Decorative Contacts can be Scary

As Halloween costumes go, a zombie isn't half bad. It's a popular choice due to The Walking Dead and the relatively new zombie crawl craze in many cities. It's a perennial favorite year after year. As people get more involved with costumes due to the availability of realistic makeup and Halloween prosthetics geared toward the average consumer, the idea of wearing decorative and "spooky" contacts seems like something every zombie needs.

Unfortunately, wearing decorative contacts can be very dangerous for your eyes. In fact, the FDA warns people of the risks associated with these kinds of contacts. Permanent eye injuries with the possibility of blindness are a real threat. Non-corrective, unfitted contacts, worn for long periods, and sold without a prescription can lead to corneal ulcers. Corneal ulcers can lead to an infection very quickly if left untreated. Scarring and vision impairment may result in blindness or even eye loss. Scary, indeed.

Other injuries reported to the FDA include eye infections (conjunctivitis), corneal edema, abrasions, allergic reactions, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and more.

While there are decorative lenses on the market, the FDA says sellers are in violation of the law. They have ordered customs agents to detain all decorative lenses that they find at US ports of entry. Consumers are urged to discontinue use and notify the FDA immediately about any eye problems that occur.

So, what does this have to do with LASIK? Nothing at all. However, it is important to remember that it can be very easy to destroy once perfect 20/20 vision in one night that not even a LASIK surgeon can correct.

If you are interested in finding out more about problems associated with decorative lenses or LASIK, please contact an experienced eye doctor through the LASIK Directory today.

New Laser may Improve LASIK Accuracy

All FDA-approved lasers used in LASIK today are effective and safe, however, LASIK technology also continues to evolve and improve upon itself.

According to Healio.com, an ophthalmology news website designed for doctors and other health professionals, a new laser used in combination with an excimer laser can improve the accuracy, safety and effectiveness of the LASIK procedure. The lasers are the Ziemer Femto LDV Z4 femtosecond laser and the Schwind Amaris excimer laser.

 According to an eye surgeon quoted on Healio, the new femtosecond laser allows LASIK surgeons to individualize the cornea flap created in the procedure to the unique patient. The surgeon had presented the LASIK results of 35 patients (70 eyes) treated with the combination of lasers above. All the eyes operated on were 20/20 three months after LASIK.

When choosing a LASIK doctor, you should make sure the surgeon uses state-of-the-art equipment. The surgeon's skill and experience, combined with the technology used, are critical to the success of your LASIK surgery.

If you want to find out if LASIK can improve your vision, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

How Risky is LASIK?

LASIK does not come without risks. When performed by an experienced, qualified eye surgeon, LASIK is relatively safe for good candidates. Weighing the benefits and risks of the procedure is an important part of deciding whether to have LASIK; serious LASIK risks are generally rare, but you should still ask your surgeon about all the possible complications and whether the procedure is right for you.

This eye surgery is less risky when:

·         The eye surgeon performs a thorough pre-operative exam to make sure you are a good candidate for LASIK. Excessively dry eyes, cataracts, thin corneas and the unique vision disorder are all considerations your surgeon factors into determining candidacy.

·         The eye surgeon uses state-of-the-art technology FDA-approved for LASIK. The surgery should also be performed in a surgical center or operating room equipped with standard surgical tools.

If you are a good candidate for LASIK and you choose a qualified eye surgeon, your risk of serious complications is very low. Current estimates place serious LASIK complications at less than 1 percent of procedures performed.

To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

Vision Regained Quickly after Thin-Flap LASIK

A recent study found a rapid recovery of vision after thin-flap LASIK, according to EyeWorld. The study was conducted by Dr. Daniel S. Durrie of Durrie Vision in Overlook Park, Kansas. Dr. Durrie found visual acuity (clearness of vision) was recovered just a few hours after thin-flap LASIK.

The study included 10 thin-flap LASIK patients who were nearsighted. Dr. Durrie and his colleagues evaluated visual recovery during the first hours after surgery, the first day after surgery, and one month after surgery.

Dr. Durrie found 100 percent of patients felt like they could see well enough to type and send a text message 30 minutes after thin-flap LASIK. Also, 100 percent of patients had 20/32 vision or better within 30 minutes after surgery, but only one of the patients reported they could drive.

Thin-flap LASIK is exactly what it sounds like: The corneal flap created is thinner in relation to a traditional flap. To create the thin flap, a laser – called a "femtosecond" laser – is used instead of the microkeratome blade.

To find out if a LASIK procedure is right for you, please contact an experienced LASIK eye surgeon in your area.