Self-scheduling is currently available for select locations!
It’s no secret that our eyesight begins to gradually get worse as we age. Plenty of Baby Boomers are already experiencing presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, but there are other threats to your eyesight that you become more at risk for as you get older.
Cataracts, glaucoma, and changes in your prescription can all cause major problems for older generations. There are plenty of procedures that can alleviate these problems, but not everyone is educated on the options they have for preserving and bettering their vision. Let’s take a look at some of the more common procedures that we perform here at OCLI, and why you should look into them.
LASIK
LASIK is used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and blurry vision caused by astigmatism. The procedure involves using a femtosecond laser to create a “corneal flap,” which is then pulled back so that the cornea can be reshaped by removing or ablating tissue under the flap using an excimer laser. The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes to perform.
Refractive Cataract Surgery
Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s natural lens that occurs as we age. These can become inconvenient and lower a person’s quality of life if left untreated. During cataract surgery, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial IOL (intraocular lens). With new advancements in technology, there are now different kinds of IOLs available. By combining new IOL technology with the femtosecond laser, it is now possible to eliminate the need for glasses for both distance and close following refractive cataract surgery.
Inlays
As we age, we will all experience some degree of farsightedness. This occurs as the eye’s natural lens stiffens and loses the ability to focus on objects up close. Many people use reading glasses to counteract presbyopia, but there are alternatives. At OCLI we offer the KAMRA inlay, which is a small ring that sits in your cornea and focuses incoming light. The amazing part is that it only goes in one eye, meaning your distance vision will be left unaffected and your near vision will improve.
In addition to the KAMRA inlay, very soon we will also be offering the Raindrop inlay. This revolutionary new procedure also addresses presbyopia, but the inlay is made up of 80% water and is the size of a pinhead. It gently changes the shape of the cornea and improves your near vision.
Glaucoma Treatment
While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are treatments that can reduce the buildup of inter-ocular pressure (IOP) that damages the connection between the optic nerve and the brain. The most common treatments are through medication, or a combination of medication and surgery.
People are living longer than ever, and that means there’s a good chance you’ll experience vision trouble at some point in your life. There’s no reason to go through your later years with poor vision when there are more and more treatments being offered. If you or a loved one is suffering with poor vision, call us today and schedule a consultation to talk about your options and the best course of action.
