LASIK Celebrity Patients

There’s something to be said about the way celebrities can influence a crowd. People have always enjoyed keeping up with the latest in Hollywood gossip, fashion, trends and more. We are a nation obsessed with celebrities – which isn’t always a bad thing, especially when when they’re setting a positive example. Throughout the past few years, many celebs have made the decision to undergo LASIK. Let’s take a look at the top celebrities with LASIK who have made the life-changing choice for healthier eyes and better vision through LASIK eye surgery.

Famed singer, actress and fashion designer Jessica Simpson made the choice to undergo LASIK back in 2004. After the completion of her surgery, her world changed completely. “It’s like being healed by God!” exclaimed Simpson on the incredible transformation of her vision. “I was legally blind, I couldn’t see without contacts or glasses. I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I couldn’t see the big ‘E’ on the (eye test) screens.”

Jessica_Simpson_7

Brad Pitt is another famous celebrity who has chosen to correct his vision through LASIK eye surgery. As an actor and film producer, Pitt has had to rely on his vision constantly throughout his career. LASIK is an excellent option for people who work in jobs that require large amounts of reading or writing.

Actor Dennis Quaid is also a huge fan of LASIK. As he stated, “It’s painless, it’s really easy, quick, and it’ll change your life forever”. And not only is LASIK easy, quick and life changing, it’s also a smart way to maintain healthy eyesight. Correcting your vision means that your eyes don’t have to work as hard, which will help preserve your sight in the long-run.

Dennis Quaid:

It might surprise you to know that comedian Drew Carey has undergone LASIK, but although he still wears glasses, he does so to stay “in character”. Carey is actually a huge fan of LASIK, and has remarked in interviews that his surgery left him with 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/15 vision in the other.

Drew Carey:

Famous musician Elton John underwent LASIK surgery in 2003.He traded in his glasses for clear vision, except of course when his glasses are a part of his on-stage ensemble.

Elton John:

Kim Kardashian decided to get LASIK after struggling with vision her whole life, she talked about how having glasses her whole life but hated wearing them. Kim actually is spotlighted getting the surgery in her own reality TV Show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Kim Kardashian:

Many people don’t know that Reese Witherspoon actually wore glasses most of her life. That is until the Sweet Home Alabama star underwent LASIK. Glasses can be a drawback for many professions, but  Witherspoon made the choice to not let her vision get in the way of her career as an actress.

Reese_Witherspoon_2011,_2

People everywhere are turning to LASIK, including the famous celebrities with LASIK we all love to see on TV. Why not take the life-changing step towards new and improved vision? If you’re considering LASIK, or would just like to learn more and talk to a doctor, schedule your free consultation today. Call La Jolla LASIK eye surgery San Diego CA at (858) 551-4100 or visit us online at LaJollaLasik.com.

“Get the Red Out” Drops – Not as Great as You Think

You’ve all seen the commercials for different drops available to “get the red out” of your eyes and you may have used them on yourselves and your kids – from Visine to Clear Eyes to Rohto and many more.  These drops seem great because they promise to eliminate the symptoms of red eyes, but are you aware of their side effects?

The active ingredient in “Get the Red Out” drops is a vasoconstrictor, which makes blood vessels shrink temporarily.  The problem is something called “reflex vasodilation.”  When the drop wears off, the constricted blood vessels relax, often bigger than before.  This may make you want another dose to achieve that whiteness again, and when that dose wears off, your eyes will be even redder, again.  So the vicious cycle goes, on and on.

Contact lens users really shouldn’t use “get the red out” drops.  Since contact lenses already significantly reduce oxygen flows to the eye, adding a vasoconstrictor drop into the mix only makes your eyes drier (narrowing blood vessels leads to less oxygen delivered to the tissues).

While these drops are good for an immediate aesthetic touch-up for special occasions such as a headshot or big event, I don’t recommend using them on a daily basis.  Don’t get trapped into rebound redness that leads you to reach for more drops and leaves you in a vicious cycle – it is possible to become extremely dependent.  Over time, the blood vessels in your eye will get damaged and your eyes will only get redder with continued use.

I recommend artificial tears like Systane or Theratears.  While artificial tears do not necessarily get the red out, they will most likely wash out what’s irritating your eyes and therefore what’s causing the redness.

Sources:

When can I start exercising after LASIK?

When you exercise after LASIK I want you to be careful to prevent two things:  1) infection and 2) a wrinkled flap.  So, let’s keep you away from nasty bacteria, and make sure you don’t squint or rub or squeeze your eyes for a week or two.

To prevent squinting your eyes when you strain during a workout, wait three days to exercise. If you exercise in a gym, assume the equipment is covered in toxic bacteria.  Wash your hands before touching your face when working out after LASIK.

If you sweat a lot, use a cap, sweatband, or scarf to absorb the sweat so it doesn’t pour into your eyes.

But, yes, you can work out.  Just use a little care and judgment. No problem.

How Long Does LASIK Surgery Take?

How Long Does It Take for LASIK in San Diego To Correct My Vision?

 

If you’re tired of glasses or contact lenses, and have been considering having LASIK surgery in San Diego, some of the concerns you probably have are along the lines of “How long is it going to take?” and “How much time do I have to take off of work?” and “Even after the surgery, how much time to I have to spend recovering?” These are practical questions, so in this blog post we’ll spend some time dealing with them.

 

The Simple Answer – The Actual Surgery Takes About 30 Minutes

 

Yep, it’s that fast, approximately 10 to 15 minutes per eye. And most of that time is spent making measurements and setting things up to ensure that the surgery is as accurate and effective as possible, because the laser itself takes only 20 to 50 seconds to reshape your corneas and correct your vision. In terms of planning, you will spend approximately an hour and a half in our offices on the day of the surgery.

 

The More Detailed Answer – “Prep Time” Before the Surgery

 

Although the “simple answer” above is true, there are some things that may require investments of your time before the LASIK in San Diego is performed. For example, if you currently wear soft contact lenses, we will suggest that you stop wearing them for 5 to 21 days before the surgery. If you wear hard contact lenses, we may request that you stop wearing them for a minimum of six weeks, plus an additional six weeks for every year you have been wearing them. This is necessary in our experience because contact lenses of both types reduce the cornea’s oxygen absorption, and this can cause complications after LASIK surgery. For best results, you should actually stop wearing your contacts and switch to glasses for two weeks before your baseline evaluation, when we measure your eyes and determine your prescription for the surgery.

 

More Detailed Answer, Part 2 – “Recovery Time” After the Surgery

 

After surgery, you may experience a short period of burning, itching, or feeling as if something is in your eye, but this will dissipate quickly. You may be given a course of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to use for several weeks. In most cases patients are also advised to wear dark glasses to protect their eyes from bright lights, and if necessary protective goggles to keep them from rubbing their eyes while asleep. None of these things should disrupt your vision enough to cause you to miss work.

 

During this recovery period, you will also probably need to moisturize your eyes often using eye drops prescribed for you by your physician. To help prevent infection, you may be advised to wait for up to two week following the surgery before using lotions, creams, or types of makeup that are applied around the eyes. Naturally, you should avoid strenuous contact sports for four weeks following the surgery, and do whatever else is necessary to protect your eyes from any possible damage or infection.

 

But that’s pretty much it. San Diego LASIK surgery does not require weeks or months of recovery time the way some invasive eye surgeries did in the past. It’s a modern procedure designed for individuals in a modern world, one in which time is often our most precious resource.

When Can You Get LASIK in San Diego?

If wearing glasses or contacts is wearing on your nerves, you may be wondering if San Diego LASIK is for you. You’ve probably already heard that LASIK surgery is highly effective and most people who have had the surgery are happy with their improved vision without inconvenient and bothersome eyewear. Although popular, LASIK isn’t for everyone. Keep reading to find out if you might be a good candidate for the best LASIK San Diego has to offer, right here at La Jolla LASIK Institute.

People want San Diego LASIK surgery for a number of reasons

LASIK surgery is a delicate eye surgery in which the eye surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea in order to improve focusing issues in the eye. While its applications are varied, most people seek out San Diego LASIK to correct or improve mild to moderate cases of the following:

  • Myopia, or nearsightedness, where objects in the distance are blurry
  • Hyperopia, or farsightedness, where things nearby are hard to see
  • Astigmatism, where just about everything can be be blurry

Because this is not an exhaustive list, the only way to know for sure if LASIK is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nahl.

There is no age limit to when you can get LASIK surgery, however…

The typical LASIK candidate is between 20 and 40 years old. Many LASIK surgeons won’t perform the eye surgery on people under age 18, because it isn’t FDA-approved below this age as the eyes of younger people are still developing and changing. Still, there are certain instances where LASIK has been performed successfully on children with extreme vision problems.

As for older adults, vision typically changes around age 40, largely due to a condition called presbyopia which results in the need for reading glasses. Vision might change again at age 60 because of a higher risk for cataracts. Even the best LASIK in San Diego will only help with distance vision, so it doesn’t correct presbyopia.

The good news is that even people in their 70s and above with otherwise healthy eyes, can be good candidates for San Diego LASIK.

As you can see, age is certainly a factor, but it is not a limiting factor when determining whether or not you can get LASIK surgery. If you’re overall healthy, have a stable prescription of at least 2 years, and want the best LASIK in San Diego, contact us for more information.

Can I Get Laser Eye Surgery If I Have Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is an all too common vision problem that can occur in any person at any age. In fact, at least one out of three individuals suffers from astigmatism, and that number is probably even greater if you include those people who haven’t been diagnosed with astigmatism yet. Despite being very common, there are many misconceptions that exist about astigmatism, and many people aren’t aware that laser eye surgery can treat it in most cases.

How does laser eye surgery treat astigmatism?

Normal corneas are shaped like a sphere, similar to a baseball. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea becomes misshapen, often described as a more pointed shape such as a football or egg. This odd shape skews the light that enters the eye, which distorts or blurs your vision.

There are two categories of astigmatism:

    • Regular astigmatism is the most common type of astigmatism and affects nearly 50% of adults. This condition is associated with the football shape of the front of the eye.
    • Irregular astigmatism occurs less frequently and is largely caused from a disease that thins the cornea or an eye injury.

 

Astigmatism treatment is approached in different ways depending on the type and severity of the astigmatism. People with regular astigmatism can wear corrective glasses, while people with irregular astigmatism often needs custom contacts to see. Many cases of astigmatism can be corrected with laser eye surgery. La Jolla LASIK uses laser technology to reshape the inner part of the cornea, helping to restore the clarity, focus and improve vision.

Should I get laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is effective for most people with mild to moderate astigmatism. It’s also a convenient way for active individuals and others who are annoyed by eyeglasses and contacts, whether you suffer from astigmatism or not. The only way to know for sure if LASIK is right for you is to come in for a consultation with our expert opthamologist at La Jolla LASIK. Schedule yours today by calling us at 858-551-4100. Let our experienced and friendly team help you control your astigmatism and improve your sight with La Jolla LASIK by Dr. Angela Nahl, a Harvard graduate, board certified ophthalmologist.

Traditional LASIK vs. Customized LASIK

In the not-too-distant past, those in need of vision correction had little choice but to settle for glasses or contact lenses. While vision-correcting surgeries existed, they were astoundingly expensive and unacceptably risky. In recent years, all that has changed in a dramatic way. Millions of people scattered all across the globe have benefited from LASIK corrective eye surgery, a procedure that is now considered commonplace and fully reliable.

The Break-through Wavefront Guidance System

Traditional LASIK procedures had already eliminated the need of millions to wear corrective lenses and exhibited a track record of success unparalleled in earlier years. Recent advances in technology, however, have led LASIK surgery to even greater heights of precision and reliability.

The new “customized” version of LASIK surgery involves the use of the phenomenal Wavefront guidance system. This new method is based on three-dimensional measurements of your eye’s image-processing activities. Wavefront’s detailed analysis of how your eye works can obtain the information necessary to an extremely precise laser-based, corrective eye surgery. The Wavefront system uses crucial, patient-specific data to guide the laser as it reshapes your cornea.

LOAs and HOAs

Wavefront offers precise diagnoses of both lower-order aberrations (LOAs) and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). LOAs typically involve some variety of blurred vision and include such conditions as:

  • Nearsightendness
  • Farsightedness
  • Astigmatism

LOAs are treatable by corrective lenses as well as by LASIK procedures, but custom LASIK can achieve much more satisfactory results at eliminating, or at least minimizing, HOAs than can other methods. HOAs cause common side effects such as:

  • Halos seen around light sources
  • Double vision
  • Contrast sensitivity loss
  • Night glare
  • Starbursts

Custom LASIK is 25 times more precise in its measurements than is traditional LASIK. This gives the patient a much better chance of ridding him or her self of both LOAs and HOAs and maximizing vision correction results. Many obtain 20/20 vision as a result of customized LASIK surgery.

Conclusion

Traditional LASIK surgery achieved impressive results that gave it distinct advantages over eyeglasses and contact lenses. Today, custom LASIK has progressed significantly beyond the precision level of traditional LASIK. The new LASIK also succeeds at reducing complication rates. It is true that custom LASIK carries with it a higher price tag, but most patients agree that the improved results are well worth the added cost.

To learn more about LASIK surgery, both traditional and custom, feel free to contact La Jolla LASIK today at 858-551-4100. We can give you additional information and schedule you for a free consultation. We will provide you with the facts you need to know in order to make an informed decision on whether LASIK corrective eye surgery is right for you.

Contact Lenses vs. LASIK

There is an ongoing debate among those in need of corrective eye care as to which is superior: LASIK surgery or contact lenses. One arena in which the contacts vs LASIK debate rages is the Internet, and so there will be no shortage of online opinions on this subject. Nonetheless, seeing as our sense of sight is one of our most precious possessions, we must not let the flurry of contrary opinions discourage us from attempting to see through the fog.

The Popularity of Contacts

Contact lenses have been with us for a very long time, and they are more popular than ever. New optical technology has strengthened their hold on the marketplace. Their great popularity stems largely from the fact that they have no effect on the wearer’s physical appearance. Their second claim to fame, in the case of cosmetic colored contact lenses, is precisely because they do change that appearance- by giving the wearer an apparent change of eye color.

A Recent Study Debunks an Old Myth

In the past, many eye doctors were leery of recommending laser eye-correction surgery. They worried about the risk it represented to their patients, and assumed that contact lenses were safer. However there are different risks associated with both modalities that vary. For example, recent study by the Casey Eye Institute found that those who wear contact lenses run a risk of one in 1,000 of getting the sigh-debilitating, eye infection known as acanthamoeba keratitis. Those who opted for LASIK surgery, on the other hand, had only a one in 1,250 chance risk of getting the same disease.

Contacts Are Expensive and Inconvenient

While the cost of LASIK surgery is far greater than that of simply buying a set of contacts, it has the potential to be a one-time expense. When you tally the total cost across a lifetime of constantly buying new contact lenses, solutions, and other accessories, you quickly realize that contacts are not as inexpensive as they might appear at first glance.

The need to routinely have contact lens fittings with your eye doctor during yearly eye exams and to repeatedly purchase new contacts and related products represents a continual hassle that is anything but convenient. A one-time, life-time solution is much to be preferred.

Contacts are subject to environmental factors like dry air, smoke, and sand that may scratch them during an outing to the beach. Dirt and dust build-up must be eliminated again and again through regular cleaning. If a particle should come between the lens and your eye, you will experience discomfort as you eye-surface becomes irritated. In the end, we must conclude that LASIK corrective eye surgery gives you much greater flexibility and comfort.

LASIK Corrects the Real Problem

Contacts and glasses place are physical lens placed in front of the path of light before your natural refracting lenses (your cornea and crystalline lens). These lenses do nothing to correct the innate refractive error of your eyes and instead just compensate for it. LASIK, on the other hand, corrects the real problem and gets your eyes back into natural working condition.

Conclusion

While there are certainly pros and cons to both contacts and laser eye surgery, overall, LASIK has more in its favor since it corrects the actual eye problem, is far more convenient, and is no less safe. To learn more about laser eye San Diego surgery, contact La Jolla LASIK today at 858-551-4100 to set up an appointment with an expert ophthalmologist.

Laser Eye-Correction Costs

While other factors like appropriateness, safety, and success rates are common customer concerns, the question of relative cost is far and away the most common inquiry we hear from our patients. The cost of LASIK eye surgery is affected by many variables, the most important of which will be addressed just below.

AllAboutVision.com, a leading resource for detailed information pertinent to the ophthalmology industry, has recently conducted a study on the costs of laser eye-correction surgery. The study surveyed refractive eye surgeons during the year 2011 as to the price tag placed on their services.
The average price (per eye) for three classes of refractive eye surgery were found to be the following:

  1. When a single price-quote could be obtained, the cost average across the whole spectrum of laser-based eye-correction surgeries was: $2,124.
  2. For “basic LASIK,” which is non-customized, utilizes a sharp-bladed instrument, and uses an excimer laser unguided by Wavefront analysis technology, the average cost was: $1,630.
  3. For more advanced LASIK surgery, using Wavefront analysis and a laser-formed corneal flap, the cost averaged out at: $2,151.

While these statistics indicate basic LASIK to be less expensive than the average laser eye-correction surgery and advanced LASIK to be only slightly more costly, actual prices will vary widely based on such factors as the following:

  • The coverage or non-coverage of pre-op exams and follow-up visits in the originally stated fee.
  • The inclusion or non-inclusion of any additional visits or procedures need to address complications in the regular fee amount.
  • The overall level of experience possessed by the eye surgeon.

Whatever the exact price, laser eye correction cost will likely be in the thousands of dollars range. Thus, it is comforting to find that there are a number of ways to reduce the bill. First, pre-tax dollars from health savings accounts can be used for payment. Second, many workers are able to arrange a discounted price for LASIK surgery with their employers. Third, though most insurance policies neglect to cover any form of laser eye surgery, there will be the occasional exception. Fourth, in some instances, you may qualify for a significant tax deduction based on your having undergone an eye-correction operation.

There is also a fifth way to make laser eye surgery more affordable, which is to obtain help with financing. La Jolla LASIK, for example, offers its clients numerous financing options. Among these are: scheduled payment plans, corporate group plans, social financing, and flex-spending accounts. You can speak with your local LASIK provider to learn more about which financing option will work best for you.

Sometimes, you will encounter drastically discounted deals as low as, say, $300 per eye. Normally, these discounts only apply to a very select few patients and are not the best for all forms and degrees of refractive error. If the surgeon is reputable and you happen to be among those who qualify, then you will have found yet a sixth way to save on your laser eye-correction surgery.

For further information and helpful, friendly advice, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Angela Nahl at La Jolla LASIK today by calling 858-551-4100. You can make an appointment with a one of our skilled ophthalmologists and be on your way to seeing the world more clearly.

Bright Eyes, Dark Night

Have you ever wondered why your eyes don’t give off a green/yellow glow in the dark like your cat or dog? Perhaps you fear the gaze of sinister glowing eyes while camping. This glow is caused by a reflective structure in the back of the eye known as the tapetum lucidum. This structural portion of the eye varies between different animal species, but it is a common feature many vertebrates share. That being said, many vertebrates, including humans, do not possess a tapetum lucidum.

TapetumLucidum 1

Why do they have it and we do not? What does it do?

The Tapetum Lucidum is not usually present in diurnal vertebrates (animals that function mostly during daylight conditions). This adaptation allows for increased visual sensitivity in dim/dark conditions. It is believed that this feature was evolutionarily favored in nocturnal species. The reason for this is because the tapetum lucidum functions as a night vision enhancer. The layer in the back of the eye functions as a reflecting surface enhancing the retinal function at night. The reason this works is because the mirror-like surface sends the light back through the retina for a second opportunity to stimulate retinal photoreceptor cells. This second chance increases the chance of retinal stimulation, and subsequent night vision, when little light is present.

My eyes are red in every photograph taken of me… Do I have a tapetum lucidum?

Though caused by a similar phenomenon, having red glowing eyes in a picture does not mean a tapetum lucidum is present. Red eye is caused by a reflection of light off of the back of our eye, but is red secondary to the blood supply present in the choroid behind the human retina. Red eye in photos is caused by the large amount of light, usually introduced by the camera flash, entering the eye before pupil can constrict. This light is then reflected by the fundus (back of the eye). In normal daylight conditions, the pupil is smaller and this effect is greatly minimized because less light is allowed to reach the back of the eye. This effect is similar with the tapetum lucidum in cats and dogs; however, as in near complete darkness their eyes do not give off a strong reflection unless there is an extra light source such as a flashlight or campfire.