Eye health northwest is an integral component of overall wellness for individuals suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, providing early treatment solutions. If detected early enough, these conditions can often be addressed through eye examination and medication therapy.
Dr. Simonett has published numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed research articles on retinal vascular disease and surgery. He graduated with high honors after completing his undergraduate studies at Bowdoin College.
LASIK
LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is an outpatient laser eye surgery procedure that may reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK stands for “Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis,” an outpatient process where surgeons use highly precise lasers to reshape corneas for better vision, using myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism as the conditions. LASIK can safely improve vision for most people, including those suffering from myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism or astigmatism.
LASIK surgery entails creating a thin round flap in the cornea using either a mechanical microkeratome or laser before using another laser to reshape it and alter how light is directed onto the retina – thus eliminating or significantly reducing refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The procedure can typically take 20 minutes, and you remain awake throughout. A topical anesthetic may be applied to reduce discomfort. Your surgeon may also put up a protective shield during surgery to guard against accidental movements that might cause harm or injury to the eye, while taking Valium may help calm nerves before the process.
Once surgery has been performed, you can see clearly without needing glasses or contact lenses. While some patients experience minor discomfort and dry eyes during the recovery period – which usually goes away on its own – resting is critical during this phase, as vigorous exercises or activities that might irritate eyes should be avoided during this timeframe.
If you are considering LASIK, speak with your eye care provider about what the best choice would be for you. One key element in determining whether or not someone qualifies for LASIK is cornea thickness; conditions that cause gradual thinning of the cornea, such as Keratoconus, could thwart this procedure’s success, while other diseases like Glaucoma and Diabetes, make LASIK less likely.
Speak to your physician about LASIK enhancement procedures, which involve performing touch-up surgeries several months or years post-surgery to correct residual astigmatism.
Contact Lenses
Your eye care provider (ECP) will recommend the type and wear schedule that best meets your visual needs and lifestyle, whether daily disposable lenses, extended-wear contact lenses worn overnight, or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.
Your ECP will begin by asking general questions about your lifestyle and contact lens preferences, such as color-enhanced contacts or daily disposable or extended wearing of contact lenses. They may also inquire if options interest you, such as color-enhanced, daily disposable, overnight wearing (extended wearing), color-enhancing lenses, etc. Additionally, they will assess your eye health to decide if you can safely wear contact lenses.
Your eye doctor will first use an instrument known as a keratometer to measure the curvature of your cornea’s clear front surface, followed by measuring your pupil size using a card or ruler that displays different pupil sizes held near your eyes. This enables them to select lenses that best complement your cornea’s unique shape while providing enough oxygen to your light-sensitive tissue.
Soft contacts are made of flexible plastic materials, and most people adjust quickly. However, these lenses are prone to collecting pollutants and debris from both hands and the environment that can irritate your eyes or increase the risk of infection. To mitigate this risk, follow a regular replacement schedule to ensure your lenses remain clean and disinfected.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses are more durable than soft contacts and offer a high degree of vision correction. In fact, RGP lenses may last an entire year or more before needing replacing – should you decide on extended-wear lenses, an ECP will conduct a tear film evaluation first to ensure that your eyes can tolerate overnight contact lens use.
Special-effect contacts take coloration a step further by amplifying or changing the natural hues of your eyes, such as green eyes becoming even greener or brown eyes becoming bluer. For instance, these contacts could make green eyes even more innocent or change brown to blue instantly!
Dry Eye
Tears provide essential lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infections, wash away foreign particles, and protect the cornea from UV radiation damage. Unfortunately, tear production or drainage may become imbalanced, leading to dry eye symptoms. It can be an uncomfortable condition but manageable with some simple lifestyle adjustments.
For example, an over-the-counter artificial tear solution can temporarily relieve symptoms and lubricate your eyes. Still, it may be wise to consult your physician regarding prescription solutions with lipids to reduce inflammation and promote healthy tears for chronic dry eyes. Ointments that stay on longer but blur vision should only be used before bedtime.
Self-care measures include avoiding allergens like pollen and dust, wearing sunglasses outdoors when possible, and limiting exposure to cigarette smoke. You could also try adding moisture back into the air by installing a humidifier in your home or office, while sitting in rooms that blow hot or cold air may aggravate symptoms by drying them out further.
Antihistamines, antidepressants, birth control pills, and diuretics may all exacerbate dry eye symptoms; we can work with your primary care doctor to find alternatives.
Suppose your symptoms cannot be relieved by lifestyle or prescription drops alone. In that case, LipiFlow offers an easy in-office procedure to alleviate dry eye pain and discomfort by clearing away blockages in meibomian glands that prevent them from producing healthy lipids for your eyes to make. We heat from within to liquefy any blockages before gently pushing them out with slight pressure on the outside of the eyelid. To find out how we can assist with dry eyes, please schedule an appointment – one of our doctors can answer all your questions while offering treatments tailored specifically for your unique situation or referring you if necessary.
Medical Vision Exams
An eye exam can help determine whether your vision needs correction and detect medical issues that affect your health, such as glaucoma. Early detection is critical when treating any disease like this one. It will use various tests to examine your eyelashes, eyelids, cornea, iris, lens, pupil extraocular muscles, blood vessels, optic nerve and retina in detail – including conducting refraction to check for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism impairments.
Medical vision exams are usually covered under medical insurance rather than vision plans, with insurance companies determining if a vision or routine exam falls into either of two categories – “Medical Exam” or “Vision/Wellness Exam.” A medical exam will generally be billed against your medical insurance when your current symptoms or examination findings indicate possible health concerns that warrant further testing.
An aneurysm could manifest with symptoms such as severe, one-sided headaches, loss of balance, or double vision if unaddressed; should these go unattended, an aneurysm could burst, leading to sudden death or blindness.
An additional medical exam may be necessary to diagnose conditions that cause blurry vision, such as cataracts or dry eye disease. Your doctor will assess this issue and develop a treatment plan designed to restore vision clarity.
Medical insurance plans often cover a medical exam and associated services, including eyeglasses or contact lenses, but you should check with your schedule to verify the coverage details.
EyeHealth Northwest doctors are knowledgeable of most medical and vision insurance plans. They can assist you in understanding your benefits, such as deductibles and co-pays. Be sure to bring your insurance card(s) with you for each appointment so they can collect the appropriate amounts from them. If you will be having your eyes dilated, arrange transportation ahead of time and have enough cash or credit available so any charges not covered by medical/vision insurance can be covered in case any arise.
