Seven Types of Vision Care for Healthy Eyes
Your eyes are a very important organ in your body. They send pertinent information to your brain and allow you to interpret your world with clarity. That’s why comprehensive vision care should be a part of the healthcare services that you receive yearly.
Serving La Jolla, Carmel Valley, and San Diego, CA, GW Eye Associates provides state-of-the-art vision care that enhances and protects patients’ eyesight. With advanced technology and an onsite laboratory, our patients can feel confident that they are receiving eye care that is safe, effective, and accessible.
Our accomplished optometrists offer several eye care services that are designed to keep your eyes healthy and functioning properly. Here, our team discusses seven types of vision care and why you might need them.
Prescription Glasses and Contacts
Prescription glasses and contacts can help patients manage several conditions, including:
- Myopia, or nearsightedness
- Hyperopia, or farsightedness
- Presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness
- Astigmatism, or the imperfect curvature of the eye
Corrective Therapy
Developmental irregularities, such as crossed eyes or lazy eyes, typically occur in children, making pediatric eye exams especially important. Early treatment can help young patients improve their condition through corrective therapies, such as:
- Eye exercises
- Prescription lenses
- Surgery
LASIK
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a corrective surgery that alters the shape of the eye to permanently improve patients’ vision. The procedure involves making a small incision on the surface of the eye and creating a flap of epithelial tissue. The epithelial flap is then gently pulled back to reshape the cornea before placing the flap back into its original position.
LASIK can treat many refractive errors, such as:
- Myopia
- Hyperopia
- Presbyopia
- Astigmatism
PRK
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is similar to LASIK, but rather than creating an epithelial flap to expose the cornea, the epithelial tissue is completely removed. Patients use protective lenses to protect their eyes as the epithelial layer grows back after the procedure.
PRK may be a suitable treatment option for patients with:
- Myopia
- Hyperopia
- Presbyopia
- Astigmatism
Cataract Surgery
Cataracts are foggy developments that occur in the lenses of the eyes as we get older. These developments cause blurry vision and will not go away without surgical intervention. Cataract surgery removes the hazy developments and replaces natural lenses with intraocular lenses (IOL).
While some patients may still need prescription eyewear to achieve perfect vision, cataract surgery is a permanent solution. Patients may opt for premium IOLs to reduce the need for prescription eyewear.
KAMRA™ Inlay
While some patients may be able to correct presbyopia with LASIK or PRK, others may not. These patients may be better candidates for KAMRA inlays. By placing the inlay in the dominant eye, patients gain better focus and clarity on objects that are close up and far away.
Pterygium Treatment
A pterygium is a non-cancerous growth that develops on the sclera, or whites of the eye. While this growth is often painless, it can spread to the cornea and cause vision problems. Treating a pterygium may include:
- Special contact lenses
- Steroidal eye drops
- Surgical removal
Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Regular comprehensive eye exams will help our team make vision care recommendations that preserve and enhance your vision. If it’s been more than one year since your last eye exam, then it’s time to schedule yours today. New and existing patients can send our team a message, or may call our La Jolla office at (858) 454-4699 or our Del Mar office at (858) 755-9465.
