What LASIK Corrects

LASIK is an elective eye surgery that targets the root causes of certain vision problems. If you wear corrective lenses to see better, LASIK might be a way to reshape your cornea to reduce or eliminate your need for those corrective lenses. 

LASIK is performed by trained ophthalmologists to correct:

Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, myopia occurs when the shape of the eye is slightly longer than normal or when the cornea is too steep. Close objects are clearly visible because light rays only focus in front of the retina (back part of the eye). This means that distant objects appear blurry.

Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, hyperopia occurs when the shape of the eye is shorter than normal or when the cornea is too flat. In this condition, light rays focus behind the retina, which makes close objects blurry and distant objects clearer.

Astigmatism: This condition exists when the cornea is unevenly shaped, causing loss of focus for both near and distant objects.

Presbyopia is a naturally-occurring condition where the eye lenses become less flexible after age 40. This stiffening of the lenses makes it harder to focus on close objects, which is why so many older adults need reading glasses. LASIK surgery does not correct presbyopia, but there are other surgical techniques, such as Monovision LASIK, that can provide relief. In Monovision LASIK, one eye is treated for close-up vision and one eye is treated for distance vision.

Advances in LASIK technology have made this procedure possible for a wider range of patients, but it is still possible to have certain vision characteristics that make LASIK a poor vision correction option. If you want to find out what condition your eyes are really in, contact Dr. Lipstock at Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center to schedule your free LASIK Consultation in Richmond. Call today 804-288-1543 or schedule online at lipstocklaser.com.

Differences Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

Many people think all eye doctors the same. They use the terms Optometrist and Ophthalmologist interchangeably. The truth is that these are two very different types of eye care professionals.

Optometrists

Optometrists have earned a Doctor of Optometry Degree (OD). Optometrists have completed a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, plus four years of post-graduate professional training in optometry school. Their main focus is to provide primary eye care, including vision checks, eye disease diagnosis and overall eye health review. They prescribe corrective lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and they can prescribe some medications. Optometrists often work closely with ophthalmologists to provide pre- and post-op care for eye surgery patients.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are Medical Doctors (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, four years of medical school encompassing care for the whole body, internships, at least three years of hospital-based residency and additional years of training in eye disease treatment and eye surgery. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform eye surgery, perform eye exams and write prescriptions for medications or corrective lenses.

Certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration, are managed and corrected by ophthalmologists. Eye surgeries such as LASIK or Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implants should only be done by an eye surgeon who is highly experienced and using the latest technologies.

Frequent eye exams, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems, can provide early detection – and treatment – of developing issues.

Visit the website of ophthalmologist Dr. Lipstock at Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center to schedule a Vision Consultation. Visit lipstocklaser.com or call 804-288-1543 today.