LASIK Patient Comments…..

“I had LASIK done 2 years ago and wish I had it done sooner.  As a mother of very small children I can say that LASIK has made my life so much easier. Now in the middle of the night I don’t have to search for my glasses when one of the kids wakes up. In the morning I don’t have to mess around with solutions and putting my contacts in. It may sound trivial but when you have  kids depending on you 100% of the time any small amount of time you save is crucial! I am thankful I was a good candidate and I chose Dr. Buck as my doctor.”

If you or someone you know has a question about LASIK or would like to schedule a Free LASIK Consultation please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354. 

Stop Smoking & Reduce Cataract Risk

Smoking has been associated with all types of vascular disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and many types of cancer as well as increasing the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vascular disease and glaucoma. Now we know that smoking also increase your risk of developing cataracts and needing cataractsurgery.

Research on Smoking and Cataracts

Researchers reporting in JAMA Ophthalmology found that stopping smoking decreases the risk of cataracts over time. The researchers followed a total of 44,371 men, 45 to 79 years old over a 10 year period and the participants filled out questionnaires on their smoking habits and lifestyles and were then matched with the Swedish National Day-Surgery Register and local records of cataract surgery.

Findings about Smoking & Stopping Smoking and Cataracts

The researchers found that smokers of more than 15 cigarettes a day had a 42% increased risk of cataract surgery compared with men who had never smoked. They also found that men who smoked an average of more than 15 cigarettes a day but had stopped smoking more than 20 years earlier had a 21% increased risk-a significant reduction. Thus, they found a positive association between cigarette smoking and cataract surgery in men, with a significant increase of cataracts among smokers compared to those who never smoked. Also, stopping smoking was associated with a statistically significant decrease in risk with increasing time from stopping smoking. Even heavy smokers had some benefit from quitting smoking. Further, a previous study from 2005 detailed the relationship between smoking cessation and cataract risk in women. In this study, they found that after cessation of smoking, cataract risk in women decreased with time. Women who smoked 6 to 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 10 years earlier, and women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 20 years earlier were found to have a relative risk of cataracts not significantly different from women who had never smoked.

Smoking cessation seems to decrease the risk of cataract development and the need for cataract surgery with time, although the risk persists for decades. The higher the intensity of smoking, the longer it takes for the increased risk to decline. These findings emphasize the importance of early smoking cessation and, preferably, the avoidance of smoking altogether.

If you or someone you know has a question about smoking, cataract risk, cataract surgery or lens implants please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354. 

Understand Eye Safety Needs

Eye injury both at home and in the workplace is more common than you might realize. Once you are aware of the breadth of eye injuries it is more obvious that eye safety and protective eyewear are the keys to helping protect your eye health and vision.

Facts about Eye Injury

Prevent Blindness America reports that 2.4 million eye injuries occur each year, with nearly 1 million resulting in some degree of vision loss. About 90 percent of these injuries are avoidable, when the right eye protection is worn, reports the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The most common eye injuries are:

·         Cuts or scrapes from flying objects, such as metal and wood chips, that become embedded in the eye

·         Burns from steam, infrared light or splashes of chemicals, grease or oil

·         Infections from contaminated substances, such as splashes of blood or respiratory droplets or other products on fingers that are used to touch or rub the eyes

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workers to use eye and face protection whenever there is a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented with proper equipment, such as goggles, face shields or safety glasses. The best way to avoid eye injury from household chores, activities and tasks is to wear proper protective eyewear. If you have questions or need assistance with protective eyewear selection or fitting please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354. 

Avoid Fireworks Eye Injury this July 4th

As we all get ready to kick off the July 4^th celebrations it is important to be aware of the need for care and caution with regard to fireworks eye safety in order to prevent eye injury. To enjoy the fireworks this July 4^th, it’s best to leave their use and display to professionals. Eye safety is pretty critical with fireworks displays as we know that:

eye injuries are the second most frequent injury 

we see from the emergency room each July 4^th weekend!!! 

The best defense against kids suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let kids play with any fireworks. Do not purchase, use or store fireworks of any type. You should consider attending only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, but be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous. However, if an eye accidesmcnt does occur, there are a few things you should know:

• Do NOT Rub Your Eyes
• Do NOT Try To Rinse Your Eyes. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
• Do NOT Apply Pressure to Your Eyes, but DO protect your eyes from further contact with any item, including a person’s hand.
• Do NOT Stop for Medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and ibuprofen can thin the blood, increasing bleeding. Take the person to the emergency room at once.
• Do NOT Apply Ointments or Drops. They may not be sterile and may make the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.

If you or someone you know has questions about fireworks eye safety and eye injuries please feel free to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & LaserCenter or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.