1. Dry Eye

After 40, expect your tear production to decline. After 65, most people deal with a burning and stinging sensation that feels like grit in their eyes. Over-the-counter drops can be beneficial for mild dry eyes. If symptoms are more severe, it’s time to consult an ophthalmologist for an eye exam and possible treatment.

2. Floaters

Those tiny squiggles, strings, and specks are typically harmless, caused by age-related gel-like fluid that fills the back of your eyes. But when they change from occasional to an increased number, it’s time to make a beeline to your eye doctor. It may be a symptom of a more serious eye condition like a detached retina.

3. Glaucoma

This eye issue is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60. It is the buildup of fluid not draining, leading to pressure and optic nerve damage. It is painless and can affect both eyes, but typically not at the same time. Early detection and treatment can avert blindness.

4. Macular Degeneration

This eye disorder attacks the macula, the center of the retina. It causes blurred or wavy vision and central vision loss. Although there is no cure, there are ways to slow down its progression and lower its risk.

5. Cataracts

Cataracts are the result of proteins breaking down in the lens. When it interferes with everyday activities, Dr. Will may recommend exchanging a clouded lens for an artificial one.

6. Diabetic Retinopathy

This condition occurs when excess glucose damages retinal blood vessels. These vessels may swell and leak blood or other fluids into the retina, causing blurred vision. Eye exams and keeping your diabetes under control is the best way to preserve your sight.

7. Detached Retina

When the retina separates from the back of the eye, the gel-like fluid at the eye center changes in texture and shrinks. The problem isn’t painful, but without treatment, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss.

8. Trichiasis

This common age-related eye condition becomes evident when the lashes rub against the cornea or conjunctiva (thin inner surface of the lids). It can cause eye irritation, redness, tearing, light sensitivity, and possible corneal abrasion. Treatment includes an in-office treatment to remove lashes.

9. Eye Strain

When your eyes get overworked or spend too much time in front of digital screens, they can become tired, itchy, achy, and dry. Driving long distances can have a similar effect. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of watching a screen, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

10. Blepharitis

This common condition is where the eyelid rims become inflamed. It is common with people who have skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea. It may produce swelling, burning, redness, crusty lashes, and itchy lids.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey to better vision, contact Will Vision & Laser Centers today. We’re excited to welcome you into our practice and for you to “See the Difference.”

The post 10 Warning Signs of Age-Related Eye Problems appeared first on Will Vision.

Although bladeless is the more recent technique and has become the first choice with many surgeons, it doesn’t mean traditional Lasik is obsolete. Both forms have their pros and cons, and whichever you and your surgeon choose, you should expect an excellent outcome.

What Is Bladeless Lasik?

With so many different technologies and brandings, Bladeless Lasik comes in multiple names, including Intra-Lasik, iLasik, and Z-Lasik.  At Will Vision & Laser Centers, we offer Wavefront Guided Bladed Lasik, Custom Intralasik, and Bladeless Lasik, all performed by board-certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Will.

There is much information online about Bladeless Lasik, and if you do some online searching, you will discover that the procedure is defined by the use of a femtosecond laser to create a thin corneal flap.

What is a Bladed Lasik?

Bladed Lasik employs a microkeratome instrument to create the corneal flap. During your consultation, one goal for Dr. Will is to determine which device will be best suited for your eyes. Although many surgeons use only the more advanced bladeless technology, there are actually instances when a microkeratome instrument is a better approach than a femtosecond laser.

Blade vs. Bladeless Lasik Effectiveness

Both types of LASIK are useful for improving vision. The femtosecond laser can generate a slightly enhanced quality of vision with fewer complications, but this is not true for everyone. It is important to know that the best choice for each person depends on various factors, like their general and visual health.

One study suggests bladeless Lasik may be the best choice. By exploring clinical results, researchers have determined that 68 percent of the bladeless patients achieve 20/16 vision on the first day after the procedure. The study concluded that the results remained similar at one-week and one-month after surgery.

Which Treatment is Best For You?

From a medical viewpoint, all Lasik procedures are safe and highly effective. Dr. Will’s objective is to match you with the Lasik technique best suited for your eyes. We believe it’s vital to maintain as many options as possible so we can offer our patients treatments that are customized to their unique circumstances.

A one size fits all solution doesn’t exist with LASIK surgery. It is the purpose of your eye exam and consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for one of our multiple options.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey to better vision, contact Will Vision & Laser Centers today. We’re excited to welcome you into our practice and for you to “See the Difference.”

The post Bladed vs. Bladeless Lasik appeared first on Will Vision.

With increasing age comes an inevitable decline in vision, a reality that presents challenges specifically for senior citizens, or those upwards of 60 years old. For those in this age bracket, and for their loved ones, there may be increasing concerns as to their safety when driving with eyes that are more prone to vision disturbances like blurry distance vision or light sensitivity. Dr. Brian Will, board-certified ophthalmologist and director and chief surgeon of Will Vision and Laser Centers, shares these safe driving tips for older adults.

Tip #1: Avoid Difficult Driving Times and Conditions

If you’re a senior who has vision-related concerns, you can sidestep a lot of the risk, not to mention stress, of driving by limiting your amount of time on the road. Driving at night, at high-traffic times or in inclement weather should be avoided as much as possible. This is particularly helpful as many older adults have problems with night vision, where limited visibility may cause them to miss traffic signs or other cars in their peripheral vision. Light sensitivity may also make it difficult to focus with the blinding headlights of oncoming traffic. Instead, try sticking to a late-morning or early-afternoon store run, and try to stick to stores close by that you can access by local roads instead of freeways.

Tip #2: Check Your Medications

Regardless of age, people who are on medications that slow their reactive time or alter their physical or mental mobility should avoid driving while under their influence. Pain and sleep medications, muscle relaxants and antihistamines in particular can affect your safety behind the wheel, regardless of if you notice their effects or not. Read the labels on all of the medications you are taking, including the over-the-counter variety, to make sure that there are no driving precautions.

Tip #3: Learn to Drive Defensively

Defensive driving is a skill that benefits all ages, but one that is especially useful as we get older and our vision dims and our reaction times get slower. Here are some defensive driving tips that will help:

• Before driving, make sure that your seat, steering wheel and mirrors are properly adjusted for you. Your chest should be at least 10 inches from the seat and your eyes should be at least three inches higher than the steering wheel.
• Leave a wide gap between you and the car you are following.
• Break early when approaching a stop sign or light.
• Check your mirrors frequently, particularly before changing lanes.

Tip #4: Take Care of Your Vision Needs

Yearly eye exams are recommended for all adults, but particularly for those in the senior age group, as this is the time where people are most affected by presbyopia, or age-related vision loss. By this time, even those who previously had no need for glasses are have to rely on reading glasses to see their computer or phone screen, or perform other tasks that require seeing up close. If you are an older adult and have problems seeing up close or in the distance, or both, why not research a vision correction surgery? LASIK surgery, especially the bladeless procedure offered at Will Vision and Laser Centers, can be performed in less than 20 minutes and result in clearer distance vision, though most people still require reading glasses. If you would like to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, your dependence on glasses or contacts, the versatile Life Style LASIK procedure offered by Dr. Will can provide 20/20 or better vision for both near and far distances.

If you’d like to learn more about the safe and effective vision correction procedures offered at Will Vision and Laser Centers, contact our office to schedule a complimentary LASIK evaluation. Call our Vancouver office at (877) 542-EYES (3937), our Beaverton office at (877) 542-3937 or our Salem office at (877) 542-3937.

The post Senior Vision: Tips for Safe Driving appeared first on Will Vision.

Presbyopia is a common vision condition that usually occurs beginning around age 40, when the eye’s natural lens loses its flexibility, making focusing up close more difficult. People with presbyopia experience blurred near vision when reading, using the computer or reading text messages. While presbyopia is inevitable, there are several ways to restore near vision lost from presbyopia, including a new, innovative treatment. Dr. Brian Will of Will Vision and Laser Centers discusses these treatments in detail.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Typically, people begin experiencing symptoms of presbyopia after age 40. However, younger people can also experience blurred vision associated with the condition. Common symptoms include:

• Eye strain or headaches after reading up close
• Difficulty reading small print
• Squinting
• Fatigue from reading up close
• Need for brighter lighting when reading or doing close work
• Need for holding reading material at an arm’s distance to properly focus on it

Eyewear

Eyeglasses with bifocal or progressive addition lenses are the most common solution for presbyopia. Bifocal lenses have two points of focus, one for long distance vision and another for close vision. Progressive addition lenses offer a more gradual transition from near to far vision.

Monovision

Monovision serves as an alternative to people with presbyopia who don’t want to wear reading glasses. Monovision allows you to wear one contact lens to correct your distance vision and another, in the other eye, to correct your near vision. However, the eye that sees well at a distance will be slightly blurred up close while the eye that sees well up close will be slightly blurred when looking at longer distances. Additionally, some people may experience some vision loss in very dim light conditions. In these cases, your eye doctor may recommend you wear prescription glasses.

The post Vision After 40: How to Treat Presbyopia appeared first on Will Vision.