Differences Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

Many people think all eye doctors the same. They use the terms Optometrist and Ophthalmologist interchangeably. The truth is that these are two very different types of eye care professionals.

Optometrists

Optometrists have earned a Doctor of Optometry Degree (OD). Optometrists have completed a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, plus four years of post-graduate professional training in optometry school. Their main focus is to provide primary eye care, including vision checks, eye disease diagnosis and overall eye health review. They prescribe corrective lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and they can prescribe some medications. Optometrists often work closely with ophthalmologists to provide pre- and post-op care for eye surgery patients.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are Medical Doctors (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, four years of medical school encompassing care for the whole body, internships, at least three years of hospital-based residency and additional years of training in eye disease treatment and eye surgery. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform eye surgery, perform eye exams and write prescriptions for medications or corrective lenses.

Certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration, are managed and corrected by ophthalmologists. Eye surgeries such as LASIK or Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implants should only be done by an eye surgeon who is highly experienced and using the latest technologies.

Frequent eye exams, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems, can provide early detection – and treatment – of developing issues.

Visit the website of ophthalmologist Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule a Vision Consultation in Charleston, SC. Visit charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275 today.

Be a Positive Role Model for Kids by Enjoying Life to its Fullest

      April 25, 2013 marks the 20^th Anniversary of the “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work® Day” program. Over the years this educational program has had several objectives, including:

• Exposing children to what parents/mentors do at work
• Showing children the value of education
• Helping children discover the power of a balanced work and home life
• Helping children envision their future and take steps toward their own goals

We applaud this program and congratulate the organization and everyone who has participated in the event on one level or another.

Children see adults as role models, whether we are cognizant of this or not. Being a productive member of society is one way to be a positive influence; emitting strong self-confidence, even happiness, is another. When you feel good about yourself – both inside and out – you project positive vibes to everyone around you. Children have an uncanny ability to pick up on these vibes and internalize them to themselves.

If you are constantly hassling with glasses or contacts – or even avoiding certain activities because it’s too difficult to see without your corrective lenses, those negative feelings can be unconsciously transferred to the children around you. LASIK eye surgery can give you freedom from these aggravations, helping you enjoy life more fully. Just picture yourself with 20/20 vision swimming, skiing or playing at the park with your kids. What a great gift to give yourself and the younger people around you.

With the advances in LASIK technologies and LASIK financing options, more people than ever can eliminate their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Take the first step in discovering if LASIK can give you 20/20 vision. Contact Dr. O’Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule your LASIK Consultation. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com.

Make Your Tax Refund Really Count: Invest in Your Vision

It’s hard to believe that April 15 (yes, Tax Day!) is just around the corner. Hopefully you’ve almost finished your taxes and have an idea what kind of refund is coming your way.

Did you know the average tax refund in 2012 was $2,700? Regardless of how much you have coming, you’re probably thinking of ways to spend your windfall. Here’s the thing: You could spend your refund on new furniture, a 60” plasma TV, vacations or shopping sprees. But these purchases are fleeting.

If you have vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism and have to wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly for reading, driving or working, you could put your tax refund toward the ultimate goal of 20/20 (or better) vision. LASIK eye surgery has made this a reality for literally millions of Americans. The average cost of LASIK is anywhere from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. It may seem like a bit much, but we offer 0% and low interest LASIK financing options to make it really affordable. And if you put your tax refund check toward LASIK, you could save a substantial chunk off the cost.

Maybe your vision problems have stemmed from growing older, such as the formation of cataracts. Constantly cloudy vision, halos, light glare and even double vision can really impede your quality of life. Cataract surgery can eliminate those symptoms. While insurance often covers the cost of cataract surgery and Monofocal Intraocular Implants (IOLs) (that’s vision for one distance only), you can spend a little extra on Premium Lens Implants to remove the cataracts and gain vision for all distances, effectively eliminating your need for reading glasses (presbyopia) at the same time.

Of course, you can’t run out and spend your tax refund on better vision until you’ve had a comprehensive eye exam to determine the root cause of your vision problems.

Your new vision could last a lifetime. That would leave you plenty of time to spend your future tax refunds on new furniture, 80” plasma TVs, vacations or shopping sprees…you’ll enjoy them even more without glasses, contact lenses or cloudy vision.

Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule your Vision Consultation so we can diagnose your unique situation and recommend an appropriate course of action. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com.

What Really is 20/20 Vision?

It’s widely known that LASIK eye surgery can give some patients 20/20 vision. But what does 20/20 vision really mean?

According to the American Optometric Association, “20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.”

There are varying degrees of vision based on what research has shown that a “normal” person can see. Other examples include:

·         20/10 vision means that you can see at 20 feet what can normally be seen when standing 10 feet away (your vision is better than normal)

·         20/40 vision means that you have to stand 20 feet away from something to see what you should be able to see at 40 feet away (your vision is worse than normal)

·         20/100 vision means that what should be normally seen at 100 feet away requires you to stand 20 feet away to see it (your vision is poor)

·         20/200 vision is considered legal blindness in the United States

Having 20/20 vision does not mean you have perfect vision because other factors, such as peripheral vision, depth perception, color vision, eye coordination and focusing ability play into your overall visual attributes.

If you have less-than-ideal eyesight that causes you to need glasses or contacts to correct your nearsightedness (good close-up vision/bad distance vision), farsightedness (good distance vision/bad close-up vision) or astigmatism (impaired distance and close-up vision), LASIK may help correct your refractive error and put you into the “normal” 20/20 vision range. LASIK surgeons take into consideration many of your unique attributes before recommending LASIK surgery, including your overall eye health, corneal thickness and medical history. 

To find out if LASIK might be able to give you 20/20 vision, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com.