How Better Vision Can Naturally Enhance Your Emotional Well-Being
Many people consider LASIK in Orange County to be a viable, long-term solution to eyesight problems. While this is largely true, you might be stunned to discover that strengthening one’s vision can considerably enhance one’s mood and alleviate symptoms of hopelessness and depression. So what does the research say about this topic?
Depression and Eyesight
It’s natural for our vision to deteriorate as we get older. However, sometimes people face considerably faster vision loss than what is considered typical. According to research, this has a strong link to the risk of developing depression and other mood disorders. Consider the following statistics:
- Adults with poor eyesight are 30% more likely to be depressed than those who have good vision.
- More than 10% of people who have eye issues also have serious depression symptoms.
- When compared to persons without impaired vision, those with poor eyesight (11.3 percent) were more likely to be depressed (4.8 percent).
On an even lower note, the data also reveals that those with vision problems are more likely to be depressed than people who are completely blind. Eyesight is one of our most important senses, and even little abnormalities can cause substantial emotional disorders. These problems can significantly limit what you can do on a day-to-day, including:
Ways In Which Vision Affects Our Emotional Well-Being
Driving
Naturally, it’s difficult to complete normal activities and meet goals when you can’t drive securely at night or even during the day! This can make you truly feel helpless not being able to get yourself where you need to go. Not to mention Lyfts can take forever to get to your house!
Difficulty recognizing others
The inability to recognize friends and loved ones has a far greater impact than most may imagine. According to a recent study, being unable to recognize faces leads to decreased social engagement, reduced confidence, and higher rates of anxiety, despair, and loneliness.
Recreational activities
People with unstable eyesight are often not able to fully enjoy some of their favorite hobbies during their free time, such as playing sports, reading, gaming, or even spending time with their friends and family.
Less satisfactory work performance
Poor vision directly impacts your career. Employees with vision problems are more likely to take sick days, be looked over for promotions, and have lower productivity and job satisfaction, according to studies.
Physical health complications
Poor vision can lead to migraines, nausea, and other health problems. Wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, contrary to popular belief, might exacerbate this effect, particularly when prescription difficulties emerge.
How Laser Eye Surgery Can Help You
While wearing prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses can help with worsening eyesight in the short term, it’s worth speaking with a Orange County LASIK surgeon to learn about more effective choices. LASIK surgery is a revolutionary method that can help people regain their vision. It has an incredibly high success rate, and further complications are uncommon proceeding the treatment. The long-term benefits of laser eye surgery can help ease depression symptoms and improve quality of life.
Don’t hesitate to contact the Excel Laser Vision Institute if you think LASIK in Orange County is right for you. Our eye physicians can help you make an informed selection and assist with the cost of LASIK eye surgery. To learn more, please contact us.
The Best and Worst Cities in the USA for Your Eye Health
Many people don’t consider the environment they live in a factor in their eye health. They don’t realize that external things like weather and living costs can contribute to all sorts of vision impairment problems, even if they practice good habits and hygiene with their eyes.
So, using a combination of factors such as altitude, humidity, temperature, pollution, etc., we’ve compiled a list of the best and worst cities to live in for your eye health.
The Best Cities in the USA for Eye Health
According to an expert LASIK surgeon in Orange County, the following ten cities are the best in the United States for your eye health. Notably, almost all of these are located either in the Pacific Northwest or the Southeast.
- Tacoma, Washington
- Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Mobile, Alabama
- Portland-Vancouver, Oregon and Washington
- Orange County, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Jacksonville, Florida
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington
The cities were chosen based on several factors. We’ll be explaining more about them below.
Altitude
Low altitude cities like Tacoma and Sarasota have an abundance of oxygen in the air. This is important because your eyes (particularly the cornea) lack blood vessels, which means they can’t get oxygen-rich blood from the heart. Our eyes had evolved to get oxygen from our environment instead to keep them nice and moist, preventing them from drying out. This is also why eye doctors recommend you take out contacts a few hours a day—your eyes need exposure to oxygen!
Sun Exposure
Rainy or cloudy days may seem gloomy, but you’d never catch your eyes shedding a tear over it. That’s because too much exposure to UV rays from the sun can cause a variety of diseases like cataracts, eye cancer, and eye growths!
There ain’t much sunshine in Portland or Seattle, but at least you’re protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays!
Humidity
As a provider of laser eye surgery in Orange County, we know how much of a pain in the butt humidity can be. Not only do we have to deal with extremely hot summers, but we also have to deal with being perpetually sweaty and sticky!
Nonetheless, there is a hidden benefit to high humidity. Cities like Orange County and Honolulu are good for eye health because they promote tear production and help our eyes retain moisture. You’re less likely to pull out the eye drops in these cities!
Pollution
While they may seem harmless, pollutants in the air have adverse short-term and long-term effects on your eyes. That’s why people living in cities with low pollution such as Jacksonville and Tacoma generally have healthier eyes—with less dust, dirt, and other irritants floating around in the air, their eyes are clean, moist, and healthy.
Computer Usage
People get distracted way too easily on the computer. Before long, their eyes are dry and tired after spending hours scrolling through Facebook or watching random videos on YouTube!
If you live in New Orleans or Mobile, you probably don’t spend as much time on your mobile phone or computer. We don’t know exactly why that is, but we’re not complaining!
Commute Time
The longer you’re out and about in the city, the longer you’re exposed to pollutants, sun exposure, and other things that can irritate the eye. Unsurprisingly, commute time is a huge factor in eye health given how many people have to commute every day for work or school.
Commuters in smaller cities like Charleston and Sarasota have a shorter commute time.
The Most Eye Health-Conscious Cities in the USA
While the previous section had a list of cities that were healthy for the eyes, this section has a list of cities that prioritize their eye health. Compiled by VSP Vision, the largest non-profit eye health provider in the country, residents in this city are the likeliest to visit their eye doctors for annual check-ups or vision problems.
- Reno, Nevada
- Boise, Idaho
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Redding, California
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Denver, Colorado
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
“An annual eye exam should be a part of everyone’s overall healthcare routine, not only to keep their vision healthy, but also to leverage its proven preventative health benefits,” says VSP Vision President, Kate Renwick-Espinosa. “Your eye doctor is often the first to spot signs of chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It’s critical that you visit your eye doctor annually to ensure the health of your eyes as well as your wellness overall.”
Looks like the rest of the United States could take a page out of their books!
Another interesting tidbit they found was that women were more likely to visit the eye doctor than men in all cities, both good and bad. 58% of their total respondents were women. Why men are less likely to go for a check-up is another topic entirely, and you could read more about the fascinating psychology behind it here.
The Worst Cities in the USA for Eye Health
On the other side of the spectrum, the following ten cities are the least favorable places to live in for your eye health. If you want to keep your eyes safe and protected, then you need to take extra care and precaution. Otherwise, you’ll have to start saving up for laser eye surgery costs!
- Denver, Colorado
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah
- Wichita, Kansas
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Kansas City, Missouri
- El Paso, Texas
- Chicago, Illinois
- Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
As you can see, the cities are a bit more spread out than in the previous list.
Altitude
High altitude cities like Denver and Salt Lake City have less oxygen in the air, and the weather can get very cold and biting during the wintertime. This combination can be aggravating on your eyes that have to work double-time to keep everything warm and moist!
When it gets snowy and icy in these cities, there’s another worrying condition you need to worry about—snow blindness. This happens when harmful UV rays from the sun are reflected on the ice and into your eyes. It can cause blurry vision, irritation, sensitivity, and even vision loss.
Protective gear like sunglasses isn’t just for summer—they’re also a must for winter.
Sun Exposure
Sunshine might be associated with happiness and joy, but it can get pretty dangerous for the eyes. Too much exposure to sunlight can permanently damage the surface of your eye before you even realize it! As we mentioned earlier, you can develop conditions like cataracts and eye growths easily if you aren’t careful enough.
Always wear sunglasses when walking around Las Vegas or Kansas City!
Humidity
All specialists in LASIK in Orange County would probably agree that low humidity has more disadvantages than high humidity. Not only does it dry out the eyes, but it also dries out the skin (e.g., hands, lips), sinuses, and hair.
Additionally, research has shown that low humidity increases the spread of viruses and bacteria. With less moisture in the air, airborne particles can easily travel around. Our hair-like projections in the nose and lungs called cilia also function less in low humidity, making it harder for them to protect us. This makes us especially vulnerable to viral eye diseases like conjunctivitis.
It would be good to have a humidifier if you live in cities like Mesa and Albuquerque.
Pollution
Larger cities like El Paso and Chicago typically have tons of pollutants coming from car and truck exhausts, factories, construction and demolitions, and more. This makes their residents susceptible to irritation because of all the particles rubbing against their eyes.
Life in the city may not be fun, but be prepared for the onslaught of pollutants!
Wind
If you live in windy cities with air pollution, the last thing you want to do is have the wind blow pollutants and irritants right into your eyes. Tulsa and Wichita ranked high only on this list because a good breeze is enough to have your eyes reddening and stinging.
Computer Usage
Computer vision syndrome (also known as digital eye strain) is a set of conditions caused by excessive screen time on devices. Due to things like extensive computer usage, poor lighting, high glare from screens, poor seating posture, improper viewing distances, and others, people eventually develop eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and more.
In major cities like Denver and Chicago where everything is well-connected on the Internet, computer vision syndrome is a major problem. Even worse, it’s not talked about as much because computer usage only boomed in the last decade or so. However, we can assure you that digital eye strain is very much a real thing and something to think about the next time you’re on your computer.
Commute Time
As we mentioned earlier, a longer commute time means longer exposure to the elements. Chicago has one of the longest commute times in the country, along with New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Additionally, many of the country’s public transportation systems are a haven for pollutants and bacteria, which only makes things worse for your eyes.
The Least Eye Health-Conscious Cities in the USA
If you’re contemplating getting laser eye surgery in Orange County, you’d already be faring a lot better than people living in these cities. According to VSP Vision’s report, people living in these areas are the least likely in the country to visit their eye doctors.
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Bakersfield, California
- Merced, California
- Akron, Ohio
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Detroit, Michigan
- Stockton, California
- Santa Rosa, California
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Salinas, California
Now, there are plenty of possible reasons why people won’t visit their eye doctors, but probably the most prevalent of them is the expensive cost or lack of coverage in their medical insurance. Indeed, if you take a look at the list, you’ll see that Californian cities comprise half of it. That’s not surprising considering that California is the third-most-expensive state in the country to live in!
Another reason why people don’t go is that they feel like they don’t have to. According to a CDC report done in 2011, many think visual impairments are quite common and are a natural part of the aging process. Thus, they miss out on treating preventable eye diseases early on in their lives and start paying for it twofold as they get older.
Whatever their reasons are, it’s super important to not follow their lead. Not only does taking care of your eye health prevent vision-related problems like glaucoma and cataracts, but it also stays on top of other diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure that can quickly become life-threatening.
Luckily, the state of health insurance has relatively improved since the CDC published its report in 2011. Many insurance companies have started offering eye care as part of their coverage, so annual check-ups to your eye doctor should not be as expensive and inaccesible anymore. Please make sure your insurance provider covers eye care. Some examples include Aetna, Opticare, and United Health Care.
Additionally, many eye clinics have special financing options so you can pay off your procedures without breaking the wallet. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, for example, which is a trusted provider of LASIK in Orange County, we offer CareCredit and Vision Fee Plan that features a 3, 6, or 12-month no-interest payment plan and other extended payment options. Perfect eyesight will never be out of reach for us as we firmly believe this is something everybody deserves.
Always remember that not being conscious of your eye health will cost you not only money but also your vision.
Conclusion
This article is not meant to hype up or bring down certain cities. We know that not everybody has the privilege to live wherever they want in the country. We just want you to be more aware of how geographical locations can affect your eye health as it’s something most people don’t even think about. You need to be cognizant of these various factors so you can take preventive measures for your eye health, such as wearing sunglasses in cities with high UV exposure or carrying eye drops around in cities with low humidity.
Additionally, you can be conscious of your eye health no matter where you live in the country. Take good care of your eyes by practicing good habits and making regular trips to the eye doctor. Your vision is one of the most important senses and it’s important to protect it!
If you’re looking to improve your vision with LASIK in Orange County, then please contact Dr. Ferzaad Moosa at the Excel Laser Vision Institute at (310) 905-8622 today. Alternatively, you can fill out a free consultation form here!
A Comparative Breakdown of Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, and LASIK
Advantages and Disadvantages
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are at least 2.2 billion in the world with some type of vision impairment. In most cases, vision impairment either could have been prevented easily or has not yet been addressed with corrective measures like eyeglasses, contact lenses, or LASIK.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the different ways to correct eyesight and their various advantages and disadvantages.
Eyeglasses
Wearing eyeglasses is the easiest way to correct your vision. In fact, some people even wear eyeglasses despite not having any vision problems—it’s seen as a fashion statement that can complement your outfit, make you look smarter and more knowledgeable, and improve your look overall. There are tons of eyeglasses designs with different shapes, styles, and colors to choose from.
Eyeglasses are also pretty nifty because they’re easy to maintain. If the lenses are dirty, you can wipe them with a clean cloth or even the bottom of your T-shirt. They’re also easy to put on and remove, making it easy to switch to a different pair or take them off right before heading to bed.
The disadvantage to a good old pair of eyeglasses is their inconvenience. You can’t wear them for every occasion—you can’t swim in a pool or ride a roller coaster, for example, and if you get them wet or foggy, you’d need to take them off and clean them before you can see properly again. What’s more, you can’t wear certain things like sunglasses or goggles because of it too.
Additionally, eyeglasses are clunky and ridiculously easy to lose. As a four-eyed person, I can’t remember how many times I’ve acted like Velma in Scooby-Doo and gone out of commission due to losing my eyeglasses. And it’s not like you can slip them into your bag whenever you need to either, as the lenses get scratched and damaged easily.
So, while eyeglasses are certainly quirky and easy to wear, they definitely leave a lot to be desired.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are the answers to problems eyeglasses pose.
They are extremely thin films put directly on your cornea—they’re basically your eye’s second skin. You can go about your day-to-day activities and not feel them bothering you, and you can even do things like ride roller coasters and snorkel with contacts on (although it’s not recommended to open your eyes underwater with contacts on)! They also won’t change your appearance, which is good news for anyone who hates the way they look with eyeglasses on.
The downside to contact lenses, though, is how annoying they can be to maintain. Every morning and every night, you need to spend a few minutes putting contacts on carefully, so they’re smooth and aligned perfectly to your iris. You need to soak them in a cleaning solution and store them properly, too, as they get dirty quite easily and can seriously infect your eye. Lastly, contacts can be quite aggravating to those with sensitive eyes and scary for newbies. After all, the idea of something pressed that close to your eye can be intimidating.
LASIK
LASIK is the only permanent solution to vision impairment on this list. It involves cutting into your eye and altering the inner tissues carefully with high-precision lasers.
The best part about LASIK is that it’s, like we said, permanent. Once you have LASIK, your vision is mostly corrected, and any remaining issues can be easily resolved with a few more minor surgeries. Your vision will be as good as new, and you won’t have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for the next few years.
Some things turn people off from LASIK, however. For one thing, it can be pretty daunting. Nobody likes the idea of having their eyes cut open and having lasers shot at them. There are also plenty of misconceptions about LASIK—although untrue, many people still believe them.
Additionally, LASIK can be very expensive for some. The cost per eye is somewhere between $1500 and $4000, depending on where you live. With rising prices on everything, it’s definitely a huge investment you can’t take lightly. Some would consider the hassle of eyeglasses and contacts preferable to expensive LASIK costs.
Cost Breakdown
But is LASIK really too much money for what it’s worth? Let’s break it down.
To make things clearer, we’ve calculated the total costs of eyeglasses, contacts, and LASIK in twenty years. Let’s assume that our patient is Samantha, a 25-year-old nearsighted female with a moderate case of astigmatism. She has both eyeglasses and contacts, and her prescription increases every four years. She’s now considering doing LASIK in Orange County, California, where she lives.
Eyeglasses
The national average cost of eyeglass frames is around $250, so Samantha expects to pay at least that much whenever she purchases a new pair. The actual price Samantha pays for her glasses will depend on the eyeglass design she picks (e.g., Target, Ray-Ban, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.), the lenses she picks (e.g., plastic, polycarbonate, bi-focal, etc.), her prescription, and her health insurance coverage.
It will also depend on whatever add-on she chooses—some retailers offer transition lenses, thin and lightweight lenses, blue light protection anti-reflective coating, and hydrophobic coating. That’s not included in the price, so that’s an additional cost.
All in all, let’s say a pair of eyeglasses for Samantha will cost her around $400 with all the bells and whistles.
Now, let’s calculate the doctor’s appointments. Samantha will need to visit her doctor so they can prescribe new eyeglasses for her. Eye exams range from $50 and $250 but are covered by most health insurances, so let’s say this brings down her total expenses to $120. She’ll need to visit the doctor again sometime afterward to check up on her new glasses, adding another $120 to her cost for a total of $240.
Lastly, with a pair of eyeglasses that expensive, she needs to buy the necessary supplies to take care of them! She needs a cleaning cloth, a cleaning spray, and a case to maintain them. The average cost of these on Amazon is around $20 and will last her, say, six months.
So, the total cost for her pair of eyeglasses is $640—$400 for the eyeglasses and $240 for doctor appointments and eye exams. She pays $20 every six months for cleaning supplies.
Contact Lenses
How much Samantha will spend on her contact lenses will largely depend on the kind of contact lenses she uses. Some contact lenses are designed to be replaced and disposed of daily, weekly, or monthly. Some contact lenses increase in price depending on prescription, astigmatism, and add-ons like UV protection. Some contact lenses are more expensive simply because they’re a different color.
We already know that the average cost of doctor’s appointments, eye exams, and fitting sessions is $240 from the last section. You will need to have a prescription before buying contacts.
Now, Samantha would prefer to change her contacts daily as she feels this is more hygienic, and she tells her doctor this. She also wants lenses with UV protection as she lives in very sunny California. So, after a thorough examination of her eye and considering her wishes, Samantha’s doctor prescribes 1-Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism.
These contacts come with 90 lenses per pack. Samantha plans on buying a year’s supply as it’s cheaper than buying monthly. As a reference, Walmart offers a yearly supply of these contacts for $340 ($85 per box)—Samantha could still get it for a cheaper price depending on her health insurance and any other discount programs. So, let’s say that Samantha pays $250 for the year’s supply in the end.
Now, she needs to buy a couple of things to keep her contacts nice and clean—firstly, a standard 12 oz. bottle of contact disinfecting solution. A bottle usually lasts one month and costs around $8. Secondly, eye drops to keep her eyes lubricated the whole day. This will cost her around $5 per month. Lastly, Samantha needs a case to keep her lenses protected when not in use—they average around $7 for several pieces.
So, in total, Samantha spends $13 for contact lens care and maintenance, and $7 for cases that need to be replaced every three months.
It’s important to note that people who wear contact lenses are encouraged to visit their doctors yearly instead of bi-yearly. This is because contact lens complications can get serious very quickly due to the delicate nature of the eye.
LASIK
Now, an average LASIK surgeon in Orange County typically charges $1500 to $3000 per eye, so let’s say Samantha is paying $2000 for each eye—$4000—with an esteemed eye surgeon. LASIK isn’t a procedure covered by most health insurance companies in the United States, so she has to pay for this out of pocket.
That $4000 should cover everything from pre-surgery consultation and evaluation, the surgery itself, and any post-surgery check-ups and medications like eye drops. Because her eye surgeon was a good one, she left the surgery with perfect 20/20 vision and does not need any additional surgeries (though even if she did, that $4000 should still cover it).
Her vision has now been permanently corrected. She will not run into any problems for the next twenty years. When she turns 45, she starts experiencing presbyopia, which is the gradual inflexibility of the lens. This is something most people her age goes through and is irrelevant to the effectiveness of her LASIK.
Table of Computations
This is a table of Samantha’s total expenses. Take note that these computations were made assuming Samantha was going to replace eyeglasses every four years and contact lenses every year. This table also assumes that prices will be stable for the entire twenty years—the actual total could be a lot different.
Corrective Measure | Cost Per Purchase | Cost After 20 Years |
Eyeglasses | $400 for eyeglasses + $240 for doctor’s appointments + $160 for miscellaneous = $800 every four years | $4000 |
Contacts | $250 for a year’s supply of contact lenses + $240 for doctor’s appointments + $156 ($13*12 months) for cleaning + $7 for cases = $653 every year | $13060 |
LASIK | one-time payment of $4000 | $4000 |
Analysis
Now, eyeglasses may be annoying to wear at times, it’s probably the most budget-friendly option here. If taken care of properly, they can last up to four years, and the total cost in twenty years is easy to pay as you don’t have to pay all of it at one time. Additionally, this computation assumes Samantha pays for high-quality eyeglasses with extra perks—you can totally get a pair that’s cheaper if you find that easier.
Contact lenses are the most expensive as it needs takes a lot to care for them. They need constant cleaning, constant replacing, and constant trips to the doctor because of how dangerous improper maintenance of contact lenses can be. In twenty years, you’ll have spent more than three times as much as you had spent on eyeglasses!
Lastly, while LASIK is the most expensive option in this article, you can’t deny that it’s a great investment. In twenty years, Samantha will have completely made up for the LASIK eye surgery cost, and all that without visiting the eye doctor regularly, getting new prescriptions every year, caring and maintaining for eyeglasses and contacts, and other hassles that they bring. With LASIK, she will have little to no issues for the next twenty years.
Conclusion
Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and LASIK offer various advantages and disadvantages depending on your prescription, financial capabilities, and preferences. If you’re looking to correct your vision and are currently weighing your various options, we hope that you can look to this article to find your best bet.
As an expert on LASIK in Orange County, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa would no doubt recommend laser eye surgery. It’s quick, painless, convenient, and a good bang for your buck. If you’re interested in learning more about LASIK, including questions about the process, costs, and health insurance coverage, feel free to contact our clinic at (n310) 905-8622 or at our website.
How Long Does Laser Eye Surgery Last?
If you have been thinking about getting laser eye surgery at Excel Laser Vision Institute’s Orange County clinic, one of the main questions you could have is how long does laser eye surgery last? Honestly, Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, tells us that there isn’t one surefire answer to how long laser eye surgery will last a person. This is because we are all different, and similar to any procedure or surgery, the results will vary.
Also, there’s so much more that goes into it, and the experienced LASIK Orange County staff understands that choosing laser eye surgery to improve your eyesight is most likely a serious decision you’ll make. That’s why this matter is broken down in more detail down below.
How Long Does Laser Eye Surgeries Such As LASIK Last?
If you’re getting sick and tired of squinting when you have to read small print or you find yourself reaching for your glasses to read anything from an intriguing article in your favorite rag to instructions on food packaging, you may be considering laser treatment to correct your eyesight as a long-term solution. With a laser eye treatment, you will definitely improve your vision and correct most of your refractive errors because the procedure reshapes the cornea.
When Should I Consider Laser Eye Surgery?
If you are affected by the following symptoms below, you should consider a laser eye surgery procedure and ask about LASIK eye surgery cost.
If you are affected by the following symptoms, you should consider LASIK:
You get headaches when you read for a few minutes.
You lose focus when looking at the small print.
You find you always have to put your reading glasses on.
You are getting embarrassed by the fact you have to squint at labels, and you still can’t make out what they say.
When text is too close, you see it blurred.
If the above speaks to you, bear in mind you’re not alone. As we age, our eyes lose their muscular power and flexibility. When this happens, it becomes more challenging to focus on words or objects that are nearby, LASIK Orange County eye doctors refer to this condition as presbyopia. It affects a majority of people who are age 40 and over, and it usually means you have to wear glasses for reading.
Nevertheless, there’s an option to become reliant on glasses or contact lenses and Excel Laser Vision Institute has many vision correction treatments which can easily correct this common eye condition.
What Are The Top Long-Lasting Laser Eye Surgery Solutions?
Excel Laser Vision Institute has three different laser eye surgery solutions for achieving exceptional long-term vision: LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE.
LASIK: This is the most common laser eye surgery procedure. The eye surgeon uses a laser to make a flap in the eye which is lifted to help reshape the cornea.
LASEK: When a patient is not suitable for LASIK because they have dry eyes, thin corneas or serious problems with focusing. Even though LASIK makes a flap, LASEK consists of loosening the surface of the cornea and folding it back to then reshape it.
SMILE (ReLEx SMILE): It is a less invasive treatment that helps to reshape the cornea through a keyhole procedure rather than creating a flap.
How Long Should Expect LASIK, LASEK, Or SMILE To Last?
If you’re thinking about LASIK, LASEK, or SMILE and would like more information about how long laser eye surgery lasts. You’ll be happy to learn that all three eye laser procedures are permanent.
Besides the fact that these procedures are permanent, most patients who get LASIK surgery achieve 20/20 vision, which means they can see an object that’s twenty feet away. For your information, 20/20 vision is when a person has ‘normal’ eyesight, without requiring eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Nevertheless, regardless of whether you opt for LASIK, LASEK, or SMILE laser eye treatment, it is crucial to be aware of specific factors which may result in vision changing after the procedure. To be fair, there is no clear-cut answer to how long a laser eye surgery lasts. Everyone is an individual, and just like any surgery or procedure, the results will vary.
For instance, when the eye begins to age naturally it leads us to presbyopia territory, even after having laser eye surgery, some people may find we still require eyeglasses for tasks such as driving or reading small print. Although in some instances a person’s need for glasses will be significantly reduced.
Is Laser Eye Surgery A Permanent Solution For Everyone?
Bear in mind that there are other factors which can result in vision changing after the procedure such as vision slowly going back towards your original prescription, even though this is rare.
Plus, specific health conditions can affect the result of how long laser eye surgery lasts. For instance, in the unlikely probability that the surgery does not heal properly, or if hormonal imbalances happen, such as during pregnancy or menopause, or if a person has diabetes.
Another eye issue such as a cataract could also have a negative influence on a person’s eyesight after laser eye surgery.
Who’s A Good Candidate For Laser Eye Surgery?
When you have your first consultation at Excel Laser Vision Institute, your LASIK Orange County eye surgeon will assess your eyes to make sure you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery. They will be looking out for the following criteria:
A healthy eye and cornea
A constant eyeglass prescription for about two years
Can Laser Eye Surgery Correct Astigmatism?
Yes. If you have astigmatism, laser eye surgery can help you correct it. Also, it can correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and the symptoms of presbyopia.
If you are starting to get frustrated with your bad vision and you can’t tolerate eyeglasses or contact lenses any longer, laser eye surgery may be just the solution you’re looking for. It can help you achieve permanent vision correction, so you no longer have to live with limitations. Make sure to contact Excel Laser Vision Institute to book your free LASIK Orange County eye consultation with us today!
What Are Your Options When You Have Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is an eye condition that many LASIK Orange County doctors find in older adults. In this condition, the lens can no longer focus on nearby objects.
For laser eye surgery Orange County doctors, this eye condition is a natural and usually frustrating part of aging. Typically, Presbyopia becomes noticeable in a person’s mid-40s and worsens until the age of 65. As a matter of fact, the term “presbyopia” comes from a Greek word that means “old eye.”
Doctor Moosa, a premier LASIK surgeon in Orange County tells us that you will become aware of Presbyopia when you begin to hold books and newspapers at arm’s length so you can read them. A simple eye exam can affirm Presbyopia. Fortunately, LASIK surgeons in Orange County have different treatment options such as contact lenses, eyeglasses, and surgery.
What Causes Presbyopia?
The LASIK Orange County experts tell us that the clear lens sits inside the eye behind the colored iris. It alters shape to focus light onto the retina, so your eye allows you to see. The lens is soft and flexible in younger eyes and easily changes shape, allowing you to focus on objects close-up and far away. After age 40, the lens becomes stiffer, and it doesn’t alter its shape as effortlessly. This makes it more challenging to read, thread a needle, or do other close-up tasks.
Unfortunately, you can’t stop or reverse the normal aging process that causes Presbyopia. Nevertheless, Presbyopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Individuals who have issues seeing both near and far can take advantage of progressive lenses. Modern medicine recognizes that one day presbyopia will be treated with eye drops. If you do not do something about your Presbyopia, you will suffer from headaches and eye strain.
Also, there is a risk of premature Presbyopia in some people. Patients with cardiovascular disease, anemia, diabetes, farsightedness, eye disease, and multiple sclerosis are at increased risk for premature Presbyopia.
The symptoms of Presbyopia include difficulty reading small letters, having a headache or eye strain. Such people have to hold the material farther away from the eye.
What Are The Treatment Options?
When you ask about laser eye surgery costs, you will find that various treatment options may help you correct this condition. Different options available are non-prescription glasses, prescription glasses, contact lenses, surgery, and orthokeratology lenses. Every option has its pros and cons, and your ophthalmologist may recommend an option that best suits you depending upon your condition and lifestyle.
Reading Glasses
If the only vision problem you have is Presbyopia (you don’t suffer from farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism), eyeglasses may be all you require. Reading glasses help correct close-up vision issues by bending (or refracting) light before it goes into the eye. You can purchase reading glasses without a prescription, but an eye exam should determine the distinguishing power of reading glasses that you require.
Bifocals, Trifocals, or Progressive Lenses
If you already wear eyeglasses for other vision issues now, you might need bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses.
Bifocals correct close-up and far vision. You may or may not notice a line that divides the lens. The bottom of the lens refracts light for close-up vision, while the top portion refracts light to let you view distant objects.
Trifocals have three lens areas to correct for close-up, mid-range, and far vision.
Progressive lenses correct vision such as bifocals and trifocals. But rather than a line that separates each refractive area, refraction changes slowly in the lens from top to bottom.
Contact Lenses
Some people would rather wear contact lenses over eyeglasses. There are two kinds of contact lenses that correct Presbyopia:
Monovision contacts. These correct one eye for distance vision and the other for close-up vision. You have to adapt to monovision lenses and train your brain to see this way. The issue that some people have with monovision is that you can misjudge something’s distance or speed.
Multifocal contacts. These lenses have many rings or zones set at different powers. With this design, you are only using both near and far vision at the same time. However, you can train your brain to automatically opt for the proper focus for what you want to see. You may notice that using a multifocal lens makes your vision less sharp compared to using a monofocal lens.
Surgery
When some patients want to achieve monovision, they do refractive surgery. This can reduce their dependence on glasses for near and far objects. With the use of a laser, an eye doctor alters the cornea for clear far vision in one eye and close-up vision in the other. In a lot of ways, this is like wearing monovision contact lenses. An eye doctor may advise you to try monovision lenses before having LASIK surgery. This will help you decide whether or not monovision is a comfortable option for you.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we have a team of skilled and committed staff who will quickly answer all of your questions and put you at ease about your surgery. We only use advanced laser vision correction technology to carry out vision correction procedures. Our Harvard-trained surgeon, Dr. Moosa, serves at our Orange County and the Los Angeles offices. After we have assessed your prescription and eye health, we can discuss which eye correction treatment is more suitable for you, the necessary financing you may require, and the next steps. Start your journey towards a clear vision that eliminates your dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses today.
What’s The Difference Between Relex SMILE and Contoura Vision LASIK?
It’s safe to assume that everyone has heard of laser eye surgery. However, not many are familiar with specific vision correction techniques of LASIK. SMILE, Contoura, and Orange County LASIK are different versions of laser vision correction techniques. However, many are asking Doctor Moosa, the LASIK surgeon in Orange County, which one is best for them.
LASIK experts in Orange County will help you understand which technique is the most advantageous and we justify why you should go for laser vision to do away with contacts and eyeglasses.
What Are LASIK, Contoura, And Smile Eye Surgery?
When you consider laser eye surgery cost, in its most advanced form, when carried out at Excel Laser Vision Insitute uses two separate lasers, a Femtosecond laser creates a hinged flap that is lifted, and the base underneath the flap is rebuilt with an excimer laser. The flap creation makes next-day vision recovery a possibility.
The excimer laser that executes the reshaping element allows the laser eye surgery in Orange County to utilize the most advanced treatment algorithm, Contura Vision, which at the same time perfects the corneal shape whilst correcting the glasses prescription. This has made room for a new paradigm of visual quality results, representing the first time a person can achieve vision 2 lines better than the vision achievable with glasses.
SMILE LASIK in Orange County is when the eye surgeon only uses a Femtosecond laser to perform the entire correction instead of just the flap creation.
The femtosecond laser cuts a lenticle of tissue from the substance of the cornea that is then extracted through an access incision.
Both procedures correct Myopia. SMILE was initially conceived to reduce the outcome of dry eyes and potentially have a lower risk of an unstable cornea, also known as ectasia. As time has evolved and a more accurate evaluation of the effect of SMILE has emerged, it reveals these advantages have not been correct. Research has shown an occurrence of both dry eye and ectasia that is statistically similar to LASIK.
Since SMILE Does Not Have Advantages Over LASIK, What About Its Disadvantages?
First of all, SMILE is less accurate than Femtosecond LASIK with Contoura Vision.
About 98% of patients achieve vision equal to or even better than 20/20 vision after only one treatment at Excel Eye Vision Institute with Contura Vision LASIK.
The RELEX SMILE procedure only reaches 20/20 vision in about 60-85% of patients in recent studies. The inaccuracy of ReLex SMILE comes from the fact that the smallest amount of tissue taken out with a femtosecond laser is to 4 microns compared to the 0.25 microns attainable with an Excimer laser. This associates with at least sixteen times finer accuracy for an Excimer Laser.
The fact that SMILE lacks accuracy explains the increased number of requiring enhancements, at up to forty percent. Femtosecond LASIK provides next-day recovery with minimal discomfort, while eye enhancements performed with PRK or another surface-based laser can result in more discomfort for about two days and can take a patient six to eight weeks to recover.
Even when SMILE is effective, it usually takes three weeks, which differs from the next day recovery a patient can achieve with LASIK.
SMILE has a more extensive reduced treatment range. It can only effectively correct up to 0.5 diopters of astigmatism, while LASIK can correct up to 6 diopters. Also, It can’t correct hyperopia or mixed astigmatism. It can’t perform the sophisticated surface-perfecting ability that a Contura Vision procedure can accomplish, and as a result, it can’t provide this level of visual quality.
LASIK Laser Eye Surgery
Lasik is an abbreviation for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a laser procedure that improves vision issues and gets rid of the need for corrective lenses.
Lasik surgery corrects the following refractive errors:
Nearsightedness (Myopia): It is an eye condition that involves the person having the ability to see nearby objects clearly but has problems when seeing distant objects clearly.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia): It is a condition that involves a person who can see faraway objects clearly but has issues seeing nearby objects.
Astigmatism: It is an eye condition that involves a person struggling to see both nearby and distant objects. It occurs because of uneven corneal curves or flatness.
Presbyopia: Also known as ‘aging eye, Presbyopia is an age-related condition. It occurs when the eye’s natural lens begins losing its ability to focus on nearby objects.
During a Lasik laser procedure, the LASIK eye surgeon in Orange County creates a corneal flap using a microkeratome instrument and pulls the flap back to get into the corneal tissue in the first stage. In the second stage, the surgeon reshapes the cornea utilizing an excimer laser.
SMILE Laser Eye Surgery
SMILE is an abbreviation for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction surgery. It is a laser eye surgery that is a contemporary advancement in laser vision correction. A laser eye surgeon in Orange County may recommend SMILE surgery to treat Myopia. Also, it can treat astigmatism that’s up to 5 Diopters. Also, it is a minimally invasive surgery that is bladeless. Typically it’s known as Refractive Lenticule Extraction/RELEX.
Why Should You Go For SMILE?
Less Invasive
Uncomplicated
Blade-free and Painless
Quicker Surgery & Recovery
Better Results
Flapless
Painless
Beyond Lasik
100% sterility
SMILE is an FDA-approved procedure that is usually carried out on patients between 18 to 40 years of age. It is a completed automated next-gen procedure that gets done quickly, guaranteeing long-lasting and fixed results. SMILE is a laser vision correction surgery that does not require the eye surgeon to create a corneal flap.
When an eye surgeon performs a SMILE procedure, a laser is used to make a small incision in the cornea. Once that’s done, the laser is used to take out a lenticule (a small piece of corneal tissue). This is the method that reshapes the cornea, and helps to correct vision. SMILE is only done after all required tests are completed to understand the condition of the eyes.
Even though the recovery from SMILE takes a bit longer than Femto Lasik or similar procedures, it provides the least possibility of dry eye as corneal nerves are well preserved. The chances of retreatment are next to nil as it is a keyhole surgery that contributes to the patient’s quick recovery.
Contoura Vision Eye Surgery
Contoura Vision Lasik is a topography-guided technology that is meant to enhance the effects of Lasik. Moreover, this procedure is also referred to as Robotic Lasik. During this procedure, a large flap of 22 mm is created on the top of the cornea. Then another separate laser system, an excimer, is used to remove the spectacle error.
This procedure utilizes an advanced computer algorithm to get details of the cornea over more than 22000 points on its surface. Personalized LASIK techniques such as Contoura uses the excimer laser only. Unlike SMILE, which works on the most advanced femtosecond laser platform.
If you want to learn more about the advantages and differences of SMILE, LASIK, and Contoura, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute today!
Why Choose PRK over LASIK?
Patients who visit Excel Laser Vision Institute, a LASIK clinic in Orange County, always say the same thing, “I’m sick and tired of having to wear glasses and contact lenses just to be able to see!” Most of these same patients are very aware of the very sought-after LASIK procedure. However, what about its close cousin, a PRK procedure?
Patients’ most frequent questions for Doctor Moosa, a premier LASIK surgeon in Orange County, are about the differences between LASIK and PRK. LASIK eye doctors in Orange County regularly perform both procedures with excellent results. They are very aware of what each patient really wants to find out is which approach would be perfect for them.
Why Would Your Eye Doctor Recommend PRK Rather Than LASIK?
When patients review LASIK eye surgery costs, they usually know someone who has had LASIK, but not PRK.
Typically, when patients have their LASIK or Contoura consultation in Orange County, they are waiting for their eye doctor to let them know whether or not they are a suitable candidate for LASIK. In some cases, a LASIK eye surgeon in Orange County drops a bombshell during the consultation process by letting the patient know that they would find PRK more beneficial than LASIK.
Various anatomical characteristics of a patient’s corneas may make them better candidates for PRK over LASIK. For instance, such as corneal thickness (or thinness), corneal curvature, and corneal scarring all may be why your eye doctor recommends PRK over LASIK.
How Are LASIK and PRK Similar?
Almost every eye care professional can agree that LASIK and PRK are both regarded as safe and effective laser vision correction procedures, provided that the patient is a suitable candidate.
Both procedures utilize an excimer laser to correct vision. Since they have the same method of attaining enhanced vision without glasses or contacts, the final visual outcome for patients usually is very similar.
In most cases, the excimer laser technology that your eye surgeon suggests for your procedure has the most significant effect on your chances of gaining 20/20 vision and the quality of that visual result than if the correction is carried out with the PRK procedure when compared to the LASIK procedure.
LASIK and PRK usually have the same visual results since they both deal with a patient’s blurry vision by changing the shape of the cornea using the cool energy of an excimer laser. The cornea is the structure located in front of the iris that has most of the eye’s focusing ability. To give you a better understanding, this is the part of the eye where a contact lens is placed.
If the cornea is the incorrect shape for the patient’s visual system, the patient has blurry vision. In a nutshell, the excimer laser vaporizes microscopic quantities of tissue in an accurate, tailor-made pattern to sculpt the cornea and alter its shape to enhance the patient’s vision.
You have to know the basics of what makes up the cornea to understand how LASIK and PRK work fully. To begin with, the cornea has five layers. The primary layer, known as the stroma, is the cornea’s middle layer, which includes 90 percent of the cornea’s thickness and it consists of collagen tissue fibers organized to make the cornea translucent and a high refractive index. These are two significant features of a focusing lens.
The cornea‘s outermost layer consists of a layer of translucent epithelium tissue (skin) to protect the cornea from the environment.
Similar to the skin tissue on other parts of the body, the epithelial layer of the cornea grows back if it is removed or damaged; however, the collagen tissue that forms the stroma does not.
In the LASIK and PRK procedures, the excimer laser sculpts the stromal layer of the cornea, giving a permanent change to the shape of the cornea. When the shape of the cornea is altered correctly, the light that enters the patient’s eye is focused more accurately for enhanced vision and without glasses or contact lenses.
How Are LASIK And PRK Different?
Although LASIK and PRK usually have the same end visual results, they are performed differently, which allows each procedure its own series of pros and cons when compared to one another.
In some instances, a patient may only be suitable for LASIK or only a candidate for PRK. In other cases, the patient can be a candidate for both procedures and may opt for the procedure they would prefer the most.
The disparity between the procedures is how the eye surgeon accesses the cornea to alter its shape with the excimer laser. The epithelium (skin) tissue that covers the cornea must be removed or temporarily taken out of the way before the excimer laser’s energy is applied to the cornea so that the excimer laser sculpts the layer of the cornea that does not reappear. The way the laser and eye surgeon gets rid of the skin tissue in the first step is called PRK, and the method that briefly pushes it out of the way is called LASIK.
Who Are PRK Candidates?
If a patient has thin corneas, they are not suitable LASIK candidates. However, they can opt for PRK. Individuals with large pupils may find PRK a better option, which is also the case for those with irregular astigmatism. Moreover, if you suffer from dry eyes and want to improve your vision, your eye surgeon will recommend PRK.
Athletes in contact sports may go for PRK. Also, patients in physically demanding jobs may choose PRK since the nature of such sports and work intensifies the risk of flap complications.
As with either procedure, candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have a stable vision prescription for at least one year.
If you want more information about PRK and whether you are a candidate for the procedure, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute and schedule a consultation with Dr. Ferzaad Moosa. He and his highly experienced team will explain the procedure in detail and answer any questions you may have.
What Contoura Vision is All About
Medicine and science are constantly evolving, and because of this, Orange County has seen numerous advancements in LASIK eye surgery techniques. These breakthroughs have been why so many people can now enjoy enhanced vision without having to wear corrective eyewear to see clearly.
Contoura Vision Eye Surgery, a type of laser eye surgery in Orange County, is another advancement in LASIK Surgery assisting your eye surgeons in creating a customized LASIK procedure to enhance the quality of your eyesight. Contoura Vision is the latest FDA-approved LASIK procedure that optimally lessens the corneal irregularities of your eyes.
According to clinical studies, Contoura Vision Eye Surgery has helped 30% of the patients obtain better than 6/6 vision (an ability to see at 6 meters what an average person can see at 6 meters). Therefore, helping them see better without eyeglasses or contact lenses than they did with them.
What Makes Contoura Vision So Special?
The most compelling feature of Contoura Vision is that it places a technological head start on the treatment compared to traditional LASIK surgery. Although the earlier laser vision correction techniques have successfully provided LASIK patients in Orange County with fantastic accuracy and precision while reshaping the cornea and focusing on visual refractive errors, Contoura Vision performed by LASIK surgeons in Orange County takes the treatment a step further.
How Is It So Unique?
When you consider laser eye surgery cost and the fact that LASIK just treats the eyeglass prescription, Contoura, on the other hand, uses unparalleled diagnostic capabilities such as a three-step correction technique utilizing a Femto Laser, Excimer Laser, and a Topolyser to locate and record the tiniest imperfections in the curvature of cornea thereby giving an aspheric correction of spectacle power while also correcting a person’s corneal irregularities and working on the visual axis.
The eye has two types of axis. The Pupillary Axis, which passes through the center, and Visual Axis, which goes through the line of sight, each have a difference of 5 degrees. While other laser procedures treat the Pupillary Axis, Contoura Vision is concentrated on the Visual Axis. Doctor Moosa, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, takes down the measurements combined with eyeglass prescriptions to give the patient’s eyes a better focusing surface, thereby getting a much exceptional visual outcome. Besides that, even many side effects of various other LASIK procedures such as light sensitivity, problems with night driving, difficulty in reading, glare, starbursts, halos usually lessen with Contoura Vision.
Why Opt For Contoura Vision Eye Surgery?
Improved Quality Of Vision – Contoura Vision can correct even the most minor distortion in the cornea, resulting in enhanced quality of vision, with lesser side effects than a post LASIK procedure, which are remarkedly reduced or absent in a Contoura Vision.
Enhanced Quantity Of Vision – Contoura Vision allows the patient to have the possibility of improved reading capacity, which they could not achieve with corrective eyewear.
Enhanced Surgery Experience – Contoura Vision has the highest standards for safety and providing a painless experience. The surgery is performed with NO STITCHES, NO BLADE, NO BANDAGE, NO INJECTIONS, AND NO HOSPITALISATION. You can walk into a LASIK Orange County procedure without any concerns and leave with perfect and sharper vision. The treatment is efficient and effective to guarantee better vision.
Improved Post Surgery Experience – Many patients may feel discomfort or experience issues after undergoing a traditional LASIK surgery. Nevertheless, with Contoura Vision, you are entitled to a better post-surgery experience.
Enhanced Trust – Similar to the FDA’s proven survey results, 98% of patients who have undergone Contoura Vision Eye Surgery were very satisfied pleased with the procedure and said they would choose the procedure again.
How Is A Contoura Vision Procedure Performed?
Step 1 – The procedure starts with a detailed evaluation of the patient’s eye. In order to guarantee quality, the evaluation is carried out with a state-of-the-art diagnostic system. The assessment also includes a complete preoperative screening to assess the patient’s eligibility and safety of the LASIK procedure. If the patient has any retinal lesions (such as thinning/ hole/ tear), then they’re first treated with a barrage laser, and after one to four weeks, Contoura Vision LASIK is performed.
Step 2 – Depending on the outcome of the evaluation, your eye surgeon will create a customized treatment plan derived from the data provided by the diagnostic system mapping the corneal irregularities using 22,000 unique data points.
Step 3 – Based on the initial planning, Contoura Vision Eye Surgery is carried out by capturing the topographic images of the patient using a topolyser. Contoura Vision Femto-LASIK is executed on WaveLight Refractive Suite, which is believed to be the fastest laser ever. The eye surgeon creates a thin corneal flap using the Bladeless Femtosecond technology on the FS 200 laser. A topo guided laser ablation for refractive correction is performed on the EX500 Excimer laser.
Step 4 – When the procedure has been completed, within 30 minutes, you can leave the clinic. The recovery is short and helps the patient to resume their regular routine in a day or two. Typically, the patient is called in for an assessment at regular intervals to ensure everything is healing correctly. A customized post-surgery plan is given to the patient, including eye drops to prevent infection and assist in the healing process.
If you are considering Contoura Vision surgery to enhance your eyesight, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255. Our team of staff is experienced and highly skilled. Our leading eye surgeon, Dr. Moosa, a well-established eye surgeon in Los Angeles, has years of experience in Contoura Vision procedures. He received his training at Harvard University and has vast experience working with various prescription levels. Dr. Moosa has helped many professionals achieve their vision goals, from athletes to models to military personnel. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.exceleye.com/.
What’s The Difference Between Contoura and LASIK?
The eye doctors explain that LASIK is a procedure that utilizes a laser to alter the shape of the cornea to make adjustments to certain eye conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Over the last thirty years, new technology advancements have mainly concentrated on improved methods to measure the corneal curvature or topography and then guide the laser to correct these topographical discrepancies.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, a LASIK eye surgery clinic in Orange County, Contoura Topography-guided LASIK is a new technology that measures the overall curvature of the cornea to measure slight corneal topographical imperfections.
To give you a broader view of Contoura technology, it is good to understand the history of LASIK.
LASIK In The Early Years
In the 1990s, a few European eye doctors decided to improve photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to enhance refractive surgery. This enhancement, which was known as “flap and zap,” was the inception of LASIK. Its prototype (PRK) was approved in 1995 by the FDA. During PRK, the front surface of the eye is directly modified by the laser. Because PRK treated the external surface of the eye, it had a healing time of several weeks or months, and patients experienced some discomfort.
The FDA approved LASIK in 1999, and it dazzled everyone for its ability to offer vision correction with minor discomfort and a shorter recovery time. From the time it was introduced in 1999, the improvements began in better measures of the cornea and more precise ways to correct the corneal curvature. The first massive update was Wavefront analysis which advanced accuracy through corneal mapping. By 2003, Wavefront-guided custom LASIK became extensively available globally, and LASIK was the most commonly performed elective procedure. Since Wavefront came on the scene, LASIK has gone on to progress and become even more accurate.
In 2015, the FDA approved the most recent and the greatest when it comes to customized LASIK Contoura Vision topography-guided LASIK.
What Is Contoura Vision?
Essentially, Contoura Vision is an exceptionally advanced, accurate, and individualized LASIK treatment. The advanced technology provides surgeons with an exact, detailed mapping of the cornea, which lets eye surgeons offer customized care for each patient’s eyes. The cornea has over 22,000 unique elevation points, which are analyzed and sent to the surgical planning computer that directs the laser beam to correct the minute curvature variations at each end.
The advanced, personalized nature of Contoura Vision provides patients with a vision that is undeniably anything better than they have ever experienced with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Contrary to traditional LASIK that focuses on refractive errors by repairing the overall shape of the cornea, topography-guided LASIK also concentrates on abnormalities affecting the surface texture of the cornea. Also, some results indicate improvement in contrast sensitivity with topography-guided LASIK.
How Does Contoura Work?
The LASIK eye surgeon will use a topographer and the WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser to carry out this procedure. Topography-guided LASIK helps to change the shape of the patient’s cornea, significantly enhancing vision. Since the Contoura procedure is specially customized to each patient’s cornea, the possibilities of experiencing glare, light sensitivity, and halos after the procedure are decreased.
Topography-guided LASIK, better known as Contoura, is a customized treatment that uses an assortment of very detailed images on each patient’s eyes to determine a patient’s specific vision correction requirements. When the patient’s eye is imaged and analyzed using the over 22,000 unique elevation points on the cornea, the data is sent to a surgical planning computer to create their custom profile to optimize the patient’s vision.
How Long Is A Contoura Procedure?
Topography-guided LASIK surgery and Contoura vision surgery are the same. The procedure’s process is identical to LASIK surgery. However, the technology involved is different from conventional LASIK surgery. A comprehensive eye check-up of the patient is carried out to eliminate the existence of any diseases or infections. The laser eye surgery is done under the effect of local anesthesia.
A Contoura procedure makes around 22,000 points on the cornea through topography. Every point is checked for abnormality and is corrected through LASER. The machine that is involved in the Contoura vision includes WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser Systems and WaveLight TopolyzerVario Diagnostic Device. Excel Laser Vision Institute has the latest technlogy of WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser.
To get the best result after LASIK eye surgery, you must follow your LASIK surgeon’s advice on eye care. They will prescribe eye drops such as anti-inflammatory and antibiotics to prevent inflammation and infection.
Contoura Recovery
LASIK patients will see very noticeable visual improvements right after their Contoura Vision LASIK procedure. However, recovery time is different for everyone. For instance, if you are a patient with a higher prescription, your recovery might be a little slower than someone with a lower prescription. Besides resting with protective eye shields in a postoperative room for around an hour, your laser eye surgeon will recommend the following:
Designate someone to drive you home after surgery and help you pick up any medications that you may have been prescribed
Please keep your eyes clean and try not to rub them
Get comfortable rest at home for at least an hour wearing your protective eye shields
Follow any additional postoperative instructions your eye surgeon may give you
It is not unusual for the patient to experience mild to moderate discomfort during the first couple of days after surgery as their eyes heal. Some patients may experience minor issues such as red or watery eyes for the first few days after the procedure, but others can get back to work the next day. Doctor Moosa, your LASIK surgeon at Excel Laser Vision Institute in Orange County, will prescribe medications to help you with any discomfort. He schedules a follow-up appointment the next day to test your vision to make sure your eyes are healing correctly.
Do You Have To Keep Your Eyes Open During LASIK Eye Surgery?
Just the name laser eye surgery has some people shaking in their boots, but they don’t have to be scared, especially if they are going to get LASIK at Excel Laser Vision Institute in Orange County, where the most experienced eye doctor, Doctor Moosa, handles these procedures.
Perhaps the biggest fear many people have about LASIK is keeping your eyes open throughout the entire procedure. Heavens to Betsy, it does sound frightening, but the laser eye surgery doctors can guarantee you won’t feel a thing.
Patient’s Fears
Recently surveys revealed that this was the number one reason why people refused treatment, even before having an initial consultation. Surgical procedures require anesthetic most of the time, and LASIK is no exception even with just a few numbing eye drops. That is all that is administered to perform laser eye surgery while patients are completely conscious.
Although the LASIK surgeon in Orange County can understand that being awake during a surgical procedure doesn’t sound like a blast to anyone, LASIK is a far cry from your standard surgical procedure. Beginning with the matter that the procedure only takes a few minutes to perform.
However, what really changes the game up is that laser eye surgery, when done in expert hands by a LASIK expert in Orange County such as Doctor Moosa, is painless and, what is more, being conscious during the procedure does not in any way, shape or form put you at harm’s way, even if you try your utmost to.
What Happens If I Blink During LASIK Surgery?
You are not the only person who has this concern. However, you can stay rest assured that blinking and moving during LASIK surgery is usually not an issue. Numbing drops are administered to the patient’s eyes before surgery to make the LASIK procedure comfortable and decrease a patient’s natural urge to blink. Plus, a small device holds the eyelids open during the procedure so the patient can’t accidentally blink and your eyelids open during the procedure so the patient doesn’t unintentionally blink and their eyelids can’t interfere with any stage of the surgery.
Is It A Problem If I Move During Laser Eye Surgery?
Moving your head and body is also a serious concern. The patient usually lies down on a flat, comfortable, cushioned surface (about 20 minutes for both eyes). Depending on the type of laser your eye surgeon uses, many platforms have a contoured headrest that snugly supports the head during the procedure. Your LASIK surgeon may carefully hold your head in position to help you stay steady during specific stages of the procedure.
Nearly all lasers used for LASIK surgery performed in the United States are equipped with an advanced feature called an “eye tracker” that immediately keeps track of the position of the patient’s eye and modifies the laser treatment to compensate for any small, involuntary movements your eyes may make during surgery. This technology is crucial for custom LASIK and to carry out the most precise laser treatment of the patient’s eyes.
What To Do After LASIK Surgery?
When you have completed your laser eye surgery, you must follow your doctor’s guidance on the simple LASIK recovery steps so that your eyes can perform outstandingly well.
Have a friend drive you home after you had your successful eye surgery, and don’t forget to wear your sunglasses. Make sure to rest your eyes and keep them closed so that they remain comfortable.
You want to aim to keep your eyes closed for 2 to 4 hours as part of your critical LASIK recovery process. For this reason, taking a nap and wearing your clear plastic shields will help with the recovery process.
Don’t be alarmed if you feel mild sensitivity for a few hours, but there should be the slightest discomfort. When the two to four hours are up, remove the plastic shields and, as instructed by your surgeon, start using your prescribed eye drops for healing and to keep your eyes comfortable and lubricated.
Try not to rub, squeeze or touch your eyes after LASIK surgery because the surface of your eyes are still sensitive. Wear your plastic shields when sleeping and if your eyes still have issues tolerating light, wear sunglasses. If your eyes get dry or irritated, use preservative-free artificial tears to help keep your eyes comfortable.
Most LASIK surgeons will tell you to rest for the first 24 hours following your laser eye surgery. So, refrain from reading, strenuous activity, computer work, and television during this period.
When To Delay Your LASIK Procedure
If you constantly suffer from dry eyes, it may stop you from getting LASIK treatment. To find out if LASIK is the correct route for you, talk to your eye doctor at a reputable LASIK clinic. Your eye doctor will guide you on the most appropriate ways to receive LASIK with your dry eye condition.
Ultimately, scheduling your LASIK procedure may not be a huge deal; however, getting it done by the right doctor is very important. Although the technology used in LASIK is phenomenal, it has to be carried out by a qualified and experienced ophthalmologist to achieve the best results.
If you want more details about LASIK eye surgery, contact Excel Laser Vision Institute at (888) 957-3255. Our team of staff is highly trained and experienced. Dr. Moosa, a well-known LASIK surgeon in Orange County, studied at Harvard University and has experience working with various prescription levels. Dr. Moosa has helped many professionals with their eye issues, from athletes to models to military personnel. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.exceleye.com/.