Vision Loss

The nose is the central feature of the face, it helps define facial symmetry, which is a sign of beauty. When the nose is crooked or too large for the face, it can significantly detract from a persons overall appearance. The solution for many is to augment the appearance of their nose with rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty – What are the Benefits?

One of the primary benefits of rhinoplasty is the impact it can have on a person’s self-esteem. Rhinoplasty can provide a major boost to self-confidence, helping people interact better in the workplace and in their personal life.  

Rhinoplasty can also have a positive impact on quality of life related to the function of the nose. People who have a nasal deformity like a deviated septum and those who have suffered injury to the nose may have difficulty breathing due to blockages of nasal passages. With rhinoplasty it is possible to open up nasal passages, improve breathing and even enhance sense of smell.

Rhinoplasty – What are the Risks?

Swelling and bruising are common following rhinoplasty surgery. These side effects will fade over the course of one to two weeks. Like any surgery, rhinoplasty carries risks like infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. These are serious risks. Infections can be life-threatening if they are not treated properly with antibiotics.  

Some patients may develop skin problems following surgery or problems with incisions. Always be careful when changing any bandages and make sure to keep incisions clean at all times.  

Aside from physical risks, there are also emotional risks. One of the issues that can arise following rhinoplasty is dissatisfaction with results. That is why rhinoplasty surgeons stress the importance of having realistic expectations concerning the outcome of surgery.  

Find a rhinoplasty specialist in Pittsburgh or contact a cosmetic surgery center serving Pittsburgh.

If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your nose, you are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people undergo rhinoplasty surgery each year to refine the appearance of their nose. A significant portion of rhinoplasty procedures are also performed for functional reasons to clear nasal passages.  

To help you decide if rhinoplasty is right for you, here is a list of questions and concerns shared by many prospective rhinoplasty patients.

What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a medical term describing a procedure to alter the shape or internal structure of the nose.

What is the minimum age requirement for rhinoplasty surgery?

Most rhinoplasty surgeons require that prospective patients be at least 16 years of age. It is important to wait until the nose has stopped growing before undergoing rhinoplasty surgery.

Does rhinoplasty surgery inhibit sense of smell?

There is a slight risk that rhinoplasty surgery will alter your sense of smell. In rare cases sense of smell is diminished, in the majority of cases it is enhanced because nasal passages are cleared of obstructions.

How long will it take to see the results of surgery?

Your nose splint will be removed several days to a week after surgery; at that time you can see the preliminary results of your procedure. It takes a long time for rhinoplasty swelling to go down, so the final results of surgery will not be visible for six months to a year. If you are unhappy with the shape of your nose following rhinoplasty surgery, this is how long most surgeons will recommend that you wait before deciding to undergo a revision procedure.

Will my nose run after surgery?

This is a rare side effect that can occur following rhinoplasty surgery. In most cases, this side effect is only temporary; it will clear up a few months after the surgery is complete.  

Locate a CT rhinoplasty specialist or contact a CT facial plastic surgery center.

If you are a new parent, there are probably many areas of your child’s health and safety that you may be concerned about. This is only normal. A parent wants to make sure that a baby grows up healthy and safe. However, parents will sometimes overlook certain important areas such as eye care. And, yes, it is absolutely critical that parents take extra steps to detect any potential problems in the early stages so that minor problems do not develop into major ones.  

For example, many parents would think very little if their child had crossed eyes. After all, this is a common condition among many infants. However, if the presence of crossed eyes does not go away, then the child may be suffering from strabismus which is the misalignment of the eyes. This condition will not go away on its own and will require treatment from a doctor. 

More serious would be the presence of an eye infection. Often, the infection develops in the birth canal as the child is delivered. Usually, infections can be treated quite easily. However, this will be contingent upon how quick the infant receives a doctor’s care. If too much time passes, the infection could create serious problems. 

Is the area around the child’s eyes severely swollen? If so, then the tear ducts may be blocked. Depending upon the severity of the condition, surgery may be required to alleviate it. 

An eye examination is a routine procedure when a child is delivered. During this examination, the doctor can detect the presence of defect such as cataracts. However, do not assume that a follow-up visit is not necessary. On the contrary, it would be a much wiser idea to schedule another eye exam at six months of age just to be on the safe side. Thereafter, a yearly exam is highly recommended since the best medicine is always the preventive kind. 

For information about eye care, eye disease, LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, or general ophthalmology, contact a LASIK eye surgery center in Pittsburgh or locate a LASIK specialist in Pittsburgh.

As people age, they may begin to experience vision problems, even if they have had 20/20 vision their entire life. In order to focus on objects close up, the eye’s crystalline lens must flatten and thicken. Over time, this lens’ flexibility begins to diminish, which causes objects within an arm-length’s distance to become blurry. This is called presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness.

Hyperopia vs. Presbyopia

In both hyperopia and presbyopia, a person has difficulty seeing objects up close. However, the causes for this inability to see objects at a close range differ. Hyperopia, which is normally considered a genetic trait, occurs when the eye is too short. With presbyopia, the effects come on later in life and are due to the diminishing flexibility of the lens.

Presbyopia Symptoms and Diagnosis

Since presbyopia occurs later in a person’s life, you may not have had any symptoms in the past. People who begin to develop presbyopia report difficulty reading at a close distance, whether it’s a newspaper or a restaurant menu. The text becomes blurry, and the eyes are unable to focus on their own. Squinting to read the words can cause eyestrain and eventually headaches and fatigue.  

A thorough eye examination, along with a series of tests, by your ophthalmologist can determine if you have presbyopia and to what degree. Once diagnosed, your ophthalmologist will discuss your treatment options with you based on your individual needs and find the best way to correct your vision for your case.

Presbyopia Treatment Options

Unfortunately, presbyopia is simply a part of the natural aging process, which is why many refer to it as age-related farsightedness. But there are ways to treat the disorder and give you back the clear vision you’ve enjoyed the majority of your life. 

Some of the best treatment options for presbyopia are eyeglasses or contact lenses. Bifocals are often used to correct vision in these cases, and bifocal contact lenses are also available. If you’d rather not fuss with eyeglasses or contact lenses, you may opt for an implantable lens or refractive surgery. A lens implant is an artificial lens that replaces the lens in the eye, and there are now lens implants available specifically for presbyopia treatment. For refractive surgery, LASIK may be chosen to obtain monovision or CK can reshape your cornea to restore your vision. 

If you are having difficulty seeing objects up close and have had no vision problems in the past, you may have presbyopia. Contact and eye care office near you to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained ophthalmologists. 

Find a LASIK, cataract surgery, or Intralase provider in Boston. Learn more about presbyopia treatment by contacting a laser eye surgery center in New Hampshire.  

Some of the most common vision problems people experience cause vision to become less sharp in different conditions. The old treatment for these different vision problems was to prescribe corrective lenses of some sort, such as contact lenses or prescription glasses. The new treatment to consider is LASIK San Diego eye surgery, a special procedure that has restored vision for millions. Below are some common questions and concerns people have expressed about LASIK.

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery procedure that is performed to alter the shape of the cornea. By altering the shape of the cornea, light gets properly reflected in the eye. During the surgical procedure, a flap is created in epithelium, the outermost layer of the eye. It is through this flap that a surgical laser precisely adjusts the cornea.

What vision problems can LASIK eye surgery fix?

San Diego laser eye surgery can fix common refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Myopia is more commonly known as nearsightedness and refers to a condition in which it is easier to see close objects sharply. Hyperopia is more commonly known as farsightedness and refers to a condition in which it is easier to see far away objects more sharply. Astigmatism is a condition in which it is difficult to focus sharply on an object.

Who is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery?

The best candidates for LASIK are adults who have had a steady prescription for some time and who have healthy corneas. Pregnant women, people with cataracts, and people with cornea conditions are not good candidates for LASIK. Those with corneal conditions may be good candidates for other refractive surgery options, such as LASEK or PRK.

How effective is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK has been generally effective at restoring vision, usually to the 20/40 to 20/20 range. In some cases patients have achieved better than 20/20 vision through LASIK.

Those who have dealt with contact lenses or eye glasses for nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (myopia) know how inconvenient both can be. Think of it: cleaning solution, losing contacts, changing prescription, lost or damaged frames. These can all be a hassle if you’ve ever had to face these issues. These are just some of the reasons that people are looking to laser vision correction and laser eye surgery options.

There are a number of different refractive surgery options in Long Island available to people who wish to enhance the overall quality and clarity of their vision. These options include LASIK, PRK, and LASEK.

The most popular and well known of these laser vision corrections surgeries is LASIK. The basic Long Island LASIK procedure is the same, however: a device is used to cut the topmost layer of the cornea, allowing access to the cornea itself; using a special surgical laser, the shape of the cornea is altered and the topmost layer of the cornea is restored. A similar procedure is used to perform PRK and LASEK, though the method for creating the corneal flap is different in each instance.

LASIK eye surgery has undergone a number of different procedural alterations over the years. These changes to the LASIK procedure have occurred in order to improve the effectiveness of the vision correction quality. One of the biggest changes is custom corneal mapping. Using this technology, the LASIK surgeon can analyze the shape and contours of your cornea and precisely tailor the LASIK surgery to fit your unique needs.

Another advancement is the method used to create the corneal flap–now LASIK surgeons can use a precise laser to create the flap rather than the old instrument used previously, called a microkeratome.

If you are interested in making the switch from eye glasses and contact lenses to a life free from the fetters of corrective lenses, be sure to discuss laser vision correction with your doctor. He or she will be able to provide you with further details about treatment.

Cataract surgery has proven to be extremely safe and effective. However, there are still many myths about cataract treatment that cause people to feel reluctant about undergoing surgery. This article will discuss some of the common myths about cataracts and cataract surgery.

Myth - Cataracts can only be removed when they are “ripe”

A cataract is a progressive clouding of the natural lens of the eye. In truth, cataracts can be treated as soon as they are diagnosed. However, most patients prefer to wait until cataracts begin to significantly impair vision before undergoing treatment.

Myth – Cataract surgery requires a long recovery period

Cataract surgery recovery is actually very brief. You can expect to be back at work within days of surgery. There are no stitches required during surgery so you will feel minimal discomfort as you recover.

Myth – Cataracts can regrow

This is no longer true. The current method of treating cataracts is to completely replace the natural lens of the eye. It is impossible for cataracts to regrow on an artificial lens.

Myth – Cataract surgery is painful

Cataract surgery is uncomfortable, but not particularly painful.

Myth – I will have clear vision following cataract surgery

This is sometimes true. It depends on what type of lens implant is placed in your eye. Premium multifocal lenses can improve reading vision, eliminating the need for reading glasses.

Myth – I will have to sit in the dark following surgery

This is not true. Cataract surgery patients have no issue with sun exposure following surgery.

Myth – I will have to pay for the cataract procedure out of pocket

Most insurance companies will cover the cost of cataract surgery. If you choose a premium lens implant versus a standard lens implant, there may be some out of pocket expenses. Talk to your ophthalmologist about the cost of cataract surgery and financing options.  

Find LASIK, cataract surgery in Long Island, or laser eye surgery in Long Island today.

Teeth whitening is considered a safe and effective procedure. Millions of Americans have undergone teeth whitening and been satisfied with their results. In rare cases, people with sensitive gums may react to some of the bleaching materials. This is similar to an allergic reaction; gums may become red and irritated. If you have sensitive gums, the best way to avoid this side effect is to make sure the bleaching materials don’t come into contact with your soft tissue.  

Another common side effect associated with teeth bleaching is tooth sensitivity. Some patients complain of tooth sensitivity for several days following teeth whitening treatment. Fortunately, tooth sensitivity seems to be a temporary problem. It should subside when your mouth becomes used to the treatment. If sensitivity persists for more than a week following treatment, make sure to consult your dentist.  

If you are using an at-home teeth whitening solution purchased from a dentist or an over-the-counter teeth whitening product, there are several steps you can take to protect your teeth from the side effects listed above. If you notice tooth sensitivity, try wearing the bleaching tray for shorter periods of time. You can also take a break from treatment and skip a few days wearing the tray. This will allow your gums to heal from any irritation caused by the chemicals. Make sure to use a toothpaste that is designed for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes contain an ingredient that can help soothe nerve endings and reduce sensitivity.     

If you are considering using an over-the-counter tooth whitening product, check with your dentist first. They may be able to recommend a brand of treatment best suited for your teeth. Keep in mind that over-the-counter tooth whitening products are not certified by the American Dental Association. While most tooth whitening products on the market are completely safe, there is always the risk that they can be misued by consumers. Take care to follow instructions and contact your dentist if you have any questions about the product you are using.  

Find laser whitening in New Jersey and at a laser dentistry center in New Jersey.

Millions of Americans suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Until the last few decades, prescription eyewear and contact lenses were the only option for improving visual acuity. Now, however, there is a more convenient option for people with refractive error that offers better and faster results – LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK Surgery and Your Pocketbook