Cataract Surgery Honolulu, HI

Good Candidate for Phacoemulsification?

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Cataract Surgery Honolulu, HIYou may enjoy having a cloudy fall day to take in the changing leaves and weather around you, but the last thing you likely want is a clouding of your vision. As a disease that affects over 24 millions Americans, cataracts is an eye disease that causes a clouding of the lens which makes it difficult for light to properly enter the eye. Luckily, cataracts can be treated with a variety of different methods including a surgical procedure called phacoemulsification.

What Is Phacoemulsification?

During a phacoemulsification surgery, an ultrasonic handpiece will be used to sculpt and emulsify the cataract while a pump simultaneously aspirates particles through the tip of the device. During this procedure, the cataract is typically broken into several pieces and then gently removed. After the cataract has been withdrawn, an intraocular lens implant will be placed into the lens capsule which will help to restore vision.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Phacoemulsification?

Depending on the severity of your cataracts and with the proper diagnosis and examination, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara will determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for this procedure.

Is Phacoemulsification Surgery Painful?

To ensure that you stay comfortable during your phacoemulsification surgery, we will apply a topical anesthetic to your eye which will help to alleviate any discomfort. Depending on your specific scenario, we may also administer some drugs intravenously. If you are worried about feeling anxious during this procedure, Dr. Maehara may be able to give you something to relax your nerves and help you feel better.

What Are the Benefits of Phacoemulsification?

The use of a smaller incision, make phacoemulsification extremely popular because it reduces the likelihood of further eye complications. Additionally, phacoemulsification is popular because it can be done without hospitalization or a lengthy recovery.

If you would like to learn more about phacoemulsification or other cataract removal procedures, contact Jeffrey Maehara today!

Elta MD Honolulu, HI

Looking for a New Skin Care Line? Look No Further than EltaMD

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Elta MD Honolulu, HIEven though summer is coming to an end, that doesn’t mean your skin care should as well. In fact, you are equally as likely to get burnt in the dead of winter as you are on a hot summer day. To ensure that you maintain your skin care routine, we encourage all of our patients to try a unique skin care system like EltaMD that we offer here at our offices. So, what makes the EltaMD so unique? Read on to learn more.

They Contain Zinc Oxide

Unfortunately, not all active sunscreens contain zinc oxide. However, EltaMD sunscreens do. Zinc Oxide is an all-natural ingredient that acts as an additional physical barrier between your skin and the sun. By creating a sort of reflective barrier, zinc oxide helps the sun’s rays bounce off your skin and protect it against sun damage and burns.

They Are All-Natural

It can be frightening to pick up a skin care product or sunscreen only to read a bunch of weird ingredients that might as well be in a different language. One of the best things about EltaMD sunscreens is that they are all-natural and paraben free which means that you know that you are only putting the best ingredients on your skin.

They Are FDA Approved

Another great thing about Elta MD is that all of our sunscreens and skin care products are approved by the Food and Drug Administration— so you can rest assured that you not only have our word, but you have the federal government’s word for how well our products work.

Your eyes and your skin are two parts of your body that are often neglected. However, by wearing a sunscreen on your face and body year round, you can help protect your skin against harmful diseases like skin cancer. To learn more about EltaMD or to buy some of these products, contact Jeffrey Maehara’s office today to speak with our staff.

JUVÉDERM® XC Honolulu, HI

How to Prepare for Juvederm Injections

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JUVÉDERM® XC Honolulu, HIIt used to be that as soon as you started to show signs of aging, you had just to embrace it and move forward. However, although it’s still good to embrace your age, you can now do so while looking younger. As a popular way of softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your mouth and nose, and adding volume to your cheeks and lips in the process, injections like Juvederm can last the upwards of a year. Made of hyaluronic acid, Juvederm injections are safe and effective. But before you come into see Dr. Jeffrey Maehara for injections, make sure you use the following tips to prepare. Read on to learn more.

Drink Pineapple Juice

This may sound like a bit of voodoo, but the natural enzymes in pineapple juice can help prevent you from swelling and bruising after your Juvederm injections. Try drinking one full cup of pineapple juice for three full days before your appointment— just make sure it’s not from concentrate.

Avoid Ibuprofen or Aspirin

Both ibuprofen and aspirin may be good at getting rid of pain and headaches, but they are also blood thinners— which are dangerous to take before getting injections. We encourage all of our patients to avoid these over-the-counter blood thinning medications for about five days before the procedure.

Avoid Herbal Supplements

In addition to avoiding ibuprofen and aspirin, we encourage all of our patients to avoid taking herbal supplements like Vitamin E, fish oil, Ginkgo Biloba, Garlic, Ginseng, and St. John’s Wort for about one week prior to your procedure. Although these supplements have many health benefits, they can also be natural blood thinners.

Preparing for Juvederm injections is easy and straightforward. By using the three tips listed above, you can have a more enjoyable injection experience. To learn more about Juvederm or to schedule a consultation appointment, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!

ete services Honolulu, HI

Can Your Eyes Get Sunburned?

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ete services Honolulu, HILooking like a tomato next to a group of your tanned friends likely isn’t something you want to turn into your next Facebook profile pic. However, as a real part of life— especially in the summer— if you don’t wear sunscreen, you are more likely to resemble that red fruit more than anything else. And although it’s important to keep your skin covered and protected during the summer, did you know that your eyes need the same treatment as well? To help you better understand sunburned eyes, this article will discuss the symptoms, care instructions, and preventative measures to take. Read on to learn more.

What Are the Symptoms?

When you have sunburned shoulders, you know that they can be hot to the touch, sensitive, itch, and sting. However, when you have sunburned eyes, you may not know what symptoms to be aware of. Symptoms include:

  • Eye Pain
  • Headaches
  • Watery Eyes
  • Light Sensitivity
  • Red or Bloodshot Eyes
  • Burning Eyes
  • Blurred Vision
  • Halos

How to Treat Sunburned Eyes?

Just like with sunburned skin, your sunburned eyes will naturally heal themselves within a few days. To help them feel better in the meantime, try using some anti-inflammatory eyedrops during the day and then place a cold, damp washcloth over your eyes at night. If your symptoms get worse or persist, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara and schedule an appointment.

How to Prevent Sunburned Eyes?

The most obvious and most effective way to prevent sunburned eyes is to wear sunglasses that have both UVA and UVB protection. Additionally, we encourage our patients to wear a hat when they are spending a lot of time out in the sun— the additional layer, will only benefit you in the long-term.

Before you head to the beach or pool this summer, make sure to grab the proper protective eyewear and a hat so that you don’t get sunburned eyes. To learn more about how you can take better care of your eyes, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!

DSAEK Honolulu, HI

Understanding DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery

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DSAEK Honolulu, HIIn a world of LOL’s and OMG’s, it can be hard to identify every acronym you come into contact with. If, however, you are going to know one acronym in the eye industry, consider DSAEK. DSAEK corneal transplant surgery stands for Descemet-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty. So, what is this unique form of surgery and why is it popular amongst our patients here at Dr. Jeffrey Maehara’s office? Read on to learn more.

First Things First

To fully understand a DSAEK corneal transplant, it’s important to know what a corneal transplant surgery is and why it is used. If you are a patient who has either advanced glaucoma or cataracts, then a corneal transplant surgery may be able to help save your vision. By getting rid of part of your cornea and implanting new corneal tissues from a donor, this type of surgery is a real vision saver.

What Is DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery?

The unique benefit of DSAEK corneal transplant surgery is that it gives patients almost immediately clearer postoperative vision with a lower recovery time; meaning that you can get back to living life and see things more clearly immediately afterward.

What Is Surgery Like?

During this surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara will make a mark on the surface of your cornea with a small instrument called a trephine— the mark is there to help the surgeon measure the right size for the transplant and outline the part of the cornea that needs to be peeled back. Once this mark has been made, the damaged section of the cornea will be removed, and the donor cornea will be then placed into the eye. With just a single stitch, your cornea will be closed, and your surgery will be done.

What Is Recovery Like?

After waiting in our office for an hour or two to be monitored by our staff, you will be sent home to rest and recover. Recovery from this type of surgery just takes a few days, but you should be able to return to your normal activities in no longer than a couple of days.

DSAEK corneal transplant surgery is a unique surgery designed to help restore patients vision. If you would like to learn more about this and other types of surgical procedures that we offer at our office, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!

Under Pressure: How to Treat Glaucoma With SLT

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glaucomaGlaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. By placing a high amount of pressure on your eyes, glaucoma can cause obscured vision and even blindness if left untreated. Luckily, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara has a variety of different treatment options for glaucoma. As one of the options that he likes to use most, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or SLT, targets specific eye cells to increase the fluid in your eye and reduce the pressure. Read on to learn more about SLT and whether or not it’s a viable option for you.

What Is SLT?

As previously mentioned, SLT targets eye cells to increase the fluid in your eye while simultaneously releasing pressure. Specifically, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty’s unique laser system targets cells containing melanin, a natural pigment found in the eye.

What Is Recovery Like?

With any procedure, one of the scariest parts for a patient to think about is the recovery. Because SLT is a non-invasive, pain-free surgical procedure, the recovery should be fast and easy. During your recovery and depending on how your surgery has gone, you may be treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops.

What Are Results Like?

One of the best parts about SLT is that your eye pressure can drop in just a day or two following the procedure— leaving you with real results in virtually no time at all. Additionally, not only are your results fast, but they should also last. Although more pressure can build up in your eyes, it’s not as likely to occur when it’s taken care of early on.

Having glaucoma isn’t something you want to brag about. By causing pressure in your eyes, if left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent eye damage. And, the worst part about glaucoma is that there isn’t a cure for it yet. Luckily, with treatments like SLT, you can prevent the symptoms from getting worse. If you would like to learn more about SLT or other treatments, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!

Ingredients to Look For in Eye Cream

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good eyesight Having good eyes isn’t just about having good vision. In fact, having good eyes includes taking care of the skin around them as well. As one of the most sensitive parts of your face, the skin under and around your eyes often gets neglected— leaving patients with dryness and more visible fine lines and wrinkles. One of the best and easiest ways to protect this sensitive skin is to use an eye cream both morning and night. However, with so many different options available at drugstores and department stores, it can seem a bit overwhelming. To help you find an eye cream that will do your eyes wonders, look for one that contains these ingredients. Read on to learn more.

Retinol

Derived from Vitamin A, Retinol helps with cell turnover and collagen production— helping you to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, and dryness. When using any creams that contain retinol, make sure to limit your sun exposure because it can make your skin increasingly sensitive and prone to sunburns. Additionally, not every patient is a good candidate for using retinol based eye creams because they can make your eyes water, itch, or burn. If you notice any of these symptoms, stop using the eye cream immediately and consider scheduling an eye appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Maehara.

Vitamin E

As previously mentioned, the skin around and under your eyes are very sensitive. When choosing an eye cream to support this skin, look for one that contains Vitamin E. As a naturally derived substance, Vitamin E works to soothe and soften the skin around your eyes. So, if you are feeling a bit more tired or if you are experiencing dryness, consider Vitamin E to be your best friend.

Hyaluronic Acids

If your number one goal in using an eye cream is to protect and get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, make sure that you use one that has hyaluronic acids in it. As an all-natural chemical found in your body, hyaluronic acids are a safe way to speed up your body’s production of collagen.

Having good eyesight should be your number one concern when it comes to your eyes, but the skin around them should be your second. By using an eye cream that contains the ingredients listed above, you can have smoother, younger looking skin. To learn more about your eye and vision health, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara’s office today!

 

 

How to Shield Your Eyes and Skin from the Sun Even In the Winter

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winter eye care honolulu, hiWhen you think of wearing sunscreen and sunglasses, visions of the beach or a hot summer’s day likely come to mind. However, even though we are in the dead of winter, you still need to be wearing the proper protective gear to shield both your skin and your eyes. Whether you’re planning your next ski vacation or you’re gearing up to head outside into another cold day, this article will discuss a few of the ways you can protect yourself from the sun during this cold season.

Eyewear

Going to the beach without wearing sunglasses is going to likely give you a headache and make you say, “Doh!” But going outside in the snow without wearing sunglasses or protective eyewear is likely something that you do on a consistent basis. Did you know that by not wearing the proper eyewear, you can cause permanent eye damage? When the sun reflects off of things like the snow, it can cause your strain and damage to your eyes.

Sunscreen

You may think that sunscreen is only important to use when you are exposing a lot of your skin on a really hot summer day. However, you should be wearing at least an SPF 15 on your face and hands every day. Did you know that you can get sun damage on your skin even when you are driving? By wearing sunscreen, however, you are adding that extra shield to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays.

A Hat

Luckily for you, hats for both men and women are in style this season. As one of the best ways to protect both your skin and your eyes, wearing a hat when you are outside or in the car will help prevent you from developing sun damage. When shopping for a hat, remember that the larger the brim is, the more of your face and body it will shield.

Taking care of your skin and eyes isn’t just something you need to do in the summer. By wearing the proper eyewear, sunscreen, and maybe even grabbing a hat, you can help prevent against getting a permanent skin or eye damage. To learn more about how you can shield yourself while outside, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara’s office today!

 

 

 

Give the Valentine’s Day Gift of the Century With LASIK

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LASIK Surgery honolulu, HILet’s face it, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner you don’t want to end up in the dog house by gifting your significant other with a gift that is less than personal. Although jewelry, large teddy bears, flowers, and chocolates are favorites amongst many individuals, they aren’t exactly personal. Give your love a gift that will keep on giving not just throughout the year but for the rest of their life by gifting them with LASIK Surgery. If your significant other has a hard time seeing either near or far and they are always complaining about their bad vision, nothing will make them happier than restoring their eyesight. Read on to learn more about LASIK Surgery.

What Is LASIK Surgery?

Unlike traditional LASIK surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara performs bladeless LASIK Surgery which is a faster and equally as effective surgical procedure. With traditional LASIK Surgery, a small blade is used to help shave off and reshape the cornea. However, with bladeless LASIK surgery, a variety of lasers will be used to do the same thing— which means less time and a lower chance of error.

What Are the Results Like?

The best part about LASIK eye surgery is the fact that your loved one’s vision will be restored to perfection after recovering from the actual surgery itself. And who doesn’t want to have perfect vision?

How Can It Be a Surprise?

Because we can’t perform bladeless LASIK surgery without conducting a consultation beforehand, you aren’t going to be able to fully surprise your loved one on Valentine’s Day. You can, however, schedule their consultation appointment for Valentine’s Day so that we can get the ball rolling sooner than later.

Get the biggest hug and kiss from your Valentine this year and give them a gift that they will never forget: LASIK eye surgery. If you would like to learn more about this procedure or other eye procedures, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today and schedule a consultation appointment.

 

3 Reasons to Avoid Color Contacts

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Avoid Color Contacts Honolulu, HIThe New Year is all about reinventing yourself and setting goals that you hope to achieve. As one way to reinvent yourself, many people like to make cosmetic changes to their appearance by lightening their hair color or wearing colored contact lenses. As a fun way to change up your eye color, colored contact lenses are popular amongst every age group. However, did you know that colored contact lenses can cause blindness or eye injuries like ulcers? Read on to learn more.

No Prescription Necessary

One of the things that people love about colored contact lenses is that you can purchase them online without a prescription. Although that hassle-free aspect may be enticing, not having a prescription could damage your eyes. When you come into see Dr. Jeffrey Maehara for contact lenses, he will conduct a thorough eye exam before giving you the proper prescription. Remember that without a prescription; the lenses can cause permanent eye damage that is irreversible.

They May Not Fit

Another thing that people like about buying colored contacts online is that they are available in a “one-size-fits-all” option, but this option doesn’t exist, it’s just a marketing ploy. Everyone has different shaped eyes that are various sizes. As such, your contact lenses need to be sized to fit your eye correctly. If your lenses are too big, they can scratch your cornea and cause infections, or worse, ulcers.

You Don’t Know the Seller

When you buy your contact lenses from Jeffrey Maehara, you know that all of our contact lenses are FDA approved. However, when you buy colored contact lenses online, you could be buying them from a twelve-year-old in China who has no idea what they are doing.

If you want to enhance or change-up your look this year with colored contacts, avoid purchasing them online. With a proper eye exam and contact lens fitting from Dr. Jeffrey Maehara, you can avoid any eye pain or damage further down the line. To learn more or to schedule an eye appointment, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!