Eye Care and Eye Surgery Blog
Laser Vision Correction, LASIK, Opthalmology, Cataracts, Glaucoma
Archive for November, 2011
Does LASIK Make Your Pupils Dilate More?
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
LASIK eye surgery will not increase your pupil size. However, since your vision improves a great deal after LASIK, you might be more attentive to the size of your pupils than you were before. Near vision and bright light can cause your pupils to contract, while far distance and low light will make them dilate.
Each patient’s pupil size tends to be unique. Several different factors can affect the dilation of your pupils, including:
- Caffeine
- Lighting
- Alertness
- Medicines
- Alcohol
If you already have large pupils and undergo LASIK eye surgery, it is possible that your eyes will dilate beyond than the LASIK treatment zone in darkness. This can cause issues with night vision, such as glare, halos, and starbursts. Having large pupils will not disqualify you from LASIK surgery, but it will be weighed against other factors when an ophthalmologist is determining your LASIK candidacy.
Fortunately, modern LASIK technology has lessened the odds of patients experiencing night vision problems and other LASIK side effects. In fact, studies show that 85% patients who have received treatment from the VISX CustomVue laser have experienced a significant decrease in their amount of night-time glare after surgery when compared to before.
If you have further questions about LASIK surgery and pupil size, please contact an experienced ophthalmologist in your area today to schedule an initial consultation.
Posted in Eye Safety, Laser Vision Correction, LASIK | Comments Off
Eylea the Latest Drug Available for AMD
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Eylea is the latest in a series of anti-VEGF drugs from the Retina Group of New York. Eylea is for patients who have the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Two clinical trials involving over 2400 adults show that Eylea is as effective as Lucentis in maintaining vision in 95% of patients. Thirty percent of patients had improved vision when taking the drug. The FDA approved Eylea on November 11, and is available to patients by the Retina Group of New York in Hicksville and Hauppauge, New York.
According to the chairman of the Retina Group of New York, Eylea offers patients with AMD the same benefits as the highly effective Lucentis, but with half the treatments at a lower cost. Patients will need to be treated every two months instead of every month, like the do with Lucentis and Avastin. This may be better for patients, since some eye specialists allegedly do not stick to the monthly treatment of the other drugs to make them effective.
AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 65. Wet form AMD is the result of blood vessels growing beneath the retina and then leaking. This can cause irreversible vision loss and blindness if not treated. Symptoms take the form of trouble reading, seeing straight-on, and looking at detailed work. Anti-VEGF drugs, like Eylea, Lucentis, and Avastin, can stabilize the vision in patients, although AMD cannot be reversed.
If you have any questions about AMD, please find an experienced eye doctor through eyes.com today.
Posted in Macular Degeneration | Comments Off
LASIK Side Effects
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
You may experience some side effects following your LASIK procedure. These are not the same as complications. LASIK side effects are relatively minor and will go away as you recover from surgery.
Recent advances in LASIK technology have dramatically reduced the side effects associated with your procedure by improving the precision with which LASIK is performed.
Common LASIK side effects include:
- Dry eyes – This is the most common LASIK side effect. Your ophthalmologist can prescribe eye drops if you experience discomfort associated with dry eyes. This side effect generally subsides after a few weeks.
- Light sensitivity – This side effect may compel you to rub your eyes in an attempt to relieve it. However, rubbing your eyes can prevent the corneal flap from healing properly. Therefore, avoid this urge at all costs. For most patients, light sensitivity goes away after a few days.
- Night vision issues – These consist of glare, halos, and starbursts from light sources at night. Advances in LASIK technology have reduced the likelihood of night vision issues, and any that you experience should go away within a few months.
- Temporary loss of visual clarity – This is a rare side effect caused by small wrinkles developing in the corneal flap as it heals which lead to blurry vision. This side effect generally subsides within a few months, but your LASIK surgeon may choose to reposition the corneal flap to facilitate the healing process.
To learn more about the potential LASIK side effects, please contact eyes.com today to speak with an ophthalmologist in your area.
Posted in LASIK | Comments Off
Stem Cell Research and Vision Disorder Treatment
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Eye Surgery, Technology | Comments Off
Cigarette Smoking and Macular Degeneration
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Macular Degeneration, Smoking and Eyes | Comments Off
Cigarette Smoking and Cataracts
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Cataracts, Smoking and Eyes | Comments Off
Home Remedies for Pink Eye
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Pink Eye | Comments Off
Nonprescription Colored Contact Lenses
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Contact Lenses | Comments Off
Can You Change the Color of Your Iris?
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Posted in Eye Anatomy | Comments Off
Vision Organizations Challenge Federal Glaucoma Report
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) are challenging a federal review stating there is neither a clear link between glaucoma treatment and visual impairment, nor is there sufficient evidence supporting that open-angle glaucoma screenings can affect the condition’s eventual progression.
The review was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and its findings potentially impact Medicare and private insurance coverage for existing glaucoma treatments designed to limit the symptoms of glaucoma and slow its development. “We did not find direct or indirect links between glaucoma screening and visual field loss, visual impairment, optic nerve damage, intraocular pressure and patient-reported outcomes,” the report reads. “… there is limited evidence that screening for (open-angle glaucoma) can reduce intermediate or final health outcomes including visual impairment and optic nerve function.”
Open-angle glaucoma is thought to affect at least 2 million Americans. While there is no cure, there are glaucoma treatment options including eye drops and surgery that have proven effective for many patients.
The AAO and AGS have asked for evidence to be re-examined, citing what the organizations believe are errors in the manner in which data was reviewed and evaluated.
“The AHRQ reviews and recommendations for screening and treatment of glaucoma fail to properly weigh the overall effectiveness of proven methods of patient care, and therefore could have significant negative social impact on the medical community’s ability to control the disease,” said a press release from the AAO.
If you have questions about glaucoma and your glaucoma treatment options, please contact eyes.com to locate an experienced eye doctor near you.
Tags: Glaucoma
Posted in Glaucoma | Comments Off
