1. The first step typically referred to as “palming”. With this exercise, you simply place the palms of your hands over both eyes so that no light shines through. Then the eyes are able to relax, and almost reset themselves in a way. Keep the palms there for at least a minute, then remove them to refreshed feeling eyes.

2. A second equally simple exercise is take ten minutes breaks periodically during up close work done on a computer. While continuously focusing on a computer, your eyes become used to looking at the screen right in front of you, and it becomes slightly more difficult for them to focus on things that are further away. This exercise requires you to simply take a break for 10 minutes and focus on things that are further away from you, to help your eyes readjust to focusing on things in the distance as well as right in front of you.

3. A third exercise can be practiced when your eyes are feeling tired and dry. Squeeze your eyes shut for 5 seconds at a time, and repeat this 5 times. This exercise allows your eyes to build up tears to moisten your dry eyes, helps to wake them up.

4. The next exercise helps to build up the actual muscles of your eyes. Move your eyes in slow clockwise circles about 6 or 7 times, then repeat the process in counterclockwise circles. This helps to loosen up stiff feeling eyes, and builds up your ocular muscles.

5. Massaging the eye area is also a very beneficial eye exercise. By lightly massaging the eye socket ridges, as well as your temples, you are allowing more blood flow to the eyes. This helps your eyes to receive more oxygen, which gives you clearer vision.

6. A final step that must be taken in order to improve vision and strengthen your eyes involves proper nutrition. Just like a body builder needs protein to build strong muscles, your eyes also need the proper amounts of vitamins and nutrients to grow stronger and healthier.

Following these simple eye exercises will definitely give you stronger eyes, and help improve your vision. Trust me, your eyes will thank you for it.

There are a number of pros and cons when we consider laser eye surgery. Some people dislike wearing glasses and they refuse to wear contact lenses. If they are candidates for this surgery then their problem will be solved in a matter of minutes and their vision can be greatly improved.

Although laser eye surgery can be somewhat expensive it is often partially covered by insurance. On the other hand the cost of this surgery is a one-time only expense. If you consider the amount of money you will pay for glasses, or contacts, then this actually can be subtracted from the overall cost of the surgery and over the years this might pay for the procedure.

One of the concerns about laser eye surgery is the fact that it must be so precise. If the eye surgeon makes the slightest of errors it can cause permanent vision problems. One of the results from an eye surgery gone wrong is double vision; however, this problem often disappears on its own. If it does not then additional surgery can remedy the problem. The surgery can also result in what is called “dry eyes” or eye infections. These issues can also be solved by using eye drops or other medication. It is reported that one in six people who undergo laser surgery results in some type of eyesight issues. These include multiple vision, distortions of vision, and, as previously mentioned, double vision.

The risks involved in laser eye surgery are reduced with each passing year. This is due to the modern technology as well as the skill of the doctor. Many people see their vision improve to 20/20 without ever needing to wear glasses or contacts again. The other five out of six people generally come out of the procedure successfully. In the following days they immediately enjoy the experience of being able to see things clearly that they had not be able to do for many years. However, every candidate for the surgery should give it careful consideration and discuss the procedure, in detail, with their doctor.

First off, a person should always be sure to form good eye habits. Forming good eye habits is one of the easiest ways to improve your eyesight. To form good eye habits, a person should consciously make the effort to blink a few times while reading or doing computer work. Blinking helps to prevent dryness to the eyes, which is a major cause of poor eyesight. In addition, if a person does a lot of computer work, then he or she should make sure to always keep his or her eyes at least an arm’s length away from a computer screen.

Another piece of advice to improve one’s eyesight is to be gentle with the eyes and eye region. All too often, people do not realize that they rub their eyes when they are exhausted. Rubbing one’s eyes can be a major contributor to poor eyesight. A person should refrain from touching the eyes or areas surrounding the eyes. The tissue surrounding eyes is very sensitive and can be easily damaged. A person should take great care to be gentle with the eye region.

photo credit: Kyle McDonald

There are certain nutrients and minerals a person can consume to improve eyesight as well. Drinking cucumber juice can truly have a great impact upon improving eyesight. In addition, eating grapes and consuming Vitamin A can also work to help improve one’s eyesight. Even blueberry juice has been recommended by many doctors as helpful for improving eyesight in a natural way.

A person should be sure to try to exercise his or her eyes on a daily basis, by moving them in all directions. All too often, people can simply look ahead throughout the day and forget to move their eyes to the sides. Moving one’s eyes to the sides allows a person to moisturize the eyes, so that they do not become dried out. Another way to improve eyesight is by becoming less dependent on glasses. By not wearing glasses as much, a person’s eyes will naturally improve as a survival mechanism.

Overall, these are just a few ways any person can improve eyesight in a natural way.

For those people who do not already wear glasses, this can be easily remedied with the purchase of a cheap pair of reading glasses that can be found at the dollar store or at the end of the grocery store check-out aisle.

photo credit: pj_vanf

But what about the many that already wear glasses for distance, but cannot see close up? Is a second pair of glasses always warranted?

Progressive reading glasses were designed with just such a person in mind. Years ago, bifocals which had that obvious line across the lens was the best that optometry had to offer, but today, progressive lenses are line-less and no one will be any the wiser as to what type of glasses you are wearing on your face. The top of progressive lenses are perscripted for distance, the middle is for intermediate or computer distance and the bottom portion of the lens are designed for reading. When you put on your first pair of progressive reading glasses, you may find that they take a little getting used to. Practice tilting your head back and forth and left and right until you become acquainted with how to best use your progressive lenses.

Talk to your optometrist today and find out if progressive reading glasses are right for you.

When eye surgeons perform Photorefractive keratectomy, it requires the use of an excimer laser. This laser uses cool ultraviolet light aimed directly at the cornea and removes very small amounts of tissue from the cornea to reshape it. Reshaping the cornea allows more focused light to enter the eye, which provides clearer vision. This procedure is effective in the treatment of nearsighted and farsighted individuals. For farsighted people the cornea is reshaped to be steeper as with nearsighted individuals the cornea is flattened. PRK surgery is also effective in the correction of astigmatism, as the cornea can be smoothed, making it a more normal shape.

Eye surgeons all want to perform PRK surgery perfectly to achieve the desired results of the patient, but sometimes this procedure can cause overcorrection or under correction, which can cause vision haziness. It this is the case, the eye surgeon will normally choose to perform a PRK enhancement procedure to correct the problem. Because PRK surgery takes time for the correction to be noticed, most eye surgeons wait at least four months after the initial PRK procedure before performing the enhancement surgery. Most individuals who have PRK never need the enhancement surgery, but about 10% do require this procedure afterwards.

Eye surgeons who perform PRK surgery on their patients normally explain that visual recovery time can take 4 weeks or longer for complete recovery. During the first week after the PRK procedure individuals can expect their vision to greatly fluctuate. Most individuals after having this procedure can expect their vision to be 20/30 to 20/50 after the first few days following the procedure. If the patient’s vision is less than perfect after the allotted time, PRK enhancement may be required, as the desired results are then normally achieved.

The main benefits of PRK enhancement are correction of haziness that can occur from the initial PRK procedure, the elimination of glasses or contacts that may have to used if the PRK was overcorrected or under corrected and the improvement of vision that the individual desired before the initial procedure.

Nationwide, there are many medical healthcare professionals who will perform cataract-related surgery for free on older patients who have delayed the procedure because of worries about the cost. These doctors are able to perform cataract-related services at absolutely no cost to many individuals who need their help. You may be able to receive a comprehensive eye exam, cataract testing, eye glass prescriptions, and conventional or laser eye surgery, plus the necessary post-operative care, at no cost to you.

photo credit: MoneyBlogNewz

If you do not have insurance and do not have the ability to pay, there are doctors who will donate their services to ensure that you receive the needed care and retain or recover your precious eyesight. If you have Medicare, or Medicare and supplemental insurance, the physician or clinic will bill Medicare and your supplemental provider, and there will be no additional charges for you to cover.

Is it possible to get free cataract surgery? The answer is a resounding “yes”. Instead of worrying, take action today to improve your vision. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if they know of a local program for seniors who can’t afford to pay for cataract surgery.

When their eyes do not get sufficient lubrication, a person will experience several conditions apart from dry eye and these include blurring of vision, redness, pain and sensitivity to light. Dry eyes can also be a symptom of other conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, collagen vascular diseases and Sjorgens Syndrome, and can also be caused by natural conditions like menopause and aging. Finally, there are the practical causes of dry eyes, which include physical abnormalities within the tear ducts, being a side-effect to certain medications, like antihistamines, and environmental factors like too much heat. When the dryness is caused by an imbalance in the tear ducts, a person is said to have Dry Eye Syndrome.

photo credit: EvelynGiggles

There are several things that a person can do to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes and these range from administering eye drops to closing those ducts that drain the eye of tears. The first treatment that will be prescribed for every case of dry eye comprises artificial tear ointments and drops and these have the effect of lubricating the eye just as fully functional tear ducts would have done. While the drops are meant to be used during the day, the ointment serves better at night as it is thicker and lubricates for longer periods.

Further treatment options include treatment with other medications, including topical steroids and the drug Restasis. Restasis is a prescription eye medication and, at the moment, it is the only one available that improves the rate of a person’s own tear production. Two further treatments would be partial or total puntal occlusion, which involves placing either temporary or permanent silicone plugs in those ducts in the eye that drain moisture from the eye’s surface.

If total puntal occlusion does not work, there is another surgical option and this involves severing the tear-draining ducts. This surgery is permanent and irreversible but does not have any adverse effects.

While complications from laser eye surgery arise in only about 1-5% of the cases, it is always a good idea to be aware of the potential risks associated with laser surgery before you pick up the phone to schedule a consultation with an eye specialist. Some common laser eye surgery complications include:

Infection

The risk of infection is common with any surgery you may have on your body. However, when it comes to the eyes, an untreated infection can cause scarring on the cornea or result in a complete loss of vision. To combat possible infection, most doctors will prescribe antibiotics and schedule regular post-op visits to monitor the eye as it heals.

Under Correction/Over Correction

Since eyes are as unique as the individual they belong to, it is safe to say that the variables that dictate how laser surgery will affect the eye will vary greatly from patient to patient. Some factors, such as how quickly the eye heals and how much water is in the cornea, are beyond the surgeon’s control and can cause either an under correction or over correction of vision.

Treatment options are available if either of these laser surgery complications occur. Patients may be prescribed glasses or contacts to fix the problem. In extreme cases, patients may be pulled back under the knife for additional surgical corrections.

Astigmatism

Although rare, post operative scarring can cause the cornea to warp producing a condition called induced astigmatism – blurry or distorted vision as the result of laser surgery. Unfortunately, in these cases, patients will be required to continue using specially design contact lenses or glasses to correct their vision.

Presbyopia

Some patients view laser surgery as a cure all and are unpleasantly surprised when they are told they still need to wear glasses for reading. Laser surgery does not treat or prevent the decline of near vision as the individual nears middle age. Unless you are especially lucky, everyone will eventually need to wear reading glasses.

Despite the risks, most people get through laser eye surgery just fine and according the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 93% of patients are happy with the results. Complications from laser eye surgery can be minimized if you are careful. Just be sure to take your time and choose a good eye surgeon. When it comes to your eyes, you only get one pair.

Effectively the surgeon makes use of this tiny little blade to create a flap in the corneal tissue. Removes are certain amount of this tissue with an “excimer laser” and replaces the flap. There is also a newer type of bladeless LASIK in which a Femtosecond laser is used to create the flap, after which the same technique is used to remove the required amount of corneal tissue.

This surgery has been designed to assist people to see better, and many patients who have had to wear spectacles or contact lenses for years have been helped. The concept or rational for this surgery remains the same with every practitioner, however the tools they used to perform the surgery differ. For some ophthalmologists the terminology “LASIK” means all laser, while other still make use of microkeratome LASIK in which a surgical scalpel is used.

Mayo Clinic studies are available which compare bladeless and mechanical LASIK surgery, and these studies have found that both types of surgery have equal results. So you can rest assured that if your ophthalmologist is using a blade or a laser the results you will obtain from the surgery will be of equal quality.

Test subjects were examined six months after both these types of surgery had been completed, and no differences were found in respect of visual acuity. This particular study involved twenty patients, all of whom received surgery for astigmatism or nearsightedness.

The fact that both of these forms of surgery are available to patients who want to undergo this operation (it is elective surgery) indicates that either complete laser or microkeratome surgery are just as good as one-another. In actual fact, in the study it was found that back-scatter was more prevalent in patients who received all-laser surgery as apposed to microkeratome. Backscatter does not affect the quality of vision it can only be seen by the physician under testing conditions.

photo credit: Mary Thorman

Here are some steps you can take:

First, make sure the LASIK center is licensed by your governing board. Search your states’ administrative website and there you should find all the licensed LASIK eye surgeons for your area. Also, you can check with the National Practicioner Data Bank for surgeons available to you.

After you have identified several candidates, call each LASIK surgery center and ask if they have any certifications beyond the minimum standards proscribed by their licensing board. Those that do will gladly give you this information and give you instructions on how to check for yourself. One criteria you might set is that your surgeon be a member of The American College of Surgeons (ACS). This is a self-governing organization that requires from its members the highest in ethical standards, patient care, and conduct. Those that are members will usually have “FACS” (Fellow of The American College of Surgeons) after their name.

Ask for referrals. Most, if not all, surgeons will have a list readily available to you. Get it and then actually contact these people. Ask pointed questions. Don’t be afraid to zero in on what concerns you most about your surgery, physician and LASIK surgery center. You might even still want to call the laser eye center or surgeon’s office and ask for referrals not on their original list. This will give you a much larger sample pool and, therefor, a better representation of how you can expect to be treated.

Don’t be afraid of investigating a LASIK eye care center or surgeon who advertises. Most physicians who advertise (and lawyers to, for that matter) are simply wanting to provide their superior service to as many people as possible. There’s nothing wrong with that, and, in this case, can work to your advantage. A surgeon who advertises will probably have an extensive patient list from which you can investigate.

Many people think that LASIK eye surgery has become as simple as getting a tooth pulled. While the procedure has advanced considerably, it is, after all, surgery. When choosing a LASIK vision center, your due diligence is definitely required.