EYE CONDITIONS
Myopia
Myopia (nearsightedness) occurs when the cornea is excessively curved or the eyeball is too long. As a result, light rays cannot reach far enough into the eye and do not focus on the retina as they should. This causes objects that are close to the eye to appear in focus clearly, while distant objects appear blurred.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia (farsightedness) occurs when the cornea is not steep enough or the eyeball is too short. Light rays reach too far into the eye, effectively focusing behind the retina. This causes objects near to the eye to appear blurry, while distant objects will appear in focus. Previously, farsighted patients had few options for correction of this condition.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of the eye is oblong like a football instead of round like a basketball. This causes an image to focus at multiple points, resulting in blurry or multiple vision. Traditionally, the treatments for these conditions have been contacts or eyeglasses. These solutions are only temporary, but LASIK can greatly reduce or eliminate your dependence on corrective lenses.
Presbyopia
Over time, the eye's lens gradually loses its elasticity and its ability to change shape to see close objects. Bifocals or reading glasses are the traditional prescription for remedying this presbyopic loss of accommodation. However, recent technology makes it possible to exchange the inflexible lens for one designed to compensate for changes in the eye and improve functional vision.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a disease that creates a thinning of the cornea or the clear front surface of the eye. Normal outward pressure within the eye causes the cornea to progressively bulge into a cone-like shape. The change in the cornea's shape can have a dramatic impact on one's vision. In more severe cases, normal everyday activities such as driving and reading can be difficult to perform. Although keratoconus rarely results in total blindness, 20 percent of all patients will at some time need to undergo a corneal transplant.
KERATOCONUS FAQ
What causes keratoconus?
Nobody knows the cause of keratoconus. There is evidence that the disease has genetic origins possibly made worse by environmental factors. It normally affects both eyes, although it typically progresses at different rates. In most people keratoconus begins during their teen years and slowly worsens before stabilizing in their 30s or 40s. Keratoconus affects an estimated one in 2,000 people across all races.
How is keratoconus treated?
Keratoconus is normally treated with rigid contact lenses to reshape and flatten the pronounced curve of the bulging cornea and to improve vision. A proper lens fit is crucial to obtain adequate vision and wearing comfort. Poorly fitting or outdated contact lenses can be uncomfortable and lead to additional complications like corneal abrasions, scarring, or infection. In a minority of cases, corneal transplant surgery is required. Ablative vision correction surgery such as PRK or LASIK is normally not an option for those with keratoconus due to an unacceptably high risk of poor outcomes. Usually keratoconic corneas are thin and weak. Removing tissue with a laser will thin and weaken an already weak cornea.
Dr. Jackson also uses Intacs® to treat a form of keratoconus ("keratoectasia" or "corneal ectasia") that can be a rare complication of certain laser procedures.
CATARACTS
Imagine what your vision would be like if your eyes were covered by a sheet of wax paper. For millions of Americans with cataracts, this is how their world appears every day. Dull colors, blurry images-it's as if a film needs to be removed from the eyes to restore clear vision.
Cataracts are a clouding or discoloration within the lens of the eye. The clouded lens distorts and blocks the passage of light through the eye to the retina, causing vision to be dull, blurred, and indistinct. Over time, some cataracts grow large enough to affect vision, and they can progress to the point of blindness. When they interfere with your vision and daily activities, it's time to remove the cloudy lens and exchange it for a new, crystal clear lens. While cataracts can affect people of any age, they are most common in older adults. In fact, two-thirds of all adults over age 60 have some sign of cataract formation.
Not all that many years ago, surgery to remove cataracts involved making an incision in the eye that had to be closed with stitches, making recovery lengthy and uncomfortable. Because the lens had been removed, the patient had to wear eyeglasses with thick lenses in order to regain some of the lost vision.
That was then. Now with a "no needle, no stitch, no patch" cataract correction procedure, it is possible to restore clear vision and reclaim your life with relatively little discomfort or inconvenience. After removal of the cataract-damaged lens, a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL), made from soft acrylic or medical-grade silicone, is implanted. Vision generally improves quickly and most patients can return to normal activities the next day. Complete recovery usually occurs within a few weeks.
Cataracts FAQ
The doctor told my husband he has a "fast" cataract. I thought cataracts develop slowly.
The most common type of cataract develops slowly inside of the eye's lens. A less typical cataract, caused by rapid cell growth on the back of the lens, progresses quickly and seriously impairs normal activity. Because of its position, a "fast" cataract interferes with reading vision and seeing objects at close range, and a person with this type of cataract will have a great deal of trouble with glare.
Can wearing sunglasses prevent cataracts?
Everyone over age 65 has cataracts to some extent, so wearing sunglasses will probably not prevent cataracts. However, some studies suggest that limiting ultraviolet exposure from sunlight may reduce your risk of developing some types of cataracts. At this time, we don't know if or how much ordinary exposure to sunlight affects cataract development, and these questions are the subject of continuing research. In the meantime, we have enough evidence to suggest that it's a good idea to err on the side of caution and wear sunglasses.
When it comes to limiting ultraviolet light exposure, all lenses are not created equal. Look for sunglasses that block 100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays. Be aware that the darkest lenses are not necessarily the best for blocking these rays. Tinted lenses help protect our eyes from excessive brightness, not the rays themselves. UV protection is built into the lenses themselves before tint is applied to them. If you have trouble with glare, "polarized" lenses may help, but on their own they do not offer much protection against UV-A or UV-B rays. Wearing a hat with a wide brim may also help limit exposure to these rays.
Do nutrition and diet have anything to do with cataract development?
Nutrition may play at least a limited role. For example, heavy salt consumption appears to increase the risk of significant cataract development.
Some research suggests that antioxidant vitamins, like vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamins C and E, and selenium, may slow down cataract development, and all of these are available in common multivitamin formulas. Beyond that, the use of nutritional supplements carries its own risks, so you should consult your physician before adding them to your diet.
Am I at Risk for Cataracts?
We are aware of a number of risk factors associated with the likelihood of a person developing cataracts that require removal.
AGE: Although the changes in the lens may not have progressed enough to require attention, nearly everyone over age 65 has cataracts. It's part of the normal process of aging.
GENDER: Women appear to be at greater risk than men.
RACE: Statistics demonstrate that African Americans are at greater risk than Caucasians.
GEOGRAPHY: People who have lived in countries closer to the equator are more likely to develop significant cataracts.
HEALTH: Individuals at highest risk include diabetics, patients taking certain medications (for example, corticosteroids and diuretics), individuals with retinitis pigmentosa, farsighted persons, or those with a strong family history of cataracts.
SMOKING and HEAVY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: There appears to be a relationship between each of these two lifestyle choices and the development of the most common type of cataract.
