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. 

Eyeglasses for Eyestrain

If you work long hours at a computer, you are probably no stranger to eye strain in Charleston. This is an actual condition called computer vision syndrome (CVS) that can cause blurry vision, eye irritation, headaches neck pain and back pain.

Causes of Computer Vision Syndrome

CVS is like a repetitive stress injury that can worsen over time.

•     Looking down at the keyboard and then back up to the monitor strains the eye muscles due to the constant shift of focus.
• If you choose not to wear your prescription lenses as you work (to correct nearsightedness or astigmatism), you will be forced to strain to see the monitor clearly.
• If you do not keep your lens prescription up-to-date, you may be adding to the eye strain.
• The onset of presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) beginning around age 40 can make it more difficult to focus on the computer monitor.  
• Workstations that are not ergonomically-designed may cause you to crane your neck, slouch or arrange your body in an awkward position to compensate.

Look cool in your cubical!

Special computer glasses featuring lens coatings and tints that reduce glare can help to reduce the symptoms of CVS. These glasses can be purchased in non-prescription versions or in versions that support your specific refractive error. Before you invest in these glasses, be sure to read reviews online so you can make the best decision; these glasses don’t work for everyone.

Not surprisingly, prescription computer glasses cost more than non-prescription glasses. And if your prescription changes frequently, you will need to invest in new glasses regularly.

One way to combat the ongoing expense of glasses, contact lenses and cleaning solutions is by investing in the one-time cost of LASIK vision correction in Charleston. Dr.O'Day at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery can determine if your eyes are right for LASIK during a free LASIK Consultation. 

Other Ways to Control Eyestrain

•  Every 20 minutes on the computer look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is known as the 20-20-20 rule.
•  Set a timer to remind yourself to take breaks from your screen (it’s easy to lose track of time when you are focused!)
•  Identify and implement the right ergonomics for your computer workstation by visiting the OSHA website.
• Adjust the brightness and contrast of your computer monitor and reduce the glare on your screen from lights or windows.

20/20 doesn’t mean an end to 20-20-20

Even if you have a successful LASIK procedure at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery and achieve 20/20 vision, it’s still important to practice the 20-20-20 rule! CVS can affect anyone who sits in front of a computer for long periods of time.

To learn more about blade-free LASIK in Charleston and find out about 0% LASIK financing, contact us today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to schedule a free LASIK Consultation. 

5 Reasons Your Dog Wants You to Have LASIK

Your “best friend” wants you to have LASIK in Charleson.

If you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, here are the reasons why:

1. No waiting around to go on walks while you search for your glasses.
2. No tripping over him in the middle of the night because you can’t see without your glasses.
3. No dropping your contact lenses in his water dish.
4. No getting in trouble for chewing up your expensive prescription sunglasses.
5. No mistaking him for the cat because – well – they are the same size...

After a successful LASIK procedure, you might achieve 20/20 vision. That means vision without glasses to play, wrestle, cuddle and walk your dog...every day and every night.

Make your dog happy. Schedule a free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery today to find out if your eye anatomy and eye health is right for LASIK. If Dr. O'Day gives you the green light and you choose to proceed with the procedure, your pooch will be happier than a poodle in a peanut butter factory. 

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.