Does LASIK Help Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness is a condition where objects in the distance appear out of focus.  It is a common reason for blurred vision, says the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina. Nearsightedness (also called myopia) is not a disease.  Nearsighted people might squint when trying to see objects at a distance. 

Teachers commonly notice children with vision problems when they see them squinting at the chalkboard or whiteboard, resulting in an eye exam and some form of vision correction. Nearsightedness often begins in childhood between ages 6 and 12. During the teen years, as the eyeballs continue to grow, it may develop slowly or get worse quickly. By age 20, myopia usually stabilizes and stops getting worse.

The nearsighted eye is usually longer than a normal eye.  Its cornea could also be steeper. When light passes through the cornea and lens, it is focused in front of the retina, making distant images appear blurry.

While contacts and glasses are the most common form of correction for nearsightedness, there are several refractive surgery solutions available to correct nearly all levels of nearsightedness.  Most myopia patients report good results from refractive surgery.  The risk of complications from LASIK surgery is low and decreases with a more experiencedsurgeon. If you are interested in this option, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery for a 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.   

Want to Become a Pilot? LASIK May Be the Perfect Answer

Pilots must meet many physical and emotional requirements before ever stepping into a cockpit.  Good vision is one of them.  For people who want to become pilots, whether civilian or military, vision requirements need to be examined and discussed with the staff at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery in South Carolina.  

While LASIK provides an excellent vision correction result for most people, the FAA has its own position regarding flight status and LASIK, which sometimes changes from time to time.  The military also has established policy on vision requirements and whether or not LASIK surgery can meet the requirements for a future pilot.

Finding a LASIK specialist in your area who is familiar with the unique vision demands of pilots is critical.  At Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery in South Carolina, we can discuss your vision needs and how they may impact career aspirations.  Contact us for a consultation.

Is LASIK covered by Vision Insurance?

Many clients of Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston inquire about financing LASIK procedures or covering the procedures with vision insurance.  Financing companies exist that specialize in elective procedures and offer plans with fixed rates and long-term payments.  Our staff can help you with questions about financing your LASIK procedure.  Of course, all major credit cards can be used for LASIK as well.

Vision insurance doesn’t usually cover LASIK surgery, since it is considered medically unnecessary and to be a cosmetic procedure.  However, all hope is not lost.

Employees with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) or Health Savings Accounts (HAS’s) can use these accounts for medical expenses, including refractive surgery like LASIK.  This year, the maximum contribution allowed is $2550.  FSA’s can also help you save on taxes.

Health Savings Accounts are also ideal tools for paying for medical expenses.  Maximize your tax-savings by contributing to your HSA until you reach a certain limit set by the IRS every year. The money you contribute rolls over, meaning you can grow your HSA account to use in retirement and later in life.

In order to set up an HSA, you must find a qualified HSA trustee to work with (these can include banks, insurance companies, or anyone already approved by the IRS to be a trustee of individual retirement arrangements.)
The Benefits of an HSA

• You can use an HSA to help cover the cost of LASIK
• You can claim tax deductions for contributions you, or someone other than your employer, makes to your HAS.
• Contributions from your employer may be excluded from your gross income
• Contributions roll over from year to year until you use them
• Interest or other earnings on the HSA account are tax free

Your employer or your spouse’s employer may offer these types of benefits.  We encourage you to reach out to your employer to learn more.  Your accountant may also be able to provide information on the tax benefits of FSA’s and HSA’s.

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.”

Computer Use and Eye Damage

Will extensive computer use harm your eyes?  As LASIK specialists, this is a question we are frequently asked at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

 

The short answer is no.  Using a computer will not permanently harm your eyes.  However, the over use of computers can cause eye problems. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the name for eye problems caused by computer use.  CVS is not a single problem but refers to a range of eye problems caused by computer use.

• Symptoms of CVS can include:
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dry eyes
• Red or irritated eyes
• Neck or back pain

People who use computers usually don’t blink as often as those that don’t use computers, causing dry eyes which can lead to irritation.  Normally, humans blink about 18 times a minute, but some studies show we blink only half that often while using computers and other digital screen devices.

Some people can also experience headaches while using computers or video games, which may indicate that the person has a problem with focusing, causing eye strain. Computer-use eye strain can be made worse by improper use of contacts (wearing them too long, wearing dirty lenses), etc.  It’s better to wear glasses at least occasionally while using a computer.

 

We advise that computer users take a break away from the computer every 20 minutes. Sit about 25 inches from the screen and look at the screen in a slightly downward manner.  These techniques may help you avoid common problems associated with the use of computers.

  

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.