The LASIK Directory Blog

This one certainly falls into the category of a feel-good story. Andrew Turowski moved to Chicago from Poland two years ago in order to earn money for his family. When he arrived in Chicago, he took a job tending horses for a local couple who were also Polish immigrants. The couple clearly recognized that Turowski's poor eye sight impacted his life, and they wanted to help.

Turowski's nearsightedness is so severe, he is considered legally blind. He is not a candidate for LASIK because his vision is too poor for the procedure to be effective. Ophthalmologists in Poland have told him for years that nothing could be done to correct his vision.

In an act of extreme generosity, the couple offered to pay for Turowski's implantable contact lens procedure, which generally costs about $8,000. They were happy to provide their employee and friend with the gift of sight.

Implantable contact lens surgery is similar to cataract surgery, except in this procedure, the eye's natural lens is not removed. Instead, an implantable contact lens is placed behind the iris and in front of the eye's natural lens. The results of the surgery are almost immediate.

Turowski shed tears of joy after his procedure. He has endured poor vision since childhood. When he finally returns to Poland, he will be able to see his family clearly for the first time.

Please contact the LASIK directory today to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

Bausch and Lomb has just released the Crystalens Aspheric Optic (AO), a lens to be used in the treatment of cataracts. The new Crystalens AO is the first aberration-free accommodating intraocular lens with aspheric optics.

A primary benefit of this product is that it enhances retinal image quality without sacrificing depth of field. Bausch and Lomb executives have released statements claiming that the Crystalens AO will soon become a leader in cataract treatment technology.

Cataracts are one of the most common age-related visual disorders affecting Americans today. As part of the aging process, the proteins in your eye's lens may deteriorate and clump together, forming cataracts. The result is a clouding of your eye's lens which reduces the amount of light that hits the retina.

If untreated, cataracts will eventually lead to blindness. The condition can be treated through cataract surgery, which generally involves removing your damaged lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens. The new Crystalens AO from Bausch and Lomb is the latest IOL to be released for use in cataract surgery.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. As a result, many eye care organizations are increasing their efforts to educate the general population about the dangers of glaucoma
and the need for preventative screenings.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among elderly people in the United States. Increased pressure in your eye results in damage to the optic nerve, which relays information from your eyes to your brain. At first, peripheral vision diminishes. However, over time, untreated glaucoma will lead to blindness.

Early detection is crucial to successful treatment of glaucoma. By treating the disease in its early stages, you can greatly reduce the damage to your vision.

As the baby boomer generation enters their 60s, the health care costs associated with treating the degenerative eye disease are expected to skyrocket. Glaucoma already costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion a year in medical expenses and prescription drug services, and this figure will most likely increase in the upcoming years. Glaucoma patients between the ages of 40 and 64 generally spend more than $3,000 a year on treatment, and patients over the age of 65 spend more than $5,000.

Ophthalmologists recommend going for regular eye exams that include a glaucoma screening at least once every two years once you reach the age of 40. The stakes are too high to put off these screenings. If you fail to catch glaucoma in time, you risk losing your eyesight forever.

Please contact the LASIK Directory to find an experienced ophthalmologist in your area.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in the world today. Cataracts are created when protein in the lens of your eye builds up and creates blurry vision. Sometimes cataracts can have a cloudy appearance on your pupil.

Currently, there is no conclusive answer to the question: What causes cataracts? Some studies show that exposure to UV radiation or diseases such as diabetes can contribute to developing cataracts.

When you are meeting with your cataract surgeon, ask how the procedure is going to take place. Cataract surgery has become more advanced in recent years, and what used to require needles to anesthetize the eye now only requires anesthetic drops. If you are considering having cataract surgery at a facility where they still use needles to anesthetize, you should look elsewhere!

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the procedure and ask your cataract surgeon about the type of lens replacements they use. Some of the more advanced options include Crystalens accommodating lens and Tecnis Multifocal lenses, which unlike traditional lens replacements, can be used to focus near far and everywhere in between. Crystalens is the first and only FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens that uses the natural focusing ability of the eye.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find a qualified cataract surgeon in your area.

Choosing the right eye physician is an important step in taking good care of the physical health of your eyes. There are a wide variety of options out there for people and it can sometimes be confusing.

Ophthalmologist vs. Optometrist

Many people may not be familiar with the differences between ophthalmologists and optometrists. An optometrist has earned a Doctorate of Optometry degree and works with patients primarily on issues relating to vision, such as correcting refractive errors and other vision related issues. They are licensed to prescribe medications to patients and administer eye exams and checkups.

Ophthalmologists have medical degrees with specialties in vision and ocular care. Like optometrists they also administer eye exams. Ophthalmologists are able to perform eye surgery on the patients to correct a variety of vision disorders, including:

• Refractive errors
  
• Glaucoma
  
• Cataracts
  
• Age-related macular degeneration
  

Ophthalmologists commonly perform LASIK surgery on patients looking to correct vision issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. When considering potential ophthalmologists, it is important to choose one who has a great deal of experience performing the type of eye surgery you require and who uses the latest and most advanced technology.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

It is not uncommon for dogs and cats to develop cataracts as they age. Your pet's eye can become white and cloudy just like a human eye due to the aging process. If untreated, cataracts in animals will lead to the same result as cataracts in humans -- blindness.

Untreated cataracts and the associated blindness can greatly reduce your pet's quality of life. In particular, it will make your pet much less active, which may result in other dangerous conditions such as obesity.

Fortunately, it is possible to perform cataract surgery on animals in order to repair their damaged vision. While this surgery is quite expensive, costing several thousand dollars, many pet owners say it is well worth the investment.

Cataract surgery for animals is very similar to the surgery performed on humans, and the same equipment is used on both procedures. During surgery, the proteins clouding the lens of your pet's eye will be removed.

The procedure will be performed under general anesthesia and your pet will need stitches. Other than that, there are no real complications associated with the surgery, and your pet will once again enjoy the gift of sight.

Please contact the LASIK Directory to find an experienced cataract surgeon in your area.

A woman from Massachusetts is currently seeking donations to help pay for her turkey's cataract surgery. Around Thanksgiving, she and her husband adopted two turkeys from a farm in Rhode Island.

One, a three-year-old turkey named Jerry, suffers from cataracts, which greatly impair his quality of life. Jerry cannot eat without assistance, and he is unable to fly with Penelope, the other turkey purchased by the woman.

The woman has posted an ad on Craigslist in an attempt to raise money for this expensive surgery, which will run approximately $2,600. She is hoping fellow pet lovers will come to her aid so that Jerry can have the life he deserves. The woman runs a farm in Rehoboth, Massachusetts that cares for animals with health problems.

While far less common than human cataract surgery, there have been several instances where other animals have undergone this procedure. Often, it has been successful, helping these animals lead a healthier, happier life. If you are in the giving spirit this holiday season and want to make a difference in the life of a turkey, you can look for this woman's ad on Craigslist to find additional information on how to donate to the cause.