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. 

Can Fido Get LASIK?

Dog owners go to some extraordinary lengths to pamper their pooches, and some owners may wonder: “Can dogs get LASIK?” 

It has been reported that some dog breeds have a tendency to be nearsighted, others farsighted – just like people. But we have not heard of any actual LASIK procedures performed on dogs to correct these refractive errors. There is a diuretic drug for dogs called “Lasix” that is sometimes confused with “LASIK.” Lasix is used to treat congestive heart failure and edema, or fluid build-up.    

Dogs can also develop eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma and there have been reported cases of dogs receiving laser eye surgeries to provide improved canine vision for these conditions. This type of laser surgery is not the same as LASIK vision correction.

At Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery, we do not treat animal eye problems. We do, however, provide technologically advanced LASIK vision correction in Charleston for humans. In fact, the 20/20 vision results we provide for most of our patients allows them to enjoy life with their “best friends” without the hassles of:

•  Fogged up glasses when playing outside in the snow
• Dirt under contact lenses when at the dog park 
• Glasses that slide down their noses during walks in the summertime

If you would like to improve your vision, contact Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery today to schedule a free LASIK Consultation and find out if your eyes are right for Charleston LASIK. We also provide treatment for cataracts and glaucoma in Charleston…but only for humans. Call 843-856-5275 or visit www.charlestoncornea.com to learn more. 

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.   

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!)

Is LASIK Safe?

More than 14 million Americans have had LASIK vision correction since the mid-1990s. While LASIK is usually considered a safe medical procedure, it is important to remember that it is still surgery...and the decision to have LASIK should not be taken lightly.

You can increase your chances for an excellent visual outcome (20/20 vision or better) through LASIK by choosing your LASIK center and doctor carefully. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision:

• Demand a thorough preoperative exam to ensure your eye health, corneal thickness and medical condition meet the standards for the procedure.
• Make sure the board certified surgeon has specific LASIK training and experience performing successful LASIK procedures. Don’t be afraid to ask the doctors questions about their success rates.
• Fully understand what type of LASIK technology will be used during the procedure. Most reputable doctors today offer advanced, blade-free LASIK technology on-site in a controlled environment to ensure patient safety and the best possible vision outcomes.
• Don’t base your decision only on cost. If the cost of a certain doctor’s LASIK sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You don’t want to take risks with your vision just to save a buck.
• First impressions count. If you don’t feel comfortable with any aspect of the LASIK center you are researching, even if that center was recommended by a friend or family member, keep looking.

Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery performs advanced blade-free LASIK in Charleston. He offers a free LASIK Consultation to help potential patients learn about their unique eye characteristics and determine whether LASIK is a viable option for clear vision. Most importantly, he uses the Consultation to help patients learn everything about LASIK and encourages them to ask questions about the procedure, the potential risks and his experience.

No medical procedure can ever be called 100% safe. However, by doing your diligent research and choosing an experienced LASIK doctor in Charleston, you will increase your odds for a successful outcome.

Call 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery. 

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. 

Teachers: This Winter Break...Make a Break from Glasses

Teachers: You do so much more than educate on various subjects!

• You mold young minds.
• You become role models.
• You inspire greatness.
• You change lives.

During most of the calendar year teachers spend time giving to others...often performing your daily tasks looking through corrective lenses. This winter break, Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery encourages you to take the time and do something that will make your job – and your life – easier:

Blade-free LASIK vision correction in Charleston

Imagine how 20/20 vision could improve your classroom activities:

• No searching for glasses left on filing cabinets, student desks or in the break room
• No teaching breaks to readjust shifted contact lenses
• No straining to see the clock on the wall (or those trouble-makers in the back of the room)
•  Less eye strain when grading papers

Of course, not every teacher will have the right vision characteristics for LASIK. And Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery cannot guarantee that every LASIK patient will achieve 20/20 vision in Charleston. The only way to find out for sure is by scheduling a free LASIK Consultation.

Winter break is the perfect time to have LASIK. The procedure takes just 10-15 minutes per eye and most patients can resume activities the next day. By the time school starts back up, you should be ready to tackle the next round of curriculum with gusto…possibly without the need for glasses at all!

Call Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation for winter break LASIK. 

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.  

LASIK vs. PRK

If you have been told you are not a good candidate for LASIK because your corneas are too thin, you may not have to abandon your dream of 20/20 vision.

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a type of laser surgery in Charleston that can produce similar vision results to LASIK vision correction, and it can be performed on some patients with thin corneas.

The difference between LASIK and PRK is in the first step of the refractive surgery procedure.

• LASIK: A hinged corneal flap is created to allow access to the underlying corneal tissue for laser treatment
• PRK: the cornea’s outer layer (epithelial) is gently removed to allow access to the underlying corneal tissue for laser treatment

The laser refractive treatment is the same for both LASIK and PRK: the cornea is slightly reshaped to correct the refractive error and allow light to focus on the retina for clear vision. Each laser treatment can be completely customized to your unique eye.

After the laser procedure, the corneal flap is repositioned during LASIK; after PRK, the epithelial cells need time to regenerate over the eye. Recovery and final vision results for PRK will take longer and the healing process may be slightly more uncomfortable. However, there is no risk of corneal flap complications with PRK.

Take the first step in the LASIK process: take the free online LASIK Self-Evaluation on charlestoncornea.com. Then call Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 to schedule your free LASIK Consultation to find out if LASIK or PRK might improve your vision. You can also schedule your appointment online. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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. 

LASIK Reality Show?

Reality shows: Whether you love them or hate them, they have definitely taken over television programming. There are too many makeovers and lifestyle shows to list, but shows like the Biggest Loser, Undercover Boss, Love It or List It and Intervention tend to feature how less-than-ideal situations can be improved.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a LASIK Makeover reality show? Here is the pitch:

“24-year-old Joe has worn glasses and contacts since childhood. An avid outdoorsman, he finds it impossible to really pursue his adventurous side due to his vision limitations. After LASIK at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Joe takes off on a journey worthy of a spin-off TV show…skydiving, rock climbing, extreme kayaking. Now Joe’s possibilities are limitless…thanks to LASIK.”

A LASIK Makeover reality show probably wouldn’t impress TV executives, but Dr. O'Day's happy LASIK patients at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery might beg to differ. Even if you aren't considering LASIK in Charleston to climb Mount Everest, improving your vision to 20/20 can still be a life-changing event.

Of course, not everyone who wears glasses or contacts is a good candidate for LASIK. If you have poor eye health or if your corneas are too thin, a different vision correction procedure might be safer. The only way to know for sure is to schedule a free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery. Dr. O'Day won’t approve you for LASIK unless he is 100% sure your eyes are right for the procedure. 

Start on your own LASIK Makeover reality…schedule your free LASIK Consultation today by calling 843-856-5275 or going online at charlestoncornea.com.