5 Common Eye Procedures Done by Optometrists

People across the world experience various kinds of eye problems. Fortunately, modern medicine has led to the development of procedures procedures that are used to correct most eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts.

Some procedures can help fix vision problems thus removing the need for wearing contacts or glasses.

Optometrists help in diagnosing eye problems and can coordinate various treatment options with patients. If a procedure is decided on, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist for the treatment. Your optometrist in Ontario will take care of pre-operative and post-operative visits.

What are some of the common procedures they deal with? Read on to learn more about these procedures and what happens before and after vision correction eye treatment.

LASIK

This is a laser-assisted procedure that is used to correct vision problems and help patients see better without the need for glasses or contact lenses. It’s the most common procedure on this list. The word LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis.

This procedure lasts for a short period, and it usually takes about half an hour to fix both eyes. An underlying tissue beneath your cornea is removed using the laser treatment, which helps reshape your cornea, improving your vision.

Some of the common problems corrected by this procedure include astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness.

The results of the treatment begin to show after the procedure in some patients while in some, it may take one or two days for the effects to kick in. Be aware that you may also experience eye discomfort for up to two days.

Dr. Allyson Tang Optometristcan help coordinate your laser eye treatment in Vaughan.

PRK

Photorefractive keratectomy is the full name of this treatment. It is a refractive treatment used to treatfarsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. This procedure removes cells on your cornea’s surface, and unlike LASIK, it does not create a flap on your cornea to reshape its surface.

Some people have corneas that are better suited to this treatment than LASIK.

The procedure lasts for around 10 minutes, and your eyes may experience discomfort and hurt for some time afterwards. You will not be able to drive for several weeks. However, most patients show 80% vision improvement within 4 weeks and a 95% improvement by the end of 12 weeks.

Diabetic Retinopathy Procedure

This condition develops in patients with diabetes who don’t have control of their blood sugar. Your blood vessels can be damaged by increased blood sugar levels. When the vessels in your eyes get affected, they begin to leak blood and other fluids inside the retina.

This alters your vision and creates spots that appear to float within your vision.

There are 2 ways this problem can be handled. The first one is that laser procedure can be used to minimize the swelling of your eye and promote the development of new blood vessels. It can take several laser eye treatment to completely clear the blurry vision and prevent any leaks in future.

For the second option, your ophthalmologist may decide to use Vitrectomy treatment. This procedure is used to remove scars and reduce further leaks from your blood vessels. You may be required to stay in the hospital for a little bit longer after the treatment.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is a condition that results when your eye’s optic nerve gets damaged. The most common cause is increased pressure within the eye socket.

This condition is a serious one, and if left untreated, it can lead to blindness.

You may be treated through traditional glaucoma treatment or using laser treatment. The latter is an outpatient treatment procedure; therefore, you can be released to go home after it’s done. There may be a bit of blurry vision or eye discomfort for a while, but it should all clear up within the day.

Glaucoma procedure, on the other hand, is used when the laser treatment was not effective. You will be released to go home after the procedure, but it may take up to one week before you resume your normal activities. Some of the side-effects you may experience include red or watery eyes.

Cataract Procedure

Cataracts form and cloud the lens of your eye, thus blurring or dulling your vision. They mostly affect people as they grow older.

The procedure to correct the problem involves the removal of the cloudy lens and replacing them with an artificial one. It takes less than an hour to complete it.

You may experience discomfort or itchiness during the healing process. Your vision may also be blurred for several days.