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How to Choose Your LASIK Surgeon
Millions of people have turned to LASIK to correct their vision, however some people use a haphazard approach to choosing a LASIK doctor by selecting a surgeon based on cost. While LASIK has been proven to be both safe and effective, the surgeon you choose is very important, so choose wisely. Ask your optometrist who he/she recommends (ECT co-manages with 275+ Houston area optometrist – and if your optometrist is in our co-managment network, he/she can do you initial LASIK evaluation as well as your post operative LASIK care). Also, ask your co-workers, friends, family who have had LASIK who they recommend. Ask questions to help determine if your surgeon has the qualifications and experience to work on your eyes. Some questions you might want to ask are:
- How many LASIK procedures has the surgeon performed?
- What percent of LASIK patients have achieved a vision of 20/20 or better?
- What percent of LASIK patients have reported complications (halos, starbursts, dry eye, etc.) six months after surgery?
- What percent of patients have needed an LASIK enhancement?
- Equipment: What kind of technology does the surgeon use, and do you have a choice as to the type of technology? Be sure to ask if the surgeon offers 100 percent all-laser LASIK (also known as Bladeless LASIK), or if he/she uses a microkeratome blade (note, Dr. Mark Mayo and Dr. Edward Wade only perform all-laser LASIK).
- Professional, friendly staff: From the receptionist to the surgeon, a vision center’s staff and their demeanor speaks volumes.
- Relationship with your eye doctor: Will the surgeon work with your current eye doctor—both before and after surgery—to ensure your continued satisfaction with your LASIK eye surgery?
- Results: Does your provider offer a warranty (note: Dr. Mark Mayo and Dr. Edward Wade offer a ‘limited lifetime warranty’ at no additional cost).
The doctors at Eye Center of Texas will take the time to evaluate your eyes and discuss all available vision correction options, including LASIK, PRK and Visian ICL.
If you are ready to have the best vision of your life, call us today at 713-395-1515.
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What Causes Eye Twitches?
Eyelid twitches (or essential blepharospasm) are involuntary muscle movements that happen in one or both eyelids. Mild occurrences are very common, similar to the minor muscle spasms most people experience in their arms or legs. If you are experiencing a pesky eyelid tic or twitch, these are possible causes.
Stress. There’s not much you can do about this except try to minimize the causes of stress.
Fatigue and tiredness. Not just your body, but your eyes get tired too when over-worked. Catch up with a good night’s sleep.
Alcohol and caffeine. Decaf your life and cut back on alcohol consumption to give your eyes some relief.
Dry eyes. Using computers and wearing contact lenses for long periods of time can cause your eyes to dry, thus making them twitch. Lubricating eye drops can help a great deal.
Eye strain. Prolonged usage of technology that involves continuous gazing at a computer/video/iPhone/iPad screen may cause computer vision syndrome. One of the symptoms can be eye twitching. Cut back on time spent in front of these devices. If it’s part of your job, there are protective lenses you can wear to relieve symptoms, even if you don’t require corrective lenses. Ask your eye care professional for advice.
Allergies and irritation. Environmental factors such as dust, smoke, chemicals, pollens, pet dander and other tiny particles in the air can make your eyes twitch.
Nutritional imbalance. Lack of essential nutrients in your diet may also cause that disturbing eye twitch. So eat healthfully!
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Why Is a Dilated Eye Exam Important?
March is National Save Your Vision Month and while you may think that having good vision means that your eyes are healthy, that may not always be the case. A comprehensive eye exam that include dilation is important to help your doctor see the early symptoms of both vision-related and overall health problems.
When your eyes are dilated, your eye doctor can view the entire retina, including the blood vessels and optic nerve. This allows your doctor to see early signs of damage that could be indicators of serious conditions such as diabetes, tumors, high blood pressure, infectious diseases, macular degeneration and retinal detachment as well as other conditions.
If your doctor recommends dilation, he or she will put special drops in each eye to widen the pupil, which is the opening in the center of the iris (the colored part of the eye). Dilating the pupil allows more light to enter the eye the same way opening a door allows light into a dark room. Once dilated, each eye is examined using a special magnifying lens that provides a clear view of important tissues at the back of the eye, including the retina, the macula, and the optic nerve.
In a person with diabetic retinopathy (the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in the United States), the exam may show swelling or leaking of blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layers of tissue at the back of the eye. Your doctor may also see abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina associated with diabetic retinopathy.
In age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 50, the exam may show yellow deposits called drusen or clumps of pigment beneath the retina. In some cases, the exam may also show abnormal growth of blood vessels beneath the retina. These AMD-related changes tend to cause deterioration of a small area of the retina called the macula, which is needed for sharp, central vision.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is also critical for detecting glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve, which carries information from the eyes to the brain. In a person with glaucoma, the dilated exam may show changes in the shape and color of the optic nerve fibers. The exam may also show excessive cupping of the optic disc, the place where the optic nerve fibers exit the eye and enter the brain.
While your eyes are dilated, they will be more sensitive to light. If you do not have sunglasses with you, the doctor’s office will have disposable shades for you to use as you leave. You may also experience difficulty with close-up vision until the drops wear off, usually within a few hours.
Please remember, getting a delated eye exam can save your vision.
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Do You Know How to Identify Eye Health Risks?
You can do many things to keep them healthy and make sure you’re seeing your best. Follow these simple guidelines for maintaining healthy eyes.
Diabetes – High blood sugar may cause the lens to swell, leading to distorted vision and can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness.
Obesity and High Blood Pressure – Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
Smoking – The risk of cataracts more than doubles for people who smoke and the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is three times higher.
Know your Family’s Eye Health History – Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition since many are hereditary. FYI…a very strong genetic correlation exists with glaucoma.
Eat right to protect your sight – Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or collard greens—is important for keeping your eyes healthy. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Prolonged Use of Corticosteroid Medications – the use of inhaled and oral steroids as well as eye drops containing steroids can accelerate the development of cataracts and contribute to glaucoma.
Drinking Excessive Amounts of Alcohol – chronic drinkers are at a higher risk for eye disorders.
Previous Eye Injury or Eye Surgery – this is the leading cause of cataracts in people under 40.
Wear Your Shades – When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
Our doctors, Dr. Mark L. Mayo, Dr. Edward Wade, Dr. Ting-Fang Suarez, and Dr. Paul Stewart recommend if any of these factors are creating vision problems, schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam with your eye doctor.
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Eat Right For Your SIGHT!
Proper nutrition is critical to good eye health.
- Eat Lots of Vegetables and Fruits – Antioxidants protect against oxidation, which is a part of the process of macular degeneration (AMD). Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, mustard greens, and collard greens contain high levels of lutein, a critical antioxidant. Antioxidants are also present in fruits and vegetables with bright color, including red grapes, peppers, corn, oranges, cantaloupe, and mango. Look for fresh produce in a variety of colors to get a wide range of vitamins in your diet.
- Eat Fish – People who eat fish 2-3 times a week have a lower risk for AMD. Fish contain omega-3 which seems to be a critical nutrient for the heart and eyes. The best fish are either wild salmon or small fish like sardines. If you cannot tolerate fish or obtain it easily, an omega-3 supplement is another option.
- Limit Your Fat Intake – In reviewing studies on fat, researchers found that while the amount of fat consumed makes a difference, the real issue for AMD is the number of saturated fats a patient consumes. The biggest source of saturated fat is animal products – beef, lamb, pork, lard, butter, cream, whole milk, and high-fat cheese. Plant oils also have saturated fat, including coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm oil, and palm kernel oil. Read the labels on processed foods and baked goods, as they often have high amounts of saturated fats. Instead, consume healthy fats like olive oil or avocado.
In addition to eating right Dr. Mark Mayo, Dr. Edward Wade, Dr. Ting-Fang Suarez, and Dr. Paul Stewart suggest you follow the below to help prevent AMD:
- Don’t Smoke
- Exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to block UV that may cause eye damage
- Have regular eye exams.
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Living with AMD
While there is no cure for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), there are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of progression.
Monitor your vision weekly.
Use an Amsler grid, a tool that helps you monitor subtle changes in your central vision. Some forms of AMD can progress very quickly. Monitoring your vision weekly can help you notice any changes. If you do notice changes, talk to your eye doctor immediately.
Keep your eye doctor appointments.
Experts recommend a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year for everyone. Some changes in vision may be best detected by an eye care professional, so it’s important to keep your eye appointments, as directed.
If you smoke, quit.
We know it’s not easy. But stopping smoking may be the most important thing you can do to help reduce your risk of AMD progression. Consider creating a plan to stop smoking that is tailored specifically to your needs and habit.
Maintain your overall health. High cholesterol and blood pressure can increase your risk of AMD. Try to exercise for 30 minutes a few times a week. Consult your doctor before starting any exercise routine. Strive for a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark, leafy greens. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked.
Consider low-vision aids.
Many people with AMD may also benefit from the help of low-vision aids, devices designed to help people with low vision function better, such as handheld magnifiers.
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Be My LASIK Valentine
Valentine’s Day 2016 is this Sunday…and if your sweetheart wears glasses and/or contacts, how about giving the gift of better sight? LASIK may not be the most romantic gift, but unlike chocolate or flowers the gift of sight will last a lifetime! Think about it, you could look into your sweetheart’s eyes – without looking through glasses!
All-Laser LASIK at Eye Center of Texas is a state-of-the-art method of laser vision correction that leaves the vast majority seeing 20/20 or better. LASIK is quick, simple and relatively painless solution to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, with or without astigmatism.
LASIK Gift Certificates are available by calling 713-395-1515 (ask for Steve or Kathy).
They will be happy to help create the perfect Valentine’s Day LASIK Certificate!
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National AMD and Low Vision Awareness Month
February is National Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) /Low Vision Awareness Month. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss for individuals age 50 and older. Macular degeneration is a progressive, usually painless disease that affects the macula, the spot on the retina at the back of the eye responsible for central vision, causing central vision to blur, but leaving peripheral vision intact. In its earliest stages, AMD can be difficult to diagnose. In some cases, AMD progresses so slowly that many do not notice a change in their vision. In other cases, the deterioration is very rapid and can appear to happen overnight.
There are two major types of AMD, a “dry” and a “wet” form. The dry form is the early stage and is the most common form of AMD. There is usually little or no vision loss during this stage although there are exceptions with some people having significant vision loss from more advanced “dry” degeneration. The wet form is a late stage of the condition and affects about 10 percent of all people with the condition. Wet AMD accounts for the majority of central vision loss due to AMD.
The wet stage is when abnormal blood vessels start to grow beneath the center of the macula and, as they grow, they leak fluid or blood and cause central vision loss with blurring and distortion of vision. Untreated, these abnormal blood vessels typically will grow relatively large and eventually cause scarring with permanent and often severe central vision loss.
Signs & Symptoms of AMD (If you notice changes to your vision in the following areas you should speak with your doctor particularly if you are older than 50):
- You notice a blurred / blind spot in the center of your field of vision
- You require more light when reading
- You find it difficult to adapt to low lit areas
- Printed words become slightly blurry
- Colors do not seem as bright
- Sometimes you have difficulty recognizing faces
- Your overall vision is becoming hazy
Causes of Macular Degeneration
Even though there is no known exact cause for Macular Degeneration, its origins are considered multi-factorial and the following factors may place you at a higher risk:
- Family history of Macular Degeneration
- Low macular pigment density
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Farsightedness
- Poor Diet / Obesity
- Sun exposure
What is Low Vision?
People with low vision find everyday tasks difficult to do – even with the aid of regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, seeing the TV and writing can seem challenging.
Just one more reason to see your eye doctor regularly for early detection of AMD. To schedule an appointment, call our office at 713-797-1010 or schedule an appointment using our convenient online form
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Learn About Glaucoma from Bono
For two decades Bono’s insistence on wearing sunglasses, even when indoors, has been seen simply as part of his rockstar image. But did you know that his trademark shades are instead there to alleviate difficulties caused by glaucoma? For the past 20 years he has had glaucoma, a condition that can make eyes more sensitive to light. Click on the link below: “4 Things You Can Learn About Glaucoma From Bono”:
http://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/glaucoma-bono-u2
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Glaucoma Awareness Information
According to the National Eye Institute(NEI), of the 2.7 million Americans who have glaucoma, 50 percent don’t know it. Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve and most patients have no symptoms at all in its early stages. If left untreated, it can lead to vision loss and blindness.
To see how glaucoma affects your vision? Check out this glaucoma vision simulator:
http://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/glaucoma-vision-simulator
Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, from babies to senior citizens, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. In the U.S., more than 120,000 people are blind from glaucoma, and glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Blindness from glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African-Americans than Caucasians.
The good news is…glaucoma can be detected in its early stages through a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
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Our Locations
Houston/Bellaire
6565 W. Loop S., Suite 650Bellaire, TX 77401
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
713-357-7276
LASIK/Near Vision:
Office: 713-395-1515
Fax: 713-357-7278
Pasadena
4415 Crenshaw RoadPasadena, TX 77504
Medical Office:
281-977-8800
Medical Fax:
281-977-8877
Sugar Land
15200 S.W. Freeway, Suite 130Sugar Land, TX 77478
Medical Office:
281-277-1010
Medical Fax:
281-277-4504
Clear Lake
455 E. Medical Center Blvd., Suite 110Webster, TX 77598
Medical Office:
281-332-1397
Medical Fax:
281-282-9152
Katy
Greenhouse Medical Plaza2051 Greenhouse Road, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77084
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
281-214-2971
The Woodlands/Conroe
100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 118Conroe, TX 77304
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
936-647-1620