Laser Eye Surgery Sydney

Am I Too Old For An Eye Surgery?

OMG DEVELOPERS — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 04:30:27 +0000

Since being developed in the late 1980s, laser eye treatments have become a perennially popular option for people seeking vision correction. For many people it’s not only a viable, but desirable, option in comparison to wearing glasses or contact lenses for life. LASIK is the best-known name within the field of laser eye surgery; as of 2016, more than 40 million LASIK procedures have been carried out around the world. Today, it still remains a popular procedure for many people who are looking to correct their vision.

At what age can I get LASIK?

As a general rule, LASIK isn’t usually carried out until your script has stabilised, which usually occurs around late teens and early twenties for some. It also depends on the type of refractive error one has, whether it is short sightedness, long sightedness or astigmatism.

Are there any side effects from undertaking LASIK?

Side effects and complications with LASIK are relatively rare, though many people report experiencing dry eye and visual glare for a few weeks after undertaking the procedure. However, these side effects usually disappear relatively quickly and tend to be viewed as an inconvenience rather than a serious issue.

Are there any reasons I might not be able to undertake LASIK?

Although LASIK is a widely available treatment, it’s not suitable for everyone. It’s a treatment specifically designed to deal with short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism, so conditions beyond these may mean that laser eye surgery would not be a viable solution for vision correction. Additionally, conditions that cause a thinning of the cornea would also likely make a person an unsuitable candidate.

Symptoms such as eye floaters are usually quite benign, which does not interfere with one’s eligibility for LASIK treatment, and by having it, will not exacerbate or improve one’s condition. Additionally, patients with cataracts will not usually benefit from LASIK, due to the existing blurriness on the lens. However, after they have had surgery to correct cataracts, they may be appropriate

Age can also be a factor in whether LASIK is a suitable treatment, though this would need to be individually assessed by your eye specialist. The cut off for George St Eye Centre is 60 years old.

Am I too elderly to receive LASIK treatment?

While from a purely medical stem point, there’s no specific upper age limit for getting LASIK eye surgery. It is known that its efficacy for vision correction can decrease as you age. Around the mid 40s, to early 50s, the natural crystalline lens starts to harden and becomes less flexible (loss of Accommodation). This age related reduction in near vision is known as presbyopia. This is partially why it’s so common for people who have never worn spectacles, do start requiring glasses — particularly reading glasses — around this age. Contrary to popular belief, the effects of presbyopia can be mitigated by inducing Monovision Configuration via LASIK. However, the asymmetry between the eyes may be difficult to tolerate for some. Other options may be investigated, such as lens replacement surgery or multifocal lens implants. This is a slightly more, but minimally invasive procedure. It is the only permanent solution. Once we reach the age of 60 and onwards, the chance of developing early lens opacities/cataracts becomes quite high. Hence, a lens based solution becomes more appropriate. It is a day procedure with a 20 -30 minute theatre time.

How the George St Eye Centre can help

Are you interested in LASIK eye surgery? At the George St Eye Centre, Sydney’s premier laser eye surgery, we offer a range of corrective treatments to improve your vision. Dr. Con Moshegov is our resident ophthalmologist, whose areas of expertise are cataract and laser eye surgery, treating conditions affecting the anterior segment of the eye.

If you’re interested in finding out more, contact our expert team today to find out more about how we can help you live a life free from problems.

The post Am I Too Old For An Eye Surgery? appeared first on .

Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby

Sammie Kane — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 02:16:29 +0000

BOOK A FREE VISION CORRECTION ASSESSMENT

Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby is extremely popular with both younger and older patients in Hornsby and the surrounding suburbs. With a strong reputation Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby offers fast and efficient services that will stop you from needing to wear contacts or glasses so you can enjoy the beautiful views that Hornsby offers. It has a very high success rate as well. If you’re curious what laser eye surgery can do for you, read our list of five laser eye surgery benefits.

Five Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery in Hornsby

1. Improved Vision

The most obvious perk of laser eye surgery is improved vision, with many clients coming to Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby suffering from cataracts, eye floaters and lens impairment. Did you know that around 95% of the patients who get laser eye surgery end up with at least 20/40 vision? Additionally, around 85% of patients report that they end up with 20/20 vision or higher after they have laser eye surgery. This means that you’ll be able to take in all of the sights in and around Hornsby.

2. Results Are Long Lasting

You’ll go through a minor stabilisation period after you have your laser eye surgery that lasts around three months. However, once this period is over, your results are permanent, barring the natural degeneration process that comes with aging. You won’t have to worry about follow up procedures unless the first procedure over or under-corrected your vision.

3. Quick Recovery Periods

Unlike other surgery, laser eye surgery has a very quick recovery period. Depending on your daily activities or where you work, you could return to your normal routine within one day, including driving. If you work in a dusty environment, it may take slightly longer to get back to your day to day activities, but it’s still a shorter recovery process than most surgical procedures.

4. Very Little or No Pain

Laser eye surgery is a minimally invasive procedure. Your ophthalmologist performs it on an outpatient basis while you’re still awake. On average, most patients report very little or no pain after they have laser eye surgery. They may experience some itching as the eye heals, which is more of an annoyance than actual pain.

5. Potential for Savings

If you wear contacts or glasses, you know how much they can cost you over the span of a year. Although laser eye surgery may cost you more upfront, it can help you save hundreds of dollars each year because you don’t have to buy contacts or update your current glasses prescription.

If you’re interested in laser eye surgery and you’re in the Hornsby area of Sydney, contact Dr. Moshegov at Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby by calling (02) 9230 0010 or send us an email at info@eyelasersurgerysydney.com.au. We look forward to hearing from you!

BOOK A FREE VISION CORRECTION ASSESSMENT

The post Eye Laser Surgery Hornsby appeared first on .

Ophthalmologist Sydney – How to Choose an Eye Specialist

SEO North Sydney — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 05:36:39 +0000

An ophthalmologist Sydney eye examination is vital not only for an ageing population, but for anyone who does not have 20/20 vision.

Ophthalmologists are highly trained physicians who specialise in treating eye diseases, preserving vision, and helping patients maintain overall ocular health. They are qualified to carry out eye exams, diagnose degenerative eye diseases, and perform eye surgery. Finding the right ophthalmologist in Sydney can be confusing, especially if you aren’t sure what factors to consider.

Ophthalmologists – Why You Need One

Regular eye checkups are essential. Even if you have never worn glasses or used corrective lenses, your eyes will change with age. Failing to attend regular checkups may result in vision loss or blindness due to an undetected eye condition such as glaucoma that didn’t present noticeable symptoms until the damage was done.

Ophthalmologists can also address and correct vision difficulties such as cataracts, floaters, presbyopia, myopia, and astigmatism by performing specialised eye surgery. Procedures such as Lasik eye surgery may be performed to restore vision and clarity.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Ophthalmologist

When choosing an ophthalmologist, begin by considering your surgeon’s qualifications and medical experience. Your ophthalmologist Sydney eye surgeon should be a member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

Once you feel comfortable with your eye surgeon’s qualifications, you need to consider your eye health to discover prospective issues. A regular checkup is the first step to determining whether or not any corrective actions are necessary. Even if you don’t have a history of eye problems, your eye doctor can assess your ocular health during an examination and can prescribe a course of action to maintain your vision.

Ophthalmologists typically specialise in certain areas. For example, some are neuro-ophthalmologists while others focus on macular degeneration. You should choose the right eye specialist for your particular issues. Your optometrist or GP will refer you to a eye specialist such as Dr. Moshgov if an underlying eye condition is suspected.

Should I Visit an Optician Prior to Booking?

Opticians play a vital role in vision enhancement (glasses, contact lenses etc) and initial diagnosis, but they are not trained eye surgeons. If you have your vision checked on a fairly regular basis by an optometrist, you may still require the care of a more specialised eye doctor. The optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist Sydney eye specialist when they suspect your condition indicates a potential underlying problem.

A person who is suffering from correctable vision loss may not even realise how much of their vision has actually degenerated. Procedures such as cataract removal or laser eye surgery can make a huge difference in people’s day-to-day lives. And it is always better to diagnose an issue earlier rather than later.

How to Find a Sydney Ophthalmologist

If your optometrist or another doctor has not referred you to an ophthalmologist, then simply call Dr. Moshegov at the George Street Eye Laser Centre to book a no-obligation consultation on 02 9230 0011.

The post Ophthalmologist Sydney – How to Choose an Eye Specialist appeared first on .

The Newest Technology that’s Getting Rid of Reading Glasses – for Good!

Sammie Kane — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 01:48:41 +0000

The Newest Technology that’s Getting Rid of Reading Glasses – for Good!

Does this page, or its text, look blurry to you? Then you could potentially have presbyopia. A condition generally considered as going hand-in-hand with the ageing process, it describes how the lenses of the eye become more rigid over time, which causes fine print and text – and even pictures and icons, to become faint and hard-to-see.

The usual solution, to which most individuals resign themselves, is to get simple glasses that help sharpen and enlarge images – usually, reading glasses. But getting used to using glasses often can be bothersome for many, and can be just downright frustrating if one’s long-distance vision has remained perfectly clear. In addition, many feel that reading glasses are old-fashioned or label the wearer as “ageing”, and are therefore understandably reluctant to wear them.

A breakthrough technology is bringing relief to thousands the world over, enabling them to cast away their reading glasses for good. KAMRA(TM) inlay, the newest treatment available, has been taking the optical world by storm.

About KAMRA(TM) inlay

Similar to a contact lens, only one quarter of the size, the KAMRA(TM) inlay is a super-thin and superfine carbon-based opaque disc with a 1.6 millimetre-sized hole in the centre. When inserted in the eye’s stroma (beneath the epithelial layer), it creates a “pinhole” effect, much like when peering into a camera lens. This considerably strengthens the focus of the image or text at hand, without impeding on one’s long-distance vision.

The procedure

Insertion of a KAMRA(TM) inlay is simple and takes an average of 15-20 minutes. After proper preparation and the application of anaesthetising eye drops, the surgeon uses a laser to cut a miniscule pocket into the cornea, into which the KAMRA(TM) inlay is inserted into the non-dominant eye. The other eye is left untouched since both eyes will work together after the procedure. Healing occurs quickly and most people return to their normal activities (with the exclusion of driving) within 24-48 hours.

The advantages

What is particularly unique about KAMRA(TM) inlay is that it is not just a standalone treatment: it may be used in conjunction with PRK or LASIK surgery to improve both short and long distance vision. And it has been implanted in tens of thousands of eyes worldwide, with much reported success.

Many also find the KAMRA(TM) inlay appealing as the procedure is entirely reversible. Those who may be unhappy with their result, for whatever reason, may elect to have the implant removed (at which point their sight will revert back to its previous level).

At any rate, if you’re looking for a solution to banish your reading glasses, speak with your ophthalmologist today about whether KAMRA(TM) inlay is right for your unique situation.

Click here for more information on Laser Eye Surgery Sydney or Lasik Surgery Sydney.

The post The Newest Technology that’s Getting Rid of Reading Glasses – for Good! appeared first on .

Trans-epithelial PRK, LASIK, and Conventional PRK – Their Differences Explained

Sammie Kane — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 01:23:32 +0000

Trans-epithelial PRK, LASIK, and Conventional PRK – Their Differences Explained

With such a wealth of lengthy and professional terminology, it’s no wonder that many candidates for laser eye surgery are puzzled at the different treatment options. It’s also quite possible that one can qualify for several different types of surgery, and that in this case, a patient may request one particular method over another (subject to approval by their ophthalmologist, of course).

In this article, the main differences between the three most popular types of laser eye surgery will be explained, which are Conventional PRK, Trans-epithelial PRK, and LASIK.

What is Conventional PRK?

PRK is well-known for being the first of its kind: the original laser eye treatment. In comparison to older methods, Conventional PRK was revolutionary, as this technique provided a far less invasive procedure to correct the most common visual imperfections such as astigmatism, farsightedness (hyperopia) and nearsightedness (myopia).

The entire procedure is quite brief. After prepping for surgery – which includes using anaesthetic eye drops – the epithelium (the thinnest, outermost layer of the cornea) is gently removed, either with an alcohol agent, or manually. Then, laser pulses are used to reshape the curved cornea to correct irregularities.

Recovering after Conventional PRK

Post-treatment, the epithelium will regenerate itself completely within 5 or so days. During this time, you will visit your ophthalmologist frequently in order to keep tabs on the healing process. You will be prescribed antibiotic eye drops to help speed up the healing process, however as the epithelium is completely removed, most find that complete healing takes longer in comparison to other treatments.

What is Trans-epithelial PRK?

With advances in technology, Trans-epithelial PRK has emerged as an even less invasive PRK procedure, yet the underlying treatment is the same. The epithelial layer and the stroma are removed during this type of surgery, however, as its name suggests, they are removed in a single, swift step with a laser – and no other instruments are used during the entire operation.

Recovering after Trans-epithelial PRK

The recovery process for Trans-epithelial PRK is a little faster than compared to Conventional PRK, partly due to the “hands-free” nature of the operation. Clarity of vision appears to return faster and there may be a little less post-operative discomfort.

What is LASIK?

The term LASIK is an acronym for Laser in situ Keratomileusis. It differs greatly from Conventional PRK and Trans-epithelial PRK in that it does not involve the removal of any part of the epithelial layer, or the stroma, in order to reshape the cornea.

Rather than removing or disintegrating the eye’s delicate epithelial layer, a tiny incision is made – either via laser or with a scalpel, which leaves a “flap”‘ or opening in the epithelium. This thin flap is gently lifted up, allowing the laser beams to smooth and shape the cornea underneath. The procedure generally takes around five minutes or so for each eye.

Recovering after LASIK

In comparison with Trans-epithelial and Conventional PRK, LASIK appears to have the least overall post-operative complications, and the fastest recovery. This is because the minute incisions in the outer layers heal more rapidly in comparison to removal of the epithelial layer.

Click here for more Sydney Eye Laser Surgery and lasik surgery information.

The post Trans-epithelial PRK, LASIK, and Conventional PRK – Their Differences Explained appeared first on .

Contact Lenses v Laser Eye Surgery – Which is Better?

Sammie Kane — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 06:11:35 +0000

Contact Lenses v Laser Eye Surgery – Which is Better?

If you regularly use contact lenses or other visual aids, you’ve probably considered taking the leap to get laser eye surgery performed instead. There are many who do. Who hasn’t dreamt of tossing away their contact lenses once and for all? At the very least, having laser eye surgery would mean not having to rush to the late-night chemist to pick up a bottle of contact lens solution after running out unexpectedly. And one would never again having to fumble around under a restaurant table for a lens that came out without warning. Usually on a first date!

What the Medical Research Says

Laser eye surgery can seem a daunting procedure to undertake. But before committing, let’s see if laser eye surgery is actually the right treatment for someone who wears contact lenses. After all, there are those who say that laser eye surgery is risky, or that there may still be some long-term deterioration of one’s vision after the operation. Contact lenses on the other hand, are often considered to be the “safer route” to correct one’s vision impairments, as they don’t require any invasive procedures.

Yet the actual truth of the debate is quite astonishing.

In 2006, U.S.-based ophthalmologist, William Mathers, MD, and his research team conducted an analysis of the data collected from several previous, large studies. They discovered that those who wear contact lenses have a far greater potential risk of damaging their long-term vision than those who do not.

Mathers found that, on average, 1 in 2,000 contact lens wearers ends up with long-term vision difficulties or damage from consistent use.

But how does that compare with those who have had laser eye surgery?

As it turns out, it compares very poorly. Because for those who chose to have laser eye surgery carried out, the incidence rate of long-term vision difficulties, according to Dr. Mathers’ study, dropped sharply to just 1 in 10,000.

This can come as quite a shock, as the eye laser surgery neigh-sayers persistently cling to the belief that contact lenses are safer than laser eye surgery. Yet the results of Dr. Mather’s study proved this hypothesis to be inaccurate.

It’s always worth keeping in mind that contact lenses only manage to reduce the symptoms of vision impairment, whereas laser eye surgery actually stops the downward slide into vision loss, and improves vision on a long-term scale. LASIK eye surgery in particular has allowed 90.8% of patients to achieve 20/20 vision, and 99.5% to attain 20/40 vision[1]. Which is nothing short of remarkable.

Laser Eye Surgery is the Perfect Choice for Improving Your Vision

Laser eye surgery, and LASIK in particular, has been performed on more than 10 million eyes worldwide. Adopted into practice way back in 1989, the technique and the technology supporting it have continued to evolve in the last decade and a half. And today the procedure is not only totally safe, but surprisingly simple and non-invasive.

To book your obligation free appointment with Australia’s leading ophthalmologist, Dr. Con Moshegov, simply call the Macquarie Street surgery on: 02 9230 0010.

Click here for more Laser Eye Surgery Sydney information.

The post Contact Lenses v Laser Eye Surgery – Which is Better? appeared first on .

Wavefront-Guided Myopic Femto-LASIK Based on Measurements With a New Hartmann-Shack Aberrometer

Sammie Kane — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:41:21 +0000

Evaluating Ocular Aberrometic Outcomes

We evaluated the visual, refractive and ocular aberrometric outcomes after wavefront-guided (WFG) laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia using an excimer laser platform with Iris Registration (IR) technology (STAR S4IR excimer laser, Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) and combined with a new Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor (iDesign aberrometer, Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) capturing 1250 data points from a 7.0-mm pupil and using Fourier reconstruction for aberration data. Specifically, we conducted a prospective case series study including 92 eyes of 46 patients with ages between 22 and 46 years and undergoing WFG femto-LASIK for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism using the Advanced CustomVue platform that combines the excimer laser and the new Hartmann-Shack aberrometer as previously mentioned. Mean preoperative manifest sphere and cylinder were 2.81 ± 2.27 D (range, +0.75 to −10.25 D) and −1.22 ± 1.14 D (range, −4.00 to −0.12 D), respectively. In all cases, corneal flaps were created using the iFS femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics, Inc). The visual, refractive and ocular aberrometric outcomes were evaluated during a 3-month follow-up period.

20/20 Vision 3 Month Post-Operative

At 3 months after surgery, the percentage of eyes that achieved 20/20, 20/25 and 20/40 uncorrected distance visual acuity were 90%, 92% and 99%, respectively (Fig. 1). Postoperative manifest spherical equivalent was within 0.5 D and 1.0 D of emmetropia in 96.7% and 100% of cases, respectively. There were no eyes with a loss of two or more lines of corrected distance visual acuity. These results are consistent with those reported recently by Schallhorn et al.1 using the same technology and also for myopic eyes. Likewise, our visual and refractive outcomes are similar and sometimes better than those reported for myopic WFG-LASIK by a great variety of authors with the last generation of excimer laser platforms.2,3 The combination of the STAR S4IR excimer laser with the new aberrometry technology used in the current series seems to optimize the efficacy and especially the predictability of WFG-LASIK compared to the previous version of such technology.2,4 It should be noted that this new aberrometer is the result of the refinement of a previous Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor, the WaveScan, with a lower sampling ability and without Fourier data reconstruction.

Besides visual and refractive outcomes, ocular aberrometric changes were also evaluated. To date, this is the first study evaluating the aberrometric outcomes of WFG-LASIK using the evaluated technology. Mean change in higher order aberration (HOA) root mean square and primary spherical aberration (5-mm pupil) was +0.04 ± 0.09 μm (P < 0.01) and +0.01 ± 0.06 μm (P = 0.42), respectively. This change in primary spherical aberration was lower than that reported by some authors evaluating the aberrometric changes after WFG-LASIK for the correction of a similar range of myopic refractive errors and the same pupil of analysis.5,6 Khalifa and colleagues6 found in a sample of myopic eyes with spherical equivalent ranging from −6.63 to 0.00 D that the mean change in spherical aberration after WFG-LASIK using the STAR S4 excimer laser combined with a previous aberrometer version (Wavescan) was 0.18 μm (6-mm pupil).

In conclusion, WFG-LASIK using the STARS4 excimer laser platform with IR technology and combined with a new Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor capturing 1250 data points from a 7.0-mm pupil and using Fourier reconstruction for aberration data is safe, predictable and efficacious for the correction of myopia or myopic astigmatism. This precise level of correction is combined with a preservation of the quality of ocular optics, maintaining postoperative HOA within a physiological range. A longer follow-up is necessary to study other aspects of surgery, such as refractive stability and change in visual symptoms with time.

Con N Moshegov FRANZCO1,2 and Sara Skaf BHlthSc MClinVisSc1
1Ophthalmology, Private Practice and 2University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Received 17 September 2014; accepted 18 September 2014.

Eye Surgery References

1. Schallhorn S, Brown M, Venter J, Teenan D, Hettinger K, Yamamoto H. Early clinical outcomes of wavefrontguided myopic LASIK treatments using a newgeneration hartmann-shack aberrometer. J Refract Surg 2014; 30: 14–21.

2. Shaheen MS, Massoud TH, Ezzeldin H, Khalifa MA.
Four-year visual, refractive, and contrast sensitivity outcomes after wavefront-guided myopic LASIK using an advanced excimer laser platform. J Refract Surg 2013; 29: 816–22.

3. Feng Y, Yu J, Wang Q. Meta-analysis of wavefrontguided vs. wavefront-optimized LASIK for myopia.Optom Vis Sci 2011; 88: 1463–9.

4. Zhang J, Zhou YH, Li R, Tian L. Visual performance after conventional LASIK and wavefront-guided LASIK with iris-registration: results at 1 year. Int J Ophthalmol 2013; 6: 498–504.

5. Taneri S, Oehler S, MacRae SM. Aspheric wavefrontguided versus wavefront-guided LASIK for myopic astigmatism with the Technolas 217z100 excimer laser. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2013; 251: 609–16.

6. Khalifa MA, Allam WA, Shaheen MS. Visual outcome after correcting the refractive error of large pupil patients with wavefront-guided ablation. Clin Ophthalmol 2012; 6: 2001–11.

Click here for more information about: Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.

The post Wavefront-Guided Myopic Femto-LASIK Based on Measurements With a New Hartmann-Shack Aberrometer appeared first on .

What Is iDesign?

Sammie Kane — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:40:06 +0000

Macquarie Street Eye Laser Centre has incorporated the latest refinement to the LASIK procedure available.

Its called iDesign and is used in association with iLASIK.

What does iDesign do in LASIK Eye Surgery?

It’s a way of measuring the eye before treating it to get rid of any spectacle error present.

Because it uses more ‘data points’ than older instruments, it gives a more accurate assessment of the eye in planning for it to be able to see without the need for contact lenses or glasses.

Components of iDesign

iDesign consists of a type of camera, called an aberrometer, which uses lights to determine little imperfections in the visual system.

Every eye is very unique in that regard. So it’s like a ‘fingerprint’ of a particular eye. When the short-sightedness, or long-sightedness, or astigmatism are treated by laser in iLASIK these unique imperfections are ironed out at the same time.

Better vision!

iDesign Refines LASIK Eye Surgery

In modern LASIK a laser is used to make a very thin ‘flap’ in the cornea of the eye. The flap is gently lifted from the cornea.

Another laser then reshapes the underlying cornea to the shape that has been programmed into it.

In standard lasik the surgeon and orthoptists ‘tell’ it what shape is to be sculpted. With iDesign the iDesgn machine ‘tells’ the laser what shape that it is to be.

Put another way, the iDesign is the new ‘brain’ of the system which works out what needs to be done.

However, its’ not a black box that just does it and doesn’t tell the doctor what’s being done. It informs the operator about EXACLTY what is planned so there can be no surprises.

Anyway, once the treatment is lasered onto the cornea, the flap is but back and the operation is over.

Is iDesign Treatment Safe?

Still as safe as ever.

Still giving people freedom from contact lenses and glasses. But, just more precise.

To give you an idea, with iDesign treatments of myopia, at 3 months after surgery, the percentage of eyes that achieved 20/20, 20/25 and 20/40 uncorrected distance visual acuity were 90%, 92% and 99%, respectively. Eyes were within 0.5 D and 1.0 D of a zero prescription (which is what we want) in 96.7% and 100% of cases, respectively.

iDesign gives contact lens and spectacle wearers the freedom they want.

Click here for more information about: Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.

The post What Is iDesign? appeared first on .

Is Small Incision Lenticular Extraction Any Better than LASIK?

Sammie Kane — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:38:47 +0000

A new technique being used to treat myopia is called SMILE. That stands for SMall Incision Lenticular Extraction. It is a little different to LASIK.

With LASIK a femtosecond laser is used to make a flap in the cornea which is semicircular and which is lifted up to expose the underling corneal stroma.

An excimer laser is then used to reshape the stroma before the flap is put back down over the treated area.

It is a procedure with a very long history of safety and accuracy making it most popular.

Furthermore…it is improving all the time.

How Small Incision Lenticular Extraction (S.M.I.L.E) Works

With SMILE the femtosecond laser is the only laser used. It outlines a lenticule (like a pancake) of stroma within the cornea and then makes a small incision at the side for the surgeon to open up. The lenticule (pancake) is then pulled out (extracted) through the small incision.

The purported advantages over SMILE are that there is no flap that could move, less weakening of the cornea and less dry eye compared to LASIK.

Already sturdies are coming out demonstrating no significant differences in dry eye symptoms between S.M.I.L.E and LASIK.

How Does S.M.I.L.E Compare with LASIK?

There has already been at least one report of corneal weakening (ectasia) following S.M.I.L.E and there will be more to come.

Indeed there is no flap that could, theoretically, be dislodged. However, there have been reports of wrinkles and inflammation within the stroma very similar to flaps in LASIK .

In other words, there is very little difference in the safety profile of the two procedures.

On the other hand, S.M.I.L.E can only treat myopia and astigmatism in association with it. Not astigmatism alone or longsightedness.

S.M.I.L.E cannot be used to retreat an eye (so called ‘enhancement’) if the vision is not quite right or if it deteriorates with time. Other techniques need to be employed to do that.

With S.M.I.L.E it takes longer for the vision to recover. That’s because the lenticule needs to be manipulated out of the cornea manually and the tissues need a bit more time to recover.

That’s not so bad…if there was a real benefit to the patient.

S.M.I.L.E is still very new. LASIK has had time to incorporate refinements to give people optimal results.

With S.M.I.L.E there is no automated tracking of the pupil. The eye is just tightly held still while the laser is being applied.

With S.M.I.L.E there is no automated pupil centration. The surgeon just estimates the centre of the pupil when performing the procedure

With S.M.I.L.E there is no wavefront analysis or guidance in the procedure. It’s back to the original formula in calculating how much tissue needs to be removed to treat myopia.

However, marketing wizards tell us you need to DIFFERENTIATE yourself in competing for business. S.M.I.L.E is different to LASIK.

Perhaps S.M.I.L.E is enough to lure patients to a particular clinic. Because it’s ‘Different’!

Click here for more information about: Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.

The post Is Small Incision Lenticular Extraction Any Better than LASIK? appeared first on .

Lens Implants for Patients who Can’t Read Without Glasses

Sammie Kane — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:37:08 +0000

Lens Implant is a great option for people who hate having to put on reading glasses.

Many people only have to start using reading glasses in their forties. It’s down hill from there on. At first it’s just sometimes. Then most of the time they want to see up close. Then ALL the time.

The final straw is when they need glasses to see in the distance AS WELL as to see a computer or to read.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Modern eye surgery gives people an alternative to reading glasses or multifocal glasses. It’s called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) but it’s just not very well advertised to people in the community.

All they know about is laser. Like LASIK or PRK or ASLA. These are fabulous for patients between 18 years of age and 45 years of age. But they have limitations in older patients who really should be informed about RLE.

Who Can Benefit from Refractive Lens Exchange Lens Implants

Refractive Lens Implants with diffractive intraocular lenses is a great option for people who hate multifocal glasses. People who can’t get used to having to look through one part of their glasses to see in the distance, and another part to see up close. With diffractive IOLs they can see in the distance as well as up close all in one line. Their side vision is so much better too.

Tecnis ZLBoo Diffractive Mulitfocal Lens

One of the lens implants used at Macquarie Street Eye Laser Centre is from a company called Abbott and is called the Tecnis ZLB00 diffractive multifocal lens.

Diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses distribute light to different focal lengths based on the diffractive pattern on the lens surface. Optical rings are present in these lenses that create two focal points, one for distance and one for near. IOL’s based on this concept have proven to be provide excellent distance, reading vision and are effective in correcting presbyopia.

The Level of Visual Restoration via Multifocal Diffractive Intraocular Lenses

A peer reviewed study of this lens confirmed that this multifocal diffractive IOL does have the ability to successfully restore distance and near visual function to patients who depend on glasses. Within this study 93% of the sample achieved visual acuities of 6/7.5 (that’s the same as 20/25) or better without any glasses. 100% of this sample were able to read the finest print post-surgery without any glasses at all.

The level of visual restoration achieved with this IOL is similar to that of the older model of the same platform called the Tecnis ZMB00. With the ZMB00 the near vision is fantastic but intermediate distance vision (like for using a computer or iPad) was less than perfect. It meant patients had to sit up closer to computer screens to see the font clearly or, if that was too uncomfortable, they’d just have to put some reading glasses on for that task alone.

The Tecnis ZLB00 is a lens that can be implanted into otherwise healthy eyes or into eyes requiring cataract surgery. The implantation is done at the same time as the cataract procedure.

Do Lens Implants have any Side Effects?

A side effect that’s well known with diffractive IOLs is the presence of halos and glare, usually with driving at night. In this study only one patient reported this side effect but didn’t have it so badly that they wanted the lens removed from their eyes.

If you are tired of needing glasses to read. Or having to wear multifocal glasses. Particularly if you’ve been told you have cataracts. Consider RLE with diffractive multifocal lenses.

Click here for more information about: Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.

The post Lens Implants for Patients who Can’t Read Without Glasses appeared first on .