Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Corrective Eye Surgery For Lazy Eye

By Dr. Frank Thomnpson

Lazy Eye, or Amblyopia, is the condition wherein vision is diminished in one or both eyes and is not to be mistaken for other eye conditions such as near or farsightedness and astigmatism. There are usually two categories for the amblyopia. There's the amblyopia and the toxic amblyopia. The former occurs more often in young children whose eyes are not properly lined up, which is a condition called strabismus. To counter the presence of a double vision, the brains works to prevent vision on one eye while the other eye does all the work, hence the name "lazy eye." Over time, the inner structures of the stagnate or atrophy, although the symptoms may not at all be present. Unfortunately, by the time the symptoms appear, the vision may have become permanently damaged. There are cases when the symptoms can be very obvious. The eyes may either turn outward or in, or the eyes may not be looking at the same direction.

To treat the condition, the most important thing is to pay immediate attention to correcting the misalignment of the eyes. Corrective eyeglasses can help, as while as using a patch. Patching forces the use of the lazy eye, which in turn helps in developing binocular vision. Another treatment found to be effective is using atropine eye drops. One drop can be placed on the good eye every day. This drop blurs the vision in the good eye which forces the other one to strengthen its visual capabilities. One advantage of using drops is that it doesn't require constant vigilance, especially when you are dealing with a child who may be apprehensive about wearing a patch.

However, for some people still resort to corrective surgery for treatment. Surgery is considered the best corrective treatment for amblyopic children possessing a fundamental physical problem such as strabismus. Undergoing surgical procedures such as Lasik surgery can correct the muscle disorder that causes the strabismus in the first place. The end result is that the eyes can focus together and see better. Still, many doctors say though, that eye surgery does not restore the normal binocular vision, which is a process controlled by the brain. All surgery might accomplish is to make the eye appear more "normal" or straighter by cutting it and repositioning the eyes. So while there might be a cosmetic fix, it may not fix the underlying visual problems which triggered the lazy eye in the first place. Surgery alone cannot correct the brain's habit of using just one eye. In order for the problem to be truly fixed, the brain must learn to use both eye more properly.


Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Your Quick And Easy Guide To Shopping For Contact Lenses

By Helen Hecker

Contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort that lenses provide. Ophthalmologists (M.D. or D.O.) are eye surgeons who study and treat eye diseases and can also perform the duties of optometrists; optometrists (O.D.) examine eyes, diagnose and treat vision problems, and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and in most states they also can prescribe medicine; opticians grind and dispense eyeglasses and in some states dispense contact lenses. Before you buy contact lenses from anyone other than your eye care professional, it pays to be a wise consumer.

If you've always wanted to change your eye color, color contact lenses can provide baby blues, gorgeous greens, heavenly hazels -- even various patterns and designs. With a contact lens prescription in hand, it's possible to buy your contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone, or by mail.

The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state requiring a one-year or two-year renewal; if your state hasn't set a minimum expiration date, government regulation sets a one-year date unless your eye doctor determines there’s a medical reason for less than one year. Soft lenses also come as disposable products, that is, used once and discarded, or as planned-replacement lenses. Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision.

Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow for oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. If you live an active lifestyle, NIGHT & DAY breathable lenses will allow you 30 hours of continuous wear.

Contacts provide for excellent peripheral vision for sports, driving, safety, and performing. Soft lenses are easier to adjust and are much more comfortable than rigid lenses, because they conform to the eye and absorb and hold water. Extended wear lenses are usually soft contact lenses; made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.

You can become adjusted to soft lenses within just a few days, compared to several weeks for rigid ones. Disposable lenses don't come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do.

Buy your contact lenses from a supplier you're familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity Carefully check to make sure the company gives you the exact brand you ordered, the name of the lens, the power, sphere, cylinder, if any, axis, if any, diameter base curve, and peripheral curves, if any. Beware of attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts.

When you receive your order, if you think you've received an incorrect contact lens, check with your doctor or eye care professional right away; don’t accept any substitution unless your eye care professional approves it. Rebates may be available from the seller, from the manufacturer, for first-time contact lens wearers and for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam. If you have an insurance plan, the insurance plan's seller's prices may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere; this should be just one option when you're shopping for lenses.

When you place your contact lens order, request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses; it'll give you important risk and benefit information as well as instructions for use. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls; in case you have a problem after your order arrives. Always buy from a reputable company; you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription.

Heat disinfection is the only method effective against the microorganism Acanthamoeba keratitis, a common culprit for contact lens wearers, and it also kills organisms in and on the lens case. Soft extended-wear lenses bind down on the closed eye, but they are porous and allow some tears through during sleep; because they have so little form, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye. Getting a proper fit is essential; contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to eyesores, eye inflammation, and eye abrasions.

Be aware that extended-wear (overnight) contact lenses - rigid or soft - increase the risk of corneal ulcers, which are infection-caused eruptions on the cornea that can lead to blindness; symptoms include vision changes, eye redness, eye discomfort or pain, and excessive tearing. To be sure your eyes remain healthy you shouldn't order lenses with a prescription that's expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire; it’s much safer to be re-checked by your eye doctor. Daily-wear lenses are removed daily for cleaning and are a safer choice, provided they aren't worn during sleep.

Ordering contact lenses online has never been simpler with, and sometimes without, a credit card. If you prefer the way you look without glasses or find glasses to be cumbersome and awkward, contacts can provide the ease, convenience and comfort you need. If you're planning to buy contact lenses, you should buy the best quality you can get, even at a higher price; you don't want to skimp on quality when it comes to your eyes.

For more information on color contact lenses and where to buy discount contact lenses visit http://www.VisionNurse.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s popular website which offers tips, advice and resources, including information on LASIK eye surgery, sunglasses, eyeglasses and affordable quality contact lenses

Monday, April 21, 2008

Comparison Between Replica And Branded Sunglasses

By Anton Kal

Making the scene at the exclusive summer community with multimillion dollar beach cottages presents an obvious choice--buy the best designer and latest style. But when spending the summer slumming it at a relatives fishing shack the choice is most certainly going to be one of economy. Not cheap necessarily (since glare control is preferred for water sports) but rather the best buy for the purpose. For those of us who don't have the luxury of time to spend at either, the third option--driving sunglasses-- is imperative.

What advantages, if any, are there to those expensive designer or heavily advertised brands? At first glance it seems foolish to spend many times more than necessary for something that is frequently lost or falls in to the lake somewhere. On closer examination of the materials, workmanship and even optics it becomes more evident why the costly sunglasses are selling at all. With so many other things vying for the consumer's hard earned money, these just seem like another expense.

Not so though: clear vision is worth every penny invested. All too often it is the case that the patient isn't even aware of gradually eroding vision until the damage is done. In the case of sunglasses the damage to be avoided is cataracts. These are a direct result of over exposure to UV rays over a long period of time. No one is even able to notice it happening until the eyesight is hopelessly clouded and surgery is needed to restore clear vision.

Most sunglasses will go part of the way toward prevention but only the very good brands are top notch at this. Wear any kind of sunglasses for the short run but as soon as the budget allows a greater expense--then buy the better sunglasses. After the investment is made in the most expensive sunglasses then guard them as any other high end investment purchase. Use a soft cloth to clean them and store them in a hard case when not in use. Furthermore, use an eyeglasses chain or cord to secured them better when engaged in sports, fishing or activities.Fashion is important to most people. No one wants to wear something that doesn't reflect our inner selves.

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Understanding LASIK for Permanent Vision Correction

By Timothy Croy

For many people, the first activity in the morning is groping for a pair of glasses or going through the ritual of applying contact lenses. Sports are complicated when corrective lenses are worn as well, and often different glasses are needed for different tasks like viewing a computer monitor. But with laser vision correction LASIK surgery, there is a real freedom to jump out of bed ready for anything.

Most people have heard of corrective surgery for vision problems, but the terms and definitions may be confusing. Since surgery of any kind on the eye tends to be daunting, it is helpful to clarify the terms. LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. That's a real mouthful so it's clear why the term LASIK is preferred and most commonly used. What it means is that an excimer laser, a special focused and concentrated light beam is used to remodel the deeper layer of the cornea after raising a flap.

Think of the cornea as the window into the eye. It is curved naturally, and light is bent by both the corneal surface and the lens that lies behind the cornea, working just like a camera's lens. By changing the shape of the cornea, the clear film over the eye's anterior surface, the way light bends changes and common visual acuity problems like nearsightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (presbyopia) and astigmatism can be corrected.

When a person wears contact lens or prescription eyeglasses, correction is done on the outside of the eye, but with LASIK, the eye itself has been corrected. Most people are able to stop using glasses or contacts completely. Vision is noticeably better immediately after surgery and gets better with healing in a fairly short time.

The eye is anesthetized during surgery with special eye drops so there is no pain involved, and the procedure takes a few minutes to complete! For a few days, the eye may feel a bit irritated or "scratchy" but there is little or no pain for most patients. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops are used during healing, and goggles are worn at night to prevent rubbing the eyes.

LASIK surgery is considered an advancement over the older PRK (sometimes called ASA) procedure and can be used for most patients. It offers less discomfort and faster healing for LASIK patients and also allows very precise correction. For those who want to stop the hassle of contact lens care and the expense of lenses or glasses, LASIK is a modern miracle.

http://mylasik101.com is a website fully devoted to providing you with the best information regarding Lasik Eye Surgery. Whether you're interested in learning more about laser vision glasses, or you want to know the possible laser vision surgery side effects, we've got you covered!