Can I Drive After Having LASIK?
There are a good number of LASIK Los Angeles patients who want to get rid of their dependence on eyeglasses with LASIK surgery. Vision issues, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, can be corrected with laser eye surgery in Los Angeles. No matter the LASIK eye surgery cost, LASIK is an effective procedure. However, your eye surgeon will warn you prior to the surgery that it can make your vision blurry immediately afterward, which makes it unsafe to drive straight away.
Typical Patient Questions Before A LASIK Procedure
Prior to a patient’s decision to undergo LASIK surgery, many candidates have questions about what they can or cannot do after the LASIK Los Angeles procedure. They have questions such as:
When can I take a shower?
How soon can I wear makeup?
Will I need glasses?
When can I drive?
When can I go back to work?
Keep on reading down below to get the answers to these questions and more.
How To Prepare For LASIK Surgery?
Once you have booked a date at LASIK Los Angeles procedure, you’ll have to arrange a lift to drop you off at the clinic or travel on public transport. After the surgery has been performed, LASIK eye center Los Angeles surgeons like Doctor Moosa do not recommend going back home alone. If you want to use public transport for your return home, do so with someone accompanying you. The best-case scenario is that someone picks you up after your treatment.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Wear Make-Up?
Eye surgeons recommend you not wear eye makeup after LASIK because it can get into your eye and cause an infection if the makeup is not put on and taken off carefully. Therefore, most LASIK eye doctors will recommend you wait a week after LASIK before putting on eye makeup. Again, it depends on the patient, and some may be ready to put on makeup after a few days, but plan for a week. So, keep that in mind when making your appointment. If for any reason, you have to wear makeup less than a week after a LASIK procedure, it’s probably best to put the surgery on the back burner for a while.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Take A Shower?
You don’t have to skip out on your showers after LASIK. However, you will have to make it a point to make sure you keep your eyes completely closed to stop any shampoo, soap, and water from getting into your eyes. Also, you’ll have to avoid rubbing your eyes when you’re washing your face.
Will I Require Glasses After LASIK?
The short, sweet, and honest answer is, maybe. The main reason why some LASIK patients will have to wear glasses after LASIK is for reading.
As we age, the ciliary muscles in the eye start to lose elasticity. This elasticity is what lets people focus on objects, such as the things they are reading up close. This is known as presbyopia and is usually a part of aging, which is a reason why some people who have never had to hassle with wearing glasses in their life require reading glasses when they get older.
Most of the time, LASIK is carried out to correct distance vision problems and other issues such as refractive errors instead of presbyopia. Nevertheless, the requirement for glasses can lessen if the patient decides to undergo monovision. This procedure corrects one eye for seeing distances, and the other is corrected for seeing near. This is not as adequate for repairing vision, but it helps to relieve the requirement for reading glasses after a LASIK procedure.
When Can I Go Back To Work?
For many patients, about two days off work after a LASIK procedure is the only time they need. Nonetheless, you should remember that you may need up to a week off. Considering that everyone is different, it completely depends on the type of laser eye treatment you have undergone and how quickly you can heal. Your laser eye surgeon will talk to you about this during your free consultation and your first post-op examination.
How Soon After LASIK Can I Drive?
Not everyone’s the same, so everyone’s recovery is going to be different. However, most patients can notice an improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours of their surgery. Throughout that time, any medications would have also subsided. A day after surgery, you’ll be expected to return for a post-operative exam, have your vision tested, and have the eye doctor confirm that your eyes are healing. If your eyes aren’t sufficiently recovered to drive, you’ll only require another day or so to completely heal.
Once Your Eye Doctor Gives You The Okay To Drive
When your LASIK Los Angeles doctor tells you it’s fine to start driving again, there are still a few things you have to keep in mind after surgery.
Some people experience glare, particularly from bright lights, in the weeks after LASIK surgery. As a result of this, you could face some challenges when driving at night when encountering oncoming headlights. That’s why it’s a good idea to be a passenger at night first, to check whether you feel comfortable driving yourself.
Issues with glare usually improve greatly within the first couple of weeks after treatment and carry on improving over the first three months.
Also, you should consider that even though laser eye surgery Los Angeles can significantly enhance your vision, it isn’t a 100% cure, and you may find that you still need your eyeglasses for specific tasks such as driving.
If you’ve still got questions about laser eye surgery, Excel Laser Vision Institute would love to assist you. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with Dr. Ferzaad Moosa to find out if you’re a suitable candidate here.
More About Contoura Vision Eye Surgery
The LASIK Orange County eye surgeon tells us that with the progression in technology in eye surgery, an eye surgical procedure has become more sophisticated, and the patient encounters fewer complications.
Doctor Moosa, one of the best laser eye surgery doctors in Orange County, tells us of one such example of an advanced eye surgery known as Contoura Vision. This surgical procedure is technically more advanced and provides more accurate results than your standard laser surgery. When the LASIK eye surgeon performs Contoura vision surgery, corneal mapping divides the cornea into different elevation points. This helps to eliminate the irregularities of the cornea to the smallest level resulting in more clear vision. The surgery does not involve any blades and has fewer post-operative complications.
Contoura surgery immediately improves vision with a greater reduction in dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Since highly sophisticated and modern instruments and ophthalmic expertise are involved, Contoura Vision eye surgery’s cost is slightly higher than traditional LASIK. When considering a Contoura Vision surgery, the patient should always choose a reputable LASIK eye surgeon like the one found in Orange County.
What Is Contoura?
The most advanced and upgraded LASIK eye surgery technique is Contoura Vision. Presently, the LASIK technique is around fifteen years old and only corrects the eye’s refractive power. At the same time, Contoura is one step higher since it restores both the refractive power of the eye and the corneal irregularities. Because of this, a much better outcome than conventional LASIK treatment.
Can You Detect Contoura Vision?
Of course! Your eye doctor can detect Contoura Vision with corneal topography and slit-lamp examination. Nevertheless, it is tough to detect it with simple examination methods in medical evaluation.
What Are The Permanent Effects Of Contoura Vision?
During a Contoura Vision procedure, the corneal surface tissues are permanently removed from the cornea’s surface, located in the front of the eye and maintains long life and permanent effects.
Nevertheless, in some instances, because of changes that happen inside the eye lens, effects may worsen over time, leading to distorted and blurred vision. If an issue similar to this happens and becomes a nuisance, the follow-up enhancement procedure is performed to restore the vision to a normal and clear one.
What Is A Contoura Vision Procedure?
Contoura Vision works on the basis of topography and is performed by an expertly trained LASIK surgeon. It focuses on the natural axis of the eye, for example, the visual axis. The eye surgeon uses a special topolyser to pinpoint and eliminate abnormalities in order to improve the quality of vision.
What Are The Differences Between Contoura Vision And LASIK?
LASIK surgery has been around for about 15 years, whereas Contoura applies the most recent Lasik technology, the key differences being:
The eye surgeon supervises the Contoura technique at all times; meanwhile, LASIK is a surgery that uses a mechanized keratome technique.
Contoura Vision removes irregularities that exist on the corneal surface irregularities are removed. LASIK does not.
The Contoura vision works on the visual axis and the superior axis. In LASIK surgery, the focus is on the pupil axis.
Contoura Vision saves more contoura vision.
LASIK is sometimes blade-free, while Countoura is always blade-free.
Contoura vision can achieve results better than 6/6 vision, whereas LASIK may not.
Does Countoura Vision Use Any Blades?
No. Contoura Vision is bladeless and consists of the use of two lasers. The first is the Femtosecond laser used to make a corneal flap, and the second is the Excimer laser that reshapes the cornea. The procedure is bladeless, painless, and stitchless.
What Are The Advantages Of Contoura Vision?
Contoura vision was created to upgrade and do away with the side effects of LASIK surgery. The advantages of the Contoura vision are:
You can do it at any age.
Lessening the dependence on eyeglasses or contact lens reduces.
Difficulty in driving at night reduces
Sensitivity towards light scales down
Painless
No hospitalization is needed.
Blade-less
Stich-less
No injection is used.
Minor side effects
What Makes Countoura Vision Different Than Smile (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)?
The two have similarities, but it is crucial to understand the key differences, such as:
SMILE can only correct nearsightedness.
Every section of the eye is inspected in Countoura Vision, while SMILE focuses on the cornea.
Results of Countoura Vision have been better than 6/6. This is not always guaranteed with SMILE.
There are fewer reported side effects in Contoura Vision.
If you are considering Contoura Vision LASIK in Orange County and want to speak to someone about any questions you may have, do not hesitate to contact Excel Laser Vision Institute today!
What Is Cataracts And How to Treat It Properly
The Cataract surgeon in Los Angeles and Orange County tells us that there is a natural lens inside our eyes. This lens bends (refracts) light rays that enter the eye to help us see. As any eye doctor can tell you, the lens should be clear.
What Are The Vision Problems You Can Experience With Cataracts
When there is a cataract in the eye, the lens becomes cloudy. The person affected by the cataract may describe how they see as if they are looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Objects appear blurry, hazy, or less colorful with a cataract.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts?
Below are some vision changes you may observe if you have a cataract:
Blurry vision
You see a double or a ghosted image out of the eye with cataract
Feeling extra sensitive to light (particularly with oncoming headlights at night)
Having problems seeing well at night or requiring more light when you read
You see bright colors as faded or yellow instead
If you notice these cataract symptoms, talk to your cataract surgeon in Los Angeles or Orange County.
What Causes Cataracts?
The cataract surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that aging is the most common cause of cataracts. This is because of normal eye changes that start to occur after 40. Around this time, normal proteins in the lens begin to break down. This is what the best laser eye surgeon say causes the lens to get cloudy. People who are over the age of sixty usually begin to have some clouding of their lenses. Nevertheless, vision issues may not occur until years later.
Here are a few other reasons why you may get cataracts:
You have parents, brothers, sisters, or other family members who have cataracts.
You have particular medical problems, such as diabetes.
You smoke.
You have had an eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatments on your upper body.
You have spent a lot of time in the sun, especially without sunglasses that protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays
You use certain medications, such as corticosteroids, which may cause the early formation of cataracts.
Most age-related cataracts develop slowly. Other types of cataracts can progress more quickly. For instance, those in younger people or those in people with diabetes. Doctors cannot foresee how quickly a person’s cataract will develop.
You Can Slow Down The Advancement Of Cataracts
You can probably decelerate the development of cataracts. Doctors recommend that you should protect your eyes from sunlight. The best method to do this is with sunglasses. Wear sunglasses that block out the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light rays. Also, you can wear eyeglasses that have a clear, anti-UV coating. Discuss with your ophthalmologist to find out more.
Cataract Diagnosis
Typically, an eye doctor will examine and test your eyes to make a cataract diagnosis. This thorough eye exam includes dilation, which means the doctor will use eye drops to open up the pupils.
Slit-lamp exam
The ophthalmologist will examine the cornea, iris, lens, and the other areas located at the front of the eye. The special slit-lamp microscope makes it simpler to find abnormalities.
Retinal exam
When your eye is dilated, the pupil is widened, the doctor can see the back of the eye more clearly. The doctor uses a slit lamp, an ophthalmoscope or both to look for signs of cataract. Also, an ophthalmologist will check for glaucoma and take a look at the optic nerve and retina.
Refraction and visual acuity test
This test checks the sharpness and clarity of a person’s vision. Each eye is tested on its own for the ability to see letters of varying sizes.
What Do Cataracts Look Like?
Cataracts appear in many different forms and develop for many various reasons. Here are a few types of cataracts.
Mature Cataract (Nuclear)
A mature cataract is when the cataract has become large and dense. When there is a mature cataract, the eye’s lens is opaque, which means you can’t see through it, and there is severely limited vision. This type of cataract is a nuclear cataract, which means it begins deep in the center of the lens (nucleus).
Congenital Cataract
A congenital cataract is when it is found in a baby’s eye at birth. Children’s eyes and vision keep developing until they are about ten years old. If a congenital cataract is not treated early, a child’s vision can be affected for life.
Diabetic Snowflake Cataract
Individuals with diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of developing cataracts. Uncontrolled levels of blood sugar cause changes in the eye’s lens. Normally, people with uncontrolled diabetes have a diabetic or “snowflake” cataract. The eye has a grayish-white starburst or snowflake appearance.
Traumatic Cataract
Also, a cataract can develop due to trauma to the eye, either by blunt force such as a blow to the eye or something that penetrates the eye. A cataract can be seen as the cloudy, white area in the middle of the eye, and part of the iris is separated (see the brownish-orange area on the right side). Thousands of eye injuries happen every day, yet nine out of ten of them are preventable by wearing proper safety eyewear.
After A Cataract Diagnosis, What Should I Do?
Have an eye exam every year if you’re older than 65, or every two years if younger.
Protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses that block at least 99 percent UV and a hat.
Quit smoking. Smoking is a main risk factor for cataracts.
When reading or doing other activities use brighter lights. If you want, you can also use a magnifying glass.
Do not drive at night when night vision, halos or glare become issues.
Take care of any other health issues, particularly diabetes.
Get suitable eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.
When it becomes difficult to complete your regular activities, think about cataract surgery.
Make an informed decision about cataract surgery. Have a discussion with your ophthalmologist about:
the surgery
preparation for and recovery after surgery
advantages and possible complications of cataract surgery
cataract surgery costs
other questions you have
How Can You Treat Cataracts?
You can only get rid of cataracts through surgery. If you can live with your cataract symptoms, you may need a new eyeglass prescription to help you see better. It would be best to think about surgery when cataracts hinder you from doing your daily routine or things you want to do.
Will the Covid-19 Vaccine Affect Your Vision?
Some LASIK Los Angeles patients are apprehensive about the COVID vaccines and how it affects their vision. There are fears of side effects as well as vision issues. Doctor Moosa, one of the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles says it is the main reason some people are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. At the moment, there’s no evidence that any of the vaccines cause overall vision-related side effects. Presently, three vaccines are being used in the United States:
Pfizer-BioNTech, now completely approved by the FDA under the brand name Comirnaty.
Moderna.
Johnson & Johnson / Janssen.
The CDC says, many vaccine side effects are moderate, and are “normal signs that the body is building protection.” LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that they do not include eye- or vision-related symptoms.
These common side effects include:
Redness, pain, and/or swelling in the arm where you got the injection.
Fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and/or nausea.
These prevalent reactions usually go away within a few days.
What Are The Rare Reactions To The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine?
In some instances, a blood-clotting condition called TTS (Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) can happen in the weeks following a Johnson & Johnson vaccination. TTS is extremely rare and happens in around 3 in every 1 million adults.
The best laser eye surgery doctors in Los Angeles say that blurry vision can be a symptom of TTS, plus several other symptoms.
Also, the rare nerve condition Guillain-Barre syndrome has been noticed in around eight in every one million adults vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Guillain-Barre syndrome can cause eye-related symptoms such as double vision and issues moving the eyes, along with other neurological symptoms.
If you detect any symptoms of TTS or Guillain-Barre in the days or weeks after a J&J vaccine, get medical help immediately.
Although these are uncommon reactions, the CDC has emphasized that — compared to a COVID-19 infection — the advantages of the J&J vaccine cancel out any risks.
Eye Issues Linked To Other Vaccines
Although the COVID-19 vaccines have still not caused notable side effects yet related to vision, vaccines for many other conditions have been connected to eye and vision issues.
Seasonal flu vaccine
In exceptional cases, some patients who’ve got the flu vaccine experienced mild symptoms such as eye redness, eye pain, and blurred vision.
Common side effects of the flu vaccine include:
Headache
Redness, soreness, or swelling at the injection spot
Fever
Nausea
Muscle aches
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
Some studies reveal that optic neuritis is an unusual complication from the vaccine for the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. Optic neuritis is inflammation altering the optic nerve that transmits cues from the back of the eye to the brain.
Typically, side effects of the MMR vaccine include:
Mild rash
Swollen cheek or neck gland
Fever
Temporary joint pain (significantly in adolescent and adult females)
Rare side effects consist of short-term seizures and low platelet count. The MMR vaccine can lead to deafness, long-term seizures, coma, or brain damage in sporadic instances.
Chickenpox and shingles vaccines
Research has found rare corneal inflammation in children (chickenpox) and adults (shingles) after receiving the zoster virus vaccine for both conditions.
Common side effects from the chickenpox vaccine consist of the following:
Temporary joint pain and stiffness
Mild rash and soreness at the injection spot
Fever
For the shingles vaccine, typical side effects are:
Swelling, redness, soreness, and at the injection site
Muscle pain
Tiredness
Headache
Fever
Shivering
Stomach pain and nausea
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.
How Safe is LASIK During the Pandemic?
Sadly, many hospitals and medical practices have been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because of the many changes in protocol. Therefore, several LASIK Los Angeles procedures have also been influenced during the pandemic.
LASIK eye surgery is not a medical emergency but rather a selective laser vision correction Los Angeles procedure. Globally, LASIK is the most popular surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
How Does Covid-19 Affect The Eyes?
Several organs in the body, including the respiratory tract, have a mucous membrane lining. The membrane is vulnerable to coronavirus. Also, it lines the surface of the eye and inside of the eyelids and is referred to as the conjunctiva. The virus transmission via the conjunctiva is a rare condition but can result in conjunctivitis. Your eye looks pink when you have this condition, and the inner membrane (conjunctiva) gets inflamed.
Typically, general body symptoms correlated with the coronavirus are fatigue, fever, and a dry cough, and the primary method of transmission is infected droplets. Although the evidence of infection transmission through the eyes is not well studied nor documented, it is possible that the coronavirus may spread through the eyes.
Are There Any Risks?
Many people who are looking into LASIK surgery wonder if the procedure is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the increased risk of spreading infection through a contact lens, many individuals go for LASIK for corrective eye surgery.
LASIK surgery helps the patient eliminate the need for contact lenses or dealing with foggy glasses, particularly in health care professionals who have a high risk of acquiring the virus. The LASIK Los Angeles procedure is done safely and is carried out by professionals who take the necessary precautions.
How To Get Ready For LASIK Surgery During Covid-19?
Once you have found out the LASIK eye surgery cost, you have to take the right steps to get ready to treat your eyes with LASIK surgery. Think about the following actions to prepare for the surgery.
- Look for a skilled and experienced surgeon who carries out the surgery with the highest level of safety and care.
- The doctor performs a COVID-19 test before the surgery.
- If you qualify, you should get vaccinated for COVID-19.
- Before getting inside the center, you should be checked for body temperature and other symptoms such as cough. The surgery should not occur if a patient is diagnosed with any of the symptoms.
- The patient should practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. They should wear their mask.
- The patient should arrive relaxed and have eaten something to avoid having the surgery on an empty stomach.
How Has The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased LASIK Enthusiasm?
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, many people in the medical field thought it would significantly lower LASIK procedure volume, as in past economic crises. This was probably due to our knowledge that LASIK and refractive surgery are usually motivated by consumer sentiment and need a lot of unrestricted income. What came as a surprise to many industry experts, including medical equipment manufacturers, commercial LASIK operators, and independent physician LASIK center owners—procedure volume has been strong, with a renewed level of enthusiasm. Many LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles haven’t witnessed such enthusiastic growth since before the 2007-2008 crisis. Again, many say the cause is a perfect storm of many factors.
What Are The Three Main Factors?
The three primary factors that are responsible for this perfect storm of revival in LASIK enthusiasm are the following:
Financial motivators (which always play a huge part)
Lifestyle changes
Safety Concerns
Financial motivators: For the past several years, there has been an evident change to the millennial generation which makes up about 80 million of the world’s population who are seeking LASIK. Even though this is a challenging population to market to persistently, many meet the economic and clinical criteria for a good LASIK candidate.
Alas, the millennial demographic was evidently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-MArch of 2020, many nonessential workers began to work from home. A majority of this group of potential refractive surgery patients did not lose their jobs. They did not leave their homes, their meetings with coworkers were carried out through Zoom, they had more screen time, and their workday became likely undetermined.
Since this group of individuals had nowhere to spend their disposable income due to lockdowns almost overnight, millennials had money to spend on medical procedures instead of clothes, salons, entertainment, travel, and gym memberships.
Lifestyle changes: Another factor that creates the perfect storm for refractive surgery volume to boost is the extra time at home, with people staring at the computer, phone, and tablet screens more. People soon started to figure out that looking at a screen all day causes an increase in eye fatigue, and this was even more apparent for individuals who wore contact lenses.
Safety concerns: The last but not the least motivator is safety. This means the possible viral transmission through hand-to-eye contact. At the beginning of the pandemic, many articles in the media indicated that the novel coronavirus could be passed through tears. Because of the media teaching us all about this, patients became very knowledgeable of the potential transmission route.
LASIK is an elective surgery since it does not treat any life-threatening disease. Moreover, similar to other surgeries, the risk of COVID-19 spread is not high because patients are not so close to surgeons. Many studies reveal that a LASIK procedure is safe if the surgeons follow all the necessary COVID-19 protocols and access personal protective equipment.
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, LASIK surgery enhances your vision and provides you with extra benefits. Nevertheless, proper care has to be taken before opting for LASIK surgery. If you want to know more about our COVID-19 protocols during the LASIK Los Angeles procedure, please do not hesitate to call us at (310) 905-8622.
Should I Get Contoura or LASIK Surgery?
Over the years, the LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles have seen technologies advanced in the healthcare field, which has made patients feel more comfortable and healthier. The laser eye surgery professionals stress that it is essential that there are technological advances in the medical field since many patients can’t take advantage of the technologies available in the industry. For instance, some patients are suffering from a new disease or have gone into an advanced stage and are not being treated with the present system of medications and surgery.
And when we talk about the LASIK eye surgery cost, eyeglass removal surgery is not set apart from these advancements. Researchers are attempting to do their best to make surgical treatment with very few complications and the most desired results. An example of such an advanced eye surgery at the LASIK eye center in Los Angeles is Contoura Vision surgery, which is also referred to as Topography-guided LASIK surgery.
When any patient asks for LASIK eye surgery cost, they find out that a Contoura Vision surgery is a version of LASIK surgery and offers enhanced benefits to patients thinking about undergoing spectacle removal surgery. Besides the fact that this surgery is very effective, it gives excellent results to patients who were initially not eligible for LASIK surgery because of irregularities in the cornea. The LASIK eye specialist in Los Angeles informs us that USFDA has approved Contoura technology for specs removal surgery.
History Of Contoura Eye Surgery
Wearing eyeglasses to correct vision dates back to the 13th century. In the 1800s, contact lenses were ready for use in Switzerland and were manufactured from hand-blown glass. Back then, these were non-invasive ways for correcting a person’s vision and improving clarity. Nevertheless, these devices lead to discomfort for those who wear them and need a lot of careful handling.
As a result of this, invasive methods were introduced to correct vision. A Russian eye specialist created radial keratotomy, which consisted of the use of a diamond knife to make an incision on the cornea and change its curvature. The process is still used today to manage astigmatism. Afterward, in the 1990s, USFDA approved a more robust procedure for correcting the vision. The process is referred to as photorefractive keratotomy, which has a prolonged vision correction effect. LASIK needs the benefits of both the above techniques and eliminates their disadvantages, leading to more comfort to the patient. These techniques are highly successful and still believed to be the Gold standard in vision correction surgery.
In 1999, a customized procedure came out and was carried out through LASIK with wavefront analysis. The technique was called the Contoura technique and gave 22000 points on the cornea. Compared to Contoura, the conventional LASIK maps just 200 points on the cornea.
Who Is NOT Eligible For Contoura Vision Surgery?
Unfortunately, not everyone who has vision problems can have Topography-Guided LASIK treatment. Typically, the LASIK ophthalmologists in Los Angeles conduct a thorough evaluation of the patient’s eye health to determine whether Contoura vision surgery would benefit in improving visual clarity or correcting refractive error. Below is the criteria for patients who are NOT eligible for undergoing Contoura vision surgery:
Individuals who are less than 18 years of age due to instability in vision.
Those suffering from immunodeficiency diseases
Individuals with vascular disease
Persons with myopia higher than 9.00 D
Those with prominent nose and brow that obstructs reflection.
What Is The Difference Between Contoura Surgery And Lasik Surgery?
Here are a few differences between Contoura vision surgery and LASIK:
Better outcome: The outcome achieved with Contoura surgery is better than LASIK when it comes to visual clarity and correction in refractive error. On average, patients experience corrections better than 6/6.
Broader scope: The whole point of Contoura is not restricted to vision correction. Instead, it can treat the abnormality found within the corneal curvature.
Advanced technology: The technology used in Contoura surgery is more state-of-the-art compared to traditional LASIK surgery. Although traditional LASIK surgery maps only 200 points on the cornea, the Contoura vision surgery maps 22000 points on the cornea.
Fewer complications: Contoura vision surgery has more minor complications than traditional LASIK surgery, and the damage to the tissue is nearly more minor and has a faster healing time.
What Are The Advantages Provided By Contoura Vision Apart From Vision Clarity?
Here are some of the advantages provided by Contoura vision surgery:
High safety standards: The Contoura LASIK has high safety standards. The complications are lower, and the healing is quicker.
USFDA approved: Contoura LASIK has been approved by USFDA for vision correction. This proves the safety, efficacy, and authenticity of this technology.
Patient’s comfort: Contoura surgery has no stitches, no bandages, no injections, no pain, and the patient can go home the same day of surgery.
What Is The Procedure For Contoura Vision Eye Surgery?
Contoura vision surgery’s process is similar to LASIK surgery. However, the technology involved is different from traditional LASIK surgery. Detailed eye check-up of the patient is done to exclude any disease or infection. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. In this advanced technology, the machine used produces about 22000 points on the cornea through topography.
Every point is analyzed for abnormality and is corrected through LASER. The machine used in the Contoura vision includes WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser Systems and WaveLight TopolyzerVario Diagnostic Device. Post-surgery eye care is a crucial part of the treatment to get the targeted result. Different eye drops, including anti-inflammatory and antibiotics, are prescribed to the patient to counteract inflammation and infection.
Can Too Much Screen Time Really Harm Your Eyes?
We’ve all heard about how spending too much time on your computer or your cell phone can come with consequences for your eyes. Your parents may have set limits on how long you were allowed to watch TV when you were a child, but in a modern world highly motivated by technology, it can be difficult to catch a break when you need these devices for work or to stay in contact with members of your household. Hope is not all lost, though. Our LASIK Orange County specialists can teach you how to effectively manage your screen time and take better care of your eyes by becoming aware of the risks and how to monitor how much time you are really spending on all of your devices.
How much time are you really spending on your phone?
Based on several studies conducted, it appears that the average American spends between 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and 43 minutes a day on their cellular devices. People are also checking their phones an average of 58 times a day, 30 of those times being during work hours. As mobile device use increases, the amount of time spent watching television decreases. During the 2020 lockdowns, screen time only increased.
What is digital eye strain?
DIS, also known as computer vision syndrome, is a common vision problem that persists in individuals who are using their devices for 2 uninterrupted hours. It is disturbingly common, as it has been surveyed 58% of American adults suffer from DIS/CVS. While permanent vision damage from screen time is rare and it’s probably not going to lead you requiring Orange County laser eye surgery, it can lead to damage in your retina. If you do not take adequate breaks away from the screen, you may experience pain in your eye or headaches. If you are not drinking an adequate amount of water everyday, then you are more likely to experience frequent headaches. If you have pre-existing eye conditions, this can also escalate the problem.
Too much screen time can also be linked to other physical and psychological health problems, including obesity, insomnia, depression & anxiety, neck and back problems, and poorer grades.
Addiction just as bad as dependence on physical substances?
It’s easy to understand how easy it is to get immersed in the world of screens. Unlike the traditional television, you get to control what content you see and when you want to see it, and for how long. You can do just about anything on the Internet, almost giving you a sense of augmented reality, but can being addicted to a screen be just as bad as other forms of addiction such as gambling, alcohol or drugs?
Almost anything that triggers our reward system can become addicting because everyone wants to feel good all the time. Experts disagree on whether or not screen addiction should be approached the same as other forms of addiction. Mark Griffiths, a Nottingham Trent University behavior addiction professor has stated his own opinion on the topic, “I certainly believe that things like video games, social media, gambling, et cetera, can be genuinely addictive. [But] by my definition, very few people are genuinely addicted to video games or are genuinely addicted to social media.” In other words, he believes that screen activity addiction is serious, but the amount of people who actively suffer from this issue is exaggerated.
It also turns out that it’s not the screen itself that causes the addiction, but it is dependent on the type of content one is consuming. The faster the pace, the more addictive.
What is the 20-20-20 rule?
It is recommended that every 20 minutes you spend on a screen, that you do something else for 20 seconds, 20 feet away from your device. This can help reduce eye strain caused by looking at a screen for too long. You can also try to do some of your favorite activities offline. If you are an avid reader, for example, read the old fashion-way again and shop for physical copies of your favorite books.
Conclusion
If you feel that your eye strain may be caused by an underlying condition not caused by your screen time, talk to your eye specialist right away. They ask you questions regarding your optical and general medical history and run any necessary exams, but if you are someone who has difficulty even looking at screens due to preexisting vision problems, then you may be a candidate for Orange County LASIK eye surgery. If you are seriously considering this option for you and aren’t sure where to begin the process, give us a call today at (866) 923-9235.
9 Celebrities Who You Didn’t Know Had LASIK
You often hear about celebrities going through cosmetic surgery to enhance their physical appearance, but are you familiar with which of your favorite stars have gone through Los Angeles LASIK eye surgery to improve their eyesight? Here’s a hint: there have been more than you think! You’ll have to see the list below to believe it!
Kim & Kylie Kardashian
Love the Kardashians or hate them, it’s been 100% confirmed that both Kim and her little sister Kylie have undergone Los Angeles LASIK eye surgery! Kim decided to go through the procedure prior to her Las Vegas show. A little over a decade later, Kylie had begun to experience problems with her eyesight during her pregnancy with her daughter, Stormi. She had to rely on glasses to help her see. Inconvenienced by them, she decided to get the LASIK surgery and she couldn’t be happier with her decision!
Nicole Kidman
When Nicole discovered that she was nominated for an Academy Award for her stellar acting performance, she decided to get surgery to correct her vision. She feared the possibility of having to read her acceptance speech in front of a large audience while struggling to read her notes or even when walking up to the stage. Kidman was very happy with her decision, stating that she now had “20/20 vision” after her procedure. “I can’t believe I spent so many years blurry, but I think that coincides with how I was feeling. Now I notice if people are watching me, but I also smile right back if someone waves, which helps.” Good on you, Nicole!
Jessica Simpson
Simpson was shown undergoing eye surgery on her reality show ‘Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica’ back in the summer of ‘04. She described the outcome of her procedure as “like being healed by God.” She continued her statement by saying, “I was legally blind, I couldn’t see without contacts or glasses. I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I couldn’t see the big ‘E’ on the (eye test) screens.”
Brad Pitt
If you have seen some of Pitt’s earlier movies, you may have noticed that he wore some waggish glasses in some of his most memorable roles prior to 2010. Brad decided it was time to undergo LASIK eye surgery. Since then, he’s been able to say sayonara to those days and appreciate life with a much clearer view.
Sir Elton John
He is known for his iconic spectacle glasses, but in 2012, Sir Elton John decided it was time for a change. Decades ago, he stated in an interview that he had owned tens of thousands of glasses over the years! He got tired of losing them all the time, specifically describing his frustration with “Where are they?’ I can’t see anything, so why wait?” Sometimes you need to break tradition for the sake of your health and sanity.
“Weird Al” Yankovic
You know him for his hilarious song parodies. You’re also familiar with the nerdy glasses he wore in his earlier music videos, but why did he stop? The reason is simple: in the late 1990’s, he finally made the smart decision to get eye surgery! Weird Al actually suffered from a severe form of myopia (nearsightedness) – no fun! It’s difficult to imagine why he would ever regret his choice.
LeBron James
It’s a no brainer that you can’t be a legendary basketball player if you can’t see well! To up his game, King James got LASIK eye surgery in 2007, citing it as a major factor in his future achievements on the court.
Dwayne Wade
Wade decided to follow the steps of his now-wife Gabrielle Union and undergo the LASIK eye surgery. He was so impressed with her results that he decided to go see the same doctor as her, Dr. Cory Lessner. He openly expressed his gratitude for the job he did afterwards, “It’s actually an amazing experience and nothing to be scared of. My eyes are getting a lot better by the minute. Dr. Lessner’s professionalism is second-to-none and he really takes care of you. The result is awesome. I would recommend having it done to everyone.”
In other words….
The benefits of getting laser eye surgery in Los Angeles are unmistakable, and you don’t have to be a big shot in Hollywood to start enjoying them. Like Dorothy stepping into the Land of Oz, your new enhanced eyesight is bound to turn your once fuzzy, monochrome world into one of vibrant clarity that you’ve never experienced before. Don’t wait another day to change your life for the better, call Dr. Ferzaad Moosa’s team today at (866) 923-9235 to schedule your free consultation appointment. We have offices in both Los Angeles and Orange County, and we look forward to having you join our happy family of satisfied customers and serving you today!
A Brief History of LASIK Eye Surgery
Although LASIK eye surgery was approved by the FDA in the late 1990s, its history goes back many years earlier. If you have poor eyesight, you may be wondering a lot about LASIK Los Angeles surgery, including how it was invented. The story actually goes way back and has been developed over the decades by many optic specialists across the world. History buffs, get ready because you’ll have a field day with this one!
Back in 1948, Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer (1916-1998) invented the very first technique of reshaping the cornea, the outer layer of the eye, naming it keratomileusis. This means “sculpting of the cornea.” His passion for creating new surgical inventions made him a pioneer in the optical industry, transcending modern practices as we know them today. Today, he is remembered as the “father of modern refractive surgery”.
In 1960, Jewish-American physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman (1927-2007) invented the laser, the world’s first coherent light in Malibu, California. Although not a medical doctor, he granted future optic surgeons the ability to create amazing innovations such as laser eye surgery we now have in Los Angeles. Indian-American doctor Mani Lal Bhaumik would go on to build from Maiman’s creation and invent the Excimer laser, an ultraviolet laser. He presented his research leading to his invention in front of the Optical Society of America in 1973. This would lead to American scientists first conducting studies on how lasers could be used to correct vision problems in the late 1980s. Meanwhile, Russian ophthalmologist Svyatoslov Fyodorov (1927-2000) invented radial keratotomy, commonly referred to as RK, which was used to reshape a person’s cornea to fix myopia (nearsightedness). It still exists today, but varies from LASIK surgery as LASIK is designed to fix defects in eyesight as opposed to reshaping the cornea. Lasik eye surgery also has fewer complications than RK.
Ultimately, LASIK eye surgery itself is accredited to being invented by Dr. Gholam A. Peyman, an Iranian-American ophthalmologist. He built up a very impressive resume, having received a medical degree from the University of Freiburg in Germany, which is the country’s 5th oldest university. He completed internships in both Germany and the United States, eventually landing him a faculty position at the University of California, Los Angeles’ School of Medicine. After leaving UCLA, Dr. Peyman moved on to serve as a professor at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois. During his time at the university, he developed an interest in lasers and their effects on the eye. He spent years studying them, but had to wait to put his knowledge to use as the lasers were expensive and many people understandably felt it was dangerous to be experimented with such new technology. Eventually, he would be granted permission by University of Helsinki’s Physics Department in Finland to perform these experiments and develop the LASIK technology he had been carefully studying for so long. Since then, 10 million Americans have had LASIK surgery and made their glasses and contacts a thing of their past.
Today, at the age of 85, Dr. Peyman serves as an emeritus professor of ophthalmology at Tulane University. It is thanks to him that tens of thousands of people now enjoy the benefits of Los Angeles LASIK eye surgery. He even has his own website where you can view his multiple publications and achievements. About 8 out of 10 American adults are candidates for lasik, and chances are, you probably are, too. An overwhelming 95% of patients have reported that they are satisfied with the outcome of their surgery, so if you are ready to begin your journey today, call Harvard-educated Dr. Ferzaad Moosa’s office at (866) 923-9235. Our staff is ready to assist you with any of your questions and help you create a plan to help you afford your surgery so that you can start living a better, more productive life.
