ASK AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST

I am considering LASIK eye surgery. I want to know if there are any risks or side effects associated with the surgery?

As with any surgery, there are some risks involved with LASIK eye surgery. Although it is rare, it may take several weeks before you see full results. You may also struggle with the following issues:

• Impaired night-time vision, such as seeing halos or starbursts, especially while driving

• Dry eyes

• The need for reading glasses several years after the procedure due to natural aging

• Inflammation

• Infection

• Under or overcorrection, which would require glasses or contact lenses for better vision

• Complications with the flap of corneal tissue at the time of surgery

Why do my eyes keep twitching?

Eyelid twitches are very common. Thankfully they are mostly benign and usually come and go over time. They tend to appear during bouts of stress, lack of sleep, or simply from aging, and certain eyelid structures. More serious spasms may indicate underlying neurological problems though, so we recommend you see your doctor if you're concerned.

I believe I have really bad allergies. I get very itchy eyes where I can't even touch them, because this makes the symptoms 10 times worse. I also have a runny nose and watering eyes. Do you think I should go see an eye doctor? Or is there something I can take for it?

Based on these symptoms, it is definitely a good idea to see an eye doctor. While your symptoms suggest an allergic reaction from some environmental irritant, it is important that an eye doctor rule out less common causes such as parasitic infestation of the eyelids. Proper diagnosis will provide you with the best, most cost-effective treatment, which may range from over-the-counter allergy drops to prescriptive medicine.

How does diabetes affect your eyes?

Diabetes causes problems in the retina with what are collectively called microvascular abnormalities. The small blood vessels develop microaneurysms and leak blood. New blood vessel growth (neovascularisation) occurs. Unfortunately, these blood vessels are weak and also leak. These leaks (hemorrhages) can cause irreversible damage to the retina and permanent vision loss. Patients with controlled diabetes do better than those with uncontrolled diabetes. However, even a person whose diabetes is under perfect control can still develop diabetic retinopathy – hence, the need for yearly retinal exams.

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