Sunday, March 27, 2016

How Effective is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery is one of the fastest, easiest and most successful surgeries performed today.  Over the years, laser eye surgery has benefited from advanced technology and techniques that continue to improve the patient experience.

Patients who request laser eye surgery and are realistic about the results they expect are typically very satisfied with their laser eye surgery.  How effective is laser eye surgery?  LASIK is excellent at providing correction of blurry distance vision.  However, as we age it is normal to expect problems with reading and of seeing objects up-close.  Reading glasses, or other corrections, may still be needed after LASIK, depending on indicators like age, medical condition, vision history, and other factors.

Our experts will provide a no-pressure LASIK consultation to help determine whether or not you are a candidate for LASIK.  Not everyone is.  People with health problems, pregnant women, anyone under 18, and people with unusual vision correction needs that cannot be corrected with LASIK are all people who would not be treated with LASIK.

For more information about LASIK, and to find out your options for laser eye surgery, please call Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston for a consultation.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Why is Some LASIK Cheap?

We’ve all heard the expression “you get what you pay for.”  While bargain hunting may be a great idea for some purchases, when it comes to healthcare, it may not necessarily pay off. 

Your eyes are a most precious gift.  While LASIK is not inexpensive, it is a good value when the results are considered.  Good vision is something some people take for granted; however, those of us who wear glasses or contact lenses know how fortunate those folks are who were born with 20/20 vision.

If you’ve heard about low cost LASIK, or discount, bargain basement, hard to believe the price LASIK, it’s probably too good to be true.  Here are some reasons to avoid cheap LASIK:

1.      The provider may not be using the latest technology.  LASIK involves the use of several pieces of expensive technology and those costs are passed to the patient.  A provider who uses those pieces of technology cannot avoid this expenses.  Someone offering cheap LASIK is likely not using today’s technology.
2.      The provider may not be highly qualified.  Usually the lower the price, the lower the qualifications of the person performing the procedure.  He or she may be new to the procedure.
3.      It’s not really the price.  If you read the fine print, it may say that the price is for patients with certain prescription levels.  Once you arrive for your consultation, you find out that “your prescription” doesn’t qualify.  It’s a classic bait and switch technique.


If you have any questions regarding LASIK in Charleston, please contact the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.comhttp://www.charlestoncornea.com/.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

LASIK for Farsightedness

Are you farsighted (see better at a distance) and wondering if LASIK will help?  The answer is yes, in most cases.  LASIK is approved by FDA for treatment for farsightedness. 

LASIK is a form of eye surgery that changes the curvature of the cornea with the use of lasers.  By changing the curvature of the eye, you change the way light enters the eye and changes the way your eye focuses.

There is a limit to the actual amount of farsightedness that can be treated by LASIK. The curvature and thickness of your eyes are some of the variables that determine whether or not your vision can be treated with LASIK.


A consultation and pre-operative eye exam with the expert staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston can help you decide whether LASIK is the right treatment for you.  For more information on LASIK for farsightedness, please call our office.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

LASIK and Tax Refunds

Tax refund time is one of the best times of the year for many people.  The extra money often finds its way to purchases for new home furnishings, clothing and….LASIK?   Yes, LASIK.  Why not?

If you have a tax refund coming, LASIK might be a great way to utilize it.  Although financing is typically available for medical and vision correction procedures, cash is even better.  LASIK has become more affordable in recent years but is still a major investment. 


To schedule a LASIK consultation or to talk to one of our experts, call Charleston Cornea & Refractiver Surgery in Charleston to schedule an appointment.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Different Types of Vision Correction Methods

Vision correction methods seem to expand every year.  More and better options become available as technology improves.  Here are some of the options in vision correction:

Laser eye surgery continues to top the list of vision correction methods.  There are a variety of forms of laser eye surgery with LASIK topping the list in popularity.  Laser eye surgery is a safe, successful form of vision correction for most people.  Laser technology continues to improve and even patients with difficult to treat eye problems are now being treated with LASIK, PRK, LASEK or some other form of laser eye treatment.

Contact lenses also continue in refinement and are now able to treat more difficult degrees of astigmatism and other problems with vision.  Beyond the standard soft versus hard contact lenses, there are spherical, toric, monovision, multifocal, hydrogel, silicone hydrogel and other.  Contact lenses are available for both daily and monthly use. 

Prescription eye glasses have been around for hundreds of years (think Ben Franklin) and continue to please the majority of Americans.  Designer frames, bi-focal and tri-focal lenses are some of the options available to today’s modern consumer.

Regardless of what type of eye problem you may have, we have a treatment option that will work for you. At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston, we work hard to ensure that each client is happy with their choice in vision correction method.  For a consultation, contact us today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts are the cause of half of all blindness and 33% of visual impairment worldwide. 

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision. Cataracts can impact just one eye or both eyes and can develop slowly over time.  Although some children are born with cataracts, it is most commonly seen in older adults (and older animals). 

Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, halos around lights, problems with seeing or driving at night, seeing colors in muted or faded tones and problems with bright lighting.

Possible causes or risk factors of cataracts include:
  • ·         Diabetes
  • ·         Trauma
  • ·         Aging
  • ·         Obesity
  • ·         High blood pressure
  • ·         Complications from other eye diseases, such as glaucoma
  • ·         Poisoning
  • ·         Steroid use
  • ·         Smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol
  • ·         Exposure to sunlight
  • ·         Family history of cataracts


If you notice problems with your vision or think you may be developing cataracts, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com for an appointment.  Bring along a list of any medications you may taking.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Wearing Contacts before a LASIK Consultation

What’s the hardest part of having LASIK surgery?  It’s not necessarily the recovery.  A lot of our patients say going without contacts is often the hardest part of LASIK. 

Before having a consultation for LASIK surgery, you must not wear your contacts from anywhere between 10 days to a month before surgery, depending on the type of lenses you wear and how long you have been wearing them.  Contact lenses work by changing the shape of your cornea.  Your eyes need time to adjust back to their natural shape prior to a LASIK consultation to ensure the best surgical result possible.

Before scheduling a LASIK consultation, you’ll want to let the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston know what contact lenses you wear.  They will let you know how long you need to go contact-free before you have your procedure.

For more information, please contact us at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com

Sunday, February 7, 2016

LASIK or Laser Eye Surgery: Is There A Difference?

Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, otherwise known as LASIK, is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser.  A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) or a laser device is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap and the flap is then folded back, revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. 

LASIK is not the only type of laser eye surgery. PRK is a different type of laser eye surgery.  It utilizes a surface ablation technique to remove the cornea’s outermost layer, rather than creating a flap.  

Laser eye surgeries have surged in popularity in the past decades.  Millions of people have undergone laser eye surgery and each year over half a million people in the United States undergo some form of laser eye surgery.

Though laser eye surgeries can eliminate the need for contacts or eyeglasses, not everyone is a candidate for laser eye surgery, whether is it is PRK or LASIK.  To find out if you’re a candidate for LASIK or laser eye surgery, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Contacts after LASIK

LASIK and other laser eye procedures have great records for successfully improving vision.  However, it doesn’t always improve vision to the point where prescription corrective lenses are no longer needed.

Wearing contacts after LASIK is sometimes necessary.  While a follow-up procedure or enhancement may be able to solve the problem, it is not always the case. Gas permeable or hybrid lenses may be a good solution for improving vision after LASIK.


LASIKsurgery can significantly alter the shape of the cornea, making the fitting of contact lenses post-surgery a bit more challenging.  You’ll want to consult your eye care specialist to be sure you have the right contact lenses for your eyes.  For more information about contacts after LASIK, please contact Charleston LASIK & Cataract Center in Charleston today!

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Eye Surgery for Farsightedness

Tired of wearing contacts lenses or eyeglasses for your farsightedness?  Have you considered LASIK eye surgery for farsightedness?

Eye surgery for farsightedness continues to grow in popularity and is a frequently requested procedure.  LASIK reshapes the cornea and changes the way light rays enter your eye, allowing your eye to focus differently.  LASIK is typically a very effective treatment for farsightedness, though it is also good for nearsightedness and for some forms of astigmatism.

Some doctors utilize a “monovision” treatment plan for LASIK when treating farsightedness.  This means one eye is corrected for distance vision and one eye is corrected for near vision.

LASIK surgery is not without risk, although most patients report few complications.  Side effects can include over-corrections or under-correction (sometimes requiring a second adjustment), difficulty with night driving, infection and other complications.  Your doctor will discuss your risks, recovery and LASIK options during your consultation.

For more information about eye surgery for farsightedness, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com

Sunday, January 17, 2016

LASIK Risks Should Be Addressed By Your Surgeon

Patient satisfaction and safety is our top concern at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston.  The majority of our patients are very pleased with their LASIK surgical procedures performed here.  Like all medical procedures, though, some risk is involved.  Some of the risks include (as provided by fda.gov):
  • Under treatment or over treatment, possibly requiring additional therapy.  You may still may need glasses, contacts or reading glasses after treatment.   
  • Glare, halos, double vision or poor night vision.  This can sometimes be permanent.         
  • Some patients lose vision.  Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery as a result of their procedure.
  • Dry eyes, which sometimes may not go away.
  • Patients with very large refractive errors generally don’t receive as good results as others. Your doctor can provide you with information about this.

If you are considering LASIK surgery, the FDA recommends that you find the doctor that is right for you.
  • Compare. The levels of risk and benefit vary slightly not only from procedure to procedure, but from device to device depending on the manufacturer, and from surgeon to surgeon depending on their level of experience with a particular procedure.
  • Don't base your decision simply on cost.  Remember that the decisions you make about your eyes and refractive surgery will affect you for the rest of your life.
  • Be wary of eye centers that advertise, "20/20 vision or your money back" or "package deals." There are never any guarantees in medicine.

For more information about LASIK risks, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Side Effects of LASIK Eye Surgery

If you know people who’ve had LASIK, you may have heard the great results they’ve experienced.  You may have also heard about some side effects. 

Side effects of LASIK eye surgery are usually minor.  Immediately following surgery you might experience:
  • Blurry vision
  • Weepiness
  • Itching
  • Scratchiness
  • Discomfort

The doctors at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery will instruct you to lie down and rest.  You will be advised to wear an eye patch when you sleep, since it is important to avoid rubbing your eyes.

Within the next several days after surgery, your eyes will feel better.  Medicated drops may be provided.  Eyes usually heal within three to six months and adjustments are occasionally required.  Longer term side effects can include dry eyes, halos, starbursts and glare, especially at night. Consult your surgeon for more information.  Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your LASIK consultation

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Questions About LASIK Healing

One of the most popular questions we are asked is: How long does it take to heal after LASIK surgery?

Our answer is:  In most cases, the healing process is remarkably quick.  In fact, often by the next day, patients report an improvement in vision although there may be a haze or fog. 

After LASIK surgery, someone will need to drive you home.  Your eyes may be itching, uncomfortable, weeping or may burn a little and will feel a bit blurry.  This is normal after LASIK.  You will be told to rest for several hours and may be instructed to sleep with an eye patch as it is important that you do not rub your eyes.  Medicated drops may be prescribed by your LASIK surgeon.

Although everyone heals differently, vision typically stabilizes within six months.  If you have questions about LASIK, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com