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Give LASIK to Your Valentine!
Searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? If your sweetheart wears glasses and/or contacts, consider giving the gift of LASIK. Okay, we get it…LASIK may not be the most romantic Valentine’s Day gift, but unlike chocolate or flowers the gift of sight will last a lifetime! Think about it, you could look into your sweetheart’s eyes – without looking through glasses!
LASIK Gift Certificates are available by calling 713-395-1515 (ask for Steve or Kathy). They will be happy to help create the perfect Valentine Gift Certificate!
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February is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month
Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition affecting as many as 15 million Americans and millions more around the world. The disease attacks the macula of the eye, where our sharpest central vision occurs. Although it rarely results in complete blindness, it robs the individual of all but the outermost, peripheral vision, leaving only dim images or black holes at the center of vision.
AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over the age 50. Although anyone can get AMD, caucasians are at higher risk than other races and women tend to develop AMD at an earlier age than men. There are several other risk factors for the onset of Age-related Macular Degeneration:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
In the early stages, AMD doesn’t have any symptoms. However, there are complications that a patient should be aware of that become noticeable as the condition progresses. These include:
- Straight lines begin to appear out of shape
- Dark or white blurry areas appear in the center of vision
- Change or decline color perception
With no cure for Age-related Macular Degeneration, the best defense against the eye disease is early detection. As always, it is important for eye care patients to get annual comprehensive eye exams.
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Visian ICL or LASIK?
Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. When doing your research, you should look seriously at a practice that also offers Visian ICL as an alternate to LASIK.
If you have thin corneas, dry eyes and high refractive error – the Visian ICL may be a better option for you.
The Visian ICL is an implant and it doesn’t involve a laser to treat the cornea (this is especially good for patient with dry eye).
The Visian ICL is an outpatient procedure, takes 15 minutes per eye, little to no discomfort and has a 99.4% satisfaction rate.
The ideal ICL candidate is between the ages of 21-45 with high levels of nearsightedness and without significant astigmatism.
Recovery begins immediately, with most patients reporting clear vision by the end of the procedure.
Dr. Wade is the #1 Visian ICL surgeon in Houston. Call Eye Center of Texas (713-395-1515 and ask for Steve) to schedule your free Visian ICL evaluation.
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LASIK for $299/eye…Is This a SCAM?
If you drive a car in Houston, chances are you’ve heard this on the radio: “Happy New Year! Start your new year with great vision with LASIK…starting as low as $299 per eye”.
I hate to be the one to tell you…if it sounds too good to be true…it is!
Here’s what’s going to happen: you arrive for your appointment expecting to have surgery for $299 per eye, but by the time they add additional charges for upgraded technology, post op visits, guarantees…your fee will be closer to $2000 per eye. Or, because you have astigmatism (and most people do) you don’t qualify for the $299. If I had to guess, less than 1% of patients qualify for the $299 advertised price.
Don’t get scammed, ask questions before you book for “FREE” Lasik Evaluation:
- Do you use custom blade-free LASIK technology?
- Do you have the most updated software?
- How many procedures has the surgeon performed (not how many procedures has the center performed – big difference!)
- What’s the surgeon’s enhancement rate? Are enhancements included in the price?
LASIK surgery is not inexpensive. But, then again, you only get it once in a lifetime!
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The Evolution of Cataract Surgery
- The first reported surgical removal of a cataract was in 1748 in Paris. The early techniques involved removing the entire opaque lens in one piece using an incision that went halfway around the circumference of the cornea. It was critical that the lens remained intact as it was being removed, so surgery was restricted to so-called ripe lenses (cataracts so hard that they would not break into pieces as they were being removed).
- The most significant change was the introduction of phacoemulsification surgery in 1967 and is the most wildly used type of cataract surgery performed in the United States. In phaco, the surgeon makes a tiny incision on the side of the cornea, and inserts a probe through this opening. The probe emits ultrasonic waves that soften and break up the cloudy lens, which is then suctioned from the eye in small pieces.
- Originally, no lens implants were used following cataract surgery, and patients had to rely on “Coke bottle” glasses.
- Howard Ridley, a British ophthalmologist recognized that the penetration of shattered fragments from airplane windshields into the eyes of World War II fighter pilots when their planes had been hit did not always lead to damage of the eye. He created the first artificial lens from this material, leading to the creation of an entire industry.
- The evolution of smaller surgical incisions was matched by the development of new lens implants created out of different materials (such as acrylic and silicone) that could be folded to allow the lens to be inserted through a tiny wound.
- Today, Lenses are manufactured in a variety of different optical powers. Prior to surgery, patients undergo a series of measurements determining the length of their eye and the focusing power of their cornea to determine what will be the optimal intraocular lens power for them.
- Intraocular lens implants are now available that can correct myopia or hyperopia and also a variable degree of astigmatism.
- New advancements in laser technology are under development that will allow most steps of the cataract surgery procedure to be performed using a laser.
- Cataract surgery complications are few, and it is among the most common and most successful surgical procedures performed today. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, with an overall success rate of 98 percent or higher.
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About Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision.
- Most cataracts are related to aging.
- By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
- Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. Approximately 3 million Americans undergo cataract treatment through cataract surgery every year.
- A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.
What causes cataracts?
- The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.
- As we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract.
- Over time the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
- Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes.
What are the symptoms of a cataract?
- Cloudy or blurry vision.
- Colors seem faded.
- Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
- Poor night vision.
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Cataract surgery is a major life-changing event and choosing a surgeon should not be taken lightly. Two of the biggest factors impacting the success of your cataract surgery…is your surgeon’s experience and the technology. Dr. Mayo and Dr. Wade have performed thousands of successful cataract procedures, offer the latest in advanced lifestyle lens implants, specialize in bladeless cataract surgery and have a very low complication rate. Our surgeons aim to achieve the best for every patient by working with a team of experienced doctors that will carefully analyze your eye health and visual needs.
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What is Astigmatism?
I just received an email from a friend who wanted to know: what is astigmatism and can it be corrected with LASIK surgery?
Astigmatism is not a disease nor does it mean that you have bad eyes. Astigmatism usually is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Instead of the cornea having a symmetrically round shape (like a baseball), it is shaped more like a football.
Astigmatism usually causes vision to be blurred or distorted to some degree at all distances. Symptoms of uncorrected astigmatism are eye strain and headaches, especially after reading or other prolonged visual tasks. Squinting also is a very common symptom.
Yes,LASIK can correct most types of astigmatism. If you’re interested in finding out if LASIK eye surgery can correct your astigmatism, give us a call at 713-395-1515.
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Top Ten FACTS You Should Know About LASIK
With the New Year many of you are thinking about getting rid of your glasses and/or contact lenses permanently – with LASIK. But, your a little nervous because someone told you that their aunt had it years ago and she went blind. The truth is no one has ever gone blind because of LASIK. Check out these 10 LASIK facts:
1. LASIK is painless.
2. LASIK takes about 15 minutes for both eyes.
3. The laser vaporizes microscopic layers of tissue of the cornea (the front part of the eye) in a precise fashion to correct the vision abnormality.
4. No stitches are required with LASIK.
5. Eye drops are used to anesthetize the eye – no injections are used.
6. Both eyes are done at the same time, in most cases.
7. LASIK has a low complication rate, less than 2% and the vast majority of these complications are correctable with medication and/or an additional LASIK procedure.
8. LASIK patients must be 18 years and older.
9. Your prescription should be stable (has not changed in the past 12 months).
10. No one has ever gone blind with LASIK.
Deciding which LASIK surgeon you want to preform your surgery can be overwhelming, especially when you hear “LASIK as low as $499”. Don’t make your decision based on price (may times, you get what you pay for and we’re talking about your EYES). At Eye Center of Texas our LASIK surgeons are experienced – with thousands of procedures under their belts and only use the latest LASIK technology. Begin your journey toward freedom from glasses and/or contact lenses today – schedule your free LASIK evaluation today.
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Know Your Type of Glaucoma
There are several types of glaucoma. The two main types are open-angle and angle-closure. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye.
Open-Angle Glaucoma:
This is the most common form of glaucoma, affecting about three million Americans. It happens when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time.
The inner eye pressure (also called intraocular pressure or IOP) rises because the correct amount of fluid can’t drain out of the eye. With open-angle glaucoma, the entrances to the drainage canals are clear and should be working correctly. The clogging problem occurs further inside the drainage canals, similar to a clogged pipe below the drain in a sink.
Most people have no symptoms and no early warning signs. If open-angle glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause a gradual loss of vision. This type of glaucoma develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. It usually responds well to medication, especially if caught early and treated.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma:
This type of glaucoma is also known as acute glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma. It is much more rare and is very different from open-angle glaucoma in that the eye pressure usually rises very quickly.
This happens when the drainage canals get blocked or covered over, like a sink with something covering the drain.
With angle-closure glaucoma, the iris is not as wide and open as it should be. The outer edge of the iris bunches up over the drainage canals, when the pupil enlarges too much or too quickly. This can happen when entering a dark room.
A simple test can be used to see if your angle is normal and wide or abnormal and narrow.
Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma may include headaches, eye pain, nausea, rainbows around lights at night, and very blurred vision.
Normal-Tension Glaucoma:
Also called low-tension or normal-pressure glaucoma, in normal-tension glaucoma the optic nerve is damaged even though the pressure in the eye is not very high. Doctors do not know why some people’s optic nerves are damaged even though they have almost normal pressure levels.
Those at higher risk for this form of glaucoma are:
- People with a family history of normal-tension glaucoma
- People of Japanese ancestry
- People with a history of systemic heart disease such as irregular heart rhythm.
Early detection, through regular and complete eye exams, is the key to protecting your vision.
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Can Glaucoma Be Prevented?
Is there any way to prevent glaucoma?
Though it’s unclear whether glaucoma can be prevented, you might be able to reduce your risk for the disease by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, eat a healthy diet, keep your weight down, exercise and take nutritional products.
Currently, regular eye exams are the best form of prevention against significant glaucoma damage. In general, a check for glaucoma should be done:
- Before age 40, every two to four years
- Age 40 to age 54, every one to three years
- Age 55 to 64, every one to two years
- After age 65, every six to 12 months
- Anyone with high risk factors should be tested every year or two after age 35. Those at higher risk include people of African descent, people with diabetes, and people with a family history of glaucoma. You are at increased risk if you have a parent or brother or sister with glaucoma.
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Our Locations
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455 E. Medical Center Blvd., Suite 110, Webster, TX 77598- Medical Office:
- 281-332-1397
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Cypress, TX 77433- Medical Office:
- 346-537-0088
- Medical Fax:
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- 713-797-1010
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Greenhouse Medical Plaza
2051 Greenhouse Road, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77084- Medical Office:
- 346-547-7070
- Medical Fax:
- 281-214-2971
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- 281-977-8800
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15200 S.W. Freeway, Suite 130, Sugar Land, TX 77478- Medical Office:
- 281-277-1010
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100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 118
Conroe, TX 77304- Medical Office:
- 936-647-1610
- Medical Fax:
- 936-647-1620
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