Can You Be Too Young for LASIK?

The short answer to the question, “Can you be too young for LASIK?” is: Yes.

There are reasons why you still see so many children wearing glasses today, even when LASIK is performed on more than 700,000 people each year. LASIK is a refractive surgery that treats eyesight imperfections that cause myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. LASIK technology reshapes the cornea to allow light to focus properly on the retina. The result is clearer vision, even 20/20 or better vision, for many patients.

So why wouldn’t you want to have LASIK performed as soon as possible?

We all know that children are constantly growing and changing, and their eyes are no exception. In fact, some people have refractive instability into their early 20s. This means that their vision correction needs may be frequently fluctuating. One qualification of being a good candidate for LASIK is having stable vision, without prescription changes, for at least two years. Most children simply do not have that stability.

So what is the right age for LASIK? The Food and Drug Administration has stated the minimum LASIK age requirement is 18 years old, but there can be rare circumstances where the procedure is recommended earlier. The determination for LASIK for any age individual can only be made after a comprehensive LASIK Evaluation by a qualified doctor.

Inland Eye Institute offers Free LASIK Evaluations at our Inland Empire office. To learn more, visit our website at inlandeye.com or call 909-937-9230.

Differences Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

Many people think all eye doctors the same. They use the terms Optometrist and Ophthalmologist interchangeably. The truth is that these are two very different types of eye care professionals.

Optometrists

Optometrists have earned a Doctor of Optometry Degree (OD). Optometrists have completed a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, plus four years of post-graduate professional training in optometry school. Their main focus is to provide primary eye care, including vision checks, eye disease diagnosis and overall eye health review. They prescribe corrective lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and they can prescribe some medications. Optometrists often work closely with ophthalmologists to provide pre- and post-op care for eye surgery patients.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are Medical Doctors (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, four years of medical school encompassing care for the whole body, internships, at least three years of hospital-based residency and additional years of training in eye disease treatment and eye surgery. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform eye surgery, perform eye exams and write prescriptions for medications or corrective lenses.

Certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration, are managed and corrected by ophthalmologists. Eye surgeries such as LASIK or Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implants should only be done by an eye surgeon who is highly experienced and using the latest technologies.

Frequent eye exams, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems, can provide early detection – and treatment – of developing issues.

Visit the website of ophthalmologist Dr. Blanton at Inland Eye Institute to schedule a Vision Consultation in the Inland Empire. Visit inlandeye.com or call 909-937-9230 today.

LASIK – LASIK Joke Blog LASIK Joke of the Day

In honor of National Tell a Joke Day on August 16, here’s a “cornea” one for your enjoyment:

It’s been said ophthalmology is a “contact” sport.

There is a bit of truth in this! Ophthalmologists do deal with patients who wear contact lenses and glasses. In fact, at Inland Eye Institute we are concerned with helping people reduce or eliminate their need for these corrective lenses through LASIK eye surgery.

If you’ve been considering laser vision correction, remember that choosing the right ophthalmologist for your LASIK eye surgery is no joke. You should never choose a LASIK surgeon based solely on someone else’s recommendation. You should feel 100% confident in each one of the factors listed below by doing your own research before you put your trust into any doctor. You’ll want to determine things like:

·         The doctor’s medical training, certifications and professional organization affiliations

·         The doctor’s real world experience with LASIK

·         The doctor’s demeanor (do you feel a good rapport with him?)

·         The doctor’s LASIK success rate

·         Your confidence in the LASIK technology being used

·         The doctor’s willingness to discuss the potential risks or complications of LASIK

·         The friendliness and proficiency of the office and support staff

·         The cleanliness and comfort of the office

You can learn all about Dr. Blanton at Inland Eye Institute by scheduling your LASIK Consultation in the Inland Empire. Not only will you find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, you will also have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want about Dr. Blanton's credentials. Contact us today at inlandeye.com or 909-937-9230.

National Eye Exam Month Has Arrived

August is National Eye Exam Month. This observance is a good reminder about the importance of having regular eye exams. Often people take their vision for granted, especially if they don’t need to wear corrective lenses. Even those who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism might become complacent about exams if their vision is stable.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following guidelines for a healthy eye exam schedule:

·         Children: before entering first grade, then every two years

·         Healthy adults up to age 40: every 5-10 years

·         Adults age 40-65: every 2-4 years

·         Adults over age 65: every 1-2 years

Of course, if you have any family history of eye disease or vision problems, you should schedule eye exams more frequently.

Why Eye Exams are Important                              

Eye exams can detect vision problems that you may be completely unaware of (like glaucoma or cataracts), and allow for the earliest treatment possible. Some vision conditions can lead to blindness if left untreated, so early detection gives you the opportunity to consider a wider range of treatment options.

You may also learn that you are a good candidate for a vision correction surgery, like LASIK, which could reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.

Be honest: when was the last time you had an eye exam? Don’t put it off another year. Schedule your eye exam or a free LASIK Consultation at Inland Eye Institute. You can schedule it online at inlandeye.com or by calling 909-937-9230.

Understanding LASIK Incisions

LASIK eye surgery has brought lens-free vision to literally millions of people over the years. Technology continues to improve this medical procedure, making the outcomes more precise than ever before.

So why hasn’t everyone jumped on the LASIK bandwagon? Fear is one factor that keeps some people away. Specifically, fear of the LASIK incision. Let’s face it: our eyes are sensitive, and the thought of having a procedure that involves cutting the cornea can be scary. When you have detailed information about the procedure, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue LASIK.

Type of LASIK Incisions

In LASIK surgery, the surgeon makes a thin flap in the cornea via one of two methods:

• Mechanical tool called a Microkeratome. This is an oscillating, hand-held blade that is controlled by the surgeon. 
• Femtosecond laser also referred to as “bladeless” LASIK. Pre-calculated computer software guides the laser beam to cut the flap at a precise diameter and depth.

The corneal flap is folded back to allow the surgeon to reshape the cornea and correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism issues. When the refractive error work is completed, the surgeon folds the corneal flap back down, where it heals itself. The whole process only takes minutes per eye! And most patients are already experiencing improved vision when they leave the office.

The truth of the matter is that LASIK surgery is quite safe when it is performed by an experienced LASIK surgeon. The Food and Drug Administration has approved nearly 30 lasers; lasers they have deemed to be safe and effective for LASIK surgery. There have also been advances in the microkeratome technology that have increased the effectiveness of the hand-held blade method.

If you would like to learn more about the entire LASIK procedure, contact Inland Eye Institute today to schedule a Free LASIK Evaluation or visit their website at inlandeye.com. Don’t let fear stop you from achieving great vision!