Common Eye Care Procedures

Doctors use eye surgery to correct and treat many conditions of the eye. Surgery may be conducted to repair damages done by injuries or diseases. We are here to help you learn about the types of eye surgery should you require one of these for your eyes.

Common Surgical Eye Procedures

Your doctor may determine you need one of the following eye surgeries. Most surgeries are carried out in the eye doctor’s office, but some are conducted in surgical centers or hospitals. The following are some of the most common eye surgeries.

1.Cataract Removal Surgery

Cataract Surgery removes the lens and replaces it with an artificial one. A cataract causes a person’s lens to cloud, making it difficult to see.

2. Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma causes the pressure inside the eyes to increase to dangerous levels because of fluid buildup. During glaucoma surgery, the doctor inserts a small shunt into the white part of the eye. This shunt drains excess fluid from the eye.

3. LASIK Surgery

LASIK surgery corrects the shape of the cornea and helps correct vision issues such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. This surgery can reduce a person’s eyeglasses or contact prescription power or even help them say goodbye to both.

4. Retina Surgery

Multiple surgical procedures are carried out to repair a damaged retina. The following are some of the surgeries doctors perform.

  • Cryopexy fixes tears or holes to hold the retina in place.
  • With Scleral Buckle Surgery, a band is placed around the sclera of the eye to encourage the retina to reattach.
  • Pneumatic Retinopexy involves an injection of a small bubble into the center of the eye to push the retina back into place.
  • Vitrectomy removes the gel inside the eye and allows the doctor to repair the retina.

5. Corneal Transplant Surgery

During corneal transplant surgery, the doctor will remove part or all of the cornea and replace it with donor tissue. The doctor will either do a full thickness transplant or partial thickness transplant.

6. Eye Muscle Surgery

Strabismus is a condition that causes the eyes to move out of sync. One eye might drift out, in, up, or down. Although surgery is not the first course of treatment, it is sometimes necessary if other measures do not correct the abnormal movement.

The doctor may remove a section of muscle or reattach it to a different point on the eye to keep it moving correctly. This surgery is carried out on people of all ages.

Does Eye Surgery Require Anesthesia?

Many people who undergo eye surgery wonder if they will need anesthesia for their surgery. The answer to this question depends on the type.

Some surgeries require full anesthesia, and for some, it is an option. For most eye surgeries, the doctor administers monitored sedation.

Monitored sedation helps relax you during the surgery. Most doctors will complement this type of sedation with a local anesthetic to prevent any pain at the surgical site.

Sedation is delivered via an IV. A local anesthetic is applied via an injection.

The doctor will use a minimal amount of sedation to ensure you awake feeling relaxed but not overly drowsy. Despite the type, your eye surgery will require you to have a driver because your eyes will likely be bandaged as they heal.

Will Medical Conditions Cause Complications With Eye Surgery?

Patients that have medical conditions that prevent them from lying flat during the procedure make eye surgery more challenging. Those with asthma, emphysema, severe acid reflux, or chronic cough should talk with their surgeon to learn about accommodations.

How to Prepare for Eye Surgery

Preparing for eye surgery is critical for your safety and well-being during and after the procedure. The doctor will inform you when to stop eating and drinking.  You can learn more at elitevisioncenters.com/

You should also discuss the medications you take and ask which ones you should quit taking before and directly after the surgery.

Most eye surgeries are carried out on an outpatient basis. You will go home on the same day of surgery.

Depending on the type of anesthesia and surgery, you are going to need someone to stay with you and care for you. Ensure you make arrangements for a ride and help at home well before your surgery day.

Eye Surgery Is Sometimes Necessary to Protect Your Eyesight

You may need eye surgery for conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus, and many other eye conditions. Most eye surgery does not require a stay in the hospital, so you can go home the same day.

If your doctor feels you need eye surgery, you should ask questions and learn about the procedure. Informed patients are prepared patients.

Top Healthy Eye Care Habits to Put Into Practice

To prevent future problems with your eyes, adopt these top healthy eye care habits. Wear eye protection, avoid smoking, and eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly. Avoiding these unhealthy habits will help you see your doctor more often. And as an added bonus, they will also help you stay younger for longer. In addition to these tips, it is important to practice good hygiene, especially around the eyes. If you do not already, read on to learn more.

Wear Eye Protection

Many occupational activities require protective eyewear. Yard work and cleaning with chemicals often require the use of ANSI-approved eyewear. Even bystanders should wear protective eyewear. Most sports require the use of eyewear, as many athletic injuries result from contact. If you do not use eye protection while playing sports, it is recommended that you hire a professional to do so. Wearing the correct protective eyewear is very important and is one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy. Occupational eye injuries include cuts, chemicals, and foreign objects. Some of these materials can be quite hot, causing a chemical burn to the eye. Some may even get metal, wood chips, or steam in the eyes. Those who work in laboratories, healthcare facilities, or construction sites also risk contracting infectious diseases. People who do not wear eye protection put their eyes at risk of serious eye injuries. Often, these accidents can even be prevented by wearing eye protection.

Eat an Eye-Healthy Diet

A healthy diet for your eyes is essential for your overall health, so eat local food whenever possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables taste better than those from overseas, and you’ll be doing your community good in the process. Fish and walnuts are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may protect your eyes. Omega-3s also fight inflammation and help your cells function properly. Try to eat at least two servings of cold-water fish every week. Flaxseed is another great source of omega-3s. You can also take fish oil supplements. Vitamins A, C, and E are essential for protecting your vision. A diet rich in these nutrients can help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. They also boost your immune system and help ward off infections. You can find these in a variety of foods, including salmon, sardines, and milk. These foods are rich in zinc, which is important for red blood cells. Zinc is found in beef and kidney beans. While zinc is an important mineral for the body, it’s important to consume it in moderation.

Avoid Smoking

To prevent eye diseases, it’s imperative to quit smoking. Not only is smoking expensive but it also stains fingers and teeth. And smoking is dangerous to the body’s systems in general, including the eyes. In fact, smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, among other eye problems. It’s also very addictive. If you are interested in stopping smoking, consider consulting an eye care professional. In addition to the damage caused by smoking, cigarettes reduce the flow of blood to the eyes. Smoking damages the retina and deteriorates the blood flow to the eyes. Good blood flow is critical to keep the eyes healthy, but smoking reduces the flow of oxygen and blood to the eye. Additionally, smoking reduces antioxidants in the blood, which protects the eye from damage. Smoking also affects vision. Smoking also decreases the blood flow to the eyes, which results in dry eyes.

Exercise

Several exercises can help maintain healthy eyes. One of these is the hot dog exercise. This exercise improves the flexibility of the ciliary muscles. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and focus on a distant target while breathing deeply. If you find this exercise difficult, you can do it slowly and keep your eyes still. Repeat the process until you reach your desired distance. Continue to add to your exercise routine, and it will soon become a habit! A well-balanced diet that is low in fat and cholesterol is also essential to maintain healthy eyes. A healthy diet should also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including omega-3 fatty acids. Getting regular exercise is also important for your eye health, as regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure and stress levels, and it can increase blood flow. You don’t need to run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise; 30 minutes of moderate activity three times per week is enough.

Minimize Computer/Phone Eye Strain

If you work on a computer or phone all day, you may be suffering from digital eye strain. While working from home may not be feasible, you can take frequent breaks from your computer or phone to reduce digital eye strain. One way to reduce digital eye strain is to use a good workstation and blue light lenses to protect your eyes from the damaging effects of digital screens. If you experience chronic computer/phone eye strain, you should seek medical advice. The brightness of your display should be adjusted to the brightness of your surroundings. Higher screen brightness may cause strain to your eyes. Try to find a balance between bright and dark. For instance, if you are working in a darkened room, try to set the brightness of your OS to a lower setting. This will help your eyes feel more comfortable. You can also try lowering the color temperature of your screen to reduce the blue light that causes eye strain.

Practice Healthy Eye Hygiene

Proper eye hygiene is a necessary part of your daily routine, so be sure to follow these simple tips. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have beautiful eyes, but it will certainly help you prevent various eye ailments. From inflammation and infection to diseases and cataracts, eye health is an essential part of your overall health. Below are 10 tips to practice healthy eye hygiene. You should also make sure to wash your hands regularly and don’t share your eye makeup with others. Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can cause irritation and scratch the eyeball. Instead, ask an adult to help you remove the object from your eye. Use an eye wash or hand sanitizer to make sure you don’t accidentally touch your eyes more than necessary. You can also wipe your eyes whenever you come in contact with anything that might cause infection. This will help prevent the development of microorganisms and reduce the chances of getting ill.

Rest Your Eyes

The most obvious habit to improve eye health is getting adequate sleep. Getting enough sleep allows the eyes to recover and releases any strain that may have built up over the day. Also, adequate sleep reduces the risk of dry eye and other conditions caused by lack of rest. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night for adults. If you struggle to get to sleep, invest in blackout curtains or a white noise machine. Keep your eyes protected by wearing sunglasses and eye protection gear when outdoors. Wear sunglasses that block up to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Try not to spend long hours in front of the computer as this strains the eyes. Take breaks every 20 minutes to avoid eye fatigue. Another habit is to take frequent 20-minute breaks from computer work. The eye doctor will probably recommend a more regular routine of rest breaks.

See an Eye Health Professional

Your child needs to be checked for vision problems by an eye health professional as soon as possible. If your child complains about problems, make sure to take them to an eye health professional right away. If your child does not complain, look for signs of abnormal vision. Abnormality in vision can be indicative of a more serious eye condition. The symptoms may include excessive blinking or rubbing, unusual head tilt, and excessive viewing distance. Taking frequent breaks from digital screens is essential to prevent vision problems. Digital screen time is contributing to increased vision symptoms in many people. If you use your computer or phone for long hours, make sure you take breaks every 20 minutes to look away from the screen. If you can’t afford a break, consider the 20-20-20 rule, which requires you to look at something at least 20 feet away every 20 minutes.

All About Vision Therapy

Keeping your eyes healthy and your vision sharp is critical. As you age, vision problems are more likely to rise which is why it is essential you seek vision therapy. While vision therapy is often provided to growing children, it is also highly effective for adults.

What Is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is a targeted and customized program that addresses the individual vision weaknesses of adults and children. Using a series of precise eye exercise protocols, patients enhance their visual skills by assisting the brain in communicating with the eyes more efficiently.

It is like a workout for your brain! Vision therapy is often used in conjunction with other modalities of treatment, including eyeglasses and vision correction surgery.

Vision therapy is conducted in a series of sessions that are supervised by a doctor and last between 30-45 minutes. In addition to the in-office therapy, patients receive instructions for at-home exercises that provide reinforcement to the treatment approach.

What Are the Benefits of Vision Therapy?

The benefits of vision therapy are astounding. While therapy is most effective when started early in life, this treatment can be used to improve vision at any age.

  • Vision therapy helps both eyes work in conjunction with one another for better vision.
  • This therapy improves vision accuracy.
  • Vision therapy improves the way the brain interacts with the eyes.
  • These exercises promote efficiency in eye focus.
  • Those who go through therapy also see improvements in academics and their job ability.
  • Vision therapy offers patients a better quality of life.

With so many benefits to this treatment, it is no wonder vision therapy is becoming increasingly popular. Those who are interested in this therapy should contact us to schedule a consultation appointment.

What Does Vision Therapy Treat?

Vision therapy can be used to treat a wide array of eye conditions affecting vision. Consider the following.

  • Strabismus (Eye Turning)
  • Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
  • Saccadic Dysfunction (Insufficient Eye Tracking)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussions and Other Brain Injuries)
  • Eye Strain
  • Convergence Insufficiency (Eye Teaming)
  • Double Vision
  • Hand-Eye Coordination Deficiency
  • Eye Tracking Deficiency
  • Depth Perception Deficiency
  • Convergence Insufficiency
  • Visual Perception/Processing Issues

Vision therapy can also be used to treat other conditions and even improve a person’s vision acuity. The aim of this therapy is to enhance a person’s visual skills, which include eye tracking, eye-hand coordination, visual processing speed, focusing, convergence, and much more.

How Does Vision Therapy Work?

Vision therapy is approached in multiple ways, depending on the reasons for treatment and the age of the patient. Therapy involves the use of fun and engaging activities with prisms, occluders, filters, lenses, and other tools.

As technology has advanced, vision therapy has utilized computer programs that offer a higher level of engagement with interactive training. Patients can even continue their therapy at home, further increasing the benefits.

What Happens During the First Vision Therapy Session?

Vision therapy can help your eyes work more intuitively so you may not need to wear glasses or seek vision surgery, though results vary. At the first vision therapy appointment, the doctor will perform testing to determine how well the patient’s brain and eyes work together.

The doctor will also perform testing to check for any disorders of the eye. The goal of performing these tests is to use the gathered data to create a personalized treatment plan to address any problems and improve the way the patient’s brain and eyes work together.

Vision therapy sessions will normally last between 30-45 minutes, though you can expect the first appointment to take longer because of the testing involved. It is essential to follow all instructions for exercises at home. Home exercises will further improve your eyesight between therapy sessions.

Do You Need Vision Therapy?

If you think you need vision therapy, here is a website of eye doctors and optometrists that can help- topeyedoctorsnearme.com.  In most cases, an eye doctor will recommend a patient go through vision therapy if they notice certain eye conditions while conducting an exam. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should consider asking your eye doctor about vision therapy.

  • Losing your place while reading
  • Words and letters jump around on the page while reading
  • Vision fluctuations
  • Frequent eye strain and fatigue
  • Blurry vision when looking at a distance
  • Re-reading lines and losing concentration
  • Frequent headaches when reading or focusing on screens

Does Vision Therapy Work?

Many people have discovered vision therapy is highly beneficial. Patients have discovered vision therapy helps them with eye teaming, visual processing, visual tracking, and eye movements, among others. Some people have even been able to avoid wearing glasses.

It is important to note that everyone is different. The benefits you experience will vary according to your condition and your adherence to sessions and exercises at home.

Schedule An Appointment to Learn More

To learn how vision therapy can help your eyes, call us today to schedule an appointment. With a full examination, you can learn if this therapy will benefit your eye and brain function.