LASIK for Astigmatism

In the early days of LASIK, patients with astigmatism were often not deemed good candidates for the procedure. Today, advances in LASIK technology allow many astigmatism patients to achieve better vision through this vision correction procedure.  

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a very common refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea (the clear front of the eye) or by the curvature of the lens in the eye. Astigmatism eyes will not be the typical round shape, but rather football-shaped, which causes multiple focus points to occur on the front and/or back of the retina. This causes blurry or distorted vision for both near and far objects. Astigmatism can also be found in patients who are nearsighted or farsighted.

Not all astigmatism patients are good candidates for LASIK. The only way to know for sure is by having a full eye exam in Charleston with an ophthalmologist to have your eye anatomy analyzed. Conditions like corneal thickness, corneal topography and your medical history will be reviewed. At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Dr. O'Day will only approve patients for advanced LASIK in Charleston if he feels the conditions are perfect for a good outcome. No doctor can guarantee 20/20 vision after LASIK, but by only treating patients who are good candidates the odds are improved.

If you have astigmatism and must wear glasses or contacts to improve your vision, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule a free LASIK Consultation in Charleston. There is no obligation to proceed with the procedure, and it will provide insight into your own eye health and help you fully understand your vision improvement options.

Call 843-856-5275 to speak to the practice directly or visit charlestoncornea.com to schedule an appointment online any time day or night. 

Celebrities and LASIK

According to Ranker.com, there is a long list of famous people that have had LASIK vision correction, including:

• Brad Pitt
• Brooke Shields
• Nicole Kidman
• Reese Witherspoon
• John Goodman
• Jeremy London
• Dennis Quaid
• Lisa Ling
• Michael Bolton
• Barry Manilow
• Jessica Simpson
• Carlos Santana
• “Weird Al’ Yankovic

·      And more…

      At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery, we would never recommend a person have LASIK just because a certain celebrity has done it. This is not a decision you should enter into lightly, and you should only pursue it with a highly qualified and trained ophthalmologist. In fact, not every person is a good candidate for LASIK. Dr. O'Day performs a comprehensive LASIK exam in Charleston to assess every potential LASIK patient’s corneal thickness, overall eye health and medical condition before giving the green light for LASIK. The process begins with a free LASIK Consultation where you can learn more about your eye anatomy and ask questions about the procedure, the LASIK technology that will be used and the surgeon’s track record of success.

If you want to pursue a life with the possibility of lens-free vision like so many celebrities have, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today to arrange your free LASIK Consultation. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com to schedule your appointment online anytime. We can’t promise you’ll end up on the big screen, but you may be able to watch your favorite celebrities without the hassles of glasses or contacts!

Prepare Your Eyes for a Special Event

Weddings…reunions…barbecues…vacations…

Special events abound during the spring and summer months. Many people take measures to look their very best for special events – they go to the hairdresser, buy new clothing, maybe even lose weight. If you have a special event coming up, and don’t want to have to hassle with glasses or contacts, you may choose to add LASIK to your To Do list.

The good news is that most people can be back to their normal activities – and seeing with more clarity – the day after their LASIK procedure. It is advised that you not wait until the last minute to schedule your appointment. Some people simply aren’t good candidates for LASIK because of their overall eye health, the fact that their corneas are too thin or other health reasons.  It’s important to schedule a LASIK evaluation well in advance of your special event just in case a different type of vision correction procedure like PRK is warranted. Some LASIK alternative procedures require more recovery time even though they can provide similar vision outcomes overall.

LASIK is an investment in you. The procedure has helped millions of Americans have the visual freedom to live a lens-free life. Find out if LASIK can give you the same freedom.

Get your eyesight in tip-top shape for your next special event. Contact Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery to schedule a free LASIK Consultation at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Driving After LASIK

LASIK vision correction in Charleston is a very quick procedure that is performed to correct a patient’s myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism with the ultimate goal of 20/20 vision without lenses. While most patients do not experience pain during the procedure, it is not uncommon for patients to feel anxious prior to surgery. Some patients may elect to take a mild sedative prior to surgery just to “take the edge off” and make it easier to fully relax.

Whether or not you take relaxation medication prior to surgery, you must arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery. Some patients are able to see more clearly immediately after surgery; however, your vision will not be completely stabilized and there can be sensitivity to light, glare or starbursts for the first few days after surgery. You may also still have the relaxation medication in your system.

Slight physical discomfort after LASIK may also make it difficult to drive home. These eye discomforts can include:

• Itching
• Tearing / watering
• Mild burning sensation
• Mild pain

It is important to refrain from rubbing your eyes after surgery, which is why you will be given an eye shield to wear for protection.

Each patient will heal at a different rate after LASIK. Some patients will be able to drive themselves to their post-operative appointment the next day while others may require help getting to and from the appointment. Pay attention to your own eyes and make smart decisions about driving after LASIK.

To learn more about what to expect after LASIK in Charleston, schedule a freeLASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery. Our team will fully explain the LASIK process and perform tests to see if you are a good candidate for LASIK. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com today. 

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. 

Celebrate National Puzzle Day!

January 29 is National Puzzle Day. When was the last time you sat down to tackle a puzzle with your family or friends? This is a great way to slow down your hectic pace, actually talk to loved ones and enjoy the little things in life. However, if you are forced to wear glasses in order to see the tiny puzzle pieces, this activity might create more distress than enjoyment.

People who are farsighted have trouble seeing things up-close without vision aids like contacts or glasses. Staring at puzzle pieces can make your eyes feel dry when you’re wearing contacts. And let’s face it, the weight of glasses on your nose is just plain uncomfortable after a while.

If you are farsighted and would love to see puzzle pieces more clearly, maybe you should consider LASIK vision correction. LASIK is a procedure that slightly alters the shape of your cornea so light will reflect properly on the back of the eye (retina). In farsighted people, the eye is too short, the cornea not curved enough or the lens is positioned farther back than normal. This causes light to focus behind the retina so it’s harder to focus on close objects.

LASIK can’t give every patient 20/20 (or better) vision, but it might put the puzzle pieces together for your eyes. You need to schedule a free LASIK Consultation with Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to find out. Contact Dr. O'Day in Charleston, South Carolina today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free Consultation. Or take our free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to find out if you might be a good candidate for LASIK. The puzzles are waiting! Call today! 

Celebrate Letter Writing Day!

Did you know that December 7 is Letter Writing Day? It’s a real observance that encourages people to swap their computer keys and texting thumbs for a pen or pencil…and to craft a hand-written note to someone. Sending someone a personal letter shows that you took time out of your busy schedule to share a story or two about your recent activities…or to thank them for a kind gesture…or to ask Santa for that new remote-controlled car!

For some people, writing a letter means getting out their glasses or putting in their contacts to see their words form on the page. Farsighted people have difficulty seeing things up-close, which can make writing, reading and fine detail work just plain impossible without corrective lenses. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to jot down a note anytime, day or night, without the hassles of glasses or contacts?

LASIK vision correction can make letter-writing a breeze for some patients. The process actually corrects the shape of the cornea in farsighted patients, helping light to focus directly on the retina as opposed to behind it.

LASIK won’t help you craft the great American novel, but it has helped millions of Americans see up-close more clearly. It’s also important to know that even after LASIK, some patients need reading glasses in later life due to the natural stiffening of the eye’s lenses…a naturally-occurring condition called presbyopia.

To find out if your next Letter Writing Day could be celebrated without glasses, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston today by calling 843-856-5275 or visiting charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Improve Your Vision for National Family Literacy Month®

The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) has designated the month of November as National Family Literacy Month®. Having the ability to read with your children can dramatically improve their performance at school as well as their economical, emotional and social development. Family reading time also helps to strengthen the family bond.

At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we work hard to help adults achieve clear vision so it’s easy and fun to read – both to their children and for their own enjoyment. One way we do this is through LASIK vision correction. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by actually changing the shape of the cornea. When the cornea is properly shaped, light coming into the eye will focus correctly on the retina (the back of the eye).

Some patients are able to eliminate their need for glasses and contacts after LASIK. Of course, every patient is different, but think of how much more enjoyable reading would be if you didn’t have to hunt for your glasses or take out your contacts at night when reading before bed.

Not everyone who wears glasses is a good candidate for LASIK. You need an in-depth examination by a trained ophthalmologist to find out for sure. At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we offer free LASIK Consultations to do just that.

The NCFL has created a fundraising challenge called The Big Give for Families Learning to raise money to support family literacy and learning programs. Participants can win a variety of fantastic prizes. Visit the NCFL website to learn more: http://www.famlit.org/.

Make this a National Family Literacy Month to remember. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation to find out if LASIK is right for you: 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Using Flex Plans to Pay for LASIK

Tired of wearing glasses or contacts but not sure how to pay for LASIK? If your company offers a Flexible Spending Account, you can choose to place a portion of your pre-tax earnings into this short-term, tax-free savings account to use for non-reimbursable medical expenses, such as LASIK. You can save up to $2,500 on LASIK, depending on your annual income. This program lowers your taxable income.

Use it or Lose it! Most Flex Plans have strict usage rules. If you don't spend your money on your procedure within the specified timeframe, you will lose your savings.

Follow These Steps for Flex Plan Savings

1. Find out if you are a candidate for LASIK by scheduling a Free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery.
2. Find out your company's deadline for open enrollment to sign up for Flexible Spending Accounts.
3. Find out how the cost of your LASIK procedure so you’ll know how much to set aside in your account. This will be determined during the Consultation. Dr. O'Day cannot pre-determine what procedure will be best for you without examining your eyes first.

Combine Flex Plan Savings with LASIK Financing! Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to learn more about our 0% interest LASIK financing program, how LASIK is performed and what advanced LASIK technologies Dr. O'Day uses. Contact us today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com. 

LASIK Joke of the Day

In honor of National Tell a Joke Day on August 16, here’s a “cornea” one for your enjoyment:

It’s been said ophthalmology is a “contact” sport.

There is a bit of truth in this! Ophthalmologists do deal with patients who wear contact lenses and glasses. In fact, at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery we are concerned with helping people reduce or eliminate their need for these corrective lenses through LASIK eye surgery.

If you’ve been considering laser vision correction, remember that choosing the right ophthalmologist for your LASIK eye surgery is no joke. You should never choose a LASIK surgeon based solely on someone else’s recommendation. You should feel 100% confident in each one of the factors listed below by doing your own research before you put your trust into any doctor. You’ll want to determine things like:

·         The doctor’s medical training, certifications and professional organization affiliations

·         The doctor’s real world experience with LASIK

·         The doctor’s demeanor (do you feel a good rapport with him?)

·         The doctor’s LASIK success rate

·         Your confidence in the LASIK technology being used

·         The doctor’s willingness to discuss the potential risks or complications of LASIK

·         The friendliness and proficiency of the office and support staff

·         The cleanliness and comfort of the office

You can learn all about Dr. O'Day by scheduling your free LASIK Consultation in Charleston. Not only will you find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, you will also have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want about Dr. O'Day's credentials. Contact us today at charlestoncornea.com or 843-856-5275.

LASIK vs. Contact Lenses

Many people are unaware that wearing contacts every day may be a bigger risk than having their vision corrected with LASIK.

The fact is, if you have to wear contact lenses, hard contact lenses will give you the best vision, but they are a real nuisance, uncomfortable, prone to slipping, and easily broken. Soft contacts on the other hand are more comfortable, but due to their composition and design it can be more difficult to correct astigmatism.

Possible Complications of Contact Lenses

     With prolonged usage, especially in adverse environmental conditions, contact lenses can lead to:

• Cornea redness or inflammation 
• Corneal infections 
• Corneal abrasions 
• Corneal ulcers 
• Corneal swelling 
• Dry eye

     LASIK eye surgery may eliminate or reduce the need for corrective lenses. As with any type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks of LASIK surgery, including:

• Dry eye syndrome 
• Visual symptoms, such as halos, glare, starbursts or double vision 
• Vision loss

Cost of LASIK

 

     The average one-time cost of LASIK ranges from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. When these costs are compared to the ongoing expenses of contacts and glasses, LASIK often makes sense financially. Over any 10 year period the average vision impaired person will spend around $12,000 on:

•  New eyeglass prescriptions 
• New frames and lenses 
• Replacement lenses or an endless stream of replacement contacs 
• Cleaning and sterilizing solutions

Not every person has the right eye conditions to support a LASIK procedure. If you are tired of wearing contacts or glasses and want to explore the LASIK option, the only way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK is by scheduling a LASIK Consultation. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to start on the path!