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. 

Can your brain keep you from seeing?

Scientists made a discovery recently that revealed the brain’s important role in both vision loss and vision restoration.  The results showed that in some cases, even with restored vision, the brain can prevent the newly sighted from complete vision restoration.

At the University of Montreal, scientists have discovered that the rewiring of the senses that occurs in the brains of the long-term blind means that visual restoration may never be complete. "We had the opportunity to study the rare case of a woman with very low vision since birth and whose vision was suddenly restored in adulthood following the implantation of a Boston Keratoprosthesis in her right eye," explained Giulia Dormal, who led the study.

Researchers worked with the patient, a 50 year old woman from Quebec in Canada. They conducted behavioral and neurophysiological measurements before and after surgery, in order to track changes in her sight and brain anatomy, and in the way her brain responded to sights and sounds.

According to Dormal, “Certain regions of the visual cortex even seven months after surgery, and these responses overlapped with visually-driven responses. This overlap may be the reason some aspects of vision, despite having improved with time, still remained below normal range 7 months after surgery."

If you have questions about your vision and the procedures that may be able to correct your vision such as LASIK, please contact the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina at 843-856-5275 or www.charlestoncornea.com. 

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.”