Although Austin is known as the live music capital of the world, it is also the eye capital of the world. Austin has many eye care facilities located throughout the city. There are many eye doctors in South Austin, TX, alone. Here are some of the services they can provide.

CATARACTS

Cataracts are an undeniable fact of life. As we grow older, our eyes slowly begin to lose their clarity. The term cataract is used to describe the clouding of the lens part of your eye. Lenses are supposed to be clear and transparent, so this clouding affects the clarity of your sight. Over 50% of adults over the age of eighty have had cataract surgery or currently have a cataract.

Although age is a dominating cause of cataracts, there are other causes of cataracts as well. They can be formed by an injury to the eye, steroid use or use of certain medications, and some diseases can allow you to contract cataracts. Although there are many ways to treat cataracts, cataract surgeonswill help you decide the treatment option that will be most beneficial to you.

DIABETES AND YOUR EYE HEALTH

Diabetes is the leading cause of acquired blindness. Many eye related conditions can be linked to diabetes. More than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes which means these people are highly susceptible to eye related illnesses. People with diabetes:

* are 40% more likely to develop glaucoma.
* are 60% more likely to develop cataracts.

Long term diabetes can also cause diabetic retinopathy which is damage to the eye’s retina. The retina changes light and images into nerve signals that can be sent to the brain. Almost everyone who has had diabetes for more than 30 years will show signs of this condition. Both cataracts and glaucoma can be developed due to diabetic retinopathy. In Austin, most eye care professionals will suggest you see your eye doctor regularly because even though you may not start to see changes in your vision, your eye doctor may be able to detect the disease early.

CORNEA REPLACEMENTS

The cornea is essentially the covering on the front of your eye. It’s transparent and dome shaped. It provides two-thirds of the eye’s ability to focus. Typically, it’s very clear and shiny. Incredibly sensitive, here you’ll find more nerve endings than you will anywhere else in the human body. You may need a corneal transplantfor:

* an outward bulging cornea.
* a thinning cornea.
* cornea scarring – caused by infection or injury.
* a clouded cornea.
* a swelling of the cornea.
* corneal ulcers.
* complications caused by previous eye surgeries.

KEEP THEM HEALTHY

Your eyes are a key part of your life. To continue seeing all the beautiful sights the world has to offer, see your eye doctor regularly. Many of these conditions are easily treated when coupled with early detection. See you eye doctor or ophthalmologist; your hard working eyes deserve it.

Broberg Eye Care
207 James Casey St # 305
Austin, TX 78745-1193
(512) 447-6096

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Eyesight’s decline with age is obvious and previous generations did not have an option of correcting the problem. While some conditions, such as macular degeneration, still resist surgical treatment, many eyesight issues can now be solved with the help of laser technology or special lenses that help reverse myopia in children and adults. Most Austin eye doctors will recommend annual eye exams even if you do not seem to experience any eyesight problems. Glare from computer or TV screen, bright neon lighting in clubs and bars and many other factors can contribute to one’s vision decline, eye dryness or widening of eyes’ blood vessels. Depending on what condition you develop, whether due to these factors or genetics, you may need to see a different eye doctor who will then determine if there is a need for surgery.

Glaucoma is one of the most mysterious conditions that has no distinct symptoms and often results in sudden loss of vision or even blindness. When you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your glaucoma doctor will most likely prescribe medications to treat your condition, if it is not severe. The medications will help reduce intraocular pressure and prevent damage to the optic nerve. When one’s glaucoma worsens, a patient usually undergoes laser surgery to relieve intraocular pressure. Eye specialists in Austin, TX use the latest laser technology to perform surgeries on patients with glaucoma.

When it comes to cataracts, there is no mystery to the condition, as it is quite common in people who have family history of cataracts, or among smokers and overweight individuals. Cataract results in blurry vision, as one’s eye lens gets clouded and one can no longer see objects properly. As common as this problem is, it is important not to neglect your condition and to see an eye doctor who can determine which type of cataract you have and discuss methods available to bring back your vision. A good cataract doctor can provide an accurate diagnosis after completing a series of tests and will, most likely, recommend surgery for effective treatment of cataract. It is important to remember that cataract surgery involves removal of your clouded lens and implantation of an artificial one in its place. You should only trust a professional cataract surgeon with this procedure. When performed properly, cataract surgery leads to full recovery of one’s eyesight.

If you are getting older and feel changes in your vision, it is important that you see a macular degeneration specialist. Age macular degeneration, or AMD, affects most elderly people and usually occurs due to the damage of retina. A patient suffering from this condition cannot distinguish shapes and faces, but usually retains some vision to perform basis tasks. “Dry” form of this condition cannot be treated surgically and an Austin area macular degeneration specialist would usually recommend increased dosages of antioxidants and other elements through vitamin intake to slow the progression of AMD. “Wet” AMD, which occurs because of the abnormal growth of blood vessels in one’s eye, can be treated through injections of anti-angiogenic drugs into one’s eyes or by means of photodynamic therapy.

Tech Ridge Vision
500 Canyon Ridge Dr # L350
Austin, TX 78753-1641
(512) 837-3200

About the Author: Larry Milton has written extensively about the optometry profession and enjoys informing individuals about latest developments in this field

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LASIK

LASIK surgery is done with a specialized laser that takes the thin membrane that covers the eye and cuts it, creates a flap and then is repositioned to produce better vision, the recovery time is less than other procedures and is less painful. Some people on the other hand are not ideal candidates for this procedure because the membrane is too thin and therefore makes it very difficult to produce the flap.

The Alternatives

Another surgery that you may have heard of is PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy. This was once the leader in corrective surgeries, but soon LASIK stole the show. The PRK procedure does not rely on that flap and thus it can be a good alternative for those with thin cornea conditions. Another alternative for these people is LASEK, which stands for laser epithelial keratomileusis. It is the newer version of PRK. With PRK no flap is cut at all. Instead the reshaping is done directly to the eye’s surface. With LASEK, the thin layer, which is simply folded back during a LASIK procedure, is instead removed entirely and replaced at the end of the procedure. The benefits of LASEK as compared to Austin LASIK are less chance of dry eye after surgery, it preserves more corneal tissue, creates less haze effect, and results in no complications related to the stromal flap. The disadvantages of this procedure as compared to LASIK are the pain and recovery times. Furthermore, twenty-twenty vision or better is often achieved with LASIK, which means immediate clear vision, and follow up procedures are easier if need be.

Either Or

Either way it is paramount that you choose an accredited facility in Austin. Usually an ABES certification is a good indication that the facility is up to snuff with the latest protocols for these procedures. Then it is simply a matter of eliminating one after another until you have found the very best opthalmologist for your needs. Also be sure to ask questions about the procedure, like what type of laser do you use, do you have documentation on your success rates, or how many procedures have you done in the past year? Even ask if there are any malpractice cases pending and how are they handling them, this will give you a good indication of how good this practice is and if there is a problem with your surgery how they will treat you. This is your body and you only have one so it is important to not be shy, and ask questions. One thing to think about, which might seem strange, is whether or not the office staff seems comfortable divulging information about their facility. If not, then you probably want to seek out another place that is more transparent about their success rates and information. One thing is for sure, regardless of age, health, and gender, if you have poor eyesight and you can afford the procedure, you should seek out eye surgeons in Austin. The specialist will be able to tell you if certain health problems or eye conditions will rule you out of the procedure, and can also pass you on to a specialist to fit yours needs. For example, some may need to be Okayed through their diabetic retinopathy speciailst before LASIK can be performed. These operations are ground breaking and provide people with the ability to see again. LASIK and LASEK surgeries have been being practiced since the early 1950’s and in 1989 the surgery was patented.

About the Author: Mark Masters has authored may pieces on the eye care & surgery industry and enjoys keeping his readers up to date in this field

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