Will Wearing Glasses Make Your Vision Worse?

If you need corrective lenses…but you don’t wear them…what are your reasons?

1. You hate the way you look in glasses.
2. You can’t seem to get the hang of wearing contact lenses.
3.  You simply forget to wear them or misplace/lose them often.
4.  You think that by wearing glasses your vision will actually become worse.

If you fall into the number 4 category of people, consider this: WebMD has flat-out stated that, “Your eyes will not grow weaker as a result of using corrective lenses. Your prescription may change over time due to aging or the presence of disease, but it is not because of your current prescription.”

People who need reading glasses may be especially prone to thinking that wearing readers will make their vision worse. The fact is that wearing glasses does not weaken your eyesight. Close-up vision deterioration happens to most people over the age of 40. It’s a condition called presbyopia that occurs when the eye lens loses flexibility. You can’t prevent it and you won’t worsen it by wearing readers.

Any type of glasses, whether prescription glasses or readers, are simply an aid to improve vision. If your vision isn’t clear, you owe it to yourself to wear the proper lenses to achieve clear vision.

The alternative is to look into a vision correction procedure, such as Charleston LASIK. Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK Consultations to help people determine their candidacy for this popular procedure. Keep in mind that not all eyes are right for LASIK; having a comprehensive evaluation is the only way to know for sure.

To learn more about Charleston LASIK, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or http://www.charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Dangers of Improper Contact Lens Care

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report showing there are almost one million doctor visits in the United States every year for eye infections due to improper contact lens care.

It is estimated that 38 million Americans wear contact lenses. While contacts in Charleston, South Carolina, can provide improved vision for people who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, you must follow proper hygiene steps to avoid eye infections.

Keratitis is the condition that can occur with poor contact lens care. It occurs when the cornea becomes infected with fungi, bacteria or other microbes, leading to pain, inflammation, scarring and vision disturbances…even blindness.

Avoid Eye Infections with Proper Contact Lens Care

If you don’t wear or care for your contacts properly, your risk of Charleston, South Carolina, eye infection (keratitis) increases. Here are some tips to follow when using contacts:

·         Always have super clean hands before touching contacts in or out of your eyes

·         Never clean contacts with tap water or saliva – there are millions of bacteria in your mouth and tap water can be teeming with bacteria and microorganisms that can lead to serious infections

·         Use a fresh batch of the proper disinfecting solution every time – certain types of bacteria can live in cleaning solution for over 4 hours

·         Clean and dry your contact lens case with the proper solution after each use; replace the case every 3 months

·         Do not sleep in contact lenses unless approved by your doctor

·         Do not swim or shower in contact lenses

·         Always have an extra pair of glasses to wear, in case you need to remove your contacts

If you love your appearance with contact lenses (as opposed to glasses), you need to invest time each day to care for and wear them the right way. If you rate your “Contact Lens Hygiene” low, but you don’t like wearing glasses, maybe LASIK in Charleston, South Carolina, is a better way to go!

LASIK vision correction at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery may help you achieve 20/20 vision so you can remove the inconveniences of contacts and glasses from your life. However, not all patients are good candidates for this procedure. The only way to know for sure is by scheduling a free LASIK Consultation to have your eyes examined. Call 843-856-5275 or visit http://www.charlestoncornea.com/ to schedule your first step toward a lens-free life…and possibly a lower risk of eye infections.   

Nearsightedness Is On the Increase in the U.S. as LASIK Continues to Grow

A study shows that nearsightedness (myopia) is more common in the United States than it was more than 30 years ago, a National Eye Institute study states.

Dr. DAVID G. O’DAY, MD, a LASIK corrective surgery specialist in Charleston, has reported an uptick in patiences with nearsightedness over the years.

Researchers compared National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 4,436 black and white participants from 1971 to 1972 and from 8,339 black and white participants from 1999 to 2004. The participants were 12 to 54 years old.

The prevalence of myopia increased from 25 percent in 1971-1972 to 41.6 percent in the later period. The incidence jumped from 13 percent to 33.5 percent among blacks, and 26.3 percent to 43 percent among whites.

The findings appeared in an issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Even though myopia can be treated with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery, its high prevalence costs Americans billions of dollars a year, the researchers noted.

“The question of whether myopia prevalence is increasing is therefore important to health planners and policy makers,” the study authors concluded. “Identifying modifiable risk factors for the development of myopia could lead to the development of cost-effective interventional strategies.”

Is LASIK Right for High Astigmatism?

Astigmatism exists when an irregularly shaped cornea or lens in the eye causes blurry vision.  High astigmatism is a more severe form, and cause reading problems, headaches and other difficulties. 

High astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contacts or with LASIK surgery.  As the degree to astigmatism gets higher, the choices in contact lenses gets slimmer.  According to the specialists at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, SC, some people just don’t like wearing contact lenses or don’t find satisfactory improvement in their vision with toric lenses for astigmatism. Others may have eyes that are too small for surgery or contacts.

Each person needs to decide the right method for them.  Most patients with high astigmatisms try different options for correction before finding the one just right for them.  Eventually, many people get tired of dealing with glasses and contact lenses and turn to LASIK for their high astigmatism.

For extremely high astigmatism, LASIK may be a very suitable option. LASIK surgery attempts to permanently correct cornea abnormalities. High astigmatic patients will often see improvement in their vision, but may still need to wear contact lenses or glasses to achieve the desired results for vision correction. Although some patients may experience trouble with night vision and sensitivity to light after LASIK, the majority of patients do great.

Only your eye doctor can tell you if you’re a good candidate for LASIK.  The people at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, SC are experts at LASIK surgery and will exam you to determine your suitability for LASIK corrective surgery. Give them a call.  They are happy to help.

Do You Need Reading Glasses or LASIK?

Why is that restaurant menu so blurry?

The first step to answering that question is to identify when your blurred vision occurred. Have you had blurry vision for most of your life? Or is this a new condition that has popped up recently?

There could be many reasons why it may be hard to read things close-up:

• Farsightedness
• Presbyopia
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Or another type of eye disease

If you are farsighted, this means you have a refractive error (created by the shape of your eye or the curve of your cornea) that causes light to focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. Farsighted individuals have trouble focusing on close-up objects. Refractive errors can be corrected through blade-free LASIK in Charleston for many people.

As most people reach their 40s, a condition called presbyopia can make it difficult to focus on menus, smart phones and other near objects. Unlike a refractive error, presbyopia is caused by a gradual stiffening of the eye lens, making it harder to focus. Off-the-shelf reading glasses are available to help people combat this natural occurrence, but many dislike having to resort to “readers.” LASIK, in its traditional sense, will not correct presbyopia, but there are methods such as monovision LASIK that may help improve close-up vision. This method corrects only one eye for close-up vision while the other is left with clear distance vision.

Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye diseases cannot be corrected through Charleston LASIK. Symptoms of these conditions may include blurry vision, so if you are experiencing any changes in your vision make sure to schedule an eye exam right away. Early detection can help monitor and protect your eye health.

Back to the original question: Why is that restaurant menu so blurry? The only way to find out is by scheduling an eye exam or LASIK Consultation.

Don’t leave your eye health a mystery. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today to schedule a free LASIK Consultation and find out if your eyes are right for LASIK. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com to learn more. 

Caffeine Effect on Vision

Do you need a little extra jolt of caffeine to get going in the mornings or afternoons? Whether you enjoy a cup of joe, tea or soda, the amount of caffeine you consume on a daily basis may be adversely affecting your vision. With March being Caffeine Awareness Month, it is the perfect time to analyze your own caffeine habits and schedule an eye exam to stay informed about your eye health.

Effect of Coffee on Vision

A study published in 2012 by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) suggested that consuming large amounts of caffeinated coffee may increase the risk of vision loss. According to the study, “Heavy caffeinated coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, the leading cause of secondary glaucoma worldwide.”

What Qualifies as “Heavy” Coffee Consumption?

In the ARVO study, researchers identified that consuming three cups or more of caffeinated coffee each day increased the risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma. The study did not link other forms of caffeine to glaucoma.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a “silent” and slowly-progressing eye disease caused by increased pressure within the eye that eventually damages the optic nerve. Without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation has stated that consuming significant quantities of caffeine in a short period of time may elevate intraocular eye pressure – although there are other studies that do not indicate a connection. Regular spikes in eye pressure could damage the eyes over time.

Caffeine and Dry Eye

Even if you get your daily energy boost from other sources of caffeine besides coffee, you may still experience vision changes. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School released a study in 2004 that found caffeine increased the risk of dry eye. However, newer research in 2012 from the University of Tokyo’s School of Medicine has shown that caffeine may actually increase tear production, thereby reducing dry eye symptoms.
Symptoms of dry eye can include:

• Blurry vision
• Burning, itching eyes
• Redness
• Excessive watering
• Eye fatigue
• Feeling of foreign substance in the eyes

Should You Say Goodbye to Caffeine?

You probably don’t need to cut caffeine completely out of your diet. But, like most things in life, you should consume caffeine in moderation. Every person will be different in his or her ability to handle the effects of caffeine. Listen to your body and know when it’s time to cut back.

Don’t Ruin Your Efforts

If you have taken measures to improve your vision, like by having a LASIK vision correction procedure in Charleston, you don’t want to ruin your successful efforts by treating your eyesight poorly. Even if you have achieved 20/20 vision through LASIK, it is still important to have regular eye exams to stay informed of any “silent” vision changes, like glaucoma in Charleston, which may be happening without your knowledge.

To learn more about LASIK, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Shaded Lens Technology Heading Toward “On Demand”

If you wear prescription glasses, you may have tried transitional lenses. These specialty lenses change the tint of the lens in response to the intensity of light. However, there are limitations with these lenses:

• The transition time from clear to shaded (or vice versa) can take too long
• The shaded adaptation may not be effective in blocking out harsh lighting situations
• The lenses may not change in certain situations, such as when wearing a hat or driving

Scientists to the Rescue with New Lenses

Scientists, led by John Reynolds, Georgia Institute of Technology professor of chemistry & biochemistry and materials science & engineering, along with BASF, are currently developing an electrochromic polymer lens material that can change to and from clear-to-shaded in seconds. The change would be driven by a user-controlled electrical charge (like a switch) to allow for “on demand” changes. 

These revolutionary lenses may change the game for prescription eyeglass wearers – time will tell.

Even with advances in lens technology, the fact remains that wearing prescription lenses can be cumbersome and aggravating. If you are tired of the hassles of corrective lenses, find out if Charleston blade-free LASIK is right for you. Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery can assess your vision and eye characteristics to determine if your eyes are right for this popular procedure. You may even achieve 20/20 vision to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contacts.

To learn more about LASIK in Charleston, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Enjoy Library Lovers’ Month with Clear Vision

February is Library Lovers’ Month…a great time to celebrate how libraries of all types benefit our communities. It’s also a great time to pick up a book and rekindle your love of reading.

However, if you are farsighted and have trouble focusing on printed items close-up, you may become discouraged by the need to constantly locate your glasses in order to read. If farsightedness has plagued your eyesight for years, Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery may be able to help. Dr. O'Day has performed thousands of LASIK procedures in Charleston, helping many farsighted patients achieve 20/20 vision. Patients are often amazed at how clear their close-up vision is after LASIK.

If you are over age 40 and feel that you are just now experiencing farsightedness, you are most likely experiencing a completely different vision condition called presbyopia. Unlike a refractive error, presbyopia occurs to most people as they age and is caused when the eye lens begins to stiffen. People with presbyopia have trouble focusing on close-up objects, including menus and books, and require reading glasses to see more clearly.

Monovision LASIK is sometimes performed to help minimize the effects of presbyopia by correcting one eye for up-close vision and one eye for distance vision; however, traditional LASIK does not correct presbyopia.

To find out if you qualify for bladeless LASIK in Charleston, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule a free LASIK Consultation. Most patients report improved vision the day after their procedures; you might be able to enjoy Library Lovers’ Month with clear vision after LASIK!

Here are some other observations during February to complement Library Lovers’ Month:

• Saturday, Feb. 7: Take Your Child to the Library Day
• Saturday, Feb. 14: International Book Giving Day (share your love of reading on Valentine’s Day!)

Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK?

If you wear glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision, you may be wondering if LASIK in Charleston could provide you with the clear vison you’ve always wanted.

The truth is, only an experienced ophthalmologist can determine if your eyes are healthy enough for this procedure. Even if you have the same vision prescription as a friend, your eye anatomy may not be suitable for LASIK. Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery offers free, no-obligation, no-risk LASIK Consultations to identify all-laser LASIK candidates in Charleston.

General Guidelines for Good LASIK Candidates

• You have been diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism
• You are age 18 or older
• Your corneas are thick enough
• You do not have eye disease or eye problems
• Your vision prescription has been stable for at least one year
• You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• You are overall healthy
• You do not have uncontrolled dry eye syndrome
• You understand the risks of LASIK
• You have realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery
• You want to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts

At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we also offer a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to help people take the first step toward LASIK.

With our free services, there is never any pressure to have the procedure: the Consultation and Self-Evaluation are simply resources to provide you with solid information about your own eye health so you can make your own informed decision about LASIK.

Sometimes candidates who aren’t good candidates for LASIK can benefit from LASIK alternatives in Charleston, such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Different methods can produce the same end result as LASIK but be safer for certain patients.

To find out if LASIK is right for you, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com. 

Carrots and Eyesight

Ehh…what’s up doc? Are carrots good for your eyes or not?

Carrots are an excellent source of beta carotene, a form of vitamin A, which is a healthy nutrient for good vision. However, simply eating Bugs Bunny’s favorite snack will not actually improve your vision.

That said, if you do not consume the proper amounts of vitamin A, through carrots or other sources*, as well as other essential vitamins such as C and E, over time your vision may deteriorate. Consuming a healthy diet may reduce the incidence of certain eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration in Charleston.

One way to improve your vision, if you have a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, is to have LASIK vision correction in Charleston. Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK Consultations to confirm that people are good candidates for this popular procedure, which has been proven to produce 20/20 vision for many patients.

Consume carrots and all types of food in moderation: too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Schedule an eye exam at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today (even Bugs Bunny had an eye exam!) to learn more about your eye health and find out if Location LASIK might help you see as well as Bugs. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com today.

*If you don’t care for carrots, you can also get vitamin A from milk. Celebrate Milk Day on January 11, 2015! 

LASIK: The Jelly Club Alternative

Your loved ones probably don’t want a “one year membership in the jelly-of-the-month club” this holiday…

And let’s face it: there are only so many bathrobes, coffee mugs, neckties and kitchen appliances a person needs. If you have a loved one who wears glasses or contacts, give the best gift ever this year: LASIK vision correction in Charleston. 

“Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on givin’ the whole year.” – Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Cousin Eddie was right! LASIK can reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contacts by slightly changing the shape of the cornea so light focuses properly on the retina (the back of the eye). Some people can even achieve 20/20 vision after LASIK, allowing them to…

• Work
• Play sports
• Watch movies
• Shop
• Read
• Wake up in the morning

…without the hassles of corrective lenses…all year long.  

Every potential patient must have a proper LASIK Consultation to confirm candidacy for this popular procedure (there is no other way to know for sure). Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK Consultations in Charleston to help jump start this process. You can schedule an appointment for your loved one (or yourself) online at charlestoncornea.com or by calling 843-856-5275.

You may be thinking that LASIK is too extravagant a gift. But with 0% LASIK financing options available, this becomes a very affordable option. During the Consultation you will find out exactly how much the procedure will cost.

Imagine the look on your loved one’s eyes when they open the gift of better vision this holiday! Contact Dr. O'Day to mark one more shopping item off your “to do” list this holiday. 

Happy Thanksgiving from Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery!

All year long the team at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery is grateful to have a prominent role in the health of our community. This Thanksgiving we want to share some of the specific reasons why we are so thankful:

• We have the in-house technologies that have helped enhance, protect and preserve eyesight for literally thousands of people in our community.
• We get the opportunity to spend time with our patients, getting to know them personally.
• Our practice is based on strong ethical standards; we only recommend LASIK and other procedures if we feel patients will truly achieve the vision results they desire.
• We help patients afford a better quality of life with improved vision through financing for LASIK in Charleston and other elective procedures.
• We are able to provide our patients with a comfortable and caring environment for their eye care.

Happy Thanksgiving! Take time to think of the things you are thankful for this holiday season. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your current vision, or are experiencing vision changes in Charleston that are causing you stress, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule an eye exam or a free LASIK Consultation. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com.  

Eye Makeup Safety

Are you putting bacteria on your eyes?

Studies have shown that in as little as 3-months, bacteria can grow in mascara, eye shadow, eyeliners and more, leading to eye infections such as pink eye, dry eye, loss of eyelashes and more.

If just the thought of bacteria on your eyes makes you shudder, consider this: Makeup has expiration dates. Unfortunately, those expiration dates are NOT printed on the containers, tubes and sticks. It’s up to you to keep track of when you purchase cosmetics and toss them after a certain timeframe.

Eye infections can be avoided by following these safety tips:

• Purchase new mascara and liquid eyeliner every 3 months; eye shadow every 12 months; eye pencil every 24 months
• Do not share eye makeup with friends
• Avoid using samples in stores
• Do not apply eyeliner to the inner eye lash lines
• Do not wear mascara that flakes
• Close eye makeup containers tightly
• If you wear contact lenses, put them in before applying eye makeup
• Remove eye makeup at night (remove contact lenses first)

One way to avoid the “contact lens eye infection” trap is by having LASIK vision correction in Charleston to reduce or eliminate your dependence on contacts for clear vision. Of course, even if you achieve clear vision through LASIK, it will become even more important to protect your investment in your vision by practicing safe eye makeup application.

You may be tempted to hang on to eye makeup longer than the recommended timeframe because it can be quite expensive. However, when you consider the cost of treatment for eye infections and the potential for damaged vision, it will be more cost-effective to pay attention to how long your eye products stay in your makeup bag.

If you love wearing eye makeup, but your eyes are hidden behind corrective lenses, contact Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to discuss the option of Charleston LASIK for your unique eyes. He offers a free LASIK Consultation to analyze your eyes and answer all of your questions about this popular vision procedure. To schedule your no-obligation appointment, call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com. 

Keep Your Eyes Safe in the Kitchen

At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery, we have helped thousands of people achieve lens-free vision through laser vision correction. And while our LASIK in Charleston allows most of our patients to toss out their glasses, we encourage those patients to protect their new-found clear vision by wearing protective safety glasses when performing certain activities.

Most people know that safety glasses are important when playing contact sports, using power tools or working in the yard. But did you know that they are also important in the kitchen?

According to WebMD, almost half of the annual 2.5 million eye injuries occur in and around the home…and more than 40% of those happen during everyday activities like cooking. (Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma)

Potential Causes of Kitchen Eye Injuries

Your eye can become injured during food prep, oven and stove cooking and cleaning. 

• Cleaning chemical splatters
• Grease/oil splatters
• Champagne corks
• Steam burns
• Spicy juices, such as cutting jalapeños and touching your eyes
• Oven heat

It may seem a bit silly to wear glasses in the kitchen, but whether you’ve invested in your vision through LASIK or already have excellent vision, you don’t want to risk your eyesight to a freak kitchen accident. Get a pair of protective glasses that are approved by the American National Standards Institute and get cooking!

If you are tired of wearing glasses to read recipes, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule a free LASIK Consultation and find out if LASIK is right for your eyes. You can call 843-856-5275 or schedule an appointment anytime day or night by visiting charlestoncornea.com. 

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. 

Can Eye Exercises Improve Your Vision?

If you have to wear corrective lenses to see clearly, you may be tempted to purchase eye exercise kits or start on an eye exercise regimen in order to reduce your need for glasses or contacts. The truth is that there has been no scientific evidence that eye exercises can improve your vision if you have:

• Nearsightedness: good close-up vision but poor distance vision due to the shape of the cornea
• Farsightedness: good distance vision but poor close-up vision due to the shape of the cornea
• Astigmatism: blurry distance and close-up vision due to the shape of the cornea or lens
• Presbyopia (the need for reading glasses): blurry close-up vision due to the loss of elasticity in the eye lens

There is no scientific research that clearly proves that eye exercises will change the shape of your cornea, the shape of your eye or restore flexibility to the eye lens.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are caused by a refractive error that can be corrected through laser procedures such as LASIK in Charleston. This process uses a laser to alter the cornea’s shape so light is focused correctly on the back of the retina. Many patients can achieve 20/20 vision with this procedure.

LASIK, however, cannot fully correct presbyopia. Monovision LASIK is one alternative for presbyopia, which corrects one eye for distance vision and one eye for close-up vision.

Before you start an eye exercise program, consult with your eye doctor to make sure this is a safe alternative for vision improvement. If you are looking for a quicker and more effective method of vision correction, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery to schedule a free LASIK Consultation in Charleston to find out if your eyes are right for the procedure. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com to schedule an appointment online and take a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation. 

Celebrate Comic Book Day with Superhero Vision

September 25 is National Comic Book Day. There are many genres of comic books from which to choose, such as superhero, manga, humor, science fiction/fantasy, horror, comics and more. People of all ages love comics because they have interesting characters, exciting story lines and detailed graphics.

Today comics are available electronically on tablets, websites and smart phones. But if you prefer the “old school” way of reading printed comics, and you are farsighted (meaning you see distant objects clearly but close-up objects are blurry), you probably have to wear glasses or contacts to read their fine print.

If you’re a comic book fan over age 21, wouldn’t it be great to pick up any comic, any time, day or night, and be able to read it? LASIK vision correction in Charleston can correct farsightedness, allowing many patients to achieve 20/20 vision after the quick procedure. The LASIK process uses a laser to slightly alter the shape of the cornea with superb precision, allowing light to properly focus on the back of the eye (the retina). The actual procedure takes just a few minutes per eye, is virtually painless and most patients are back to work within a day or two.

The procedure is so effective that some of Dr. O'Day's happy LASIK patients at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery consider him a superhero! Find out if your eyes are ready for an “Adventure in Charleston LASIK.” Youwon’t have X-ray, night or freeze vision after LASIK, but you may still feel like you have super strength vision when you can wake up in the morning and see without glasses.

Visit charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275 to schedule your free LASIK Consultation or take the free online LASIK Self-Evaluation as a first step.