Posts Tagged ‘contact lenses’

When it comes to your eyes it is important to treat them well. You take care of your eyes and they will take care of you. That is why it is necessary to visit eye care professionals at least once a year. A family eye care center is an ideal place to take all of your family, as it can serve as your one stop shopping experience when it comes to vision care. But you may be having questions about what will be happening to you and who you will be seeing.

Eye care professionals are divided into three categories. You have the ophthalmologist, the optometrist and the optical technicians. The ophthalmologist can perform routine vision tests, give you an eye examination and even operate on your eyes. They are licensed to prescribe medical ointments for any type of eye problem. The optometrist is similar in all the job duties of the ophthalmologist, except they are not trained to operate on the eyes. The optical technicians are the ones who will get your glasses or contacts prepared and have you fitted.

For vision care to work you must have a vision care plan. The vision care plan is a scheduled set of visitations for routine checkups for the entire family. If something is found, such as glaucoma, then you will have to visit the doctor more often. He or she will probably want to see you at least every six months and sometimes as frequently as every three months just to check on the condition of the eyes.

Once you have seen the doctor, it may be time to get a fitting for glasses, custom lenses or a contact lens fitting. This is done by the optical technicians. They will measure your face to find out the specific measurements in order to fit you with glasses. In the case of contact lenses, the technician will take the doctor’s orders and find you contacts based on your ocular fit. This is the point that you may be able to pick out certain brands and colors to wear but don’t buy from here, you will find contact lenses far cheaper online.

Eye care professionals have a tough job. Not only do they have to keep your vision accurate but they also must constantly be on the look out for any potential threats to your vision from eye diseases, such as glaucoma or cataracts. It is important to keep up with your family history if there has been anyone in your family that has had these conditions. It is also very important that you keep your eye care professional apprised of any health problems you may be having.

Eye care is relatively simple. You make yearly check-up visits with your eye care professionals and you purchase the recommended eye glasses or more likely, contact lenses. However, are you aware that you can buy contact lenses online far cheaper than offered to you by your eye care professionals? Find the right information and supplies: “Click Here“

Information on Corrective Eye Surgery

Several types of correct eye surgery exist today and these different types of corrective eye surgery fall under two main categories: Excimer Laser procedures and Non-Excimer laser procedures. As is the case with other conditions that affect the body, major technological advances have been made in recent years in the field of corrective eye surgery. The following is a brief introduction to the two categories.

Excimer Laser Procedures

An Excimer laser is a tool that was approved for the treatment of nearsightedness ranging in severity from mild to moderate. Use of the Excimer laser is complicated and it’s important to work with ophthalmologists who are both trained in the surgical procedure and who have demonstrated the ability to properly operate and calibrate this precision instrument.

The Excimer Laser was originally approved for PKR, or Photorefractive Keratectomy and its usage was later expanded for LASIK procedures, or Laser in situ Keratomileusis. With PKR, the cornea is reshaped by eliminating excess tissue from the cornea’s outer surface. With each computer calculated lightening-fast laser pulse, a microscopic ultraviolet light beam removes the excess tissue. After only a few minutes and the application of local anesthesia, the procedure is over. In just a day or so, patients can resume normal activity.

In a LASIK procedure, the eye doctor rather than the laser’s built-in computer determines where incisions will be made and how much tissue will be removed. This is a more complex and invasive procedure and it is one that is recommended for more severe refractive conditions. Using a microkeratome (a knife), the eye surgeon slices and then pulls back a flap of the tissue covering the cornea. With the tissue out of the way, the laser is then used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea. The flap is put back into place and the patient typically can see well enough to drive home after the procedure. LASEK and epi-LASIK are variations of the LASIK procedure.

Non Excimer Laser Procedures

These are procedures that rely on artificial implants, surgery and reshaping to correct eye problems. Lens implants are effective for individuals who have cataracts, nearsightedness and farsightedness. Intraocular lenses or IOLs are used as replacements for the damaged cloudy lenses caused by cataracts. New and improved artificial lenses now incorporate the use of hinges that allow the eye to move and act like a real lens.

Other types of implantable contact lens can correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. They act much like removable contact lenses but require no maintenance and wearers cannot feel these lenses and implants.

Thermokeratoplasty involves the use of heat to manipulate the collagen within the cornea. In doing so, refractive errors can be corrected in a matter of minutes. There are two types of Thermokeratoplasty procedures. Laser thermal keratoplasty or LTK involves the use of holmium YAG laser and CK or conductive keratoplasty involves use of radiofrequency waves.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) involves cutting the cornea in order to reshape it. However, its use has diminished since laser treatments involve less risk and are far more effective at reshaping the cornea.

Contact Lenses vs Laser Surgery

Every choice carries benefits and risks. Weighing them can be tricky. But the pros and cons of buying contact lenses versus having laser surgery can be boiled down to a few simple guidelines.

Any decision made between getting contacts or laser surgery on your eyes should be made in consultation with your eye care professional, of course. But getting them to stand still long enough to answer your questions can be a challenge. Here are some guidelines that will help you go in prepared.

Cost is the first consideration for most people, and it’s a valid one. While everyone rightly considers his or her health paramount, most people won’t look into the health risks until they know whether they can afford the options.

Contact lenses are not cheap. But, they’re relatively low cost compared to laser surgery and are more often covered by insurance programs. A pair of contact lenses may run anywhere from $20 to $100, but there are other costs associated with this option, including cleaning solution and doctor visits. Still, the total may be less than $200 per year, not including the value of your time spent in the doctor’s office.

Laser surgery, by comparison, can cost anywhere from $2,000 per eye to $5,000 per eye. Include doctor visits and the total is about $4,500 to $11,000. On the upside, it is a one-time cost and some insurance programs will help in part to offset it.

The convenience factor involved is no small matter to most people, either. The thought of having one procedure that is (usually) painless, brief and reliable versus having to wear contacts for a lifetime is very attractive to many. And, rightly so. While contacts have evolved considerably over the years, they still require daily to monthly changing and replacement every two to three years. Disposables are changed from every day to once per month.

Still, the health risks – while low for either option – should not be dismissed.

Laser surgery rarely results in any long-term negative health impact. But some patients do experience dry eye (lowered ability to produce tears, leading to discomfort and reduced vision). While rare, it’s possible for surgery to actually reduce vision acuity. More often, though still very uncommon, patients report halos, reduced ability to see clearly in fog or lower light, and other issues that interfere with good vision.

Contact lenses, even today though, are not entirely without risk. All contact lenses reduce the amount of air that gets to the surface of the eye. That increases the odds of corneal infection. Modern RGP (rigid gas permeable) lenses allow five times more oxygen through than contact lenses of the past. But it’s still not the same as wearing no contacts at all.

Contact lenses can also lead to corneal or sclera scarring. Sclera is the relatively hard surface tissue of the outer eye that protects the eyeball. That is more likely if a piece of grit gets between the contact and eye. Unlikely, but not unknown.

Still, both options carry very little health risk overall. The overwhelming majority of people come through laser surgery with greatly improved vision. Nearly everyone who wears contact lenses of any type daily, whether extended wear or daily-wear, have no problems at all. They adjust rapidly, keep them clean and sanitary, and don’t need to think about them during use.

Look to your budget and consult your eye care professional about the options, making sure to have a frank conversation about risks and likely benefits. You’ll then arrive at the choice that’s best for you.