In Music, the Eyes Have It

The eyes have been dubbed “the window to the soul.” Maybe that’s why so many eye make-up products are sold and why so many songwriters focus on this expressive facial feature in their music…songs like:

·         Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
·         Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
·         Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol
·         Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue by Crystal Gayle
·         When You Close Your Eyes by Night Ranger
·         Betty Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
·         Private Eyes by Hall and Oates
·         For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton
·         Angel Eyes by the Jeff Healey Band
·         Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
·         Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain by Willie Nelson

If you’re tired of hiding your eyes behind corrective lenses, you should consider laser vision correction. LASIK eye surgery has allowed millions of Americans to showcase their “baby blues” (and other eye colors, of course) for the world to see.

LASIK eye surgery is performed on people who are nearsighted, farsighted and who have astigmatism. No LASIK surgeon can absolutely guarantee that LASIK will free you from corrective lenses forever, but this popular procedure is very effective for most patients…especially when they choose a surgeon who has extensive experience and a proven track record of success…a surgeon like Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston.

If you can think of other “eye” songs, share them with us on our Facebook page. And be sure to contact us soon at 843-856-5275 or on charlestoncornea.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes -Part 4

This is the final installment of cool facts about dolphin eyes that we learned about from Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld.

“Dolphin eyes ‘glow’ at night! Just like cats and dogs, dolphins have a layer of reflective cells behind their retina which helps them see better in low light conditions.”

It would be pretty cool if we could make our patients’ eyes glow in the dark. Unfortunately, technology just doesn’t allow us to do that yet.

What we do see, however, is the ‘glow’ of many of our patients’ faces after they’ve had a successful LASIK procedure. This glow may come immediately after the procedure, when they can read a clock on the wall, or it may come several visits later when their vision has stabilized and they realize what type of freedom they now have. Not all outcomes are the same, of course, and not everyone experiences this glow.

Many people research LASIK technology and surgeons for years before making the decision to move forward. Sometimes they end up wasting a lot of time, energy and even anxiety thinking about LASIK…only to learn that they aren’t good candidates for LASIK in the first place.

Everyone has their own unique set of eyes. Even if you think you have the same eyeglass prescription as another person who had LASIK, your own genetic make-up and health conditions may preclude you from having a successful outcome. Without a detailed eye examination from an experienced LASIK surgeon, you’ll never know if you have the right conditions to possibly reverse your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit dolphins – and learning a little about LASIK along the way. We’d love to tell you more. Contact Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery in Charleston to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com today.

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes-Part 2

“Dolphins have built-in goggles. Dolphins have a secretion that covers their eyes and helps protect them from infection, wash away debris and lubricates to help them see better underwater.”

-          Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld

One thing that LASIK patients often get excited about is the fact that they can actually wear regular goggles, snorkels and scuba masks and be able to see…just like dolphins! It’s nearly impossible to wear glasses with goggles, and contact lenses can be a real nuisance. And prescription goggles are just plain expensive!

LASIK may give water-loving adults the ability to don any old snorkel and hit the water. The idea behind LASIK eye surgery is that it is used to correct a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by actually altering the shape of the cornea so better vision can be achieved.

Some patients are able to see with 20/20 vision after LASIK, reducing or even eliminating their need for glasses or contacts. Some patients see even better than 20/20! Of course, no LASIK surgeon can guarantee that you will never need glasses after LASIK. This is especially true when the LASIK patient develops Presbyopia (the natural and gradual stiffening of the eye lenses over time). This condition usually begins around the age of 45 and can result in the need for reading glasses.

Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate LASIK. Sometimes the corneas are too thin; sometimes there are medical conditions or eye diseases that make the surgery too risky. Only an experienced LASIK surgeon can determine if your eyes are right for LASIK.

LASIK may not give you dolphin-type goggle-eyes, but it might help improve your vision. To see if you might be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston, SC to schedule a LASIK Consultation. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com today.

Facts About LASIK Recovery

LASIK eye surgery is amazing technology that can correct a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (the refractive errors that cause people to need prescription lenses). You can live your whole life with these refractive errors, find out you are an excellent candidate for LASIK and have the procedure done in just minutes per eye – effectively erasing the vision problems.

For most patients, the recovery period for LASIK is faster than you might think. In fact, you may be able to return to work or other normal activities the day after your procedure.

LASIK recovery steps may include:

• Wearing dark sunglasses when you leave the office
• Wearing a protective eye shield the first few nights to prevent rubbing while you sleep 
• Taking eye drops to moisten your eyes
• Taking antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication
• Resting at home for a few hours following your procedure, limiting  reading or television watching
• Taking over-the-counter pain medications, if needed (although most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during or after the procedure)
• Taking a bath instead of a shower for the first 24 hours after the procedure
• Avoiding rubbing your eyes
• Avoiding eye makeup for several days
• Avoiding areas that are dusty or smoky for several days
• Avoiding alcohol consumption for 48 hours after surgery
• Returning to your LASIK provider for a post-op appointment the day after your procedure

Because your eyes will need to relax, you cannot drive yourself home after LASIK, but you should be able to drive yourself to your post-op appointment the following day. The post-op appointment will identify any complications, such as infection, so it is important to keep your scheduled appointment to ensure your LASIK is successful.

      As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK, including:

• Mild, moderate or severe dry eye 
• Vision problems, such as halos, glare, starbursts and double vision 
• Need for glasses or contacts after surgery 
• Loss of vision

With or without LASIK surgery, many people develop presbyopia (or the need for reading glasses) as they grow older. 

 

To learn more about LASIK recovery and all the facts about LASIK, contact Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea and Refractive to schedule a free LASIK consultation at charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275. 

Enjoy Winter Activities Without Glasses

It’s February and most U.S. states are in the full swing of winter. Whether you live in a cold climate or travel many miles to enjoy skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, just think of how much more you could enjoy these activities if you didn’t have the hassles of glasses or contacts.

LASIK eye surgery can provide the freedom to wake up in the morning seeing clearly and go all day without worrying about fogged-up lenses or irritated eyes from contacts. You could enjoy après ski by a roaring fireplace and not think once about contact lens solutions or accidentally breaking your frames.

Let’s face it: Even if you don’t care for cold weather sports, LASIK can bring a whole new level of enjoyment to your everyday activities. The simple action of rolling over in the morning to see your alarm clock – without glasses – should be enough to spur you to consider LASIK. Many LASIK surgeons offer free consultations to let you know if you are a good candidate for the procedure, how much it will cost and if there are LASIK financing options available. 

Know the risks: LASIK can result in dry eye syndrome; vision loss; vision issues such as double vision, halos, glare or starbursts; and the need for glasses after surgery.

Before your next trip to the mountains or frolic in the snow, have a LASIK consultation to see if you can eliminate your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism through LASIK.

Dr O'day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.charlestoncornea.com or call 843 856 5275.

Researching LASIK Surgeons

You can spend years deciding to improve your vision though LASIK. Research on the Internet and feedback from others who have had similar experiences can aid in your process. However, regardless of how many people you ask about LASIK, without a full LASIK consultation you will never know for sure if you are a good candidate.

The LASIK consultation also allows you to “interview” the surgeon to make sure you are putting the best possible professional in your corner. Below are some questions you should ask your LASIK provider. If he/she cannot or will not give acceptable answers, it is best to continue researching other providers.

LASIK Surgeon Questions

• What professional organizations are you certified by and what organizations to you belong to?
• What specific training do you have in LASIK surgery?
• How many years of LASIK surgery experience do you have?
• How many LASIK procedures have you performed?
• Where do you perform LASIK procedures?
• What are the potential risks and complications of LASIK and how are they handled?
• Does my overall health make me a good candidate for this procedure?
• Do you think LASIK will produce the results I want?
• How much will LASIK cost? Are there any hidden charges? Are there financing options?
• Exactly how will LASIK be performed?
• What type of technologies do you use?
• What do I have to do before, during and after LASIK?
• What will the recovery entail and what kind of external help will I need? 
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with my surgical outcome?

Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision about improving your vision through LASIK.

Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275.

Reasons for a LASIK Consultation

More than 14 million Americans have had LASIK eye surgery to correct their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Although this procedure is typically very safe and effective, it is still important to make sure you have all of the facts about LASIK, be 100% confident in the abilities of your surgeon and have the right eye conditions for LASIK. The only way to do this is through a face-to-face LASIK consultation.

Most LASIK surgeons provide free consultations to help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK. This is a two-way street; you must be completely honest with the surgeon in explaining your vision expectations and your medical history. You can also determine if you feel a good rapport with the surgeon. First impressions go a long way.

During the consultation you can also discuss:

• The surgeon’s qualifications (you can ask for patient referrals)
• Your overall health and lifestyle choices
• Your vision correction options (these may be different than what you expected)
• What to expect before, during and after LASIK
• Potential risks and complications of LASIK
• How much LASIK will cost and what type of financing options exist

Referrals from family members, coworker or friends are beneficial when researching vision correction procedures like LASIK; however, this is not a decision to make lightly. Choose the surgeon that feels right for you.

Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit www.charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275.