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Posts Tagged ‘Eye Care’

Cataract Surgery – Everything You Should Know

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself suffering from the problem of cataracts, you may be forgiven for thinking that the only way to improve your sight is to undergo lens replacement surgery. This, however, is no longer the case as there is a non-invasive alternative to cataract surgery in the form of a soothing eye drop called Can-C, this breakthrough eye drop quickly improved the visual acuity of over 90% of the cataract patients tested in controlled clinical trials.

But what are Can-C Eye Drops and are they better than opting for cataract surgery? To answer specifically you must prepare to be taken back a bit to a few of the science lessons you had at school.

It is known by researchers that the young and healthy human eye contains high levels of a natural di-peptide antioxidant called L-carnosine. Scientists recently learned that the eyes of those who were developing cataracts, and other degenerative ocular diseases, were found to be extremely lacking in this particular, and essential, ocular antioxidant.

In the United States, Cataracts have become an increasingly common cause of decreased vision as our population ages and lives longer. In fact Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among people over 55. This may be a reflection of the changing demographics of our population. In 2006, 80 million “baby boomers” began turning 60 and it is estimated that by 2011 there will be 40 million people above the age of 65 in our population-and by 2020 there will be close to 55 million!

Fortunately Cataracts are readily treatable. Cataract Surgeons and patients have benefited from advances in technology, making Cataract Surgery and Lens Implants one of the most frequently performed as well as one of the safest and effective types of surgery available in the United States today. In the United States, the incidence of age related Cataracts has been reported to be approximately 42% in those aged 52 to 64, 60% in those aged 65 to 74 and 91% in those aged 75 to 85.

Each year Cataract Surgeons in the United States provide Cataract Surgery to a growing number of patients. They successfully perform more than 3 million Cataract operations and restore vision after Cataract Surgery by implanting tiny, permanent artificial Intraocular Lens Implants or IOLs to achieve vision correction after surgery.

For most people, the cost of cataract surgery is partially or completely covered by private insurance or Medicare, making cataract surgery costs a manageable expense.

The technology of Cataract Surgery is truly amazing. Modern Cataract Surgery is usually performed using a microsurgical technique called “phacoemulsfication” whereby the Cataract is gently “chopped up” and “suctioned” to remove it. There are many technological advances in Phacoemulsification that have enabled skilled Cataract Surgeons to perform Cataract Surgery and provide Lens Implants through very tiny incisions requiring only eye drops, rather than needles or injections, for anesthesia and without the need for stitches or a patch after the surgery. This allows patients to have a very quick visual recovery. In most cases patients can have the added comfort and convenience of having their Cataracts removed in an outpatient ambulatory eye surgery center rather than a hospital.

So, that is the reason why there are several medical services companies which have been operating for many years and have sustained to be on the top with their services. One of them is listed below:

In 2008 the Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C., a physician practice management company, introduced Aboutcataractsurgery.com in order to provide patients with access to commercially unbiased patient education information in the areas of Cataracts, Cataract Surgery, Cataract Surgeons, Lens Implants and Cataract Surgery Centers. The site is intended to offer eye care patients, their families and caregivers information to be used in conjunction with examination and consultation provided by an eye care specialist, in order to help patients have a greater understanding of their condition and treatment options so that they can make informed choices. To that end, the site is intended to help patients identify Cataract Surgeons and Cataract Surgery Centers offering diagnosis and various treatment options for Cataracts and an opportunity to learn about their experience, interests and credentials.

Although patients with Cataracts today should be reassured that the technology of Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants along with the comfort, convenience and sophistication of outpatient cataract surgery centers can provide a safe and effective Cataract Surgery experience, the single most important choice one will need to make is in the selection of a Cataract Surgeon. Their expertise and experience is still the key to providing the best possible vision correction results and outcomes after the removal of Cataracts.

By using the information available in this website to learn about Cataracts, Cataract Surgery, Lens Implants, Cataract Surgeons and Cataract Surgery Centers you are taking the first step to becoming an educated patient who is able to make informed decisions about their eye care.

The Artificial Eyes For Children

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

There are a variety of reasons why children might need to have an artificial eye, also called an ocular prosthesis. Many children must have an eye removed because of injury or as a part of a treatment of eye disease such as cancer; but some children are born either without an eye or with an abnormally formed eye that must be removed. In these cases, it is especially important that infants who are missing an eye be fitted for an ocular prosthesis to encourage normal growth and development of the bones and tissues surrounding the eye socket. This will help ensure symmetry with the other eye as the child’s facial structure changes during growth.

When should a child get an ocular prosthesis? It is generally not recommended for children under six months of age wear an ocular prosthesis; however, children under six months should be fitted with a conformer in order to increase the size of the eye socket, or the orbital volume, as the child grows. A conformer is made from clear plastic and can be changed every month or two to increasingly larger sizes to stimulate the growth of the bones and tissues of the eye socket, making it possible for a child to receive an ocular prosthesis later. Sometimes, children are born with a small eye orbit. This is called microphthalmia and with this condition, the eye socket and lid opening of one eye are dramatically smaller than that of the companion eye. When this occurs, conformers can be used to stretch the eye socket so that it matches the other eye before an ocular prosthesis is created for this eye. This should be done as early as possible. If this critical window is missed, it is much more difficult for the child to get an artificial eye later and the prosthesis will not appear as natural.

How long does an artificial eye last in children? In adults wearing artificial eyes, the eye should be replaced approximately every three to five years to ensure comfort and symmetry with the companion eye; but with children, the eye will need to be replaced more frequently. Like the rest of a child’s body, the muscles and bones of the eye socket change rapidly as the child grows. The eye can need to be replaced as often as every few months, not only to keep the eye looking like the other eye, but also to maintain a healthy growth in the surrounding eye socket. Frequent modifications to the prosthesis not only help the child’s face develop normally, but they are particularly helpful for the appearance and self-esteem of the child. With proper and frequent updates to an ocular prosthesis, a child can go through childhood and adolescence with minimal differences from children with both eyes. Although an ocular prosthesis does not restore vision, ocularists are able to so closely simulate the look of a natural eye, that artificial eyes can go unnoticed when they are properly maintained and updated.