Archive for category: Lasik

LASIK laser vision correction is an incredibly popular procedure as patients grow tired of having to reach for glasses or spend time putting in contacts every day. How do you know if you’re a candidate for this procedure? Read on to learn about four criteria.

You are 18 years old or older. LASIK is an FDA-approved laser vision correction treatment for patients 18 years old and older. Your eyes have to achieve ocular maturity and be fully developed in order to be considered a candidate for LASIK. A consultation with your eye doctor will determine if your eyes have fully developed and you are a good candidate for surgery.

Your prescription is stable. It’s important that your prescription for glasses or contacts remains stable for at least one year prior to considering LASIK. LASIK treats a range of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Once your vision stabilizes, there is less likelihood that your nearsightedness or farsightedness would progress. If your prescription changes, it could also mean you have an undiagnosed eye disease or condition that would prevent you from surgery.

You are in good health, and your eyes are generally healthy. Eye injuries, infections and certain diseases can make you ineligible for LASIK surgery. Your corneas much have appropriate thickness. Cataracts can affect results. If you have diabetes or an autoimmune disease or are pregnant, you may not be a candidate. Women’s bodies experience hormonal changes during pregnancy, which may temporarily affect your prescription. Medications such as corticosteroids and acne medications may affect the healing process. Be sure to tell your doctor about all health concerns and medical history, and bring a list of current medications with you to your appointment.

You have prepared and have realistic expectations. Do your research and come to your appointment prepared with a list of questions to find out of LASIK is right for you. During your appointment, your eye doctor will help you understand what to expect from the procedure, recovery and results.

Ready to discuss LASIK and find out if you’re a fit for this procedure? Call our office today at (413) 782-0030 to schedule a consultation.

If you have one goal to set and stick to in 2019, it should be to see better. But how? Here at Papale Eye Center, we perform a corrective surgery called Lasik which can help patients, like you, kick your glasses and contact lenses to the curb.

Even though you may have heard of Lasik, you may not know the first thing about how it’s done. Luckily, we are here to explain. The main goal of laser eye surgery is to change the actual shape of the cornea which helps to improve the eye’s ability to focus. By using an excimer laser, we can sculpt the corneal tissue one microscopic layer at a time without affecting the surrounding minutes. Now that you know how the surgery is performed, let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of pulling the trigger on this surgery in 2019.

It’s Fast

One of the many unique benefits of laser eye surgery is that it’s really fast. In fact, surgery itself only takes a few minutes and in only a couple of weeks, there will be little or no evidence that surgery was ever even performed. But, you will have a clear vision to show for it.

No More Glasses and Contacts

A new year means new eye appointments. Rather than scheduling another eye exam for contacts and glasses, schedule a Lasik appointment instead. By kissing your glasses and contacts goodbye, you won’t’ have to worry about ordering another pair of either for years and years to come.

Rather than setting resolutions that you may not stick to, make it your goal in 2019 to see better. To learn more about Lasik or to schedule your consultation, contact our Springfield office today and give us a call at (413) 782-0030.

1,2,3 Smile! It’s that time of year— you know, the time of year when you have to practically bribe your children to sit still and smile for your holiday photos. Holiday photoshoots may as well be considered torture when you think about it: not only do you have to get everyone ready, you have to plan a location and wardrobes, and show up looking good yourself. If you wear glasses, you may be dreading sending out yet another holiday card with your glasses being front and center.

Luckily, with corrective vision surgery like Lasik, we at Papale Eye Center can help you get rid of your glasses for good and be the shining star of your holiday card.

What Is Lasik?

Lasik is a refractive surgery that is used to treat patients who suffer from a variety of vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During this brief, in-patient surgery, one of our doctors at Papale Eye Center will make a tiny cornea slit. After which, one of our surgeons will use an excimer laser to sculpt the corneal tissue which helps to restore your vision.

How Long Does It Take to Recover?

One of the first questions you probably have about Lasik is how long it takes to recover. Aka, “Will I be healed and ready for my photoshoot?” Your eyes start to heal immediately after surgery, and we will schedule an appointment for you to come back into our office about 24-48 hours afterward to ensure that you are healing properly. Additionally, after a few days, the redness in your eyes should go down which means that most patients should be picture ready in about one or two weeks.

Standing in front of the camera with clear vision and confidence can turn your holiday cards from normal into fabulous.

Schedule your Lasik consultation at our Papale Eye Center office today!

The entire eye care team at our practice believes in helping the people of Springfield see the world in a different light. Thanks to advanced laser eye surgery procedures like LASIK, people are able to see fine without the need for prescription glasses or contact lenses. But seeing the world also means having a different outlook on your future. Sometimes getting LASIK can help put some other habits in life into perspective.

With this in mind, we would like to consider how cigarette smoke impacts LASIK patients, particularly after the surgery. It’s important that patients listen to our advice, since it can help avoid problems and improve the overall results of LASIK surgery.

Smoking Can Have a Negative Impact on LASIK Recovery

Smoking is bad for you, that’s a given. It can lead to cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and so many other health problems. What’s more, it can also have an adverse impact on you as you are healing. People who smoke are more prone to infection and tend to heal slower than non-smokers. Combining these issues could lead to serious problems after you have undergone LASIK surgery.

Potential Post-op Complications Linked to Smoking

As noted above, the primary complication to worry about is infection. Since it takes longer to heal after surgery, the risk of infection increases as you recover. While the surgical procedure is safer now than ever thanks to advanced technology, smoking while you heal can be the cause of a post-op complication, such as a corneal flap issue or corneal flap inflammation.

Eye Irritation and Other Smoking Side Effects

Apart from the risk of infection, smoking can exacerbate post-surgical side effects. Your eyes will be particularly sensitive after LASIK, and the smoke from cigars and cigarettes can be extremely irritating. This can cause your eyes to water or, if you experience dry eye after surgery, can lead to severe discomfort of the eyes.

Stop Smoking Before Your LASIK Procedure

Before you undergo LASIK, it’s important that you avoid cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products. This will help put your body in the best condition to recover quickly. Keep in mind that this is a common pre-op instruction given to all patients.

Do Not Smoke While You Are Healing

After LASIK, you’ll want to avoid smoking for a few weeks so your eyes can full heal. This is just playing it safe and making sure that you will not trigger any serious attacks of dry eye or major eye irritation.

A Good Excuse to Quit for Good

After undergoing LASIK, a number of people feel that it’s a good excuse as any to finally kick the habit for good. By quitting smoking, you avoid so may health problems and can really enjoy what the world has to offer.

If you need help quitting, we can provide you with information and direct your to resources that can help make this a reality.

Speak with a Laser Eye Surgeon

For more information about LASIK and how it can improve your vision and overall enjoyment of life, be sure to contact our laser eye surgery center today. The team here looks forward to your visit and discussing these issues in greater detail.