Types Of Contact Lenses

by Amy Nutt


The development of the contact lens has changed how those with bad vision see the world. At one time hard lenses were the only contact lenses that anyone had access to, but later came the disposable soft lens that required less care and could be thrown away after a certain time period of wear. Now there are many different options available to contact lens wearers based on their requests and the recommendations of their doctors. This allows more people to wear contact lenses than ever before. Many of those who could not wear contacts years ago, because the kind that was being used was not for them, can now wear them with ease.

With their being so many kinds available, the type of contact that is prescribed is dependent upon a person's particular situation. Here are the different types of contact lenses that are available:

1. PMMA lenses, which are also called hard contact lenses are the oldest that are around. Believe it or not they have been around since the 1960s. They are made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). These contacts are very durable, but their disadvantage is the fact that they do not allow oxygen to reach the cornea directly. The oxygen is received in the cornea when the wearer blinks and oxygen-rich tears reach the cornea due to the movement of the lens. They are of low cost, but they are hardly used anymore. However, there are some patients who prefer them.

2. Soft contact lenses are the lenses that are used most often. They are made of plastic and other materials such as silicone. Water is also used in their construction, which makes them soft. They also allow the oxygen to directly reach the cornea. Soft contact lenses are used by 3/4 of the contact wearers in the United States. There are also different types of soft contacts such as:

- Daily disposable lenses that must be thrown away at the end of each day. These are more expensive, but the risk of developing an eye infection is minimal. - Toric lenses for astigmatism. These contacts are for those who do not have any other eye issue other than astigmatism that must be corrected.

- Extended wear lenses typically last 2-4 weeks. The usage of the 30 day contact started approximately 6 years ago. The risk of infection is higher and they do tend to be somewhat expensive, but the wearer is able to wear the contacts day and night for 30 days without having to take them out.

3. The last type of contact lens is the gas-permeable lens. These are the newer version of the hard lens that are made of silicone and other materials that allows the oxygen to directly reach the cornea. This is why they are called gas permeable.

There are so many advantages to using contact lenses for those who are able to wear one of the above that were described. Of course there are risks such as the hard contact lenses being more likely to scratch the cornea and extended wear contacts causing infection, especially if they are not maintained properly. No matter the type of contact lens a person is wearing, it is important to take care of them they way they are supposed to in order to minimize the risk of infection in the eye. Those who develop frequent eye infections may not be allowed to wear them by their doctor. Even those with severe allergies may be forbidden, but contacts open up a whole new world for those who can wear them because they can see things differently.



About the Author
Clearly Contacts is an online contact lens company offering a wide selection of contact lenses to meet your individual needs. Makes such as Acuvue, Focus, Freshlook, Proclear and PureVision.

Natural Eye Health - How To Take Care Of Your Eyes

by James Liow


Like other ailments which affect us, many ailments of our eyes can also be prevented. There are ways to maintain the natural health of our eyes and prevent them from ailments.
Different diseases and conditions affect our eyes differently. The most subtle ones may affect and go without our knowledge. The more severe ones affect our vision, sometimes they cause a lot of pain and distress but sometimes they dont.

So if we are to take good care of our eyes we have to be vigilant and get appropriate help without delay when ever there is the need.

Cleanliness is one important factor to keep disease causing organisms (germs) away from us. Touching your eyes with dirty fingers and objects can transfer diseases to your eyes. This is commonly seen in toddlers and small children. By keeping clean, such infections are prevented.

Diet is another important aspect of a healthy life. Like our bodies, our eyes are also in need of nutrients to maintain eye health. Some nutrients are good for our eyes. Eating a healthy diet with a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits ensure our eyes get all the required nutrients.

Vitamin A deficiency can cause serious eye ailments and can even lead to blindness in severe forms. This is a common problem amongst the malnourished populations of the developing countries. Fortunately, with adequate nutrition this problem can be solved and blindness can be prevented. So eating healthy is important to keep your eyes and sight healthy.

Wearing prescription glasses will reduce the strain if you have a refractive error. If you want to wear contact lenses, make sure you follow the instructions of the lens manufacturer and use them as recommended. Also, make sure you maintain the necessary hygiene for otherwise you may be faced with sigh threatening infections.

If you have undergone corrective eye surgery such as LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis), make sure you take proper care of your eyes as advised by your doctor.

Wearing sun glasses will not only protect your eyes from ultra violet rays but also from environmental pollutants which are harmful to your eyes.

Cataract or clouding of the lens is a very common problem encountered in old age. If you have developed a cataract, you should get your eyes checked and operated to remove the cataract before it is too late. Keeping a cataract for too long can cause serious consequences. It may not always be painful but a long standing cataract can cause irreversible blindness. In fact, this is one of the commonest causes of preventable blindness in the old age.

Glaucoma is another condition common amongst the elderly. This is a condition in which one looses eye sight very gradually due to damage caused to the optic nerve (the nerve responsible for vision). If your eyes are not regularly checked for this condition, this may be completely over looked until too late. So if you are more than 60 years of age or if you have risk factors for this disease, it is imperative to get your eyes checked regularly to rule out glaucoma.

If you have anything unusual about your eyes, you should promptly get your eyes checked by an eye care practitioner.



About the Author
For more information about natural eye health for conditions such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, lazy eye, dry eyes and more, go to http://www.simpleeyehealth.com

Is It Cheaper And Convenient To Buy Contacts Online?

by Amy Nutt


In a world where we even purchase food online, it is no surprise that we can also buy our contact lenses online. Since the introduction of the contact lens, the lenses were only available through our Optometrist, but something needed to be done because there were so many people paying so much for contact lenses and then there were those who wanted to wear them but couldn't because of the price. Hence, buying contacts online was made available as the internet evolved into the one-stop-shop of the world.

It is common for an Optometrist to discourage buying contact lenses online, especially after the company you are buying from calls your doctor's office and verifies your prescription. By law the seller is required to do this, but it is also required by law that the doctor's office respond to the online seller within 8 business hours. However, there are instances in which the online store will ship the contacts anyway if they haven't heard from the doctor's office within those 8 hours.

This isn't to say that the doctor shouldn't be concerned. There are some risks with buying contact lenses online. That is why it is important to look over the website and make sure that it is a credible one. There should be a customer service number that you can call and they should have their own inventory or a very fast way to access inventory so that you can have your contact lenses as soon as possible. See if they take phone orders and have a return policy. These are two more indicators that they are a credible service.

So is it cheaper?

Buying contacts online is definitely cheaper than buying them from the doctor's office. This is because online sellers buy large amounts of the contact lenses, therefore their costs are cheaper. They do not have to pay as much to have the lenses in their inventory because they order so many from the manufacturers. This means their savings rolls down to the consumer and the consumer can actually save money on their contact lenses. You may also be able to save more money if you order more contacts. Instead of buying two boxes, buy six and you will see that your overall cost will be less than if you bought two boxes on three different occasions.

Convenience

How is buying contacts online more convenient? Well, look at it this way: You can order your contact lenses from the comfort of your home. You do not have to call your doctor's office and tell them that you need more and you don't have to leave your home to go pick them up when they arrive. All you do is sit at your computer, order the number of boxes you need with your prescription, the online seller calls the doctor's office and verifies the prescription for you, and then they mail them within 8 hours of contacting the doctor's office for your prescription information.

As far as security and how you pay. You should not worry about paying by credit card when purchasing from a credible company. The ordering process is most likely a secure one. A way to tell is to look in the address bar and see if the letters https:// are there instead of http://. This is a sure indicator that you are safe while entering your credit card information. So with that said, you should be able to place your order and have your contacts in no time. You may be surprised at how cheap and convenient it is to continue seeing your world the way you enjoy seeing it.



About the Author
Buying contacts and eyeglasses online is becoming increasingly popular. Be sure to check with your doctor before ordering your contact lenses. Clearly Contacts now offers the widest selection of contact lenses and prescription glasses online so be sure to check them out!

Lasik Eye Surgery - Finding The Right Surgeon

by John Carew

Improving your eyesight has become very popular in recent years, and following that, Orange County Lasik eye surgery is quickly turning into many residents' choice of medical procedure they are going for in priorities. Eyesight problems like astigmatism and myopia have been increasingly common among individuals with the increase in usage of televisions and computers. With the advent of Lasik, these medical problems can quickly become a thing of the past.

However, one factor that has limited the take on rate of Lasik eye surgery in Orange County has been the cost of such a procedure. Having Lasik performed on your eyes does not come cheap in general for most people, as it could set a person back an amount from $500 to $2000 per eye. To improve your chances of having Lasik surgery without spending a fortune, choosing a good eye surgeon is critical to achieving that aim. There are certain things anyone should look out for in selecting a Lasik surgeon while trying to reduce the cost of the operation. It does not mean having to go for a less qualified doctor if you wish to save some money.

When you need cheap Lasik surgery but with a success rate that justifies the risk, selecting the right surgeon with the right requirements is the key. As with all medical procedures that you wish to undertake, always make sure that you have done your due diligence in researching on the subject and the various surgeons and eye centers available in your region. There are many laser eye surgery centers in Orange County, and they offer different qualities of service at different rates. Find the eye centers and Lasik surgeons that provide the specific Lasik procedure you require and make a comparison among them.

Ensure you know the risks that await you with Lasik surgery, and look for Lasik surgeons that have good track records and success rates. A good point to look out for when choosing the right surgeon to perform your procedure is to consider the kind of precautions and checks that he or she will ask that you go through before considering if Lasik surgery is right for you. While the medical solution can bring relief for many who suffer from various eye conditions, it is not suitable for everyone. If you carry certain conditions such as being pregnant, you should not have laser eye surgery. Surgeons who are considerate about their patients' well being and medical history should be prioritized in your selection.

Everyone would prefer not to have to wear glasses or contact lenses, as it not only bring more convenience in one's life, but also a fresher and better quality of life. Getting a qualified Lasik surgeon with a proven track record is therefore an important step in you enjoying a successful Lasik eye surgery and reaping the benefits. The process of selecting one might be tedious, but anything that concerns your health should be done with some caution and care. In doing so, the chances of you having better eyesight would be much higher at the end of the whole process.

About the Author
John Carew is a medical journalist who covers Orange County Lasik eye surgery and is well versed in Lasik eye surgery Orange County.

How Do Intraocular Lenses Work?

by Patricia Woloch

As we age, changes take place in the eyes as well as many other parts of the body. Two of the ways our vision gradually becomes impaired are cataracts and presbyopia.

* Cataracts are opacities in the eye's lens - the lens transparency becomes impaired by clumping of the proteins within the lens. The clumps prevent light from reaching the retina ("camera film" at the back of the eye). The retina is full of light-sensitive cells which receive images and send them to the brain via the optic nerve. When some of the light is blocked before it reaches the retina, that image information is incomplete, and we have blurry vision.

* Presbyopia is blurry near vision which sends us out to the store for reading glasses at around the age of 40. Our eyes may still be 20/20, but aging reduces the lens' ability to change curvature. It cannot become convex enough to bend light rays coming in from close-by objects. It remains too flat, so that the light focuses behind the retina, giving you blurry near vision. Vision for distant objects remains clear, since light from far away doesn't need to be bent as much as light coming from close-up.

So far, eye surgeons have not found a way to remove cataracts from the lens, nor a way to restore the lens' lost ability to become steeply curved (convex). Therefore, treatment for both cataracts and presbyopia is typically done by inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) to replace the natural lens.

Loss of the Natural Lens Means Loss of Accommodation
If you stop reading this text and examine your hands for a minute, then look out the window at a tree or the building across the road, you are using your eyes' ability to accommodate. The eye's lens changes its curvature each time we change our visual focus. It is controlled by tiny muscles at each side (ciliary muscles), which contract or relax. This causes the lens to become flatter or more curved according to whether we're looking at something close up or far away. This is how we manage to see clearly at all distances with no conscious effort. But if the natural lens is removed, so is this ability to accommodate.

What is an IOL?
It is a microscopically precise artificial lens which in one of two ways can mimic the accommodative ability of the natural lens.

1. The IOLs called ReZoom™ and ReSTOR® have concentric areas built into their structure, each of which is set for clear vision at specific distances. The brain learns to use vision information in this slightly different way, so that we continue to have clear vision at all distances.
2. The IOL called Crystalens™ has the same effect but without any built-in areas. Instead, it is attached to the same muscles which had control of the natural lens. This gives you the same automatic adjustment for distance, with the Crystalens moving forward for far vision and back for near vision.

The IOL Procedure
It is an outpatient procedure and takes less than an hour. Using ultrasound, your eye surgeon would carefully break up the natural lens and remove the small pieces, both done through a very small incision outside your visual field. Then through that same little incision, he would insert a folded IOL. It will unfold automatically and place itself into position. The incision will heal without any stitches. Recovery is brief, so that you can usually go back to work or normal activity after a day or two.

The first step in learning whether or not an IOL would be the best way to improve your vision would be to schedule a consultation with a fully-qualified and experienced eye surgeon. You could ask your questions and get a clear understanding of which option would be best for you, and why. In this era of sophisticated eye surgery, there is usually no need to live with faulty vision, losing contact lenses or reading glasses, and having to get them constantly updated. Why not start now on the quick and easy road to improved vision?

About the Author
If you're interested in learning more about IOLs, contact the Northeastern Eye Institute for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Give your eyesight the gift of a lasik eye surgery

by Sarah wilson


If there is some method of communicating without speaking a word, it is through our eyes. The eyes are really the mirror to one's soul and it is easy to judge a person's intention by simply judging the look in their eyes. Besides being the gateway to our soul our eyes are also, one of the primary connection to the outside world. We get to know the people around us, the colors, and the objects and in fact our whole surrounding as we perceive it is based on our senses, out of which our eyesight plays a key role. Now, if your eyesight were to get affected and your vision became less than perfect, your world would get blurred too. Defective vision poses many problems, especially when you are leading an active life outside the four walls of your home. You need good vision to apply for some jobs, to read the number of a bus, to be able to read the blackboard in classroom, read a book and for any other minor activity that you perform on a daily basis. It is therefore important that if you are facing any difficulty with your eyesight then an immediate visit to the optician is a necessity and you need to take precautions like wearing spectacles, contact lenses or maybe even opting for a lasik eye surgery. Lasik eye surgery is a modern form of treatment to correct your eyesight so that you need not use spectacles or contact lenses to see the world. Many people who wear spectacles or use contact lenses face a daily discomfort of either, having to carry a foreign object on their nose during the day or going through the ordeal of wearing and taking off the lenses each day of the week by following a routine procedure. A lasik eye surgery would not only rectify their vision within a short span of time but also provide them freedom from such discomfiture forever. It is a simple procedure that only takes a short time to perform; however, it requires the skilled expertise of a competent surgeon to have the desired results without any side effects. If you have decided that you are tired of going about your life with an impaired vision and would like to rectify your eyesight for once and for all, then it is strongly recommended that you opt for the highly successful procedure of a Lasik eye surgery. The first step towards achieving this agenda, however, is to locate an eye surgeon who is skilled and experienced enough to handle the task of operating on a delicate and precious organ such as an eye. The yellow pages or the internet would be the best and most reliable source of information to help you in your search for the right surgeon or else you could simply get the reference of someone who has already undergone this procedure and vastly benefited from it. Once the surgeon has been decided, it is just a matter of putting your faith on his professional skills and opting for the corrective lasik eye surgery as soon as possible. However, do make sure that you have a thorough knowledge about all that the procedure will involve possible side effects and precautionary measures to be followed before and after the surgery, before you finally agree to be operated upon. Once you have rectified your vision through the surgery, it can change your life in many positive ways and then you are sure to see the world with new, appreciating eyes.


About the Author
Sarah Wilson is a tourism management expert with years of experience in overseas medical tourism management. If you want to know more about medical tourism,Lasik eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery, you can visit www.surgeryunlimited.com

Information on Eye Health and Eye Disease Treatment

by Cynthia Jones


Without eyesight we are deprived of the ability to perform many activities. Reading and driving is impossible while functioning in general becomes much more difficult. To maintain the health of your eyes you need to understand a bit about how they function. Eye care lab dot com provides information on eyes, eye diseases, and treatments for eye disease.
Eyes are an amazing structure

The eye can be compared to a working camera complete with shutter, lenses and focusing mechanisms. The pupil controls the amount of light that is let into the retina. The pupil has the ability to open and close like a shutter. The light that is let in sends and upside down image to the retina, which is reinterpreted by the brain as right side up. In essence the retina can be compared to film upon which an image is registered.

Anatomically the structure of the eye is very complex. Some of the components of the eye hold fluids such as tears and blood, which help nourish and lubricate the eye tissues. The muscles of the eye help the iris and pupil to move and focus. The eyelids and the epithelium of the cornea help protect the eye from injury. There are also sensors in the eye that send information to the brain to indicate sensations like pain.

Eye problems

The best cure for blindness is prevention. Part of a healthy eye care regime is to make regular visits to the eye doctor to have your eyes checked for common problems. Regular eye exams can help determine if your vision needs correcting or reveal the cause of any vision problems. With early detection many eye diseases, including age related vision problems can be treated and prevented.

It is quite common for people to suffer from refractive errors of the eyes. These are simply known as farsightedness or nearsightedness. Farsighted people can't see up close and nearsighted individuals can't see far away.

The arson that a shortsighted person can't see objects far away is because the lens in the eye focuses only on the sharpest image in front of the retina instead of it. This vision problem is easily corrected by placing a concave lens in front the eye. Conversely if a person is long sighted they can't see objects up close. This is because the lens of the eyes can only focus on the sharpest image behind the retina instead on it. This is corrected by placing a convex lens in front of the eye.

Farsightedness or nearsightedness is common but there are also much more complex refractive disorders such as astigmatism. The eyes can also be afflicted by disorders such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), blepharitis, allergies diabetic retinopathy and other conditions. Cataracts and glaucoma are prevalent all over the world.

Treatment of eye problems

It is crucial that these types of diseases and visual errors be treated. In this eye care resource you will find the information you need to take better care of your eyes including articles on contact lenses, intraocular lenses, laser surgery, corneal reshaping, intraocular lenses and orthokeratology This website includes a detailed section on laser-assisted vision correcting procedures that involve the use of the newer more sophisticated excimer lasers. These include procedures such as keratoplasty, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), lasek eye surgery and lasik eye surgery.

It is hoped that this information will help you to better take care of your eyes so you can keep your eyesight to the end of your life.

About the Author
Cynthia Jones is doing research on Eye Care Treatments for quite some time. She has written a number of articles on Eye Care Information, and has shared her findings through TV talks.

Dry Eye Syndrome

by Christoph Puetz


Dry eye syndrome is an ongoing condition affecting your eyes. Dry Eyes may not be fully cured (always depending on the cause), but the accompanying dryness, scratchiness and burning of the eyes can eventually be managed and improved. What causes dry eyes at all? When being affected by dry eye syndrome, your eye doesn't produce enough tears. It could also be the case that the tears have a chemical composition that allows them to evaporate too quickly. Since tears "bathe" the eye, washing out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist, the fast evaporation stops or reduces the effectiveness of this process. Tears also contain enzymes that neutralize the microorganisms that colonize the eye - therefore the risk for eye infections can increase with dry eyes. As you can tell - tears are essential for good eye health.

Dry eye syndrome can have several causes. The dry eye syndrome occurs as a part of the natural aging process. Women are especially affected during during menopause - cause unknown at this point. Dry eyes can also be caused as a side effect of many common medications. Some of those medication connected to possibly causing dry eyes are antihistamines, antidepressants, a few blood pressure medicines, medication treating Parkinson's. Some birth control pills also seem to cause dry eyes among younger women. More natural causes are if you live in a dry, dusty or very windy climate. Air conditioning or forced air heating systems can also increase the dryness in your eyes. Computer workers are more often affected with having dry eyes than people only using a computer occasionaly.

If you are wearing contact lenses you could also suffer from dry eyes. However, contact lenses are also known to protect the surface of the eye from drying out too fast. As no eye is the same this might work for you, but not your spouse (just as an example). In general people with dry eyes have more problems wearing contact lenses. The industry has responded by making contact lenses that release a fluid or gel to the eye and therefore effectively reducing the dry eye syndrome. Restasis eyedrops are another option. These eye drops help your eyes to increase tear fluid production. If you wear contact lenses, be aware that many "normal" eye drops, especially artificial tears, cannot be used while your contacts are in your eyes. If you live in hot and dry climates it is also an option to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes a little more. Some sunglasses are more protective by 'trying' to seal off the area around your eyes. One of the last options to reduce the impact of dry eyes is to move into a geographical area with high humidity. Usually the warmer climates with high humidity work better than colder areas.

Conclusion: There is no final solution to cure dry eyes in most cases. Most options however help to reduce the impact and help to improve your overall eye health. It is highly recommended to talk your optometrists about your eye health.


About the Author
Christoph Puetz publishes health related content for several well-known websites. He specifically writes about eye health related topics and contact lenses - including contact lenses for dry eyes.

New Developments in Cataract Surgery and Post-Op Correction

by Jay Stockman


Cataract surgery has been performed for many years, and new developments have dramatically improved the post-op vision. The lens is a normal structure of the internal part of the eye. We are all born with clear, natural lenses whose function is to focus light onto the retina, and also absorb dangerous wavelengths of light. Over time, this clear lens will become yellow, as its chemical structure changes as a result of years of light absorption, and general oxidative stress on the body.

Early cataract surgery involved simply removing the cloudy lens from the eye. In order to see, the patient then had to wear very thick eye glasses, or a contact lens. As technology advanced, anterior chamber Intraocular lenses(IOL) were developed. These were artificial lenses that were placed in front of the iris to replace the removed lens. They worked very well, but over time the corneas were damaged in most of these patients. These anterior chamber lenses vibrated as a result of aqueous humor (fluid) flow from the back of the eye toward the front. These vibrations over time damaged the endothelial (bottom) layer of the cornea resulting in swollen corneas, and cloudy vision.

The next big change was the development of posterior chamber IOLs. These are placed behind the iris, and thus eliminated the vibrations; sparing the cornea from trauma. Over time, improvements were made to these lenses; smaller, better quality and flexible so they could be implanted with very small suture-less incisions. The basic problem with all of these implants was that unlike the natural lenses of the eye, only distance correction could be achieved. Reading glasses were necessary to see objects up close. This brings us to the next big change in the IOL implants. In an effort to meet the challenges of allowing patients to see distance and near post surgically, multi-focal implants have been developed.

The major new players in this game of multi-focal IOLs include Restore by Alcon, Rezoom by AMO, Array and Tecnis also by AMO and Crystalens by Eyeonics. They are all designed to give the patients a full range of vision from distance to near without the need for any eyeglasses. Each type achieves this goal through different modalities.

The Restore implant is manufactured with multiple small concentric rings, similar to the rings of a dart board. These concentric rings alternate between distance and near vision. Multiple images are projected onto the retina, and the brain must then decide which image it wants to see clearly. Most patients say that they see adequately in the distance, and usually test to about 20/40 vision. Near vision is a bit better in most patients. The primary complaint, aside from less then perfect distance vision is glare at night. Approximately 80% of these patients do not wear any type of glasses post surgically.

The Rezoom lens works in the same manner as the Restore, but has larger concentric rings. This improves the distance vision, but reduces the near vision. 81% of these patients are happy with their reading vision, but 29% still require reading glasses to see at near. With both the Restore and Rezoom implants, Alphagan eye drops are employed to reduce bothersome glare by reducing the pupil size. The Tecnis IOL is not as yet available, but since it is made as an Aspheric lens and not concentric rings, there is less glare and halos and better reading in dim light. It also permits reading with a greater range. More research will bring to light the true value, and short comings of this implant.

The Crystalens is the first IOL that has an adjustable focusing ability, much like the natural lens of the eye. The implant is placed behind the iris, and has 2 flexible hinges 180 degrees apart from each other. As the ciliary muscle contracts, and relaxes it causes the implant to move forward and back changing the effective power of the lens. This mimics the natural lens's power change with focusing. It is therefore the first and only Accommodating implant that allows for bothe near and far vision. Substantial adaptation is required, and may take weeks to even months to reach an acceptable level of vision. There is, however a decrease in contract sensitivity ,and some distortion may be induced. Reading glasses may be required for the intermediate distances, and in patients with larger pupils night time vision issues may be present.

Which implant would be best for any given patient will vary, and depend on factors such as expectations, side effects, need for bilateral surgeries (since some implants work best when each eye has one) and cost. Insurance plans do not pay for these specialty implants, and the combined costs with the doctor's fees may be over $2000.00 per eye.

Finally, some patients have astigmatism following cataract surgery. Since the implants do not correct for this, corneal incisions can be made post surgically to reduce or eliminate that component.. When deciding to have cataract surgery it is important to see an experienced surgeon who is knowledgeable with all these new developments, and can best asses which implant would be best for which patient.

About the Author
Dr. Jay B Stockman is a practicing doctor for http://newyorkvisionassociates.com, and a contributing expert for VisionUpdate.net.

Tips For Fast Recovery After Lasik Eye Surgery

by Mike Selvon

In this day and age of high-tech solutions to just about every situation, it should be no surprise that there is a high-tech solution to vision problems through Lasik laser eye surgery. This procedure has become quite popular and for a number of good reasons.
There is a fast recovery time, the vision improvement is virtually immediate and the risk of complications is super low. But, to be sure that the best results are achieved and to further minimize potential problems, there are a few things patients need to do after Lasik eye surgery.

One of the first things that people want to know when they are considering corrective eye surgery is how long it will take, after the surgery, before they are able to return to their normal daily activities. The good news is that recovery from this type of laser eye surgery is quite rapid and within a couple days after the procedure, most people can get back to life as normal, except without the hassle of needing their eyeglasses or their contact lenses.

Immediately after Lasik eye surgery, it is strongly advised to carefully avoid any kind of activity that might result in something touching, rubbing or poking the eyes. For the first few hours after the laser eye surgery in the clinic, the patient is advised to rest and keep their eyes closed as much as possible.

Once these few hours have passed after surgery, the patient is then able to get back to their routine activities, either at home or at work. Still, rubbing the eyes should be avoided for a few days and if dryness or itchiness occurs, then the patient should used lubricating eye-drops to help alleviate the irritation and to sooth the eyes. Most Lasik eye center facilities will provide the patient with drops for their eyes for this very purpose.

After corrective eye surgery, it is also recommended that patients wear a soft protective eye-mask at night so that the affected eyes are buffered and protected from any inadvertent bumps, scraping or rubbing. This also helps to make sure that no foreign objects enter the eyes during this brief period of recovery from the Lasik vision surgery.

While there is historically very little occurrence of infections with laser eye surgery in general, some surgeons will prescribe antibiotics as a precaution. If antibiotics, or any other medications, have been prescribed, it is important to take these medications exactly as prescribed by the Lasik eye doctor. Also, most doctors will recommend that you drink plenty of water in order to be sure the eyes are properly hydrated during the healing process.

After Lasik eye surgery, it is also a good idea to avoid showering in order to keep soap and water out of the eyes. The patient can quickly return to normal reading, watching TV and working at the computer screen as long as they remember to keep their eyes well lubricated with artificial tears. With these few precautions, soon the patient will simply be enjoying better vision.

About the Author
A free report awaits you at our laser eye surgeryportal site, where you can enrich your knowldege further about recovery after lasik eye surgery. Your comment is much appreciated at our laser vision correction blog.

Advantages of Using a Wholesale Optical Laboratory

by Andrew Stratton


Wholesale optical laboratories offer a wide range of benefits for the independent optician. Learning about the experiences of other opticians, as well as what questions to ask, can help an independent optician to select that wholesale optical lab which is best for their practice.
Using a wholesale optical laboratory is becoming more popular among independent opticians. Choosing the right manufacturer is important for both the health and success of an independent optician's practice.

Learning about how other opticians select their wholesale laboratories and understanding which questions to ask can greatly help an optician decide which manufacturer is best for their practice.

The increasing popularity of using a wholesale optical laboratory as a source for both frame and contact lenses is demonstrated by a 2004 survey report on the 2020mag website. Of the 221 vision care facilities polled by the survey, 82% stated that they purchased products or services from a wholesale lab.

One possible reason for this dramatic interest is that such labs offer a wide variety of services in addition to their eye care products. These services include educational programs, technical support, online ordering and remote tracing.

One important consideration in choosing a wholesaler is the quality of the lenses which they produce. There are several points to keep in mind when investigating the quality of a lens.

One important issue is whether or not the lab is capable of manufacturing the most up-to-date technologies. For example, can the manufacturer produce silicon hydro gel contact lenses which provide comfort while allowing six times more oxygen to reach the eye than previous contact lens designs?

Another important consideration is the quality of the anti-reflective coated lenses offered. Anti-reflective coating makes use of a series of metal oxide layers to increase the lens’s ability to improve vision, reduce eyestrain and enhance an individual's cosmetic appearance. Indeed, the 2004 survey stated that 76% of the eye care professionals polled stated that the quality of the anti-reflective coating brand was either an extremely or a very important consideration in choosing a lab.

Another significant issue determining the quality of a lens is the techniques used to manufacture and inspect the lens. The way in which a frame is drilled and mounted during the manufacturing process not only impacts the quality, but also the time and expense of production.

The nature of the remote tracer (a device which is able to outline the inner border of a frame as well as to describe the size and shape of the lens) may also be an important consideration for many independent opticians. Indeed, 81% of those polled by the 2020mag survey stated that they have in fact sent frame tracing data over the Web.

The Internet is also becoming a popular method for ordering eye care products from wholesale manufacturers. While the 2004 survey found that 65% of eye care professionals have ordered products over the phone, and that 58% of eye care professionals have ordered products via fax, many labs have found that the interest in ordering products over the Internet is rapidly growing.

Wholesale optical laboratories are able to yield several potential benefits to independent opticians. They are able to provide quality products at affordable prices as well as offering valuable services including product support and education of emerging technologies.

About the Author
Independent vision care providers need an trustworthy contact lens manufacturer to offer advanced, quality lenses to their customers. For a wholesale optical lab to partner with you, eye care professionals should visit National Optical Co. online at http://www.nationalopticalco.com/.

Trying a new look with colored contacts

by Steven Myros

Every so often it's great to change things up to keep your life fun and refreshing. This applies to your look as much as to any other aspect of your life. We all know that new clothes or a new hairstyle can help to keep your look interesting, but have you ever considered shaking things up by changing your eye color? As a result of recent innovations, this is now a real option for everyone. With the help of colored contact lenses, you can change your eye color to suit your mood or outfit whenever you wish. Even if you don't require corrective lenses, you can still use cosmetic colored contacts to try a new look and to add a special flair to your style. These days, contact lenses are available in many different types and varieties. While technological developments are occurring fast and furiously in other industries, the vision correction and contact lenses industries are also experiencing substantial evolution. Even those people who require bifocal lenses, who have astigmatism or have other special vision needs can now enjoy the comfort and convenience of contacts. As mentioned previously, even if you don't require vision correction, you can still take advantage of the benefits offered by specialty contact lenses, including those designed for athletes, special effects lenses and, of course, colored contact lenses. Other great characteristics of modern contact lenses include their convenience and safety. While you may be concerned about the care requirements involved with such lenses, especially if you don't require vision correction, there's really no need to be apprehensive. Colored contacts, like other contacts, now come in both extended wear varieties and disposable varieties. Even within the category of disposable lenses, there are a number of different choices to suit the lifestyles and preferences for different users. For example, different types of disposable lenses can be disposed of on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Moreover, there are now excellent lens care products available that will help you keep your colored contacts clean and your eyes healthy. Of course, where your eyes are concerned, it's always a good idea to think about safety. However, simply by consulting with your eye doctor, you can gain the necessary knowledge to ensure that your colored contact lenses will enhance your eyes and your overall look without compromising the safety of your eyes and eyesight. Your eye doctor can also help you select the specific colored contacts that will be best suited to your eyes and that will allow you to achieve the results that you've been hoping for. If you do decide to spice up your style by changing your eye color, you will then need to choose between enhancement tints and opaque colors. If you want to change your look in a subtle way by enhancing your natural eye color, enhancement tints are the way to go. So if you have gray eyes that you want to transform into a deep blue or pale blue eyes that you want to change to blue-green, colored contact lenses with enhancement tints will provide you with a subtle yet striking new edge to your look. On the other hand, if you're looking to achieve a more dramatic transformation by completely altering your eye color, opaque colored contacts will be the right choice for you. Without interfering with your vision, these contacts completely hide the natural color of your eyes, replacing it with the color of your choice. Since colored contact lenses come in an abundance of different colors and shades, your choices in this regard are practically endless. Whether you want to match your eyes to your favorite outfit or ensure that your eyes are your most intense and striking feature, you will be able to find the perfect shade among the available opaque colored contact lenses. From honey brown to amethyst, from sapphire blue to emerald green, and from hazel to violet, colored contact lenses come in a truly incredible array of dramatic and striking colors that will make your eyes dazzle and add a special touch to your overall style. With the recent developments in the vision correction industry and with so many comfortable and convenient varieties of contact lenses available, now is the time to try out a brand-new look with colored contacts. Whether or not you have special vision requirements, you can enjoy the beautiful and dramatic eye color of your choice simply by using colored contact lenses. With so many varieties and colors available to choose from, you will be able to find the right lenses and the right shade for you. So if you want to take your style to a new level by enhancing or changing your natural eye color, there's no need to hesitate -- try colored contacts today and be amazed by the stunning transformation of your eyes. http://www.coastalcontacts.com


About the Author
Steven Myros has been a freelance writer for the past sixteen years and has worn contact lenses his entire adult life. He shows how you can keep life fun and refreshing by using colored contact contacts. You can enhance your own eye color and try something completely different as colored contacts can be a great addition for a night on the town. Choose from a wide variety of colors to find the one you like best.

Contact Lenses Or Eye Glasses?

by Amy Nutt


And so the debate goes on as to whether contact lenses or eye glasses are the better choice. Both have their advantages over the other and both have their disadvantages and it is important to review these advantages and disadvantages because the eyes are very important in this seeing world that requires vision for proper function. If we cannot see properly, then we easily miss things, have difficulty reading, or can become seriously injured when in hazardous conditions. This is why it is necessary to carefully evaluate the contact lenses versus eye glass debate and figure out what side you are on.

Contact lenses Contact lenses certainly have their advantages, which is why many choose them over their eye glasses. It is fair to say that when contacts were invented, they opened up a whole new world for those who had been wearing glasses for quite some time. When wearing glasses, we become used to how we see and we do not think anything of it. But throw in a pair of contacts and the eye glass wearer may wonder why they did not try contacts sooner. Here are some advantages of contact lenses:

* Contact lenses allow for a wider field of vision. The frames of glasses block a person's peripheral vision and contacts are able to restore that because there is no frame in the way. Glasses are smaller than they used to be, so those who wear glasses now have even more issues with peripheral vision.

* Contact lenses allow for the wearer to see things more naturally. Because the contact lens sits directly on the cornea, everything looks the correct color, size, and nothing is distorted.

* Those involved in sports love their contact lenses because they can run and jump without the contact lens moving. The contacts remain stable, which means an athlete can keep a clear view of what they are doing.

* Contact lens wearers can wear sunglasses. No more clip-ons on the glasses that don't look very stylish. A contact lens wearer can buy the latest styles of sunglasses.

Eye glasses

Although it may seem that eye glasses don't hold a candle to contact lenses; that is not true. There are many reasons in which eye glasses are needed. In fact, the contact lens wearer should have a pair on hand because they never know when something is going to happen that they must fall back on their glasses in order to see. Here are some advantages of eye glasses:

* Some people simply do not have an interest in contacts because they aren't very excited about putting their finger in their eye. They may not be able to do this like some do and prefer to stay with their glasses.

* Allergies can play a big role in whether or not someone can wear contacts. Many with allergies are unable to wear them and, of course, glasses do not have an influence on allergies.

* Glasses offer eye protection in work environments in which debris and fumes may be an issue. Any time that a person is in a hazardous environment that needs eye protection, glasses come in handy.

* Some contact lens wearers get eye infections, may lose, or run out of contacts, so their glasses are always there to save the day.

So as you can see, both have their advantages over the other. Contacts are not fool proof, but they are nice to have. Then again, the glasses are there to save the day if something goes wrong with the contacts. The debate may continue with some, but it is obvious to see that they can work hand-in-hand.

About the Author
Clearly Contacts is the premier online contact lens provider with over 100 million pairs delivered worldwide. Also boasting the largest online selection of eye glasses and sun glasses at the lowest guaranteed prices and offering a "buy now pay later" program.