Last updated 11 months ago
You should schedule an eye exam every year to check your vision and your eye health. During the exam, be sure to ask the following questions to make sure you understand the results of the tests and vision exam:
Has my vision changed?
- Over the years, your vision may change. Many older people, for example, become farsighted, no matter their initial prescription. Ask your optometrist what changes he sees in your vision, how they will affect you, and if you can expect to see further changes. Your eyesight affects almost every aspect of your life, so it is vital that you understand how it is changing.
Are my eyes healthy?
- Spotting signs of eye illnesses like cataracts or glaucoma is difficult or impossible without the assistance of a doctor. Your optometrist will perform a full examination of your cornea and retina, allowing him or her to evaluate your eye health. Serious illnesses like glaucoma or retinopathy can erode your vision over time, but, without the assistance of a doctor, you will not know about them until they are irreversible. Additionally, your eyes often indicate health conditions throughout your body, like high blood pressure or diabetes, which your optometrist can alert you to.
What steps can I take to keep my eyes healthy?
- If you have signs of glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy, it may not be too late to take steps to improve the health of your eyes. For example, lowering your blood pressure can reduce your risk of retinopathy, and cataracts can be treated if caught early. You play an active role in protecting your eyes from disease. You should also ask about your doctor’s recommendations regarding protecting your eyes from the sun; UV rays can be very harmful to your vision.
Regular eye exams are key to your overall health. If it’s about time for your next exam, call (888) 576-3566 to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Willis-Falkenberg Eye Care. We’re conveniently located in Fredericksburg, and we have more than 40 years of experience in vision correction.
Last updated 12 months ago
Your eyes are perhaps your most important tool for perceiving the world around you, so make sure you take good care of them. In recent blog entries, we’ve provided information about important vision and eye health topics, but there is always more to learn. Take a look at these websites to find out more, and then contact your eye doctor at Willis-Falkenberg Eye Care at (540) 371-2777.
- As the EPA will tell you, UV rays can seriously damage the eye.
Last updated 1 year ago
Though LASIK has changed millions of lives, it is still a relatively new procedure, having only been officially approved by the FDA in 1999. During the LASIK procedure, the patient’s cornea is reshaped using lasers, changing his eye’s ability to focus and correcting many patients’ vision to 20/20. This use of laser technology may be new, but it was the result of almost 50 years of innovations and research. Read on to find out more.
Keratomileusis
In 1950, ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer took the first steps toward what we now know as LASIK. With a knife, he made incisions in patients’ cornea and reshaped them as appropriate to improve vision, a process called keratomileusis. Svyatoslav Fyodorov improved on this technique by removing less of the cornea and making radial incisions in its surface, creating a procedure known as radial keratotomy. When these techniques were successful, patients’ vision improved dramatically; however, the failure rate was high.
Introduction of Lasers
As lasers were developed in the 1960s and 1970s, doctors realized their potential for making very fine incisions without any thermal damage to surrounding tissue. In the mid-1980s, German and American doctors developed photorefractive keratectomy, the very first laser eye surgery. Unlike today’s LASIK, it removed cells from the cornea, which then had to grow back, leading to a longer recovery time.
Modern LASIK
Since its FDA approval in 1999, LASIK has become very popular as a means of permanent vision correction for all types of vision impairment. The procedure involves creating a flap of corneal cells, which is then moved aside to allow the laser access to the eye. After strategically removing cells to reshape the cornea and correct vision difficulties, the corneal flap is replaced, minimizing healing time.
With over 40 years of experience in refractive surgery and laser vision correction, Willis-Falkenberg Eye Care can help you or a loved one get the vision you deserve. Specializing in LASIK surgery, eye lid surgery, and cataract surgery, our eye doctors and LASIK surgeons provide only the highest level of quality eye care. Call us at (540) 371-2777 to make an appointment today!
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.
Last updated 1 year ago
Wearing sunblock in the summer can minimize your skin’s exposure to UV radiation, but wearing sunglasses is equally important in protecting your vision and the health of your eyes from UV rays.
In this video, you’ll hear about the damage UV radiation can do to the eyes, including causing cataracts and macular degeneration. All members of the family should wear sunglasses year round, even on cloudy days, to minimize UV exposure. Even if you can’t see the sun, you are still experiencing about 80% of the UV radiation you would on a sunny day.
With over 40 years of experience in refractive surgery and laser vision correction, Willis-Falkenberg Eye Care can help you or a loved one get the vision you deserve. Specializing in LASIK surgery, eye lid surgery, and cataract surgery, our eye doctors and LASIK surgeons provide only the highest level of quality eye care. Call us at (540) 371-2777 to make an appointment today!
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.
Last updated 1 year ago
As years pass, the eyes change because of the process of aging. Many of these effects are unavoidable, as they are caused by exposure to wind, UV rays, and other environmental factors, or simply by years of use. Here are a few of the changes you can expect to see in your eyes and your vision as you age.
Hardening of the lens. As the lens of your eye becomes less flexible, it leads to a condition called presbyopia, which makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects, like a newspaper or book. No matter your initial vision prescription, you will find that you have a progressively harder time focusing close-up. For a time, you can deal with this by holding object farther away; however, you will eventually need glasses or bifocals.
Seeing “floaters.” Floaters are spots or specks that seem to float across the field of vision, and they are especially common in bright rooms and outside. In many cases, they are harmless and are simply a part of growing older; however, if you’re seeing them on a very regular basis, they may be a sign of a more serious eye condition. See your doctor if you have any concerns.
Decreased tear production. Though many older adults experience a decrease in tear production, it is especially common in women who have gone through menopause. Your eyes may become dry or uncomfortable. If it is a problem, see an optometrist.
Loss of vision. You may notice a decrease in the sharpness of your color vision or a narrowing of your field of vision. Both of these are normal, but they can be dangerous. If you drive, for example, a lack of peripheral vision could mean that you don’t see a car next to you and get in an accident.
With over 40 years of experience in refractive surgery and laser vision correction, Willis-Falkenberg Eye Care can help you or a loved one get the vision you deserve. Specializing in LASIK surgery, eye lid surgery, and cataract surgery, our eye doctors and LASIK surgeons provide only the highest level of quality eye care. Call us at (540) 371-2777 to make an appointment today!
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.
