National Eye Exam Month Has Arrived

August is National Eye Exam Month. This observance is a good reminder about the importance of having regular eye exams. Often people take their vision for granted, especially if they don’t need to wear corrective lenses. Even those who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism might become complacent about exams if their vision is stable.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following guidelines for a healthy eye exam schedule:

·         Children: before entering first grade, then every two years

·         Healthy adults up to age 40: every 5-10 years

·         Adults age 40-65: every 2-4 years

·         Adults over age 65: every 1-2 years

Of course, if you have any family history of eye disease or vision problems, you should schedule eye exams more frequently.

Why Eye Exams are Important

Eye exams can detect vision problems that you may be completely unaware of (like glaucoma or cataracts), and allow for the earliest treatment possible. Some vision conditions can lead to blindness if left untreated, so early detection gives you the opportunity to consider a wider range of treatment options.

You may also learn that you are a good candidate for a vision correction surgery, like LASIK, which could reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.

Be honest: when was the last time you had an eye exam? Don’t put it off another year. Schedule your eye exam or a free LASIK Consultation at Buckley Chang Eye Institute. You can schedule it online at buckleychang.com or by calling 719-444-3000.

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes- Part 4

This is the final installment of cool facts about dolphin eyes that we learned about from Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld.

“Dolphin eyes ‘glow’ at night! Just like cats and dogs, dolphins have a layer of reflective cells behind their retina which helps them see better in low light conditions.”

It would be pretty cool if we could make our patients’ eyes glow in the dark. Unfortunately, technology just doesn’t allow us to do that yet.

What we do see, however, is the ‘glow’ of many of our patients’ faces after they’ve had a successful LASIK procedure. This glow may come immediately after the procedure, when they can read a clock on the wall, or it may come several visits later when their vision has stabilized and they realize what type of freedom they now have. Not all outcomes are the same, of course, and not everyone experiences this glow.

Many people research LASIK technology and surgeons for years before making the decision to move forward. Sometimes they end up wasting a lot of time, energy and even anxiety thinking about LASIK…only to learn that they aren’t good candidates for LASIK in the first place.

Everyone has their own unique set of eyes. Even if you think you have the same eyeglass prescription as another person who had LASIK, your own genetic make-up and health conditions may preclude you from having a successful outcome. Without a detailed eye examination from an experienced LASIK surgeon, you’ll never know if you have the right conditions to possibly reverse your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit dolphins – and learning a little about LASIK along the way. We’d love to tell you more. Contact Buckley Chang Eye Institute in Colorado Springs to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 719-444-3000 or visit buckleychang.com today.

Differences Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

Many people think all eye doctors the same. They use the terms Optometrist and Ophthalmologist interchangeably. The truth is that these are two very different types of eye care professionals.

Optometrists

Optometrists have earned a Doctor of Optometry Degree (OD). Optometrists have completed a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, plus four years of post-graduate professional training in optometry school. Their main focus is to provide primary eye care, including vision checks, eye disease diagnosis and overall eye health review. They prescribe corrective lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and they can prescribe some medications. Optometrists often work closely with ophthalmologists to provide pre- and post-op care for eye surgery patients.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are Medical Doctors (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, four years of medical school encompassing care for the whole body, internships, at least three years of hospital-based residency and additional years of training in eye disease treatment and eye surgery. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform eye surgery, perform eye exams and write prescriptions for medications or corrective lenses.

Certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration, are managed and corrected by ophthalmologists. Eye surgeries such as LASIK or Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implants should only be done by an eye surgeon who is highly experienced and using the latest technologies.

Frequent eye exams, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems, can provide early detection – and treatment – of developing issues.

Visit the website of ophthalmologist Dr. Buckley at Buckley Chang Eye Institute to schedule a Vision Consultation. Visit buckleychang.com or call 719-630-3937 today.

Adult Eye Exams

It’s not just children that should have their eyes checked. Even as an adult, if you have had 20/20 vision your whole life, there are age-related vision problems that occur with everyone. Presbyopia is just one of these vision impairments. After the age of 40, the lens of your eye begins to harden and lose its flexibility. You may not begin to notice it at first, but eventually you will have trouble reading things up close. You’ll start to notice you need to stretch your arms further and further away in order to read your cell phone or a restaurant menu.

The good news is that there is a solution to Presbyopia. Often people will start wearing bifocals. Bifocals allow someone with Presbyopia to see up close, but also to focus in the distance if they have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

If you don’t want to wear lenses, you can also speak with an ophthalmologist about your options. Many doctors can provide lens replacement surgery. The lens of your eye is removed and replaced by a synthetic lens that will never harden. Depending on the type of lens, you may also be able to correct your existing refractive error at the same time.

So don’t put up with bad vision any longer! Come in and see us at www.buckleyvision.com today!

Women-More Susceptible to Vision Problems than Men

According to Prevent Blindness America, “Every year, more women than men are diagnosed with eye diseases and conditions such as cataracts, dry eye, Fuchs’ dystrophy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Sjögren’s syndrome.  The “Vision Problems in the U.S.” study from Prevent Blindness America (PBA) and the National Eye Institute (NEI) shows that of the more than 3.6 million Americans age 40 and older who suffer from visual impairment, including blindness, 2.3 million are women” (Women Must Take Steps to Avoid Vision Loss, March 27, 2012).

Hereditary diseases aside, these problems are often caused by hormones, or the fluctuations in hormones like pregnancy or menopause. Sometimes they can even be triggered by birth control, which is a hormone regulating medication. Even keeping your eye makeup for too long can cause problems with your eyes.

At the Buckley Chang Eye Institute, we recommend to our female patients that they pay close attention to their eyesight while pregnant, when changing prescription pills or going on new medication, and to switch out their makeup every six months to a year. If you feel that your glasses or contacts are not helping as much as they used to, make sure to have an eye exam. Mention to your doctor any new prescription changes so that he may accurately diagnose the underlying issue.

Your eyes are how you see the world. Keep them in great health.