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Blindness Can Be Caused by Smoking

August 18th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikDr. Andrew Caster would like to inform people about age-related macular degeneration. (AMD) Age related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of blindness in adults in the United States, affecting more than 1.75 million Americans. While some risk factors for AMD, such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension, are well known, recent studies indicate that smoking appears to have a significant impact on an individual’s chances of developing the condition.
In an editorial, the BMJ (British Medical Journal) cited studies finding that greater than 25% of all cases of AMD with visual impairment or blindness can be attributed to current or past smoking exposure, making it the leading modifiable risk factor for the condition.The editorial considered multiple studies conducted worldwide that evaluated the correlation between smoking habits and the eventual development of AMD, which involves degradation and eventual loss of central vision.
Treatment of AMD remains limited. Identifying and eliminating or reducing risk factors is currently the primary mode of prevention.
The analysis focused on data collected from 12,468 patients in 3 cross-sectional studies that indicated current smokers were 3-4x more likely to develop AMD as were men and women who had never smoked. By comparison, smokers are 1.6x as likely to develop ischemic heart disease as nonsmokers — about half the risk or less of developing AMD – although the association between ischemic heart disease and smoking is much more recognized.
In three additional and separate studies of AMD in smokers and non-smokers in North America, Australia and Europe, smoking emerged as the strongest environmental risk factor for developing the condition. Studies also revealed that smokers developed AMD about a decade earlier than nonsmokers.
The good news: Smoking cessation appears to have a positive effect, decreasing the risk of developing AMD over time. Despite the clear evidence supporting the correlation between smoking and the risk of AMD, the researchers also noted that public awareness of the link is lacking and added that physicians and other health-care professionals are in a prime positions to educate patients about the very real vision-related risks of smoking and visual impairment.
Andrew Caster MD agrees that one should be aware of how other behaviors may harm the vision. Staying cautious and keeping healthy habits may benefits ones eyesight or better their chances of being a candidate for Lasik or other laser vision correction Beverly Hills Procedures.

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Prenatal Factors May Be Crucial in Adult Vision

August 18th, 2010 by andrewcaster

laser vision correction Los AngelesMany studies have shown that visual impairment can have far-reaching consequences on an individual’s employment, socioeconomic status and general health. Until recently, however, the effects of prenatal and childhood biological and sociologic factors on adult vision were poorly understood.
A recent study by Rahi et al from University College London, United Kingdom, investigated whether adult visual function is influenced by early life biological and social factors. The authors found that specific determinants can have a marked effect on the eventual manifestation of adult visual impairment. Those determinants include low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, maternal smoking during pregnancy and certain markers of socioeconomic deprivation in childhood.
The population-based study gathered data from 9330 individuals from the 1958 British birth cohort. This unique database contains health information regarding every person born in Britain within a single week in 1958. In this vision study, the authors selected participants for whom medical information was available from medical examinations conducted from birth to middle age.
Study participants were examined at age 44 or 45 years for near, distance and stereo visual acuity. Examination results indicated the following:
1.3% had visual deficits that prevented them from passing a driving test and were defined as having socially significant visual impairment.
0.9% of the study participants had severe visual impairment or blindness. Logistic regression and other methods were used to determine the relationships among vision functions, early-life influences, and health and social outcomes in middle age. The study’s authors said that the statistically significant results were repeated for all causes and levels of visual impairment.
Interestingly, the authors noted that the same early-life factors that appear to affect adult vision also correlate with other diseases and conditions, such as hypertension, as noted in other health studies. Because visual impairment can be devastating to an adult’s lifestyle and overall health, researchers said the findings are especially important and may lead to future studies to determine prevention strategies, as well as aid in early diagnosis of these conditions by better determining which young children might be at greatest risk. By identifying risk factors early, researchers hope to improve the eventual quality of life these individuals will experience when they reach adulthood.
In order to ensure that ones eyes are healthy He or she should see a leading Los Angeles Ophthalmologist, Dr. Andrew Caster runs a successful ophthalmology practice in Los Angeles. He is also a well known Los Angles Lasik Surgeon. If one is interested in the health of their eyes or needs more information about what laser vision correction Los Angeles procedures are available for ones condition please Andrew Caster MD.

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Risk of Vision Loss in Aging Adults Is Greater Than Risk of Breast or Prostate Cancer

August 18th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikSignificant visual impairment is a serious risk for older populations, with roughly 6.75% of adults ³60 years of age defined as being visually impaired or having best-corrected vision less that 20/40. As many as 1 in 3 men and women ³65 years of age will experience age-related vision loss. By comparison, the risks of the same age group’s developing prostate and breast cancer are about 1 in 6 and 1 in 9, respectively.
Multiple studies suggest the high risk of age-related vision conditions is due in part to a lack of proper screening and regular eye examinations. Because age-related eye diseases are often asymptomatic in their early stages and may progress slowly, an annual eye examination becomes a critical tool to detect and evaluate these conditions before they can cause loss of sight. Comorbidities, such as cognitive impairment, may also result in symptoms of vision loss being underreported by older adults. Additionally, many adults who wear corrective lenses wrongly believe regular examinations for visual acuity are sufficient when, in fact, to detect these eye diseases, a comprehensive examination is necessary.
Regular eye examinations can have an impact on more than eye health. Studies indicate that older individuals who are visually impaired are more likely to be in fair-to-poor health, with a significantly higher incidence of accidents, falls and hip fractures. Individuals with age-related vision loss also feel grief, anxiety, social isolation and depression more often that those without vision loss. These feelings can be exacerbated by a concomitant loss of mobility and an increased dependence on outside help to aid in the tasks of everyday living.
Because many age-related vision problems can be successfully treated or the progression of these diseases slowed when caught early, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye examinations for all adults ³65 years of age every 1 to 2 years.
To keep ones eyes healthy, one should schedule regular eye visits with an ophthalmologist such as Andrew Caster MD. Dr. Andrew Caster provides several services for the eyes and in one of the best Los Angeles Lasik surgeons. He has performed successful Lasik and many other vision correction procedures on many people including professional athletes.

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Glaucoma and Refractive Surgery

August 18th, 2010 by andrewcaster

Andrew Caster MDAndrew Caster MD shares important information about patients at risk for developing glaucoma require special management when undergoing refractive surgery. Regular follow-up visits with an ophthalmologist can help ensure that these patients avoid potential complications later in life.
Diagnosing glaucoma requires an accurate measurement of an individual’s intraocular pressure (IOP). Dr. Andrew Caster believes when a patient undergoes refractive surgery, the thickness of the cornea is altered; as a result, the patient’s IOP may “read” lower than it actually is. While IOP is not the only factor used to diagnose glaucoma, an increase in IOP is arguably the most important risk factor indicating development and progression of glaucoma; an erroneous IOP reading – especially one that is artificially low — can cause a developing condition to be overlooked. Moreover, because treatment of glaucoma is aimed at reducing IOP, accurate measurement of pressure is essential for effective treatment of the disease.
Andrew Caster MD says, because refractive surgery can make it difficult for an ophthalmologist to set a target IOP for patients postoperatively, these patients must be followed closely, and additional tests must be used to monitor for changes in IOP. Although newer tonometers may prove more accurate in measuring IOP even in refractive patients, most ophthalmologists use other indicators to help determine if glaucoma is developing. These factors include changes in the optic disc, nerve fiber layer and visual fields. In addition, measuring the patient’s IOP prior to surgery and then again after the eye is stabilized may also be used as a new baseline.
Dr. Andrew caster says, patients undergoing refractive surgery should understand the possible changes that can result in an erroneously low IOP reading in future eye care visits. Also, they should be advised to let their ophthalmologist know during routine visits that they have undergone refractive surgery, so that the doctor may take extra precautions to carefully screen for the presence of glaucoma.

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Lasik Eye surgery

July 23rd, 2010 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryMillions of people suffer from refractive errors that prevent them from doing everyday things without difficulty. Those who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism must like to know how nice it would be to wake up, play sports and swim without having to worry about breaking or chipping glass or struggling with contracts. Having to worry about glasses and or contacts can be hassle especially in summer time when one would like to go swimming but getting water in the eyes might be painful with contacts or cause dry eyes. If one suffers from a curved cornea which results in blurry vision and is unhappy with contacts and glasses he or she should consider having Lasik.

The Lasik is an outpatient procedure that is often referred to as simple and fast. During Lasik a Los Angeles eye surgeon will reshape the cornea with a laser. The cornea is the transparent tissue that covers the colored part of the eye the pupil and the dark part in the center of the eye. The cornea is a clear and smooth glass as tough and durable as plastic. The procedure generally takes about fifteen to thirty minutes. Numbing drops are placed inside the eye, so while some patients complain of an uncomfortable feeling others feel nothing but pressure on the eye. Reshaping the cornea results in improved vision, in fact over ninety percent of Lasik patients realize somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40 vision after surgery.

In order to consider having laser eye surgery the patient must be eighteen years or older, is in good overall health, have had a stable vision prescription for at least a year, have no eye disease, sufficient corneal thickness, and has available down time. Although Lasik eye surgery is referred to as simple and easy one must be a fully qualifying candidate to obtain minimal risk and have the best possible results. When undergoing any surgery one should be aware of all the possible side affects. After surgery the patient may be asked to wear a transparent eye shield to prevent rubbing. When it comes to laser vision correction Los Angeles surgery side affects are not permanent and generally only last two to three days. For Lasik eye surgery the ESEC places serious vision threatening problems at less than one percent. Other side affects that can be cured with medication include eye infection, chronic dry eye and Lasik cornea flap problems. After surgery some patients complain of blurry vision, dry eyes, discomfort or pain, pink or red patches on the white of the eye, ghost vision, star burst around light and scratchiness. These side affects generally disappear with the healing process; however, if the symptoms persist a second surgery may be required but is rare.

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Lasik Surgery and Eye Surgery in Los Angeles

January 29th, 2010 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryThere are two fundamentally different types of laser eye surgery: Prk and Lasik. Under these two categories, there are several different modifications of each for example, Lasek with an “E” is just a resent type of Prk. All techniques are performed with the patient being awake and with the use of drops to numb the eyes.

All the types of laser eye surgery that fall under the category of Prk, all involve a surface technique designed to remove the cornea’s outermost layer called the epithelium. Rather than creating a flap via a cutting technique as used in Lasik procedures.

Lasik or laser assisted in situ keratomileusis uses a metal blade to cut the cornea flap and a laser to reshape the eye. After the procedure many residents of Los Angeles Lasik was able to restore their vision to near perfect 20/20. Lasik is painless for most patients, and unlike Prk techniques the vision is immediately corrected although there may be some blurriness present for the first 24 hours. But after that the vision will improve over the following few weeks.

Removing the epithelium is the first step of laser eye surgery the next step is reshaping the cornea by the use of the laser. The model of laser varies as do guidance or mapping systems associated with each model. Talk to your local Lasik doctor Los Angeles residents can gain near 20/20 vision. The more precise the mapping and reshaping system is the better the results will be. Most reputable centers for eye laser surgery will tell you that 20/20 vision from laser-corrected surgery may not be like normal 20/20 vision.

There my be some haze or other side effects that can result from laser eye surgery, though techniques and technology are always working towards eliminating these problems.

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Laser Eye Surgery in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills

January 29th, 2010 by andrewcaster

Laser eye surgeryLasik procedures have been perfected in recent years since the technique was introduced. If you’re considering the procedure for your eye correction you should first find out if you are a good candidate and if your health provider may be able to cover some of the cost.

Laser eye surgery has been correcting bad eye sight for many generations. There are many procedures that involve the correction of the eyes, however the Lasik procedure is the most popular by far.

Los Angeles eye surgeons can perform the Lasik procedure in state of the art medical facilities specially designed to perform the procedure. Not all medical facilities are equipped with the necessary technology to perform the procedure, therefore the medical facility that can actually perform the procedure has to include the cost of equipment with the cost of the procedure.

For the resident of Beverly Hills Lasik procedures have been helping them see better. In order to have the procedure performed you must first be qualified for the surgery. Once you have researched which eye doctor will be performing the procedure you must then have an in office consultation to have a tests, to communicate with the surgeon about your medical background and to consider your payment options.

After your operation the surgeon will place a dressing over your eye, it may be required for you to have a short stay in an outpatient recovery area. You will need to use eye drops as prescribed by your surgeon and they may be used several times daily during the following weeks. You will also need to wear a protective eye shield and sun glasses to shade your eyes from bright light.

Depending on your medical history your recovery time will differ, but with the use of modern technology and techniques, recovery times have been shortening dramatically.

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LASIK: A Viable Choice for Patients Over 40

December 26th, 2009 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryBaby boomers who want to rid themselves of their contact lenses should consider laser in-situ kertomileusis (LASIK) surgery as a viable option. Although LASIK traditionally has been considered less effective in individuals >40 years of age, a study shows new techniques offer better outcomes for middle aged and older patients.

In this retrospective consecutive case series, Ghanem et al from Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, studied the outcomes in 710 eyes of 424 patients aged 40-69 years who underwent LASIK or laser eye surgery between 1999 and 2005.

The study group had refractive spherical errors ranging from -10.5 diopters (D) to +6 D and cylinder of up to 2.50 D. Patients were divided by age into 3 groups: 40-49 years, 50-59 years and 60-69 years. All LASIK procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Outcomes were analyzed for nearsightedness with or without astigmatism (511 eyes) and farsightedness with or without astigmatism (199 eyes) by Beverly Hills LASIK surgeons. Outcomes were based on postoperative follow-up visits of at least 6 months.

The study indicated postoperative safety, efficacy and predictability were comparable among all age groups. At the final follow-up, 80-100% of eyes in all groups had 20/30 or better uncorrected visual acuity and 81-90% were within ±1 D. In all 3 groups, 91-100% of patients achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity following LASIK.

Many LASIK patients in the study opted for monovision, a strategy that offers distinct advantages in addressing presbyopia, a condition often present in an older population. In monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision, while the other eye is corrected for near vision, often eliminating the need for reading glasses. Researchers indicated that monovision can effectively compensate for the loss of accommodation that often occurs in older patients. The study concluded that despite challenges unique in the 40- to 69-year age group, Beverly Hills LASIK correction for nearsightedness and farsightedness has been reasonably safe, effective and predictable.

Ghanem RC, de la Cruz J, Tobaigy FM, et al. LASIK in the presbyopic age group: safety, efficacy, and predictability in 40- to 69-year-old patients. Ophthalmology 2007; 114:1303-1310.

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