Eye Care Associates Of St. Louis

Common Eye Conditions that Can Be Treated with Eye Surgery

Millions of individuals suffer from some sort of condition that affects the quality of their vision. Fortunately, many ophthalmologists offer a number of surgical treatment options to alleviate debilitating symptoms and correct vision. Consider these common eye conditions that can be treated with eye surgery:

Refractive Error

Refractive errors are the most common and treatable eye condition, and can usually be corrected with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.  More complicated refractive errors may require surgical intervention. The most common refractive errors include:

• Myopia: This condition, also known as nearsightedness, allows near objects to appear clear, but causes distant objects to appear blurry.  Myopia results from a lengthening of the shape of the eye, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
• Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, people who are hyperopic have trouble seeing nearby objects clearly, while maintaining clarity in viewing distant objects. Hyperopia results from an eye that is shorter than normal; this causes light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it.
• Astigmatism:  Astigmatism is characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, which prevents light from focusing properly on the retina. This results in blurred vision at any distance.    

Individuals suffering from severe refractive error may benefit from LASIK surgery, IntraLase® laser eye surgery, PRK, ICLs (implantable contact lenses) or Phakic IOLs (intraocular lenses).

Cataracts

Another common eye condition that can be treated with eye surgery is a cataract—or a clouding of the lens. Most cataracts result from age-related changes to the tissue that makes up your eye's lens; changes can also occur as a result of an eye injury. Some of the most common symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, ghosting, color distortion, and frequent changes in eyeglass prescription. Fortunately, cataracts can be removed via surgery and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) that restores vision.  Today there are a variety of IOL options from traditional monofocal lenses to multifocal lenses such as Crystalens®. Your ophthalmologist can help you decide which is best for you.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries images to the brain. It is one of the leading causes of blindness it the United States, but its impact can be minimized by early diagnosis and treatment. The damage to the optic nerve is caused by increased intraocular pressure within the eye. Unfortunately, with the most common form of glaucoma, there are no virtually no symptoms until significant vision is lost.  That’s why early detection via a comprehensive eye exam is so important. Once a diagnosis is made, glaucoma can be treated using eye drops, oral medications, or selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, but higher risk groups include older adults, African-Americans, and those with a family history.

If you’re suffering from any of the above conditions, it may be time to contact your eye doctor. For more information on LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, or glaucoma treatments, call Eye Care Associates of St. Louis at (314) 332-2768.

Disclaimer:

The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.

Too Nearsighted for LASIK? Implantable Contact Lenses may be a Good Option.

While LASIK surgery is a great treatment option for individuals suffering from refractive errors, those with extreme cases of myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) may not be candidates for this procedure.

An alternative procedure -- implantable contact lenses (ICLs) – is a great option for patients with moderate to high myopia who are unable to have laser refractive surgery. (ICLs that correct for hyperopia or astigmatism have not yet ophbeen approved for use in the U.S.)   In many ways the procedure is similar to that of cataract surgery; the main difference is that, unlike cataract surgery, it does not require the removal of the eye's crystalline lens.

After applying a numbing ointment to the eye, an ophthalmologist will make a 3mm incision in the cornea; it so small that it does not require sutures. Unlike traditional contact lenses which sit on the cornea, implantable contact lenses are placed behind the iris and do not require any type of maintenance.  In this video, we learn more about the ICL procedure and its benefits.

If you’re interested in implantable contact lenses, intraocular lenses, or LASIK eye surgery, the specialists at Eye Care Associates of St. Louis can tell you if one of these procedures is right for you. Contact us at (314) 332-2768 to schedule a consultation.

Tips for Prolonging the Life of Your New Eyeglasses

Whether you’ve spent your hard-earned money on basic eyeglasses, or splurged on designer frames, you understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of your prescription eyewear. Learn how to protect your investment with these tips:

Cleaning Your Glasses

One of the best ways to prolong the life of your new glasses is to clean them on a daily basis. Always wet the lenses prior to wiping them down with a soft microfiber cleansing cloth. This will help to avoid scratches and scuffs from any debris or dust particles on the lenses.  Try to avoid rubbing your lenses with rags, facial tissues or paper towels as they can actually scratch the lenses.  It is important to only use solutions designed for cleaning eyeglasses. The opticians at Eye Care Associates’ Optical Shop recommend using an alcohol-free eyeglass cleaner like the one they provide with all new eyeglasses.

Handling Tips

Another way to prolong the life of your eyewear is to consider the way you handle your glasses. When removing them, be sure to use both hands to keep the temples straight and avoid stretching out the frame. Similarly, wear your glasses on your face, and not on the top of your head where they’re apt to become misaligned. And finally, if you need to move your glasses higher up on your nose, do so by the temples, not by pushing them at the bridge.

Proper Storage

Anytime you are not wearing your glasses, use a sturdy, protective case to protect them from scratches or other damage; never place prescription glasses in a purse or pocket unprotected. For those times when you have to set your glasses down without a case, remember to close the temples and lay your glasses frame-side down; never put the lenses directly on the table. In the bathroom, remember that spatters, sprays and cosmetics are a common cause of dirty lenses, so keeping your glasses away from the sink is a good idea.  And if you paid for an anti-reflective finish on your lenses, be aware that it can be damaged by hairsprays and perfume.

Have Your Eye Glasses Adjusted Regularly

Be sure to visit your optician whenever you feel that your eyewear isn’t fitting quite right. Even if your glasses seems to fit normally, it’s a good idea have them adjusted to maintain the shape of the frame and to make sure that all screws are properly tightened.

At Eye Care Associates of St. Louis, we carry some of the most fashion-forward frames from sought-after designers including Fendi, Gucci, Porsche, Tom Ford, Vera Wang, and many more. For more information about our eyeglasses, contact our Optical Shop at (314) 332-2768 or simply stop by.  No appointment is necessary.

Disclaimer:

The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.

Eye Care Associates Supports Fundraiser for Lydia's House

Office manager Linda Kalin and Optician Marlene Toth generously donated their time to represent Eye Care Associates at a recent benefit for Lydia’s House.  Lydia’s House is an organization that works to provide a safe haven, a place of healing, assistance with long-term planning and a voice of hope for abused women and their children.  Our booth was located in the showroom of Working Spaces, owned by Marcy Handlan.  If you’d like to see Marcy’s design work, come in for an eye exam.  Marcy is responsible for our beautiful office interior.

Dr. Wexler Discusses Advances in LASIK Surgery in This Article from Ladue News

As a respected specialist in Refractive Surgery, Dr. Wexler was recently interviewed for a story on the latest advances in LASIK surgery. The full article is featured in the September 2 edition of Ladue News.

http://www.laduenews.com/articles/2011/09/01/living/wellness/doc4e6002554768d211657119.txt