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Is LASIK Right for Me?

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I discuss LASIK with several patients each week and realize I have never written about it. LASIK is a refractive procedure that quickly, painlessly and permanently changes the corneal topography (shape of the front of the eye) to correct a person’s vision. Many people are candidates for the procedure, but some are “better” candidates than others. My strongest recommendation goes to people with astigmatism. This refractive condition is usually caused by the shape of the cornea and often makes contact lens use challenging or impossible. My second favorite candidate for LASIK are people with myopia or  nearsightedness. I do want to qualify this because some myopes are not great candidates. Someone who reads and works at the computer comfortably without glasses or contact lenses will require more education about future vision changes and glasses. The other end of the myopic spectrum are people who are really really nearsighted and too much corneal tissue would have to be removed to be safe. Otherwise most nearsighted people are very good candidates and enjoy the results.

Other important criteria include stable vision. LASIK will not prevent  the prescription from changing. I like to see no changes in the distance vision for at least 12 months, preferably 2 years. If the vision is going to change, it will, with or without the refractive procedure. If you have the procedure, you can expect good vision without glasses for a very longtime.

The actual laser procedure takes 2 minutes or less per eye. Many precise measurements are taken before the procedure. Proper alignment with the laser is made in all axes. A super thin flap of cornea is created with the Intralase Method which uses tiny, ultra-precise pulses of light. It is laid back while the surgeon lasers the tissue underneath it to correct the refractive error. The flap is carefully replaced and smoothed into place. And that is the extent of the actual LASIK. The rest is healing and post-operative care. Some lifestyle modifications are required initially, but most people are surprised how much they can do and see right after surgery.

If you have any questions or comments about refractive surgery, please leave a comment or call the office (707)762-8643.

The Contact Lens Case

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Not much thought goes towards the contact lens case. But this little keeper of contact lenses can harbor microbes and oils that contaminate the contact lenses. Dirty contact lens cases make for dirty contact lenses, increasing the chance of blur, discomfort and infection of the eyes.

Eye Hygiene Care - set of contact lens cases

A recent study in Australia showed that the manufacturer’s recommendation of rinsing with multi-purpose contact lens solution and air drying is not enough. The most effective technique to remove the most bacteria was to rinse and wipe the case with a tissue before air drying.

I have always advocated dumping the contact lens solution every morning and rinsing the case with hot water then air drying. I am now adding the use of multi-purpose solution (MPS) instead of water and wiping with a tissue as well. For soft contact lens wearers, using the MPS to rinse instead of water is safer. For rigid gas permeable wearers, hot water is still indicated. (the soaking solutions are too viscous to be effective).

Contact lens case care (soft lenses)
1. Dump solution
2. Rinse with multi-purpose solution
3. Wipe with a tissue
4. Air dry

Contact lens case care (rigid gas permeable lenses)
1. Dump out solution
2. Rinse in hot water
3. Wipe with a tissue
4. Air dry

And the final step to maintaining a clean contact lens case it to replace it regularly.

Halloween and Contact Lenses

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It is the time of year when I worry the most about improper contact lens use.  I am revisiting a post from last October about colored contact lenses. The perfect Halloween costume is not worth putting your eyes at risk.

Contact lenses should only be purchased from an authorized contact lens distributor, an eye doctor and some retail outlets. In the U.S., contact lenses cannot be obtained legally without a prescription. Instruction for proper care and handling should be included when the lenses are dispensed. Without proper fitting and care there is a risk of bacterial infection, corneal abrasion and corneal ulcers. Some of these consequences are painful, some can be blinding.

 In 2005, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified all contact lenses, whether they correct vision or are used simply for cosmetics as medical devices.  Not only do the lenses have to be FDA approved, but so do the dyes. Any product in your eyes or touching your eyes should always be dispensed with a current prescription from your eye doctor. Don’t risk your eyesight, if you are interested in colored contacts give the office a call.

cosmetic contact lenses

The World through Rose Colored Glasses

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I never think of prescription sunwear as a luxury. Comfortable, clear vision outdoors is as important as general clear glasses. I use my sunglasses for driving, sports and enjoying a book outdoors. The color of the lens tends to be personal and specific to how the glasses will be used. I personally prefer a grey lens, but different color lenses can actually improve your vision in certain situations. While some colors increase depth perception, others improve vision in low light situations and some reduce glare and eyestrain in bright light. I’ve included a list to help you select your next pair of sunglasses. See what fits your needs and lifestyle. Rose colored lenses may or may not be in your future, but maybe gray or green will make your eyes a little happier.

  • YELLOW offers excellent depth perception, provides good contrast in low light.
  • VERMILION Improves color perception in low light, excellent for overcast days
  •  BROWN/AMBER Blocks blue light, reduces glare, improves contrast.
  • GRAY transmits true colors evenly, reduces glare, low color distortion.
  • GREEN enhances contrast in moderate light, reduces eyestrain in bright light.

Other sunglass features include POLARIZATION, which filters refective glare and enhances color contrast and depth perception. FLASH MIRRORS limit the amount of light entering your eyes so you feel more comfortable.

If you want to try different color samples, come by the office. If you have any questions about special conditions or different sunglass lenses, leave a comment.

Eye Irritation

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The skin condition, Acne Rosacea, may affect the eyes. A recent survey by the National Rosacea Society reports that 60 percent of rosacea patients also have eye involvement. In fact, ocular symptoms may appear before the effects of rosacea appear on the skin. Ocular Rosacea is characterized by redness around the eyelids, bloodshot eyes and watery appearance. Sufferers of Ocular Rosacea experience foreign body sensation, burning or stinging, dryness, itching, light sensitivity and blurred vision.

Gentle, consistent cleaning and oral medication may relief the symptoms of ocular rosacea. If ocular rosacea is not treated, patients could endure potentially serious consequences, such as scarring or corneal damage that could lead to decreased vision.

If you have any questions or would like more information about ocular rosacea, call the office or post a comment.

Fall Eyewear Showcase

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Dr. Karen Griffith and her staff cordially invite you to their fall eyewear event featuring the frame collections of:

Kate Spade, Nike, Disney, Denim, Flexon and Marchon


There will be a raffle for a pair of Kate Spade sunglasses and a Nike wristwatch

Saturday, September 10, 2011

10am – 2pm

Back to School in 3D

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If  your child has not been enjoying the 3D summer movies, he or she may have a vision problem.

The 3Ds of Stereoscopic 3D viewing

  • Discomfort: Since 3D viewing is based on the eyes converging in front of or beyond the screen, viewing 3D images can potentially create eyestrain and headaches.
  • Dizziness: 3D technology can exaggerate visual motion hypersensitivity, which can cause motion sickness, and vergence-accommodation conflict, causing viewers to feel dizzy or nauseous during or after watching 3D movies.
  • Lack of Depth: A viewer lacking binocular vision, simply won’t see 3D. While this doesn’t pose any problem viewing the screen, it serves as a “vision screening” that something is abnormal with the viewer’s binocular vision.

Symptoms indicating a potential problem viewing images in 3D can vary. Some common symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, nausea and dizziness. If you or your child have had an uncomfortable experience watching a movie in 3D, call Westside Optometry for an eye examination.

Diabetic Retinopathy

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In the previous blog post I wrote about the reasons I dilate patient’s eyes. If you have diabetes, I will dilate your eyes at least once a year. Diabetes can affect many organs of the body, in the eyes it causes blindness.
Many problems develop in the retina due to diabetes. There is abnormal blood vessel growth, hemorrhages and lipid leakage. If these problems are allowed to continue without treatment they will cause scarring which leads to detachment of the retina. Another complication is the leakage of fluid under the macula which will severely reduce vision.
Not all these conditions will have symptoms. Only when the bleeding or fluids reach a certain size will you notice blur or dark spots. The earlier changes in the retina are detected, the better treatment results will be.

The picture above shows some of the changes diabetes causes in the retina. There is bleeding and some areas where blood isn’t flowing properly (ischemia). This patient did not notice any changes in his vision.

Why do I Dilate the Eyes?

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I dilate most everybody’s eyes during an eye examination. If you have any health conditions such as diabetes, are taking certain medication, or have  cataracts I will dilate your eyes more often.
Through a dilated pupil I can see more eye structures.  I will use diagnostic lights and lenses that provide a 3 dimensional view of the inside of the eye. If there is a retinal hole, a lesion or fluid, it is much easier to detect through a dilated pupil. If I look through a keyhole, I can see part of the room, if I open the door, I can see everything.
Dilation requires drops in the eye. The effect usually lasts 3-4 hours. Most people notice an increased sensitivity to lights because the pupil is larger. I recommend bringing sunglasses to your appointment. If you think driving may be a problem, arrange for a driver. The drops can also cause a cycloplegic effect, which means focusing on objects up close will be difficult. Try to plan your schedule accordingly. Don’t plan on doing computer work or other close tasks immediately after being dilated.

This is the view of a normal retina looking through a dilated pupil. The optic nerve is the whitish circle on the left, it provides an entrance point to the eye for the blood vessels and an exit pathway for the nerve fibers carrying input to the brain. The 130 million photoreceptors (rods and cones) covering the retina, which appears as an orange background, receive all visual images and send these signals to the brain where the vision process occurs. When you have your eyes dilated at Westside Optometry we will take a similar picture of your eye. Don’t let me forget to show it to you.

Where’s that Contact Lens?

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Most contact lens wearers have lost a lens. Many lose the lens in the eye while applying or removing it. In most cases, the lens usually falls out, but due to frantic searching in the eye, rinsing the eye, having others poke around in the eye, it will feel like a lens is in there. Why? All that irritation can cause an abrasion, swelling and tenderness. The lens is usually gone, but the eye feels like something is still there. My best advice to you is STOP! Leave the eye alone, a lens in the eye or part of a contact lens in the eye will cause minor to no damage compared to poking and probing in an attempt to locate it. If the foreign body sensation does not lessen or go away in an hour, call my office, Westside Optometry (707)762-8643. With the aid of a biomicroscope and some dye I can easily locate and remove a wayward lens. If it is not still in the eye, I can determine the cause of the irritation and help to relieve it.