What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts are the cause of half of all blindness and 33% of visual impairment worldwide. 

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision. Cataracts can impact just one eye or both eyes and can develop slowly over time.  Although some children are born with cataracts, it is most commonly seen in older adults (and older animals). 

Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, halos around lights, problems with seeing or driving at night, seeing colors in muted or faded tones and problems with bright lighting.

Possible causes or risk factors of cataracts include:

• ·         Diabetes
• ·         Trauma
• ·         Aging
• ·         Obesity
• ·         High blood pressure
• ·         Complications from other eye diseases, such as glaucoma
• ·         Poisoning
• ·         Steroid use
• ·         Smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol
• ·         Exposure to sunlight
• ·         Family history of cataracts

If you notice problems with your vision or think you may be developing cataracts, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com for an appointment.  Bring along a list of any medications you may taking.

Wearing Contacts before a LASIK Consultation

What’s the hardest part of having LASIK surgery?  It’s not necessarily the recovery.  A lot of our patients say going without contacts is often the hardest part of LASIK. 

Before having a consultation for LASIK surgery, you must not wear your contacts from anywhere between 10 days to a month before surgery, depending on the type of lenses you wear and how long you have been wearing them.  Contact lenses work by changing the shape of your cornea.  Your eyes need time to adjust back to their natural shape prior to a LASIK consultation to ensure the best surgical result possible.

Before scheduling a LASIK consultation, you’ll want to let the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston know what contact lenses you wear.  They will let you know how long you need to go contact-free before you have your procedure.

For more information, please contact us at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com. 

LASIK or Laser Eye Surgery: Is There A Difference?

Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, otherwise known as LASIK, is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser.  A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) or a laser device is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap and the flap is then folded back, revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. 

LASIK is not the only type of laser eye surgery. PRK is a different type of laser eye surgery.  It utilizes a surface ablation technique to remove the cornea’s outermost layer, rather than creating a flap.  

Laser eye surgeries have surged in popularity in the past decades.  Millions of people have undergone laser eye surgery and each year over half a million people in the United States undergo some form of laser eye surgery.

Though laser eye surgeries can eliminate the need for contacts or eyeglasses, not everyone is a candidate for laser eye surgery, whether is it is PRK or LASIK.  To find out if you’re a candidate for LASIK or laser eye surgery, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Contacts after LASIK

LASIK and other laser eye procedures have great records for successfully improving vision.  However, it doesn’t always improve vision to the point where prescription corrective lenses are no longer needed.

Wearing contacts after LASIK is sometimes necessary.  While a follow-up procedure or enhancement may be able to solve the problem, it is not always the case. Gas permeable or hybrid lenses may be a good solution for improving vision after LASIK.

LASIKsurgery can significantly alter the shape of the cornea, making the fitting of contact lenses post-surgery a bit more challenging.  You’ll want to consult your eye care specialist to be sure you have the right contact lenses for your eyes.  For more information about contacts after LASIK, please contact Charleston LASIK & Cataract Center in Charleston today!

Eye Surgery for Farsightedness

Tired of wearing contacts lenses or eyeglasses for your farsightedness?  Have you considered LASIK eye surgery for farsightedness?

Eye surgery for farsightedness continues to grow in popularity and is a frequently requested procedure.  LASIK reshapes the cornea and changes the way light rays enter your eye, allowing your eye to focus differently.  LASIK is typically a very effective treatment for farsightedness, though it is also good for nearsightedness and for some forms of astigmatism.

Some doctors utilize a “monovision” treatment plan for LASIK when treating farsightedness.  This means one eye is corrected for distance vision and one eye is corrected for near vision.

LASIK surgery is not without risk, although most patients report few complications.  Side effects can include over-corrections or under-correction (sometimes requiring a second adjustment), difficulty with night driving, infection and other complications.  Your doctor will discuss your risks, recovery and LASIK options during your consultation.

For more information about eye surgery for farsightedness, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com. 

LASIK Risks Should Be Addressed By Your Surgeon

Patient satisfaction and safety is our top concern at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston.  The majority of our patients are very pleased with their LASIK surgical procedures performed here.  Like all medical procedures, though, some risk is involved.  Some of the risks include (as provided by fda.gov):

• Under treatment or over treatment, possibly requiring additional therapy.  You may still may need glasses, contacts or reading glasses after treatment.   
• Glare, halos, double vision or poor night vision.  This can sometimes be permanent.         
• Some patients lose vision.  Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery as a result of their procedure.
• Dry eyes, which sometimes may not go away.
• Patients with very large refractive errors generally don’t receive as good results as others. Your doctor can provide you with information about this.

If you are considering LASIK surgery, the FDA recommends that you find the doctor that is right for you.

• Compare. The levels of risk and benefit vary slightly not only from procedure to procedure, but from device to device depending on the manufacturer, and from surgeon to surgeon depending on their level of experience with a particular procedure.
• Don't base your decision simply on cost.  Remember that the decisions you make about your eyes and refractive surgery will affect you for the rest of your life.
• Be wary of eye centers that advertise, "20/20 vision or your money back" or "package deals." There are never any guarantees in medicine.

For more information about LASIK risks, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.

Side Effects of LASIK Eye Surgery

If you know people who’ve had LASIK, you may have heard the great results they’ve experienced.  You may have also heard about some side effects. 

Side effects of LASIK eye surgery are usually minor.  Immediately following surgery you might experience:

• Blurry vision
• Weepiness
• Itching
• Scratchiness
• Discomfort

The doctors at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery will instruct you to lie down and rest.  You will be advised to wear an eye patch when you sleep, since it is important to avoid rubbing your eyes.

Within the next several days after surgery, your eyes will feel better.  Medicated drops may be provided.  Eyes usually heal within three to six months and adjustments are occasionally required.  Longer term side effects can include dry eyes, halos, starbursts and glare, especially at night. Consult your surgeon for more information.  Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule your LASIK consultation.