Posts Tagged ‘laser vision correction’

LASIK & AMP; Botox Side Effects

Posted on January 26th, 2012 by fashionmaven

So, I’m in my 40′s, feel great, in decent shape, good health, wonderful family, awesome boyfriend, super network of friends…so what’s there to complain about, right? Just two little problems…declining vision and wrinkles!

I’m truly grateful for all I have including my glasses, contacts, crows feet and marionette lines yet what if I could have it all? LASIK surgery and Botox. Problems solved.

Here’s my thinking…get Botox first. Relax the wrinkles on my forehead, furrowed brow lines, crow’s feet, and the marionette lines around my mouth. That way when I get LASIK the first thing I’ll see is how incredibly young I look. Brilliant.

With that in mind, I decided to check into the side effects of Botox. Risks directly related to eye problems (there are others side effects too so be sure to check them all out) include double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. I already have dry eye! Yikes. This information deepened my furrowed brow lines because I started worrying about how these side effects might impact the LAISK piece.

I called my friends at The Laser Centers (TLC) and they shared some very good information: If you don’t follow your postoperative instructions from your facility and/or eye doctor, you could potentially get droopy eyes. Patients are cautioned not to lie down after Botox. After LASIK, patients are told to take a nap. So TLC would never do LASIK and Botox on the same day.

After Botox, patients should be up and moving so that the Botox doesn’t settle. If it settles in one place, such as near the eye lids, it can cause a droopy eye lid which leads to an incomplete blink and can result in dry eye. TLC hasn’t found any problems with Botox and LASIK as long as patients do not have both procedures done on the same day. Additionally, TLC screens patients for incomplete blink and/or dry eye and if Botox (or something else) is the cause of those conditions, they remedy those causes before proceeding with any vision correction surgery.

What’s the next step? Understanding LASIK surgery risks. After that, making a decision. Botox and LASIK? Botox only? LASIK only? I’m not sure yet, but I feel like I can make a better informed decision. Hope it helps you too.

Fashion Maven

P.S. Check out Rebates and Special Offers on vsp.com for exclusive member savings on LASIK!
P.P.S. Watch our very own Jill N. go through her five part LASIK surgery journey.

File under: eye health, LASIK, Special Offers, Technology, vision benefits, VSP Blog News | Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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A Mom’s Laser Vision Correction Journey – Part 2

Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Jill N

You said what about my corneal thickness??

After meeting with Cathy to learn more about the VSP Laser VisionCare program, I immediately called my VSP doctor’s office, Natomas Eyeworks, to schedule a consultation appointment. They advised me to take out my contacts that night and to wear my glasses until my appointment date, which was scheduled for two and a half weeks later. When I asked if I could get in earlier they said it was important for me to be out of my contacts for about that amount of time so my eyes would be back to their regular shape (ummmm…side note, I had no idea that contacts actually changed the shape of your eye! I am learning new fun things every day!). So I stocked up on lens cloths, polished up on my karate skills to keep AJ’s hands off my glasses and counted down the days.

During my consultation I went through a number of a tests and checks to see if my prescription and eye health were good candidates for laser vision correction. I also learned about the various surgery options that were available such as the difference between LASIK and PRK.

Watch the video below to see what I learned during my consultation that could completely change what my surgery experience will be and why, for the first time, I was disappointed when a doctor’s test came back telling me I was thin…

Stay tuned for my next video where I meet with Dr. Furlong, my eye surgeon, to learn which surgery procedure ultimately will be right for me as I go through my pre-op appointment and find out exactly what my surgery and recovery will be like. Will I qualify for LASIK which has a shorter and easier recovery time? Or will I be advised to go with PRK which has the same great results but will require additional recovery time and be slightly more uncomfortable? I know which one I want, but we will see…

 

See what happens next in Part 3: The Decision

Miss Part 1? See it here: The VSP Laser VisionCare program

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All I want for Christmas is two clear eyes (not four)…

Posted on December 16th, 2011 by Lisa P.
Jill N., aka Eye Need Coffee Mommy

Jill N., aka Eye Need Coffee Mommy

A few months ago, I was driving to work wondering to myself why it was so foggy when the news had said it was going to be a beautiful clear day. It wasn’t until I was halfway into my commute that I realized it wasn’t fog, I had just once again forgotten to put my contacts in. It was at that moment that my Christmas wish became that much clearer.

As a working Mom of a Houdini-like 15 month-old, wearing contacts the majority of the time became a necessity for me. As anyone who has ever spent more than 5 minutes near a kid this age, you quickly realize how fast they can be at de-accessorizing you. Whether it is earrings, necklaces, hair clips or eyeglasses, the likelihood these items will no longer be on your person, or will shortly be covered in an amazing amount of finger smudges, is always high.

However, as I am also a working mom of a 15 month-old, I realize that my brain is not always as turned on as it potentially could be first thing in the morning, and remembering to actually put in my contact lenses obviously has been a challenge as well. So what is a girl to do? Aha! LASIK!

The excitement and possibility of having a great solution to help simplify yet another part of my life got me all giddy. Great! Ummm…so now what?

Read more »

File under: LASIK | Tagged: , , , , ,
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Thinking about laser eye surgery? Find out if LASIK is right for you!

Posted on December 1st, 2010 by Liz B.

Depending on your plan, most VSP members receive a discount on LASIK eye surgery. If you are curious about LASIK or have been considering laser eye surgery, now is a perfect time to find out more information!

For a limited time VSP members can sign up to receive a LASIK Information Kit or schedule a free LASIK consultation and receive a LASIK gift card at TLC Laser Eye Centers nationwide.

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Pregnancy can affect my eyesight?? (Part 2)

Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by Jill N
Jill N. is a member of the VSP Global Public Relations team.

Jill N. is a member of the VSP Global Public Relations team.

In this second segment of my educational journey learning about the potential changes in my vision as a pregnant woman, Dr. Parenti shares the symptoms that, if you experience, should be addressed immediately:

Diabetes:

Women who are diabetic before their pregnancy and those who develop gestational diabetes need to watch their vision closely. Blurred vision in these cases may indicate elevated blood sugar levels and need to be addressed. However, most women who develop gestational diabetes don’t develop diabetic retinopathy.

High Blood Pressure:

In some cases, a woman may have blurry vision or spots in front of her eyes while pregnant which can be due to an increase in blood pressure during pregnancy, also known as preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Glaucoma:

Women being treated for glaucoma should tell their eye doctor right away if they are pregnant or intent to become pregnant. While many glaucoma medications are safe to take during pregnancy, certain glaucoma medications could be harmful to the developing baby.

Finally, Dr. Parenti humored me by answering a few more specific questions. Since I can’t be the only one thinking of these, I thought I’d share these as well:

So if I don’t benefit from improved vision when pregnant like some may, can I go ahead with having laser vision correction while pregnant?

Laser vision correction is not the best idea for pregnant or nursing women. You’ll want to wait until after the pregnancy and breast feeding. When you are pregnant, the cornea changes immensely. You need both a stable cornea and prescription prior to laser vision surgery to avoid complications. Even without the risk of complications, there is a risk of wasted money as your prescription could easily revert back due to the changes. It is recommended you wait at least one year after having laser vision correction before getting pregnant due to the same reasons.

Can I wear my contact lenses when I go into labor (because I assume I can plan for this, can you tell this is my first pregnancy?)?

Ideally, you should take out your contacts if already wearing them or wear your glasses if you are not. Should an emergency procedure become necessary, time would not be allowed to remove your contacts and you could risk severe dry eye or tearing of your contacts, among other things. If you absolutely must wear them, ask your doctor to fit you for an extended wear contact lens that can stay in for one or more weeks.

Any final words of advice?

A comprehensive eye exam should be included in your prenatal routine, even if you don’t require a prescription. Let your eye doctor know that you are pregnant so you can both discuss the best options for you.

Next blog – when should you bring your baby in for their first eye exam?

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