Blog

25 Sep Can an eye doctor check whether I have keratoconus with a normal eye examination?

Posted at 17:20h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Keratoconus (and the spectrum of keratoconus-like problems of the cornea) are easily missed within the context of a normal, routine eye exam. Without specialized diagnostic equipment, keratoconus is usually only discoverable in its advanced stages using biomicroscopy (slit lamp) and refraction. While this may be...

11 Sep How do people who can’t read get eye exams?

Posted at 17:27h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Visual acuity testing can be done without using letters, for example in children or other individuals who might be literacy challenged. Another example would be working with foreign adults who are only familiar with their own alphabets (e.g. Japanese). There is the "tumbling E" chart which...

11 Sep If eyes stop growing in your 20s, how is it that some people’s myopia keeps getting worse way into their 40s and 50s?

Posted at 17:22h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

The human eye rarely continues to grow in length or size past our second decade of life. So nearsightedness, associated with excessive growth of the eye, has usually leveled off by then. The cornea ( which does most of the focusing of the eye) really doesn't...

28 Aug What would happen if one uses a higher power of eye glasses for hyperopia than they need?

Posted at 17:28h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Overcorrection in hyperopic patients is not well tolerated generally. These eyes are accustomed to maintaining an elevated degree of ciliary muscle tension just to neutralize the hyperopic blur at distance. They are furthermore conditioned to accommodate (increase the ciliary muscle tension) in response to blur...

28 Aug Top 5 Myths about Eye Health

Posted at 17:26h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Many people are exposed to myths about their eye health as children, and they carry unfounded notions about what is good or bad for their eyes into their adult years. The following list will help debunk some myths about what will damage your vision. Watching Television...

14 Aug What is the highest myopic prescription possible for a IOL?

Posted at 17:30h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

I wonder if you might be referring to an ICL rather than an IOL? The difference is that an ICL (Intraocular Collamer Lens) is used for myopia correction by being "added on" over the existing natural lens while an IOL (Intraocular Lens) is used to REPLACE...

14 Aug Is there such a thing as 20/20 vision but for hearing?

Posted at 17:28h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Yes…but it is a very old and outdated way to measure hearing! The EENT (Eye, ear, nose, and throat) medical specialty began to evolve over 100 years ago. At that time, both hearing and vision were recorded using the same 20/x notation system. The eye chart...

31 Jul Why is former FDA advisor Morris Waxler calling for a ban on LASIK eye surgery? Is it really as dangerous as Waxler says? What should people consider before getting LASIK?

Posted at 17:34h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

Morris Waxler, Ph.D was involved in the early approval of LASIK as a non-clinical advisor on its safety and efficacy-but has not worked there for many years. [He is not an actual medical doctor who treats patients.] As to why he is so vocal about banning LASIK,...

31 Jul What are the structural differences between an eagle’s eye and the human eye that make them seeing so much better?

Posted at 17:30h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

All animals have evolved visual systems that maximize their likelihood to pass on their genes to succeeding generations. For animals that are often prey (e.g. frogs and many fish), having the very widest field of vision is highly important to minimize the risk of getting...

17 Jul How long does it usually take for cataracts to ‘ripen’ enough for removal?

Posted at 17:36h in Uncategorized by woodhamseyedev

The old story of a cataract needing to "ripen" before it could be safely treated surgically should be abandoned. In the late 1970s, the shift to small incision surgery with lens implants was just beginning. Prior to that, cataracts (the hardened and opacified natural lens) had to be manually...