Contacts vs. LASIK

Have you considered LASIK surgery to correct your vision only to find out you are not a good candidate for the procedure? Does the whole idea of elective surgery on your eyes give you pause? Let’s look at the viable contact lens alternative.

Why consider contacts when one of the reasons for having LASIK performed is to become free of lenses or eyeglasses? Because, in some cases, even successful LASIK recipients later need to be prescribed eyewear for the onset of presbyopia, the loss of near-focusing ability often associated with aging. Also, the time it takes for the corrected vision achieved by the laser procedure to stabilize can be somewhere between three and six months; and that vision is slightly less than perfect 90 % of the time for those with extreme prescriptions, falling within a range of 20/20 to 20/40. In these instances, a further procedure—known as enhancement—is called for. Unfortunately, there are some patients that cannot have this additional treatment if their cornea is too thin or other factors evolve resulting from the initial surgery. Contacts tend to give crisper vision and more immediate satisfaction at less risk.

Just as LASIK has advanced in the past decade, so have contacts. Some optometrists express amazement at how the field has progressed. New types of lenses, manufactured with materials that have improved comfort and convenience are prevalent. The introduction of silicone hydrogels, which allow more oxygen to permeate to the cornea, has extended contact wear time in some instances up to thirty days. For those who are able to tolerate overnight wear, these contacts approximate the same non-hassle ‘freedom’ that LASIK would give. It should be noted that proper care and commitment to a prescribed replacement regimen is still vital to avoid eye problems associated with lens use. As a contrast to extended or continual wear, daily disposables have seen a surge in favor among patients who like the handiness of just using their lenses once and discarding them at the end of the day.

LASIK can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (fuzzy vision due to an asymmetrical cornea). There is also a procedure for the aforementioned presbyopia. It involves the principle of monovision, where one eye (usually the dominant one) is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. Patients’ adaptability plays a large part in the success of monovision and many must be prepared for a loss in depth perception. Contacts are available to treat presbyopia in addition to all the above-listed conditions. For presbyopia there are lenses manufactured using a bifocal or a multi-focal design or one can also use regular lenses specifically fitted in monovision. As with LASIK recipients, monovision contact-wearers have the same concerns regarding adaptability and depth perception. Multi-focals provide a full depth of field, with a gradual transition between near and far powers in the same lens.

Other considerations in choosing contact lenses include not having to worry about aggravated dry-eyes, which can occur with LASIK, necessitating ongoing medication to facilitate tear production. With the laser procedure there is also the possibility that employment may be affected (some jobs prohibit employees who have undergone refractive surgery). Though uncommon, reports of postoperative symptoms that do not go away (double vision, heightened sensitivity to light, and vision loss due to dramatic corneal reshaping) exist. Night driving vision performance has been diminished in a number of LASIK patients--especially those with myopia--due to glare, ‘starbursts’ and halos seen around lights.

So, the benefits of contact lens wear as an alternative to LASIK are well worth weighing. Of course any final decision can only be determined, as always, after a thorough discussion with your eye care professional.

Kids and Contacts

When it comes to children wearing contact lenses, there are certain questions that arise. Among them: At what age can children begin wearing contacts safely? When do they become responsible enough to accept and handle the regimen necessary for maintaining their lenses?

According to the Contact Lenses In Pediatrics (CLIP)* study, children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contact lens wear. Colleges of optometry in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Texas jointly conducted the study. Their findings refute the prevailing opinion that children should not be offered the option of wearing contacts until 13 years of age.

One part of the CLIP study was to fit a group of 84 children, beginning at age 8, with contact lenses and provide the proper training for insertion and removal. They were re-examined at points one-week, one-month, and three-months from the initial visit to assess their progress and check for any problems. With only three non-serious incidents reported (and quickly corrected), the children demonstrated their ability to wear and take care of their lenses at the same level as teens and adults.

Of course, proper motivation was important in keeping the kids on a successful track throughout the duration of the study (and, hopefully, beyond). Besides the eye physicians’ instruction and training, other factors were certainly involved. Parental support, reinforcement, and (if they are contact wearers themselves) setting a good example were key. Most importantly, self-motivation among the group was just as strong. After receiving their contact lenses, a majority of those in the survey expressed a greater confidence with and enjoyment of various activities they participated in due to the freedom from eyeglasses. Also, for a child, having to adjust to wearing eyeglasses can be a traumatic experience, since their perception of how their peers will view them oftentimes takes on a negative aspect. Self-esteem was boosted when they equated wearing contacts with enhancing their appearance.

Corroboration for the above findings was offered by another study, the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP)*, conducted over a three-year period at five US clinical facilities. In a random group of 484 youngsters—ranging in age from 8 to 11--PREP measured three factors related to contact lens wear: satisfaction, appearance, and activities. Their results mirrored CLIP, seeing positive data among the children in as little as one month, and added to the building evidence that pre-teens are perfectly capable of embracing the use and maintenance of contacts and reap the benefits for a better quality of life.


*Both CLIP and PREP were administered with sponsorship and support by VISTAKON, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Visit Contact Lens King where we offer all major brand contact lenses with up to 70% savings. Free shipping on all orders in the continental US and low per box pricing.

Eye Fashion Trends Shifting Toward Colored Contact Lenses

It is a fact that women spend substantial amounts of money on eye shadows, eyeliners, false eyelashes and mascara. Recently, this trend has been shifting to having their eye care professionals prescribe colored contact lenses. Women are getting prescriptions for different colors and changing their looks dramatically. Commonly known as cosmetic contact lenses, these colored lenses are intended to change the appearance of the eye. These lenses are also manufactured in various powers so they can be used to correct vision problems should this be necessary. For the adventurous spirit or for someone in the mood for a style change colored contact lenses might just be the option for you.
Think about how many times you have walked into your favorite department store and strolled up to your favorite cosmetics counter be it, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Lancôme or any number of other cosmetic sellers. The beauticians are prepped to sell you more than you need and the “best” eye makeup products. The fortunate shoppers might make it out of there with bills of between $100-$200. If you are lucky, you might even qualify for one of those snazzy bonus gift bags full of sample products.
For less money than you would spend at your favorite beauty counter, you can visit an eye care professional and be fitted with colored contact lenses. He/she should have trials available for you to try in the colors that you like. Once you have made your decision just ask him/her for a prescription for each of the colors you want to purchase. Remember contact lenses are considered to be a medical device and therefore a prescription from your eye care practitioner is necessary to purchase them. Don’t get lured to a colored lens display in your local beauty salon. Such dispensing options are illegal and do not provide for the proper assurances that your eye care practitioner can give you once he/she has determined that your lenses are well fitted.
There are two types of colored contact lenses – enhancers and opaque. Enhancer lenses merely accentuate your natural eye color while opaque lenses will change your eye color completely. These medical devices need to be cared for and cleaned regularly.
· Always wash your hands before handling your lenses.
· Regularly clean your contact lenses.
· Store your contact lenses in a clean lens case.
· Do not reuse the contact lens solution you used to disinfect your lenses. Always use fresh solution to ensure maximum efficacy in disinfection.
· Do not use tap water for hydration, rewetting or during the lens cleaning process.
· Definitely do not use your saliva to rewet your lenses.

Now that you have your prescription and lens care instructions it is time to shop online for the best deals when replacing your favorite colored lenses. Remember that most lenses are sold in a 6-pack so avoid sites that are willing to sell you only 2 lenses. Shopping for contact lenses online can be tricky. Low prices per box are great but definitely check on the shipping fees as well so that you can calculate your true cost. Many places only offer free shipping after you have spent over a certain amount on their site. In no time at all you will have a whole new look for a fraction of what it would have cost at the department store beauty counter.
Below are just a few links that allow you to see the various colors available.

http://www.contactlensking.com/freshlookdimensions.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/freshlookcolorblends.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/expressions.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/focus1to2weeksoftcolors.aspx

Presbyopia and Baby Boomers

There are almost 78 million baby boomers that are either currently experiencing vision difficulties in reading. Some are about to experience this very shortly. What is common to all is that they will come to know the world of presbyopia. This vision phenomenon eventually expresses itself with everyone on or about the age of 35 years. It is caused by the aging process as it relates to the natural eye lens and the muscle structure that assists it in the process of accommodation. This process is what normally allows for one’s ability to seamlessly see distant, intermediate, and near objects. Suddenly the newspaper or your favorite book becomes much more difficult to read at your usual reading distance. You find yourself stretching out your arms as far as possible to read. Then suddenly your arms are not long enough and you become frustrated because you can no longer read clearly.
If you have been a contact lens wearer for the past few years you will surely seek out a contact lens solution option instead of the usual pair of half eyes. This is when being well informed can be important. There are several options for you to consider. These include monovision, adapted monovision and multifocal lenses. Monovision is a fitting practice that uses vision principles normally used by the human brain when coordinating vision. The brain works with the principal that one of our eyes functions as our distance vision instrument while the other eye functions as the near vision and/or reading instrument. In reality neither handles that particular category of vision alone but weighs its functionality mostly on distance or near vision. All other vision, or fields of focus, is handled in varying degrees by both eyes, and when used together, or stereoscopically, the net result is excellent vision.
When considering contact lenses as a solution to presbyopia eye doctors prescribe one lens with a distance correction in one eye and another lens prescribed for reading in the other eye. Once again, stereoscopically the net result does provide for good visual acuity. However when lighting decreases as one may experience in a poorly lit room, a romantic restaurant setting or while driving at night, certain limitations of the monovision method will become apparent. In low light settings the pupil dialates to collect as much light as possible. In doing so each of the eyes will perform better for distance or for near vision. Intermediate vision diminishes enough to result in an effective loss of depth of field and contrast. Some patients can adapt to this but others elect to limit their wear of monovision based lens solutions to day light conditions.
Adapted monovision is a fitting method used by eye doctors who fit multifocal lenses but on the principle of classic monovision. By doing so they attempt to optimize upon the optical designs of the multifocal lens to maximize on the reading or distance vision that can be attained by the lens fit. The intermediate vision is guaranteed by the engineering design of the intermediate optical zone in each of the lenses on the respective eye. So in essence the eye doctor is optimizing the lens design characteristics to their fullest. No loss of contrast or depth of field is experienced with this method.
Multifocal lenses fitted in the classic method simply get fitted according to the prescription power requirement of each eye. The reading vision is in the center of the lens and various other fields of vision extending to the distance vision are achieved by way of the different concentric circles of powers within the lens design from the center out to the periphery of the zone of optics. No loss of contrast or depth of field is experienced with this method.
In all cases however it is your eye doctor who can best assess the lens type and fit that would work best for you. Ask your eye doctor if any of the above options will work for you.

Most of us have heard that eating carrots is good for your eyesight. While this is true, a balanced nutritional diet is essential to your eye health. Vitamins A, C, & E are very important to your vision well being as are lutein, fatty acids and zinc. Vision Care for life presents a very comprehensive article that is recommended reading in order to learn the proper nutrients your body needs to maintain optimum vision health. You can read that article here: http://tiny.cc/OwQEb

Common Contact Lens Myths Busted!

Do you have trepidations or concerns about contact lenses??
Check out this great article that busts some common misconceptions about contact lenses.
Read it here.

The Impact of Vision on A Child's Learning

In most American classrooms, about 80 percent of what is taught is dependent upon an ability to see well. Teachers use tools to aid their teaching that include chalkboards, computer screens, projectors -- good vision is crucial to understanding and comprehending the material. Vision problems often lead to problems learning.
It is estimated that about 10 million children have undetected vision problems because of poor evaluation. Most schools test the distance vision of students, but fail to evaluate how well a child can see close objects.
To learn well, it is essential for children to be able to see quickly and process visual information, especially at close distance.

Signs that your child may be having visual difficulty:

• Avoiding close work as much as possible or refusing to do it at all.
• May attempt to do the work, but lacks a good understanding.
• Discomfort, fatigue and a short attention span.
• May become shortsighted or suppress the vision in one eye.
  
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