Star-Studded Event Promotes Hipness of Glasses

One of the reasons why many people turn to LASIK surgery is because they feel that wearing glasses makes them look older or less cool. As a result of the invention of LASIK and contact lenses, the frequency of wearing glasses has decreased to the point that it is actually becoming a mark of distinction, adopted intentionally by a larger proportion of people, especially women.

That this is true can be seen in the media event surrounding the UK's unusual award ceremony: Spectacle Wearer of the Year. This event is sponsored by the UK's largest chain of eyeglass merchants: Specsavers, and drew a number of big-name British stars, chief of which is Kelly Brook, a household name in Britain who recently made her US debut in this summer's B-movie gorefest Piranha 3-D as well as a Playboy cover and photoshoot. Kelly is pictured above, wearing her glasses for the event as well as a Remembrance Day poppy.

Other stars in attendance included models such as Lisa Snowdon, classical musician Myleene Klass (winner of Celebrity Spectacle Wearer of the Year), fashion consultant and judge Gok Wan, and dancing personality Louie Spence, seen here after the event.

If you are not a good candidate for or do not want LASIK, eyeglasses are a very good option. They can be a powerful fashion statement and have less attendant risks than contact lenses.

To learn more about you vision correction options, please contact a local ophthalmologist today.

Implantable Lenses an Option for Patients Not Eligible for LASIK

Implantable lenses or intraocular lenses (IOL) are refractive lenses that are inserted into the eye to correct vision.

There are different types of IOLs. Some IOLs replace your eye's natural lens, and are used in clear lens exchange and cataract surgery. Other lenses are "helper" lenses that are inserted in front of or behind your eye's natural lens. These are called phakic IOLs, and can be used when a patient is not a candidate for LASIK or PRK because their nearsightedness is too severe or their corneas are too thin. During a consultation with a LASIK surgeon, you will should be informed if a phakic IOL is a good option for you instead of LASIK.

There are some risks associated with IOLs that are not typical concerns associated with LASIK. Because the IOL is implanted in the eye the potential concerns are not confined to the front surface of the eye. Once a patient has had an IOL surgery routine exams are needed to ensure that the lens implant does not damage surrounding tissue within the eye or cause other complications. Potential complications include:

 

• Sudden rise in internal eye pressure that could lead to glaucoma
  
• Loss of cells on the inner surface of the cornea
  
• Inflammation inside the eye
  
• Retinal detachment
  
• Cataracts
  

 

When you're considering any procedure to improve your vision, be sure that you understand the risks and benefits. Evaluating which procedure is best for your eyes starts with finding an experience LASIK surgeon. To find an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area please contact The Lasik Directory.

 

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Are Reading Glasses the Only Option?

Aging brings many different types of physical changes. One that often frustrates people is the development of presbyopia. Most people wouldn’t recognize the name of the condition but know the symptoms of not being able to focus well on objects close to you or read small print.

The occurrence of presbyopia typically begins at about age 40 and is generally believed to stem from a thickening and loss of flexibility of the lens of your eye. What you notice as the process begins is that you experience blurred vision when reading, working close up, or at the computer. Holding reading material at arm’s length may allow you to focus but provides only a temporary solution.

At your annual eye exam, your ophthalmologist will likely give you a prescription for bifocals or recommend reading glasses. Bi-focal lenses are a solution that is difficult for some people to adjust to, and reading glasses can be an inconvenience.

Glasses aren’t the only option, however. There are a couple of refractive surgical procedures that deal with the effects of presbyopia and can leave you free of corrective lenses. One such option is monovision LASIK. In this unique type of LASIK, one eye is corrected for near vision while the other eye is corrected for distance vision. It won’t take long for your brain to correct itself so you properly again.

You may also want to consider conductive keratoplasty (CK). CK is a minimally invasive refractive surgery procedure that uses radio waves to create more curvature in the cornea to improve near vision. CK is a great option for patients who may not be good LASIK candidates.

Another option is Clear Lens Exchange (CLE), in which the natural lens is removed and replaced with an advanced intraocular lens that can give you good close and distance vision.

The good news is that if you are struggling with the effects of presbyopia, there are other options available to you aside from wearing corrective lenses. To research those options and locate an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area, please contact The Lasik Directory.

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CK Gives Near Vision Hope for Patients over 45

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is a treatment that is offered to patients who suffer from hyperopia (farsightedness) or presbyopia, a condition in which the eye loses its ability to focus, making it difficult to see objects up close. There are patients who may suffer from both forms of vision disorders, as well.

CK is a treatment primarily available to patients over the age of 45. Whether or not a person has developed hyperopia, the onset of presbyopia often causes them to seek relief from the worsening near vision that is associated with aging.

Conductive Keratoplasty uses mild heat from radio waves to reduce the size of the connective tissue in the periphery of the cornea. The procedure steepens the cornea giving the patient better near and far vision. While CK is an option for patients who are farsighted or suffering from presbyopia, it is not an option for people who are nearsighted.

To help determine if CK correction is a good choice, you can have a trial monovision correction using a contact lens. The test is conducted by your eye surgeon and uses contact lenses to correct one eye for near vision and the other for far vision. In some cases, a simpler test can be conducted by holding a test lens in front of your non-dominant eye to ensure your distance vision remains sharp.

Evaluating which procedure is best for your eyes starts with finding an experience CK vision correction surgeon. The LASIK Directory works with CK surgeons coast to coast. Please contact us today to find an experienced CK surgeon in your area.

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