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The LASIK Directory Blog

Welcome to the LASIK Blog, a resource for people interested in LASIK surgery. This consumer-friendly blog is intended to be used as a central resource to answer common questions about LASIK and to point you in the right direction.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

AMO Receives FDA Approval for New Intraocular Lens

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a new intraocular lens (IOL) created by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO). AMO's TECNIS Multifocal IOL will be used with cataract patients.

The TECNIS Multifocal IOL provides cataract patients with better near vision and reading speed than other IOLs on the market. The TECNIS Multifocal IOL also gives patients very high spectacle independence. Approximately 90% of patients receiving this lens do not need glasses after their surgery.

The TECNIS Multifocal IOL also offers patients the following additional benefits:

  • Excellent near, intermediate, and far vision during the day and at night
  • The first ever pupil-independent, non-apodized, fully diffractive aspheric lens created to treat the two highest order aberrations -- spherical and chromatic -- returning patients' vision to levels they experienced when they were young
  • A higher satisfaction rate than any presbyopia-correcting IOL on the market

AMO plans on making the TECNIS Multifocal IOL available to ophthalmologists in early 2009.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Are you at High Risk for Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in America. If treated early, it is possible to maintain your vision. However, if you start exhibiting symptoms before getting diagnosed with glaucoma, you have most likely already done irreversible eye damage.

While anyone can develop glaucoma, there are certain groups of people that are at higher risk for the disease. The following groups of people may be at greater risk of glaucoma:

  • Over age 60
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • African-American
  • Latino
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure

It is a good idea for all people to go for regular eye screenings by age 50 in order to detect the development of eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma before they do permanent eye damage. If you fall into one of these high risk groups, it is essential to see your ophthalmologist for regular screenings. Your vision may depend on it.

Many people suffering from glaucoma develop high intraocular pressure. This is caused by a fluid build-up in the eyes. This pressure exerts force on the optic nerve, causing irreversible damage.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also an excellent way to reduce your risk of glaucoma. By eating right, getting regular exercise and rest, refraining from smoking, keeping your weight at healthy levels, and managing your blood pressure, you can seriously reduce your risk for this degenerative eye disease.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New Surgical Treatment for Corneal Blindness

A new surgical treatment for corneal blindness is currently undergoing clinical trials in Scotland. This revolutionary new treatment uses stem cell transplants to restore vision to patients with corneal blindness.

In the procedure, limbal stem cells are transplanted into the patient's eye to replace damaged cells that cause corneal disease. The transplanted cells are taken from donors who have just died. These donor cells are then developed in a controlled setting until they are fit to be transplanted into a patient's eye.

Ophthalmologists are optimistic that this new procedure will prove widely successful in the treatment of corneal blindness. Approximately 20 patients are participating in the clinical trials in Scotland. If the trials are successful, eye surgeons across the world will soon be utilizing stem cell transplants as part of their treatment methods for corneal blindness.

The study will examine the effectiveness of limbal stem cells as an agent to regenerate damaged corneal surfaces. It will also explore the ability of immunosuppressant drugs to reduce the risk of a patient's immune system rejecting the transplanted stem cells.

Approximately 160 million people around the world suffer from corneal blindness. This new treatment has the potential to bring relief to many people who are currently unable to see.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified eye surgeon in your area.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Cubs Pitcher to get LASIK

Carlos Zambrano, the ace of the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff, will undergo LASIK surgery on his right eye early in February. Zambrano becomes the newest member of a large group of professional athletes who have opted for LASIK surgery.

Zambrano claims that his vision was "fuzzy" on the mound during stretches last season. Apparently, this fuzziness has prompted the all-star pitcher to opt for laser eye surgery. He attributes much of his late-season slump last year to his poor vision – he lost eight of his last nine starts – and he's confident that LASIK will help him regain his Cy Young form once again.

Advancements in LASIK technology have made the surgery much safer for professional athletes, particularly those participating in contact sports. As a result, many athletes are now choosing to improve their vision with LASIK.

Some of the other high-profile professional athletes who have opted for LASIK include Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Greg Maddux, Tom Kite, Jeff Bagwell, Amare Stoudamire, Troy Aikman, and Tiki Barber.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

New Tool Improves Safety of LASIK Procedures

The LaFaci handpiece is a new device that has helped ophthalmologists reduce the complications associated with LASIK surgery. The handpiece can be used to perform 11 specialized functions during a LASIK procedure.

The device is used to assist in the second stage of LASIK surgery. Stage II encompasses all functions occurring between the time the corneal flap is lifted and when it is sealed again. The LaFaci handpiece has made it possible for ophthalmologists to standardize this part of the LASIK procedure.

This new LASIK technology will increase the safety in laser eye surgery procedures. The majority of complications arising from LASIK occur during stage II. Traditionally, this phase of the operation has always been variable and dependant on the skill and technique of the eye surgeon. With the La Faci handpiece, this phase of the procedure will no longer be technique based. This added element of standardization will greatly reduce the complications associated with LASIK.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Advancements in Cataract Surgery Improve Vision

Cataract surgery has become an extremely common procedure in this country. More than 1.3 million Americans get cataract surgery each year. Recent advancements in cataract surgery technology have made the procedure more effective than ever.

Improvements in the lens implants have enabled ophthalmologists to provide their patients with better vision after the surgery than they had before the procedure.

Traditionally, cataract surgery was performed using a monofocal lens implant. This lens offered patients excellent vision at one distance. Generally, patients would experience improved distance vision but would still require glasses for reading.

In recent years, a multifocal lens has been used for many cataract surgeries. This newer lens enables patients to experience excellent vision for both near and far activities, eliminating the need for reading glasses.

Advancements in lens technology have also benefited astigmatism patients suffering from cataracts. These patients can now receive a Toric lens implant that corrects the astigmatism at the same time of the cataract surgery. Previously, an additional procedure was required to correct the astigmatism.

It is important to ask your ophthalmologist a lot of questions before having cataract surgery in order to make sure that you are receiving the right kind of lens implant for your condition. It is also important to make sure that your doctor has a great deal of experience working with these new types of lenses.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

Friday, January 09, 2009

FDA Recalls Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently recalled an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) made by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO). This is a Class I recall.

The recall is for lot no. UD30654 of Healon D. OVDs are used to preserve space in the eye during LASIK surgery. OVDs come in a syringe but are applied with a tube.

This past October, AMO voluntarily recalled 4,439 units from this particular lot of Healon D after patients were experiencing inflammations following their laser eye surgery procedure. The main condition caused by Healon D is Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS), an inflammation of the front portion of the eye containing the cornea, iris, and lens.

Despite the voluntary recall, AMO had only recovered less than 1,000 of the defective units by early December. So far, there have been 66 patients reporting complications related to the Healon D product.

If you have any of the Healon D units from the recalled lot, contact AMO immediately at 1-877-AMO-4Life to find out about proper recall procedure. You can find the lot number on the side panel of the unit.

You can also report any complications or adverse side effects associated with the Healon D product to the FDA's MedWatch Event Reporting program.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Family Support Crucial for Glaucoma Treatment

Modern medicine has progressed to the point where glaucoma is now a very treatable condition. However, it is still one of the biggest causes of preventable blindness. This is largely due to the fact that many people fail to go to their ophthalmologist regularly for eye screenings.

By the time you notice any signs of deterioration in your vision, your glaucoma has most likely damaged your eye and optic nerve. Unfortunately, this damage is permanent. For this reason, it is extremely important to start getting regular eye exams around age 40, when many degenerative eye conditions such as glaucoma start to develop.

Research also indicates that people with support from at least one family member are much more likely to maintain their treatment course for glaucoma than people who don't have any familial support.

Patients with a family member intimately involved in their treatment are much less likely to forget to take their eye drops. Often, family members are instrumental in helping an elderly patient set up a medication schedule that fits in with his or her daily routine, and in some cases are even necessary to help administer drops. If glaucoma treatment is neglected, the patient runs a serious risk of blindness.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

Friday, January 02, 2009

When LASIK is not an Option

While LASIK surgery has become a very safe and common vision correction option, it is not for everybody. LASIK is most effective in correcting moderate refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. However, when your irregularities are more severe, laser eye surgery may no longer be a viable option for you.

LASIK surgery uses a laser to reshape your cornea to better focus light on your retina. If your corneal irregularities are too severe or if your cornea is too thin, LASIK may compound your vision issues instead of correcting them.

Similarly, if your eyesight is significantly poor, you may not be a candidate for LASIK. Laser eye surgery is most effective for people with more moderate prescriptions (in the range of -3.00 to -9.00). If your refractive errors are too severe and your prescription is stronger than -9.00, you will not be able to undergo LASIK.

Fortunately, there is a new procedure available for patients with very serious vision problems. A new lens made out of a soft, flexible, material called collamer can be permanently implanted just below the surface of your eyeball. This lens is inserted behind your cornea and will rest between your iris and your eye's natural lens.

The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes to complete, and patients report that their vision is very close to 20/20 the same day. So far, many ophthalmologists are reporting patient satisfaction rates of nearly 100% for the procedure.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified eye surgeon in your area.

 
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