles lets us know that diabetes can harm the eyes, nerves, organs, and limbs because the body can’t effectively use insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas.
The pancreas and insulin are very important since they are responsible for the processing and shipping of blood glucose from your food to your body’s cells.
The LASIK eye expert in Los Angeles says that blood sugar serves as your primary energy source when everything is running smoothly. However, when you intake too many foods that spike your blood sugar or your pancreas starts to slow down, glucose just hangs out in your bloodstream instead of reaching your cells. When this process happens, it can spark vision loss and, eventually, blindness.
That is why it’s important to be diagnosed with diabetes as early as possible so you can get a better visual outcome. You always want to find changes to the eye before the damage is irreversible.
Diabetes affects the small blood vessels. For this reason, excess blood sugar destroys the body’s smallest blood vessels and restricts blood flow, which fasts the tissues’ capillary feed. As a result, there are leaking blood vessels, swelling, and other horrible complications.
Fluid leaks can change the shape and size of the eye’s lens, causing cataracts. Also, these leaks can destroy the retina, which is the back of the eye, where visual images are created.
Diabetes can generate hemorrhages (bleeding) and edema (excess fluid) in the retina that can seriously affect vision. The LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles say that diabetic retinopathy is the fourth leading cause of blindness in the world.
When your eye bleeds or has retina detachment, it requires surgery, so don’t ask about LASIK eye surgery cost. Because if you don’t get eye surgery in time, severe vision may be permanent. Macular edema is swelling in the retina as it can happen at any stage of diabetes. Hungry capillaries also give rise to glaucoma, an eye disease that harms the optic nerve.
Eye Exams Are Important For Diabetics
Many diabetic patients do not experience visual symptoms. They could experience blurred or wavy vision or patches of lost sight without being aware that these are serious. If you are diabetic, it’s important to get your eye exams to find these conditions early before they cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
Don’t settle for just any visual exam. What you need is a complete comprehensive vision examination. Your eye doctor will dilate the eyes with drops so they can perform a thorough retinal exam.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. The condition happens after having long-term high blood sugar levels harm blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensing tissue that lines the back of the eye.
The first stage of diabetic retinopathy is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. This happens when the blood vessels become blocked and start to cut off blood supply to the retina.
When the retina lacks sufficient blood supply, new, abnormal blood vessels start to proliferate (develop) in the retina. Unfortunately, these abnormal vessels can develop scar tissue and leak, which can cause a retinal detachment. Vision loss and various other eye diseases also can happen without early and proper treatment. This more advanced stage is referred to as proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Although diabetic retinopathy only affects individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is possible for someone who does not have diabetes to have retinopathy, another condition that arises from damage to the retina.
Macular Edema
Macular edema is directly linked to diabetic retinopathy and is a result of fluid from abnormal blood vessels that collect in the macula. The macula starts to swell and thicken as fluid gathers, which distorts eyesight. Important, detailed vision needed for driving and reading depends on the macula, making any related distortion a medical emergency.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is defined by increased pressure within the eye. Leaking blood vessels caused by diabetic retinopathy can increase eye pressure and lead to neovascular glaucoma. As pressure carries on to build, the optic nerve may become damaged, and vision may be affected.
Retinal detachment
Diabetic retinopathy can cause the growth of scar tissue on retinal blood vessels. As more scar tissue develops, its weight can pull the retina away from its connective tissue. This development, known as retinal detachment, needs immediate medical attention, as it can lead to vision loss.
LASIK eye surgeons can help the median stages of diabetic eye disease with laser surgery and injections to the eyes to prevent retina’s swelling and abnormal blood vessels’ growth, known as neovascularization.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that these types of injections can enhance vision in one-third of patients and stabilize the excess of capillaries in nine out of ten.
You can quickly check your blood sugars with an A1C blood test that measures the amount of sugar that sticks to hemoglobin molecules within the body’s cells.
If you have diabetes, make an appointment with Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles to discuss ways of treating and preventing eye conditions caused by diabetes.
