Yearly Archives - 2012

The benefits of LASIK surgery are more than just medical. The results of this procedure are can make an enormous cosmetic difference in a person’s life, but also offer a new outlook on life—literally.

Soon after leaving your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center, the odds are you will see better than you have in years. This won’t be apparent immediately, as your eyes will be recovering from the surgery. Your vision will be blurry and your San Diego LASIK surgery doctor will offer you specialized dark glasses to avoid the sun on the ride home, and also advise that you rest your eyes as much as possible for the remainder of the day, so a few naps might be in order. However, the next day the world will become a new place and the crisp images you see before your eyes without the help of glasses will astound you. Most San Diego LASIK centers will want to see you for a next-day follow-up visit and as you drive towards the center, the sights of San Diego will take on a whole new look for you.

The cosmetic difference when you have LASIK San Diego surgery can build your self-esteem and confidence in ways you never imagined. Perhaps you have felt self-conscious about how you look in glasses for years on end. But, this is the way you became used to looking when glancing in the mirror. Now, you may look like an entirely new person and it can change the way you feel about life in general. You will want to show off the new you and visit your favorite San Diego haunts without wearing the glasses that have possibly been bringing you down emotionally since childhood.

Undergoing LASIK in San Diego also frees you from the inconvenience of glasses. No longer will you have to have eye exams every year or every other year and require a new prescription. The stress over what frames to buy and where to purchase your glasses will be gone, as will the stress that often occurs when glasses are misplaced. Anyone who has never needed glasses knows that feeling well and also knows how easy it is to become irritable when searching for a pair of glasses with clouded vision because said glasses are not where they belong. All of these conveniences and feelings of low self-esteem can become a thing of the past thanks to San Diego LASIK surgery eye doctors.

Choosing to have LASIK surgery in San Diego can be a life-changing decision and should be weighed heavily. Thankfully, when you are researching this procedure, you can consult with San Diego LASIK surgery centers that will warn you of both the benefits and risks of the surgery, one of which is the possibility of dry eye.

If you already suffer from dry eye, LASIK surgery can exacerbate the problem. San Diego LASIK eye surgery doctors can advise you that in the months right after the procedure is done, you may experience the worst dry eye you have ever had in your life. The symptoms of dry eye can be quite annoying and painful and include a scratchy and itchy feeling, as well as an accumulation of mucus in the corner of the eyes that manifests into the crusty feeling people often wake with in the mornings.  And, believe it or not, excessive tears are also caused when suffering from dry eye. This may seem like an oxymoron, but when the eye does not get enough moisture, the constant irritation in the eye can cause them to water to a point that can become debilitating. When discussing the possibility of dry eye with a doctor in your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center, he or she will probably advise you to use artificial tears in the weeks following your surgery.

Your San Diego LASIK doctor will explain to you how the LASIK procedure is performed and how it leads to dry eye. Basically, a flap is created on the cornea during the surgery and sometimes nerves in the cornea may become severed during this process. This can cause temporary dry eye in many patients and actually cause blurry vision. Now, this may come as a surprise and can also be quite alarming when this surgery is touted to give perfect vision. You may see clearer than you have in years at one moment, and then your vision will be clouded when the tears begin. You may be tempted to call your doctor, but you will also have to remind yourself this was one of the side effects you were warned about. Using artificial tears your San Diego LASIK surgery doctor prescribed for you can alleviate symptoms.  You may also be prescribed a medication that can stimulate your natural tear ducts, which will moisturize your eyes and cause them to not feel as heavy and sore.

Your vision is a precious gift and any type of surgical procedure performed on your eyes will take much care and preparation so that everything goes as smoothly as possible. With the modern technology of LASIK surgery, people who previously needed glasses or contact lenses are able to see clearer than ever and LASIK surgery in San Diego has gained much popularity over the last decade.

Before having LASIK surgery performed, there are various things that must take place initially. First, you will have a comprehensive consultation and eye exam with your San Diego LASIK doctor. You will go over costs with one of his staff members, but he will also give you a set of instructions you must adhere to so that the procedure is a success. At the pre-op exam, your doctor will dilate your eye and check for any abnormalities. He will also check your tear function, as moisturizing the eye is imperative in the months following a LASIK procedure.

After the exam, he will discuss what you can expect the day of the procedure and what you need to do on the days leading up to it. If you wear soft contact lenses, choose the glasses route in the weeks leading up to the surgery to give your eyes a rest. Hard contact lenses shouldn’t be worn for up to a months before your San Diego LASIK eye surgery procedure. Most contact lens wearers usually have a pair of glasses on hand, so this should not be difficult.

There are also instructions for the day before the surgery is performed. No makeup should be worn, especially eye makeup that may leave debris in the eye and make the procedure more difficult. You may also be asked to wash your eyes completely the day prior to the procedure to help lessen the chance of catching any sort of eye infection that can interfere with the success of the LASIK. The day of your San Diego LASIK surgery, you must arrange for transportation to and from the doctor’s office. Your vision will be blurry following the procedure and it will not be safe for you to drive yourself home. You also do not want to wear any accessories or jewelry, especially by your neck and hair as this can affect how your head lays underneath the laser equipment. Depending on your anxiety level, some doctor will also advise you to take medication to alleviate any nervous feelings you have during the surgery, as you will be wide awake throughout it.

It is important  to follow your doctor’s instructions to the tee, as he only has your best interest in mind, especially the interest of your vision.

LASIK eye surgery has become one of the most popular elective procedures of the 21^st century. It serves both a cosmetic and medical purpose, as patients will be able to see better than they could ever remember and be free of the cumbersomeness of glasses or contacts in order to see clearly. What many do not realize is that the technology for this surgery has been in development for nearly a century.

When you choose to have this procedure at our San Diego LASIK facility, know you are being treated with proven technology and equipment that has been in development for many years and has been tried, tested and approved by the FDA. The original concept of LASIK surgery was first conceived at the start of the 20^th century, as new knowledge about the workings of the eye was discovered. In the 1970s, the ideas were put to work after a doctor in Russia treated an injured eye by just removing a portion of the eye’s outer service. LASIK development was in full force after that.

It was 1987 when LASIK first became commercially available in the US and since then countless San Diego LASIK surgery patients have reported clear vision results after undergoing the procedure. Experienced ophthalmologists have been performing LASIK surgery in San Diego for years using the most updated LASIK surgery techniques and technology available. Different methods of performing this surgery include blade and non-blade techniques. A blade can be used to cut the flap in the eye that is imperative to LASIK in San Diego and anywhere else, or a second laser can be used to do the same thing and have the same result. This is often up to the discretion of your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center. Other types of LASIK are called Wavefront and Epi-LASIK.

The results of this type of surgery have been life-changing for many people. Gone are the days of feeling awkward in glasses or soaking contact lenses in solution each night before bed. Some patients report seeing better than they ever did with glasses or contacts after their LASIK procedure is done. Of course, the results will not be immediate as your eyes will be blurry just after the surgery is complete. But, the next day you will literally have a whole new outlook on life as the world is finally clear and crisp. This technology that began as just a concept nearly 100 years ago has improved the lives of millions of people and can improve your life as well. Call your San Diego LASIK center today to find out how.

One of the many things that keeps people from deciding to have LASIK surgery performed are the cost factors involved. LASIK is not an inexpensive procedure, and is also not covered by most insurance plans because it is often considered cosmetic and not medically necessary. Also, there is no set price for the procedure as different people have different degrees of damage to their vision. So, between that and the different types of LASIK procedures, costs for LASIK surgery in San Diego can vary greatly.

When you go for your initial consultation with a San Diego LASIK center, you will learn all the cost variables and the different LASIK techniques that there are to choose from. Depending on what San Diego LASIK eye surgery doctor you choose and how much experience he and his practice have with this procedure, prices can have a large range. It can run anywhere from about $499 per eye to well over $2,000 per eye. The low quote is often found on LASIK advertisements and very rarely ends up being the true cost. A price of $499 per eye is usually for the most basic eye issues and often is only for the surgery itself and nothing else.

Most cost quotes that are higher include both pre-op and post-op visits, as well as the procedure itself, which can be performed with a variety of different types of lasers, as LASIK technology is constantly changing and evolving. You can often feel confident with a higher quote because you know you will be getting the best possible care with experienced doctors. San Diego LASIK surgery doctors are at the top of their field and well sort the cost of getting the best possible outcome.

The cost of San Diego LASIK surgery does not just include doctor fees, however. There is much overheard for this procedure and a portion of your fee goes to cover the maintenance of the high tech LASIK equipment, the price of rent for the office the doctor is based out of, salaries for the doctor’s staff and often any enhancement of the procedure you may need. (Although many people find they do not need enhancement at all.)

Other things that factor into the cost of LASIK surgery in San Diego and other parts of the country are different custom procedures that are now offered. The more specialized the surgery, the more costly it can end up being. While the price of LASIK surgery may seem daunting to many, testimonials show that it is often well worth the money spent.

Finding the right doctor to perform your LASIK surgery procedure is of the utmost importance when you decide to take this life-changing step. There are several factors you should consider when choosing the right San Diego LASIK eye surgery center and doctor, and often the decision is nothing but a personal choice regarding whose hands you feel most comfortable putting your precious gift of vision into.

First and foremost, how experienced is any San Diego LASIK doctor you are considering? Knowing how many of these procedures he or she has performed, as well as their success rate with the surgery, can help you make an educated decision on whether this ophthalmologist is the right one for you. You can start your search by asking around. Odds are you know someone who has had LASIK surgery in San Diego, as the procedure has become ultra-popular in this first part of recent times. Some people may report horror stories, but odds are your friends or acquaintances will be amazed at how they can see post-LASIK and rave about how well everything went for them from the moment they went for their first LASIK consultation.

When you do go for you initial consultation after deciding to undergo LASIK in San Diego, your doctor may ask you as many questions as you ask him or her. The doctor will want to know if you are a right candidate for the procedure, as not everyone’s eye problems can be corrected with LASIK. For example, if your nearsightedness is too severe, LASIK might not work for you like it works for others. Once the doctor has decided you are a perfect candidate, look around his office. Does he have a nice staff? Do patients seem to be rushed? Running the office like an assembly line can be a red flag, but seeing patients treated like individuals who get the utmost care should give you a positive feeling about the practice.

Of course, you also need to take cost considerations into mind, but never choose your surgeon based on cost alone. Extremely low prices may be too good to be true and often are. Remember the old adage, you get what you pay for and what you want to get with LASIK surgery is outstanding vision after years of glasses dependency. Payment plans through third party creditors are offered, but you need to make sure you can afford the monthly payments before signing any paperwork.

Do not trust your eyes to just anyone. Thoroughly research both LASIK and San Diego LASIK doctors before taking the plunge into this procedure. So, call us today and set yourself on your way to a positive life-improving choice.

Not everyone with vision problems is a candidate for LASIK surgery. This procedure is usually performed on people who have astigmatism, are nearsighted or are farsighted. When consulting with your San Diego LASIK doctor, he or she will examine you carefully and also interview you in order to learn if the LASIK procedure is right for you and also what LASIK procedure you should have performed, as there are several.

First, when having LASIK surgery in San Diego or anywhere in the country, you must be 18 years of age or older. This is because LASIK should only be performed on people whose eyes have fully matured and the general consensus is this will happen by age 18. You need to be free of any eye ailments or infections for at least one year. If you are pregnant or nursing, you are also not a good LASIK candidate, but you can consult with your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center again post-partum or after you have finished nursing your child. You also cannot have any autoimmune disease and no amount of scarring can be found on the cornea upon your consultation examination.

Once it has been decided that you are a good candidate for LASIK in San Diego, your next step will be finding just the right doctor to perform the procedure. Our top-notch San Diego LASIK surgery center can match you with just the right doctor to suit your needs. This doctor will take you through the steps of the surgery and also be who you consult with on the required follow up visits to make sure the procedure met your expectations and that your eyes are healing as well as possible. Choosing a LASIK surgery center and doctor with the best qualifications can make the difference between a failed procedure and an effective one. After all, this is your vision that you are putting at risk and you would not want to trust such a precious gift to just anybody. If LASIK surgery is performed correctly, the odds are a whole new world of visual wonder will open up to you and you’ll find that you will see better than you have in years, and possibly better than you did when you were burdened by glasses or contact lenses.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures performed in the United States. In one year, more than one million people undergo cataract surgery in the hopes of having clear vision restored. And indeed, with the success rate for this surgery, the odds are they will. However, cataract surgery in San Diego is still surgery, and as with any operation, there is a recovery period with strict instructions that must be adhered to.

Immediately following San Diego cataract surgery, you will not see clearly. After all, your eye or eyes have just been through a traumatic experience and need time to heal. Although the surgery is done on a outpatient basis and you can go home soon after, it will not be safe for you to drive so you must make sure you have already arranged for a ride home from the surgery center. The next day, you will have a follow up visit with your doctor to make sure there are no immediate complications. And actually, you will have several follow up visits over the next few weeks and months to make sure your eyes and vision are healing correctly.

Home care is also of the utmost importance. Remember to wear the large dark sunglasses that your doctor gave you right after your San Diego cataract eye surgery to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Also, avoid any makeup near the eyes, as well as harsh creams, lotions or perfumes. Any kind of debris from these items can cause infection, which you most certainly want to avoid. You will also be prescribed prescription antibiotic eyedrops. Take these exactly as directed and do not miss a dose. You may feel fine, but infection is a possibility when any kind of surgery is performed, even if you do make sure no cosmetics are near your eyes. Antibiotics can help you avoid an unwanted infection. And, if you need to touch your eyes, make sure you do so with thoroughly clean hands. All of these measure help prevent infections. They may not be foolproof, but they do lessen the odds.

In a few weeks, you will find your vision has improved immensely and it will continue to improve more in the coming months. Your recovery will be monitored by your doctor, and once your vision has proven to have stabilized, if you had worn glasses before, you will be examined and fit for a new prescription. What you thought may be blurred vision for the rest of your life, has finally become clear.

Cataracts are almost an expected part of aging and indeed, this eye disease affects millions of people over the age of 60 every year. Surgery to have cataracts removed is the only option for fixing this ailment, although not everyone chooses to do so. Still, when people understand the facts about cataracts and what causes them, it may make cataract surgery in San Diego less daunting.

First, it is important to understand some basic facts about the make up of the eye. Water and protein are the two basic things that the eye is comprised of. Water keeps the eye moisturized, while the protein helps keep clarity on the lens so we see more clearly. As we age, these proteins change and lead to cloudiness on the lens. This is a slow and gradual process that is barely noticed—if at all—while it is happening, but eventually this protein change and breakdown becomes what are known as cataracts and clear vision seems to be a thing of the past. Now, in some rare cases babies might be born with broken down eye proteins, but in most cases it is just a result of the body’s natural aging process.

Like many ailments, outside factors can bring them on as well. While we cannot slow down aging and naturally happens to our eyes, we are able to speed up the occurrence of cataracts with lifestyle choices. Statistics have shown those who smoke cigarettes or expose themselves to excessive UV rays over a long period of time are more apt to develop cataracts and may even develop them at an earlier age. Of course, some outside causes cannot be helped, and these included suffering from diabetes and having to take steroidal medication for some health conditions.

When cataracts do develop, they are characterized by poor vision. It is almost like seeing through a very dirty windshield that no amount of cleaning will help. Some people are able to accept this and live with it, while others choose to seek out help. Once cataracts are diagnosed, San Diego cataract surgery is usually recommended, although not completely necessary as cataracts do not do damage to the overall health of the eye. Some people know they will need to have San Diego cataract eye surgery somewhere down the line, but may choose to wait until the cataracts become a nuisance or too much to bear. More extreme cases can not only cause vision impairment, but also cause pain. If you think you are suffering from cataracts, take the first step to getting help and call us today.

Almost everyone has heard of cataracts. If we grew up around our grandparents, we may have seen them wearing large, dark glasses and eventually learned this was because they had just undergone eye surgery to have these things called cataracts removed. What many people do not know is that there are different kinds of cataracts that can form on our eyes as we age.

The most common cataract type that seems to be a direct result of aging is called nuclear cataracts. The name is not as ominous as it sounds and simply means the central part of the eye lens is infected with cataracts. When the eye’s lens cortex is more affected by this ailment, it is called cortical cataracts. And, when the opacity that comes with cataracts is found by the lens capsule, it is called subcapsular cataracts. Subcapsular cataracts do not develop as gradually as nuclear and cortical cataracts and can actually appear quite rapidly. This is when cataract surgery in San Diego is most necessary.

All of the above types of cataracts are a result of natural eye aging and can be treated with San Diego cataract surgery. However, there is another type of cataracts that people are born with. This type is called congenital or infantile cataracts and requires immediate attention so that they eye and vision can develop naturally and healthily.

The types of cataracts that come on more gradually do not always need treatment right away. They may not even be noticeable at first. Even when the cataracts are diagnosed, some people decide they can live with the condition. However, for many the cataracts grow worse, as does their quality of life. They may not be able to drive anymore, their poor and cloudy vision can interfere with their work as well as their own personal enjoyment, like movies, reading and television. At this point, San Diego cataract eye surgery is the best way to go. Your eye surgeon will use ultrasound technology to break up the infected lens and then suction the small pieces out. And artificial lens free of cataracts will be put in its place and within weeks, your vision will become much clearer. If you had worn glasses in the past, you will eventually need to be fitted for a new prescription, but the cloudy sights before you will be gone. The decision to have cataract surgery is not always an easy one, but it is much more palatable when you understand both the disease and the procedure.