What Your Eyes Reveal About Your Health: LASIK Experts in Orange County Explore Possible Signs of Alzheimer’s
Can our eyes predict our overall health? This is the question that many ophthalmologists are asking now that new studies have shown a perceptible link between brain health and retinal changes. Eye examinations have long been important for detecting ocular diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration but according to Doctor Moosa, one of the top ten LASIK experts in Orange County, our eyes may be able to tell us more about our overall health.
For decades, medical professionals have been using fundus exams, which examine the back of your eye, to discover early signs of diabetes, heart disease, and cancerous tumors. These examinations focus on the nerve cells and blood vessels in the retina in order to gather greater information about bodily health. Everything in our body is connected to or reliant on another part, which is why it makes sense that our eye health would affect or reflect other aspects of our physical functioning.
Laser eye surgery clinics in Orange County specifically Excel Laser Vision Institute have been following a recent study in the U.K. which hypothesizes a link between retinal changes and Alzheimer’s disease. For the study, researchers conducted retinal scans on one hundred and twenty subjects, all considered to be elderly. In twenty-five percent of the subjects with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found yellow deposits of calcium and fat in their eye examinations. Only four percent of subjects without Alzheimer’s displayed this same symptom.
Calcium and fat deposits behind the eye, otherwise known as hard drusen, are signs of oxidative stress. This means that there is an imbalance between antioxidant defenses and free radicals in the body. While this does not pose a threat to vision, it does suggest a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. If you speak to a LASIK surgeon about oxidative stress, you will learn that this condition often implicates other health concerns like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammatory issues, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease.
While following this U.K. study, LASIK clinics in Orange County specifically Excel Laser Vision Institute learned that the patients with Alzheimer’s also tended to reveal thicker blood vessels in their examinations, which suggests that they had poor circulation and blood flow. This is a known risk factor of Alzheimer’s and plays a large role in memory loss. This study has shown that there may be more ways to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s and perhaps even prevent it from developing in certain individuals. Currently, there is no one, conclusive test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. However, this study provides a greater range of knowledge and tools to help fight against it.
Since our eyes do so much for our day-to-day and reveal much about our health, it is important to have yearly eye exams in order to monitor their progress. Search “LASIK surgeons near me” to find a clinic where you can schedule a full examination and consultation about your vision needs. LASIK eye surgery is known to treat refractive errors such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Many patients are even able to achieve 20/20 vision or better. Say goodbye to glasses and contacts and hello to clear vision!
How Laser Vision Correction is Safer Than Contacts
For many people, wearing glasses is an inconvenience, but they require some form of vision correction to be able to go about their daily lives. This is when many people will switch to contact lenses. However, according to LASIK experts in Orange County like Doctor Moosa, the safety risks that come with regular contact use are actually greater than undergoing laser eye surgery to correct vision long-term.
The reason that LASIK is recommended over contact lenses is that, once performed, laser vision correction requires no maintenance. Contacts, however, must be continuously applied, removed, cleaned, and so on. According to Doctor Moosa, one of the best LASIK surgeon in Orange County, those who wear contacts risk developing an infection from constant hand-eye contact. Recent studies show that 40-90% of contact lens wearers don’t follow proper care directions. One reason for this is that people lead busy lives and often forget to maintain their contacts as they should. This can have drastic impacts on a person’s ocular health. Here are some of the ways you risk infection when wearing contacts:
- Touching eyes with contact solution bottles
- Touching eyes with unwashed hands
- Improperly disinfecting lenses
- Storing lenses wrong
- Wearing contacts too long
Even when following proper care instructions, contact wearers cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection. Contact-related infections can arise as a result of microbes in your tears, your immune system, and hygiene habits. In many ways, getting laser eye surgery from a clinic in Orange County can save you the trouble and worry of these risks.
LASIK Surgeons Near Me
When you visit a LASIK clinic in Orange County like Excel Laser Vision Institute, you will be given a comprehensive eye exam and consultation before you are determined to be eligible for laser eye surgery. This ensures that your procedure runs smoothly and you receive the best possible results to achieve your vision goals. LASIK surgeons have extensive training and certification in order to perform the procedure and they have state-of-the-art technology that ensures precision and safety. Most people who receive LASIK can achieve 20/20 vision or better and no longer have a need for wearing contacts or glasses. This significantly reduces the risk of eye infections or any other health complications as a result of eye contamination.
According to researchers, the complication rate for LASIK surgery rests at less than 1%. Laser eye surgery has a long history of practice and a high satisfaction rate among patients. This refractive surgery is also more affordable than ever with available financing packages and promotions at certain clinics. Now that LASIK is more readily available, more people are able to enjoy its benefits. LASIK allows greater freedom for those with a busy lifestyle or who seek to participate in active careers and hobbies. Whether you’re tired of your contacts or you just want to live a more spontaneous life, laser eye surgery can help you achieve those goals.
If you are interested in LASIK, you can schedule an appointment at the Excel Laser Vision Institute, one of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the Orange County and Los Angeles area. With a team of experienced staff and a Harvard-trained surgeon, you will receive the most care and attention possible. Start your LASIK journey today and achieve your vision goals!