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Eye Care Consultation Springfield Massachusetts

Is a Patient Ever Too Young or Too Old to Undergo LASIK?

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At the Papale Eye Center, we are often asked whether there is a “right” age to undergo LASIK. Some patients are concerned that they may be too old to benefit from LASIK, while others wonder whether LASIK might be appropriate for their teenaged children, perhaps as a gift for graduating from high school. We answer them that as long as a patient is at least 18 years old, age doesn’t really factor into a person’s candidacy for LASIK. However, it might influence their results, an issue that we cover as we discuss LASIK and patient age during consultations at our Springfield, MA eye care center.

Dr. John Papale is careful to evaluate potential candidates for LASIK to ensure that they can undergo the procedure safely before approving them for surgery. This evaluation is essential to promoting the best possible outcome, regardless of the patient’s age. If you would like to discover whether you are a good candidate for LASIK, and you are at least 18 years old, we encourage you to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Papale at the Papale Eye Center today.

LASIK and Young Adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the excimer laser in LASIK for patients who have reached the age of 18. This does not mean, of course, that a person necessarily becomes a good candidate for LASIK upon reaching his or her eighteenth birthday. The FDA has approved LASIK for patients of this age because most people’s eyes are fully developed by the time they reach 18. However, this is not true of all people. Some people’s eyes continue to develop well beyond their eighteenth birthday, into their early twenties. If these people had gotten LASIK when they were 18, there is a good chance that the results they had achieved would have been largely undone by the time they reached 25.

Dr. Papale carefully examines the eyes of his younger patients to confirm that they have fully matured before allowing them to undergo LASIK. If he feels that a patient will benefit from waiting a year or two before undergoing the procedure, he will advise him or her honestly of this fact.

LASIK and Seniors

Age does not preclude seniors from undergoing LASIK. Many patients in their sixties and seventies have undergone the procedure with good results. However, in order to be considered good candidates for LASIK, senior patients must have healthy eyes, free from ocular disease and age-related vision problems. If they have cataracts, even if they aren’t yet affecting their vision, they should first have their cataracts removed and their natural lenses replaced with multifocal intraocular lenses, or IOLs. This surgery alone may restore their unaided vision at all distances, making LASIK entirely unnecessary.

Learn More about the Relationship between LASIK and Patient Age

If you would like to learn more about the connection between LASIK and patient age, or you wish to make an appointment with Dr. John Papale, please contact the Papale Eye Center today.

Eye Glasses Consultation Springfield Massachusetts

LASIK and ICL offer Improved Vision without Glasses or Contact Lenses

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Most patients consider laser eye treatment to be the new standard when it comes to treating vision impairment. In the past, patients had to rely on glasses or contact lenses to improve vision that was affected by nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Today, there are options that provide longer-lasting results with greater convenience. Most patients are familiar with LASIK treatment to reshape the cornea and enhance natural vision, but this is not the only type of eye treatment for refractive errors. Patients may also consider ICLs, implantable contact lenses. Both of these treatments can help patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, without the need for removable prescription lenses. The eye doctors at The Papale Eye Center discuss ICLs vs. LASIK with our Springfield, MA patients so we can help them decide which treatment option is best for them.

LASIK

LASIK is the most popular form of laser vision correction and the one that the majority of patients are most familiar with. LASIK is a proven technique that improves vision by addressing the source of the problem – imperfections in the cornea. During LASIK treatment, a small flap is made in the surface of the cornea. After lifting this flap, a powerful and precise laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue in order to eliminate imperfections and allow light entering the eye to be properly focused. The success rate of LASIK surgery is high, with most patients no longer needing glasses or contact lenses. Additional benefits of LASIK include the long-lasting results, the minimal risks associated with treatment, and the relatively quick recovery period.

ICLs

ICLs, or implantable contact lenses, are a vision treatment that many patients don’t know much about. However, it is a procedure that can be just as effective as LASIK, and may be an ideal option for patients who are considered poor LASIK candidates. ICL treatment is different from LASIK in that it does not involve the reshaping of the cornea. Instead, a contact lens is placed inside the eye, between the iris and the natural lens of the eye. This lens corrects vision so that patients no longer have to rely on glasses or removable contact lenses. The implant can stay in place indefinitely to provide patients with long-term vision improvement. Benefits of ICLs include the effective results, the ability to improve vision without creating a corneal flap (one of the leading sources of concern regarding LASIK surgery), and the fact that the lens can be removed should the eye experience any dramatic visual changes.

Which Is Right for Me?

There are many factors that should be considered when determining which eye treatment is right for each patient. In some cases, the decision may come down to a matter of preference, while in others, the health of the eye may determine which technique is most appropriate. LASIK and ICLs both offer their own unique advantages, so the best way to choose a treatment that works for each patient is to schedule a consultation with an experienced eye doctor such as those at The Papale Eye Center.

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about eye treatment, contact us at your earliest convenience. The experienced eye doctors at The Papale Eye Center will be happy to answer any questions you may have about LASIK, ICLs, or any of our other vision correction services.

Eye Care Consultation Springfield Massachusetts

LASIK for Higher vs. Lower Order Vision Aberrations

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Most common vision problems are classified as refractive errors. Normally, your cornea should bend light so that it focuses in the center of your retina. If you struggle with refractive errors, the unusual shape of your cornea will cause light to focus elsewhere inside your eye. As a result, you may experience blurred vision, double vision, glares, or many other symptoms. There are actually two main categories of refractive errors: higher order and lower order aberrations. LASIK can be a highly successful treatment for lower order aberrations. With innovative new technology, it can often be a good option for higher order aberrations, as well. Our team will evaluate your needs and visual acuity. Then your doctor can determine the most effective way to restore your sight. To learn more about higher vs. lower order aberrations, contact our Springfield, MA practice today.

What Are Lower Order Aberrations?

Lower order aberrations are very common, affecting millions of patients. There are three types of lower order aberrations:

  • Nearsightedness: If you suffer from nearsightedness, or myopia, light will focus in front of your retina. As a result, you will be able to nearby objects clearly. However, objects at a distance will appear blurry. Note that nearsightedness is different from age-related presbyopia.
  • Farsightedness: Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is less common. With this condition, light will focus behind your retina. You will be able to see far away objects, but you will need reading glasses for anything close up.
  • Astigmatism: Astigmatism will cause light to focus in multiple places in your eye. Without corrective lenses, objects at all distances will appear blurry.

What Are Higher Order Aberrations?

Like lower order aberrations, higher order aberrations develop when your eye cannot refract light properly. Often, these aberrations are the result of corneal irregularity. In other cases, they can develop because of scarring, eye trauma, and unusually large pupils. While lower order aberrations produce certain telltale symptoms, higher order aberrations can have a range of effects. These may include:

  • Blurred or double vision
  • Difficulty with night vision or problems in low-light conditions
  • Glare and/or halos
  • Ghost images
  • Starbursts in your visual field

Can LASIK Treat Both Higher and Lower Order Aberrations?

LASIK is suitable for most patients with lower order vision aberrations. If you choose this treatment, Dr. Papale or one of the members of his team will create a thin flap in the surface of your cornea. Then, using an advanced excimer laser, he will reshape these tissues. After surgery, your eye will be able to focus light correctly, and it will land in the center of your retina.

Thanks to the advent of WaveFront technology, LASIK is now suitable for many types of higher order aberrations. With the Wavelight Allegretto Wave® Excimer Laser System, the laser will be precisely calibrated to your eye. Dr. Papale will also adjust the laser to match your cornea, using extra bursts of energy to compensate for its irregular shape.

Contact Us to Find Out if LASIK Is Right for You

Although LASIK is now appropriate for a wider range of patients, it is not suitable for everyone. At your free consultation, your doctor can determine whether laser eye surgery may be right for you. Contact our office today to book your appointment.

Eye Care Consulation Springfield Massachusetts

What Are the Benefits of Wavefront LASIK?

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When a product boasts that it is “new and improved,” it doesn’t always mean that its previous version was “old and inferior,” though that may be the implication. Indeed, in the case of LASIK, conventional LASIK has been one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures in the history of medicine since the FDA approved the excimer laser for use in the surgery in the 1990s. It is still performed with excellent results. However, in the case of custom wavefront LASIK, “new and improved” really is an accurate description.

Lasik-treatmentCustom wavefront LASIK offers a variety of benefits that distinguish it as the premier laser vision correction option currently available. At Papale Eye Center, we are pleased to describe the many wavefront LASIK benefits to patients during consultations at our Springfield, MA eye care center. We want our patients to understand precisely what they are paying for, and how the technology we feature at our practice was chosen with their best interests in mind.

Are you a good candidate for custom wavefront LASIK? To find out for yourself, please schedule your initial consultation with Dr. John J. Papale today.

What Is Wavefront Technology?

Our wavefront mapping technology allows us to make a map of the eye so intricate that it can detail even the tiniest imperfections in the surface of the cornea. Before the introduction of the wavefront mapping device, it was impossible to detect these minute flaws. As a result, it was also impossible to address them, whether through eyeglasses, contact lenses, or LASIK. Eye care professionals could measure and correct more universal errors, namely shortsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism; however, these unique, highly individual errors – clinically known as higher-order aberrations – were beyond the measure of then-current technology.

Wavefront technology maps these errors, and this map is subsequently used to guide the excimer laser used to reshape the cornea during LASIK surgery via a sophisticated computer program. Hence, modern LASIK is able to correct both higher-order aberrations and common visual errors.

What Are the Benefits of Custom Wavefront LASIK?

The benefits of custom wavefront LASIK include:

  • Exceptional precision: Wavefront LASIK is entirely computer guided, minimizing the risk of human error.
  • Lower risk of complications versus traditional LASIK: Because wavefront LASIK accounts for higher-order aberrations, it is less likely to induce new higher-order aberrations; therefore, the risk of post-surgical complications such as halos, starbursts, and impaired night vision is reduced.
  • Higher chance of visual independence: By addressing even the tiniest imperfections in the shape of the cornea, wavefront LASIK increases the odds that the patient will be able to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses.
  • More customized treatment: Wavefront technology allows for a truly customized LASIK treatment. Instead of simply reshaping your cornea according to your eyeglass prescription, your cornea will be reshaped according to a finely detailed map of its surface, its slightest flaws accounted for.

Learn More about Custom Wavefront LASIK Benefits

To learn more about the benefits of custom wavefront LASIK, please contact Papale Eye Center today.

Papale Eye Care Consulation Springfield Massachusetts

Traditional LASIK vs. Custom LASIK: Is There a Difference?

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When patients come to Papale Eye Center, they know that they are visiting one of the leading eye care centers in Springfield. We offer state-of-the-art laser eye surgery, including advanced custom LASIK surgery.

Many people wonder how custom LASIK differs from traditional LASIK. Let’s compare the two right now.

About Traditional LASIK Surgery

Traditional LASIK surgery was a standard in refractive procedures, allowing eye care professionals to correct vision and reduce a patient’s dependence on corrective lenses (i.e., glasses and contacts). During LASIK, a laser is used to reshape the cornea, improving the passage of light through the eyes and making sure it focuses properly on the retinas, the light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eyes.

LASIK is performed in order to treat refractive errors, which you may know better by the following terms:

  • Myopia (Nearsightedness) – Myopia occurs when it is easier to see objects that are nearby than objects that are at a distance.

  • Hyperopia (Farsightedness) – Hyperopia occurs when it is easier to see objects at a distance than objects nearby.

  • Astigmatism – Astigmatism is a general blurring of vision that occurs alone or accompanies myopia and hyperopia.

What Makes Custom LASIK Different?

While all LASIK is customized to the patient, custom LASIK surgery uses advanced digital scanning technology that was previously unavailable when performing traditional LASIK. This wavefront digital mapping creates a three-dimensional image of the cornea with pinpoint accuracy.

Thanks to wavefront technology, a LASIK surgeon is able to identify even the most minute corneal imperfections that affect vision, which means both lower order aberrations and higher order aberrations can be treated.

Lower order aberrations are traditional refractive errors as noted above.

Higher order aberrations are more minute vision issues such as glare, halos, poor night vision, and poor contrast sensitivity.

Custom LASIK Can Treat Higher and Lower Order Aberrations

Traditional LASIK was only able to treat lower order aberrations with any effectiveness. Higher order aberrations could not be regularly addressed through traditional laser eye surgery.

Thanks to custom LASIK, however, both lower order aberrations and higher order aberrations can be treated equally well.

Other Advantages of Custom LASIK Surgery

In addition to greater accuracy and effectiveness in LASIK surgery, custom LASIK is much safer. The wavefront digital map is uploaded into a computer in order to guide the laser during the actual surgery. Thanks to computer guidance, that means less chance for human error and reduced possibility of overcorrection and undercorrection.

How Do Custom LASIK Results Compare to Traditional LASIK?

Custom LASIK means the most accurate form of LASIK available today. People who undergo custom LASIK achieve far greater vision results, with a higher chance of achieving 20/20 vision as well as better vision in general.

Contact Papale Eye Center

If you would like to learn more about LASIK surgery and how it can help you see clearly again without the aid of glasses or contacts, it’s of the utmost importance that you contact our advanced eye care and vision correction center today. The team at Papale Eye Center looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters with you in greater detail.

Eye Care Contact Lenses Springfield Massachusetts

LASIK vs. Contact Lenses: Which Is Better for Me?

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Myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism are some of the most common vision problems we treat here at Papale Eye Center. Patients throughout the Springfield area know that they can count on use for advanced custom LASIK surgery as well as other safe and state-of-the-art laser vision correction procedures.

But how does LASIK compare to just wearing contact lenses?

If you’ve ever asked that question, read on. We’re going to break it down for you right now.

About LASIK

LASIK is a laser eye surgery procedure that alters the overall shape of the cornea. By undergoing LASIK, the passage of light through the eyes is improved, focusing properly on the retinas, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eyes.

Ideal Candidates for LASIK

The best candidates for LASIK are people who are at least 18 years of age, have regularly shaped and healthy corneas, have had a stable prescription for at least a year, and have been free from eye infections and eye injuries for at least a year. It’s important that LASIK patients not suffer from dry eye syndrome, and that they are not currently pregnant or nursing.

How effective is LASIK?

LASIK is highly effective, which is why it’s so popular these days. After undergoing LASIK, more than 90 percent of patients achieve 20/40 vision or better. Patients will no longer need to wear corrective lenses if they want to see clearly.

Advantages of LASIK Over Contacts

LASIK offers a number of advantages over contact lenses. One of the primary advantages is that LASIK eliminates the need for corrective lenses, allowing people to see clearly without glasses or contacts on. This freedom from frames and contacts is great for people who lead active lifestyles. Thanks to technological advances, custom LASIK surgery can now also address issues with contrast, light sensitivity, and poor night vision.

About Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great standby when it comes to addressing refractive errors. There are different kinds of contact lenses, and each is tailored to your prescription, allowing you to see clearly.

Ideal Candidates for Contact Lenses

Good candidates for contact lenses are people who experience various degrees of refractive error. There are very few people who are not good candidates for contacts since they are simple to put in and take out.

How effective are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are highly effective, offering high-quality vision in much the same ways as prescription glasses do. Prescriptions can be updated as a patient gets older or as a patient experiences changes in their vision.

Advantages of Contacts Over LASIK

Contact lenses are a non-surgical option for improving your vision, which means that there are no risks when it comes to getting contacts. Since there is no surgery involved, there is also no downtime or recovery when you get your contacts. For some patients, the cost of getting contacts for the rest of their lives may actually be less than undergoing LASIK surgery.

How to Make the Best Choice for Your Eyesight

As you can see, there are pros and cons for each. That said, we find many patients are quite satisfied by undergoing LASIK given all of the benefits involved.

During a consultation at the practice, we can help you make the most advantageous choice for your needs.

Contact Our Practice About LASIK Surgery

If you would like to learn more about LASIK surgery and how it can help you see clearly, we encourage you to contact our laser vision correction and eye care center today. The entire team at Papale Eye Center will answer all of your questions and concerns so you can make the best choices when it comes to your eyesight.

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