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August 10, 2011

What Is Wavefront Technology In Lasik?

Lasik surgery has hugely improved the vision of millions of individuals worldwide. It has turned the visually impaired into sighted individuals who are capable of seeing their children again and contributing to the family’s income by working. Two items that millions considered they would never be able to do again.

However, Lasik eye surgery has not been sitting on its laurels. Far from it, Lasik surgery techniques are being improved all the time. One such enhancement is Wavefront Technology. Wavefront Technology with relation to Lasik eye surgery is used to more precisely map the patient’s eyeball, which makes more exact surgery possible.

This is of immense importance because eyeballs are not all the same shape. They are like hands, superficially they all look the same, but once you get down to particulars, they are not. There are all shapes sizes and proportions. The same is true for eyes.

The better the map of the eye, the more chance that the surgeon has of giving you the best vision they can, in relation to the precise problems that you have in your particular case. Wavefront Technology assists the surgeon accomplish this.

Wavefront Technology is actually a technology that has been adapted from astronomy. in astronomical telescopes it is crucial that the lenses are as perfect as they can be, because at high magnification, even the very slightest impairment would lead to huge distortions, which in turn would make the telescope just about useless.

Astronomers were using this technology in the 1970′s, so it was already quite advanced when some bright spark noticed that it could become adapted for use in eye surgery too. Wavefront Technology was born and taken on board by Lasik and other eye surgeons with great expectations.

In fact, the bright spark who noticed the potential value of this article of astronomical technology was a German doctor called Josef Bille who started using it in his practice.

He gradually enhanced and adapted the sensors and announced it to the Lasik manufacturers in 1997. This in turn allowed the manufacturers of Lasik equipment to adapt Wavefront Technology to their own apparatus.

Wavefront Technology is highly complicated in design and technology but also highly easy to understand. The Wavefront machine sends a flat sheet of light (known as a wavefront) through the eye to the retina, which reflects it back to the Wavefront device.

The Wavefront machine compares the two, measures the imperfections, chooses what has to be done to correct them and guides the laser to the right spot in order to accomplish the corrections. As simple as that!

However, the geniuses who created and developed Wavefront Technology did not give up there. They have their machine send in multiple wavefronts from multiple angles so that the computer can build up a three dimensional picture for even more accuracy.

There are now well over 60 patterns that can be automatically corrected by a Lasik laser guided by Wavefront Technology. So, if you have any issues with long or short sightedness, create an appointment to see your Lasik surgeon as soon as they can.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now concerned with macular degeneration glasses. If you want to know more, please visit our site at Macular Degenerative Disease

June 23, 2011

What Are Bags Under Your Eyes?

Bags under your eyes are traditionally associated with a lack of sleep, but the fact is that some people are more liable to them that others. Some of this has to do with lack of sleep, fair enough, but other factors are age, skin sort and bone structure.

Therefore, if you begin getting bags under your eyes all of a sudden, then you can assume that the problem is because of recent events, but if you merely find that the bags under your eyes are becoming more and more obvious as you get older, then the reason may be more basic.

Many people, especially women, spend time each day of their adult life looking after the skin under their eyes, because they realize that that region of their face is the most scrutinized by friends and strangers alike. People are conscious that their eyes are mirrors of their feelings (or even souls) and they want those mirrors to be set in as attractive frames as possible.

The fact is that for the majority of younger individuals, the reason for bags under the eyes is as simple as lack of sleep. However, it is the reason for the lack of sleep that ought to be the main concern.

If it is only because they have young babies, then that is par for the course or if it is because of partying all night, the remedy is simple, but if it is because they are worrying all night then that is something else. The source for the worry has to be sorted out.

Illness is another cause for acquiring bags under your eyes and then it is a question of going to your doctor. Sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia also fall into this category, but doctors can help here too.

There are thousands or treatments for bags under your eyes which come about as a result of weakening facial skin muscles, which normally happens because of age. Some individuals use expensive skin creams and others opt to use more traditional remedies. However, both the costly creams and the traditional cures usually rely on the use of astringents.

I cannot profess to know which are the best creams, but I can list a few of the time-honored remedies for bags under your eyes. Numerous individuals try used tea bags, slices of cucumber or cold eye covers like wet cotton wool that has been held in the fridge or even the freezer.

Still other individuals want an immediate and more permanent remedy for the bags under their eyes and opt for surgery. This kind of surgery is not as radical as having a full face lift but it works in a similar manner. A person who undergoes tucks under the eyes will experience black eyes for a short time and a little discomfort at first, but the improvement will last for years.

Some people choose to have this type of surgery done ‘whilst on holiday’ somewhere, so that none of their friends notice that they have black eyes for a couple of days.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now concerned with Designer Spectacles. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Spectacles Direct.

June 8, 2011

Eyesight Improvement

We are under great pressure not to look old, not to look our age. One of the best compliments people of more than 21 years think that they can receive is: ‘Really? You do not look it!’ To a certain extent this obsession with a youthful appearance has always been with us, but the pressure has ratcheted up due to films and television.

Film stars and pharmaceutical companies unscrupulously team up to persuade us that we need this surgery too in order to become popular. What they do not tell you is that the pharmaceutical businesses have paid the film stars to have free treatment and then paid (or sponsored) the chat shows that so blatantly promote them.

And ageism is rife as well, both among the young, whose worst insults usually have the word ‘old’ included and among employers who can not wait to be rid of employees at 65 after a lifetime of service. Governments or at least some governments are exactly as bad, penalizing pensioners with a meager salary after fifty years of paying taxes.

Individuals used to grow old gracefully, now it is a sin. There is a long list of ‘improvements’ that you can plough your way through: face lift, liposuction, hair transplants, dentures and several others, but the one that really makes sense to me is eyesight improvement by whatever technique works.

We live in a beautiful world and it is a shame that whilst we are at the correct stage in our life to enjoy it – that is while we have more time, more money and have become more philosophical, we begin to go blind. At the same time as your grandchildren begin arriving, your eyesight begins to go.

There are numerous factors why you could begin losing your eyesight besides only old age, but old age does play a part in some of them as well.

Macular degeneration is normally called age-related macular degeneration, but there is a rare kind that has an impact on the young. There are two types wet and dry. The dry kind is less severe, but the wet kind is more easily treated.

Cataracts are thought to be age-related as well, but I had premature senile cataracts 20 years early. Fortunately these are easily treated as well with only a couple of minutes of surgery. Glaucoma is a vicious one, which can leave you totally blind, if you do not catch it soon enough and have it treated.

The key to success with all of these eyesight impairments is tackling them early. If you suspect that anything is not right with your eyes, go to a GP or optician immediately. Do not be fooled by quack cures that you might see advertised on late night TV or in the small ads. They ought to get banned.

Eye exercises and eye drops are fine for healthy eyes, but they will not help you if you have a problem, only a fully qualified expert can do that. These advertisers prey on individuals who either do not have the money for surgery or who are frightened of it and there are lots of them around too.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now concerned with macular degeneration glasses. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Macular Degenerative Disease

June 1, 2011

Contact Lenses Versus Specs

Has your eyesight deteriorated to the point where you have to wear specs? Are you happy about that? Well, there are several alternatives to be had these days, so you do have other choices. If you do not want to undergo surgery, you can still opt for contact lenses. In fact, contact lenses have been a viable alternative to glasses for decades.

Surgery can be a more permanent solution to problems with eyesight, but for various reasons, some people do not want to take up this option. This leaves contact lenses as the best alternative. The first thing to notice about contact lenses is that most people will not know that you are wearing them. This is very important to some people and not significant to others at all.

Contact lenses provide better all-round or peripheral vision than spectacles. When you look to the side wearing glasses, there is no glass there, but contact lenses cover your entire pupil so that your vision is closer to normal. This is safer if you are driving a car or riding a bike or even trying to cross a road.

Another difficulty that numerous people find with spectacles is that they leave indentations on the nose. Some people find these ugly. Glasses also need frequent cleaning, which many people find maddening, whereas contact lenses are cleaned by the eyes’ normal cleaning system – in other words, automatically.

Stylists also think that their prescription spectacles have to go with what they are wearing. This can mean that you have to have a dozen pairs of glasses. If your eyesight deteriorates further, which is fairly probable, all those specs will have to be up-graded as well. This is not true with contact lenses of course.

Both spectacles and contact lenses can adjust for astigmatism or bad eyesight, which comes to most people after the age of forty. Occasionally earlier and sometimes later, but it will happen. Your choice, if you do not want to undergo surgery, is whether you would rather wear spectacles or contact lenses.

In the past, contact lenses were very expensive, which is why many people still discount using them, but in fact it is no longer true. Contact lenses are more costly, but not much more now. In fact, you can buy disposable contact lenses and many people do do that.

The fact is that there are better alternatives to wearing either contacts or specs, but most people do not know it. It is possible these days to have one eye operation and never have to wear glasses again. Or you could have laser surgery and almost certainly not need specs again for ten or twenty years, but some people are adverse to having surgery and so they opt for glasses or contacts.

In the long run, surgery is almost definitely less expensive than wearing contact lenses and wearing contact lenses is almost definitely cheaper than wearing glasses, but it is the same with most items, people just look at the up-front costs and cheaper is rarely better.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on several topics, but is now concerned with Designer Spectacles. If you would like to know more, please go over to our web site at Spectacles Direct.

May 10, 2011

Contact Lens And Glasses: Eye Tests

Before you can buy contact lenses, or spectacles either for that matter, you will need to submit yourself to an eye test. However, the eye test for contact lenses is a little more detailed than a test for regular specs, so you ought to tell the optometrist which type of lens you want before the test starts in order to save time.

An eye test will usually start with a physical examination of your eyes for signs of eye disease such as cataracts and glaucoma or general worries such as high blood pressure or diabetes. This is why it is so vital to have an eye test at least every two years, because a physician does not give scheduled checks for cataracts, diabetes or glaucoma, the three of which can turn you blind.

Your optometrist might pose other questions too such as why you would prefer to have contact lenses rather than specs and whether you have had any problems with your eyes. The decision to wear contact lenses or spectacles is entirely yours, although in some countries spectacles may be free whereas there might be a charge for contact lenses because they are more expensive.

The results of the optometrist’s test will yield a set of numbers which will tell an optician the strength of the lens required for each eye as the lens required for each eye is usually different. This is commonly referred to as your prescription. Then you take this prescription to an optician to pick your spectacle frames, if you are having spectacles, and to have your lenses made or and installed.

In the case of specs, lenses will either have to be cut or and adjusted for the frames that you want and in the case of contact lenses, you might have to have the lenses manufactured. In either case, you might be lucky enough to walk out of the shop wearing your glasses or contacts or you may have to return in a few hours or even a couple days. No optician worth his salt will sell you expensive lenses without a prescription.

There is an clear vital difference between glasses and contact lenses – contacts have to make contact with your eyeballs and not all eyeballs are exactly the same shape. Therefore, if you would like contacts, the optometrist will have to measure the exact curvature or the exact contours of your eyes and this will be part of your prescription. Some eyes are naturally drier than others and this can have an effect on the sort of contact lenses that you should purchase.

Your optician will then frequently give you a pair of trial contact lenses and require you to return a few days later for further tests. You may have to wear a number of types of contacts before you find a type or marque that suits your particular eyes and sight.

Once you have contacts that appear to suit, you will have to follow the instructions and advice that comes with them and return for your check-ups when you are told to. These follow-ups are important to make sure that the contact lenses are not aggravating your eyes or causing more serious issues.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with Designer Spectacles. If you want to know more, please go over to our website at Spectacles Direct.

May 6, 2011

Dry Eyes And Contact Lenses

When you begin to lose your eyesight, which happens to most of us at around the age of forty, you have two basic choices: glasses or contact lenses. Both contact lenses and specs have their advantages and disadvantages, so whichever you choose is really a personal decision. However, some individuals have ‘dry eyes’, which means that the tear ducts do not irrigate the eyes as much as normal.

If someone has dry eyes, then wearing glasses will not exacerbate the condition, but if someone with dry eyes chooses to wear contact lenses for personal reasons, the condition can make their lives very unpleasant.

Some people who wear contacts but have dry eyes will almost certainly experience a discomfort that will lead to the person rubbing their eyes, which will make the situation worse.

There might be medical reasons for the lacrimal ducts not producing enough moisture to lubricate the eyes, but age can be a factor. If you have itchy eyes and are more than sixty, it might be in your interests to change from contacts to spectacles.

Some individuals find it a very hard decision to take. Television personalities and film stars seldom like to be photographed wearing glasses. All right, there are not too many of them, but there are hundreds of millions of people who look up to their screen idols and imitate them blindly.

One of the causes of dry eyes, besides age or personal illness, is environmental conditions. Pollution affects different people in different ways, but tobacco smoke affects most peoples’ eyes, to say nothing of their lungs.

Evaporation is another reason for dry eyes. This sounds strange, because you would think that the water trapped between the eyes and the lenses could not evaporate, but a lot of contact lenses are composed of fifty percent water to make them more supple and therefore more comfortable.

A warm environment will evaporate water from the lenses and the lenses will endeavor to replenish themselves by sucking water off your eyes – a kind of osmosis. This is a sensible reason for soaking your contact lenses in a solution over night. The solution is there to sterilize the lenses, but it will also permit the lenses to ‘fill up’ again.

Therefore, a possible solution to the problem of dry eyes, if evaporation is your problem, is to replace your lenses half way through the day. another way of combatting dry eyes if you would like to wear contacts, is to put drops in your eyes every hour.

You can purchase these drops from a chemist in small containers or you can purchase a litre of the solution and refill your droppers yourself. However, a saline solution (salt and water) is just as good as anything and a great deal cheaper.

If none of this works for you then why not merely switch to spectacles? The trend is to be more open about oneself and part of this trend is to admit your age, wear your wig openly, if that is what you do and be| seen wearing your spectacles.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now concerned with Designer Spectacles. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Spectacles Direct.

Cataracts And The Regain Of Sight

When I was about forty years of age, I could feel that I would soon require specs. I worked long hours in an office at a computer and most of my friends reasoned that this was the cause of my diminishing eyesight. I merely put the spectacles on like everyone else does and got on with the job.

However, ten years later, my eyesight took an abrupt turn for the worse and I was diagnosed with premature senile cataracts, at least that is how they translated it into English from the Thai as I had by now married a Thai lady and moved to her village in rural northern Thailand. I went to a very good hospital in Pattaya known as the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and one of their senior eye surgeons examined me.

She confirmed the diagnosis and added that it was probable that the other eye would develop a cataract at some time in the future although there was no indication of it at that moment. The next day she carried out an operation to take out the lens from my eye and replace it with a plastic one.

The operation is quite painless although it can become a bit scary and lasts between thirty and sixty minutes. Mine was ‘a long one’, said the surgeon at forty minutes. After an hour’s recovery, a nurse showed my wife and me how to care for my eye and I was allowed to go. My eye was taped over, so I could not see out of it until that evening when my wife put the drops in.

Everything was so vivid and clear. It was truly amazing. I had to keep going back for post-operative care for four weeks and then we went back to the village. I cannot convey how fantastic it was to be able to see clearly again without glasses after what I realized was more than a decade.

The eye or the brain or both take a a little time to modify to the new lens and your eyesight improves for a period of time which can be from six to twenty-four months. Within six months, my other eye started to pack up. It had borne the strain of two eyes for long enough and now that there was a working replacement, it decided to stop fighting the approaching cataract and gave up.

I was not back to square one because my plastic eye was far better that the other one had been in similar circumstances. So, about six months later, I went back to Pattaya to have the other one done. The procedure was the same with the same surgeon. I went back the next day for the check up, but it was a long wait for my turn and the time came around for my drops. My wife put them in but as I removed my protective eye-covering, I noticed the English-language newspaper on the table in front of me.

That was not unusual, but what was really unusual was that I could read it – without specs for the first time in fifteen years! I could see the look of revulsion on my fellow patients’ faces as they looked into my eye so I put the covering back on. (After the operation the eye swells up and it as black as an eight-ball with a blood-red dot in the middle – it is very frightening).

When I went in to see the surgeon and told her about the newspaper, she smiled. “Yes”, she said, “that was my surprise, I put a long-distance lens in last time and a reading lens in this time. Your brain will decide what you are looking at and use the correct eye”.

She had not told me because a small percentage of brains cannot accomplish this trick, which is why some people cannot take to variofocals too.

That was a year ago and both plastic eyes and brain have ‘bedded in’ nicely. I can read a book and drive a car without specs and my world is so brilliant. I still wonder at the brightness everyday. I had not noticed the light getting gradually dimmer for fifteen years.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on several topics, but is now involved with Designer Spectacles. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Spectacles Direct.

May 2, 2011

Modern Times And Blindness

Not so long ago, it was not at all unusual to see blind individuals strolling the streets tap-tapping away with their white sticks, being guided by a dog, usually a Labrador, but I have not seen anyone like that in Britain for years, as far as I recall.

That has to be a decent thing; it must mean that we are starting to cure or at least assuage most types of blindness.

My aunty had cataracts for years when I was a kid in the Sixties – it was simply one of those things. Some individuals got them when they were old and others did not.

My brother’s mother-in-law had cataracts in the late Nineties and she was enrolled on a two year waiting, but at least she had hope and they were going to be removed free of charge.

I do not know of anyone else that has eye trouble except myself. I could not get my glasses clean one day and then a friend said he saw a white dot in one eye. He took me to the hospital and the optician diagnosed ‘premature senile cataracts’.

Well, I live in Thailand now and he did not say those exact words. He told me that the cataracts were because I was prematurely senile.

I asked him if that was what he really meant; he looked it up in a book and we both had a hearty laugh about it, although he never actually corrected himself. My condition turned out to be a little bit worse than just cataracts, but when I went from the local hospital to a major hospital in Pattaya, the surgeon saw me within 30 minutes and asked me if I wanted them taken away.

I said that I did and she was willing to do the operation there and then. I got it postponed by 24 hours, but she would have sorted my eye out that day in a 30 minute operation, which does not need anaesthetic. I think that that was marvelous.

We have come a long way from routinely seeing blind people on the street and putting up with cataracts through a two-year waiting list to immediate removal of cataracts by laser surgery in 40-50 years.

At least we have in the Developed World and in the East too, if you have the money. There are still millions of people in Asia and particularly in Africa suffering blindness and partial blindness for the sake of an easy 30 minute operation.

Two weeks after my surgery, my other eye began to cloud over. It was as if it had been holding on with its last ounce of strength until I got his mate sorted out. I had that one done last year and once I was allowed to take off my patch and look about me with two decent eyes again for the first time in a decade, I could not understand that I had forgotten how bright the world really is and that I had not noticed how dingy my world had become.

If you are concerned around an eye operation, do not be. What you will experience once you can see properly again will make all the worry appear ludicrous and if you get the opportunity to give someone their sight back, please do it.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now concerned with macular degeneration glasses. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Macular Degenerative Disease

May 1, 2011

Eye Care After A Lasik Operation

The patient of Lasik surgery has two foremost responsibilities regarding his or her eyes: firstly to pick a responsible, skilled surgeon, which should not be very difficult and secondly, to take care of his eyes after the operation by following the guidance of the surgeon on post-operative care. This second part is very important and should not be taken lightly.

The post-operative care procedure is not difficult, but if you are worried about it, you could ask your surgeon what it will entail before the procedure. The doctor or a nurse will be able to explain the method of supervision to you in detail or they will give you a pamphlet.

There might be some peculiar sight aberrations for a few days after the operation, some of which are fairly standard. One of the most common aberrations that are standard for a few days are halos around lights.

However, you should be certain that you understand the difference between what is standard and so no grounds for concern and what should be reported immediately

There are different Lasik procedures and the procedures are advancing all the time so it is not possible to give precise details in this article. Moreover, the shape of the eyes and the causes for deteriorating eyesight are individual to each patient.

Some of the advice that your Lasik surgeon might give for your post-operative eye care may include the following, although different doctors may have their own recommendations.

The first thing is to remember that you have just had an operation including anaesthetic. There might not have been any blood but it was surgery all the same.

All patients are required to take it easy after an operation and you will be no exception. If you had had an operation on your knee, you would use it as little as possible for a time and the same is helpful advice for your eye.

Attempt to sleep for a couple of hours after the operation or at least close your eyes and rest. Infection is the chief concern, so do not poke or rub your eye and do not strain it by trying out your recently improved vision by reading or watching TV.

If you have to entertain yourself in this way wear an eye patch. Your surgeon will almost certainly have given you a stiff plastic eye guard, which you ought to wear at all times.

Some surgeons will warn against getting water into your eye for a few days, which means washing only from the neck down, no showering, no going out in the rain and definitely no swimming.

Be careful with bright light, it cannot damage your eye but it does hurt. Your world will get much brighter after the operation and looking at a light bulb can become painful. Be cautious of watching moving traffic when the sun is shining, a car window can catch the sun and reflect it back into your eye unexpectedly.

You will be given eye drops so do not fail to use them. Lasik surgery can dry your eyes out, if this happens they might be able to give you substitute or extra drops.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now concerned with wet macular degeneration treatment. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Macular Degenerative Disease

April 29, 2011

Testing Visual Perception

Most people would prefer to lose their right arm than lose their eyesight. It is scary for a sighted person to think of the possibility of losing one’s eyesight, yet it occurs to people every day for various reasons. One of these reasons can be autism.

Autism affects different children in different ways, which is one of the reasons why it is so difficult for doctors and therapists to help it. One of the worst things that can have an effect on autistic children is a loss or diminution of visual perception or, to put it bluntly, eyesight.

Naturally, if a child has problems seeing, then it makes learning even more difficult and it isolates that child even more than it was before, since a sensation of isolation is one of the foremost symptoms of autism. However, there are certain exercises that your child’s therapist can teach you which might help improve your child’s eyesight.

It is a characteristic of autism that the sufferer experiences sensory overload or distortion. It is as if the autistic child’s brain cannot deal with what it sees and hears quickly enough, so it sometimes shuts down.

Numerous autistic children also have trouble reading for this very reason, however, some individuals who are not autistic can also suffer from this problem. Some people with extreme dyslexia can undergo a similar experience. If the parents of an autistic child have these problems too, then it could exacerbate the visual perception of the autistic child.

Some people, whether autistic, dyslexic or not have a problem with some colour combinations and some of those have a problem with black and white, which are of course the colours used on a book’s pages. It is possible to enhance the readability of a page of type by using the Irene Method, which involves putting a colour filter on top of the page thereby altering the black and white colour combination.

If the doctor or therapist of your child has not suggested the Irene Method, you could bring the topic up or simply test it yourself. All you need is several sheets of different coloured cellophane. Blue, red, yellow and green are easy to find and you can overlay two or three of these to make even more colours.

Lay them over the page and see if your child finds one of them easier to read. You might even find that you find one of these new colour combinations easier for you as well. If this works, a pair of glasses with tinted lenses my help your child’s visual perception on a more permanent basis.

In the same manner, some children’s visual perception is improved by replacing the regular white light incandescent or tube lights in the child’s bedroom with a light that is more comfortable on his or her eyes.

These different colour lights and different colour lenses can help your child better judge depth or perspective and can help lessen the confusion that sensory overload can cause. If you can accomplish this, you will be making a big difference to your child’s quality of life.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with Designer Spectacles. If you would like to know more, please go over to our web site at Spectacles Direct.

April 21, 2011

Cataracts, Surgery And Recovery

You have to be very cautious with your eyes because they can so easily be damaged beyond repair. My eyesight started to deteriorate when I reached forty, like most people. My friends and family put that down to the fact that I was sitting in front of a computer screen for about twelve hours a day and had done since I was twenty-eight. Still, there was nothing I could do about that, that was my job. I was self-conscious of wearing glasses at first, but you soon get used to that.

My eyes continued to get worse and at a greater rate than friends of a comparable age, but I considered that that was just the luck of the draw. However, one morning about ten years later, I woke up and it was as if my spectacles were dirty. I spent the next day or two cleaning them, but I could not seem to move the dirt on the right lens.

By that time, my vision was too bad to see without glasses and I only had the one pair. I had moved to rural Thailand and procuring a second pair was no easy feat.

After a couple of days of cleaning and polishing my glasses a friend offered to take me the 75 km to the nearest good hospital. The opthamologist looked in my eyes and said: “I am very sorry, but you are senile”. I had been called mad before, but not senile. I was fifty-two. It is not really a statement that beggars a question, so I just looked at him and put on a glum expression, hoping that I was not confirming his diagnosis.

He looked at me and then rumaged in his desk, pulled out a book and opened it. “You have premature senile cataracts” he corrected himself. I was not certain whether that was any better as it implied that other parts of me may start failing early as well. Anyway, I thanked him and left. I had no notion what to do next, but at least I knew better that to continue wasting my time attempting to clean my already spotless spectacles.

My wife is very practical and she arranged for us to go to an even better hospital 650 km away. I was seen by one of the hospital’s senior eye surgeons within the hour and was told that I had a cataract in my right eye and that there was a good chance that I would develop one in the left eye too. Then she shocked me by asking: “Do you want me to remove it now?”

It was too big a decision for me to make there and then without any information, so we discussed the operation, she gave me a leaflet and I made an appointment to return the next day. The next day, I was in the operating chair. I was not going to have Laser Correction, but the full replacement of the lens. The procedure is carried out under local anaestetic and does not hurt but it can be uncomfortable at times.

The surgeon cut a small incision of two millimetres a little to the outside of the colour of my eye and squirted in some solution. She then vibrated that fluid with ultra-sound to break up the lens in my eye and washed the pieces of lens out with more fluid before inserting the new lens through the same opening.

By this stage of my life, I could just see light and dark with my right eye, but at one point my eyesight just ceased entirely. It was like watching a window shatter before your eyes only to realise that there was nothing but blackness beyond. Now I definitely was blind in that eye. There was a bit of discomfort, but the surgeon kept talking to me and then she said: “Wait, wait, wait, can you see me?”

And I could.

Absolutely perfectly. Better than I would have been able to fifteen years before, but everything was so bright that it dazzled. I had not noticed how dingy my world had become. A cataract is like having a net curtain over a window, it cuts out a great deal of light. Therefore, the first thing you become aware of whilst you have had a cataract removed is a flood of light. Your world literally is a brighter place – to such an extent that the light hurts.

Be careful with light after the surgery, it cannot bring about lasting damage, but it really does hurt. A passing vehicle can reflect sunlight into your eye and catch you unawares. If you are driving or riding a bicycle, it could be very dangerous. Another risk is reflection. You have an open wound on your face which can get infected by wind-borne germs.

The week following the operation is a lot more risky than the procedure itself. You have an open cut in your eye which they do not stitch. It is left to repair itself, which is not a problem, if you take care.

You have to put two kinds of drops in your eye four times a day and avoid getting water in your eye at all costs. That means do not go out in the rain and do not wash your hair in the shower. Dirt and consequent infection are your main enemies, so put the drops in regularly, avoid dust (and the powdered dog faeces mixed in with it) and all water and be very wary of light.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with Designer Spectacles. If you would like to know more, please go over to our website at Spectacles Direct.

April 9, 2011

Natural Eyesight Improvement

Losing one’s sight can get upsetting. In the beginning, if as standard, you start to lose your eyesight at around 40 years of age, it is the first sign of approaching old age, but later as it deteriorates further, people start to worry whether they will go blind.

Well, if you require spectacles at 40 then yes, it is the first sign of approaching old age, but there are not so many individuals who go totally blind now due to advancements in information concerning the eyes and how to treat impairments.

There is nothing you can do regarding the former problem, but at least two routes you can take to sorting out the latter.

Most people ‘blindly’ follow their opticians advice and purchase spectacles or contact lenses. This is the best option for the optician and the cheapest option for the client in the short term. It is good for the optician because you will almost certainly require new spectacles every two years and contact wearers have to keep buying contact lenses as well.

It is handy for the customer because the outlay is small if you do not go for designer frames like Gucci or Levi. In the long term, though the client pays out many, many times more than if a different procedure had been chosen.

One of these alternative courses of action is Lasik surgery. This is costly up front, but can last for 20 years although you might still need glasses for either long or short distances. Most people have their long distance eyesight corrected and never ever have a problem with it again, although they do still need reading glasses.

A third option, which you might like to attempt instead of or in conjunction with any of the above is called Natural Vision Improvement. It has to be said that the system of Natural Vision Improvement has more detractors than supporters, but some individuals treat it as a form of yoga for the eyes which cannot do any harm.

The point here though is that if you would like to try Natural Vision Improvement, you should still go to an optician regularly so that they can check for eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration, which Natural Vision Improvement cannot hope to, nor does it claim to, cure.

Advocates of Natural Vision Improvement say that contemporary equipment like TV screens and monitors and even living in a city where long distance eyesight is almost unnecessary because it is blocked by buildings a few yards away, have trained us to ‘see badly’.

They say that we need to relearn how to see in the right manner. They even go as far as to say that glasses and contact lenses may be part of the problem.

By this they mean that as your eyes get used to corrective lenses, they come to rely on them and so become weaker. Therefore, the next time your sight is measured, you will need stronger spectacles.

The Natural Vision Improvement philosophy says to use the weakest lenses that you can and make your eyes work harder. In this manner, they insist, the next time you go for a check up, you can get weaker lenses not more powerful ones until eventually you do not require spectacles at all.

Some opticians and optometrists will work with you if you would like to attempt this route, but you may have to look about for one. One important point around the Natural Vision Improvement procedure is that if your impaired vision could create a danger to yourself and others, you should wear regular, full-strength glasses whilst carrying out those activities (like driving).

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now concerned with macular degeneration test. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Macular Degenerative Disease

June 6, 2010

Facts About Opalescence Teeth Whitening System

The vast majority of people like their teeth to be both pearly and white. It may sound obvious but it is true. People like to have beautiful teeth. One could even say that people are very vain regarding their teeth. This is because when we encounter someone, the teeth are usually the first thing to be noticed. We smile in order to show people that we are friendly. There are even people who depend on their smiles in order to make a living. These are the reasons behind the success of such products as the Opalescence teeth whitening system.

The Opalescence teeth whitening system lets people take the system home and do the whitening themselves. This might seem like unnecessary work to some people, but for others, it means convenience. These days, people just do not have the time to go to the dentist for teeth whitening. Others choose to get a suntan instead of having their teeth whitened. This is why the Opalescence teeth whitening system is so popular. Convenience is definitely one of the things that people look for today.

What method does the Opalescence teeth whitening system make use of? Well, firstly, you have to know that the Opalescence teeth whitening system is a professional-grade bleaching system, which means that it should be able to whiten your teeth faster than many other over the counter teeth whitening systems. The reason for this is the fact that most over the counter teeth whitening systems contain only about 3 to 10 percent hydrogen peroxide, whereas the Opalescence teeth whitening product range contains 38 percent hydrogen peroxide.

While most teeth whitening systems require the use of a bleaching light in order to ‘activate’ the product, the Opalescence teeth whitening system is the first one which lists the use of the light as ‘optional’. People like this because it is often the case that the cost of the bleaching light is rather more than the cost of the actual product itself. Another relevant fact is that lately, many dentists are proclaiming that ‘tests’ regarding the use of bleaching lights rarely prove that the light is needed to stimulate the hydrogen peroxide at all.

Although you are free to take the Opalescence teeth whitening system home and apply it yourself, it is still advisable that you get a professional to whiten your teeth for you. This is because the Opalescence teeth whitening system produces the best results when in the hands of a professional user. It usually takes about 90 minutes from preparation of the mix to the end of the whole procedure. Think of it! Just ninety minutes and then you will have brighter, whiter teeth!

Besides providing you with brighter, whiter teeth, the opalescence teeth whitening system also offers you other advantages. Many teeth bleaching systems may create sensitive teeth and therefore, deny you the pleasure of eating ice cream, the opalescence teeth whitening system actually minimizes the problem of sensitivity, which means that you do not have to sacrifice the pleasure of eating certain hot or cold foods just to have a great smile.

Another complaint that people have about a lot of bleaching agents is that they frequently cause teeth to become vulnerable to cavities. However, the opalescence teeth whitening system actually strengthens the enamel, making it more durable and decreases the likelihood of cavities.

The opalescence teeth whitening system offers great advantages to anyone who uses the product. You get brighter, whiter teeth in a convenient and painless way. So why wait?

If you are thinking about having a treatment of Teeth Whitening, please visit our web site entitled Teeth Whitening for more free information. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

April 23, 2010

Teeth Whitening: Pros and Cons

Choosing teeth whitening products from the different teeth whitening products available on the market today can be very confusing. However, some of these teeth whitening products do not give the desired results.

If you asked the experts, they would inform you that the best method of teeth whitening is still obtainable via your dentist. Not only is it the best, but it is also the most effective and the quickest way to get whiter teeth.

But then, not all people can afford the fees that come with each treatment. Another factor that hinders them from going to dentists is fear. It seems that in early childhood, dentists are one of the most feared professions and that children just do not want to have to go to them. This fear continues on into adult years.

Although dentists do not advise people to choose teeth whitening products, they all agree that some of these products are effective to some degree. According to studies, most teeth whitening products, if used regularly and consistently, can result in whiter teeth that can out perform any dentist-assisted procedure.

An additional bonus that teeth whitening products have, is that they contain the same ingredients that are being used in professional whitening. Two of the active ingredients needed for whitening teeth are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide. These two products are also the ingredients that are present in some of the products that are sold in ordinary grocery stores and drug stores.

The only advantage that teeth whitening products have over professional whitening is that they are very cheap. Everyone who learns about them can afford to add them to their list of basic shopping things.

Many of these products can be bought for less than $30. Compare this to the $100 or more that you are charged at the dentist’s surgery. It will not astound you that most people prefer them to the higher fees. However, teeth whitening products do have some disadvantages. Some of these are:

1. Suitability. Sure, teeth whitening products cater to all types of teeth, however different people have different requirements. What some people find works may not work for others. This is one of the problems that people will come across with these ‘home’ products.

There are some who have sensitive teeth and gums. Reaction to the products will depend upon the suitability of the products to the persons that are using them. Another option would be to try out different products until you find the one that is suitable to you.

2. Strong Chemicals Used. You will not know what your reaction to a product will be until you have tried it out. Since you do not know how sensitive your teeth are, you will also not know what might happen when you start using the product. It is better to consult with your dentist first before choosing any product at all.

3. Tray may not fit. The tray used in your mouth is not exactly right to you, so there is a chance that it may be either too big or too small.

If it is too big, the formula may not work very well. On the other hand, if it is too small, it may cause gum bleeding and other side effects that could cause bigger problems. Be sure that the teeth whitening precuts you choose are right for you. If none of them works, then perhaps professional teeth whitening would be better for you.

If you are interested in teeth whitening products or other methods of teeth whitening, just go to our website on Teeth Whitening Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

December 11, 2009

Traditional Liposuction Is Becoming Outdated Fast

Liposuction is a medical procedure that is operated on patients who plan to have body fat removed from their physique for aesthetic purposes. For many folks, liposuction can be a traumatic experience, but there is a new lipo surgery on the market, SmartLipo, or also generically called “laser liposuction”. Called a a medical miracle in some healthcare circles SmartLipo has proven itself to patients and doctors around the world. SmartLipo delivers on what it claims it will accomplish, and that is get rid of fat tissue simply.

Traditional Liposuction – Invasive and Dicey

Liposuction has been done on millions of people in the time right after its introduction in 1982. In accordance to the policies of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 300,000 patients in the USA undergone invasive surgical treatment in 2006 to get rid of fat from within their bodies.

SmartLipo Benefits

SmartLipo Technology (or SMARTLIPO) utilizes the most modern advancements in cosmetic surgery equipment, which provides physicians a safer, faster and cost-effective approach.

People having Smartlipo undergo a much faster healing period with far less health issues when compared to older liposuction methods. The laser light causes instant coagulation of the small blood vessels in the adipose tissue. The particular wavelength of laser light emitted by the surgical device seals the tiny blood vessels. Subsequent swelling & hemorrhaging in the treatment area is minimized greatly, creating a speedier healing time for the patient. This is why there is a rapid healing time for patients undergoing SmartLipo therapy.

The laser surgery allows your Smart Lipo doctor to apply the minimally invasive procedure consistently to all areas being treated, using the laser as a guide. Smart Lipo precision allows for and consistently treated area, which gets better even more as the recovery time elapses and the outer skin shrinks throughout the place of subdermal fat removal.

Lots of features set SmartLipo in a class of its own above traditional liposuction such as recovery time, comfort, length of visits, and reduced tissue trauma and bleeding. The laser essentially coagulates blood capillaries on contact, by this means causing less hemorrhaging, bruising, and inflammation than in conventional liposuction. The majority of individuals are treated & out of the office within 2-3 hours of the procedure, and recuperating at home for the remainder of the day. Most SmartLipo doctors recommend a number of days of rest, just for good measure, before returning to work.

Compression Garments May Be Necessary for Smooth Healing Following SmartLipo Surgery

Compression garments are not always compulsory. Considering on the size of the body that undergoes SmartLipo, the physician could prescribe compression garments be worn for a brief period of time in order to minimize swelling plus help in healing. Yet the truth remains, compression garments do not need to be worn for as long a period of time for SmartLipo as in conventional liposuction. For larger body areas treated by this cosmetic operation, a compression garment may be given to wear for two to six weeks following the operation. Compression garments are imperative because they cave in the hollow areas caused under the skin as the body fat is melted away. The consequence is a flatter more properly shaped body surface that looks good to the eye.

Rather than manually cutting the cannula through the area of fat removal as in liposuction, cosmetic bariatric surgeons make use of a lot narrower cannula (tubing that is 1 millimeter in diameter), that has a laser affixed to the end. In actuality, the insertion areas of the laser’s insertion points are not extremely perceptible & require no stitches. This is entirely the opposite of traditional liposuction where there will be a good bit of bruising from tissue injury created by the surgical cutting tool known as a cannula.

Beneficial “Side Effect of SmartLipo Laser Treatment

Collagen is the skin’s key component found deep in the deep layers of skin tissue below the epidermis for having a young-looking attractiveness. It exists in the lower layers of the skin and muscles of the anatomy. The loss of this tissue happens due to growing old, sun damage, or injury. When this happens it makes people appear older. Because of the laser wavelengths are being directed in the direction of the deep sub-dermal tissues, the body’s response is by growing more collagen under the epidermis. This will produce a retraction in addition to tissue contraction as the body recuperates. The consequence will be a younger and more relaxed appearance.

The additional consequence of having SmartLipo surgery helping in the production of collagen is a reaction to the light waves & the movement of the cannula. The energy directed by the laser to the region beneath the surface of the skin stimulates the development of collagen as more or less like a “side effect” of the primary treatment, but in this case, it is a advantageous side effect. The outcome is a better, more toned look after full healing.

SmartLipo’s laser-aided lipolysis technique provides a minimally invasive treatment that is innovative in the removal of fat. In stark contrast to conventional liposuction, laser lipolysis targets fat tissue only and melts it for draining & absorption into the lymph system. The cannula (a skinny medical tubing) does not suck the fat cells out of the body, but merely acts as a drainage device. It is a great deal narrower than the cannula used in traditional liosuction. The cannula, the tube which is utilized to help drain the liquefied adipose immediately right after laser, works hand-in-hand with the laser during the surgery.

Overall, compared with conventional liposuction, which can require up to six weeks of stitching, bandages, & even supplementary operations to get rid of excess skin, SmartLipo is certainly the quickest, most advanced & effective technique to forever do away with the adipose tissue in trouble areas. SmartLipo is a rather intelligent selection for any person who has localized fat that should be surgically removed. In the minimally invasive surgery, you can literally go home from the doctor’s office on the same afternoon. I give it a thumbs up.

Read more about this at Smart Lipo Recovery. Also visit WeightLoss Lap Band You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

November 23, 2009

What is Lap Banding?

In Keyhole Stomach Band operations, or Lap-Band operations, a ring is placed surrounding to create a little stomach pouch. This minimizes the inclination to graze during the day between meals.

One of the major benefits of Lap-Band surgery over different forms of bariatric surgeries is that it is inconspicuous and revertible method. Lap Band surgery is gave using general anesthesia and can be provided laparoscopically, meaning no giant cuts need to be performed.

The whole thing can be done via a small slit or hole. The band is pulled into a opening made close to the high of the abdomen and fixed round the stomach; no actual cuts are made on the stomach itself. When the Lap Band is in place and adjusted, the hole is sewn up with a a small number of stitches. The band can be without difficulty removed during the identical method at a later occasion to undo the surgery, or a lap band of a alternative size or tightness may be put in place.

Like anything there are good things and bad things with Lap Banding operation vs. other forms of morbid weight loss surgery like gastric bypass surgery. The benefits of lap banding bariatric surgery can be that it’s a simpler surgery, recuperation is usually accelerated and it may be reversed unlike other obesity surgical procedures. The con’s of Lap Band procedures can include minor weight reduction and the ultimate potential of gaining all your heaviness again over the long term.

A powerful attribute of the inflatable gastric band is that the inside lining of the band can be adjusted to satisfy your individual needs. Adjustments to the band, which are done during easy outpatient check-ups, are determinedby the patient’s weight reduction, the amount of food that can be happily eaten, the work out program, and other problems surrounding the person’s well being, as well as the amount of fluid already in the person’s band. Typically, patients lost one to two lbs each week.

The LAP-BAND Approach is a surgically implanted device utilized to help a individual lose fat. It is strategically placed laparoscopically and allows adjustment of the degree of gastric restriction. The System consists of a hollow silicone band, tubing, and an access port. In the operation itself, the band is positioned surrounding the higher section of the stomach, creating a small pouch that can hold only a small quantity of food. The narrowed aperture between the stomach pouch and the remainder of the stomach controls how quickly food passes from the new stomach pouch to the lower portion of the stomach. The doctor does this by adding or removing the fluid through a diminutive button-like component referred to as the the access port. This access port is positioned beneath the skin in a muscle in the chest wall. The access port is linked to the band by the tubing.

Lap band surgery are providing a lot of individuals a new outlook on life. This surgery is permitting many individuals that suffer from obesity the capacity to come to a beneficial weight

Get the latest aboutStomach Surgery To Lose Weight and Stomach Rubber Band Surgery.

November 7, 2009

What Medical Procedure Will Help Type 2 Diabetes? Learn More!

Gastric bypass and various other weight loss medical practices are primarily offered by doctors to solve issues of morbid obesity. Not only will laparoscopic gastric bypass facilitate in weight-reduction, but studies confirm that it’s amazing effects on co-morbidities related to heaviness such as heart diseases, hypertension, cancer and diabetes. There are important medical research demonstrating that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operations was able to strongly hinder or force the diminution of non-insulin dependent Diabetes.

With gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is reduced in size. Usually what happens is a small pouch is created in the top area of the stomach, and then half way down the small intestine is connected to the remaining lower part of the stomach. Because of the stomach is smaller in size, it could accommodate smaller amount of food and would limit the calories that it would absorb.

After Gastric Bypass Surgery

In the first few months following gastric bypass surgery, weight loss will be dramatic. In fact, the weight loss is so dramatic that there is a 5% drop in weight within the first few weeks of the surgery. In a year after the surgery, patients could lose 50 to 60 percent of their original weight. In the second year, most patients are able to achieve their lowest possible safe weight reduction that they can target for stable weight maintenance. At this point, the maintenance program would involve the patient sticking with the dietary plan and doing the exercises to maintain body weight homeostasis.

For most people, a gastric bypass will force diabetes into remission within weeks of the weight-loss surgery. This is not just about hormonal factors, the amount of weight lost by the patient has significant effects on diabetes. Duke University medical research proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the amount of weight that they person carries correctly proportional to the severity of their type 2 diabetes. Hormones also have a factor, since the studies also showed an effect on the gut hormones. They have a stronger insulin resistance.

Gastric Bypass Type 2 Diabetes

In the scientific study conducted, it was statistically proven that bariatric patients following gastric bypass surgery had a marked improvement in their diabetes. They had lower blood-sugar levels and take lower amounts of medication. About 48 percent of the respondents were able to achieve complete remission.

There are other factors involved in stopping.type 2 diabetes and the gastric bypass patient. Type 2 diabetes is often caused by diet. A person who have undergone gastric bypass surgery, is required to follow strict diet. In fact, too much sugar will cause the patient become nauseated, sweat profusely, and have diarrhea in a unique medical problem from these type of surgeries, it is aptly called “Dumping syndrome.”

Another thing that is amazing, is that those results are not only saying in adults but also in teenagers. The teenager may have to wait a year before the type 2 diabetes will be reversed to the point of taking them off of medication, but it is well worth it. Ideally, prevention is best, but there are some extreme cases in society today a young teens being saddled with morbid obesity as a result of that weight. It is unheard of how many teenagers are suffering from diseases that usually affect adults such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and elevated triglyceride levels in the blood. There can be significant improvements following gastric bypass surgery, but it is serious decision to make for the young person.

Experts agree that diabetes can surely be reduced by undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Keep in mind is not always the best option or the only option. Gastric bypass surgery is not a magic wand that will transform your body into perfection and whisk away diabetes in the blink of an eye. If patients will stick to the guidelines of diet and exercise set forth by the doctor, it is possible to overcome in control diabetes for life.

Read more on Treatment of Diabetes with Gastric Bypass at Gastric Bypass Diabetes! Don’t reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.

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