For the past four decades, we’ve basically had two choices when it came to contact lenses.  The first choice was the ‘hard lens’  (eventually replaced by the gas permeable, or GP lens).  Hard lenses and GP’s offer the best vision of any contact lens because the rigid material allows for the crispest optics.  The rigidity also helps fill in (with the help of your tears) any imperfections on the corneal surface and therefore automatically accounts for astigmatism and irregularity, allowing for improved vision.  The downside of hard lenses is the comfort.  It can take up to six weeks to adapt to the comfort of wearing a GP lens all day.  Symptoms early on can include excessive blinking, eye watering, foreign body sensation and even pain.  For certain people with eye conditions that affect the cornea (keratoconus, corneal transplant, corneal trauma, etc.), hard lenses are a necessity because they smooth out the irregular surface and allow for much better vision than glasses or soft contacts.
 
To combat the comfort issue, the soft contact lens was introduced and has since dominated the market.  These were often comfortable from the moment you first wore them and offered serviceable vision.  Because they're not hard, the optics are not as crisp as those of a GP lens, and any astigmatism must be corrected because it is not masked like it is with a GP lens.  Most people find the mild compromise to their vision acceptable given the comfort and short adaptation time to soft lenses.  Soft lenses can also cause issues with dryness when the lens become dehydrated, and allergens can more easily adhere to a soft lens, making them often troublesome to allergy sufferers.  While the hard lens can offer better vision, convenience is king in today’s world and soft lenses are here to stay.
 
A new type contact lens called a scleral lens is hoping to take the compromise out of contact lenses.  It’s made from a gas permeable material, giving the improved optics seen with the older style of GP’s, but it fits on the sclera (the white part of the eye) and vaults over the cornea, offering greatly improved comfort that is often comparable to a soft contact lens.  This allows for sort of ‘win-win’ scenario in which the wearer gets GP quality vision with soft lens quality comfort.  These lenses are especially helpful for people with corneal diseases like keratoconus, but the vision-to-comfort ratio makes them a great choice for anyone who wears contacts or is interested in contacts.  Because they are made from a gas permeable material, they cannot dry out and are a terrific option for people who suffer from contact lens dryness or dry eye disease.  In fact, scleral lenses can be used therapeutically to treat people with dry eye syndrome.  Newer multifocal designs have shown great distance and near vision for wearers over forty who need reading glasses or bifocals to read. 
 
Scleral lenses are custom made to fit your eyes and your vision.  They require a diagnostic in-office fitting to size and power the lens just for you.  Because they are a custom device, there is no longer any sacrifice for people who had prescriptions outside of the ‘normal’ ranges.  Give us a call today if you live in or around the St. Louis area and let us find out if you would make a good scleral lens candidate. 

LASIK surgery has been a popular vision correction option for millions of americans over the past (nearly) two decades.  While we at Kirkwood Eye Associates offer LASIK to our patients, some come in seeking a LASIK alternative.  They want the independence from glasses and contact lenses during the day, but want to avoid the cost and apprehension of LASIK eye surgery.  

One popular LASIK alternative is orthokeratology.  Orthokeratology (also called Ortho-K) involves the use of overnight devices to reversibly reshape the cornea in a manner similar to LASIK.  As a certified CRT (corneal refractive therapy) doctor I have worked with dozens of patients wanting an alternative to LASIK surgery.  CRT (by Paragon Vision Sciences) is the only FDA approved orthokeratology system in the United States today.  It utilizes a custom overnight gas permeable contact lens device to shape the cornea in order to alleviate near sightedness (myopia).  

When a patient is fit with their CRT device, they wear it while they sleep and remove the lenses in the morning, similar to a retainer you wear for your teeth.  Over the first two to four weeks, your day time vision will improve, eliminating the need for daytime glasses and contacts.  The device then must be used every few nights to maintain the reshaping effect.  Depending on the severity of nearsightedness before treatment, the device has to be worn between three and seven nights per week after the first month.  

We recommend this treatment for anyone with mild to moderate nearsightedness (up to -5.00) and mild astigmatism (up to -1.00).  It works especially well for people who suffer from dryness in their daily soft contact lenses or those who work in environments where their contact lenses become easily contaminated.   We have also had great success with individuals who’ve had LASIK in the past but are showing some signs of regression and are unable to undergo LASIK re-treatment.  

Perhaps the biggest advantage of orthokeratology with the CRT system is that it’s the ONLY proven method of slowing or stopping the progression of myopia (near-sightedness).  At Kirkwood Eye Associates, we recommend CRT to any child who exhibits mild myopia.  Even those as young as ten years old.  Stopping myopia progression will decrease the expense of glasses and contacts down the road, and people with higher amounts of near sightedness have a higher risk of developing glaucoma, retinal detachments and tend to develop cataracts at a younger age.

CRT is fully reversible.  Simply stop wearing the devices and your cornea’s will return to your pre-treatment baseline within four to six weeks.  Many of our patients will try orthokeratology for a year or two before getting LASIK to be sure they're happy with the vision.  CRT is also much more cost effective than LASIK surgery, costing typically around 70% less.  

Call today at Kirkwood Eye Associates for a FREE CRT consultation to see if it’s right for you.  




​

Your vision is your most important sense and protecting your eyesight is important. One in six adults ages 45 and over are affected by a sight-threatening eye condition, and the risk for eye disease and vision loss only increases with age.

​A recent study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that more than 43 million Americans will develop age-related eye diseases by 2020. The leading causes of blindness in the US are age-related diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma; All of which can be treated much more effectively if caught in the early stages of the disease. Regular eye exams and practicing the recommendations below are essential to protecting your eyesight as you age.

1) Research your family's health history. 
Discover if you are at higher risk for eye diseases based on hereditary traits passed down from your family. Do you or a family member suffer from diabetes? Or do you have a history of high blood pressure? Are you over the age of 65? Are you an African-American over the age of 40? Any of these traits increase your risk for eye diseases and vision loss. Regular eye exams are particularly important, because an early diagnosis can limit any potential sight threatening complications and help preserve your eyesight.  Genetic testing is available for many common conditions. 

2) Quit smoking.
The life threatening dangers of smoking are well known, but what can be surprising to many is the effect it can have on your eyes. When it comes to vision health, people who smoke are at higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis and other eye complications including blindness from a stoke of the retina and/or optic nerve.

3) Eat a well balanced diet.
Eat your carrots and you will be able to see in the dark, right? Well, not necessarily. But eating a healthy diet does benefit the health of your eyes. Studies have proven that antioxidants can reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Antioxidants can be obtained by eating a diet  of fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables. 

Studies have also shown that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration. Also, consider supplementing your diet with eye vitamins to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of the nutrients needed for healthy eyes.

4) Exercise every day. Studies suggest that regular exercise — even walking — can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70 percent. Shoot for at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity to feel better... and see better! 

5) Look for changes in your vision. If you start noticing changes in your vision, see your optometrist immediately. Some examples of things  to look for include:  double vision, cloudy vision, and difficulty seeing in low light environments. Indicators of  potentially serious vision issues that warrant immediate attention include: red eyes, frequent flashes of light, floaters, sudden vision loss, blind spots, eye pain and/or swelling.

6) Wear sunglasses and protect your eyes from harmful UV light. When outdoors, always wear sunglasses that shield your eyes from 100 percent of the sun's harmful ultraviolet A and B rays. Even if it is an overcast or cloudy day, UV lights can still damage your eyes.  Wearing your shades will help reduce your risk of cataracts, pinguecula and other eye issues, including skin cancers of the eyelid.

7) Have regular physical examinations to screen for high blood pressure and diabetes. If left untreated, these diseases can lead to eye problems. Particularly, high blood pressure and diabetes can cause vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, eye strokes and macular degeneration. 

8) Keep it clean. Wash your hands and your contact lenses properly. To avoid the risk of eye infections, always wash your hands with soap and warm water before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate. Never use tap water to clean your contacts and routinely replace contact lens cases if you notice any build up or dirt. 

9) Give it a rest. Take breaks during long hours of computer work. Try to take a 15-minute break away from your computer every two hours, and rest your eyes every twenty minutes by looking around at other objects other than the bright computer screen. Be sure to give yourself good lighting to work in whether reading, writing or working on the computer. Dim lighting causes strain and because your eyes have to work harder, leading to eye fatigue and headaches.  To avoid strain, take breaks, turn on a few lights and be sure to blink often to refresh and moisten your eyes.


10) Have an eye exam twice a year.  A comprehensive eye exam, including dilating your pupils or having an Optomap photograph taken, can determine your risk for major eye diseases such as glaucoma (which has few warning signs or symptoms). An eye exam also can ensure that your vision is stable and your prescription current so that you're seeing as good as possible.

Although there is no guarantee of perfect vision even if you follow all of these recommendations,  maintaining an active lifestyle and having regular vision exams throughout your lifetime will decrease the odds of vision loss and complications. Early detection is key in correcting vision compilations and regular examinations will help maintain your sight.