Set up an Early Detection Plan for Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center we are proud to treat our patients as family, and we work very hard to make sure the procedures we perform for them are as life-changing as possible. Whether it’s through LASIK vision correction, cataract surgery, treatment for an eye disease or even just a routine eye exam, our main goal is always to provide a better quality of life.

Did you know that certain cancers can spread to the eyes? Breast cancer is one type of cancer that can cause secondary intraocular cancer in the middle layer of the eyeball. It often has no symptoms, but it can be detected during routine eye exams. This is one more reason why regular eye exams are so important.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, an astounding 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is absolutely key in fighting and surviving breast cancer. Having an early detection plan for breast cancer in place is extremely important for women. This plan should include such scheduled monthly/yearly activities as:

• Breast self-exams
• Mammograms
• Clinical breast exam by a gynecologist or family doctor

You should look for changes in the breasts, including:            

• Lumps
• Skin texture changes
• Nipple tenderness or changes
• Breast size or shape changes
• Nipple discharge

Dr. Lipstock doesn't treat breast cancer, but his detailed eye exams may help identify potential underlying health problems. If you are experiencing any changes in your vision or just want to be proactive in preserving your health, please contact Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center right away to schedule your Consultation. Contact us today at 804-288-1543 or lipstocklaser.com. 

How Does LASIK Correct Myopia?

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a vision condition that affects approximately 30% of people in the United States. This condition makes it difficult to see objects that are far away, so corrective lenses are often prescribed to see things like white boards/SMART boards in school, televisions, movie screens or road conditions when driving.

Distant objects are difficult to see is because light is not focusing properly on the back of the eye (the retina); the cornea is too steep or the eye is too long. Light ends up focusing in front of the retina so distant objects appear blurry.

LASIK eye surgery corrects myopia by reshaping the inner layers of the cornea so light will focus on the right spot on the retina. Only a microscopic amount of tissue is reshaped using a laser, but the results can be amazing. In fact, many people achieve 20/20 vision (or better) after LASIK vision correction.

If you are nearsighted and are tired of wearing corrective lenses, look into LASIK today by scheduling a free LASIK Consultation at Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center. This Consultation will tell you if your cornea is thick enough to support this procedure or if a different procedure would be more appropriate for your eye structure and still give you the results you want. Contact us today at lipstocklaser.com or 804-288-1543. 

What is a LASIK Self-Evaluation?

A LASIK Self-Evaluation is an interactive online tool to help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK vision correction surgery. While this is not a substitute for a full LASIK Consultation from an experienced ophthalmologist, it is a great first step in the LASIK research process.

The Self-Evaluation asks questions about what your vision is like right now, such as:

•      I can’t see things up close
•      I can’t see things far away
•      It’s difficult for me to drive
•      I’ve been diagnosed with astigmatism
•      I wear glasses / contacts / reading glasses

The Self-Evaluation also asks questions regarding your current medical health and your eye health. This information is kept strictly confidential.

When all of the details are submitted, the Evaluation tallies the information and provides an immediate, personalized result as to whether or not LASIK might produce the results you desire. You can use this information to further research your options or as back-up information to share during your full LASIK Consultation with a surgeon. The only way to know for sure if you are a candidate for LASIK is by having a complete eye exam to determine your corneal thickness and overall eye health.  

Dr. Lipstock at Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center in Richmond offers a free LASIK Self-Evaluation on his website at lipstocklaser.com. If you are considering LASIK, we encourage you to take the quick assessment to see what might be best for your unique situation. 

LASIK vs. Contact Lenses

Many people are unaware that wearing contacts every day may be a bigger risk than having their vision corrected with LASIK.

The fact is, if you have to wear contact lenses, hard contact lenses will give you the best vision, but they are a real nuisance, uncomfortable, prone to slipping, and easily broken. Soft contacts on the other hand are more comfortable, but due to their composition and design it can be more difficult to correct astigmatism.

Possible Complications of Contact Lenses

With prolonged usage, especially in adverse environmental conditions, contact lenses can lead to:

• Cornea redness or inflammation
• Corneal infections
• Corneal abrasions
• Corneal ulcers
• Corneal swelling
• Dry eye

LASIK eye surgery may eliminate or reduce the need for corrective lenses. As with any type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks of LASIK surgery, including:

• Dry eye syndrome
• Visual symptoms, such as halos, glare, starbursts or double vision
• Vision loss

Cost of LASIK

The average one-time cost of LASIK ranges from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. When these costs are compared to the ongoing expenses of contacts and glasses, LASIK often makes sense financially. Over any 10 year period the average vision impaired person will spend around $12,000 on:

• New eyeglass prescriptions
• New frames and lenses
• Replacement lenses or an endless stream of replacement contacts
• Cleaning and sterilizing solutions

Not every person has the right eye conditions to support a LASIK procedure. If you are tired of wearing contacts or glasses and want to explore the LASIK option, the only way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK is by scheduling a LASIK Consultation. Contact Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center in Richmond today at 804-288-1543 or lipstocklaser.com to start on the path! 

In Music, the Eyes Have It

The eyes have been dubbed “the window to the soul.” Maybe that’s why so many eye make-up products are sold and why so many songwriters focus on this expressive facial feature in their music…songs like:

•     Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
•     Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
•     Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol
•     Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue by Crystal Gayle
•     When You Close Your Eyes by Night Ranger
•     Betty Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
•     Private Eyes by Hall and Oates
•     For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton
•     Angel Eyes by the Jeff Healey Band
•     Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
•     Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain by Willie Nelson

If you’re tired of hiding your eyes behind corrective lenses, you should consider laser vision correction. LASIK eye surgery has allowed millions of Americans to showcase their “baby blues” (and other eye colors, of course) for the world to see.

LASIK eye surgery is performed on people who are nearsighted, farsighted and who have astigmatism. No LASIK surgeon can absolutely guarantee that LASIK will free you from corrective lenses forever, but this popular procedure is very effective for most patients…especially when they choose a surgeon who has extensive experience and a proven track record of success…a surgeon like Dr. Lipstock at Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center in Richmond.

If you can think of other “eye” songs, share them with us on our Facebook page facebook.com/LipstockLasik  And be sure to contact us soon at 804-288-1543 or on lipstocklaser.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation.