What are Toric IOLs?
The 20 to 30 percent of cataract patients each year who also suffer from astigmatism have not always had the best options when it came to achieving complete vision improvement after cataract surgery. While their cataracts, and possibly any nearsightedness and farsightedness, could all be corrected with intraocular lens (IOLs), these patients’ astigmatism issues were not improved after the cataract removal and lens exchange surgery. Most of those patients had to remain in prescription glasses or contact lenses. Or they had to undergo another surgical procedure, such as LASIK, Custom LASIK or PRK, or a procedure called a limbal relaxation incision, which also alters the shape of the cornea. Today, the cutting-edge technology of premium Toric IOLs makes treating astigmatism in cataract patients a lot easier, and a lot more successful.
Toric IOLs and Astigmatism
Astigmatism, which is basically blurry vision from an irregularly-shaped cornea, is not a rare condition. In the U.S., it affects one in every six adults. Toric IOLs work to eliminate or reduce astigmatism by correcting the visual imbalance caused by the abnormal shape of the cornea. (A “perfect” cornea is circular. A cornea causing astigmatism is oval-shaped.)
Here are a few more facts about Toric IOLs:
- They are safe and made from non-toxic, long-lasting silicone or acrylic.
- They are flexible and easily inserted, with no history of after-implantation problems.
- They are removable, if for any reason they need to be replaced with another IOL.
- They are considered one of the most ideal solutions for patients with both cataracts and astigmatism.
Two Toric IOLs are manufactured right now, the STAAR® Toric IOL™ and the AcrySof® Toric IOL. The STAAR product has been FDA-approved for a decade now, and the AcrySof IOL has been approved for nearly five years.
Could a Toric IOL be the right choice for you?
The first step in determining if a Toric IOL is the best option for you is to have an experienced and knowledgeable cataract surgeon verify that you have a significant degree of astigmatism, in addition to a cataract that needs removal.
If your eye doctor finds that you do have a moderate to high level of astigmatism, you may want to pursue a Toric IOL placement.
If you live in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area and want to learn more about Toric IOLs and how they might help you re-establish perfect vision after cataract surgery, please contact the Toric IOLs and cataract experts at Hummel Eye Associates, serving Oklahoma patients for 40 years. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/what-are-toric-iols-1017567.html
Specialization of EpiLASIK/SUPERLASIK for Unique Eye Types
Most people do not have flawless eyes. Maybe you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, and have a unique eye that makes you an unsuccessful candidate for traditional LASIK surgery. If you do, there are other options, such as superLASIK and epiLASIK.
How LASIK works
Traditional LASIK surgery utilizes an excimer laser, a cool ultraviolet laser that corrects a misshaped cornea. Your cornea is the front surface of your eye that light passes through while traveling to your retina. The light that passes behind your cornea and forms an image on your retina, which is transmitted by your optic nerve to your brain.
If your cornea is misshaped, the light rays bend at the incorrect angle, focusing behind or in front of your retina instead of on top of it. This creates vision problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Or, if your cornea contains small abnormalities in its circular shape, the light rays are received out of focus, which leads to blurred vision.
The excimer laser is used to vaporize miniscule pieces of your corneal tissue, which fixes the shape and surface of your cornea. This allows the rays of light to focus sharply on your retina and you may see clearly.
Role of your corneal flap
Before Dr. Khanna applies the laser beam on to your cornea to reshape it, he must cut a small flap on surface of your cornea and bend back to expose underlying tissue. The laser is then directed on that tissue and the flap is replaced. It heals itself in several days.
Corneal issues
If your corneas are too thin or too flat, traditional LASIK surgery is not advised. If your cornea is too thick, the little flap that must be cut may not be feasible. A flap that is completely detached will not heal correctly, and a flap that is does not fold back far enough will block the laser. Both will result in an unsuccessful procedure.
If your cornea is too flat, removing some of the tissue will just make your cornea flatter and your vision will not be improved.
SuperLASIK
The superLASIK procedure is ideal for anyone who has thin or abnormal corneas and cannot undergo standard LASIK surgery. A safer and more stable procedure, superLASIK blends PRK and LASIK with the use of an epikeratome instead of the microkeratome. This FDA-approved device raises a consistent 50 micron flap, which is even thinner than the flap created with Intralase.
Also, rather than using an alcohol-based solution to loosen the edges of the flap before its edges are lifted back–as in LASEK–a very fine plastic tool called an epithelial separator is used. This instrument is used instead of the alcohol solution because sometimes the alcohol may cause your epithelial cells to die. Because these cells comprise the surface cells on your cornea, your eye must actually grow more of these cells around the edges of the cut flap in order to heal properly.
Because there is no distortion to the design of your cornea, superLASIK provides a safer method of vision correction surgery for most people ages 18 and over. If you suffer from the following conditions, you may not be a candidate for this procedure:
- Keratoconus
- Pellucid marginal degeneration
- Other corneal diseases
- Some immunological disease
- Cataracts (in some cases)
The epithelial separator is in some ways a safer, more effective alternative to traditional LASIK. While vision improvement takes longer with epiLASIK, if you suffer from a thin cornea, this procedure is an ideal way to avoid complications.
If you or a loved one lives in Los Angeles and has a unique cornea, please contact our Orange County Office to schedule your free vision screening. Orange County ophthalmologist Dr. Khanna can help you find the procedure that is right for you. Please call today. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/specialization-of-epilasiksuperlasik-for-unique-eye-types-1017572.html
Enjoying an Active Life with Improved Vision
Many people with good vision don’t realise how lucky they are in being able to be as active as they feel like without their eyesight hampering their lives. For some people, unfortunately, poor eyesight can get in the way of leading an active life, which can be a cruel occurrence for sporting fans or parents with active children.
Kids love to run around and play, and parents should be able to take part in this. Playing with your children and taking an active interest in their games and activities is an important bonding tool that helps to seal your relationship for years to come. The more you bond with your child, the closer you become – which is why having the physical ability to take part in their games is so important. If your vision is holding you back from this, then you could be missing out on a crucial part of life that your children will grow up remembering.
Whether it’s taking part in outdoor games or even simple, relaxed activities like reading or helping them with their homework, bad eyesight can hinder many people to the extent that they simply cannot undertake these things and both parent and child experiences a loss.
On the sporting field, bad eyesight can mean poor judgement of distance and speed, and poor depth perception could lead to dangerous outcomes. What’s more, even if these aspects of your vision are okay, insufficient quality of vision could mean that games like cricket and tennis are off the cards because you simply cannot make out where the ball is – a disappointing result for enthusiasts of the game.
So what can you do to correct these problems and lead a happy, more active life without being hindered by your vision? In terms of enabling you to run around more, glasses don’t tend to be the best option, and many people tire of using contact lenses daily – when the most desired solution would just be to have good eyes in the first place.
That’s why it might be worth looking into laser eye surgery. Although many people may see this option as an expensive one, the results will instantly prove that the treatment is worth every penny, especially when the costs of glasses and contact lenses are considered. Following just one safe, speedy procedure, patients can find their vision improving significantly – meaning a whole new world of activity suddenly becomes open to them.
Whether sports mean a great deal to you or you want to be able to bond with your kids over the things that matter most to them, laser eye surgery could really offer you the freedom you’re searching for.
Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/enjoying-an-active-life-with-improved-vision-1019498.html
How To Get Your Eye Sight Back
Most people get to a place where they don’t see as well as they use to. Things aren’t as clear when we try to read or perhaps the characters are a little more blurry on the TV program you were watching. To avoid the dreaded news that you will have to break down and get glasses permanently, most people would just prefer to head to the store and purchase a pair of over the counter reading glasses. They prefer the temporary fix instead of the truth. That truth is you finally have to wear some type corrective lens if you ever want to see better again. So how do you get your eye sight back!
Wearing eye glasses or contact lens will not help get your eye sight back. They are a crutch you can use that will help for the time being but nothing more. It would be the same thing as if you had a cut on your arm and you put a band aid over the cut. The band aid will only protect the cut but it won’t cure it. That is what eye glasses and contact lens do for you.
So is it really possible to get your eye sight back? The answer to that question is a definite yes. I never thought it possible myself until I stumbled upon some information that helped me understand exactly how your eyes work. Your eyes have internal and external muscles. The internal muscles change the shape of your lens which helps you focus. Each of your eyes has a pair of external muscles that change the shape of the entire eyeball. Your eyes can adjust to near and far vision.
The key to help get your eye sight back is to relax those muscles and let them function naturally. Research has shown that some of the main reasons people start having vision problems is because of mental strain brought on by pressures in the family, at school, in the work force, personal relationships, etc.
By becoming more aware of your eye muscles, you can correct your poor vision with time. Try relaxing your eyes during the day. You can do this simply by just closing your eyes and enjoy the darkness. When you do open your eyes, stare at the world in a relaxed way, not with a frown on your face. Try to think pleasant and loving thoughts more and this will help relax your eyes and soften. With learning these steps and more, you can get your eye sight back.
Adrienne Smith is a work at home business owner and she enjoys helping others find the same success. Having had poor eyesight herself from many hours of computer work, she was thrilled to learn of these amazing methods that have improved her eyesight. If you would like to learn more about the methods mentioned above, please be sure to visit How To Get Your Eyesight Back today. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/how-to-get-your-eye-sight-back-1025386.html