HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Five tips for healthy eyes
1. Laser eye surgery
thinkstock.com
Improving vision and maintaining eye health are important aspects of our lives that should not be ignored. Lasik is the most popular method of laser eye surgery and has continued to advance over time, said Hawley. To undergo surgery, a patient must be over 21 years of age and have had a stable prescription for at least two years. There are two steps involved in the process of correction: First, the surgeon makes a flap. Prior to the use of lasers, this procedure was done with a blade. According to Hawley, lasers have proven to be more accurate and produce better results. During the second step, the laser corrects the patient’s vision that generally stabilizes by the next day, though changes can occur within the first three months.
Dr. John Hawley
T By Breanna Fields
Hawley explained that although Lasik eye surgery may seem trendy, most people still rely on eyeglasses. There are a variety of lenses available, ranging from ones that cut down on glare to lenses that are recommended for outdoor or sports activities. Polarized lenses are great to use while driving due to the fact that they reduce glare. While polycarbonate lenses are impact-resistant and often used in sports, photochromic lenses become tinted when they’re exposed to sunlight. Visit webmd.com for detailed information and to compare different types of lenses. For those who have old eyeglasses lying around, Hawley emphasized that many eye doctors accept used glasses and make an effort to donate them to those in need. Photo by Casey Christie
Photo by Casey Christie
2. Eyeglasses
thinkstock.com
here are certain things in life that are easy to take for grant- 3. Common eye problems The most common eye-related problem in Bakersfield ed: vision is one. The thought is dry eyes, which is caused by the environment, said of eye care beyond the occaHawley. Dry eyes can be treated with specialized medisional checkup only comes into cine or artificial tears. Cataracts are another common eye problem. This is when the lenses in the eyes begin play when receiving glasses or contacts. to cloud over due to UV light damage. Other symptoms include blurry vision, glare or double vision. For extreme Existing within the same routine each day, cases, surgery is an option. whether it is work or school, makes it much easier to forget about the importance of 4. Contact lenses are many types of maintaining eye health. We caught up with There contact lenses like daily disDr. John Hawley, an optometrist at Premier posables, two-week lenses, one-month lenses and Eye Care, who discussed common eye lenses that you can sleep in. problems and offered helpful tips to local It is important that people are aware of the dangers residents. that are involved when
100
Bakersfield Life
March 2012