Jellyfish Day, Jellyfish Eyes

Jellyfish Day is Nov. 3, 2014. It’s a rather odd observance for most people, but it got the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery thinking about whether or not jellyfish have eyes. After some research, we learned that jellyfish do not have brains, hearts, ears, heads, feet, legs or bones…and most do not have eyes.

There are over 2,000 types of jellyfish and possibly hundreds of thousands more that are waiting to be discovered.

The highly venomous box jellyfish is the most dangerous. This type of jellyfish does have eyes…24 of them!

• They have four different types of eyes.
• One pair in each cluster contain a lens, retina, iris and cornea but only detect light and dark, rather than images, because they do not have a central nervous system.
• Two of the eyes can see color.
• Four of the upper lens eyes always point upward, even when they are upside-down, to allow them to navigate by looking out of the water.

The sting of these highly agile swimmers can be deadly for humans; if you happen to be scuba diving or snorkeling in tropical waters and see a jellyfish looking back at you, it’s best to keep your distance.

If you don’t have 20/20 vision while exploring under water, it may be more difficult to see this lurking gelatinous animal coming your way. Prescription goggles or wearing contact lenses are options to improve your vision under water, but having LASIK vision correction in Charleston can eliminate this hassle from your pre-swim preparations.

If you are an avid swimmer, scuba diver or snorkeler and would like to swim with visual freedom just like the box jellyfish, schedule a free LASIK Consultation today at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery. Dr. O'Day can’t promise you the same vision as what 24 eyes might provide, but he will determine whether or not your unique eye characteristics and eye health will support this popular procedure. To schedule your no-obligation appointment, call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com. 

LASIK & Dry Eye

Dry eye can be a fairly common side effect of LASIK vision correction due to the potential for reduced sensitivity of the corneal nerves, leading to a reduction in tear production. Tears are necessary to lubricate and protect the eyes and if there is not adequate tear production, the eyes can become irritated.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

• Excessive eye watering

• Itching and burning

• Redness

• Sensitivity to light

• Feeling of sand or grit in the eyes

• Pain

• Blurred vision

Dry eye after LASIK is typically temporary, but some patients can experience the symptoms of dry eye for months or years after LASIK. Lubricating eye drops can help minimize discomfort.

Some patients who have pre-existing dry eye may not be good candidates for LASIK in Charleston because the procedure might exacerbate the condition. Any existing symptoms of dry eye should be discussed with your ophthalmologist prior to having LASIK so your condition can be fully examined. Your eyes may be better suited for alternative laser vision correction procedures. Certain procedures may actually help improve pre-existing dry eye in Charleston.

Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery will discuss all of the risks of LASIK, including dry eye, as well as the benefits of LASIK,during a free LASIK Consultation. He will perform a comprehensive exam to ensure that your eyes are right for the procedure. To schedule your no-obligation appointment, call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com. 

Serious Eye Conditions Growing in Young People

According to Medical News Today, a recent survey of optometrists has shown that the number of young people being diagnosed with serious eye conditions such as dry eye and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) is growing. Many of these doctors were also concerned that certain sight-stealing vision conditions may be developing at a younger age:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Age-related macular degeneration

This phenomenon of deteriorating eye health may be due to any number of reasons, including:

• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition
• Increased usage of computer, tablet or smart phone screens
• Smoking
• Lack of sunglasses
• Improper contact lens usage

It’s important to note that even if you have your vision corrected through a procedure such as LASIK in Charleston, and even if you achieve 20/20 vision after the procedure, it is still possible to develop serious eye conditions. Regular eye exams are vital to the overall health of your eyes because they can detect any“silent” problems that are developing so treatment options can be explored.

If you are experiencing any changes in your vision or would like to learn more about ways to protect and preserve your eyesight, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule an eye exam. Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery also offers free LASIK Consultations to help patients reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. 

2014 World Sight Day

World Sight Day is October 9, 2014.  The call-to-action for this year’s observation is “No More Avoidable Blindness” and is part of an overall plan to reduce avoidable blindness by 25% by the year 2019. Created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), this initiative supports their overall theme of “Universal Eye Health” and protecting/preserving eyesight for people around the world. 

In celebration of this event, Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery is urging people to make their eye health a top priority by scheduling an eye exam in Charleston. We also encourage you to spread the word about the importance of regular eye exams. Often people neglect their eyesight – until they experience a problem. Regular eye exams can detect conditions that may be silently robbing you of your vision, such as glaucoma or cataracts, and eye doctors can even detect underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or brain tumors.

During an eye exam, you may also learn that your eyes have the right conditions for vision correcting procedures, such as LASIK vision correction. During a free LASIK Consultation, you can learn about the pros and cons of LASIK, how LASIK technologies differ and find out if 20/20 vision without glasses is a possibility.

Make the most of World Sight Day 2014. Schedule your eye exam or free LASIK Consultation in Charleston today by contacting Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.