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WHITING CLINIC - GIFT OF SIGHT BLOG

When Christmas trees attack it’s the eyes that can often take the hit. This holiday season pay extra attention to keeping a safe distance between you and your favorite spirited decorations in order to play it safe, especially in the first few days following your LASIK procedure. 

The two most common Laser Vision Correction procedures that we perform at Whiting Clinic are LASIK and PRK. And, although PRK was the first laser vision procedure FDA approved to correct myopia and astigmatism in the US, it is still a relatively unfamiliar option to many of our patients.

Both LASIK, Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, and PRK, Photo-Refractive Keratectomy, are procedures that reshape the external cornea, the clear front structure of the eye, in such a way that the light focuses clearly onto the retina at the back of the eye. It is much the same visual correction as contact lenses, except that the cornea itself is reshaped as if to have the same prescription shape as a contact lens.

Cataracts are a frequent, even “normal” development for all of us who are fortunate to live into our 60’s, 70’s and beyond.  It isn’t rare to see cataracts in some individuals as young as 30’s or 40’s either.  Whatever the underlying cause, a cataract is simply a haze or film that develops in the natural lens of the eye, resulting in a loss of visual clarity, difficulty seeing in low light, and glare off of lights at night.  The result is trouble seeing to read fine print, recognizing faces, even trouble seeing to safely drive.

The treatment for cataracts involves removal of the natural “crystalline” lens of the eye, and replacement with a new intraocular lens implant, or “IOL.”   These lenses have been in wide use for over 30 years and can restore clarity to levels similar to what most patients had 20 years earlier.  New technologies have enabled us to now accurately correct myopia, astigmatism and farsightedness with these lenses as well.  Within the last several years, advanced design lenses have become available that let us even correct the near vision so that dependence on reading glasses is also reduced or even eliminated.

LASIK Vision Correction is safe, effective, painless and affordable. Individuals who have had LASIK surgery rate the results as overwhelmingly positive, stating that they are thrilled to have clarity of vision that frees them from glasses and contacts. While there are several clinics in the Twin Cities that perform LASIK surgery, it is important to consider that your LASIK Surgery Environment matters and that it is as important to feel comfortable and confident with your choice of clinic as with the surgeon who is performing the procedure. Studies have shown that perception is a key factor in predicting our emotional and physical responses to what we experience. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a doctor's office where "White Coat" syndrome can elevate blood pressure and respiration rate just by being present in the clinical environment. Alleviation of anxiety is a priority for Whiting Clinic LASIK Eye Care. We recognize that it is very stressful to even consider surgery on one's eyes. Creating an environment of professionalism, trust, and calm can go a long way to soothing a patient's nerves.

Every means of refractive correction has some element of long-term instability, whether it's glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, Laser Vision Correction or Implants.  It’s not that the correcting mechanism looses it’s effectiveness—i.e. glasses don’t lose their ability to correct the refractive error they were created to correct—but the human eye can change in subtle ways over time in a way that requires a slightly different prescription to correct the vision most effectively at some point in the future.  Most changes happen because of subtle changes in the internal lens of the eye or of the outer clear cornea.

The Laser Vision Correction refractive technology is colliding with corrective lens implant technology in a big way.  For years, Laser Vision Correction or LASIK, has been the predominant way to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.  Lens implants have been relegated primarily to use in the correction of cataracts, with a lesser goal of correcting some of the underlying, preexisting refractive error in the process.  Times are changing!

We often take the health of our kids’ eyes for granted; assuming that eye health troubles are only something that older people need to think about.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.

Each year, over 10,000 Americans seek treatment in emergency rooms from fireworks-related injuries. Nearly half of these injuries occur during the July 4th holiday weekend. Most frequently, fireworks-related injuries involve the eyes and nearly a third of these ER visits are for serious eye injuries.  

On a daily basis we meet patients looking to be free of glasses for both distance and near. For those under 40, that can be easily accomplished with the current LASIK technology. But as we get closer to 50, the need for "readers" to help with near vision will be unavoidable unless we take other steps to correct the near focus as well.

WHITING CLINIC charges nearly 50% less than other LASIK providers so it'll only take about 6 years (on average) for your LASIK to pay for itself. Makes LASIK that much more enticing! Check out this article at walletpop.com for more information.

Thanks for visiting the NEW Gift of Sight Blog at whitingclinic.com!

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WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY: close
Alexis' (MyTalk 107) LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Alexis' (mytalk 107) LASIK Testimonial
  • Jan 9, 2012 18:45pm
CARRIE'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Carrie's LASIK Testimonial
  • Nov 14, 2011 20:15pm
TONY'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Tony's LASIK Testimonial
  • Nov 8, 2011 11:53am
LOUISE & SOPHIA'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL (translated)
  • Louise & Sophia's LASIK Testimonial (translated)
  • Oct 17, 2011 14:12pm
AMANDA'S TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
  • Amanda's Testimonial Video
  • Oct 11, 2011 12:36pm
PETE'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Pete's LASIK Testimonial
  • Sep 19, 2011 12:08pm
JAMES' LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • James' LASIK Testimonial
  • Sep 15, 2011 16:29pm
CORBIN'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Corbin's LASIK Testimonial
  • Aug 10, 2011 18:06pm
AARON'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Aaron's LASIK Testimonial
  • Aug 10, 2011 18:01pm
MATT'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Matt's LASIK Testimonial
  • Aug 10, 2011 17:40pm
MELISSA'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Melissa's LASIK Testimonial
  • Aug 4, 2011 17:59pm
Jill'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Jill's LASIK Testimonial
  • Jul 18, 2011 16:32pm
JOSH'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Josh's LASIK Testimonial
  • Jul 18, 2011 15:07pm
HEATHER'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Heather's LASIK Testimonial
  • Jul 11, 2011 19:48pm
JACOB'S LASIK TESTIMONIAL
  • Jacob's LASIK Testimonial
  • Jul 11, 2011 11:18am