Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes- Part 4

This is the final installment of cool facts about dolphin eyes that we learned about from Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld.

“Dolphin eyes ‘glow’ at night! Just like cats and dogs, dolphins have a layer of reflective cells behind their retina which helps them see better in low light conditions.”

It would be pretty cool if we could make our patients’ eyes glow in the dark. Unfortunately, technology just doesn’t allow us to do that yet.

What we do see, however, is the ‘glow’ of many of our patients’ faces after they’ve had a successful LASIK procedure. This glow may come immediately after the procedure, when they can read a clock on the wall, or it may come several visits later when their vision has stabilized and they realize what type of freedom they now have. Not all outcomes are the same, of course, and not everyone experiences this glow.

Many people research LASIK technology and surgeons for years before making the decision to move forward. Sometimes they end up wasting a lot of time, energy and even anxiety thinking about LASIK…only to learn that they aren’t good candidates for LASIK in the first place.

Everyone has their own unique set of eyes. Even if you think you have the same eyeglass prescription as another person who had LASIK, your own genetic make-up and health conditions may preclude you from having a successful outcome. Without a detailed eye examination from an experienced LASIK surgeon, you’ll never know if you have the right conditions to possibly reverse your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit dolphins – and learning a little about LASIK along the way. We’d love to tell you more. Contact Davis Eye Center to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 330-923-5676 or visit daviseyecenter.com today.

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes- Part 3

“A dolphin’s pupil has a type of built-in shade. When our eyes are exposed to light, our pupils get smaller to let less light in. Dolphins have a kind of lid, called an operculum, that slides down to cover most of the pupil when it is bright. It almost looks like two pupils when this ‘lid’ comes down.”

-          Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld

Humans don’t have instant shades on our eyes. We have to wear sunglasses to protect our eyes from the harsh sun. When you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, it’s often necessary for you to purchase expensive prescription sunglasses to be able to see in sunlight.

LASIK has allowed millions of Americans to expand their sunglasses collections with a multitude of cheap sunglasses by correcting their refractive errors.

In a LASIK procedure, a surgeon creates a thin flap on the cornea that is peeled back to allow access to the underlying corneal tissue. This can be done using a microkeratome or femtosecond laser. Once the flap has been created, an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea (correct the refractive error) so it can properly focus light on the retina (the back of the eye). This is the actual vision correction step in the procedure. Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back into place so it can heal. The entire procedure only takes minutes per eye.

Like any surgical procedure, LASIK does carry risks. You should always have an open discussion about all of the risks of LASIK with your surgeon before you make any decisions to move forward with the procedure. You should also remember that even if you have 20/20 vision, it’s still important to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. You’re not a dolphin, after all!

Find out if cheap sunglasses might be in your future. Contact Davis Eye Center to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 330-923-5676 or visit daviseyecenter.com today.

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes

Recently we read an article about dolphin eyes written by Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld. We thought it was so interesting that we’re going to devote our next series of blogs to her cool facts about dolphin eyes.

“A dolphin can move each eye independent of the other.”

While that is cool for a dolphin, it’s not so cool for humans. In humans, this condition is similar to one called strabismus. It occurs when the muscles of the two eyes don’t work together to maintain proper alignment. You might have one eye looking straight forward while the other eye looks a different direction:

·         Inward (cross-eyed), known as esotropia

·         Outward, known as exotropia

·         Upward, known as hypertropia

·         Downward, known as hypotropia

Refractive surgery, such as LASIK eye surgery, won’t resolve strabismus. However, there are surgical and non-surgical treatments that can be used to correct the problem.

A person with corrected strabismus can also have instances of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. In these cases, they may consider having LASIK eye surgery to correct the vision problems. If you had strabismus at any time in your life, be sure to inform your LASIK surgeon of this and all of your medical history prior to undergoing the procedure.

To learn more about LASIK eye surgery, please contact Davis Eye Center in Cuyahoga Falls to schedule a LASIK Consultation. Call 330-923-5676 or visit daviseyecenter.com today.

Make Your Tax Refund Really Count: Invest in Your Vision

It’s hard to believe that April 15 (yes, Tax Day!) is just around the corner. Hopefully you’ve almost finished your taxes and have an idea what kind of refund is coming your way.

Did you know the average tax refund in 2012 was $2,700? Regardless of how much you have coming, you’re probably thinking of ways to spend your windfall. Here’s the thing: You could spend your refund on new furniture, a 60” plasma TV, vacations or shopping sprees. But these purchases are fleeting.

If you have vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism and have to wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly for reading, driving or working, you could put your tax refund toward the ultimate goal of 20/20 (or better) vision. LASIK eye surgery has made this a reality for literally millions of Americans. The average cost of LASIK is anywhere from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. It may seem like a bit much, but we offer 0% and low interest LASIK financing options to make it really affordable. And if you put your tax refund check toward LASIK, you could save a substantial chunk off the cost.

Maybe your vision problems have stemmed from growing older, such as the formation of cataracts. Constantly cloudy vision, halos, light glare and even double vision can really impede your quality of life. Cataract surgery can eliminate those symptoms. While insurance often covers the cost of cataract surgery and Monofocal Intraocular Implants (IOLs) (that’s vision for one distance only), you can spend a little extra on Premium Lens Implants to remove the cataracts and gain vision for all distances, effectively eliminating your need for reading glasses (presbyopia) at the same time.

Of course, you can’t run out and spend your tax refund on better vision until you’ve had a comprehensive eye exam to determine the root cause of your vision problems.

Your new vision could last a lifetime. That would leave you plenty of time to spend your future tax refunds on new furniture, 80” plasma TVs, vacations or shopping sprees…you’ll enjoy them even more without glasses, contact lenses or cloudy vision.

Contact Davis Eye Center to schedule your Vision Consultation so we can diagnose your unique situation and recommend an appropriate course of action. Call 330-923-5676 or visit daviseyecenter.com.

Is LASIK Different from LASEK – Or is it a Type-o?

Most people know that LASIK is a type of vision correction procedure that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The acronym LASEK is not a typographical error; this is actually a slightly different vision correction procedure that can produce the same results as LASIK. Patients with corneas that are too thin or steep for LASIK can benefit from the LASEK procedure.

In both procedures, a surgeon uses excimer laser energy to reshape the cornea and correct the refractive error. The main difference between LASIK and LASEK is how the surgeon gets access to the inner section of the cornea.

 In LASIK, the surgeon creates a corneal flap that is folded back to perform the refractive surgery and then replaced after the procedure. In LASEK, an extremely thin portion of the outer epithelial layer of the cornea is removed with a special tool called a trephine. The refractive surgery is performed and the epithelial layer is replaced.

LASEK Recovery 

Recovery from LASEK is slightly longer than with LASIK. While most LASIK patients are able to see with improved vision almost immediately and can usually drive the day following their procedure, LASEK patients may require a week to recover and will have crisp vision within several weeks. Patients can also experience slightly more discomfort with LASEK.

LASEK Advantages 

While there are recovery disadvantages, there are some advantages of LASEK. The procedure allows people who were previously not suitable for LASIK to have successful vision correction procedures. LASEK involves the modification of significantly less corneal tissue, lowers the risk of dry eye after surgery and eliminates corneal flap complications. People who play contact sports may also be better suited for LASEK, as corneal strength is not compromised.

Regardless of which procedure your doctor deems prudent for your eyes, most patients can achieve 20/20 or better vision after LASIK or LASEK. 

Dr. Davis at Davis Eye Center can determine if LASIK, LASEK or a different vision correction procedure will give you 20/20 vision. To schedule your free LASIK consultation, visit daviseyecenter.com or call 330-923-5676.