Laser Eye Correction Can Benefit Many
There are several reasons why someone might seek out an experienced LASIK surgeon in Orange County for laser vision correction. It might be to further their career or simply to make life more convenient. In either case, LASIK surgery can help people realize their full vision potential without always having to rely on their prescription glasses or contacts. This level of freedom can allow people to pursue hobbies, careers, and lifestyles that they’ve always wanted for themselves. Here are some examples of how LASIK can help individuals in specific ways:
LASIK is Perfect for Parents
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or not, you know that looking after children is a full-time commitment. There are no sick days and no vacation days. So, when you struggle with your vision on a daily basis, this can make parenting even harder. Instead of always losing or directing your glasses or contacts, you could visit an Orange County LASIK surgeon to discuss laser vision correction. LASIK makes parenting tasks a breeze, from driving them to school to reading them a bedtime story to watching them as they play in the backyard. With excellent vision, you will feel more confident in your ability to look after your children and you will get to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
LASIK Can Help You Reach Your Career Goals
There are many people chasing certain career paths that could benefit from laser eye surgery from an Orange County LASIK clinic such as Excel Laser Vision Institute. Astronauts are one of the esteemed professionals that require excellent vision to get their job done. At NASA, astronauts are required to have 20/100 distant visual acuity or better uncorrected and corrected to 20/20 for each eye. Construction workers, firefighters, and law enforcement are other paths in which vision is necessary for safety and efficiency. Any profession that is battling the elements will need eye correction options that do not get in the way. Glasses and contacts can sometimes cause more problems than solutions in these cases. With LASIK eye surgery, people on the job don’t have to worry about letting anyone down because of their vision limitations. Emergency responders, surgeons, and lifeguards are another line of professionals that not only benefit from LASIK themselves but can also use this resource to help save lives because of the power and freedom that it grants them.
LASIK Lets You do What You Love
People with an inclination for any kind of creative expression will appreciate the freedom and clarity that LASIK eye surgery can give them. Having sharp eyesight is necessary to excel in photography as a career or a hobby. Glasses can be particularly burdensome for looking through camera viewfinders and shooting outdoor landscapes. Painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists can improve their perspective of color, contrast, and depth with LASIK, which allows them to have a better handle on their art.
There are so many ways that LASIK eye surgery can support the career, hobby, or lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Through laser vision correction, many patients have been able to achieve 20/20 vision or better.
How to Protect Your Eyes This Summer
The trend that Los Angeles LASIK clinics are noticing is that many people only wear sunglasses as an accessory or when it is an especially bright day. LASIK specialists say that, whether or not you have undergone laser eye surgery, sunlight can significantly damage your eyes, just like it can damage your skin.
In the summertime, people are outside more frequently and, with long daylight hours, have increased exposure to UV rays. So, in order to prevent eye health issues down the road, it is important to use appropriate eye protection.
Cloudy days or cold days are no excuse to leave your sunglasses at home. In fact, the temperature has no effect on the amount of light that is seeping through the clouds. Many LASIK eye specialists in Los Angeles say that UV light can still harm you even when you don’t notice it. So, don’t be deceived by the kind of day it is when you look outside. Always have a pair of sunglasses on hand and wear them when you are spending extended periods outside.
When you are purchasing sunglasses to protect your eyes, make sure to choose the ones that are labeled 100% UV protection or UV 400. This means that the lenses are successfully filtering out those harmful rays. Fortunately, you don’t have to compromise on style or budget with UV-blocking sunglasses. There are plenty of attractive shades on the market that will offer the right protection without reaching designer prices.
Sunglasses should be your main source of eye protection during the summer months; however, there’s nothing wrong with adding a hat! Broad-rimmed hats or baseball caps can add another layer of protection by shielding light from directly above.
Another thing to keep in mind for your summer eye protection is the activities that you will be doing. If you are going to be swimming a lot, then you may think about purchasing some UV-blocking swimming goggles. These will not only protect your eyes from the sun but they will also keep your eyes safe from pool chlorine.
If you have children, then you will definitely want to introduce eye protection into their summer routines. While children may not experience the effects of sunlight damage right away, it is still a very real risk to their eye health and it could manifest later in life. Make sunglasses and hats a normal, comfortable part of their outside activities and they will start to pick up the habit.
When you are planning your summer days, make sure to consider when the sun will be at its peak in the sky and try to limit your outdoor activities in direct sunlight. Before noon or after five o’clock are the best times to plan an activity in order to avoid the strongest UV rays.
Your eyes deserve protection all year round, but they especially deserve it during the summer months, when you are more likely to spend extended periods of time outside. Buying some quality glasses, a hat, and maybe some swimming goggles is a low investment that will offer great results. So, make sure to grab your sun protection gear before you hit the beach, the pool, or wherever your summer adventures take you.
If you are tired of being limited by your glasses or contacts during the summer, then you can also visit a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles such as Excel Laser Vision Institute to discuss laser eye surgery. LASIK may be able to help you achieve your vision goals so that you are free to spend the summer how you choose, without worrying about your vision.
Questions To Ask From Your LASIK Surgeon
If you’re considering laser eye surgery and you want to speak to a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, then it is a good idea to have some questions prepared before you visit a clinic. Many people rely on the bits of information that they know about the procedure and forget to do their homework on the rest. Your LASIK eye specialist will likely provide all the information that you need about your procedure. However, it is not a bad idea to have a few other things clarified so that you can feel confident in your surgery. These questions will also help you evaluate the expertise of your surgeon and the kind of work they do at their clinic. Once you are fully on board with your choice of LASIK professionals, you will feel much better going into your procedure.
How many LASIK procedures has your surgeon performed?
Many patients ask this question in order to get a sense of their surgeon’s background and knowledge. While there is not a particular number that you should look for, you should use this information to gauge your LASIK surgeon’s level of experience and confidence in their ability to produce favorable results. You might also want to learn the types of laser eye surgeries that they have performed in order to see the range of their capabilities as an Orange County LASIK surgeon.
What kind of LASIK technology is used at this clinic?
The world of LASIK is continually shifting and advancing. So, it is important that your LASIK clinic in Orange County is using the latest and most efficient machines for your procedure. The kind of laser technology that a LASIK clinic has is especially important for procedures like bladeless LASIK. The better the machines, the more options you have for customizable procedures that fit your vision needs. Newer technology that is well-maintained will also improve accuracy results and safety.
Why are you a good candidate for LASIK?
LASIK is not right for everyone. Some people may require an alternative form of laser eye surgery like PRK or SMILE. Others may not benefit from refractive surgery at all because of preexisting health conditions. So, when you are discussing laser eye surgery with a LASIK specialist, be sure to have them explain your candidacy to you.
How can you prepare for your surgery?
There are a few different ways to prepare for the day of your surgery. Your LASIK doctor will likely convey all this information to you to make your procedure as efficient as possible with little to no discomfort. Some of the recommendations may be to avoid wearing makeup, to stop wearing contact lenses, and have comfortable clothing on. You can learn more about the best steps to take for your surgery by consulting your doctor.
What is the surgery like?
In order to feel more confident walking into your surgery, it is important to know what to expect. If you don’t know what LASIK is like, then go ahead and have your surgeon explain the process to you. You can ask them how long it takes, what they’re going to do, and what it’s going to feel like. It’s always best to know this information beforehand so you’re not caught off guard.
What happens after the surgery?
The last thing that you’ll probably want to plan for is your life after LASIK surgery, from recovery to beyond. You might want to ask your LASIK specialist how long the recovery period will last and what symptoms you should look out for. You can also learn how soon you’ll be able to return to your normal routine.
These are some good baseline questions that will help you feel more confident in your LASIK surgeon and LASIK clinic. If you have any others, feel free to ask! After all, this procedure is meant to accommodate your needs and your lifestyle. Once you fully understand the process, you can get started on achieving your vision goals!
20/20 Vision Explained
Most people have an idea of what 20/20 vision means, even without speaking to a LASIK surgeon in Orange County. However, this measurement of visual acuity is not always understood in the fullest context, which fuels the common misconceptions that people have about eyesight and vision correction. In order to bridge the gap of information, LASIK eye specialists are here to explain how vision sharpness is measured in the medical field and what that means for people who want to improve their current eyesight.
If you’ve ever had an eye examination, then you’re familiar with the letter chart that most clinics use to judge a person’s visual acuity. The characters get smaller on each line, all the way down to the bottom. An eye doctor can measure the strength of your eyesight based on how far down the chart you can clearly read.
These letter charts are named after Dr. Herman Snellen, the Dutch ophthalmologist who first started integrating them into medical practices. Snellen eye charts are standardized in format and size. Visual acuity correlates to the lines of the chart and is written as a fraction.
When you see 20/20, the two numbers represent different aspects of the Snellen refractive test. The first one (the top of the fraction, or the numerator) is the distance of the chart from the patient. So, in the case of 20/20 vision, the doctor has measured 20 feet of viewing distance. Since not all examination rooms have 20 feet of space, many doctors will utilize a mirror system to simulate this distance.
The second number (the bottom of the fraction, or the denominator) represents the smallest line that the patient can read. The top row is usually measured as 20/400, and the number decreases from there. This explains why 20/20 vision is better than 20/30 or 20/40. However, the smallest line does not stop at 20/20. While many people believe that 20/20 is perfect vision, it is actually just a baseline of good vision for the general population. The Snellen chart has lines that reach 20/15 or 20/10.
Visual acuity can be important for many different careers and lifestyles. Those who wish to serve in the military or become a pilot need 20/20 vision and civilians who want to obtain a driver’s license need 20/40. Orange County LASIK clinics have helped many people achieve their vision goals through laser eye surgery.
There are other factors that contribute to vision strength, besides visual acuity scores. Some of these optic elements include eye coordination, color vision, visual perception, binocular vision, and eye focusing. When you visit a surgeon, they will be able to determine the exact issues that your eyes are facing and recommend a procedure that will most benefit you.
Understanding visual acuity is the first step to confronting your vision problems and taking the proper steps to correct them. You can schedule an appointment with an Orange County LASIK surgeon like Doctor Moosa to get a thorough eye examination and consultation. Now that you understand the basics of 20/20 vision, you can ask the right questions and strategize with an eye care professional to achieve the vision you’ve always wanted.
Understanding LASIK Procedures
While many people have heard of laser eye surgery or know someone that has visited a LASIK clinic in Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute, not many people fully comprehend the process as it relates to vision correction. This lack of understanding can contribute to the spread of misinformation and misconceptions about LASIK. In an effort to remedy the general confusion on the topic, LASIK eye specialists are here to explain some important details about this particular kind of refractive surgery.
LASIK surgery requires two distinct steps. The first is the creation of a corneal flap and the second is the reshaping of the cornea. While these two actions do not make up the entirety of the procedure, they are the basic operative measures. All other steps revolve around these segments of vision correction.
Corneal Flap
The cornea is the clear outer layer of the eye. It helps your eye focus the light that passes through. This layer is the first point of interception for what you see and perceive. You can think of it as a window. In order to focus light properly, the cornea has to be shaped in a certain manner. Distorted corneal lenses can affect your vision negatively.
When you experience nearsightedness or farsightedness, it could be the result of a misshapen cornea, which blurs your vision. Many people visit a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute for this very reason. LASIK has been known to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The success of this procedure has allowed many patients to achieve their vision goals without the aid of their prescription glasses or contact lenses.
When a LASIK surgeon is creating the corneal flap, they will likely use a microkeratome blade or laser. This will all depend on whether you are receiving blade or bladeless LASIK. You can speak to an eye specialist at a Los Angeles LASIK clinic such as Excel Laser Vision Institute about these two different methods and see which one fits your vision needs better.
Corneal Reshaping
For the precise reshaping of the cornea, a LASIK surgeon will use an excimer laser. This technology has many names, depending on the brand and manufacturer, but it provides the same level of programable accuracy. Excimer laser technology has also advanced over the years to provide a greater depth of customizable properties. With the use of this laser, LASIK surgeons can successfully reshape the living tissue in a person’s cornea without damaging it or any other part of the eye.
The excimer laser functions by eliminating microscopic cells in the cornea that sit under the surgical flap. Topography-guided technology is the key to a procedure that targets each patient’s specific vision correction needs.
After LASIK
The surgery is complete once the LASIK eye specialist replaces the corneal flap and applies any necessary bandages to promote healing. The recovery process is relatively quick and painless. Many LASIK patients are able to return to their regular driving, working schedules by the next day. Your LASIK surgeon will discuss post-operative care with you before you undergo the surgery. Nearly 80% of vision is achieved within the first few days of the procedure and vision strength continues to improve as the eyes fully heal and adjust.
It is important to attend all post-surgery appointments and discuss your vision progress with the LASIK eye specialist. LASIK eye surgery can help many patients achieve 20/20 vision or better!
Learn How Diabetes Can Affect Your Laser Eye Surgery
There are so many benefits to getting laser eye surgery. It’s an investment well worth the time, money, and energy you save not having to maintain prescription eyeglasses or contacts. Many people who seek laser eye surgery from an experienced LASIK surgeon in Orange County such as Doctor Moosa say that it is life-changing.
The process is described as quick, painless, and effective with one of the highest satisfaction rates for an elective surgery. The laser technology at a LASIK Orange County clinic, Excel Laser Vision Institute, is optimized to serve a variety of eye conditions with safe, targeted precision. However, it is a well-known fact that not anyone can just walk into a LASIK Orange County clinic such as Excel Laser Vision Institute and get the procedure without an extensive evaluation.
In order to qualify for the procedure, patients are given an eye examination and consultation where a LASIK surgeon in Orange County can determine multiple factors relating to their eye condition and general health. For certain patients with preexisting health conditions, even non-optical ones, LASIK may not be a viable option. However, it is always important to consult a LASIK specialist before ruling out the possibility. For example, diabetes is quite a common preexisting condition that many people have who seek LASIK surgery.
Diabetes is one of the most common health conditions affecting Americans today. In a 2015 study, there were around 30.3 million people with diabetes in the United States. In light of this statistic, it makes sense that a good portion of LASIK candidates would also have diabetes. Fortunately, this health condition is not an automatic disqualifier. Some patients with diabetes are still able to receive laser eye surgery from an experienced LASIK surgeon in Orange County, Doctor Ferzaad Moosa.
Diabetes and Our Eyes
Diabetes is a disease related to metabolic systems that causes a person’s blood sugar to rise. When someone has diabetes, they lack enough insulin to transport glucose (sugar) into various cells from the bloodstream. Thus, the sugar accumulates in their bloodstream, which can lead to damage to vital organs. People who are not able to regulate their insulin levels can suffer from nerve damage, kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, vision impairment, and blindness. Technically, there is no cure for this disease. However, people can learn to manage it with an active, healthy lifestyle.
Now, that you know a little more about diabetes, you can see how it affects elective procedures like LASIK. Eye-related complications can be quite common with diabetes, which is why it is important for a LASIK specialist to evaluate a patient thoroughly before they are qualified to receive the surgery. Here are some of the eye conditions that can arise from diabetes:
- Diabetic retinopathy: With diabetes, patients are more at risk for weakened blood vessels in their retina. This can cause tissue swelling, bleeding, and vision impairment. Continuous inflammation and ischemia can lead to permanent damage to the retina and blindness.
- Cataracts: Since diabetic patients have trouble regulating their blood sugar, they are at risk for developing cataracts at a younger age. Cataracts refer to the clouding of the crystalline lens. If left untreated, they can severely impact one’s vision and prescription stability.
- Glaucoma: This condition has to do with damage to the optic nerve cells, which affects one’s vision. These damages can lead to permanent vision impairment or blindness if not detected early on.
Diabetes and LASIK Eye Surgery
According to the FDA, diabetic patients who seek LASIK may qualify for the procedure under certain favorable conditions. With patients who have their blood sugar under control, elective surgeries like laser eye surgery are far more viable. So, it all depends on the case and the result of a LASIK doctor’s evaluation.
When being considered for LASIK eye surgery, an eye doctor will ask you about your diabetes history. They will also give you a thorough eye examination with a dilated retinal exam to ensure that you are safe from any diabetic-related conditions. Through this evaluation, they will also measure your level of prescription just as they would with any potential LASIK candidate. Lastly, a LASIK specialist will ask for the latest results of your Hemoglobin A1C test to see if your blood sugar levels have been managed well in the last few months. As long as your form of diabetes is within an acceptable range of stability, you will be able to move on to the next step of your LASIK process.
LASIK Recovery
Many people are aware that diabetic patients often take longer to heal after surgeries and have a higher risk of complications. Fortunately, eye surgeries have not been indicated in this risk, and LASIK technology has greatly improved over the years.
LASIK is known for having an especially short recovery period, which is beneficial to diabetic patients who are considering refractive eye surgery. A LASIK specialist will likely recommend a LASIK procedure over alternatives like PRK, which might involve more time for healing.
In general, LASIK technology has evolved to be more precise and comfortable for patients of all health backgrounds. This means that recovery is easier, symptoms are milder, and results are even better.
After receiving LASIK eye surgery, diabetic patients will still require regular eye examinations and doctor’s visits in order to monitor vision progress and maintain optimal health conditions. With the help of trained professionals, patients will get to enjoy their new vision while still managing their diabetic condition.
Why More Young People Are Choosing to Invest in Laser Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery has slowly joined the ranks of popular vision correction options over the years, especially among young people. While retro, hippie glasses have been a recent style trend, many younger folks are starting to see the appeal in clear vision without having to rely on eyeglasses or contacts. LASIK Los Angeles clinics like Excel Laser Vision Institute are starting to see a significant shift in the demographic that they are reaching.
There are many reasons for this increased interest in laser vision correction from young people. Contrary to popular belief, the millennial generation is very active and interested in pursuing non-digital activities. While many people imagine millennials to be attached to their phones, a recent study shows that 7 out of 10 millennials strive to live a healthy, active lifestyle. This includes yoga, surfing, hiking, and other athletic activities. With more active lifestyles, many young people with eye prescriptions are starting to run into the same inconveniences that other generations have faced for years.
Another reason that young people are starting to seek laser vision correction at LASIK Los Angeles clinics such as Excel Laser Vision Institute is that they value their freedom and independence. With busy lives and irregular schedules, it is helpful to not have one extra thing to worry about. More young people are visiting Exceleye’s LASIK eye center in Los Angeles to ask how they can successfully eliminate glasses and contacts from their life while achieving their vision goals.
LASIK Los Angeles clinics have found that younger folks are more interested in LASIK after doing their research. Millennials like to stay informed on the latest innovations in technology and enjoy reading trusted sources to learn how this is being used to benefit society. Unlike older generations, young people are more confident in the effectiveness of technology when it comes to medical and cosmetic use. As they read more about the positive LASIK eye surgery success rate, millennials become more convinced that this is a viable alternative to their current vision correction method.
LASIK isn’t, in any sense of the word, cheap. And millennials love saving money. However, young people are starting to realize that getting LASIK eye surgery may be more cost-effective than maintaining their current eyewear for years to come. Instead of having to pay each year to replace prescription glasses and sunglasses or having to buy contacts every month, LASIK exists as an investment option that will, essentially, pay for itself in money, time, and convenience as the years go by. Younger folks like the idea of having a long-term solution and LASIK financing options make this investment far more manageable.
The current age restriction for LASIK eye surgery is 18 years or older. Now that many people are experiencing poor vision at a young age, they are ready for a solution once they reach young adulthood. The new average age of contact lens wearers is between 11 years old and 13 years old, which means that young people are dealing with eye issues for years before they qualify for LASIK. So, they are more likely to be proactive and jump into the process when they can instead of putting it off for later.
When LASIK technology was first being developed and researched, there was a certain hesitancy to perform the surgery on younger people with more changeable prescriptions. However, many clinics are now confident in their ability to find a patient’s “true prescription” and tailor each LASIK procedure to fix each individual eye condition. However, some LASIK clinics will still advise a patient to wait until their prescription remains stable for at least a year. If you are not sure whether your prescription qualifies you as a LASIK candidate, you can always go in for a full eye examination and consultation to see whether the procedure is right for you.
In terms of paying for LASIK, young people are finding that there are many financial options to make the total cost a manageable part of their budget. There are some LASIK providers that offer insurance savings through a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account. LASIK providers will also offer financing options that break up the total cost into reasonable installments.
For over 30 years, LASIK has been a successful procedure that is widely known and spoken about in the United States. Many millennials have grown up hearing about it and may even know family members or friends that have gotten the surgery. Now that they have reached adulthood, they are starting to consider it as a solution for their vision goals. They have heard that’s fast, painless, and cost-effective. This is probably why 63% of people who got LASIK between the years of 2012 and 2013 were 18 to 34 years old. Once young people started trusting in the value of LASIK, they started spreading the word. Since the internet has so many platforms where young people can discuss various topics and experiences, LASIK has gained traction in millenial conversations and began having an influence on the average demographic. Now that young people are starting to get LASIK, they are realizing that there is a world of opportunity out there for them. With a hassle-free clear vision, their quality of life greatly improves and they can move on to do great things.
Why Use Blue Light Blocking Glasses?
For many people living in the 21st century, screen time makes up most of the day, from work computers to TVs at home and smartphone interactions in between. Most of us cannot seem to get a break from these screens because they are a daily source of information, communication, and entertainment. If you speak to a LASIK surgeon in Orange County about the effect of screen time on our eyes, they will probably mention blue light. While blue light is not exclusively emitted from our digital screens, it is certainly one of the most disruptive factors that 24/7 screen time can have on a person.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution. Stylish blue light blocking glasses have been on the market for quite some time. They are non-prescription glasses that have been created to minimize the effect of screen time on our bodies and minds. According to an Orange County LASIK surgeon, Doctor Moosa, these glasses have been known to help eliminate blue-light-related headaches and help others sleep better. While not everyone has heard of these glasses, they are widely available for purchase and budget-friendly.
The Vision Council of America says that about 70 percent of adults in the United States experience eye strain as a result of digital devices. So, what exactly is blue light and how does it affect us?
Blue light can come from computers, tablets, phones, LED lights, fluorescent lights, and sunlight. It is one of the colors on the light spectrum that people can see with their naked eye. In small doses, it is not necessarily a bad thing. LASIK Orange County eye specialists say that blue light can help us stay alert and energized during the day. However, the problem occurs when we are constantly exposed to the light. Instead of regulating our sleep/wake cycles, blue light can disrupt them when we refuse to limit our exposure at night. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation has also linked blue light exposure to retinal damage and increased risk of age-related vision loss.
Since blue light blocking glasses were invented, they have slowly gained attention for their ability to filter out harmful light rays as people go about our daily lives. Plus, there are quite a few unique and trendy designs that make them a great accessory to any look. Back in the day, your parents or grandparents might have owned a pair BluBlockers, which were created in 1986 for astronauts and quickly became available to the public as well. New studies on blue spectrum light waves and their effect on vision clarity and comfort made these glasses a reality.
Now, Americans spend around half of their lives looking at screens. According to an article by the New York Post, our obsession with digital devices has disrupted our sleep cycles, given us more headaches, strained our eyes, and increased our chances of getting cataracts. This negative correlation between our health and our interaction with digital devices has caused many people to stop and consider how they can reverse this trend.
Blue light blocking glasses have actually become a great resource for parents. Now that younger children are being exposed to more screen time than their parents were at their age, it is important to think about the effect of blue light on developing eyes. Since children naturally have larger pupils, they are much more sensitive to the light rays. This means that they can also suffer headaches, eye strain, and restless sleep with too much exposure.
In addition to buying blue light blocking glasses, parents can adjust their children to less screen time by setting rules for how long they can use their tablet, phone, or watch the TV. When you are browsing for children’s glasses, you will want to get a nice case to keep them protected when they are not in use. Once kids become used to putting on their blue light blocking glasses everytime they sit down in front of a screen, they will likely continue these healthy habits into adulthood.
For adults that are interested in blue light blocking glasses but also rely on eyeglasses or contacts to see, they may consider getting LASIK surgery in Orange County in order to be free of their prescription lenses. According to an Orange County LASIK surgeon, Doctor Ferzaad Moosa, many people feel their quality of life is greatly improved after their vision correction procedure. Not only is it convenient to no longer be dependent on glasses or contacts, but it also often helps people achieve better vision than they thought possible for themselves. The clarity of vision and saturation of color that people experience after the LASIK surgery is life-changing.
So, once you have finally achieved clear vision through LASIK, you can replace your prescription lenses with protective blue light blocking glasses and keep your eyes healthy and happy. Here is a list of the advantages you gain from wearing blue light blocking glasses:
- Less strain on your eyes. If you work for an office, then you might understand the eye strain and fatigue that one can experience when staring at the computer all day. Blue light blocking glasses will alleviate those uncomfortable symptoms and leave you feeling more like yourself.
- Better sleep. When you’re scrolling through social media or watching Netflix before bed, you may feel like you are relaxed but the blue light emitted from your screen is actually making you more awake. The light rays are a high frequency which can make it harder for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. With blue light blocking glasses, you can still sit down to your nightly entertainment without compromising your sleep cycle.
- Decreasing your risk of getting cancer. Some studies have shown a connection between blue light exposure and cancer. This research has focused on the ability of blue wavelengths to slow the production of melatonin. Blue light blocking glasses can help restore this natural melatonin production that your body needs.
- Prevent age-related vision loss (macular degeneration). About 11 million people in the U.S. suffer from macular degeneration, which is when the center of the retina deteriorates and eventually causes blindness. With blue light blocking glasses, people can protect their retinas from being damaged by blue light and help prevent macular degeneration.
Eye Care During COVID-19: Contacts or Glasses?
Nowadays, people are becoming more aware of their hygiene practices and the habits that increase their risk of infection. At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, doctors were telling everyone to limit touching their mouth, nose, and eyes as well as washing hands frequently. Many people with prescription glasses or contacts began to understand the extent of their dependency on prescription lenses, and how LASIK would significantly improve their lives in times like these. Unfortunately, many of those people will have to wait to schedule an appointment with a LASIK surgeon like Doctor Moosa. With many offices closed for non-urgent appointments, people in Orange County are having to adjust to certain eye safety practices and routines.
The contacts versus glasses debate began when some eye doctors began to caution patients against wearing their contact lenses in order to avoid contamination of the mucous membrane through finger-eye contact. LASIK clinics in Orange County like Excel Laser Vision Institute agreed that glasses were a safer option. However, both require increased awareness in times like these because people that wear contacts or glasses touch their faces more often than those who do not.
While wearing glasses does not guarantee that you will not get sick, it can certainly help protect against the habit of touching your eyes. The Orange County LASIK surgeon says that glasses can also act as a partial shield from infected droplets that travel through someone else’s cough or sneeze.
For many reasons, glasses have been the standard recommendation in times when infection rates are being closely monitored. However, there are some cases in which contacts can be utilized in a safe and effective manner, especially for those who have limited options. According to a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, Doctor Moosa, you need to abide by certain safety standards when continuing to wear contact lenses. For one, not wearing them when you are feeling sick. Even if it is just a cold, you don’t want to risk transferring infections to your eye. Another rule to live by in times like these is to use disposable lenses.
Contacts are necessary and comfortable for many people, which is why there has been so much pushback against the suggestion to wear glasses. Ultimately, it comes down to your own personal situation. According to research by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the ocular transmission of the coronavirus is not yet a widely supported fact. However, the eyes contain sensitive mucous membranes, just like the mouth and nose, which is why doctors are advising caution all the same. For many people, the risk is not worth the convenience of wearing their contact lenses.
Whichever form of vision correction you choose, it is important to regularly disinfect your lenses and wash your hands whenever interacting with your face. Here are some more eye safety tips from one of the Orange County LASIK surgeon– Doctor Ferzaad Moosa.
Tips for Those Who Wear Contacts
Before you touch your contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water for up to 20 seconds. You can use a lint-free towel to dry them. Repeat this routine every time you need to remove, insert, or adjust your lenses. When you don’t have access to a sink, you may use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol.
If you are using disposable lenses, then you should throw them out after every day. If you are using monthly or bi-weekly lenses, then you need to follow disinfection guidelines by your eye doctor or the manufacturer. Saline solution or rewetting drops are not acceptable methods of disinfecting.
If you start feeling sick, you should immediately stop wearing your contacts.
Tips for Those Who Wear Glasses
According to recent studies, the coronavirus can remain on certain surfaces for up to a few days. It is possible to transfer infected droplets to your glasses when putting on, adjusting, or removing them. In order to accommodate these risks, it is important to frequently clean your glasses.
Those who regularly wear face masks and glasses have also experienced the fogging-up effect that can severely block your vision. In order to prevent this inconvenience, while still wearing your protective mask, there are a few different measures you can take:
- Seal the mask. The reason that your glasses are fogging up is because your breath is escaping from the top and sides of the mask. Good quality medical masks (N95) usually do not have this problem because they have a tight seal to keep the air in. So, when you are using your handmade cloth mask, you can mimic this seal by attaching a bendable strip like a twist-tie, paperclip, or pipe cleaner to the top. This can form around your nose and cheeks in order to create a tighter seal. You can also use some kind of skin-sensitive adhesive like cloth tape.
- Wear your glasses differently. For some people, it helps to move glasses father down from the bridge of the nose, on top of the mask. This is especially helpful in situations where you cannot make the mask fit tighter. You can also try the reverse, which is pulling the mask up higher so that it rests under the bridge of your glasses. It may not be the best look, but it should certainly decrease the amount of moisture traveling up to your lenses. Just make sure that when you are adjusting things your mask is still effectively covering your mouth and nose. After all, the most important thing is that you are protected from potential infection.
- Wash your lenses. You can buy an anti-fog coating for your glasses. These products are sold as wipes or sprays. However, there is also a more cost-effective method which is soap and water. Many people have found that washing their glasses with soap and water and then letting them dry is an effective way of preventing fogging. The soapy residue leaves a thin film on the glass which can help block moisture. Follow these washing instructions for fog-free glasses.
- Notice your breathing. Doctors that are used to the inconvenience of fogged-up glasses from wearing masks say that breathing through your nose helps. It also helps if your head is tilted up instead of down. It may take some getting used to, but everyone will start to figure out their technique for reducing the amount of fog in their glasses.
Do You Qualify for LASIK Procedures?
LASIK eye surgery has become extremely popular and widespread over the last few decades, which has prompted many people to wonder if they themselves qualify for the procedure. At LASIK clinics in Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute, doctors are highly selective when it comes to picking candidates for the surgery. Everything is tested, confirmed, and optimized to make the process safe and effective each time.
So, how do you know if you are eligible for laser eye surgery clinics such as Excel Laser Vision Institute? There are a few different factors. Once you have been tested to determine your eye health and prescription, your LASIK eye specialist in Loss Angeles will consult you about your eye care history and vision goals.
There are at least 8 general criteria that LASIK doctors will evaluate when considering you as a candidate for the procedure. However, these can vary depending on the expertise of the surgeon and the quality of their laser instruments. In order to fully determine if you are qualified for LASIK, you should schedule an eye examination and consultation at a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute. In the meantime, though, you can read through our list and see how well your situation matches up with the qualities that LASIK eye surgeons are looking for.
Eye Health
When a LASIK Los Angeles eye specialist gives you an eye examination, they are looking at different aspects of your eye health that might be impacted by the surgery. Pre-existing eye conditions may or may not affect how well your eyes heal or how they will take to laser technology.
Temporary eye conditions like pink eye, dry eye, infections, or eye injuries can complicate the surgery. Thus, LASIK doctors in Los Angeles like Doctor Moosa will usually recommend that patients come back for LASIK after their eyes have fully healed from their previous condition.
It is always best to speak to a doctor about your past and current eye conditions so that you can eliminate any risk of complications when you are preparing for LASIK eye surgery. Some people have an extreme case of dry eye, which means that they do not produce enough moisture in their eyes to keep them lubricated, causing a burning or stinging sensation. People with this kind of condition may be more sensitive to LASIK and, thus, will require special attention or a vision correction alternative.
Cornea Size
When you are being evaluated for LASIK eye surgery, your eye examiner will check to see if your cornea is an appropriate size and shape for the procedure. This will determine if you are eligible for LASIK or more suited to an alternative like PRK. If you have a thinner cornea or it is an irregular shape, this could disqualify you for certain types of laser vision correction surgery. However, don’t be discouraged! Advances in laser technology have already made vision correction possible for people with many different eye conditions.
If you have not qualified for LASIK in the past, you may consider going into a LASIK clinic for a second opinion. Not only has technology improved, but certain clinics have better access to equipment and, thus, can successfully perform LASIK under more complicated circumstances. Even if you still cannot undergo the surgery, there may be vision correction alternatives that were made to accommodate your kind of eye condition and may even be better suited to your lifestyle. Consult an eye specialist to determine your best course of action to reach your vision goals.
Pupil Size
LASIK eye examiners will also check your pupil size. People with larger-sized pupils can sometimes experience halos, glares, and starbursts after their LASIK eye surgery. Therefore, LASIK eye surgeons will use a particular scale to determine whether your pupils fall within a safe range.
Prescription
Another important thing that doctors check when considering you as a candidate for LASIK is your prescription. Higher prescriptions were disqualified in the past because technology was not advanced enough to accommodate these eye conditions. However, the range of prescriptions that can be satisfied with LASIK surgery has significantly increased. Nowadays, doctors will utilize your prescription to recommend the best version of laser vision correction. Whether you have astigmatism, myopia, or hyperopia, your LASIK eye specialist will help you determine the best course of action to achieve your vision goals.
Age
Age will affect prescription, which is why LASIK doctors generally like to pay attention to this factor. For some younger people, eye prescriptions may not be stable enough to warrant the surgery. Generally, LASIK surgeons pick candidates who have maintained the same refractive errors with no variation for up to 12 months. Most LASIK procedures require you to be 18 or older; although, there are some exceptions.
For patients over 40, LASIK is still a viable solution for vision correction. However, it may not fix all vision problems. Some LASIK patients over 40 will still require reading glasses for their presbyopia. In other cases, eye specialists will recommend a monovision LASIK procedure or other options to fully target vision issues.
Both women and men are susceptible to dry eye conditions later in life, which must be considered by the eye surgeon before LASIK is performed.
General Health
While LASIK is mostly concerned with eye health, a person’s general health is still a big factor in determining the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Certain autoimmune diseases or degenerative conditions will disqualify a candidate for the elective surgery. However, it all depends on the patient’s condition and the doctor’s experience in similar cases.
LASIK surgeons will also consider the types of medications that patients take on a daily basis. Some prescription drugs can have a negative effect on post-operative recovery or increase symptoms like dry eye.
Pregnancy
Most LASIK surgeons will advise pregnant or nursing women to wait until their hormonal cycles have regulated before they come in for the surgery. Hormones can affect eye conditions like the size and shape of the cornea or dry eye symptoms.
Generally, the medications before and after LASIK surgery are also not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, which is why it is best to wait a few months before having the procedure performed.
Vision Goals
Lastly, your doctor will want to talk to you about your expectations for LASIK and ensure that you are satisfied in your choice of corrective eye surgery. For your lifestyle and prescription, LASIK may or may not be the right option. However, there are an array of refractive surgery alternatives that can serve to help you achieve your vision goals.