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Eye Diseases Associated with Smoking

If you smoke, you’re well acquainted with the guilty pleasure of lighting up another cigarette, despite having smoked one a couple of minutes before. But do you know the damage the smoke entering inside your lungs is causing?

Apart from leading to a number of health complications such as lung cancer, constricted blood vessels, strokes, loss of appetite, infertility, etc, smoking also increases the risk of a number of eye diseases which can lead to blindness.

Eye Diseases Associated with Smoking

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Quitting smoking is the best step you can take to reduce the damage the chemicals in cigarette smoke has already done. To further lower the risks of eye complications, make sure to visit an eye doctor every year. Get your eye health diagnosed from one of our eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospital, one of the top eye hospitals in Kolkata. Book your appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.

Here are some of the serious eye diseases associated with smoking:

1.Cataracts: Cataract is one of the most common eye diseases linked to regular smoking. The eye complication occurs when the eye lenses start breaking down and form clumps. Over time, the clumps cloud the lens and obstruct light. This, in turn, leads to vision loss which gradually worsens as the clumps become denser. Smoking causes heavy metals like cadmium to accumulate in the lens and contribute to cataract formation. Also, regular smoking can alter the cells in the eye lenses through oxidation.

Cataracts treatment at Disha Eye Hospital

2.Dry Eyes: People who smoke regularly are at higher risk of developing dry eyes than those who don’t smoke. Also, cigarette smoke is an eye irritant; it worsens dry eyes in smokers as well as in non-smokers. Dry eyes occur when either the tear glands cannot produce sufficient/quality tears for lubrication or when the produced tears get evaporated quickly.


3.Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels of the retina get damaged and lead to vision loss. Regular smoking causes blood sugar levels to spike up, especially in people with diabetes. As a result, the increased blood sugar levels cause more damage to the blood vessels and worsen Diabetic Retinopathy. People who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes stand at an increased risk of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy


4.Uveitis: The onset of Uveitis is commonly linked to regular smoking. The eye complication occurs when the eye’s middle layer, the uvea, gets inflamed. If left untreated, the eye complication can damage the vital structures of the eyes, including the retina and the iris. Smoking speeds up the development of Uveitis. As such, regular smokers stand at an increased risk of the complication than non-smokers.

Uveitis

5.Macular Degeneration: Macular Degeneration is one of the leading causes of central vision loss. The eye complication is more common in smokers than in non-smokers. Macular Degeneration occurs when the macula (a part of the retina) is damaged. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors of Macular Degeneration.

Macular Degeneration

6.Tips to quit smoking:

Most people struggle to let go of the habit of smoking. However, making small changes to your lifestyle can go a long way in lowering the temptation to light one up. Here are some tips to help you quit the habit:

●Fight your cravings:

Like every other smoker, you may get cravings to smoke at specific times in a day. For eg, most smokers get a strong craving to light one up after a meal. When you get such cravings, try to fight them by eating a healthy snack, drinking water, and talking with somebody.

●Take help:

Do whatever it takes to get help in quitting the habit. Taking therapies and using mobile apps that help kick the butt is a good option.

●Hang out with non-smokers often:

You may tend to smoke frequently when spending time with other smokers. One simple and effective way to reduce smoking and quit eventually is to hang out more with non-smokers.

We at Disha Eye Hospital are committed to providing affordable eye care treatment so that people can have a healthy vision. Our services include LASIK, refractive surgery, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. To know more about our services, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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20 Facts on 20/20 Vision

You have probably heard the term “20/20 vision” a number of times. If you have ever tested your vision, you must remember that the doctor made you read a chart with some letters printed on them.

If you were told that you have a 20/20 vision that means, your visual acuity is normal. In other words, your eyesight is perfect!

But, is this true? Does a 20/20 vision mean that you have a perfect vision?
Want to know? Check these 20 surprising facts on 20/20 vision:

1.    20/20 is just a measurement of how clearly you are able to see at a particular distance.  If your visual acuity report says that you have a 20/20 vision then that means you can clearly see objects at a distance of 20 feet 1. If you have a 20/40 vision then that means you need to stand at 20 feet to see anything that a person with normal vision can see from 40 feet. This determines your visual clarity under standard circumstances and doesn’t determine the quality of your vision under any type of circumstances.

2.    Don’t think that 20/20 vision is the perfect vision. You may even have a 20/15 vision and can see sharper than average images.  A 20/15 vision means that you can read the eye chart standing at 20 feet while any other person needs to stand at a distance of 15 feet to easily see the chart. Usually, vision correction glasses and processes aim at giving you a 20/20 vision. A special eye chart is used for measuring your visual acuity or the clarity of your vision.

3.    Generally, doctors use the Snellen chart for measuring your visual acuity. The chart contains a total of 11 rows of capital letters. The topmost line of the chart contains a single but very large letter. In the lines following the first line, the number-letter keeps increasing and the size of the letter keeps decreasing. The doctor will make you stand at a distance of 20 feet from the chart and read all the letters without contact lenses or glasses.

You may have to cover one eye and then read the smallest line of letters that are visible to you. The doctor will perform the test in both of your eyes. In some cases, the doctor may make you read the chart using a mirror. In this case, the test can also be done from a distance that’s less than 20 feet. The Snellen Chart was developed by Dr Hermann Snellen, a Dutch Doctor, in the 1860s. Hermann Snellen was the colleague of Dr Fransiscus Donders. It was Donders who first started to diagnose vision-related issues in people by making them look at a chart and ask what they can see.

4.    There is nothing called a “perfect vision.” Vision might defer depending on the circumstances. For instance, if you are out on the road on a sunny day, you may enjoy a clear vision but your friend who doesn’t have a 20/20 vision and has low visual clarity compared to you, may too enjoy a clear vision under the same circumstance just because he or she is wearing a  UV protected polarised glasses that has anti-reflective coating for that improved the contrast and also blocks glare.

There is a difference between visual acuity, vision, eyesight. Before we proceed further, let’s understand the difference:

5.    Visual acuity refers to the sharpness of your vision. This is measured by your ability to read the letter in the Snellen Chart from a particular viewing distance as prescribed.

6.    Visual acuity is an invariable measurement. It’s because you are either sitting or standing during the test and the objects (the letters and the chart in this case) that you are viewing are also static.

7.    The doctor also tests your visual acuity under high contrast conditions. In such case, the letters on the chart are written in black and the background is white.

8.    Visual acuity test helps in determining your eye clarity under standard conditions. This doesn’t determine the quality of your vision under various circumstances. For instance, this test cannot predict how well you may see coloured and moving objects and objects that have similar brightness levels as their background.

9.    There are certain neurological and physical factors that determine your visual acuity. These are:
•    How well your eye lens and cornea can focus light on the retina.
•     The sensitivity of the nerves in your retina and the visual centres in the brain.
•    How your brain interprets the information that it received from the eyes

The light that is focused on the macula (the central part of the retina) determines your visual acuity results during the eye examination.

10.    Eyesight can be defined in many ways. It can be referred to as your vision or the ability to see or your range of sight. Often the term “eyesight” is used interchangeably with “visual acuity.”

11.    Vision is a much wider term than eyesight and visual acuity. Vision is not just seeing but also includes a number of your visual abilities such as tracking moving objects, your depth perception, contrast sensitivity, focusing speed and accuracy.

12.    Often, your 20/20 vision may not be sharp enough. This means that your eyes may have Higher-Order Aberrations or HOA. This cannot be corrected using contact lenses or vision correcting eyeglasses. The eye doctor may use wavefront technology for checking the aberrations.

In case the aberrations are caused by minor irregularities occurring on the front surface of your eye, then it can be corrected by fitting Gas Permeable (GP) contact lenses. This often improves the visual acuity better than soft contact lenses and glasses. It’s because the GP lenses are rigid. These lenses replace the irregular front area of your eye, making them perfectly smooth and curved surface that can focus light more accurately.

13.    Custom wavefront LASIK is another option. This is a laser vision correction surgery can provide you sharp vision (that you get with the rigid gas permeable contact lenses). The visual acuity achieved by LASIK eliminates the daily hassle of wearing glasses or contact lens care.

What can you do to keep your eyes healthy?


Here is the guide to maintain a 20/20 vision naturally:

14.    Eat healthily
Eating well and maintaining a healthy weight can benefit your eyes tremendously. There are a number of food items that can protect your eyes against a number of eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts.

These are caused due to the lack of certain nutrients known as zeaxanthin and lutein found in a variety of vegetables and fruits such as spinach, broccoli, mango, and green beans. Eating fresh and seasonal vegetables, dairy products, fish (especially cold water fish rich in Omega-3 fats) save you from vision impairment.

15.    Avoid smoking
It’s because smoking restricts the flow of blood to your eyes thus, decreasing the amount of oxygen in your eyes. This causes oxidative stress to your eyes and can damage your retina causing the death of cells in that area and a number of other visually impairing eye conditions.

16.    Never ignore any vision-related symptoms
Whenever you notice any changes in your vision, get in touch with your eye specialist. Ignoring these symptoms (howsoever minor it may be) is the biggest mistakes that you will be making. Often, minor symptoms may trigger major issues and cause progressive vision loss.

People usually ignore these symptoms thinking of them as a minor issue. And when they realise, the harm is already done. So, never ignore any symptoms. Get in touch with your eye care specialist today and get a comprehensive eye examination done.

Also, always wear quality sunglasses whenever going out in the sun. Be careful when selecting a sunglass. It’s because not all sunglasses can protect you from the harmful UV rays that damage your eyes. Ensure that the sunglass that you are buying blocks at least 95% to 99% UV rays (if it’s 100% then better).

17.    Let your eyes rest for a while in between work

Overstressing your eyes can harmful. So, whenever you are working in front of your computer for long periods, give them a break in between your work. Take frequent screen breaks and look to any distant object for a brief period.

You may try the 20-20-20 rule. Try looking at an object located at a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds. Do this every 20 minutes while you work. This relaxes the eye muscles and adjusts their focusing ability.

Eye strain is mainly caused by muscle strain and when your eyes dry out.  Try setting up your computer at the corner of your room. You may try setting it up near a window. You may look out of the window. This not only refreshes your mind but also keeps your eyesight healthy. Also, keep your hands clean. Knowingly or unknowingly you are always touching your eyes. This increases the risk of eye infection. This is particularly true when you are wearing contact lenses.

Foods for a healthy eyesight and 20/20 Vision
Include these food items in your diet for a 20/20 vision or healthy vision:

18.    Kale and Spinach: Dark green leafy vegetables such as Spinach and Kale are excellent for your eyesight. These contain high amounts of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin. These two nutrients are found in your eyes and help in lowering the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

People who eat a high amount of lutein and zeaxanthin are less likely to develop eye conditions such as cataracts. If you do not like eating Kale and Spinach then you may eat other leafy veggies such as Collards, Romaine Lettuce, and Turnip Greens.

These also contain high amounts of Zeaxanthin and Lutein. Other vegetables that contain these two anti-oxidants include corn, peas, and broccoli. Also, eggs are a good source of Lutein and Zeaxanthin.

19.    Black-eyed peas and Legumes: Any and all kind of legumes are good for your eyes. Be it black-eyed peas, lima beans, and kidney beans- these contain high levels of zinc. This is an essential trace mineral that is also found in your eyes. Zinc helps in safeguarding your eyes from the light. Other foods items that contain high levels of zinc include lean red meat, oysters, fortified cereals, and poultry.

20.    Salmon: A diet rich in Omega-3 fats is extremely good for your eyes. Coldwater fishes such as Sardine, Salmon, Tuna, and Halibut are rich in Omega-3 fats. These help in preventing the risk of eye issues later in your life. People who eat a diet high in omega-3 fatty acid are less likely to develop Age-related Macular Degeneration than people who don’t.

Also, eat plenty of citrus fruits such as tangerines, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. These contain high levels of vitamin C, an antioxidant that’s crucial for your eye health. Your eyes need a steady supply of Vitamin C for functioning properly and high levels of antioxidants for preventing or delaying the development of AMD and cataract. Other food items containing Vitamin C include tomatoes, strawberries, peaches, red peppers, and oranges.

Get in touch with the Experts
If you think you have refractive errors, it’s better to get in touch with the eye specialists for evaluation of your vision. If you have a minor refractive error, you may undergo LASIK Eye Surgery in Kolkata to improve your visual acuity.

Vision errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be corrected with glasses and contact lenses. However, if you want to get rid of the glasses and do not enjoy wearing a contact lens, you can undergo a LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK eye surgery doesn’t cost much and is a matter of only a few minutes. If you want more information on LASIK or want to undergo LASIK eye surgery in Kolkata, get in touch with the experts at Disha Eye Hospital. Contact us today at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.

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Lasik in Kolkata

lasik eye surgery in Kolkata

Somdatta was 5 years old when she got her first prescription glasses. She faced difficulty in seeing the blackboard across the classroom and other activities became difficult as well. With the help of the glasses, she was able to get a clear vision.

However, as she grew up, her prescription started getting worse. It was a gradual process but now that Somdutta entered college, she quickly moved to contact lenses. She was fed up with her glasses and contact lenses seemed like a breather to her.

However, soon she got a very bad dry eye. It was when she first heard about LASIK eye surgery. She was a bit sceptical in the beginning but after consulting her ophthalmologist, she decided to undergo the procedure. The surgery was pretty quick. Immediately after the operation, Somdutta’s vision was blurry. When she woke up the next day, she was able to read the printed ads on the billboard for the first time, that too without glasses. She noticed her world became more vibrant.

LASIK eye surgery is the most common surgery for correcting refractive errors. Like Somdutta, thousands of people across the country have been benefitted by this surgery. It eliminates the need for glasses and contact lenses.

When is LASIK eye surgery performed?

You may undergo LASIK eye surgery if you have the following condition:

  • Myopia: You are myopic when your eyeball is slightly elongated or longer than usual and as a result, the distant objects appear blurry to you. Your vision is also affected if the cornea bends the light too sharply and the light focuses in front of the retina. As a result, you cannot see distant objects clearly.
  • Hyperopia: You have farsightedness when you cannot see the nearby objects clearly. This happens when your eyeballs are shorter than usual or if your cornea is so flat that the light doesn’t bend properly and focuses behind the retina. As a result, you cannot see nearby objects clearly.
  • Astigmatism: This is a condition that causes overall blurred vision. It happens when the cornea has uneven surface it affects both near and far vision. Usually, Astigmatism can be corrected with contact lenses and glasses. However, with LASIK, the corneal surface is reshaped, and the light that enters your eyes focuses just on the retina.

Are your Eyes Fit for LASIK?

LASIK eye surgery is good for people who have a mild or moderate degree of refractive error and do not have any other serious vision-related issues.

Before LASIK is performed, the doctors will first evaluate your eyes to see if your eyes are healthy enough for the surgery or not. He or she will evaluate whether you have any conditions that might complicate the procedure or result in a poor surgical outcome. The doctor will evaluate if you have:

  • Any eye disease that might cause progressive deterioration of eyesight and thinning of the cornea (known as keratoconus). In case keratoconus runs in your family, and even if you do not have the condition at that time, the doctor may not recommend LASIK eye surgery for you.
  • Uveitis, keratitis, and herpes simplex affecting your eyes, and any other type of eye infections.
  • Eye injuries or eyelid disorders
  • Severe dry eyes. The doctor will evaluate the moisture in your eyes. If you have dry eyes, LASIK surgery can worsen the condition. In such cases, the doctors either would not recommend LASIK or may recommend it along with a precautionary treatment to reduce the risk.
  • Large pupils. If your pupils are large, especially in low light, then LASIK eye surgery isn’t appropriate for you. It’s because the surgery may cause symptoms such as halos, light sensitivity, ghost images, and starbursts.
  • Glaucoma. LASIK eye surgery can increase your eye pressure and this can worsen your glaucoma.
  • Cataracts
    Even some medical conditions that are not related to the eye can make LASIK risky for you and the outcome less predictable. The doctor may not suggest LASIK in case you:
  • Have any medical condition affecting your immune system. It’s because it will impair your ability to heal, making you prone to infections, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders.
  • Are taking any immunosuppressive medication
  • Have diabetes.
  • Suffer from depression or any particular chronic pain conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, and fibromyalgia. If you have one or more of these conditions, you may face problems with postoperative pain and dry eyes than any other people. The reasons for this are still not clear. It might be related to how you perceive pain.

Rethink your decision of having LASIK surgery if:

  • You suffer from severe nearsightedness or if you have been diagnosed with any severe refractive error.
  • You suffer from any age-related eye conditions that give you presbyopia.
  • You are actively involved in any kind of contact sports such as boxing, martial arts where you are at risk of eye injuries. LASIK surgery isn’t a good choice for you.

How LASIK Eye Surgery is performed?

Before the surgery, the doctor will apply eye drops to numb your eyes. This is for preventing any discomfort during the surgery. The doctor may also give you some medicines (maybe sedatives) to help you relax during the process, visit https://medfitnetwork.org/public/valium-diazepam-oral/.

After that, the doctor will position your eye under the laser. He or she will use a lid speculum for keeping your eyelids wide open during the surgery.

During the surgery, the first thing that the surgeon will do is cut a thin flap in your cornea using a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. He or she will then fold the flap to access the stroma. Using the excimer laser, the doctor will remove corneal tissue. This laser is a highly specialized laser that uses a cool ultraviolet light beam for removing corneal tissue in microscopic amounts and reshapes it in a way that the light can properly focus on the retina.

If you are nearsighted, the doctor will flatten the cornea and if you are farsighted, then he or she will make the cornea steeper. The excimer laser is also used for correcting astigmatism by smoothing the irregular cornea and give it a regular shape.

Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back in place. The cornea is then left to heal naturally. LASIK or any other laser eye surgery is done with topical anaesthetic drops. It doesn’t involve bandages and stitches.

What to expect immediately After the Surgery?

Once the procedure is over, you may feel an itching or burning sensation in your eye. Don’t worry, this is temporary. The doctor will then conduct a brief post-operative examination before releasing you. You cannot drive immediately after the surgery until the doctor gives you the clearance as your eye will be recovering. It’s better to bring someone to drive you back home.

Following the procedure, you will experience a hazy and blurry vision. However, from the following day, your vision will start improving. The vision takes some time to adjust and stabilise. Usually, this happens in just a few days. In very rare cases, the vision takes several weeks or longer to stabilise.

It is highly recommended that you stay away from strenuous exercise for at least a week following the surgery. This can cause trauma to the eyes and hamper the healing process.

You have to come for a routine checkup after the surgery. The doctor needs to monitor your eyes and how they are healing. During the routine check-up, the doctor will check your vision.

Follow the doctor’s instructions and ensure that you are taking the prescribed medications properly. Also, avoid touching or rubbing your eye as it might dislodge the corneal flap.

Benefits of LASIK eye surgery

LASIK eye surgery has numerous benefits. These include:

  • LASIK has 96% success rate. In most of the cases, those who have undergone LASIK eye surgery have experienced improvements in vision. You will see a dramatic improvement in your vision after the day of your surgery or after a few days.
  • This is a painless process. It also doesn’t take much time but less than an hour to perform the surgery.
  • Recovery is extremely quick as it doesn’t require any stitches after the surgery.
  • In some cases, you may need a second surgery (if your vision changes with age) to correct your vision further.
  • After having LASIK eye surgery, most patients do not need glasses or lenses.

Preparing For LASIK Eye Surgery: Things to Consider

Before the surgery, you need to keep a few things in mind:

1. You cannot wear contact lenses for a long period. Before you undergo the procedure, you have to stop wearing contact lenses (if you wear). Do this at least several weeks prior to the surgery. It’s because the lenses will affect the shape of your eye lens and affect the outcome of the surgery.

2. Bring someone along with you to accompany you. It’s because your vision won’t be clear immediately after the procedure.

Once the surgery is over, follow these tips to ensure a fast recovery:

  1. Protect your eyes. Always wear protective goggle for covering your eyes after the surgery. Immediately after the surgery, the eye shouldn’t be exposed to light and dust and also, you need to avoid touching it. Sleep in your protective eye gear to avoid touching your eyes.
  2. Never rub the eyes. The corneal flap is still not secure and can dislodge if you rub or press your eyes. Even if you feel an itching sensation in your eyes, avoid touching it. Follow this for at least a week after the surgery.
  3. Apply the eye drops that are provided to you by the doctor. It’s an important part of the healing process and also minimises the risk of eye infection.
  4. Give your eyes rest. Plenty of rest is crucial for healing. Sleep. It’s because your body repairs itself while you are asleep.

Other Options

If you are not fit for LASIK, you have plenty of other options:

  • Epithelial laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis or epi-LASIK: In this procedure, the surgeon first separates the corneal surface or the epithelium from the Stroma (the middle part of the cornea). The doctor uses an Epikeratome, a mechanized blunt blade device for reshaping the cornea using a laser. This procedure is very similar to LASEK.
  • Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK: Here, instead of cutting a flap, the surface of the cornea is scraped away. You may initially feel moderate pain in the eyes and blurry vision but this corneal abrasion heals within 3-4 days. However, compared to PRK, LASIK is a better option for correcting severe myopia.
  • Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy or LASEK: This surgery is very similar to LASIK. The only difference is the flap is created with a microkeratome and exposing the cornea to ethanol. In this surgery, the surgeon can remove very less amount of corneal tissue. LASEK is a good option for those who have thin cornea and cannot undergo LASIK eye surgery.
  • Corrective lenses: The lenses can be surgically implanted in your eye for improving your vision. This is usually done for cataract surgery where implantable lenses are put in place of the cloudy natural lens. This may also be an alternative for LASIK for elderly who may need cataract surgery in the future. People who have severe nearsightedness which cannot be corrected with corrective lenses are also given implantable lenses. However, this procedure is usually not followed for everyone.
  • Bioptics: This procedure involves several techniques such as LASIK, implantable lenses for correcting nearsightedness or farsightedness. Like the above procedure, this is not followed for everyone who seeks vision correction through LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK Eye surgery in Kolkata

LASIK eye surgery cost in Kolkata depends on the severity of your condition. If you want to consult a specialist before the procedure, get in touch with us at http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us.

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10 Frequently Asked Questions on Myopia

LASIK Eye Surgery in Kolkata

Myopia is the condition where the distant objects appear blurry and out of focus. This is caused when the eyes are longer than usual. As a result, the distance between the cornea and your retina is greater than in normal eyes. LASIK eye surgery can rectify myopia.

Here are a few frequently asked questions on Myopia:

1. What causes Myopia?

Nearsightedness or Myopia is caused when the shape of your eyeball is more than normal eyeballs. However, in some cases, myopia is also caused by a change in the cornea or the lens. Due to these problems, the light rays entering the eye focus in front of the retina instead focusing directly on it.

2. What are the symptoms of Myopia?

The initial symptom of Myopia is blurred vision. When you look at distant objects, it will appear blurred. You will find yourself squinting and frowning while looking at distant images and objects. You will get frequent headaches, and you won’t be able to read books or newspaper properly without holding it too close to your eyes.

3. When do we develop Myopia?

Usually, nearsightedness begins in your childhood, between the ages of 6 to 12. While you are in your teenage, your eyeballs grow quickly. At that time either it will grow quickly or get worse quickly. By the time you reach 20 years, myopia stops getting worse. Most of the time, the condition stabilises at mild or moderate levels.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/nearsightedness-myopia-topic-overview#1

4. What are the treatment options for myopia?

Usually, the eye specialist prescribes glasses and corrective lenses for correcting myopic vision. These lenses and glasses help in focusing the images directly onto your retina so that you can see properly. However, these glasses and lenses do not cure the condition. You need to wear them for doing certain activities such as driving a car or reading distant boards or for viewing things located far away.

Apart from these, the doctors may also suggest surgical procedures for vision correction. The most common process for treating myopia is Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis or LASIK eye surgery. Another process used for treating Myopic vision is PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy.

5. What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is commonly used for correcting vision related problems such as Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism. In this procedure, the cornea of your eye is reshaped so that that light that is entering the eye focuses directly on the retina and you get a clear vision. This is a painless procedure and takes only 15 minutes to complete. The eye surgeon will cut a circular flap on your cornea and then removes some of the corneal tissue using an excimer laser. For myopic vision, the surgeon flattens the cornea, and for farsightedness, the surgeon makes it steeper. There are many places in Kolkata where LASIK eye surgery is performed.

Source: http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/lasik.htm

6. What is Photorefractive Keratectomy and how it helps?

Like LASIK eye surgery, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) too works by reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser. The only difference between LASIK and PRK is the initial steps of the procedure. In LASIK, the surgeon cuts a thin flap in the cornea using a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. In PRK, the eye surgeon cuts the outer layer of the cornea and discards is before reshaping the corneal tissue using excimer laser. The top layer grows back in a few days after the surgery. And that is why recovery of PRK takes longer than LASIK.

Another variation of PRK called LASEK is also performed. In this procedure, the surgeon lifts the outer epithelial layer and preserves it. At the end of the surgery, the layer is them put back on the eye surface.

Source: http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/prk.htm

7. Can we prevent Myopia?

The development of myopia depends on your genes and your environment. There is no way that you can prevent Myopia. However, you can definitely prevent it from worsening. Use glasses and contact lenses prescribed by the doctor. Remember that, glasses and contact lenses won’t cure the condition, but they will help you enjoy better vision.

Source: https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/myopia/common-myopia-myths/common-myopia-myths?sso=y

8. How is myopia diagnosed?

The doctor will perform a thorough eye check-up for diagnosing myopia. The eye examination may begin with a visual acuity test. In this test, the eye doctor may use a standardised chart of letters of varied size. You will be asked to cover one eye and read that chart aloud. If the test results show that you have myopia, then the doctor will use a retinoscope to examine your eyes. Using that retinoscope, the doctor will throw light into your eyes and evaluate the reflection off the retina. This is used for determining the degree of refractive error in your eyes.

9. What is Degenerative Myopia?

Also known as pathological or malignant myopia, this condition is very rare. This is mostly inherited, and symptoms begin to appear in early childhood. In this condition, your eyeball elongates rapidly, thus causing severe myopia. The condition gets worse usually by teenage or youth. This condition may even get worse during your adult years. People with this condition are highly susceptible to retinal detachment and other conditions such as glaucoma and choroid neovascularization (an abnormal growth of blood vessel).

10. What is High Myopia?

This is a severe form of myopia. In this condition, your eyeball keeps growing and elongates from front to back. This increases your risk for retinal detachment and an early development of other eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts.

Source: https://nei.nih.gov/health/errors/myopia

LASIK Eye Surgery in Kolkata

Looking for places where you can undergo LASIK eye surgery in Kolkata? If yes, then book an appointment with Disha Eye Hospital. They have a team of highly qualified experts and eye surgeons dedicated to resolving any eye problems. If you want to know LASIK eye surgery cost or want to book an appointment at Disha Eye Hospital, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.