by EyeLASIK | Dec 21, 2015 | Health Facts
Ditch your contacts to improve your eye health!
Contact lenses are more portable and convenient than eyeglasses but they aren’t without some risk. Eye LASIK is here to give you a list of the dangers of contacts…and why you should ditch them for LASIK!
Germs, Germs Everywhere
Even the most vigilant contact lens wearers will tell you they slack off on occasion. However, when you’re inserting a foreign object into your eye, you’re also increasing the risk of transferring bacteria in there as well. Microbial keratitis, an infection where viruses and bacteria (and sometime amoebas!) infiltrate the cornea, can cause serious eye infections. In the most serious cases, patients require cornea transplant surgery.
Just Get A Little Shut-Eye
Have you ever fallen asleep with your contacts in and feel like you have to peel them off of your eyeballs once you wake up? While some brands are safer to use overnight than others, most optometrists don’t recommend doing this. You increase your risk of bad eye infections.
The Solution Is More Solution
After not wearing your contacts for a few days, do you ever top off your lens case with fresh solution? This is a big no-no. It causes the solution to lose effectiveness, since it’s being diluted with the old, less useful solution. Another poor choice? Leaving your contacts sitting in the same solution for days at a time. A grimy film will build up at the bottom of the case that can, once again, cause serious eye infections.
So what does Eye LASIK have to do with this? We aren’t trying to scare you. We just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you that LASIK can eliminate the need for ALL of these issues! After the procedure, there’s never a need to: (1) constantly touch your eye since there are no contacts to put in (2) worry about gooey eyes after sleeping (3) fuss over contact lens cases and solution. LASIK is more affordable than you think and it would make an excellent Christmas present or “new year, new you” gift to yourself. We offer free, personalized consultations to help you evaluate your eyes. Eye LASIK can’t wait to help you see clearer than clear!
by EyeLASIK | Nov 16, 2015 | eye health, Health Facts
How does diabetes affect your eyes? Read more to find out!
November is American Diabetes Month! What does this have to do with eyes, you ask? Diabetes and eyesight are closely related, actually. We have a lot of information to give you in this week’s blog!
The Terrible Two
There are actually two types of diabetes.
(A) Type 1 is usually called juvenile diabetes. It only occurs in about 5% of the population and it is usually diagnosed when the patient is a child. The body does not produce insulin and injections are necessary.
(B) Type 2 diabetes is a little different. It is also referred to as “insulin resistant,” which means the body does not properly use the insulin that is produced naturally by the body. This is the most common type of diabetes.
What Does This Mean?
Diabetes can be controlled, but only through carefully regimented diet, oral medications, and (sometimes) insulin treatments. However, the good news is that often times, there are preventative measures those with a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can take. For instance, maintaining a healthy weight and a good diet with more whole foods and less processed ones can help decrease your risk for developing diabetes. However some risks such as age, ethnicity, and genetics cannot be controlled.
How Does Blood Sugar Affect Eyesight?
With Type 2 diabetes, the insulin produced by the body is not enough to help blood sugar (or glucose) be absorbed by cells. It builds up in the blood and, over time, the patient can develop serious complications. Some of those include an increased risk for glaucoma, cataracts, and, in very serious cases, blindness. The American Diabetes Association has an excellent website that explains many of the complications in great detail here.
Eye LASIK cares about your eyes and everything that can affect them. If you are at risk for developing diabetes, we strongly encourage you to discuss your options with your healthcare provider and to take precautionary measures to avoid it, if possible. Diabetes still has a long way to go before there is a cure, but we love seeing our patients happy and healthy.
