Archive for the ‘AVC Explains’ Category

Old Wives Tale #3: Reading in Bad Light Harms Your Eyes

Although not ideal, there are many occasions when reading by a dim or poor light becomes a matter of necessity. Perhaps there’s been a power-cut and you’re urgently inspecting the fuse box by way of a shaking match, or perhaps you’re a considerate bedfellow who reads by awful light in order not to disturb your sleeping other half.

It’s fortunate, then, that there is no evidence to suggest that reading by bad light is detrimental to the health of your eyes. It can tire them certainly, due to the fact that they need to work harder, but you’ll suffer no long-term negative effects. That’s because your eyes are clever enough to be able to adapt to different levels of light – as soon as you walk into a room.

When light is low, your eye adjusts itself in a number of ways. Firstly, the rod and cone cells on the retina begin to produce more light-sensitive chemicals. These chemicals detect light, convert it into electrical signals and then transmit those signals to the brain. Secondly, anyone looking at you might notice that your pupils have become enlarged, and this is because the iris recognises the fact that good light is in short supply, so it relaxes somewhat, allowing your eye to open wider. By doing this your eyes are essentially making a bid to collect as much light as possible!

Reading in poor light tends to frustrate eyes by sending mixed messages. On the one hand, the muscles want to relax in order to absorb as much light as possible, but on the other they’re trying to focus on the words on the page and soak up the detail. This, of course, makes focusing difficult, and over a long period of time they will inevitably become tired, as any muscle would. Any feeling of tiredness, however, is temporary, and if you find that you are experiencing any lasting symptoms we’d recommend that you get your eyes checked out by a professional. You could have an underlining problem such as nearsightedness.

So, reading in poor light is not so detrimental after all, but try not to do it too often!

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Presbyopia…what’s that?

Presbyopia is an age related condition which makes near vision become blurry. It usually occurs around the age of 40, hence the name ‘Presbyopia’ which literally means ‘old eye’ – ‘presbys’ means ‘old man’ or ‘elder’ in Greek and ‘opia’ is the Latin word for ‘eye’.

Presbyopia is a completely natural part of ageing. It occurs when the natural lens within the eye gradually thickens and starts to lose flexibility. The focusing power of your eyes is very much dependent on the elasticity of the lens. This is why, if you suffer from presbyopia, you probably find yourself having to hold reading materials further away in order to see them clearly. Reading and other close work can also cause headaches and eyestrain.

The condition has in the past been treated with reading glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses. This can be a pain for those who already need glasses to correct their vision, as it means carrying two pairs of glasses around with them!

Now there’s another treatment that can make life just that little bit easier – Conductive Keratoplasty. It’s a non-laser treatment, specifically designed for being with presbyopia that literally takes 3 minutes.

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Lawrence Gardiner’s AVC Testimonial

Name: Lawrence Gardiner

Treatment received at AVC: Clear Lens Exchange (CLE with IOL)

Why you decided to have treatment:

The main reason I decided to go for treatment was to have the convenience of having clear vision.

How was the AVC experience?

I was extremely happy with my experience at AVC, all the way from consultation to post-treatment. I was recommended to go and see the AVC team by a colleague, and I would definitely recommend them to others.

How has your life changed post-treatment?

As the MD of an engineering company, I have to travel a lot and not having to take glasses around with me everywhere makes life a lot simpler. I can read better, work on my computer and I can take up more hobbies. I am able to work on my computer for much longer periods of time without suffering from dry eyes and headaches. Everything I do is just that little bit easier now. I was also always terrible at misplacing and losing my glasses, so that’s one less thing to worry about!

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AVC’s Top Tips: Eye Exercises!

Most people recognise the importance of exercising the mind,  body and soul to stay healthy, but many do not realise that you can exercise the eyes as well. In fact, carrying out unique exercises specifically for them is a great way of keeping them in tip-top condition post surgery because it tones the eye muscles that help you focus,  ensuring that you’ll reduce the risk of experiencing common problems such as eye strain.

Here our Medical Director Mr.C.T.Pillai shares his exercise suggestions:

  • Imagine that you are looking at a large clock ahead of you. Look at the centre of the clock, then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the centre, then look at another hour mark. Work your way around each hour mark of the clock
  • Focus on an object in the distance for several seconds before slowly re-focusing on a nearby object that’s in the same direction. Try this exercise for up to 3 minutes every half hour or so. It can help to maintain the quality of your eyesight during the day, and prevent further deterioration of your eyesight. It is particularly useful if you sit in front of a computer screen all day
  • Close your eyes tightly for around 3 to 5 seconds and then open them for 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise seven or eight times

It’s more important to carry out the exercises regularly than it is to perfrom each one for a long period of time,  so we recommend around 30 to 60 seconds of eye exercise every hour.

You might want to find a private place to carry them out to avoid strange looks, but what are you waiting for? Get pumping that eye iron!

If you’d like to find out more about the different eye exercises you can try, and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 020 7935 7497, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page.

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Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eyes are a common side effect of laser eye surgery, and although uncomfortable, are nothing to become concerned about. Typically, symptoms include a feeling of ‘grittiness’, irritation in the eye and a burning sensation. Fortunately, dry eyes can be managed with treatment, and surgery side effects clear up after three months.

It’s worth noting that Dry Eye Syndrome is not always an inconvenient side-effect of  surgery. You may also suffer from the condition if you use a computer day-to-day for long periods of time, if  you become affected by environmental factors (such as extreme heat or a windy climate), if you are undergoing any hormonal changes or if you wear contact lenses.

In the first instance dry eyes are normally treatable with lubricating drops, gels and ointments. But if  symptoms are severe or persistent, there are other treatments that can be used.

At AVC, we have helped many patients combat the symptoms of dry eyes by using something called Punctal Plugs. These silicone plugs are inserted into tear drainage ducts in the eyelids. This helps to keep the eye moisturised by preventing tears on the eye from draining away too quickly. The procedure is entirely painless, and you will not feel the plugs once they are inserted.

In extremely rare cases AVC will prescribe you Restatis drops , to be used for 3-4 months. However,  in all his years as a laser refractive surgeon, our Medical Director Mr C.T. Pillai can count on one hand the number of instances this has been required! You can be rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands at AVC.

If you’d like to find out more about Dry Eye Syndrome and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 020 7935 7497, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page.

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Old Wives Tale #2: Crossing Your Eyes Permanently Crosses Them

Heard the one about how crossing your eyes can lead them to become permanently crossed? Deriving from the same school of thought as, ‘If the wind changes direction, your face will stick like that,’ this is another classic old wives’ tale.

Thankfully, pulling a cross-eyed expression for the amusement – perhaps – of your friends and family will have no lasting ill effects for your eyes. When we focus on an object close-up our eyes naturally come together, so crossing your eyes deliberately is merely an exaggeration of this response.

For those of you who have never quite got the hang of the enviable art of eye-crossing, you can follow AVC’s top tips below and become an eye-crossing expert in no time at all!*

• To get started, simply focus on one object at eye level – such as a finger. The best location is one that is level with the bridge of your nose, about 1-3 inches away

• Slowly bring your finger closer to your face. Keep your focus

• When you’re ready, slowly move your finger out of sight, but try your best to hang on to your by now crossed eye expression

• Practicing in a dim light might make things easier, as there is less for your eyes to try to focus on, and
therefore less distraction

• You won’t be able to check yourself that you are crossing your eyes correctly, so have a friend on
hand to critique!

• Once you get a real feel for crossing your eyes, you’ll find that you can start doing it instantly, without
the need for a focusing prop like a finger

• Eye-crossing veterans should consider the next-level trick of crossing one eye but not the other. Start by
looking hard with both eyes to either the right or the left, then cross your eyes without moving them
back to the centre. Once you get the hang of doing this from either side you’ll even be able to shake your
head and shift the one crossed eye over to the other side!

*Possibly

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Lucy Pond’s AVC Testimonial

Name: Lucy Pond

Treatment received at AVC: Laser Eye Surgery in both eyes

Why you decided to have treatment:

It was something I had always thought about and always wanted to do,but I never felt confident enough to actually do it. I finally decided to have the treatment when it was recommended to me by a friend in the army who had his treatment done with AVC and was really pleased with the results.

How was the AVC experience?

I was very impressed with the surgeons at AVC and it was so much easier than what I expected. It was actually a really easy process. I would recommended AVC to any of my friends with poor eyesight.

How has your life changed post-treatment?

It has changed my life dramatically. Since having the treatment I can be better at my job. I am an Officer Commander in The Royal Logistic Corps and being able to see clearly without wearing glasses or contact lenses enables me to be better in the role. My job is obviously very active and involves a lot of training, and wearing contact lenses or glasses makes it very difficult. Often one of my contact lenses would fall out meaning I would basically have to work with vision only in one eye.

I would recommend anyone in the army who has eyesight problems to have Laser-Eye Treatment. I wish I had done it sooner as I cannot stress enough what I difference it has made.

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20/20 Vision Explained

Here at AVC, more than 95 per cent of our patients achieve 20/20 vision following laser eye surgery and 15 -20 per cent can receive even better. But what exactly is 20/20 vision?

20/20 vision is a standard that was developed to determine how ‘normal’ a person’s eyesight is, measured at a distance of 20 feet from an eye chart. Someone with 20/20 vision will be able to clearly see the details of the chart 20 feet away. Having something like 20/40 vision means that when you stand 20 feet from the chart, you can see what a ‘normal’ human eye can see when it’s 40 feet away.

Some people can even have 20/100 vision, and, at the other end of the spectrum, it’s possible to have eyesight that’s better than 20/20, such as 20/10, which means, rather impressively, that they can see at 20 feet the details of something that someone with ordinary eyesight can only see at 10 feet!

If you think that’s sharp vision, be prepared to discover a new-found respect for the hawk, which has a visual acuity of 20/2!

If you’d like to find out more about how you can achieve 20/20 vision and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 020 7935 7497, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page. 

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Keratoconus: AVC’s Quick-Fire Guide

The terminology and industry lingo used in the eye care world can be pretty mind-boggling, even just plain confusing. So with that in mind, here’s the first of a series of quick-fire Did You Know guides that’ll hopefully make it that little bit clearer.

First up is the tricky Keratoconus….

• The term ‘Keratoconus’ is formed of two Greek words meaning ‘cornea’ and ‘cone’

• It’s near impossible to pronounce the name over and over after a few glasses of shandy

• Keratoconus was first recorded back in 1748 by German oculist Burchard Mauchart, though he didn’t
exactly know what to do with his new-found knowledge at the time. Incidentally, this was the same
year that the ruins of dusty Pompeii were discovered

• The condition changes the structure of your cornea, making it weaken and thin. Under pressure the
cornea adopts a cone-shaped bulge, but don’t worry, it won’t be visible to anyone else

• As a result, you can end up experiencing myopia (short-sightedness) and astigmatism, which is
distortion of vision

• Keratoconus’ cause is slightly mysterious in that it can develop due to any number of factors, but a
number of patients do have a genetic disposition to the disease, meaning that they have mum or dad
to thank for it!

• Keratoconus often tends to kick in during puberty or early adolescence, which is frankly just all you
need at this stage in your life

• If you start seeing ghostly visions, Keratoconus may be developing. A classic symptom is the
perception of multiple blurred images, as well as distortion around light sources, rather giving the
impression of otherworldly visitors

• Try not to rub your eyes! Keratoconus has been linked to other forms of eye trauma, like excessive
rubbing and contact lens wear

If you’d like to find out more about Keratoconus and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 020 7935 7497, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page.

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