What You Didn't Know About Eyeglasses

 

If you are looking to get LASIK in Orange County, then chances are you have been wearing glasses for years, if not your entire life. Although we specialize in a procedure that will make it so that you no longer have to wear glasses, the history of this invention is more interesting than you most likely think. Today, we want to share some of the fascinating facts about glasses, including their history and even a little bit of social psychology around them.

1. About a quarter of all people worldwide wear glasses. Because LASIK eye surgery technology is not widely available around the world, many people must use them.
2. The first vision aid, the reading stone, was invented around the year 1000. It looked like a clear marble stone and was not wearable.
3. The first wearable pair of glasses is believed by some to have been invented by Salvino D'Armante (1258 - 1317) from Italy during the 13th century.
4. In earlier times, owning glasses was a symbol of status. This was because glasses were expensive, and the average person could not afford them.
5. The less expensive glasses you can buy at drug stores will normally work just fine; however, glasses that are prescribed by an optometrist will last longer and will protect your eyes better since they are customized specifically for your eyes.
6. Contrary to popular belief, wearing the wrong prescription will not damage your eyes.
7. The most common eyeglasses brands include Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Maui Jim.
8. Nowadays, "glasses" are not really made from glass. They are made from plastic so that they don't break as easily!
9. National Eyewear Day is celebrated annually on June 6th.
10. In addition, there is a National Sunglasses Day on June 27th.
11. Not all sunglasses will help protect your eyes from UV rays. UV rays are dangerous to our health and can cause permanent eye damage, so be sure that you only purchase from high-quality brands.
12. The stereotype that people who read glasses are more intelligent than average comes from the belief that smart people spend a lot of time reading; thus they have strained their eyes from digging their face in a book for long periods of time. However, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to appearance, and not everybody wants to be grouped into this stereotype, hence why they might seek out getting LASIK in Orange County.

If you are ready to make the big decision to make your glasses a thing of the past, then please contact Excel Eye today for your Orange County LASIK procedure. Dr. Moosa is one of the top professionals in all of southern California with 23 years of experience, serving thousands of patients from all over the United States just like you. Wouldn't it be amazing to say that your surgeon is a Harvard University graduate? That's what the best LASIK eye surgery in Orange County is all about! So why not give yourself the gift of good eyesight? Your eyes are the second most complex organ (after your brain), so treat them with the highest quality care that they deserve.

Getting the Facts Straight About Blindness

Did you know that there are over 285 million people living with some form of vision impairment worldwide? This number is expected to double by 2050. Despite this large population, many myths and misconceptions about blindness still exist. In this blog post, we will clear up some of these common myths and provide accurate information about blindness and visual impairment. Although Orange County LASIK cannot cure blindness, it is important for you to understand the facts and what simply isn’t true about this condition.

Claim: Blindness means you cannot see anything. Everything looks like a permanent black screen to them.

The truth: Blindness does not mean the contestant has no vision at all; rather it just means her/his eyesight isn't functioning properly due to either genetic reasons (such as a parent's poor eyesight) or disease like glaucoma where pressure builds up inside leading to the loss of daylight perception. Only 18% of those who are legally blind cannot see at all.

Claim: Blindness is always the result of a tragic accident.

The truth: Some people are simply born with a visual impairment, just as it is possible to be born with a multitude of other kinds of disorders.

Claim: All people with blindness read Braille. 

The truth: Not all visually impaired people use this writing system. In fact, less than 10% of the 1.3 million Americans who are legally blind can read it.

Claim: The visually impaired require assisted living.

The truth: While some people with blindness may need additional assistance with certain tasks, this is not true for everybody. There are a number of visually impaired people who are able to live on their own.

Claim: The visually impaired cannot hold down employment.

The truth: There are several career perspectives even for people with visual impairments. Some of these include teaching jobs, social work, and web developers. Talented individuals such as Stevie Wonder have been highly successful despite their condition.

Claim: People who are blind are able to make up for their lack of vision by having one of their other four senses increased, or they may have a “sixth sense.”

The truth: There has been no proof to back up this claim. Rather, people with visual impairments must learn to rely on their other senses.

Claim: All people with impaired vision require a service animal.

The truth: Some people experiencing blindness prefer not to have a service animal because they are creatures who require care, as well. Taking care of a dog costs an ample amount of money, so some may prefer to use canes instead.

Claim: People with blindness cannot dream.

The truth: According to a LASIK surgeon, this claim is ridiculous. Just because one cannot see well while awake doesn't mean that they cannot “see” images while in REM sleep. While their dreams may be slightly different from sighted people, it doesn’t mean they can’t at all. 

While there is no cure for blindness, we can emphasize and understand those facing visual impairment as much as we can so that we can build a more inclusive world for everyone. In the meantime, if you are considering Orange County LASIK surgery, please reach out to Excel Eye today. You can set up a consultation appointment to discuss LASIK eye surgery cost as well as any other questions you may have about the procedure. You won’t regret it!

The Consideration of Getting LASIK Twice

You would think that after getting LASIK Los Angeles once that getting the procedure a second time shouldn’t even be considered. Yet, a surprising number of people will go through it to get the best possible vision they can, often a long time after they have their first surgery. A second LASIK eye surgery could be needed due to the simple aging process, as your eyes might need something of a tune-up to optimize at the level of efficiency that you need them to be. So let’s delve into just why this is, the risks and benefits that come with it. 

The Reason

As mentioned before, as time marches on after your first  LASIK, there will often come a time where you will need a second laser eye surgery. As your eyes age, they will eventually change, even after a surgery is completed leaving you more liable to suffer from an adverse condition that needs to be corrected, which a second surgery can indeed accomplish. Thankfully these changes aren’t as severe or radical as someone whose eyes are developing before 18, but they are noteworthy enough to do something to correct the problem. 

The Enhancement surgery

If your eyes genuinely are undergoing a condition that is causing them to decline despite the surgery you initially acquired. In that case, getting laser eye enhancement surgery may indeed need to be considered. Before going through such a surgery, make sure that you consult your doctor to acquire a full grasp as to what your eyes’ conditions are to operate on them appropriately. Thankfully, the chances of you needing enhancement surgery after an initial eye corrective surgery are only below 5%, making the need rare.

Possible Conditions

There are several reasons why you would need to go through a second surgery besides the aging process. Perhaps your cornea has healed wrong after receiving an errant scratch or another form of damage. Another reason could be that your cornea’s health is deteriorating entirely, leaving your eye vulnerable to further injury. With the passage of enough time, almost anything can become possible. 

Unfinished Work

Though this is rare, another issue that crops up is that the refractive errors that your eye had with your vision may not have been corrected the first time. Another laser vision correction flap might be necessary to restore your cornea once again and go over any possible previously made oversights. Such surgeries can be different from enhancement procedures as more extensive work will have to be conducted to correct any mistakes. As mentioned before, this is quite rare, but it can happen. 

Conclusion

Though this type of LASIK eye surgery is not needed often compared to others, there’s no denying that it could become necessary when getting older, particularly around the 40-year mark, which is the most common age for sight complications to crop up due to age. There’s always the chance that it could be something else besides age, but that’s even rarer. It doesn’t hurt to have this knowledge on hand so that you understand it’s a viable option. 

Why Are Eye Exams Important For Kids?

It is important that you get regular eye exams to maintain lifelong healthy vision, according to the LASIK Los Angeles eye doctors. Everyone, no matter who you are, what your occupation is, your age, and your current vision, should book an eye exam at a clinic or LASIK eye center at least once a year. 

Make Sure To Keep Your Prescriptions Up-To-Date

Have you noticed that you have been squinting a lot lately? Also, have you noticed that looking at the leaves on the trees is starting to look blurry and fuzz into a mass before you? Has it been more of a challenge to read distant billboards or small font sizes? If the answer is yes, it’s probably time to update your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription.

Early Detection Is The Best Treatment For Eye Disease

Bear in mind that eye exams are not solely about prescriptions. Unfortunately, there are many sight-threatening eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, which are very slow to develop. Therefore, the symptoms are not apparent to the patient until the eye condition has done a lot of damage. However, getting regular eye exams lets you detect eye disease early on and you can get treatments like laser eye surgery before it gets worse.

Eye Strain Can Have A Negative Effect On Productivity

Nowadays, our lives revolve around screens, and many of us spend a lot of our time in front of a computer, or at least a smartphone—all of this screentime results in digital eye strain. The symptoms consist of blurred vision, dry eyes, and frequent headaches. Certainly, having these symptoms can make a day working on the computer very challenging, even if it won’t cause a threat to your sight. 

 

Vision Health Is Connected To Overall Health

Besides updating your prescription and asking for LASIK eye surgery costs, tackling the effects of digital eye strain, and looking out for early indications of eye diseases, your eye doctor or LASIK surgeon can also check for early signs of many chronic conditions. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and even some types of cancer. Not only are the eyes the windows to your soul, but they are also the portholes to your overall well-being!

You Can’t Substitute Eye Exams With Basic Vision Screenings for Kids

Most of the time, schools provide vision screenings at the beginning of the school year, but they can’t check for a lot besides nearsightedness. There are many other things that can go wrong with a child’s eyesight, and surprisingly many of them go untreated, resulting in serious issues with their learning and development. Thorough eye exams at a clinic will detect eye problems a school nurse would have probably missed, and it is recommended to begin at six months old. 

Eye exams are important for a lifetime of optimal and healthy vision. Beginning with detecting vision problems in children before it has a negative effect on their schooling and making sure to nip age-related eye diseases in the bud. 

How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Your Eyes?

Unfortunately, California has seen several wildfires break out over the past several years. Typically, the Golden State’s peak wildfire season runs from May through October, so the LASIK Orange County eye doctors recommend we all get prepared for it. 

The wildfires in California are getting so severe that on August 17th, 2021, there were record-setting wildfires that destroyed 1.1 million acres of land in America’s most populous state. 

Compared to the 2020 California wildfires, which were also extraordinary and had only burned around 850,000 acres by mid-August. 

Not to mention the enormous cost and suffering these fires create each year, the LASIK surgeon Orange County says wildfire smoke can be irritating and harmful to your eyes, even if you live several miles from the blaze itself. 

 

How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Your Eyes?

Apart from the direct damage wildfires cause, they also cast many pollutants into the atmosphere. The ashfall and smoke from wildfires is a deadly combination of carbon dust and particles that harm the eyes and the respiratory system.

LASIK Orange County experts say irritation brought on by wildfire smoke can consist of the following symptoms:

• Red eyes

• Burning eyes

• Itchy eyes

• Watery eyes

• Grittiness

• Temporarily blurred vision

• Aggravation of dry eyes and eye allergies

 

Extended exposure to smoke can irritate the eyes. Luckily, wildfire smoke usually doesn’t cause major or permanent vision issues. 

 

How To Protect Your Eyes From Smoke?

When you visit LASIK Orange County clinics like Excel Laser Vision Institute to ask for LASIK eye surgery cost, ask the ophthalmologist for some advice for preventing and treating eye irritation caused by wildfire smoke.

 

• Remain inside. Whenever you can, stay inside with the windows closed when outdoor air quality is poor.

• Use an air purifier. When you’re inside, use an air purifier to lower the presence of eye irritants.

• Wear glasses, not contacts. Please don’t wear your contact lenses, as they attract airborne particles from wildfire smoke.

• Protect your eyes outside. If you are going to be outdoors, wear wrap-around goggles to lower exposure to wildfire smoke. If you don’t own wrap-around goggles, prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses can help block eye irritants.

• Rinse your eyes. Wash away eye irritants with an over-the-counter saline rinse or artificial tears. If you’re using artificial tears more than four times a day, go with the preservative-free variety.

• Give eye drops for relief a go. Try over-the-counter, itch-alleviating antihistamine eye drops if itchy eyes are bothering you.

• Apply a compress. Use a cold compress on your closed eyes to help minimize itching.

Placing artificial tears in the refrigerator before use can add eye-cooling relief, based on facts from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Also, AAO says that lying down with a cold compress over your eyes is soothing.

Moreover, Keep in mind that hardly visible ash and dust can stay in the air and irritate your eyes for about two weeks after visible smoke from wildfires has gone away.

Make sure to see your doctor if symptoms of eye irritation from wildfire smoke don’t disappear after the following advice above. It is recommended to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor.

How Does A Person Get Their Eye Color?

The LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles told us that we get our eye color from melanin, the same compound that influences hair and skin color. Melanin absorbs light, even some UV light, which is crucial for the iris, which is the part of the eye that controls how much light enters the pupil.

What’s Melanin and Its Pigment Types

The best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that there are two different types of melanin someone could have in their irises: eumelanin, which creates a rich chocolate brown color, and pheomelanin, which makes an assortment of amber, green, or hazel colors. In contrast, blue eyes get their color from having very little eumelanin. The pigment itself isn’t blue, but the way the light disperses around the front layer of the iris ends up appearing blue. This is the very same way the sky looks blue!

When LASIK surgeons see a patient with green eyes, they know it’s a mix of both types of melanin in enough low levels also to get a little scattering effect. Hazel eyes have ample melanin that they don’t receive the light scattering effect. Red and violet eyes, which are very rare, come from not having melanin at all, and what you are witnessing is the color of the underlying blood vessels, or it mixes with the light scattering effect to make violet. Commonly, this is found in albinism. 

 

How Common Are Different Eye Colors

Throughout the entire world, many people have different eye colors. The LASIK eye doctors in Los Angeles point out that the most common eye color is brown.

70-79% of individuals have brown eyes.

8-10% of people have blue eyes.

5% of us have hazel eyes.

5% of people have amber (very light brown) eyes.

3% of people in the world have gray eyes.

2% of us have green eyes.

Less than 1% of the world’s population has red or violet eyes.

Less than 1% of the world’s population has heterochromia (partly or entirely different-colored eyes).

 

Eye Color Genetics Is A Complex Process

Previously, there used to be a belief that eye color is fixed on just a single gene, but recently scientists have found that it’s actually genes working together, and small changes to any of those genes can lead to different eye colors. Also, two genes are strongly linked with eye color, but as many as sixteen have some role. As a result of this, it isn’t easy to know ahead of time what a child’s eye color is going to be based on their parents. For instance, blue-eyed parents will not always create only blue-eyed children. 

 

What Are The “Baby Blues”?

Many LASIK patients in Los Angeles who receive the best laser eye surgery talk about the fact that when they were babies, they had blue eyes but changed color when they got older. This is actually true, and many babies are born with blue or grey eyes but form a different eye color as they get older. Typically this occurs in Caucasian babies. A baby doesn’t always have their permanent eye color yet when they’re born because the cells that create melanin sometimes require light to set off melanin production, which usually doesn’t happen until after they’re born. 

 

Tips In Choosing The Best LASIK Surgeons in Los Angeles

 

Since getting LASIK in Los Angeles can easily be the biggest difference in your life if you have faulty eyesight, it’s only understandable that you would want to recruit only the best doctor to perform your surgery. But, how exactly do you go about finding that premier LASIK surgeon in Los Angeles? Let’s take a look at how to find the best surgeon for you.

Referrals and Licensing

 

If you have an assigned ophthalmologist, ask them directly whom they believe is the most qualified LASIK surgeon to help you. If a surgeon is worth their salt and skill, these doctors won’t be shy to tell you about them. Searching for other referrals through other doctors in this field can also be of great help. When looking for an official referral on LASIK surgeons, state licensing boards can be of great assistance to lay out the credentials, skills, and accomplishments of the most qualified eye surgeon for you.

 

The Board and ACS

 

To find your coveted surgeon, contacting the American College of Surgeons and the American Board of Medical Specialties can be an excellent step in the right direction for your search. Any surgeon who is within the ACS, for example, is definitely going to have a great measure of skill in their given field. LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles are no exception to this rule. As far as the ABMS, you will be able to see a surgeon and their qualifications with ease.

 

Asking the hard questions

 

When you find a possible candidate within your standards for LASIK in Los Angeles, you’re going to want to conduct the equivalent of an interview to see if they check your boxes. Some questions to ask would be if the doctor has ever had a complication during corrective surgery and what their response was in the face of such a complication. Also, ask what the complication was so as to better understand the risks that are involved. Ask how experienced the surgeon is so you can get a better grasp of how skilled they are. Also, ask about how the pricing works for different add-ons and procedures. See if they charge extra for enhancements or if that’s a non-factor. Asking these questions is crucial to determine which surgeon you’ll want to work with and which clinic you’ll prefer overall. 

 

Conclusion

 

These may seem like invasive questions to ask, but you have a right to know this information, much like how you have a right to search through the many different LASIK doctors that are in this field to know which one is best for you. It’s your eyes, after all, and if you put the effort in, getting the best LASIK surgeon in Los Angeles is very attainable for you.