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.