Category Archives: Halos

LASIK eye surgery should be taken off the market, former FDA adviser says

CBS NEWS November 2019

LASIK eye surgery should be taken off market, former FDA adviser says

LASIK eye surgery has been popular for more than 20 years, with an estimated 20 million Americans undergoing the procedure to correct nearsightedness and improve distance vision. But some patients say the surgery has ruined their eyesight. The quick, minimally-invasive surgery uses a laser to cut a flap to reshape the cornea at the front of the eye. Now an expert who once backed LASIK is campaigning to get it off the market. Abraham Rutner said LASIK surgery damaged his vision and nearly ruined his life. “It’s a devastation that I can’t even explain,” Rutner told CBS News medical contributor Dr. Tara Narula. “Things would appear double. Around the lights were like having starbursts,” he added…. click here to continue the story.

Dr. Irwin Azman is one of the leading LASIK consultants with over 25 years of experience in the diagnosis and management of Post LASIK complications and side effects. Dr. Azman affirms that although patients may experience side effects due to pre-existing eye conditions, there are non-surgical treatments to help those with LASIK complications. Together with his team of technicians, as well as being aided by new technologies in instrumentation and new treatment methods, Dr. Azman is able to prescribe each patient with a solution to resolve their Post LASIK complications without further surgery.

According to Dr. Azman: “While LASIK surgery can be successful under optimum eye conditions, unfortunately many patients do experience side effects due to pre-existing conditions. However, there is hope. Utilizing our vast experience and expertise, as well as an array of new technologies, we are able to treat these side effects with non-surgical techniques.”

Thankfully we can help with Post LASIK Complications!

If you or a loved one are living with LASIK Complications then call us to learn about treatment options. 410-561-6071

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cornea Transplant and Scleral Lenses For the Treatment of Advanced Keratoconus

Cornea Transplants and Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus

Picking the right treatment for any disease plays a vital role in recovery. There are several different treatment methods for advanced keratoconus. But in this article, we will try to help you understand just two treatment types better – cornea transplant and scleral lenses.

These two keratoconus treatment options are among the most popular treatment options. They are regularly touted as the easiest and most effective treatment methods in some quarters. But when you are done reading this article, you’d be well informed to form your own opinions about them.

Keratoconus is a progressive medical condition of the eye that affects the cornea. The cornea thins and bugles out like a cone, leading to vision problems. Keratoconus treatment helps to halt the progression of the disease. And in some cases, they help keratoconus patients with partial visual rehabilitation. New treatment methods are still being discovered, so there’s no particular best treatment or most effective. It all depends on you.

For non-medical students or practitioners, the definition and explanation of keratoconus given above is still very likely to leave you confused. Let me break it down for you to understand much better.

Keratoconus is a disease which makes the cornea of the eye, which is the transparent tissue in front of the eye, to bulge outward. When a person suffers from keratoconus, the clear dome-shaped tissue that covers the eye, particularly the cornea, thins, and bulges outward into a cone shape.

The cause of this disease is yet to be known, and it affects a small population of the world. The occurrence of keratoconus can be found in about one in every two thousand people*.

Click here to continue the article ‘The Advantages and Disadvantages of Cornea Transplant and Scleral Lenses For the Treatment of Advanced Keratoconus’

My Keratoconus Experience: Baltimore’s top Keratoconus Doctor

Diagnosed with keratoconus at 14 years of age this patient has tried it all! He started off with soft contact lenses together with hard lenses, and then had his first corneal transplant in 1980. In 1990 he had a second corneal transplant but still left with poor vision. He was then prescribed hard lenses (RGP) but they were very uncomfortable and constantly popped out of his eyes. He finally found Dr. Azman, Baltimore’s top keratoconus doctor who prescribed him with scleral lenses. With the scleral lenses, he can wear them comfortably all day, they stay in his eyes, he can drive at night with no glare, and has the best vision he has had in many years!

Undiagnosed Eye Condition, Diagnosed as Keratoconus

A new patient to our office, a doctor himself, who sees his eye doctor on a routine basis, continues to comment that he still cannot see well with his new glasses. After seeing three different eye doctors there was no diagnosis and the patient was still unhappy with his vision. After a very thorough examination with Dr. Azman, the patient is diagnosed with keratoconus. With proper keratoconus treatments, the patient will have clear consistent vision with no glare! #ExcellentEyeCare #GreatVision #Keratoconus#NoDiagnosis Keratoconus Specialists of Maryland

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Beloved Fox TV meteorologist Jessica Starr, 35, worked for WJBK Fox 2 in Michigan kills herself a month after telling fans she was struggling from LASIK eye surgery

Beloved Fox TV meteorologist and mother-of-two, 35, kills herself a month after telling fans she was struggling to recover from eye surgery

By JENNIFER SMITH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 09:57 EST, 13 December 2018 | UPDATED: 11:33 EST, 13 December 2018

A well-known Michigan meteorologist and mother-of-two has taken her own life.

Jessica Starr, 35, worked for WJBK Fox 2 since 2011. On Thursday morning, her colleagues cried as they announced her death on the air.

Starr, whose married name was Rose, had two young children. She leaves them behind along with her husband of eight years, Daniel.

In a statement issued on its website and read aloud by her colleagues on Thursday morning, Fox 2 said: ‘Last night we were informed of the heartbreaking news that our friend and colleague, meteorologist Jessica Starr took her life.

‘All of us here at FOX 2 are in deep shock and cannot believe that such a wonderful, bright and intelligent individual will no longer be with us.

‘Her family and friends will be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days as we all deal with our grief.’

 Morning anchor Amy Andrews tweeted: ‘Our hearts are broken.’

Further details about her death have not yet been revealed.

Over the last month, Starr said she had been facing ‘challenging times’ since undergoing Lasik eye surgery.

She had the surgery in October and took four weeks off then returned to work for one day in November but it was too much of a struggle for her and she was back at home the next day.

In a video uploaded to her Facebook page on November 13, the day she went back to work, she was downcast as she asked viewers for their prayers and well wishes. Starr was struggling to recover from Lasik eye surgery. In her last post on her public Facebook page, she asked fans for their well wishes and said she was struggling to return to work.

‘If you have any tips I’d appreciate it, I’m trying to stay strong and get through this recovery.

‘Thanks again for all the wishes, I’m excited to be back I just want to get my vision back so I can keep you guys smiling,’ she said.

The following day, she posted that she had not yet been ready to go back to work.

‘Yesterday was a struggle for me. I really wanted to come back but I need more time to recover.

‘Please keep me in your thoughts during this challenging time. Will keep you updated,’ she said.

It was her final post.

Starr had two degrees, one in broadcast meteorology and one in geography and communications.

She regularly shared photographs of her happy family life on her public Facebook page.

Before working for Fox 2, she worked for Fox 45, WKAG 3 and WLNS.

Hers is the second laser-eye-related surgery in a month. In November, Canadian Paul Fitzpatrick, 56, took his own life after blaming the procedure for giving him 20 years of intolerable pain in his eyes.

Complications After LASIK Surgery

What To Do After Lasik Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is a procedure to correct refractive errors. This method has become very popular across the globe, making it very accessible to all with a refractive eye problem. LASIK allows the eye to be free from contact lenses and eyeglasses for a very long time. In fact, millions of people in the US have undergone this procedure to correct their vision. However, there are also side effects or complications of this procedure that you need to know.

After LASIK

The common side effects of LASIK surgery include, haze, seeing halos around the eye, dry eyes and fluctuating vision. These side effects are expected to last for a few weeks, and in some cases for more than four month. However, some common side effects can trigger a more serious problem.

The complications of this procedure are a game changer. One might suffer from moderate to severe visual aberrations. Apart from the physical stress,  one has to address the emotional and psychological anxiety caused by the postoperative outcome.

What People Are Commonly Doing

Unfortunately, patients having suffered the complications of the eye procedure would seek another eye doctor to treat their condition.  Eyesight restoration after the LASIK surgery is not for every eye doctor to treat. It takes expert knowledge and skills to restore the damaged cornea caused by LASIK. Often patients will go back  for a LASIK touch-up or enhancement, but unfortunately this can increase the complications.

Expert Eye Doctor

What separates an eye doctor to another eye doctor is their expertise in the field. Second opinions, in this case, are necessary to put an end to one’s vision problem. The main goal here is to seek a treatment that can restore the eyes to its fullest.

There is hope for people with post LASIK complications. There are expert eye doctors who have the experience, invested in acquiring the most modern equipment, continue to advance their knowledge and skills to help those who are not completely free from post LASIK vision problems.

Where To Find The Experts

Hopping from one doctor to the other does not offer a guarantee of a complete treatment. What is vital here is for one to connect with a dependable eye doctor, that is known in the eye industry. A doctor who can help manage and treat the complications of post-LASIK successfully. The post LASIK management and treatment is often a non-surgical intervention with the use of (specialty) contact lenses, scleral lenses, PVR PROSE, EyePrint Pro, and other options. (soft lenses, RGP lenses, hybrids, scleral hybrids)

LASIK surgery is a modern way to correct the eye vision caused by a refractive error, and there are post-surgery complications that some people have suffered. Fortunately, these complications are treatable by doctors who specialize in the restoration of post refractive surgery.

For more information visit LASIKFailures.com

PVR PROSE Lenses for Post LASIK Side Effects

PVR PROSE Lenses are helpful in a lot of post LASIK complications and side effects including corneal ectasia, irregular astigmatism, dry eyes, etc.

PVR PROSE Lenses don’t come in contact with the cornea of the eye, therefore they’re helpful in patients having sensitive or irregular cornea, where soft and conventional contact lenses can’t be used.

There is a film of tear between the PVR PROSE Lens and the cornea, which provides a cushion as well as helps in uniform refraction while the light rays pass through the lens, cornea and the gap in between.

PVR PROSE Lens for post Lasik ectasia

PVR PROSE Lenses and dry eyes

PVR PROSE Lenses and nearsightedness or farsightedness

PVR PROSE Lenses and irregular astigmatism

PVR PROSE Lenses can be helpful in patients suffering with irregular astigmatism after the LASIK procedure.

If you’re having any complications after LASIK procedure consult our specialist to discuss the post Lasik side effects in your case and the best possible treatment options for you.

Contact Lenses After RK Eye Surgery

Radial Keratotomy is a refractive surgery that’s used to correct nearsightedness (myopia). Typically the patients undergoing radial keratotomy expect to get rid of contact lenses and eyeglasses completely. Most of them do get rid of them in fact, however in some cases the complications may develop and the patients may need contact lenses to restore the visual acuity and to get rid of any visual disturbances that happened as a result of radial keratotomy.

Radial Keratotomy Complications

Radial keratotomy (RK) incisions may heal in a way that it results in greater myopia reduction, i.e. over correction, resulting in hyperopia. A significant number of patients undergoing radial keratotomy experience a shift toward hyperopia.

During the first month after procedure, slight visual fluctuations are common. They can be attributed to wound healing and variable depending on number of incisions and their depth. However some patients may develop constant hyperopia or other visual disturbances after the RK eye surgery and may need contact lenses for management.

Contact Lenses After RK Eye Surgery

Contact lenses after RK eye surgery

Visual acuity and performance gets affected in any procedure where there is under correction, overcorrection, epithelial growth, wrinkling, striae, etc. Any complication that causes irregularity in corneal surface can cause refractive errors and affect visual acuity. These irregularities may leave the cornea unable to be treated surgically and rehabilitative contact lenses may be the only option available to correct these errors.

Contact lenses that are used after the RK eye surgery due to complications include:

Soft contact lenses

Soft contact lenses can be of benefit in some of the post refractive keratotomy patients, however it may not be suitable for many cases.

Scleral contact lenses

Scleral contact lenses rest on the sclera of the eye without getting in contact of the cornea; therefore they are not affected by the corneal irregularities and maintain their shape.

The scleral contact lenses are made from the material that’s hyper permeable to oxygen. The scleral contact lenses maintain the saline reservoir between the cornea and the lens that bathes the cornea along with cushioning it.

Scleral contact lenses are helpful in correcting both nearsightedness and farsightedness along with astigmatism too.

Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses, as the name suggests, are rigid and oxygen permeable along with being comfortable as compared to their predecessors. Note that they’re rigid, not hard.

Gas permeable contact lenses can be made in any power possible and correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism too.

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are smaller than scleral and soft contact lenses and therefore provide better handling and comfort.

Global Complex Eye Care was specifically designed, equipped, and staffed to provide patients with nothing but the finest in professional eye care. As Post Radial Keratotomy RK Surgery Specialists, we have successfully treated patients with experiencing side effects and complications from Radial Keratotomy RK Eye Surgery , Keratoconus, LASIK side effects, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and other irregular corneas. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists from all over Maryland and surrounding states refer patients to Dr. Irwin Azman.

To Schedule Your Complimentary Telephone Consultation Contact
Global Complex Eye Care (240) 782-2020

Post Lasik Ectasia

Post Lasik ectasia of the cornea is one of the most severe complications of Lasik (Laser in situ Keratomileusis).

The Lasik procedure permanently weakens and thins out the cornea, resulting in progressive changes in the cornea such as steepening or bulging, called ectasia. Corneal ectasia results in the visual deterioration.

Keratoconus vs Ectasia

Keratoconus and post Lasik ectasia (keratectasia) are histologically two different processes. Keratoconus is a corneal disorder that isn’t related to surgery and affects both eyes. It begins usually in late teenage years or around puberty. Keratectasia is a result of corneal manipulation during surgery, like Lasik. If the patient didn’t have keratoconus before surgery and didn’t have any family history of the disease, then the post Lasik weakening of the cornea is probably keratectasia (ectasia).

Risk factors of Post Lasik Ectasia

Most common risk factors of post Lasik Ectasia in order of significance are:

  • Abnormal preoperative topography
  • Low residual stromal bed (RSB) thickness
  • Young age
  • Low perioperative corneal thickness
  • High myopia

Post Lasik Ectasia

Treatment of Post Lasik Ectasia

Treatment options for post Lasik ectasia include:

Contact lenses

Contact lenses are helpful in the rehabilitation of vision in patients with post Lasik ectasia. The types of contact lenses best for the patient can be variable as per the exact symptoms and case along with patient’s personal preference. Some of the options include:

  • Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP)
  • Scleral contact lenses
  • Soft contact lenses (custom wavefront guided)
  • Hybrid contact lenses
  • Tandem soft contact lenses

Preferably scleral lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lenses are chosen for the patients. However if they are intolerant to the rigid gas permeable lenses they can be advised the tandem soft contact lenses, hybrid contact lenses and the scleral contact lenses as the next options.

Intracorneal ring segments

Intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) are used in post Lasik ectasia patients having thin cornea that can’t tolerate the contact lens. The size, symmetry, location and number of segments to use are dependent on the individual case and surgeon’s decision.

Corneal collagen cross-linking

The anterior thin layer of cornea is weakened during the flap creation. Most of the cross linking effect occurs in that almost 200 microns of anterior layer of cornea. Cross linking has been claimed to stop the progress of ectasia therefore corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) can be used to stop post Lasik ectasia from getting worse.

Combination therapies

Some patients might need and benefit from the combination therapies including intracorneal ring segments or corneal crosslinking or any other combined therapy.

Penetrating keratoplasty

Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is used as the last resort in patients with post Lasik estasia.

Global Complex Eye Care was specifically designed, equipped, and staffed to provide patients with nothing but the finest in professional eye care. As Post LASIK specialists, we have successfully treated patients with Post Lasik Ectasia, Keratoconus, LASIK Dry Eye and other side effects, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and other irregular corneas. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists from all over Maryland and surrounding states refer patients to Dr. Irwin Azman.

For more information please call, (240) 782-2020
to schedule your complimentary telephone consultation.

 

Scleral lenses related to post Lasik side effects

Scleral contact lenses are specialized lenses that are made of a high oxygen permeable material and are larger in diameter as compared to conventional lenses.

Scleral contact lenses aren’t a contact lens in strict sense, as they don’t have any contact with the cornea of an eye. The lens rests on the sclera of the eye and doesn’t move with the movement of the eyeball.

Scleral lenses for post Lasik complications

Scleral contact lenses are helpful in a lot of post Lasik complications and side effects including corneal ectasia, irregular astigmatism, dry eyes, etc.

Scleral contact lenses don’t come in contact with the cornea of the eye, therefore they’re helpful in patients having sensitive or irregular cornea, where soft and conventional contact lenses can’t be used.

There is a film of tear between the scleral contact lens and the cornea, which provides a cushion as well as helps in uniform refraction while the light rays pass through the lens, cornea and the gap in between.

scleral-contact-lenses-lasik

Scleral contact lens for post Lasik ectasia

Corneal damage in post Lasik patients can lead to corneal ectasia. Conventional and soft lenses that rest on the cornea are useless in this condition as they sit on the cornea and cannot maintain their contour as they adjust with the corneal surface.

Scleral contact lenses rest on the sclera and have no contact with the cornea directly; therefore their shape isn’t affected by cornea irregularities and ectasia, providing unaffected refraction of light from the lens surface.

Scleral contact lenses and dry eyes

As scleral contact lenses don’t come in contact with the cornea of the eye, they are useful in patients who can’t tolerate the contact lenses otherwise due to the dry eyes.

Scleral contact lenses and nearsightedness or farsightedness

Patients left with refractive errors or having an over correction can use scleral contact lenses to correct the myopia or hyperopia in their eyes.

Scleral contact lenses and irregular astigmatism

Scleral contact lenses can be helpful in patients suffering with irregular astigmatism after the Lasik procedure.

If you’re having any complications after Lasik procedure consult a specialist to discuss the post Lasik side effects in your case and the best possible treatment options for you.