What is Dry Eye?

Dry Eye and Chronic Dry Eye are conditions that are a result of poor tear quality. In people with normal tear production, the eye produces a combination of oil, water and mucus elements to saturate the eye naturally. Those who suffer from Dry Eye have trouble producing this mixture.

A few common symptoms of Dry Eye include:

• Eye dryness
• Blurry vision
• Eye pain
• A foreign sensation feeling in the eye
• Itching or scratchiness
• Light sensitivity
• Eye redness
• A stinging, burning sensation
• Eye irritation caused by wind, smoke, pollen or air-flown particles

This list should be used for reference not to diagnose Dry Eye, the only way to truly know and successfully treat the condition is to see your eye doctor.

Causes of Dry Eye

There are many factors that contribute to Dry Eye, some of them include hormonal balances such as pregnancy, menstruation, menopause or the natural aging process; over time, eye lose much of their lubricating properties. Other causes that contribute are thyroid problems, medical conditions and certain medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Patients with Dry Eye have reduced ability to create a naturally-occurring tear film that protects, moistens and cleans the eye; a three-step process that happens every time you blink your eyes.  Tear film is comprised of electrolytes, nutrients, lubricants as well as proteins forming a barrier integral in maintaining eye health. Left untreated, Dry Eye can instigate eye damage, as well as spark infection and disease that may affect your vision.

Dry Eye Solutions

Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears to help the condition, in some instances, prescription medication is needed for more severe cases. Consult with your doctor and give detailed descriptions on your symptoms so they can appropriately prescribe medication.  Vitamins, such as Fish Oil, are also known to help lubricate dry eyes.

If artificial tears or other medications do not seem to work, another option your doctor may suggest is tear duct plugs. These are inserted by your doctor and hinder the duct that stops tear film production.

If you feel you may have Dry Eye, the following questions may help determine it:

1. Do you frequently use eye drops or artificial tears throughout the day?
2. Have you been using drops for several months or longer and have you tried more than 1 or 2 types?
3. Do your dry eyes impede you from activities such as computer use, watching television, reading or operating machinery?
4. Are you unhappy with the results you receive from your current eye drops?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you may have Dry Eye. Schedule an appointment today with IQ Laser Vision to check for Dry Eye or other symptoms. Dry Eye affects your day-to-day schedule, seeing an eye care professional can help with efficiency in work or school in addition to improving mood and sight.

By Jackqueline Christianson

Perfect vision without glasses or contacts was once a fantasy for nearsighted children, but with Orthokeratology, children can sleep their way to better vision. In addition to arming children with the tools that will help them succeed, parents of children with eyeglasses should consider these specialized lenses.

Developed in the 1960s, but refined in the 1990s, Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, incorporates the use of rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses worn overnight meant to free the user of having to deal with dried out contact lenses or clunky eyeglasses during the day. This technology works by reshaping the cornea while sleeping, encouraging light to enter the eyes while correctly focusing on the retina. Ortho-K is beneficial for nearsighted children ages six to eighteen and has been proven to slow the progression of myopia providing fully functioning 20/40 vision to wearers – contact lens and glasses free.

These results are temporary and users will not need glasses for about a day, this however works in favor of children since their eyes are still developing and procedures such as laser eye surgery are not recommended during these crucial years. This is where Ortho-K lenses save the day, with regular use, (and after about two weeks of use) your child can focus on school without needing to search for glasses in their backpacks or worry about losing contact lenses while playing sports or during an important test. This brings the focus back on the things your child should be focusing on, giving them the freedoms of a child who can see perfectly.

It’s important to note that Ortho-K and laser eye surgery are in sync with one another, not the other way around. In fact, Ortho-K users transitioning into adulthood are ideal candidates for laser eye surgery. Ortho-K lenses are also a favorable solution for adults seeking alternatives to surgery.

Ortho-K lenses are safe for everyday use and are customized for each individual user. When you visit your eye care professionals at IQ Laser Vision, you can be rest assured you are receiving the best prescription for you or your child’s eyes. Your doctor will make needed adjustments to the Ortho-K system so the user has the best possible lenses. The user may experience a bit of discomfort upon initial fitting, but this will be reduced with more use, plus while sleeping, the discomfort is rarely detected. Once you wake in the morning, simply remove them as you would normal contact lenses and you are ready to face the day!

If you are interested in scheduling a free Ortho-K consultation, call 1-888-539-2211. IQ Laser Vision offers three convenient Southern California locations.

Nearly 3 million people in the U.S. have Glaucoma.  Glaucoma is a condition in which the internal ocular pressure (IOP) of the eye is elevated, causing damage to the optic nerve.  Individuals can be diagnosed with a thorough eye examination although the most common type of Glaucoma will show no symptoms until loss of vision has started.  Those who have high blood pressure, diabetes, smoke, family history of Glaucoma, individuals of African descent, advanced age, use corticosteroids, and previous ocular trauma are at a higher risk for Glaucoma.  Glaucoma can be treated with medicated eye drops, laser surgery, and/or conventional surgery.

When a patient has Glaucoma, aqueous humor drains too slowly out of the anterior chamber. As this fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises. If the eye pressure is not controlled, damage to the optic nerve may occur, which will lead to vision loss and eventually blindness if not treated.

Different types of refractive procedures can accommodate patients with pre-existing Glaucoma conditions.   Individuals with Glaucoma may not qualify for conventional or custom Wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, or Epi-Lasik.  Procedures such as PRK, LASEK, NearVision CK, P-IOL, or RLE should be considered for Glaucoma patients considering vision correction.  Glaucoma should be treated and stabilized before considering refractive surgery.  A qualified ophthalmologist can provide further recommendations based on an individual’s condition.  PRK, LASEK, CK, P-IOL, and RLE do not require a microkeratome and do not dramatically raise a patient’s IOP during their refractive procedure which is why these techniques are preferred over others. 

If you have been previously diagnosed with Glaucoma or are a member of a Glaucoma risk group, be sure to bring this up with your Ophthalmologist.  Although the majority of Glaucoma patients can still safely undergo LASIK most good Ophthalmologists will conduct a thorough analysis of not only your vision health but your general physical health as well before confirming if you are a candidate for LASIK.

City of Industry, CA, February 17, 2011 –(PR.com)– IQ Laser Vision acquires new advanced technology, the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q, manufactured by Wavelight AG. It is the fastest LASIK platform available in the country today. The Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser boasts of state-of-the-art surgical laser for safe, accurate and customized vision correction. Featuring wavefront-optimized technology for customized corneal ablation as well as an advanced eye-tracking system, this technology enables IQ Laser Vision’s Medical Director, Dr. Robert T. Lin, to correct each individual’s unique refractive errors while preserving the cornea’s natural shape and minimizing post-procedure effects such as glares and halos.

The laser’s one-of-a-kind eye tracking system is able to automatically adjust to changes in a patient’s pupil size during their procedure. The result is a safe and precise vision correction procedure for every patient. The Allegretto Wave Eye-Q delivers 400 treatment pulses per second correcting each patient’s refractive errors within seconds.

As one of the nation’s most trusted, experienced, and caring surgeons, Dr. Lin is able to utilize the most advanced technology with the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q. Dr. Lin is proud to include the new laser in addition to his other specialties, such as the MICRO-LASIK® procedure, a procedure innovated by Dr. Lin himself that specializes in creating thin-flaps.

For more than 14 years Dr. Lin has helped over 25,000 patients regain their vision and free them from their dependency on contacts or glasses. Dr. Lin can be reached at IQ Laser Vision (888) 539-2211.

Contact Info
IQ Laser Vision
18725 Gale Avenue
Suite #140
City of Industry, CA 91748
info@iqlaservision.com

The blurry stop sign illustrates a very common vision problem. Many people have some degree of astigmatism. In fact, it is rare to find a perfectly spherical eye. Astigmatism appears to run in families and is often present from birth. If you have astigmatism, chances are good your children will have it also. It may worsen slowly over time but may remain fairly stable throughout life. Astigmatism often occurs with other vision conditions such as nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia.)

What is it?

Astigmatism can be caused by the lens of the eye but it is most often described as resulting from an irregular curvature of the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the clear covering over the lens and the iris. It helps to transmit light through the eye and provides a large portion of the eye’s light focusing power.  You may have heard astigmatism described as a condition in which the cornea resembles the shape of a “football” more than it does the shape of a basketball. When the cornea is more oval than round, light does not focus properly on the back of the eye (retina).   If your eyeglass prescription has three parts rather than one, you have some degree of astigmatism. A prescription with three parts might be: -2.00 -1.00 x 90. The first part (-2.00) indicates your nearsightedness; parts two and three indicate the amount and orientation of your astigmatism.

Symptoms.

The most common symptom of astigmatism is blurred vision. Some people describe it as double vision but in only one eye. As a result of trying to focus on near or distant objects, a patient may develop eyestrain, squinting and headaches.  Children with astigmatism may be too young to notice or describe astigmatism. They may frown, squint, or pull objects close in an effort to get a clearer picture. They may also tilt or turn their head. This extra effort can lead to eyestrain, fatigue or reduced reading efficiency.

Remedies.

Glasses are an option for treating astigmatism. If treating a large amount of astigmatism, the doctor may not totally correct the astigmatism. The new prescription in the eyeglasses may initially make the floor appear to tilt, thus making it difficult for the patient to accept a full correction. The tilting often disappears after the new glasses have been worn exclusively for more than a few days.  Switching back and forth between the new and an older pair of glasses can often increase the time required to adjust to the new prescription.  It is also possible to correct astigmatism using certain types of contact lenses. Patients who prefer contact lenses can generally be helped. Both gas permeable rigid and soft toric contacts are possible choices.

Refractive procedures are a great alternative to glasses or contacts, especially for people who have dry eyes or other conditions that prohibit them from wearing corrective lenses. The most common type of refractive procedures used to correct astigmatism is LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis).   IQ Laser Vision offers LASIK to correct astigmatism in addition to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and even presbyopia.  With no-interest financing*, LASIK is now more affordable than ever!  Trusted by more than 25,000 satisfied patients and serving Southern California since 1999, let IQ Laser Vision free you from your glasses and contacts!

*OAC – On approved credit

See the picture above?  That is what you put into your eyes if you are a contact lens wearer.  The image depicts contacts that were left out for less than an hour.  While contact lenses are safely used by millions of people every day, they do carry a risk of eye infection.   Factors contributing to infection can include:

·         Wearing your contact lenses for extended periods;
·         Reduced tear production in your eyes;
·         Environmental factors;
·         Poor hygiene.

The best way to avoid eye infections is to properly care for your contacts following lens care guidelines and instructions provided by your eye care professional.  A  “rub and rinse” step in the lens cleaning process is a must – even for the new “no rub” solutions. 

Taking Care of Your Lenses

Risk of infection varies somewhat depending on the type of contact lens. Single-use daily disposable lenses are the safest type of soft contact lens, in terms of reducing the risk of infection. Rigid gas permeable lenses are a safer alternative than any type of soft contact lens. Your ophthalmologist can help you decide which type of lens is right for you.  Regardless of the type you decide on, proper care of the lenses is essential to eye health.

·         Before handling contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse and dry them with a lint-free towel.
·         Minimize contact with water, including removing lenses before going swimming or in a hot tub.
·         Contact lenses should not be rinsed with or stored in water (tap or sterile water).
·         Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
·         Do not use saline solution and rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither is an effective or approved disinfectant.
·         Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care professional.
·         Follow the specific contact lens cleaning and storage guidelines from your eye care professional and the solution manufacturer.
·         During cleaning, rub your contact lenses with your fingers, then rinse the lenses with solution before soaking them. This “rub and rinse” method is considered by some experts to be a superior method of cleaning, even if the solution you are using is a “no-rub” variety.
·         Rinse the contact lens case with fresh solution — not water. Then leave the empty case open to air dry.
·         Keep the contact lens case clean and replace it regularly, at least every three months. Lens cases can be a source of contamination and infection. Do not use cracked or damaged lens cases.
·         Handle your contact lens solution with care:
·         Do not re-use old solution or “top off” the solution in your lens case.
·         Do not transfer contact lens solution into smaller travel-size containers. This can affect the sterility of the solution, which can lead to an eye infection.
·         Do not allow the tip of the solution bottle to come in contact with any surface, and keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
·         If you store your lenses in the case for an extended period of time, consult the instructions for the lenses or the contact lens solution to determine if re-disinfecting the lenses is appropriate before you wear them. In no case should you wear your lenses after storage for 30 or more days without re-disinfecting.
·         Some experts recommend that if you use contact lenses sporadically you consider using single-use daily disposable lenses.

Taking Care of Your Eyes

Eye infections can lead to serious vision loss in some cases. Proper care of your eyes is just as important as proper lens care.

·         Remove the contact lenses and consult an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience symptoms such as redness, pain, tearing, increased light sensitivity, blurry vision, discharge or swelling.
·         If you smoke, stop. Studies show that contact lens wearers who smoke have a higher rate of problems than nonsmokers.
·         Beware of using decorative lenses, such as those often sold at costume shops. These lenses have the potential to damage eyes permanently.
·         Get regular eye exams.
·         If you wear contact lenses, you should be examined by an eye care provider annually, and more often as needed.
As with any prescription, contact lens prescriptions do expire — typically within one year. You should see your eye care professional yearly to ensure they continue to have an accurate and appropriate prescription. These regular exams are also important opportunities for reinforcing proper lens care.

Alternatives

An increasing number of people have sought alternatives to wearing contacts.  Refractive surgery, popularly known as LASIK, has been the predominant elective procedure in correcting vision. In the last 20 years over 17 million people world-wide have had LASIK to decrease their dependency from glasses or contacts by treating their nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and even presbyopia.  Patients who have had LASIK will commonly share that their procedure was a life-changing experience for them and their only regret is not having it done sooner. With the incredible technological advances in LASIK vision correction, LASIK has been shown to be safer than wearing contacts for 10 years!

IQ Laser Vision offers a variety of payment plans designed to accommodate just about anyone’s budget.  In fact, LASIK may be less expensive than living with a lifetime of glasses, contacts, bifocals and readers.  IQ Laser Vision’s Medical Director, Dr. Robert T. Lin, is one of the nation’s most trusted, experienced, and caring surgeons.  Dr. Lin, the innovator of the MICRO-LASIK® procedure which specializes in individuals with thin-flap corneas, utilizes the most advanced technology in LASIK procedures, including WaveFront CustomCornea MICRO-LASIK® treatment.  Contact IQ Laser Vision today for more information: 1-888-539-2211.

We all know that eyes are very important for us but why do we tend to take them for granted. We have been to busy taking care of our skin, hair, and other parts of our body but we have put aside eye care most of the time.

For 2011, make a resolution to take better care of your eyes, after all they are the only ones you have.  Here are some Eye Care Tips to follow:

Tip 1 – Enough Rest
The most used part of our body is the eyes. For all the work that it does, provide adequate rest for them and this is achieved through logging enough shut eye every night.  Health advisers recommend at least 6 hours of sleep, 8 hours is ideal. 

Tip 2 – Proper Diet
Fruits and vegetables are a great diet in taking care of your eyes. Usually yellow fruits and vegetables are the best ones. These fruits and vegetables are very rich in beta carotene. Example are papaya, mangoes, squash, and spinach can be a great source of beta carotene. These types of food can help improve and maintain good health for your eyes.

Tip 3 – Drink Lots of Water
The skin around our eyes is very thin and underneath it is full of blood vessels. Drinking lots of water can prevent puffiness around our eyes. Do you know why our eyes become puffy at times? Our body has defense mechanism that every time we are dehydrated our body retains some water thus resulting to puffiness. Drinking eight or more glasses of water a day can help detoxify our body.

Tip 4 – Eye Exercise
Yes! There is also some form of exercise for the eyes. Exercising your eyes can supply enough oxygen and can make them function much better. Close your eyes for 30 seconds then I move your eyes around while your eyes remain closed.  Move your eyes left to right and then up and down.

Tip 5 – Avoid Excessive Rubbing
Our eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our body. The best thing you should do in taking care of your eyes is to avoid rubbing them. This action will only make your eyes more irritated. The best thing you should do is to blink them. If some alien matter comes into your eyes, it is best to wash them with milk. Milk is a natural cleanser that will not cause further irritation in your eyes.

Tip 6 – Use Sunglasses
During the day wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. This will help shield your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, sometimes even on cloudy days the sun’s rays can still penetrate through and cause damage to your eyes.

Tip 7 – Treat Your Eyes
Putting cucumber slices or tea bags under your eyes can help prevent dark circles and wrinkles from appearing around your eyes.

Tip 8 – Protect Your Eyes
Always remember to wear protective eye gear to protect your eyes when engaged in contact sports, such as racquetball, skiing or when working with equipment such as a table saw or handling hazardous chemicals.

Tip 9 – Consider Lasik
If you wear contacts, think of the germs that is constantly transferred between your hands to your contacts and then into your eyes.  Imagine life without contacts or glasses.  There are several Lasik options to treat a variety of eye conditions, consult with a professional Lasik center to learn more or contact us at IQ Laser Vision.

As with any relationship you have, in the medical profession it is imperative that the relationship is based on trust.  You need to know that the facility you are visiting is personally interested in your well-being and the people you interact with are trustworthy.  If you have any concerns or followup care you want to know that you have someone who is personally connected to you and willing to work hard to address your concerns.  A medical practice that is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, not just a place that is running a mill where they won’t even remember who you are.

But to be fair, most good surgeons understandably have only a certain amount of time to spend with their patients when routine procedures are involved. So a good surgeon also recognizes that it’s important to have friendly, competent staff available who also can assist with answering your questions and concerns.  The initial impression you receive at the “front desk” may be an important indicator of how comfortable you will be made to feel as you go through the remaining steps of scheduling and undergoing a procedure.

Are staff members friendly or indifferent? Do they seem competent or disorganized? Are they willing to take the time to answer questions, particularly about costs and billing?  What are the attitudes, are they happy and wearing a smile or grouchy and scowling when you walk in the door?  A good work environment shines through to produce happy employees which in turn creates a pleasant experience for patients from beginning to end.
 
Assessing the presence of that “personal touch” may be an important step to take before you commit to any eye surgeon.  At IQ Laser Vision we understand the importance of that personal touch.  We pride ourselves in providing the best customer service to each and every one of our patients.  We understand that our success is based on the satisfaction of our patients.  When considering facilities for medical services, if the environment is one which is warm and inviting you know you have found the right place!

Flexible Spending Account, also known as FSA allows an employee to set aside a portion of his or her earnings to pay for qualified expenses, most commonly for medical expenses.  Money deducted from an employee’s pay into an FSA is not subject to payroll taxes, resulting in a substantial payroll tax savings.  Flexible Spending Account funds must be used by the end of the plan year.   Many plans run January 1 – December 31, but check with your human resources department (or the health insurance firm directly) to verify the date that you use all your FSA funds.
Why should you worry about using the funds?

If you fail to use the money in your Flexible Spending Account by the end of the plan year you forfeit that money. Poof! It’s gone.

So what items fall into what category?

A handful of eligible expenses:

• Co-pays to doctors, dentists, etc.
• Allergy medicine
• Lasik and other refractive procedures
• Flu shots
• Guide dog (adoption, training, etc.)

A handful of ineligible expenses:

• Adoption fees
• COBRA premiums
• Diapers

FSA Eligible Expenses Change in 2011

If you have an FSA it is critically important that you know how much, on average, you spend on healthcare during a given year. If you only spend $500 per year then don’t set up the account to be funded with $2,000. You will be scrambling at the end of the year to find qualified expenses, or you’ll end up losing a huge chunk of cash.  If you plan to undergo a procedure such as Lasik next year, then you should consider setting up an account with more funds to save on taxes.

In the past if you looked at your FSA account balance on December 28th and noticed it still had money in it you would have time to run down to the drug store and stock up on over the counter cold medicine and pain relievers. Sure you might not use them for several months, but it was better to stock up than to forfeit that money.

Recent changes in healthcare law have changed that.  Starting January 1, 2011, you will not be able to use these spending accounts to pay for most over-the-counter drugs and medicines unless you have a doctor’s prescription. You will not need a prescription for insulin and diabetic supplies.

It is already mid-October, check your FSA account balance today and start planning to use those funds up before the end of the year gets here. It’ll be here before you know it!

Just as you’re encouraged to see a dentist for your teeth and a doctor for your physical health, you should also check in with your eye care specialist regularly for eye exams.

No matter your age, preventative checkups are needed for detecting diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Eye exams are also a good identifier of overall health. Far often than not, people put off or neglect these vital exams not realizing early detection could mean saving your sight, seeing your doctor once a year to once every two years is recommended.

During your exam, your doctor will check for refractive errors, this happens when your eyes have trouble focusing light which in turns makes vision appear fuzzy or blurry. Your doctor may recommend glasses, contact lenses or surgery depending on their findings. The most common refractive errors are:

Myopia; or nearsightedness
Astigmatism; difficulty focusing due to the cornea
Hyperopia; or farsightedness
Presbyopia; focus problems due to age

In addition to refractive errors, your eye doctor will check for other typical eye diseases and symptoms that may need corrective lenses or red flags that could spell a loss of vision. Below are examples of what they are looking for:

Amblyopia; this occurs when one eye incorrectly translates an image, or one eye turns in or out, causing “lazy eye”.
Strabismus; this is a condition where the eyes do not correctly align, it is commonly referred to as “crossed eyes”. Left untreated, it may lead to amblyopia, which affects depth perception.
Cataracts; this disease affects all ages and is the common blame for blindness and vision loss globally. The lens develops a “cloudy” layer, and when very advanced, can lead to operations to extract the lens. Many can develop cataracts when born and more than 20 million Americans develop them in one eye or both.
Eye diseases; diabetic retinopathy is the most common disease leading to blindness in the United States, early detection can reduce vision loss, yet nearly 50% of patients dismiss exams or have them performed when the condition is already very advanced. Glaucoma is a combined set of diseases leading to vision loss. This happens when normal fluid pressure increases inside the eye. Many times, a patient slowly loses vision, going unnoticed till the disease is too far accelerated. Regular eye exams detect such diseases quickly.

Your doctor is able to test for other diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease as well as diabetes, and while not a substitute for exams with your physician, eye exams can be a great early detector for ailments all over the body.

Free eye tests performed in eye care facilities “while you shop” and those provided by school nurses, volunteers and health care providers are helpful, but are also too brief to detect any serious issues. These types of exams do not replace regular full eye exams with your eye doctor. Family care physicians and pediatricians are limited in their eye care knowledge and are apt to miss eye treatment warning signs. Complete routine eye exams should be performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Following your exam, your doctor will provide recommendations for upkeep and eye wellness; these may include glasses or contacts to treat refractive errors or possibly surgery for more severe issues. Even if all is well, it is still suggested to see your eye doctor regular to ensure continued good eye health.

Doctors may also suggest supplements or vitamins for your eyes to promote healthy eyes, improve vision or treat complications such as dry eyes. These combined with a healthful diet loaded with antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables also boost eye welfare.

Eye exams are imperative in every season of life and while the eyes may be the “windows to the soul”, they are also the windows to your health.

If you are interested in scheduling an eye exam, please call 1-888-539-2211. IQ Laser Vision offers five convenient Southern California locations.