Posted on July 20, 2010 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
Patients are often surprised during their LASIK and PRK consultations by the following tidbits:
1. TWO lasers are usually used to perform LASIK. The first is the Intralase that is used to create the corneal flap. The second is the CustomVUE laser that corrects the unique imperfections of an individual’s eyes.
2. LASIK and PRK only take a few minutes to perform, and it is done in the office surgical suite.
3. Most LASIK patients can drive themselves to their follow-up visit the day after their surgery!
4. Eye Doctors of Washington charges a flat fee for LASIK and PRK. We don’t charge you more for the more advanced Intralase and CustomVUE technology.
5. LASIK and PRK do not prevent the natural changes that occur over time within the eye. That means you may still need reading glasses in middle age and develop cataracts later in life.
6. Having LASIK or PRK now doesn’t preclude you from having cataract surgery in the future. And having cataract surgery now doesn’t preclude you from having LASIK or PRK in the future.
7. You can fly in a plane right after your LASIK or PRK surgery. The changes in pressure will not affect your eye surgery.
8. LASIK is affordable! With the myriad promotions that Eye Doctors of Washington runs and interest-free financing, we’re confident we can help you make it work.
Posted on June 25, 2010 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have suggested that individuals who struggle with math, handwriting, and motor skills may have eye cells that don’t work properly. The magno cells of the eye “respond to rapid movements, transmitting signals from the eye to the brain.” If there is a problem with the magno cells, the researchers say, then the eye cells may be the cause of the person’s difficulties, not his or her brain. The study showed that children who have difficulties with math have low visual perception, and those who excel in Math have excellent visual perception. Our eyes process information from our environment through these magno cells. If something small goes wrong with them, it may have significant consequences that result in learning disabilities.
Posted on May 20, 2010 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
While most of us wear sunglasses to make it more comfort
able for us when we’re outside, we should all be wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause the development of cataracts, increase your risk of macular degeneration, cause benign growth on your eyes, and can actually sunburn your eyes (called photokeratitis).
Sunglasses with a wrap-around frame offer the most coverage but they should block 100% of UV rays. In fact, if you’re wearing sunglasses that don’t offer UV protection, you may actually increase your potential for damaging your eyes. Those dark sunglasses cause your eyes to dilate, opening them up to more UV exposure. And since UV rays easily penetrate cloud cover, you should wear your sunglasses outside on overcast days as well.
Unfortunately, by the time we realize we need to protect our eyes, most of the damage has been done. Approximately 80% of the UV ray our eyes will be exposed to occurs before the age of 18. So get your kids some cool shades to protect their eyes for the future!
Posted on April 27, 2010 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
“When I was having a lot of problems with my eyesight, my optometrist whom I really respect, Dr. Barry Ephraim, referred me to Dr. Clinch with Eye Doctors of Washington. I was very impressed with Dr. Clinch and all of the staff there. They were professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. They were also punctual about appointment times– I never had to wait for long periods of time. Dr. Clinch took a lot of time to explain all the details of my cataract surgery to me and to answer all of my questions. My surgery went smoothly, and both Dr. Clinch and the staff of the surgery center called to check on my recovery. Immediately after surgery, I could see clearly. It really was amazing! I would definitely recommend Dr. Clinch to anyone who needs eye surgery.” -Carolyn
Posted on February 12, 2010 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
Below are some of the most common questions we get about LASIK at Eye Doctors of Washington. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our office.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a laser vision correction surgery that utilizes laser energy to correct an individuals nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. In fact, there are two lasers that are used. The Intralase creates a corneal flap in the first step of the surgery. That flap is lifted by the surgeon and the second laser, the VISX S4 CustomVue laser, actually corrects your prescription by flattening or steepening your cornea.
Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
Good candidates for LASIK are 21 years of age or older, have a stable prescription, and have no corneal abnormalities. Most people don’t know if they have corneal abnormalities, so the purpose of the complimentary LASIK consultation is to determine if your cornea is healthy for LASIK. Contact lens wearers will need to come out of their contact lenses for a period of time before their preoperative exam.
How long does it take?
The LASIK procedure takes a few minutes. Patients are in the operating suite for about 15 or 20 minutes, on average. It is cold in there to keep the lasers happy, so be sure to being a sweater.
Does it hurt?
No, it doesn’t hurt. We use topical numbing drops during the surgery so you shouldn’t feel any pain. There is some pressure associated with the creation of the corneal flap using the Intralase. If you close your eye and firmly push on your eyelid, the pressure is about the same.
I have an astigmatism. Can I still have LASIK?
Absolutely. The FDA has approved LASIK for individuals who are nearsighted, farsighted, and have astigmatism.
I have more questions. Who do I contact?
The Refractive Team at EDOW would be happy to answer any questions you have over the phone or via email. Please call 240-482-1220 or go to our contact form to send us an email. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Posted on December 17, 2009 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
The frequency of myopia among Asians and other is on the rise and appears to increase with education. A study was conducted in Singapore in 1992 to investigate the prevalence of nearsightedness (known as myopia) as one’s education increased. The findings were astonishing: Just over 15% of male subjects with little education were myopic compared to 65% of the male subjects that were university graduates. A 1994 study found that almost 87% of first year students at the University of Hong Kong were myopic. In other words, in a class of 50 college students, approximately 43 needed glasses or contacts. A separate study found that over 70% of school age children in Taiwan are nearsighted. The studies with results like these go on and on. So, can we prevent this from continuing and how do we treat it?
The speculations about the causes of increased myopia are myriad. Some think optometrists are conspiring against the public and are prescribing glasses to children unnecessarily to make money! More often, it is hypothesized that genetics, increased up-close work like video games and computers, and a decrease in the time children spent outside are contributing to the rise in the frequency and severity of myopia.
The treatment for high myopia is strong glasses, strong contact lenses, laser vision correction like LASIK, and implantable contact lens surgery like Visian. In fact, the Visian ICL was designed specifically for individuals with very high degress of nearsightedness. Because of the prevalence of myopia among the Asian population, a study that was publised earlier this year involved placing the Visian ICL in only Asian eyes. The lens that was used also corrected astigmatism. The results were very similar to the results of the FDA clinical trials: after 6 months, almost 95% of all subjects could see 20/25 or better without correction. Remember that these are high myopes who probably couldn’t even see the eye chart when they were evaluated for surgery!
So with myopia on the rise we anticipate more and more people will see out correction for their vision using the Visian ICL. For more information about the Visian ICL, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Posted on November 16, 2009 in EDOWs' Blog, Latest News
LATISSE™ is a treatment for inadequate eyelashes available only by prescription from your doctor. It helps eyelashes grow, making them longer, thicker, and darker.
Using LATISSE is easy. Before going to bed, place one drop of the Latisse solution on the applicator. Then draw the applicator carefully across the skin of the upper eyelid at the base of the eyelashes moving from the inner part of your lash line near your nose to the outer part.
There is a small group of people who are allergic to one of the ingredients of Latisse. In addition, if you have been told you have eye pressure problems or have a family history of glaucoma, please let me know during you initial consultation. Of course if you are presently using drops for eye pressure or have a history of glaucoma, please schedule a complete eye exam before starting Latisse.
The most common side effect is an itching sensation or redness of the eye. In addition, Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin, which may be reversible. Although not reported in the clinical trial, Latisse may cause brown pigment to deposit in the color part of the eye of certain individuals, and this likely to be permanent. It is important to allow me to do a close eye exam to determine if you are at risk.
Stop by our Facial Rejuvenation Center to determine if Latisse will work for you!
