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

Photorefractive Keratectomy: Is It Better Than LASIK®?

/in /by

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.

Tips for reducing eyestrain

/0 Comments/in /by

If your eyes feel dry and tired, or your vision is blurry at the end of the day, you may be dealing with eyestrain. We’re looking at our digital devices all day, between work and home, so it’s no wonder all this screen time is affecting our eyes. There are several things you can do to reduce or prevent eyestrain when using your smartphone, computer or tablet or watching television.

Relieve dry eyes

  • Treat dry eyes with artificial tears. These ensure your eyes are well-lubricated and prevent dry eye syndrome. Your doctor can recommend eyedrops that are ideal for your eyes.
  • Reduce dry moving air by putting a humidifier in the room where you use your devices.
  • If you smoke, try to quit. Being around smoke can dry your eyes and make eyestrain even worse.

Give your eyes a break

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a break and look at an object that’s at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Take longer breaks if you plan on spending hours on your devices.
  • If you wear contacts daily, you can give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses.

Adjust your settings

  • Make sure your computer screen is an arm’s length or about 25 inches away from your face and just below eye level. Adjusting the contrast and brightness settings to your comfort can help as well.
  • Enlarge the text on the screen so it’s easier to read.
  • Lightning needs to be adjusted depending on what device you’re using and how you’re using it. The device should not be brighter than the surroundings. When watching TV, keep your room softly lit. When you’re reading, position the light source behind you so it’s directly in front of you.

See your eye doctor

  • There are glasses and contact lenses designed specifically for computer work. If your vision has changed, you may need a new prescription. And regular eye exams help to diagnose eye conditions and diseases at earlier stages when they are most treatable.

Taking these steps will help you reduce some of the aches and pains associated with screen time. To schedule an eye exam with Dr. Jeffrey Maehara at Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser, call 808.955.3937 today.

Jeffrey Maehara, MD

Why choose Dr. Maehara for your LASIK procedure?

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you are considering LASIK surgery for vision correction, choosing your surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make as he or she will be operating on your eyes. You want to select someone who has a lot of experience with the procedure and meets industry standards for selecting and screening outpatients, as not everyone is a good candidate for surgery. Also, you will want to choose a surgeon who invests in new technologies as it is always evolving and improving. And be sure to keep the staff in mind as a comfortable, safe environment is paramount to achieving the best outcome.

Here are six reasons why you should choose Dr. Jeffrey Maehara to perform your LASIK procedure:

  1. Raised in Honolulu, Dr. Maehara returned home to practice with his father Dr. Dennis Maehara after studying under three of the world’s top LASIK and refractive surgeons at Tulane University in New Orleans.
  2. Your surgeon must be board certified to practice his or her specialty. Dr. Maehara is board-certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a fellowship-trained Anterior Segment-Glaucoma Specialist, which means he has extensive experience with complex and advanced glaucoma management, LASIK, cataract and corneal transplants, and other refractive procedures.
  3. Dr. Maehara stays abreast of the latest technological advances in a constantly evolving field. He specializes in Bladeless LASIK eye surgery performed with the Allegretto Wave and IntraLase FS lasers.
  4. Safety is his team’s #1 priority, followed by providing the absolute best value for your money. Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser offers competitive prices and physician-only care, which means you will get a personal consultation with Dr. Maehara to discuss your options, complete your pre-operative evaluation, perform your surgery and carry through all post-operative care.
  5. Working together with friendly professional staff, Dr. Maehara continues to lead the way with new eye-care technology to ensure patients achieve the best possible vision.
  6. Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser is located in Honolulu with a satellite office in Waipahu, offering an array of services in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.

If you are considering LASIK vision correction, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Maehara at Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser today by calling 808.955.3937.

Eye Care Services Honolulu, HI

How to Make Your Thanksgiving Meal Count Toward Good Vision

/0 Comments/in /by

If a few days off, the thought of watching too much football, and the idea of loading your plate up with more food than you can imagine have you excited for the Thanksgiving holiday, then you are certainly not alone. Here at Jeffrey Maehara’s office, we are right there with you. To make sure that your Thanksgiving feast isn’t just adding calories to your waistline, but that it’s also giving you health benefits as well, we have created a list of foods that can help with your vision.

Sweet Potatoes

Whether you prefer your sweet potatoes steamed or in a casserole, it’s good to know that they are packed with more vitamins and minerals than you may know what to do with. One of the most important vitamins that are in sweet potatoes is Vitamin A which helps to prevent against macular degeneration and age related issues in the cornea and retina.

Turkey

That lean meat isn’t just good for your lean protein intake, but it’s also full of zinc which is great at reducing advanced age-related macular degeneration and reducing the progression and development of cataracts.

Cranberries

Cranberries don’t just make a great vase filler to add to your centerpiece but they are also a fruit that contains Vitamins A and C which help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, and other age related issues that may lead to vision loss.

We aren’t guaranteeing that you will see any clearer after Thanksgiving, but it’s still good to know that at least some of the food you are eating can help reduce vision problems. If you want to learn more vision care tips, schedule an appointment with Dr. Maehara at our Honolulu office. Call Us Today: 808.955.3937.