Focus on Your Ocular Well-Being during Healthy Vision Month

May is Healthy Vision Month, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Eye Institute (NEI) are encouraging individuals and organizations to make vision health a priority.

In an effort to prompt more Americans to consider the value of sight, the NEI released what are perhaps some jarring statistics regarding the nation’s overall ocular health:

• Some 14 million Americans are currently visually impaired due to eye diseases and disorders
• More than 4 million adults over the age of 40 have eye complications related to diabetes
• More than 2 million adults over 40 have glaucoma
• Nearly 2 million adults over 40 have age-related macular degeneration

Millions more suffer from correctable eye conditions including:

• Astigmatism (blurry vision caused by an irregular cornea shape)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision)

According to a 2009 NEI study, the prevalence of nearsightedness alone has increased 66 percent in the past 30 years.

And while a study conducted by NEI’s National Eye Health Education Program and the Lions Club International revealed that a vast majority of participants believe loss of eyesight would have an “extreme” impact on their daily lives, more than 25 percent said their last eye exam was at least two years prior. Another 9 percent said they never had an eye exam.

The best way to detect a vision problem at the earliest and most treatable stage is with a comprehensive dilated eye exam. A dilated eye exam can reveal common, correctable refractive conditions as well as eye diseases that have few early warning signs; early detection of risk factors for these conditions can lead to early and vision-saving treatment.

To learn more about LASIK vision correction options or to find an ophthalmologist near you, please contact The LASIK Directory.

New Procedure Improves Effectiveness of Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are a common vision problem, affecting millions of Americans over the age of 50. Surgery is required to correct the issue, and if cataracts are left untreated, you run a serious risk of blindness. Approximately three million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year.

Unfortunately, traditional cataract surgery does not correct refractive errors that existed before your surgery. Almost two-thirds or cataract patients still require corrective lenses to see properly after their cataract surgery.

When you develop cataracts, your eye's lens becomes cloudy, impairing your vision. Over time, your vision will progressively deteriorate until you become blind. In traditional cataract surgery, a fixed intraocular lens is implanted into your eye to replace your natural lens that has started deteriorating. After the surgery, any refractive error you previously had will still exist.

Fortunately, there is a new procedure being clinically tested which can correct all of your vision problems during your cataract surgery. This new procedure uses a different type of intraocular lens that is made out of photosensitive silicone. The lens changes shape as light hits it, which helps to accommodate for any nearsightedness or farsightedness issues you may also experience. As a result, your refractive error can be corrected as part of the procedure.

The light adjustable lens can be custom-made for your eye, enabling you to get rid of your glasses or contacts after the procedure. Once approved by the FDA, this new lens may revolutionize cataract surgery.

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

Studies Reveal LASIK Procedures Have High Satisfaction Rate

Recently, 19 separate studies on patient satisfaction have revealed that almost all LASIK patients are happy with the results of their surgery. These studies analyzed data spanning almost 20 years. According to the findings, approximately 95% of patients were satisfied with the results of their LASIK surgery.

This data indicates that LASIK compares very favorably with other elective surgery procedures. In fact, it has one of the highest success and satisfaction rates of any elective procedure.

The studies conducted analyzed data from LASIK patients in Egypt, France, India, Iran, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the U.A.E., Great Britain, and the United States. The satisfaction rates were relatively consistent for each country studied.

In the studies focusing on myopia, 95.3% of the 1,901 patients surveyed indicated that they were satisfied with their results. In the studies focusing on hyperopia procedures, 96.3% of the 297 patients questioned were satisfied.

The results were also consistent over time. The satisfaction rate for patients who underwent LASIK between 1995 and 2000 was 96%. Between 2001 and 2003, the rate was 94.6%, a difference that is not statistically significant.

Due to rapid advances in LASIK technology, the procedure has become very safe, efficient, and routine in recent years. With such high satisfaction rates, LASIK ranks among one of the most effective elective procedures available.

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

The Benefits of LASIK

Many Americans suffer from refractive disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, forcing them to endure the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses every day of their lives. While these vision correction methods enable people to see well enough to go about their daily lives, they are far from ideal solutions to the problem.

Glasses and contact lenses can adversely impact many areas of your life. Many people experience dry eyes from wearing contact lenses at work, especially when they spend all day in front of a computer screen. Others wearing glasses suffer from headaches due to the weight of their glasses on the bridge of their nose, making it difficult to perform work tasks.

Contacts and glasses can also impair your ability to participate in athletics or other vigorous activities. Sports such as swimming or diving create a problem for contact lens wearers, since water can easily get into your eyes and irritate your lenses. Other activities may cause sweat to get into your lenses, causing irritation in your eyes, while many athletes run the risk of breaking their glasses when wearing them while participating in sports.

LASIK surgery offers you a way to achieve excellent vision so that you can be rid of the hassles of glasses and contact lenses once and for all. Advances in LASIK technology have made the procedure very safe and effective. The majority of LASIK patients do not need corrective lenses after surgery, and they experience very few, if any, complications associated with the procedure.

If you are tired of dealing with glasses or contact lenses every day, you may want to visit your ophthalmologist to find out if you are an ideal candidate for LASIK.

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