Technology That Ophthalmologists Naples FL Uses For Eye Health Diagnosis

Eye care or care for your vision is crucial to your overall health and well-being. That’s why advanced technology and innovative eye care solutions are continuously being sought, as well as discovered, to diagnose early eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment—all of which can affect not only your health but your daily activities.

In this post, you’ll learn the latest technology that ophthalmologists use for eye health diagnosis, so you’ll know the options available for you.

LASIK

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis or LASIK is also called laser vision correction or laser eye surgery. It is a kind of refractive surgery performed by ophthalmologists using a microkeratome or laser to reshape the cornea to improve visual acuity or correct astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia. It’s crucial to choose the right eye specialist you can trust to ensure that you’ll get the most effective eye diagnostics and eye treatment, so click here for more information.

Here are good-to-know facts about LASIK:

*       LASIK is almost similar to photorefractive keratectomy or PRK, another corrective surgical procedure. These are surgical treatments of vision refractive errors. Using phakic intraocular lens, PRK is the alternative for patients with thin corneas or moderate to high myopia, which LASIK can’t treat.

*       Majority of patients who have undergone LASIK were satisfied with the results, and the improvement in visual acuity enables individuals to perform tasks or occupations that patients cannot do previously due to poor vision.

Wavefront  Analysis

Wavefront analysis, also called wavefront mapping and wavefront testing, is an eye diagnostic technology used to measure how the eyes focus light and create an eye map. In that way, your ophthalmologist can quickly diagnose eye problems and help in determining the prescription for your eyeglasses.

Here are some facts about wavefront analysis or testing:

*       Wavefront mapping diagrams the imperfections of the eyes, such as hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, and other lower-order aberrations.

*       Wavefront analysis is also used to diagnose and correct higher-order aberrations affecting night vision.

Diode or Argon Laser

These lasers treat retinal tears wherein the laser scars the retinal tissue so it attaches to the underlying tissue, preventing further retinal detachment.

Here are some interesting facts about Argon laser:

*       This treatment option is recommended for diabetic patients with diabetic maculopathy or damage to the macula, or the part of the eye that provides central vision.

*       Argon laser applications include ophthalmologic surgery used to treat glaucoma, retinal vascular lesions, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration.

Femtosecond  Laser

While laser is not used in cataract surgeries, a femtosecond laser is an incredibly safe, precise, and efficient eye treatment. The femtosecond laser is also called the bladeless LASIK or Femto LASIK. It is used to create a thin corneal flap, reshaping the corneal tissue for correcting vision.

The femtosecond laser eliminates the need for a microkeratome, a bladed surgical tool when creating a corneal flap. The popular types include iLASIK by Johnson & Johnson Vision, Victus by Bausch + Lomb, Femto LDV by Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems, and VisuMax by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.

Here are the advantages of femtosecond laser:

*       Provides greater ease among patients

*       More predictable thickness or corneal flap

*       Reduced risk of corneal abrasions and astigmatism after LASIK

*       Safely correct high level of nearsightedness

*       Ophthalmologists have more options in corneal flap size, orientation, and shape for a customized LASIK procedure

Ex-PRESS Shunt, iStent, and Laser Trabeculoplasty

With these procedures, patients don’t need to use traditional eye drops to lower intraocular pressure, most especially among glaucoma patients. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or SLT helps lower eye pressure when eye drop medications aren’t effective, or the patient is experiencing significant side effects. It’s now used as the initial treatment for patients with glaucoma.

The Ex-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt, made of stainless steel, is a newer glaucoma treatment, which is a simple filtration method for open-angle glaucoma that can be implanted after cataract surgery. The shunt is about 3mm or the size of a grain of rice. It diverts fluids via a small tube going outside of the eyes to correct eye pressure.

Another innovative eye treatment is iStent, which is implanted during cataract surgery, effectively lowering eye pressure by restoring the natural fluid flow in the eyes. This innovative procedure may reduce reliance on glaucoma medication.

Conclusion

Through the latest eye diagnostic procedures and treatments, you can choose the best one that fits your needs, preference, and your budget. Each procedure has its features, benefits, risks, and success rate. A good ophthalmologist should be able to present these options for your convenience and peace of mind, so don’t hesitate to ask. 

Contributor: Timothy Cameron

Timothy is a health enthusiast who enjoys working as a personal trainer. He believes that everyone should enjoy a healthy lifestyle. When he’s not training his client’s he enjoys getting outdoors with his friends.

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