Optometrists are commonly confused to either dispensing opticians or ophthalmologists. Physicians that conduct eye surgery, diagnoses as well as cure eye injuries and diseases are called ophthalmologists. They also look into the eyes and recommend eyeglasses as well as contact lenses when needed like optometrists do. Dispensing opticians are those who fit and make modifications to eyeglasses and they may also fit contact lenses depending on any prescription from the optometrists or ophthalmologists.

Maintaining ocular health and correcting eye problems that may decrease your vision capabilities can promote greatly the capacity of a person to appreciate having a longer lifespan that is allowed by medicines to continue.

Doctors of optometry are also known as optometrist. They are also identified to be the primary providers of care to the vision of individuals. They perform examinations on people’s eyes to make a diagnosis to problems like farsightedness or nearsightedness. They also test the patient’s color and depth of perception and his/her ability to coordinate and focus the eyes. Optometrists can recommend contact lenses or eyeglasses, spectacle lenses, perform surgical procedures and can provide treatments such as low-vision rehabilitation or vision therapy.

Doctor of optometry nature of work includes performing a test for any development of glaucoma along with other eye diseases at the same time diagnose for conditions brought about by systemic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. They also recommend medications to cure vision problems or any eye diseases. There are some who give pre and post operative instructions to patients with cataracts along with patients who had corrective laser surgery in the past. Optometrists, like other physicians, urges preventive measures by stimulating hygiene education and nutrition to patients so as to decrease the risk of any eye disease to occur.

While most doctors of optometry work as primarily a care optometrist, there are others that prefer to dedicate themselves in a particular field such as geriatrics, contact lenses, vision therapy or pediatrics. This leads to a rising number of doctors of optometry to form group practice wherein every member focuses on a certain field while remaining still a full scope on their own practice. Other optometrists became professors or instructors while others perform researches and even consultations.

Their nature of work has been widespread are directed onto several fields but almost all of them are private practitioners that can handle as well business aspects such as managing an office, hiring employees, setting up a patient base, holding on to paper and electronic records and purchasing supplies and equipments.

Farsightedness and laser eye surgery may not seem to be a good option at first glance. But the success of LASIK has proven that there is finally a surgical technique to correct this vision problem.

What is Hyperopia or farsightedness? It’s a vision problem where persons can see distant objects clearly but experience difficulty in seeing objects close up.

In a normal eye, the light that enters focuses directly on the retina. Those with farsightedness, experience light as focusing behind the retina. This happens when the corneas are flatter, or the eye is shorter.

Is this option: farsightedness and laser eye surgery worth looking into? Yes and a brief explanation of how LASIK and CK works, both recommended surgical techniques for this condition would help you make up your mind.

CK stands for Conductive Keratoplasty and is an FDA approved procedure. In this operation, a small probe, thinner than a strand of human hair, is used to release radiofrequency (RF) energy. The probe goes around in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to shrink small areas of corneal tissue. This circular shrinkage pattern creates a constrictive band (think of the belt tightening the waistline) and increasing the curvature of the cornea.

During the LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgical procedure, the surgeon will fold the flap and remove corneal tissue underneath by the use of the excimer laser. This very precise laser removes very tiny bits of tissue thereby reshaping it. Of the two, which option for farsightedness and laser eye surgery, should you consider?

The advantages OF LASIK are it’s an older technique compared to CK which was just recently approved by FDA in 2002. Operation time is relatively fast, from 15 to 45 seconds on each eye. Improvement in vision is felt within 24 hours.

For CK, improved surgical techniques and technology make has made it a more stable technique. It is also non-invasive, there are no knives, or lasers or instruments inserted into the eyes. So it causes fewer complications. This operation normally takes 15 minutes to perform, and compared to LASIK it will take a week before you see improvement in your vision.

Which of these two options for farsightedness and laser eye surgery techniques is the best for you? Do some preliminary research, and make it an in-depth research on each option. Ask your optometrist, which eye surgeon, she or he believes you should see. In the initial consultation, you’ll find out which procedure works for you.

What’s worth remembering is you free yourself from using contacts or eyeglasses. There is a cure for farsightedness and laser eye surgery is it!

The ReSTOR lens can be used by people seeking treatment for:

Cataracts

Presbyopia

It’s also available for anyone who has neither of these conditions, but who would like to gain more freedom from wearing glasses or contact lenses. This is an off-label use, meaning it’s not (yet) approved by the FDA, but is legal and appropriate in the right circumstances.

Cataracts

There are 3 types of cataracts, classified according to how they form and develop. But all are slow-growing areas of opaqueness in the lens of our eye.

The light rays coming to our eyes can’t pass freely through these opaque areas, but instead are scattered. So vision becomes blurry and we notice extra brightness near light sources.

Cataract surgery

In this procedure, eye surgeons remove the natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL) made of a clear plastic. It’s usually focused for distance vision. So it restores our full visual acuity for distance vision and we must still wear reading glasses.

Presbyopia

When we reach the age of 40 or so, most of us notice reduced near-distance vision. We need glasses for reading. This sometimes seems to be hyperopia (farsightedness), because we can often see quite well in the distance, but not close up.

But presbyopia has a different cause than hyperopia. It’s not caused by the shape of our corneas, but by a combination of two age-associated tendencies:

1. The lens is becoming more stiff, so it doesn’t change its shape so easily to allow us to focus at all distances

2. The tiny muscles that control the lens’ shape are becoming weaker.

The result is diminishing near-distance vision. Eventually far-distance vision is affected also.
The main treatment for presbyopia so far has been monovision, where one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. The brain learns to see this way after a month or two, and it works well for some people. But this treatment is not for everyone.
What is the ReSTOR lens?

The ReSTOR lens is a type of IOL which can replace the natural lens and improve both near- and far-distance vision. It’s like a bi-focal lens. Unlike our natural lens, it doesn’t work in conjunction with our eye muscles, and change its shape when we focus at different distances.

It’s designed with a series of steps which are larger in the center of the lens and become progressively smaller towards the edges (known as apodization). This causes progressively less energy to be directed to close-up focus. It distributes light according to how wide or small the eye’s pupil is, and regardless of the light in the environment.

It’s designed in two parts.

One part is an apodized diffractive lens, used for near distances

The other is a refractive lens used for far distances

In between is an area for mid-range distance. So it enables you to see at all distances without glasses or contact lenses. Results are better if both eyes have a ReSTOR lens, and there’s usually a wait in between the two surgeries of about a month.

Who is a candidate?

There are no known medical contraindications.

If you have cataract surgery, it’s definitely a good choice of IOL to replace your natural lens.

If you have presbyopia, it’s a good option, whether or not you have cataracts.

If you have neither cataracts nor presbyopia, you could be a candidate as long as:

If you have poor eyesight and you have worn eyeglasses or contact lenses all your life, then you might want to consider LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK is the acronym for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileuses. This is a procedure where the patient has to undergo surgery to reduce or totally eliminate a person’s poor eyesight.

There are certain eye imperfections that cause poor eyesight. Examples of these are:

- Astigmatism

A person with astigmatism sees ‘distorted’ imaged which is a result of deformities or irregularities on the lenses of the eyes.

- Nearsightedness

A person who is nearsighted has a condition called myopia. Here, the patient experiences difficulties seeing objects at a distance.

- Farsightedness

On the other hand, a person who is farsighted sees far objects without difficulty but the same does not apply to near objects. This condition is
also called hyperopia.

To treat these ailments, LASIK eye surgery is used, and this is the most common method of refractive surgery performed for patients nowadays.

‘The Procedure’

In LASIK surgery, there is a knife-like tool that is mainly used for the procedure: the microkeratome.

This is used to produce a very thin and rounded flap in the clear, outer layer covering the front or the eye which is the cornea. A more technologically-advanced way to create this flap is by the use of laser.

The shape of the cornea is changed permanently once this surgery is performed.

After the flap on one side of the eye is produced, this is folded back to reveal the stroma. The stroma is the mid-section of the cornea.

Afterwards, the microkeratome or the laser beam will vaporize a part of the stroma by producing computer-controlled pulses.

Then, the flap is put back into place after making the necessary corrections.

There are other types of refractive surgery that may be performed on a patient,depending on the degree of visual disability.

‘The Pros & Cons’

This type of surgery that aims to correct poor vision is very popular. Why do you think this is so? Here is a list of the advantages of LASIK eye surgery:

1. You will not feel pain while undergoing the procedure.

2. The results are immediate. Right after the surgery, you will experience an improvement with your eyesight. At the very least, you will get to literally “see” results a day or two after the operation.

Still, there is a downside to this type of medical procedure. Take a look at some of them and decide for yourself if undergoing the surgery is worth the risk:

1. Complications may arise.

Different patients respond differently to treatment. If there are certain health issued that your doctor is not aware of, the procedure may not have positive results.

2. There are certain jobs or profession which prohibit an employee undergoing LASIK eye surgery.

Be sure to check with your employer first if you think that this surgery might in any way inhibit you from doing your work.

3. The procedure is quite costly.

Over the years and because of its gaining popularity, the costs have gone down considerably.

However, it is still quite a hefty amount to squeeze out of your pocket if you are on a budget.

If you plan to undergo this type of surgery, ask your doctor about the
rates.

‘Should You Do It?’

If you are not the type of person to boldly take risks,LASIK eye surgery may not be right for you.

Before deciding to undergo the procedure, make sure that you know about the costs, health risks and take all the necessary precautions.

Also, talk with your doctor about what you should do before, during and after the surgery.

Ask them what you can expect to feel and the results that you will get right after the procedure.

Eye care deserves immense importance for every individual. Delicate eyes and crucial eyesight make eye care as necessary as other aspects in daily life, such as eating healthy foods, physical training in a gym and so forth. The aspect of eye care is even more urgent for individuals who have visual problems already. The basic philosophy of body health is that if one looks after himself, he will receive the most from it.

Visual problems are so common in modern times that millions of folks in the world are being affected by nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, not to say more serious eye diseases. Even if there are various solutions to those common refractive errors such as eyeglasses and contact lenses and even laser eye surgery, patients can hardly get a perfect answer. For instance, most women would be concerned about their look when they must ask for aid from corrective glasses or contact lenses. Eye shadow, eyeliners, mascara, false eyelashes and the like can all be affected by vision corrective devices.

Eye care involves different aspects. One is associated with visual habits in daily life. Eyesight can easily deteriorate if a person does not pay enough attention to his or her ways of using the eyes. Many bad habits can be listed, including watching television constantly, playing video games, sitting too close or near to the computer screen, constant reading and so on.

Another aspect is eye nutrition. Sufficient nutrition is essential for the eyes to maintain health. Nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants are thought to be helpful for eye health. In order to get adequate antioxidants, people should consume foods like orange, kiwi, carrots and grapes. In addition, there are many other foods that are beneficial to the well being of the eyes, such as spinach, green peas, French beans, lettuce, nuts, seeds, pepper, eggs, fish and some poultry products.

Except for good visual habits and eye nutrition, good eye care also involves proper protection against ultraviolet light, eye exercises and so on.

All those considering laser eye surgery would be wondering how laser eye surgery works and what its benefits are. Laser surgery is the most exciting procedure in ophthalmology – the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, and treatment of the eye, among others. Laser eye surgery is a refractive surgery, a procedure that corrects refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (distorted vision).

There are several different surgical techniques performed to correct refractive errors, and according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the laser eye surgery is the most technologically advanced procedure today, for the simple reason that it allows the highest degree of precision.

The first laser approved for eye surgery was the excimer laser, used for correcting mild to moderate myopia. Today, the excimer laser has been approved to be used in two laser eye surgery procedures – Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Before the laser eye surgery, the patient’s eye is mapped and measured. After determining the degree of problem, the corneal change is measured and fed into the laser’s computer. The PRK refractive surgery procedure is done with local anesthetic eye drops. It reshapes the cornea by removing microscopic amounts of tissue from the outer surface. The ultra violet beam of light can precisely cut notches in a strand of human hair and each pulse can remove about a 39 millionth of an inch of cornel tissue in 12 billionths of a second.

Studies show that about 5 percent of those who underwent PRK procedure had to use glasses for their myopic condition and about 15 percent occasionally, while driving.

Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

This procedure is more complex than the PRK procedure. LASIK is performed on all types of myopic conditions. In it, a device known as a Microkeratome is used to cut a flap of corneal tissue, remove the targeted tissue beneath it with the laser, and then replace the flap. In this procedure, the skill of the surgeon matters as he/she is the one making an incision, as compared to PRK where the machine does most of the work.

During laser eye surgery, there is a very little discomfort, and the minor irritation, if any, goes away after a short time. Generally, people can return to their normal routines between one to three days. The only side effects may be glare at night. Normally the laser eye surgeries are permanent, but with age, the eyes change and one may require re-surgery.