The lens inside your eye is normally clear at birth and leaves the pupil dark. The lens gradually loses its transparency as we age. The increasing whiteness of the lens, visible in the pupil in advanced cases, is a cataract.
There is a genetic component to cataract formation, and there clearly is an aging component. Extensive exposure to sunlight, smoking, poor diets, and disease, such as diabetes, play a role in the growth of cataracts.
However, there are factors that might help prevent a cataract or at least slow its growth.
It is not practical to try to choose your parents or not get older. But, it would be good to wear a hat and/or sunglasses outdoors, eat an ideal diet, and consider vitamin and antioxidant supplementation. Also, do not smoke or drink to excess and do control any other chronic diseases well, especially diabetes.
Most people as they age have some degree of cataract and many of these limit vision and lifestyle by creating significant glare when driving or loss of fine detail at distance or near. Fortunately, cataract surgery can restore excellent visual function and, depending upon the options chosen, can reduce the need to wear glasses at distance or near.
If you are concerned that you may have cataract, seek an evaluation by an ophthalmologist who offers the latest options. At the Eye Clinic of Austin, we seek to offer you the options that we believe will be best you and for your vision—the same that we would choose for our family or ourselves in similar circumstances.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Are Generic Eye Drops the Same as Branded Eye Drops?
The short answer is: They have the same main ingredient in the same amount and concentration. The long answer adds: Nothing else in the bottle needs to be the same. So they might be equally effective as the branded, nearly as effective, or less effective than the branded.
It's much like comparing two different brands of vanilla ice cream. To be vanilla ice cream, it must contain vanilla. But every brand has a different recipe leading to subtle changes in texture and taste. Those subtle differences might affect the most important measurement: how much you like that ice cream. Likely, you have a real favorite, maybe Blue Bell, not just any generic vanilla ice cream.
Branded eye drops must go through a very expensive FDA approval process to get on the market. The reason the generics are less expensive is that they are required only to have the same concentration of the active ingredient. They do not have to prove they are as effective as the brand name. This makes for a difference in price and probable differences in effectiveness. Less effect is important in many patients and critical in some. Because neither you nor I have control over which generic is dispensed to you, control of your problem may vary over time.
Sometimes any vanilla ice cream is OK, but usually your favorite is best. Cost is important; so is proven effectiveness. Choose wisely. If you're experiencing chronic dry eye though, then make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to determine if you have dry eye disease.
It's much like comparing two different brands of vanilla ice cream. To be vanilla ice cream, it must contain vanilla. But every brand has a different recipe leading to subtle changes in texture and taste. Those subtle differences might affect the most important measurement: how much you like that ice cream. Likely, you have a real favorite, maybe Blue Bell, not just any generic vanilla ice cream.
Branded eye drops must go through a very expensive FDA approval process to get on the market. The reason the generics are less expensive is that they are required only to have the same concentration of the active ingredient. They do not have to prove they are as effective as the brand name. This makes for a difference in price and probable differences in effectiveness. Less effect is important in many patients and critical in some. Because neither you nor I have control over which generic is dispensed to you, control of your problem may vary over time.
Sometimes any vanilla ice cream is OK, but usually your favorite is best. Cost is important; so is proven effectiveness. Choose wisely. If you're experiencing chronic dry eye though, then make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to determine if you have dry eye disease.
Monday, June 17, 2013
What is Laser Cataract Surgery?
For more than 15 years, a few doctors have told their patients they were having laser cataract surgery. This was a simplification to avoid explaining the complex nature of the ultrasonic vacuum device used to remove the cataract. It was not a laser.
The Eye Clinic of Austin uses the LenSx femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. This allows us to make precise and reproducible incisions in the cornea, both to enter the eye and to reduce astigmatism; as well as inside the eye to open the lens capsule and break the lens into pieces for removal.
Surgeons have good hands, but no matter how good those hands are, the laser is more precise. This degree of precision leads to more predictable results from cataract surgery because it reduces some of the variables. The laser lens fragmentation reduces the amount of ultrasonic energy required to remove the cataract with phacoemulsification, which reduces the general irritation to the eye. Both of these improvements lead to better results and an increased chance that you will get the results you and your surgeon want.
If you need cataract surgery, contact the Eye Clinic Austin for your laser cataract surgeon.
The Eye Clinic of Austin uses the LenSx femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. This allows us to make precise and reproducible incisions in the cornea, both to enter the eye and to reduce astigmatism; as well as inside the eye to open the lens capsule and break the lens into pieces for removal.
Surgeons have good hands, but no matter how good those hands are, the laser is more precise. This degree of precision leads to more predictable results from cataract surgery because it reduces some of the variables. The laser lens fragmentation reduces the amount of ultrasonic energy required to remove the cataract with phacoemulsification, which reduces the general irritation to the eye. Both of these improvements lead to better results and an increased chance that you will get the results you and your surgeon want.
If you need cataract surgery, contact the Eye Clinic Austin for your laser cataract surgeon.
Monday, June 10, 2013
What's Causing the Flashes of Light in Eyes?
The three most common explanations for seeing flashes of light include:
1. An ocular migraine.
2. A problem with the retina such as a tear or detachment.
3. A separation of the jelly-like fluid away from the retina called a Vitreous Detachment.
Most ocular migraines involve seeing a shimmering pattern from both eyes. This will last from 10 minutes to 30 minutes and then resolve.
With a retinal tear, sparks of light will be seen and will persist for a long time along with the sudden appearance of “floaters” or little black specks in the vision. Patients sometimes describe this as seeing a gnat or a spider web. It can be a line or a dot. Retinal tears are serious. They should be diagnosed and treated immediately to prevent a retinal detachment.
In the majority of cases, however, a person experiencing flashes of light has a condition that is not dangerous called Posterior Vitreous Detachment. In this, the jelly-like fluid in the back of the eye separates from the retina. This leads to a retinal tear in less than 2 percent of cases. Most flashing will stop, and floaters will diminish slowly.
The only way to know which condition applies to you is to have an exam with an eye specialist immediately.
1. An ocular migraine.
2. A problem with the retina such as a tear or detachment.
3. A separation of the jelly-like fluid away from the retina called a Vitreous Detachment.
Most ocular migraines involve seeing a shimmering pattern from both eyes. This will last from 10 minutes to 30 minutes and then resolve.
With a retinal tear, sparks of light will be seen and will persist for a long time along with the sudden appearance of “floaters” or little black specks in the vision. Patients sometimes describe this as seeing a gnat or a spider web. It can be a line or a dot. Retinal tears are serious. They should be diagnosed and treated immediately to prevent a retinal detachment.
In the majority of cases, however, a person experiencing flashes of light has a condition that is not dangerous called Posterior Vitreous Detachment. In this, the jelly-like fluid in the back of the eye separates from the retina. This leads to a retinal tear in less than 2 percent of cases. Most flashing will stop, and floaters will diminish slowly.
The only way to know which condition applies to you is to have an exam with an eye specialist immediately.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Why You Should Consider LASIK
Austin is home to active residents who enjoy the outdoors: Biking, boating, camping, tennis, golf and horseback riding are all popular ways to enjoy all Central Texas has to offer. If you find contact lenses and glasses interfering with your outdoors fun, you might want to consider LASIK.
Of all the things that I do surgically, LASIK is the most accurate and the most consistent with the best results. Though some people are concerned about the cost of LASIK, it is less than the lifetime cost of glasses or contact lenses, and financing is available. After healing, your eyesight is normally stable for 10-20 years, depending on your age at the time of surgery.
We are still not able to make the cornea optically perfect, but we can consistently make your vision better than with glasses or contact lens correction. After surgery, more than 90 percent of patients will see 20 /20. The remaining 10 percent will see 20 /24 to 20 /40 and may opt for a touch-up procedure at no additional cost to get to 20/ 20.
LASIK addresses near-sightedness, astigmatism and far-sightedness. So if you are looking forward to a summer of outdoor activities on the lake, the tennis court or the links and find your contacts or glasses get in the way, consider LASIK surgery soon.
Of all the things that I do surgically, LASIK is the most accurate and the most consistent with the best results. Though some people are concerned about the cost of LASIK, it is less than the lifetime cost of glasses or contact lenses, and financing is available. After healing, your eyesight is normally stable for 10-20 years, depending on your age at the time of surgery.
We are still not able to make the cornea optically perfect, but we can consistently make your vision better than with glasses or contact lens correction. After surgery, more than 90 percent of patients will see 20 /20. The remaining 10 percent will see 20 /24 to 20 /40 and may opt for a touch-up procedure at no additional cost to get to 20/ 20.
LASIK addresses near-sightedness, astigmatism and far-sightedness. So if you are looking forward to a summer of outdoor activities on the lake, the tennis court or the links and find your contacts or glasses get in the way, consider LASIK surgery soon.
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