Glaucoma

5 Important Facts About Glaucoma

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Around 3 million people have glaucoma in the United States. As the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, early detection is key when it comes to taking the steps needed to slow the progression of the disease. There are five important facts that you should know about glaucoma.

5 Important Facts About Glaucoma

1. There Are No Symptoms of Glaucoma Until the Damage Is Irreversible

Early on, there are no symptoms of glaucoma. In fact, people do not typically experience any signs of the disease until it has resulted in irreversible damage. At this point, individuals may notice some problems with their vision.

2. There Is No Cure, but There Are Treatments

Even though the damage that has been done as a result of glaucoma is not able to be reversed, having the ability to treat the condition early can help slow the progression. Treatments can help to reduce the pressure on your eyes and resolve any drainage issues.

3. Some People Have a Higher Risk of Developing Glaucoma

There are certain people who may have a higher risk of developing glaucoma. In general, individuals who are over 60 and have a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk than others. Additionally, Mexican Americans and African Americans are also more likely to develop glaucoma than those in other ethnic groups. This makes it important for individuals of these ethnicities to schedule regular eye exams.

4. Glaucoma Is Caused by Excess Fluid Buildup

Glaucoma tends to develop as a result of fluid accumulating in the eye. This puts pressure on the eye and can cause damage to the optic nerve if it becomes compressed.

5. You Can Catch Glaucoma Early With Regular Eye Exams

Having regular eye exams can help you detect glaucoma early on. This provides you with the best chances of getting treatment before the damage progresses to impact your vision.

Schedule an Eye Exam Today

Living with glaucoma can be challenging. However, early detection is key to ensuring you can start treatment early. Contact Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser to schedule an appointment at their Honolulu, HI, office at 808-955-3937 or complete the form online.

cornea transplant

Why You Might Need a Cornea Transplant

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cornea transplantOver 12.7 million people across the world suffer from cornea disease, including blindness. As one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness, it can create significant problems for individuals when it comes to work, school, or even life. Dealing with a disease of the cornea can be devastating, so it is important to seek treatment immediately. Depending on your specific circumstances, a cornea transplant may be the best option.

Reasons Why You May Need a Cornea Transplant

A cornea transplant is a surgery that involves using a specialized surgical tool to cut through the diseased cornea to remove the tissue. The new cornea is then sized and sewn into place. There are several reasons why you may need a cornea transplant.

You Have Inflammation or an Infection in Their Eye

If you experience an infection in the eye, it can lead to scarring of the cornea. The scarring can impact your vision, which can lead to needing surgery in order to correct the issue. In some cases, individuals develop eye infections due to having a weakened immune system, contact lens use, or from rubbing their eyes.

You Have Fuch’s Dystrophy

If you have Fuch’s Dystrophy, you may need a cornea transplant at some point in your life. This disease causes the endothelial layer to die, which results in inflammation of the cornea. This can lead to cloudy and blurred vision, as well as pain. A cornea transplant can help to correct the problems that sufferers experience and restore their vision.

You Have a Thin Cornea

A thin cornea can be caused by some chronic medical conditions. When the cornea is too thin, it can cause light to appear out of focus. This can result in blurry vision and can make it difficult for individuals to text, read, or even drive.

See if a Cornea Transplant Is Right for You

If you are experiencing vision problems and believe you may benefit from a cornea transplant, contact Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser today. You can schedule an appointment by calling the Honolulu, HI, office at 808-955-3937 or by filling out the online form to get started.

Medical marijuana

Who Qualifies For A Medical Marijuana License In Hawaii?

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Medical marijuanaStudies have shown that the therapeutic effect of cannabinoids, the chemicals that make up cannabis, have beneficial therapeutic effects. From clinically significant reductions in pain to functioning as an antiemetic for those suffering from chemotherapy related vomiting, medical marijuana can help.

The process of getting approved for a medical marijuana license in Hawaii is a simple one. Let’s take a look at who can benefit from medical marijuana and what you need to qualify for a license.

What Can Medical Marijuana Help With 

Cannabis has a long history of being used for its medicinal effects, dating back nearly two millennia. In fact, marijuana was used in US history as a medicine until its removal. Cannabis can help with a variety of issues that include but aren’t limited to:

  • Chemotherapy related nausea
  • Chronic pain
  • Glaucoma
  • Lupus
  • Epilepsy
  • Mental conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder

Speaking to a doctor can help you understand how medical marijuana may help bring relief to you and your condition.

What To Know About Medical Marijuana Licenses in Hawaii

Some important information to know about medical marijuana licenses in Hawaii is that your license pertains only to Hawaii. So even if other states have medical marijuana available, your license would not allow you to purchase medical cannabis in that state.

Obtaining a medical marijuana license can take up to four weeks and even if you’ve been assured for approval you may not purchase medical marijuana until you have your card.

If you have any further questions, consulting with a doctor is a certain way to obtain any answers you need.

What Do You Need To Qualify For A Medical Marijuana Licence In Hawaii? 

There are clear guidelines to getting a medical marijuana license in Hawaii. To begin, you must register with the Medical Cannabis Registry Program. Then, working with a doctor to determine your qualifying medical condition. The medical marijuana evaluation carried out by a professional typically takes 15 to 20 minutes.

At Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser, we understand the need for pain relief. That is why we are proud to offer medical marijuana license assessments.

In the state of Hawaii, yearly renewal is required for medical marijuana licenses. If you are looking to obtain a license or renew your current one contact Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser at 808-955-3937 or schedule an appointment today.

BOTOX treatment

Understanding the Science Behind BOTOX® Results

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BOTOX treatmentAging is a natural part of life. Unfortunately, aging also comes with the loosening of the skin, which leads to facial wrinkles and fine lines. Thankfully, BOTOX can help alleviate these issues. BOTOX is a popular injectable used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, and other conditions. BOTOX may seem like magic, but there is some serious science behind why it works so well. Let’s explore the science behind a BOTOX treatment so you can understand if it’s right for you.

Understanding BOTOX Cosmetic

BOTOX is an injectable that is often used for facial treatments. BOTOX consists of a solution containing purified botulinum toxin. Botulinum is a neurotoxin that applies paralyzing effects to the facial muscles. While this may sound dangerous or alarming, this neurotoxin is FDA-approved to treat facial wrinkles. The neurotoxin blocks certain chemical signals from reaching the nerves in the muscle.

This stops the muscle from contracting and relaxes the treatment area. It is commonly used for cosmetic purposes, but BOTOX is used in various treatments. Some examples of other treatments include hyperhidrosis treatments, lazy eye treatments, muscle spasm treatments, certain types of migraines, and some urinary issues. The treatment is normally done in a single session, and results are apparent in as few as four days.

How Long Does It Last?

BOTOX usually lasts up to four months. However, you may see some lingering effects past then. It entirely depends on how quickly your body metabolizes the neurotoxin. Your body will naturally disperse and remove the toxin that is affecting your nerves. This means BOTOX is not permanent, which can be beneficial if you decide that BOTOX isn’t for you.

Seeking Treatment

BOTOX is a powerful and transformative cosmetic treatment that is non-invasive and has no downtime. That means you can get back to doing what you love while looking your best. At Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser, our team brings compassion, efficiency, and expertise to every treatment to ensure you get the best results. If you’re considering BOTOX, contact Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser at 808-955-3937 today.

close up of light shining on eyeball- Photorefractive Keratectomy laser eye treatment

Photorefractive Keratectomy: Is It Better Than LASIK®?

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close up of light shining on eyeball- Photorefractive Keratectomy laser eye treatmentPhotorefractive Keratectomy and LASIK® are both laser eye treatments that repair a damaged or impaired cornea. The cornea is a thin and transparent cover over the iris and pupil. When the cornea is damaged or impaired, you will struggle to absorb and focus light. People who have bad corneas are usually candidates for Photorefractive Keratectomy or LASIK, but is one better than the other?

How Is Photorefractive Keratectomy Different From LASIK®?

Ophthalmologists used Photorefractive Keratectomy laser surgery before LASIK became so widespread. Photorefractive Keratectomy is still a respected and useful laser eye surgery. Photorefractive Keratectomy, like LASIK, reshapes the cornea to enhance your vision.

During the LASIK procedure, a thin flap in the cornea is created. Then, the surgeon uses laser technology to correct the refractive issues in the cornea by reshaping the cornea. A surgeon will need approximately 30 minutes or less to perform this procedure.

In a Photorefractive Keratectomy procedure, on the other hand, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the injured cornea. A new, uninjured cornea grows in its place, thus restoring your vision. This procedure takes approximately half the time (15 minutes) of a LASIK operation.

Who Can Get Photorefractive Keratectomy?

Almost anyone who is suffering from an impaired cornea can benefit from Photorefractive Keractectomy surgery. However, today, the medical profession primarily relies on this laser eye treatment for two instances: you have large pupils or thin corneas.

What Is Photorefractive Keratectomy’s Success Rate?

Tests have demonstrated that an overwhelming number of Photorefractive Keratectomy patients (90-95%) experienced a vision increase to 20/40 if the patients needed a correction of up to -6.00 diopters. As many as 70% of Photorefractive Keratectomy patients had their vision improve to 20/20 after the laser surgery. Therefore, you are likely to be satisfied with the results post-surgery.

Honolulu, HI, Laser Eye Treatment

To experience of deteriorating vision is frightening. Thus, it is fortunate that modern-day technology has advanced far enough to provide us with laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery will yield permanent results. Although you have two well-tested and established laser eye treatments available, it is highly recommended that you speak with a board-certified ophthalmologist to gain a clearer understanding of which laser eye treatment may be best for you. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Maehara of Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser, call 808-955-3937 now.

Cataract surgery

Cataract Surgery: How It Can Benefit You

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Cataracts can have a profound effect on your eyesight and negatively impact your ability to see clearly. Living with cataracts can blur your vision and take out the enjoyment in life. With today’s technologies and treatments, however, you are able to protect your eyesight and improve your vision.

At Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser, our professional team of doctors have expertise in numerous different types of eye surgeries, with one of them being cataract surgery. During this surgery, we remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). We want to restore your vision and bring back the joy in your life!

How Do Cataracts Affect My Vision?

In an eye where cataracts are not present, light enters and travels through the lens. This lens then focuses the light into a sharp and detailed image on the retina, which then relays the message and picture through the optic nerve to the brain. 

In an eye where cataracts are present, the lens will be cloudy, covered with a thin and painless film. This cataract will then block light, which distorts the image being sent to your brain. Cataracts can affect your vision with blurriness, sensitivity to glare, and cause second sight. If not treated, cataracts can also eventually lead to blindness.

When Do I Know Cataract Surgery Is Right For Me?

Cataracts can affect different people at different speeds, so it’s important to keep note of the side effects and symptoms. When your eyesight begins to deteriorate and it is difficult to see things that you once viewed with ease on a day to day basis, then it is a good time for cataract surgery. 

Nobody enjoys having blurred vision and difficulty seeing, as this can make simple day to day tasks such as driving and grocery shopping difficult. Reclaim your freedom by removing your cataracts. 

We’ve Got You Covered

At Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser, we offer affordable and reliable eye care, as well as surgical procedures handled by only the best surgeons. Eye Doctor Jeffery Maehara has studied under some of the world’s top LASIK and refractive surgeons. 

With extensive experience in numerous eye surgery procedures, including cataract surgery, Dr. Maehara brings the experience and knowledge you are looking for. Call us today at 808-955-3937, or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to schedule an appointment. 

Senior man on his mountain bike outdoors

Tips To Recover From Cataract Surgery To Have The Best Chance of Success

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The thought of losing your vision can be very concerning. Even with healthy eyes, many factors and causes cause vision issues. Although most symptoms go away on their own, other vision issues require medical or surgical intervention to reverse or cure, and some may cause complete vision loss if left untreated.

Cataracts are a condition of the eye that, although not an emergency, does require treatment by an ophthalmologist to restore lost vision. They are more common in older adults and occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and distorts or blurs your sight. Some contacts or glasses may help, but cataracts generally worsen over time.

Cataract surgery is a common surgery that almost 80% of adults will undergo and a relatively straightforward procedure that takes about 30 minutes per eye. Although how commonly it is performed has increased its safety and effectiveness, there are still a few things to remember during your recovery to give the best chance of achieving the best result.

Since cataract surgery replaces the clouded or damaged lens with an artificial one, it is important to allow the body to accept the lens and begin the healing process before stressing the eye or the muscles attached to the lens. To help with this, you will likely need to wear an eye shield for the first day after surgery and while you sleep for a few weeks.

During this time, it is also essential to apply any medicated eye drops prescribed to you at the frequency of the dosage. This will help give your eyes every advantage to accept the artificial lens and speed recovery.

If you usually wear contacts or glasses, you will likely need to refrain from using them until your eyes are fully healed. In most cases, a new lens prescription will be required.

If you have cloudy vision or any other issues with your eyes or eyesight, call Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, at 808-955-3937 or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to schedule an exam today.

business lady perfect appearance beaming smiling taking off specs good eyesight

Resolve Cornea Issues Without a Complete Replacement

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The clear outer layer of your eyes, called the cornea, is responsible for focusing light and images for the retina and optical nerve to give your sense of vision. This thin layer on the front of the eye is susceptible to damage, injury, or other condition which can make your vision cloudy or foggy.

In many cases, these conditions will subside on their own or with conservative treatments such as eye drops or other treatment methods. In more severe cases, the damaged part of the cornea must be replaced to regain clear vision.

Previously, the best option for resolving corneal issues was a complete corneal transplant using donor tissue. This was a relatively successful procedure. However, it also came with a rather extensive recovery period and was not without risks of tissue rejection or procedure failure.

Now, instead of replacing the entire cornea, ophthalmologists like Dr. Jeffrey Maehara are able to perform Descement-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK). This new procedure delicately and precisely removes only the damaged layers of the cornea, leaving the healthy tissue intact.

Patients who undergo DSAEK are able to return home the same day of the treatment and, with the anesthetics used, feel only minor pressure during the procedure. Although patients must refrain from bending below the waist or doing any strenuous activity or exercise for the first three weeks following the procedure, recovery is relatively easy with a great success rate.

The DSAEK procedure allows Dr. Maehara to help patients regain their vision with a higher success rate and a much shorter recovery than a complete replacement of the cornea. There may be some changes in your vision, including periodic blurriness, for a few months after the procedure. Still, these are temporary, and most patients are able to see better after 3 months.

Since many of the tissues that make up the cornea do not grow back if damaged or injured, the partial replacement offered by DSAEK is a safe and effective way to regain your clear vision. If you have chronic blurriness or fogginess in your vision, call Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, at 808-955-3937 or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to schedule an exam today.

How Belotero Balance® is Different Than Other Dermal Fillers

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Many dermal fillers and injectable treatments are available to address nearly every effect of aging around the face. Each of the treatments works best when treating specific aesthetic conditions and changes.

From injections like BOTOX® that temporarily block muscle contraction to others that restore lost volume with hyaluronic acid (HA), these treatments are safe, easy, and provide excellent results. With so many options, there are not a lot of specific formulas that stand out among the others in the same category.

Belotero Balance®, however, takes the benefits of HA and is created with a proprietary Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (CPM) process, which can provide even better results than other HA treatments available.

Although our bodies naturally create HA, this production decreases around age 20. Along with the decrease in collagen production, this can create sunken areas on the face where decreased volume does not push outward on the skin. This can lead to lines and wrinkles and even larger creases to form.

Belotero Balance® restores this lost volume with its HA that absorbs nearby water molecules and increases volume from below the skin. And with the specific formulation, Belotero Balance® blends much better into the skin than many other HA treatments. This can lead to a more even and natural-looking enhancement to the aesthetics of your face.

Not only does Belotero Balance® give exceptional results, it blends in with the surrounding skin tissue, making it safe and successful at addressing many areas around the face, including the nasolabial folds around the nose, chin wrinkles, and creases around the lips.

Like other HA treatments, however, the results are not permanent, and as the body metabolizes the HA, you may notice a decrease in volume. However, since this special formula blends well with your skin, the results generally last at least a year.

The doctors and aestheticians at Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, have the experience and knowledge needed to select the best dermal treatment from all the options available to help best meet your aesthetic goals. Visit www.maeharaeyes.com or call 808-955-3937 to schedule a consultation and get started on your aesthetic journey.

Pretty smiling woman with clean skin in white fluffy sweater

Are Restalyne® Treatments Painful?

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The effects of aging can be on many areas of our face. From brow lines and crow’s feet to frown lines around your mouth, creases and wrinkles can continue to grow or deepen, despite a dedicated rigorous at-home skincare routine.

When your regular cosmetic routine is not enough to lessen the appearance of these lines and wrinkles, dermal injectables are a safe and effective way to achieve the look you want.

For mild to moderate lines and creases around the lower portion of your face, Restalyne® is an FDA-approved and proven way to reduce their appearance safely and effectively. Using hyaluronic acid (HA), a molecule produced by and found in your body, the Restalyne® injections fill in lost volume by pulling in nearby water molecules.

Since your body already produces HA naturally, there is minimal risk of severe or adverse reactions. The Restalyne® treatments just boost the normal production of HA that decreases over time. Although the results from Restalyne® are temporary, the treatments are safe enough to be repeated to maintain the desired youthful look you want.

Restalyne® treatments are performed in the office and often take less than 30 minutes. Best of all, the FDA recently approved Restalyne®-L. This new formulation takes all of the proven results and aesthetic benefits from Restalyne® and adds lidocaine to the injection to help alleviate any minor discomfort that might occur with the treatments.

Although many dermal fillers and injectables available today can be used in many areas of the face, it is important to choose a doctor or aesthetician with the experience needed to know which will best address your specific concern. Restalyne®-L is a great option to treat lines and creases on the lower areas of the face nearly painlessly.

The team at Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, has the experience necessary to create the perfect aesthetic treatment plan to meet all of your goals. Whether you are interested in Restalyne®-L or other aesthetic treatment methods, call the office at 808-955-3937 or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to get started with a comprehensive consultation today.