Is It Possible to Drive After My Laser Eye Treatment?

Just like a lot of people, driving, for you, may be a crucial component of your daily life. One fundamental aspect of driving is sight. Without healthy vision, driving becomes a life-threatening chore for yourself, your passengers, as well as others on the road.

Is driving then a harmless activity after laser eye treatment?

There are a number of aspects of vision which must be passable to see you are good to drive.

You must have vision which is better than 20/40 (one-half as good as 20/20).

You must have good peripheral vision.

Enough night vision.

For safe driving, these are the three most vital factors. Drivers of commercial vehicles would need to surpass stricter standards.

Spectacles and contact lenses are effective means to right your trouble with distance sight. You may find that your sight is acceptable enough to get you through your working day; however, not good enough for driving and so would use glasses just for your trip to and from work.

Your vision may be even worse and driving is just one of the many situations in which you want spectacles. You may even need them all the time.

Laser eye treatment has the main objective of giving you unclouded vision without having to wear spectacles. Your ophthalmologist would aim to provide you vision adequate enough so that you won't need glasses for all the tasks you're required to do everyday, including driving.

After laser eye treatment, your eyes will immediately be covered with gauze-like guards. Even though this cover is gauze-like, your peripheral sight will be affected and your vision will be somewhat blurred. It will be so blurry that you would not be competent to pass your driver's license vision examination. It is, hence, somebody to take somebody with you to drive you home.

Over the following days, your eyes begin to heal. Many folks notice that their sight is satisfactory enough to drive the day after laser eye treatment. Vision fluctuation is nothing special throughout the first month but it should stabilize within a few days.

Although it is not guaranteed you will be able to see 20/20 (or even 20/40 for that matter - the vision needed for driving) after laser eye treatment, studies have shown that with advanced surgical techniques the success rate in terms of driving is extremely great. Approximately 94% of folks can see 20/20 after surgery and some 100% of individuals can see 20/40. This means the large majority of those will pass their visual requirements for driving after laser eye treatment.

You will also see that your peripheral sight is now unhampered as compared to glasses; your vision can easily be obscured by the thicker sides or temples found in stylish spectacles, just like blinkers on a horse.

Night driving is one facet of driving you could observe tricky. Night time glare or haloes are usual side effects after laser eye treatment. This becomes more evident when driving with oncoming headlights. This outcome can be greatly minimized with new laser eye procedure techniques like iLasik and Wavefront Analysis.

After visiting your ophthalmologist for preliminary examination, you will find out more how laser eye treatment can enhance your existence, including your driving.

Find out more about Laser Eye Treatment HQ - your source for the latest news and technologies on laser eye treatment, eye surgery, and more.

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Laser Eye Treatment for Eye Color Adjustment

Do you envy Jessica Alba's dazzling blue eyes because you are stuck with lifeless chocolate-brown eyes?

You may get just that permanently in the future, thanks to recent studies conducted by US doctors.

The treatment, developed by Dr. Gregg Homer, involves the process of laser eye treatment interacting with the pigment of the iris. According to Dr. Homer, the operation removes the brown pigment off the iris by applying laser of a specific wavelength which "agitates the pigment on the surface of the iris." Because this effectively damages the tissue, there is a lasting change in the structure of the cells. A protein is released as a result of the body's expected reaction to this process, digesting the destroyed iris.

The iris will become darker as the inherent blue color appears during the digestion process after two weeks. This process can last for 5 weeks.

Cosmetic laser eye treatment like this is not as supported as other ophthalmologists because it involves the pigment of the iris, a part of the eye that plays a crucial part in a person's sight. The iris, just like a camera's aperture, opens up in dimmed light to allow more light pass through the eyes and closes when it is to intense to protect the eyes from high intensity light. If this inherent bed is thinned out, the inner structures of the eye may receive more glare and be affected by long-term effects of sun impairment. Widespread eye diseases such as cataract and macular degeneration are linked to long term UV or sun vulnerability.

According to Dr. Homer, this is not likely a glitch as the coloring changing procedure only affects the external most bed of the iris. The main part of the iris is left untouched.

Also, much like any procedure, a thorough pre-surgical test is essential. Post-surgery care involves a string of frequently conducted examinations at scheduled periods throughout the next 3 months. So far, no evidence of injury has been found.

The equipment, preparation, and thus public use of this innovational procedure is not expected to be accessible for another 18 months. Human testing is being performed, however, the large majority of trials have been done on cadavers in Mexico. Individuals with varying spectacle needs were specifically chosen and only a selected few have been tested with this laser eye treatment. The results are highly bright and so far, there are no detectable side effects.

To this day, human trials are still in progress and the procedure on laser eye treatment changing eye colors is promising but until all safety fears are addressed, it still won't be obtainable publicly. Increasing demand for colored and cosmetic contact lenses, in particular in the South Asian area, has increased greatly over the past 10 years. The predominant natural eye color is brown but a number of younger girls undergo been experimenting with blue, green and gray contact lenses to enhance their looks. Also available are contact lenses that make the eyes look bigger than natural. Permanently changing your eyes to a decent blue would be popular amongst this crowd.

Find out more about Laser Eye Treatment HQ - your source for the latest news and technologies on laser eye treatment, eye surgery, and more.

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Causes Of Eye Floaters - Its Diagnosis and Treatment

Worried about eye floaters but you are not sure what it is? Then you have come to right place! Before I dwell into its causes and various treatment methods in use today, let's clarify what this medical condition is. Eye floaters are medically known as "myodesopia", but certain quarters spell it as myiodeopsia, myodeopsia or myiodesopsia. They are transparent deposits floating in the vitreous humor, and exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. In a way, they look like insects floating in front of the eyes.

If you have eye floaters, don't worry too much because it has been estimated that seven out of every 10 people suffer from this syndrome at one time or another. It typically happens to people who are more than 50 years old, but there have been cases where children as young as nine years have been diagnosed with it.

The primary causes of eye floaters are liquefactions in the vitreous jelly, retinal detachments, and inflammation and presence of red blood cells in the jelly. Liquefactions happen because as one aged the collagen fibres in the vitreous humor thicken, leading to fragmentations. Chronic yeast infections, Uveitis, toxoplasmosis, hyalois artery regression, sarcoidosis and allergies often lead to this irritating disorder.

To screen for eye floaters, ophthalmologists typically use what are known as slit lamps to scan the affect eye. Others use a combination of eye drops and ophthalmoscope.

In terms of treatment, it all depends on the severity of the problem. If it is only a minor problem, then anti-inflammatory medicine, herbal extracts and antibiotic eye drops are all that is needed. However, if the problem is deemed severe, laser treatments or surgery may be necessary.

When surgery is called for the surgeon would most likely use a procedure known as virectomy. This surgical procedure involves creating three channels in the sclera to resupply saline to the eye; infuse fibre optics; and finally introduce a virector.

But some eye experts prefer to use laser treatment. This procedure is theoretically straight forward - lasers beams are used to liquidate deposits in infected eye - but make sure you engage the services of an experienced doctor. This is because any error made could damage the eye.

Anyone who is suffering from eye floaters must follow a balanced diet. Word from the good doctor is to wallop a good helping of vegetables and fruits rich in Vitamin C, drink sufficient amount of water and fruit juices, and stay clear of caffeinated drinks. You might also want to give Chinese wolfberries, which are nutrient-dense super food loaded with protein, amino acids and essential minerals, a try.

Some eye floater problems simply disappear with time, but others will continue to stick around, triggering psychological problems such as stress and depression. But the best thing to do when you have such a medical condition is to see a doctor who is knowledgeable in this field. This is important because the underlying cause of the problem could be a malfunctioning liver or diabetes, and curing these health problems can often cure eye floater problems as well.

There are many other types of eye problems, and most of them are dealt with nowadays using lasers. That is why you often hear people talking about how lasik eye surgery works, the side effects of laser eye surgery, etc. You can get good info about all these from this popular website http://www.all-about-laser-eye-surgery.com/.

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Glaucoma Treatment Options for Any Age

Anyone suffering with glaucoma will be wondering what the treatment options are and how to get back to great eye health. Eye surgery is one option for glaucoma treatment but there are other alternatives to consider also. Depending on the type of glaucoma you have, the treatment options available to you will change.

There are different types of glaucoma, and varying causes and symptoms. The symptoms could range from vision loss, headaches, halos near lights, difficulty to see in the dark and blurred vision. These symptoms should be taken seriously and a consultation with your doctor should be sought. Thankfully treatment for most eye issues including glaucoma is easy and quite common. There are a few options ranging from glaucoma drug treatments, to natural remedies, and then surgery. The main thing to remember is that all treatments have their uses and everyone is different so there is no need to worry. Surgery is a great option as it does clear up the issue once and for all.

Type of Glaucoma

Normal pressure glaucoma or normal tension glaucoma occurs when there is optic nerve damage. Sometimes, this type of glaucoma is also referred to as low tension or low pressure glaucoma. You may not experience any symptoms at all.

Chronic narrow angle glaucoma is similar to normal pressure glaucoma in that you may not experience many symptoms, and it is an open angle disorder.

Acute angle closure glaucoma indicates an emergency, as the high pressure needs to be reduced to avoid permanent vision damage. In this instance, you are likely to experience some or all the symptoms listed above, and they may come and go.

Treatment Options

Eye drops can be used to reduce the pressure in the eye and reduce the production of aqueous humour, which is what is responsible for all the trouble. This is usually the first step, unless serious symptoms occur, in which case you should go straight to emergency. Eye drops are a good way to avoid side effects and get some pressure reduced.

Beta blockers are sometimes used as effective anti-glaucoma treatments. They are incredibly effective in treating this eye issue and are usually one of the first treatments considered. However, there are some possible side effects with beta blockers. Because they contain a cause of bronchospasm, they can irritate asthma sufferers. This treatment is not usually considered for smokers or anyone with a history of breathing difficulties.

There are other drugs such as prostaglandin and alpha adrenergic drugs, and all work by reducing the amount of aqueous humour produced.

Another option worth considering is acupuncture. There have been cases of improved vision following acupuncture but no change in the eye pressure. This is a natural remedy option for anyone looking for a natural solution. However bear in mind that it might not be as effective as the surgery or drug treatments.

Finally, then, there is glaucoma surgery which is quite effective and safe. The procedure is quick, generally pain-free and recovery is fast. Apart from avoiding water for up to a week afterwards, the recovery is easy. There may some redness of the eye or swelling which usually subsides within 24 hours and your vision may seem blurry for a while but this will change after a few weeks. Surgery for glaucoma is now very common, very safe and incredibly easy.

Exceptions To Consider

Not all treatments are not recommended for pregnant women, as the drugs are passed on to the baby. If absolutely necessary, you can consider low dosage eye drops. Patients who smoke are not usually recommended some of the drugs listed.

Speak to your eye doctor first, and ensure you have all the information to make the best choice. Glaucoma treatment can be easy if you know what to do, so a simple trip to the doctor to find out about eye surgery or another alternative is the best investment you can make for your health. There are a few tests that can be carried out to see if you can be diagnosed with glaucoma and then once you have your diagnosis, your doctor can advise the best plan of action to lead you back to great eye health.

Whether you use the drug treatment or surgery option, eye health should be taken seriously.

Kate Dawson writes for Optegra, who operate five eye care hospitals. After an initial consultation with an eye doctor, you will discuss what eye surgery is best suited for you dependant on your eye condition.

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Correcting Myopia With Intraocular Lens Treatment

It is a fact, not known by some, that intraocular lens treatment can correct myopia. The term myopia is the medical name for shortsightedness. It is a common affliction that affects many people from birth. In the past people have had to wear glasses or contact lenses throughout their lives to correct the problem. Anyone who has had a lifetime of glasses wearing will be pleased to know that there is an alternative solution in the form of an intraocular lens transplant. This type of treatment involves the removal of the lens of the eye and the replacement with an artificial alternative. An artificial lens is called an intraocular lens implant.

Wearing glasses is by no means a minor problem for people so this treatment is truly revolutionary. Sometimes having to wear glasses all the time means that various activities cannot be enjoyed. Swimming, tennis and other sports for example can be difficult for glasses wearers. This solution can remove this eye condition thereby allowing you to once again enjoy the you were once not able to do.

Every patient is provided with a lens designed to provide the very best focusing power and quality of vision for them as an individual. For many people this treatment has transformed their lives. No more struggling to read books or see things up close. In fact the glasses can be thrown away forever.

There are very few risks involved in this procedure so it is extremely safe. For those with myopia the new lens improves the near vision whilst ensuring the far away vision remains strong and sharp. The results are almost instant. There are a few different types of intraocular lens implants. The most common type used is placed behind the iris.

It is not just myopia that this type of treatment can correct. Other vision problems like long sightedness and even astigmatism can be corrected too. Each patient is assessed and the right type of lens chosen for their particular condition. As a secondary benefit of having an intraocular lens implant to correct myopia, cataracts are avoided too. Cataracts form on the lens of the eye usually as the eyes begin to age. This type of treatment can be used to remove cataracts altogether. Once an artificial lens is in place, there is no way a cataract can develop. Although cataracts are not life threatening they can severely affect day to day life and make it virtually intolerable in some cases.

Cataracts can gradually take eyesight away. As the lens of the eye hardens and becomes cloudy, eyesight starts to disappear. Although it can take years for eyesight to be very seriously affected, there is little that can be done to prevent the cataract from spreading. To get rid of it altogether an intraocular lens transplant is the best way. This makes this type of treatment truly a two for one solution. It not only provides vision correction, but it also removes or prevents a cataract from ever occurring.

The procedure itself does not take long and causes no pain. Although a few days may be required before completely normal life can return, there is no lengthy recovery period involved. It is advisable to have a few days of rest following the treatment but otherwise life can return to normal very quickly. Intraocular lens transplant is a fantastic treatment that is specifically designed for people over 50 who want to see their youthful vision restored. It has transformed people's lives all over the world.

Many people suffer from cataracts but thanks to this new treatment they no longer have to. Although there is an initial cost involved in having intraocular lens treatment to replace the existing lens of the eye, the improvement to the overall quality of life it brings is priceless. Having vision problems or cataracts can mean driving is difficult or even impossible. Overtime your independence gradually becomes less as you start to struggle with carrying out everyday activities that become increasingly hard to do. A cataract operation that removes the problem altogether is well worth the cost. Having an intraocular lens implanted means that as well as removing the cataract, vision correction surgery is provided at the same time. Overall the cataract surgery cost is extremely worthwhile when based on the improvement to life it provides.

Kate Dawson writes articles for Clarivu, a cataract operation involving the exchange of the natural lens of the eye with a synthetic version, often known as a intraocular lens. The lenses are designed to be permanent, even though the initial cataract surgery cost may seem high.

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Costs, Risks and Treatment of Laser Eye Surgery

Lasik treatment, commonly called laser eye surgery is an effective method of correcting many vision problems. The procedure is quite simple, but should only be performed by a qualified ophthalmologist. Recovery time is fairly brief, making it the choice of many as opposed to wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Cost and Treatment

Lasik eye surgery cost varies for a number of reasons. Normally prices are quoted per eye. If you have both eyes corrected at the same time, the quoted price is doubled. Some surgeons might also add extra charges when new technologies are used. One such technology is wavefront analysis which allows for super precise corrections.

There may be extra charges for an all-laser treatment. This procedure does not use any blades, a laser is used to create a flap on the front of the eye. This slim flap is lifted to allow the laser energy to shape the eye. The flap is then put back into place and acts like a natural bandage for the treated area.

Average quoted prices:

• $2 150 for an all laser vision correction
• $1 580 for treatment using a bladed instrument, not guided by a wavefront analysis
• $2 170 for a wavefront guided treatment

You can not go by an advertised price. Many variables affect the final price. Always read the fine print very carefully. The best way to get an honest price is to talk to the doctor. Some people requiring very little correction may be able to get Lasik treatment for unusually low prices, but the average surgery requires more extensive treatment or extra follow up afterwards.

The average Lasik eye surgery cost has not risen too much over the past few years. This is believed to be due to the economy. People tend to choose more economical methods during these unsure times, such as corrective glasses.

Risks

Risks and complications are minimal. The procedure is safe and effective for most people. As new technologies are developed the risks are decreasing and more types of vision problems can be corrected.

Studies show that after Lasik treatment people have perfect 20/20 vision which lasts for years. Since the use of Lasik began less than twenty years ago, it is not clear how long the treatment lasts, but for the early patients, vision problems have as yet not returned.

If you have been considering Lasik eye surgery, remember that risks are dramatically reduced when you choose a reputable and experienced LASIK eye surgeon.

For more information, check out this blog on laser and lasik eye surgery cost, risks, and treatment. This website provides the leading authoritative information about lasik eye surgery.

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Finding Success With Laser Eye Treatment

Perfect vision, for most folks, is the capacity to see "twenty-twenty" (20/20).

For the all the curious people out there, what exactly does having 20/20 vision mean? And will laser eye treatment result in this visual acuity?

This is a conventional measurement of optical acuity (or how well you see in the distance). The initial 20 from the 20/20 vision is the measurement (in feet) of the testing distance because the letter chart is normally 20ft away while the second 20 is how faraway the "normal" person can view that size letter at. Therefore, if someone can perceive the "20" (2nd 20) sized letter at 20 feet, their vision is 20/20.

For example, if you get a vision of 20/40, it means that the testing distance is measured at 20 feet for the letter size of 40 while a "normal" person can make out this at 40 feet which is twice the testing distance. However, you can merely make out from 20 feet away, so 20/40 is not quite as satisfactory as 20/20.

Even so, one of the major criteria for passing your usual driving license exam is optic acuity and the standard is 20/40 or better, with both eyes open. Commercial or heavy vehicles require a stricter standard as the visual acuity calls for a vision of 20/40 with both eyes open. Those who need to wear glasses to satisfy this criteria should frequently wear them when on the road driving.

Another example would be commercial pilots, who must experience an optical acuity of 20/20 amongst other things.

If you plan to convert 20/20 to metric units, it would be equal to 6/6. That is, the testing distance is 6 meters.

For most people, success with this kind of treatment means having 20/20 vision after the surgery. Roughly 94% of folks accomplish 20/20 vision or better after refractive procedure and virtually 100% of those can see the 20/30 line of letters, as released by Wagoner, M.D. et. al. in their most recent studies. What this means is that there is a big percentage of people who can now carefully drive without having to wear spectacles after the operation.

This also means that if your sight before surgery is 20/20, you may not get that amount of sight without spectacles after laser eye procedure. This is usually brought about by either an under correction or over correction which leaves patients with a residual Rx. if the expectations are not met during the initial operation, a second treatment can also be performed to improve the vision.

Aside from all these, there are still other criteria that should be considered when assessing the success of refractive operation. Night time haloes, dry eyes, and other optical anomalies can also lessen satisfaction, particularly if they endure for a long time resulting to continuing issues. Assessment of the quality of life and patient satisfaction (not success) rate is said to be at 95% for current laser eye techniques, according to BM Bieler's "Quality of Life After LASIK: The Picture Remains Hazy."

Many folks are very optimistic with the results of laser eye treatment. You really ought to weigh the options and realize the risks. There are risks and there are benefits, but if the benefits outweigh the risk, then refractive operation is for you.

Find out more about Laser Eye Treatment HQ - your source of the latest news and technologies on laser eye treatment, eye surgery, and more.

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Levels of Laser Eye Surgery Aftercare Have Made the Treatment Viable for So Many

For many people, the idea of getting laser eye surgery is nerve wracking. It is not because of any fear of technology but instead comes from the sense of protection we all have about an area of our bodies that is so delicate. For that reason alone, private hospitals offering laser procedures to treat eye conditions know that they must assure their patients that they care.

The truth is that providing the expected level of service, in particular for procedures like eye surgery, requires a properly structured and carefully considered system of aftercare. It is expected to such a degree that it is generally offered as standard, helping calm the nerves some may have over such procedures, while also projecting a sympathetic image.

Even experienced ophthalmologists will point out that, in providing full eye care to the general public, there is a need to provide psychological comforts that consumers want to provide a sense of certainty that helps them to feel better about procedures they might be fearful of.

If it comes to a choice between a public hospital with a comfortable bed, and a private hospital where a speedy service sees patients ushered out the door, then the most viable option is the former.

Importance of Aftercare

Of course, the importance of aftercare hardly needs to be pointed out. Everyone that has undergone a surgical procedure needs to be observed and assessed in order to ensure the best possible results. Put simply, the responsibilities of the ophthalmologist that performed laser surgery, and indeed the hospital where it occurred, do not end when the patient gets off the operating table.

Aftercare is available in a number of stages. First, for all post surgery patients, there is need to recuperate under supervision but while this once meant a night or more in a hospital bed, today it means an hour in a lounge. The fact that laser surgery only takes about 20 minutes per eye means that the procedure for the patient is very quickly finished.

But the need to observe matters after the procedure means that the patient must be allowed to wait in a lounge area, where they can relax before going home. It also gives the surgeon an opportunity to speak to the patient and examine the eye again.

The second stage involves returning to the hospital a few days after the procedure so that the surgeon can take another look at how recovery is progressing. Since the patient is able to return to work the day following the procedure, there is a need to maintain a level of vigilance. The surgeon will have already prescribed eye drops to counter the threat of dry eye and soothe any soreness there may be.

The third stage is an essential service, where the hospital provides a 24 hour emergency number so that should anything happen, like an accident or a sudden pain or ill feeling occur, the patient can make contact with their surgeon and be seen as close to immediately as possible.

Investment in Aftercare

The need to invest in a thorough aftercare service can be considered essential for the simple reason that the world of private health is unforgiving to those who fail to provide the peace of mind that all potential patients demand. When it comes to health, everyone wants to know that they are safe entrusting themselves to the surgeons. It is certainly no different when it comes to the eyes.

Providing aftercare service shows the eye hospital to be attentive to patient needs, professional in what they do and certain in their advice and explanation. With these aspects in place, a patient will feel comfortable and confident. For this reason, a leading eye hospital will invest as much in an aftercare service as they will in the state of the art equipment required to perform the surgical procedures.

For patients requiring laser eye surgery, there is every reason to expect the highest standards in service from what should be a well run and well equipped eye hospital. Whether the recommended procedure is refractive lens exchange to correct refractive errors, or cataract surgery to remove a clouded lens, there are clear distinctions between eye car that is excellent and eye care that is merely good.

Anyone seeking eye surgery is entitled to excellence in this field, and to look for it. If laser surgery on our eyes comes with such certainty of quality in aftercare, then it is the most viable option available.

Kate Dawson writes articles about Clarivu, an alternative to laser eye surgery that results in permanent vision correction. The eye surgery involves a procedure known as refractive lens exchange and is based upon cataract surgery. Patients are provided with post surgery eye care to ensure a fast recovery.

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Macular Degeneration Prevention and Treatment

Aging makes a particular person gradually lose his or her senses including eyesight. Vision is probably one of the most important out of all the senses that people have, and yet the aging process causes it to deteriorate eventually, which may lead to blindness. One of the main causes of losing eyesight is macular degeneration. It can affect people of all ages. Still, most of the people who are affected by this condition are those who are already about fifty to sixty years of age. Some lose sight because of having diabetic retinopathy and seek various treatments including laser eye procedures and other methods. In this article, focus will be given on how to prevent and treat macular degeneration and save the eyesight.

The macula in the eye is a most important component in the vision of a person. However, it can degenerate because of different factors including hypertension, genetics, high level of cholesterol, damage from the sun and smoking. This condition is slow moving and affects one eye first then the other one later. It can take several years before an individual may notice that they are suffering from the condition and by the time that they do notice it, it might be too late already. This is why it is important for everyone to take very good care of vision health and undergo regular checks.

How to Prevent This Condition

A good diet can always help take care of vision. Experts often recommend an increased intake of foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This includes incorporating food items that are high in beta carotene, vitamin D, E, C and zinc. Taking as much important nutrition can always make the overall health of a person, which in turn can maintain his or her vision. Aside from taking a good and nutritious diet, macular degeneration can also be prevented by a nonsurgical treatment called Micro Current Stimulation, which generally improves the health of the macula. Using low vision aids will also protect the overall vision of a person and keeping a healthy lifestyle that will not make the eye suffer. If it is possible to read books or newspapers only in good lighting, individuals must do so.

How to Treat Macular Degeneration

Many experts also recommend continuing the same nutrition rich diet in order to cure this condition. Care can be done at home, and this includes taking an increased dose of zinc and antioxiants and other natural supplements. Most doctors would ask their patients to stop smoking in order to stop the condition from progressing. There are also laser eye treatments that many people have undergone and which have shown a lot of improvement in their visions. This treatment can either stop the degeneration, or at least slow it down. Photodynamic therapy is also available, but it takes about up to a couple of years to complete the treatment. There are also a number of drugs or medications that doctors may prescribe in order to treat macular degeneration. Surgical procedures are also available.

In essence, macular degeneration can cause blindness if it is not treated appropriately and in a timely manner. One of the ways to prevent this is to make sure that people have their eyes tested annually. Once every year is enough, especially if macular degeneration runs in the family. Screening for this disease is mostly free in most clinics because of several groups that are advocates for the prevention of this condition.

As people grow older, there are many age related diseases that may inevitably happen and this includes macular degeneration. Once any individual reaches the age of 60, he or she will be more prone to acquiring this eye condition. Keeping a healthy lifestyle by eating the right kind of foods such as vegetables and fish as well as exercising regularly can help reduce the risk of this disease and other eye conditions including diabetic retinotherapy. Because of the advancements in health and science, various treatments and preventive measures are now available such as laser eye treatment.

Kate Dawson writes articles for Immaculate about a leading centre for ophthalmic services and laser eye surgery. The centre provides a range of different services for many different eye conditions, including macular degeneration and diabetic retinotherapy.

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There Is Only One Treatment for Cataracts

Do you know what the most common type of surgery performed in the United States is each year? Cataract surgery. Over one and a half million cataract surgeries are performed each year, restoring clear vision to those that have lost some (or, in extreme cases, all) of their vision in one or both eyes.

Cataracts can actually be present at birth, but are more commonly associated with advanced age. They are caused by abnormal growth of the eye's lens, which lies behind the pupil. The lens of the eye grows throughout a person's life, and abnormalities in that growth can lead to a clouding of the lens which obstructs vision. Cataracts can occur in one or both of the eyes, independent of each other, and do not spread from one eye to the other.

Although cataracts are associated with advanced age, that is not the sole cause of the condition. In fact, there are many different potential factors that could lead to the formation of cataracts:

• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition
• Other eye disease, including glaucoma
• Dehydration
• Excessive exposure to radiation

One other potential cause of cataracts is genetic...you can inherit a predisposition to developing cataracts from your family; this is the reason that cases of at-birth cataracts happen.

Cataracts cause a wide variety of symptoms, all related to the loss of vision. Blurry or cloudy vision can be a sign of the formation of cataracts, as can a faded color vision. Problems with light are also common in those with cataracts, including a loss of night vision and the sensation of lights appearing too bright. The last two can combine to make nighttime driving especially troublesome due to the headlights of oncoming vehicles.

There is only one known treatment for cataracts...surgery. However, there are different types of cataract surgery; which one is selected is determined by the severity of the cataracts and the overall health of the eye. One type removes only the lens, leaving the capsule in which it rests in place. The second, more invasive type, removes both the lens and capsule.

The good news is that there's a very high success rate for cataract surgery, which means that developing cataracts in one or both of your eyes is not a guarantee that you will lose your vision. If you experience any of the symptoms of cataracts, check with your doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

Med News Post, provides health and medical news. We monitor health stories from around the world. The information is timely and well researched. http://mednewspost.com/

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Deciding Whether to Get Laser Eye Treatment or Contact Lenses

The allure of laser eye treatments is to rid you of eyeglasses. Wearing contact lenses is also another means to experience this kind of freedom.

So the final challenge would be: what should I prefer - wearing contact lenses or undergoing laser eye treatment?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of vision correction.

For those who always receive constantly changing prescriptions, refractive surgery is not appropriate for them. This is because the sight may likely alter soon after the procedure, resulting to using glasses, contact lens, or more surgeries to experience clearer eyesight. Disposable lenses can be purchased in small quantities (e.g. 3 months at a time) and the prescription can be updated before each purchase.

If your Rx is very high, laser eye operation will not be able to altogether rectify your sight. Disposable contact lenses get limitations as well, but these restrictions can correct a wider scope of prescriptions. Conventional (or yearly) contact lenses can be specially made to suit even higher prescriptions.

If you have an uneven shaped cornea (the front of the eye), eye surgeries cannot be performed to rectify this. This is generally the case with injury to the eyes or eye diseases affecting the cornea. To right this, RGP (ripid gas permeable or hard) contact lenses are used. Due to the rigid form of the material, the contact lens vaults over the irregular cornea, effectively creating a new, smooth front surface. This in turn gives greater optical clarity compared to soft contact lens.

Although the above three points seem to imply the superiority of contact lenses, there are disadvantages to as well. The disadvantages are specialties where laser eye treatment excels in.

Contact lenses demand habitual upkeep. This means that never-ending insertion, removal, cleaning, and maintaining it can be a trouble. In comparison to laser eye operation, once the eye is recovered, no additional care is required.

Contact lens wear requires the placement of a comparatively big foreign body into the eye. These plastic pieces are often in eyes for long hours. Due to the nature of contact lens wear, you are at a greater risk of eye infections. The risk becomes especially higher if one sleeps while wearing it or fails to properly maintain them. Compared to eye surgery, once the eye is recovered, no maintenance is essential.

A lot of folks need and want the freedom from wearing spectacles, especially for certain activities like playing sports. Rough sports like kickboxing rugby and even swimming can easily dislodge contact lenses. Not only can these sports reposition the lenses, wearing them while doing these activities can also cause them to pop out. Naturally, this will no longer be an issue after having laser eye treatment.

Comparing contact lenses versus laser eye treatment will result to many advantages and disadvantages within the two. The best way to answer this question to find out whether which one is more appropriate for you, set up an appointment with the local optometrist as they are the ones qualified to give professional ideas.

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