Castervision

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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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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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The Benefits of Lasik Eye Surgery

July 29th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikLasik has an incredibly high success rate, and many more people opt to have Lasik every year. Even in this bad economy the price of Lasik goes up more every year. Some people may fear having a surgeon poke and proud in ones eyes but the fact is that surgery is known to last twenty minutes at most. Besides the procedure being very short most patients and surgeons agree that the only thing felt during the surgery is a bit of pressure on the eye as if someone was pushing down on their eye. During the surgery the surgeon will add numbing drops to the eye and have it held open with two prong like devices and it should be more or less painless, however doctor Andrew caster MD says patients complain of feeling a bit of an uncomfortable feeling but generally no pain and the procedure is always done faster than the patient expected. Apart from Lasik being a very simple surgery with minimal risk because of new technology it also has great benefits including:

  • Freedom- Studies have shown that most Laser vision correction Beverly Hills patients have 20/20 to 20/40 vision, this is enough to eliminate the worry of losing or breaking glasses and having to fill expensive contact prescriptions. Although Lasik is a costly option after some time of filling contact prescriptions the amount of money spent is the same. One does not have to worry about things like swimming or golfing with the worry of glasses or contact there eyes will be free and clear.
  • Immediate results- Most patients can see a vast amount of difference in their eyesight immediately following surgery. The patients eyesight will continue to improve every day as they heal.
  • Quick procedure-As I mentioned above the procedure is safe and quick. Most surgeons say it last the duration of fifteen minutes.
  • Improved confidence- Many Beverly Hills Lasik patients say after their Lasik surgery they experience everything feeling a completely new away about it. Surveys and research have shown that seeing clearly can make a person more outgoing and comfortable in social situations boosting their confidence levels.

Lasik is not the only laser vision correction procedure that can have great results. Some may not qualify for Lasik due to weak and fragile corneas or extreme dry eyes and for those there are other procedures that can be done for the same great results. If one is not candidate to have a laser correction procedure he or she should look into implantable contacts, which also has a great success rates and several benefits.

Category LASIK, Lasik Surgery | No Comments »

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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Diabetes& Lasik

March 27th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikDiabetic patients fear not a being a candidate for Lasik surgery. Being a diabetic entails having a history of taking very long to heal and sometimes not healing at all. Diabetes is when blood glucose levels are abnormally high and when the blood sugar level exceeds high levels or even drops down to lower levels a diabetic patient is at risk of dying, loosing their vision, loosing limbs etc. Diabetes has different types as in type one, type two and type two the higher the type the lower the severity of the illness. For a person with type one diabetes the body is completely unable to produce insulin and in type two diabetes patients the body produces insulin but the cells do not respond to it. Because the two types of diabetes is slightly different and usually developed with age and eating habits the symptoms for each go as follow

Type one diabetes:

  • Blurry
  • vision Excessive
  • thirst Frequent urination
  • Weight loss
  • Hunger
  • Fatigue

Type two diabetes:

  • Blurred vision
  • Amplified thirst
  • Amplified urination
  • Amplified appetite
  • Fatigue

Most diabetics assume they are disqualified from being a Lasik candidates others never consider Lasik because of the horror stories. Truth is Los Angeles eye surgeons say being a diabetic does not automatically disqualify a patient from being a candidate for Lasik the answer is it might. For a person with diabetes it is extremely important to only speak to the most skilled Lasik doctor Los Angeles area has a great plenty of Lasik experts who will not fill your head with false hope, but inform you about the risk, statistics, and possibilities. The chances of a diabetic having complications from Lasik are 47%. 47% might not seem too steep for some because it is just not at 50% just yet. When that 47% is compared to that 7% chance of complication that a non-diabetic has than the risks begins to set in. when a diabetic undergoes Lasik it is important that the patient has always had, and will have control of their glucose levels because if the blood glucose levels are uncontrollable then this might cause for extremely blurry vision. In Beverly Hills Lasik Surgeons tell that one of the most important factors to know is that due to the diabetes the cornea will take more time to heal and there for the healing process is a bit different and there is more risk of the cornea growing abnormally and furthering the damage to the retina. This is why diabetics must go through extra testing and see more than one specialist to get the final answer on whether it is advised that they go through with Lasik.

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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.

Category Beverly Hills Lasik, Beverly Hills Lasik surgeon, LASIK, laser eye surgery | No Comments »

Refractive Surgery Eliminates Glasses for Many Astigmatic Patients

December 25th, 2009 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryThanks to continued advances in laser eye surgery, refractive surgery tools and techniques, glasses and contact lenses are fast becoming obsolete for many patients with astigmatism. Patients with undetected astigmatism often experience headaches, fatigue, eyestrain and blurred vision at all distances. Because astigmatism may not be recognized as the cause of these symptoms, this condition may go undiagnosed and continue to affect sufferers. Astigmatism can also be present in children, affecting their ability to see well in school and while playing sports.

Characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea, astigmatism can be detected by regular eye examinations and successfully treated using procedures such as laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), laser thermokeratoplasy (LTK) and astigmatic keratotomy (AK; Table 1). An ophthalmologist can determine which type of procedure will work best for each patient.

Worldwide, >17 million people have undergone laser refractive surgery, and refractive surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations in the United States and by Beverly Hills LASIK surgeons. The newest laser-assisted procedures are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat up to 6 diopters (D) of astigmatism correction, which includes roughly 98% of all astigmatism patients. Advances in laser technology continue to improve treatment outcomes.

Guttman reported on a recent study by Barraquer, a private practitioner in Colombia, of 364 astigmatic myopic patients treated with a new generation “flying spot” excimer laser. Barraquer reported postoperative best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in 99% of treated eyes at 3 months. Astigmatic correction was achieved to within ±0.50 D in 92% of eyes.

Remember that for patients in or around Beverly Hills LASIK was used after the detection of astigmatism to treat it in its early and advanced stages. Because children may also have astigmatism, it is important that eye examinations be scheduled at regular intervals to detect any astigmatism early on.

Guttman C. Laser yields safe, predictable correction for astigmatism. Ophthalmology Times, Advanstar Communications, January 1, 2008;36.

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