New York Top Surgeons » Andrew Caster

Laser Vision Correction Los Angeles – Finding a Laser Vision Correction Specialist in Los Angeles

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:17:16 +0000

In Los Angeles, vision correction is important to residents as not seeing clearly may affect our daily lives. The health of our eyesight should be a priority, going to yearly routine check-ups with an eye care professional, and seeing to it that preventative measures and early detection are followed up with your eye doctor. With Laser Eye Surgery, patients can receive 20/20 vision or better without the use of prescription eye glasses or contact lenses. Prescription eye glasses may cost hundreds of dollars a year and can be easily misplaced or damaged with expected prescription replacement yearly. Contact lenses are similar. Although they are more convenient than eye glasses, they may easily be torn, lost, or be uncomfortable to wear at times. With Laser Vision Correction Los Angeles residents no longer have to worry about a changing prescription or blurry vision. Laser vision correction provides 20/20 vision or better, for life!

With an experienced Los Angeles Lasik Surgeon, patients can receive their laser vision correction treatment with a surgeon that ensures precision and results. A Lasik procedure involves the use of a laser to reshape the cornea for clearer, more precise vision. Often, it results in patients having 20/20 vision or better with results that last a lifetime. With an educated and experienced Lasik surgeon like Dr. Andrew Caster, your Laser Vision Correction procedure can be that of a positive experience. Dr. Andrew Caster’s practice has been dedicated to laser vision correction since 1999, not too long after its introduction. With outstanding credential and extensive experience, it’s easy to see why many patients throughout Southern California have received laser vision correction treatments with Dr. Caster. Before undergoing the surgery, your Lasik surgeon will explain the procedure in detail, and provide you with post-operative instructions to follow. Post-operative care will include things like avoiding sunlight and water directly hitting the eyes. Your surgeon will let you know what to expect and questions are encouraged to be asked as patient education is the first step to desired results. Laser vision correction is a great solution for those with active lifestyles who need a better, more convenient solution for vision correction.

Why Choose Lasik

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:11:16 +0000

Most people are prescribed vision correction treatment when as children, and by the time they have become young adults they have either become accustomed to the glasses contacts or wish they never had to wear them. Glasses may get in the way of one’s daily activity especially if it includes playing sports, contacts can be a hassle to put on and take off, but worse is if one forgets to put on their corrective eyewear all together. Forgetting ones corrective eyewear may be hazardous to them and to those around them if for example one is operating a vehicle. There are several treatments that one may look into if corrective eyewear does not best fit one’s lifestyle. Beverly Hills Lasik is the most popular treatment done in order to reduce ones dependency on corrective eyewear.

There are several other laser vision correction Beverly Hills treatments that are very similar to Lasik if for any reason Lasik is not ones first choice. Lasik is the most popular and many say the safest laser vision correction procedure. Unlike other procedures the Lasik procedure is only about 15 minutes long. Many people have anxiety about surgery, and are afraid that the procedure may go wrong, so the longer it may take the more worried the patient becomes. With Lasik most patients have not began to worry when the procedure is already complete. Another benefit of Lasik surgery is that there is no pain to scare the patient away.

Pain is generally a very big factor that steers the patient in the direction of choosing one surgery or the other. Those who have had Lasik in the past testify to feeling a tiny bit of pressure on the eye, but never any pain. Lasik is also no stranger to immediate results after surgery, and this can be very encouraging since this signifies that one’s eye health has immediately improved. Leading Beverly Hills Lasik surgeons say although many people experience better vision immediately after surgery the eyes will still be adjusting months after surgery. Six months after surgery ones vision should be set and should not experience any change. If one does experience complication from surgery this generally happens soon after surgery and is corrected right away. Make sure to attend any eye appointment after Lasik and prompt ones surgeon if something is not normal. Although Lasik eye surgery is said to be very safe the most important part of the surgery is choosing a highly experienced Lasik eye surgeon such as Dr. Andrew Caster.

Laser vision correction: Lasik

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:45:46 +0000

Lasik eye surgery is very safe and simple procedure. Most people return to work three days after Lasik surgery. The procedure takes no time at all and most surgeons believe that healing time is all up to the patient. If the patient follows the surgeon’s instructions on what to do before and after Lasik he or she should be able to return to work speedily. Some patients return the day after surgery, so it is all about the care one takes before and after surgery. Many patients believe life after Lasik surgery is much better. One can see without any hassle it feels normal and easier to keep up with. Leading Beverly Hills Lasik surgeons perform Lasik eye surgery more often than any other vision correction procedure.

The Lasik eye procedure generally last about fifteen minutes. Although some patients complain of pain or discomfort there is usually no pain and little discomfort. The Beverly Hills Lasik surgeon will insert numbing eye drops into the eye of the patient that will result in him or her not being able to feel any pain in the eye, but maybe a bit of pressure from the tool used to keep the eyes open. Most patients deal with blurry vision or some change in vision for about three days after, it is rare that the symptoms persists longer than a few weeks.

Leading Los Angeles Lasik Surgeon warn their patients about light effecting their eyes differently at night. The most important thing Lasik surgeons warn their patients about is any touching of the eyes too soon after surgery. Rubbing or wiping of the eye can move the corneal flap causing damage to the eye and eye sight. One should also avoid getting water in their eyes. One must wear eye protection to keep particles from around the eye and also to protect their eyes from the sun, the eye protection must be worn every day until instructed by their otherwise.

Andrew caster a leading Lasik eye surgeon who operates in Los Angeles says he strongly believes that healing is greatly affected by the amount of rest that a patient gets before and after surgery. Some patients can see immediate results after Lasik eye surgery, but it generally takes about six months or so for one’s eyes to fully adjust and stop changing. The goal of Lasik eye surgery is to make the patient depend less on corrective eye wear.

Glaucoma and Refractive Surgery

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:44:06 +0000

Andrew Caster MD shares important information about patients at risk for developing glaucoma require special management when undergoing refractive surgery. Regular follow-up visits with an ophthalmologist can help ensure that these patients avoid potential complications later in life.

Diagnosing glaucoma requires an accurate measurement of an individual’s intraocular pressure (IOP). Dr. Andrew Caster believes when a patient undergoes refractive surgery, the thickness of the cornea is altered; as a result, the patient’s IOP may “read” lower than it actually is. While IOP is not the only factor used to diagnose glaucoma, an increase in IOP is arguably the most important risk factor indicating development and progression of glaucoma; an erroneous IOP reading – especially one that is artificially low — can cause a developing condition to be overlooked. Moreover, because treatment of glaucoma is aimed at reducing IOP, accurate measurement of pressure is essential for effective treatment of the disease.

Andrew Caster MD says, because refractive surgery can make it difficult for an ophthalmologist to set a target IOP for patients postoperatively, these patients must be followed closely, and additional tests must be used to monitor for changes in IOP. Although newer tonometers may prove more accurate in measuring IOP even in refractive patients, most ophthalmologists use other indicators to help determine if glaucoma is developing. These factors include changes in the optic disc, nerve fiber layer and visual fields. In addition, measuring the patient’s IOP prior to surgery and then again after the eye is stabilized may also be used as a new baseline.

Dr. Andrew caster says, patients undergoing refractive surgery should understand the possible changes that can result in an erroneously low IOP reading in future eye care visits. Also, they should be advised to let their ophthalmologist know during routine visits that they have undergone refractive surgery, so that the doctor may take extra precautions to carefully screen for the presence of glaucoma.

Glaucoma and Refractive Surgery

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:43:31 +0000

Risk of Vision Loss in Aging Adults Is Greater Than Risk of Breast or Prostate Cancer

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:41:19 +0000

Significant visual impairment is a serious risk for older populations, with roughly 6.75% of adults ³60 years of age defined as being visually impaired or having best-corrected vision less that 20/40. As many as 1 in 3 men and women ³65 years of age will experience age-related vision loss. By comparison, the risks of the same age group’s developing prostate and breast cancer are about 1 in 6 and 1 in 9, respectively.

Multiple studies suggest the high risk of age-related vision conditions is due in part to a lack of proper screening and regular eye examinations. Because age-related eye diseases are often asymptomatic in their early stages and may progress slowly, an annual eye examination becomes a critical tool to detect and evaluate these conditions before they can cause loss of sight. Comorbidities, such as cognitive impairment, may also result in symptoms of vision loss being underreported by older adults. Additionally, many adults who wear corrective lenses wrongly believe regular examinations for visual acuity are sufficient when, in fact, to detect these eye diseases, a comprehensive examination is necessary.

Regular eye examinations can have an impact on more than eye health. Studies indicate that older individuals who are visually impaired are more likely to be in fair-to-poor health, with a significantly higher incidence of accidents, falls and hip fractures. Individuals with age-related vision loss also feel grief, anxiety, social isolation and depression more often that those without vision loss. These feelings can be exacerbated by a concomitant loss of mobility and an increased dependence on outside help to aid in the tasks of everyday living.

Because many age-related vision problems can be successfully treated or the progression of these diseases slowed when caught early, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye examinations for all adults ³65 years of age every 1 to 2 years.

To keep ones eyes healthy, one should schedule regular eye visits with an ophthalmologist such as Andrew Caster MD. Dr. Andrew Caster provides several services for the eyes and in one of the best Los Angeles Lasik surgeons. He has performed successful Lasik and many other vision correction procedures on many people including professional athletes.

Risk of Vision Loss in Aging Adults Is Greater Than Risk of Breast or Prostate Cancer

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:40:13 +0000

Prenatal Factors May Be Crucial in Adult Vision

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:35:48 +0000

Many studies have shown that visual impairment can have far-reaching consequences on an individual’s employment, socioeconomic status and general health. Until recently, however, the effects of prenatal and childhood biological and sociologic factors on adult vision were poorly understood.

A recent study by Rahi et al from University College London, United Kingdom, investigated whether adult visual function is influenced by early life biological and social factors. The authors found that specific determinants can have a marked effect on the eventual manifestation of adult visual impairment. Those determinants include low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, maternal smoking during pregnancy and certain markers of socioeconomic deprivation in childhood.

The population-based study gathered data from 9330 individuals from the 1958 British birth cohort. This unique database contains health information regarding every person born in Britain within a single week in 1958. In this vision study, the authors selected participants for whom medical information was available from medical examinations conducted from birth to middle age.

Study participants were examined at age 44 or 45 years for near, distance and stereo visual acuity. Examination results indicated the following:

1.3% had visual deficits that prevented them from passing a driving test and were defined as having socially significant visual impairment.

0.9% of the study participants had severe visual impairment or blindness.

Logistic regression and other methods were used to determine the relationships among vision functions, early-life influences, and health and social outcomes in middle age. The study’s authors said that the statistically significant results were repeated for all causes and levels of visual impairment.

Interestingly, the authors noted that the same early-life factors that appear to affect adult vision also correlate with other diseases and conditions, such as hypertension, as noted in other health studies. Because visual impairment can be devastating to an adult’s lifestyle and overall health, researchers said the findings are especially important and may lead to future studies to determine prevention strategies, as well as aid in early diagnosis of these conditions by better determining which young children might be at greatest risk. By identifying risk factors early, researchers hope to improve the eventual quality of life these individuals will experience when they reach adulthood.

In order to ensure that ones eyes are healthy He or she should see a leading Los Angeles Ophthalmologist, Dr. Andrew Caster runs a successful ophthalmology practice in Los Angeles. He is also a well known Los Angles Lasik Surgeon. If one is interested in the health of their eyes or needs more information about what laser vision correction Los Angeles procedures are available for ones condition please Andrew Caster MD.

Prenatal Factors May Be Crucial in Adult Vision

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:35:02 +0000

Study participants were examined at age 44 or 45 years for near, distance and stereo visual acuity. Examination results indicated the following:

1.3% had visual deficits that prevented them from passing a driving test and were defined as having socially significant visual impairment.

0.9% of the study participants had severe visual impairment or blindness.

Blindness Can Be Caused by Smoking

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:32:26 +0000

Dr. Andrew Caster would like to inform people about age-related macular degeneration. (AMD) Age related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of blindness in adults in the United States, affecting more than 1.75 million Americans. While some risk factors for AMD, such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension, are well known, recent studies indicate that smoking appears to have a significant impact on an individual’s chances of developing the condition.

In an editorial, the BMJ (British Medical Journal) cited studies finding that greater than 25% of all cases of AMD with visual impairment or blindness can be attributed to current or past smoking exposure, making it the leading modifiable risk factor for the condition. The editorial considered multiple studies conducted worldwide that evaluated the correlation between smoking habits and the eventual development of AMD, which involves degradation and eventual loss of central vision.

Treatment of AMD remains limited. Identifying and eliminating or reducing risk factors is currently the primary mode of prevention.

The analysis focused on data collected from 12,468 patients in 3 cross-sectional studies that indicated current smokers were 3-4x more likely to develop AMD as were men and women who had never smoked. By comparison, smokers are 1.6x as likely to develop ischemic heart disease as nonsmokers — about half the risk or less of developing AMD – although the association between ischemic heart disease and smoking is much more recognized.

In three additional and separate studies of AMD in smokers and non-smokers in North America, Australia and Europe, smoking emerged as the strongest environmental risk factor for developing the condition. Studies also revealed that smokers developed AMD about a decade earlier than nonsmokers.

The good news: Smoking cessation appears to have a positive effect, decreasing the risk of developing AMD over time. Despite the clear evidence supporting the correlation between smoking and the risk of AMD, the researchers also noted that public awareness of the link is lacking and added that physicians and other health-care professionals are in a prime positions to educate patients about the very real vision-related risks of smoking and visual impairment.

Andrew Caster MD agrees that one should be aware of how other behaviors may harm the vision. Staying cautious and keeping healthy habits may benefits ones eyesight or better their chances of being a candidate for Lasik or other laser vision correction Beverly Hills Procedures.