Thursday, March 27, 2014

Is LASIK Safer than Contacts?

Some studies have shown that LASIK can be up to five times safer than contacts* due to lens-related eye infections over long-term use. There are quite a few “human” errors that may account for many of the complications from contact lenses.

If you wear contacts, you were probably instructed by your eye doctor about the proper way to care for your contacts. But do you really remember all of that advice? Take a minute to read through this list and audit your own contact lens habits. Do you follow every one of these recommendations?
  • Follow the usage instructions of your contacts implicitly; don’ t wear contacts longer than they are meant to be worn – this can lead to infection
  • Don’t sleep in contacts; this will further deprive your eyes of oxygen
  • Replace your lens case every three months, even if you wash it regularly, to avoid bacteria build-up
  • Keep tap water (from sinks or even showers) and chlorinated water (from swimming pools) away from your lenses; these water sources are not sterile and may lead to infection
  • Wash your lens case regularly with cleaning solution (not tap water), but make sure you allow it to dry completely before closing it
  • Never reuse contact cleaning solutions; yesterday’s solution probably has bacteria in it and you don’t want your lenses soaking in a dirty solution today
  • Never use your own spit to clean lenses; your saliva is riddled with bacteria
  • Avoid buying cheap lens cleaning solutions; you should ask your doctor what the best cleaning solution is for your unique eyes to avoid having eye sensitivities
  • Throw away old contact lenses and old cleaning solutions; check expiration dates to avoid the risk of infection
  • Don’t wear contacts if your eyes are irritated or if the contact appears damaged; this can lead to infection or a scratched cornea
  • Wash your hands before putting in your contacts
  • Avoid waterproof makeup; it can stick to your lenses
If this list raised some red flags for you regarding your contact lens usage, it might be time to consider LASIK to correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we offer LASIK vision correction in Charleston, South Carolina to help our patients reduce or even eliminate the need for contact lenses.

Contact us today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. It might just help the overall health of your eyes and help you live a lens-free life.

* Sources: Mathers, W.D. Archives of Ophthalmology, October 2006; vol 124: pp 1510-1511. William Mathers, MD, professor of ophthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute, Portland, OR.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Enjoy March Madness Even More

March Madness begins March 18! Whether you plan to root for your college alma mater in the NCAA tournament or just love any kind of college basketball, you are bound to see exciting wins and devastating upsets. The question is, will you be watching the action through a corrective lens?

If you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, you probably have to wear glasses or contacts to see clearly. And, let’s face it; glasses and contacts can get in the way of your celebrations. Wouldn’t it be much better to watch your favorite teams with your own lens-free eyes?

Charleston LASIK vision correction just might be the ticket to visual freedom. Of course, not everyone will see with 20/20 vision after LASIK, but when you choose an eye doctor in Charleston who has a great track record of success, uses advanced LASIK technology and performs a thorough LASIK screening process to ensure you’re a good candidate, the odds are definitely in your favor. Dr. O'Day is that surgeon and he’s ready to help you take those first steps.


Make a fast break to improve your vision. Call Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule a free LASIK Consultation in Charleston. 

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

March is Save Your Vision Month. Sponsored by the American Optometric Association, this observance is to remind Americans about the importance of having regular eye exams to help preserve and maintain their eye health. The following is a general eye exam schedule for people with normal eye health and good overall health:
  • Infants: Pediatrician screening at 6 months
  • Preschool children: Pediatrician screenings from age 3 to 6
  • School-age children: Regular vision screenings at school
  • Adults: Every 2 years
  • Adults over 60: Annually
If your child’s pediatrician or school suspects a vision problem, or if you have a history of eye disease or eye problems in your family, a full eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist will be recommended. Children and adults who wear glasses or contacts should have an eye exam every year.

Even if you've had LASIK vision correction in Charleston and no longer need glasses or contacts, it’s important to maintain contact with your eye doctor to preserve your eye health. You probably know that regular eye exams can identify common eye diseases, even those that have no outward symptoms, such as diabetic retinopathy. Even if you are not experiencing any vision changes, certain conditions like glaucoma or cataracts can be “silently” stealing your vision – even if you've had LASIK. Early detection will help protect and preserve your vision.

Eye exams not only protect your eyes…they can also protect your overall health! By looking at the blood vessels in the eyes, your eye doctor can also identify chronic systemic diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

March is definitely the month to focus on your eye health; it’s also National Eye Donor Month (to promote cornea transplant awareness) and Workplace Eye Wellness Month (to promote reducing eye injuries while on the job).

Charleston, South Carolina eye exams are typically quick and painless, so there’s no excuse to put this health maintenance appointment on the back-burner. Schedule your eye exam today! Call Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule an eye exam

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Olympic Medalist Bode Miller Regrets Not Having LASIK

The 2014 Olympics are over, but many of the athletes are still feeling the pain of disappointing losses. One such athlete is alpine ski racer, Bode Miller. After failing to reach all of his goals in Sochi, he revealed to the media that he would have changed the skis he used for one of the races, would have changed his skiing style and would have had LASIK vision correction surgery before the Olympics as he had planned.

"I was supposed to get an eye surgery earlier this year," Miller said. "We just never found a time to do it because the race schedule was so tight. We were pretty [upset] looking back that we hadn't found a time to do that. For me, my vision is critical. When the light's perfect, I can ski with any of the best guys in the world. When it goes out, my particular style suffers more than the guys who are more stable and don't do as much in the middle of the turn."

Miller’s comments drive home the fact that waiting for the ‘perfect’ time to have LASIK simply doesn't pay. So many people fret over the idea for years before having a LASIK evaluation…only to find out that they were never a good candidate for LASIK in the first place because of their eye condition or health condition.
At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery, many of the patients we perform successful LASIK procedures on remark that they “Wish they had done it sooner” because of the level of visual freedom they experience after LASIK in Charleston, South Carolina.

Even if you’re not an Olympic athlete, having better vision can not only improve your game…it can improve your life. Don’t regret not having LASIK. With the amazing LASIK technology available today, the perfect time to have LASIK is right now. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation.