Your Eyes Know

Losing sleep can affect your body in many different ways, especially your eyes. If you wake in the morning to an extreme burning sensation in your eyes, one you don't feel again throughout the day, it could be that your body needs more sleep.

The gland that produces tears needs rest, just like the rest of your body. It can even shut down on its own, which means your eyes will become dry if you're still awake.

Take care of your eyesight - make sure to get plenty of rest. To read more about this painful problem, click here.

LASIK vs PRK

Refractive errors occur when the cornea of your eye, or the front part of your eye, is misshaped. These refractive errors produce nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Laser vision correction is the procedure through which a laser is used to reshape the cornea of the eye, in order to achieve better vision.

While the actual correction of the cornea is completed with a laser, the steps leading up to this correction, and subsequently the healing after, will differ depending on the specific procedure the surgeon chooses for the patients’ eyes. The two main procedures most commonly used are LASIK (Laser-Assisted Sin-Situ-Keratomileusis) or PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy).

LASIK and PRK

Most people have heard of LASIK; however, in some cases, LASIK isn’t the best procedure for them. This can be due to a multitude of reasons, but most often if their cornea is too thin, LASIK will not be advised. This is why visiting an ophthalmologist that performs more than just LASIK is so important. Other procedures, such as PRK, can be recommended and performed to achieve the same, and sometimes even better, results.

The main difference between LASIK and PRK comes during the first step of the process – creating the corneal flap. During LASIK, the surgeon creates flap within the first few layers of the outer surface of the cornea, so that the laser can reach the area that needs to be corrected. This can be done with a microkeratome (a mechanical oscillating blade), or during bladeless LASIK, it can be done with a second laser that separates the outer layer of the cornea. After the primary laser is applied to correct the refractive error, this flap is folded back into place where it bonds readily.

PRK, which is usually performed on patients with thin corneas, removes the surface layer of cells on the cornea. This is why it is often referred to as a surface treatment. After treatment, the body will regenerate new cells to replace the cells removed through a relatively quick healing process. The results of PRK are equal to that of LASIK though the healing times are slightly longer.

Visiting a Qualified Ophthalmologist

Performing LASIK on a patient that is better suited for a procedure like PRK will increase the likelihood of potential risks, such as poor night vision, less than optimal results, or delayed stretching of the cornea called ectasia. To decrease these risks, visit a board-certified ophthalmologist who is skilled at multiple vision correction procedures. This will ensure you the best possible chances to achieve the vision results you are seeking.

Contact Lens Update

A Word from Dr. Melanie Prosise

The Eye Clinic of Austin is now happy to offer 1-Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism lenses.  These unique lenses offer the benefits of daily replacement lenses with the superior vision that an accurate prescription for astigmatism provides.  Studies show that patients who replace their contact lenses daily are less likely to experience contact lens related infections and less likely to have contact lens related dry eye.  Additionally, single use lenses are very convenient and excellent for travel.  If you are a contact lens patient currently wearing a soft lens that requires nightly cleaning  or have always wanted to try contact lenses but were concerned about the hassle of cleaning, come discover single use lenses for yourself.  Please ask at your next contact lens appointment for a daily replacement lens trial so that you can discover if this option fits your lifestyle. 

LASIK and Dry Eyes

Perhaps the most common side effect to LASIK is dry eyes. Most of our patients experience a little dry eye after the procedure. This temporary issue can be relieved with eye drops and it will usually correct itself within about a month.

According to FDA trials, 20% of LASIK patients still experience dry eye even six months after LASIK. While this side effect may be annoying, it can be treated with punctual plugs or medications.  This effect may be reduced by treating with Restasis from the time of surgery, also which improves regeneration of corneal nerves and corneal sensation.

At Eye Clinic of Austin, most all of our patients are free of this irritation after one year. This is why the post-LASIK follow-up appointments are absolutely necessary. We take your vision very seriously and we want to make sure you can see clearly for years to come.

LASIK works by correcting the cornea of your eye. LASIK can have you seeing clearly for many, many years depending upon what age you receive treatment. If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, there are other procedures that can be performed to correct your vision. Learn more about laser vision correction with Eye Clinic of Austin.

Fears and Misconceptions of Vision Correction – Losing Your Vision

Glasses and contacts have their benefits – mainly helping people with refractive errors see clearly. Since the late 90’s, lasers have been used to correct these refractive errors in very safe and effective ways. Procedures such as LASIK and PRK have been providing patients with clear vision for over 15 years now. However, many people continue to put up with the inconveniences of glasses and contacts because they have fears or misconceptions about laser vision correction, like LASIK.

One of the most common fears of laser vision correction is losing vision as a result of the procedure. This fear comes from not understanding how your eye works and how specifically laser vision correction works.

How LASIK Works

There are three main parts to the human eye: the cornea, the lens, and the retina. In normal vision, the cornea refracts (bends) light so it can be directed correctly through the lens and onto the retina. The retina works as a transmitter to transfer the message to your brain, where it processes the message to tell you what you are looking at. Refractive errors – nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism – are caused by the cornea being slightly misshapen. LASIK utilizes cool lasers to reshape the curve of the cornea so you can have normal, clear, vision.

Prior to surgery, your surgeon will map out your specific eye and plan out exactly how to correct your vision. Your surgeon will then program this plan into the laser, ensuring that the correct amount of your cornea is altered.

There are risks associated with laser vision correction, mainly dry eye. It is essential to ensure that you are an excellent candidate prior to receiving treatment, to give you the best results possible.

To find out more about LASIK, including risk information, see our website. To schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, give us a call today at 512-427-1125.

Women – More Susceptible to Vision Problems than Men

According to Prevent Blindness America, “Every year, more women than men are diagnosed with eye diseases and conditions such as cataracts, dry eye, Fuchs’ dystrophy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Sjögren’s syndrome.  The “Vision Problems in the U.S.” study from Prevent Blindness America (PBA) and the National Eye Institute (NEI) shows that of the more than 3.6 million Americans age 40 and older who suffer from visual impairment, including blindness, 2.3 million are women” (Women Must Take Steps to Avoid Vision Loss, March 27, 2012).

Hereditary diseases aside, these problems are often caused by hormones, or the fluctuations in hormones like pregnancy or menopause. Sometimes they can even be triggered by birth control, which is a hormone regulating medication. Even keeping your eye makeup for too long can cause problems with your eyes.

At the Eye Clinic of Austin, we recommend to our female patients that they pay close attention to their eyesight while pregnant, when changing prescription pills or going on new medication, and to switch out their makeup every six months to a year. If you feel that your glasses or contacts are not helping as much as they used to, make sure to have an eye exam. Mention to your doctor any new prescription changes so that he may accurately diagnose the underlying issue.

Your eyes are how you see the world. Keep them in great health.

Austin’s First Macular Pigment Measurements

Eye Clinic of Austin Implements Key New Technology

The Importance of Macular Health

A growing number of Baby Boomers understand the potential effects of aging on their eyesight and are therefore motivated to take action to maintain their independence.  Studies show that today’s “older” Americans are far more active for much longer than previous generations; they stay in the workforce longer; have more hobbies and interests; and some studies among this group report that loss of independence is actually feared more than death.  So, when older patients are able to drive safer and more confidently; handle bright light easier; read with strain and manage risk factors for AMD, the case for a center for macular health becomes much clearer.

MACULAR PIGMENT AND MACULAR HEALTH

Macular pigment is made-up of photo-protectants and antioxidants.  An apple provides a great example of how antioxidants provide protection. The skin of the apple protects the inside until it is sliced open and exposed to oxygen.  When this occurs, the inside turns brown via a process known as oxidation.  A similar process occurs in our eyes over time as we age.

Dr. Thomas Henderson says, ”Macular pigments are like the eye’s 'internal sunglasses'. Thick, dense internal sunglasses block the harmful blue light part of the light spectrum that damages one’s eye across their lifetime. We are pleased to introduce Austin’s first non-invasive system for measuring macular pigment optical density.”

Learn more about Macular Health here.

Eye Clinic of Austin

Eye Clinic of Austin was founded in January, 1982 by Dr. Thomas Henderson. Dr. Henderson has been involved in all aspects of optical, medical, and surgical patient care, community service through twenty-five years of emergency call at University Medical Center (Brackenridge), drug research and medical lecturing. Dr. Henderson has personally performed over 11,500 cataract and refractive surgery procedures.

Eye Clinic of Austin offers refractive procedures such as blade-free, all-laser LASIK and Intraocular Lens-based procedures such as cataract surgery. Eye Clinic of Austin also provides general eye care such as medical, laser and surgical glaucoma management, diabetic eye care, dry eye relief, as well as a full service optical shop and routine and specialty contact lens care and fitting. The doctors at Eye Clinic of Austin include Thomas T. Henderson, MD, FACS, Clayton L. Falknor, MD, and Melanie Prosise, OD.