Macular degeneration is a chronic disease of the eye. If your ophthalmologist diagnoses you with this condition, you could develop blurred vision or even become blind. Fortunately, early detection and treatment of this disease can help reduce your vision deterioration. If you’re at a high risk for macular degeneration, making certain changes to your lifestyle might also help preserve your vision.
Certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, increase the risk of this eye disease. Work with your doctor to keep your blood pressure under control and let your ophthalmologist know of any changes in your medical history. Obesity also raises the risk of macular degeneration. If you are overweight, develop a weight loss program with the assistance of your doctor.
The consumption of a high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-sugar diet will also put you at a higher risk for this potentially blinding eye disease. This type of diet is generally devoid of important nutrients needed for eye health. To protect your eyes, choose baked foods instead of fried, lean meats instead of those rich in saturated fats, and dark green, leafy veggies. If you have trouble getting enough vitamins, your ophthalmologist can recommend supplements .
Having a family history of macular degeneration automatically places you at a higher risk of this condition, so make sure your ophthalmologist knows about your family history. A higher risk level is also prevalent amongst Caucasians, particularly for age-related macular degeneration. Having a light eye color also elevates the risk.
If you lead an inactive lifestyle, it’s time to ramp up your physical activity and reduce your risk of macular degeneration. Exercise may help preserve eye health by increasing oxygen circulation. Another activity that inhibits circulation is smoking; smokers have a much higher risk of macular degeneration, and they are also at a greater risk of an accelerated progression of the disease.
Early detection is important for vision preservation, so schedule regular appointments with an ophthalmologist. Call the NYC office of Dr. Mark Hornfeld at (212) 580-8881 and ask us about our services , including eye exams and eye surgery.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in people older than 55. In a healthy eye, the light enters through the cornea and the retina sends the images to the brain through the optic nerve. In a person with AMD, the photoreceptors in the retina are damaged, which leads to distorted central vision or blindness.
Learn more about this eye disease by watching this video. You’ll learn about the devastating effects of AMD and the differences between the two forms of the disease.
Work with an ophthalmologist to develop a prevention or treatment plan for macular degeneration. Schedule a consultation with the NYC office of Dr. Mark Hornfeld by calling (212) 580-8881.
About 150 million Americans wear eyeglasses and spend a total of $15 billion on eyewear each year. If you’re tired of replacing your contact lenses or losing your glasses, it might be time to consider LASIK eye surgery. About 700,000 Americans have the procedure each year in order to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure only takes a few minutes and corrects vision nearly immediately. Ophthalmologist Mark Hornfeld of New York City offers the latest technologies for LASIK surgery, including wavefront-guided LASIK. Wavefront uses three-dimensional imaging to produce a more accurate measurement of the eye and corrects vision more precisely. Eye surgery can also benefit those with cataracts; ask ophthalmologist Dr. Mark Hornfeld about intraocular lens implants to get rid of blurriness. If you know someone who is nearsighted, farsighted, or has other visual impairments, please pass along this infographic from Dr. Mark Hornfeld.
Dr. Mark Hornfeld has been performing LASIK surgery and teaching cutting-edge laser vision correction techniques to New York City area physicians for more than 10 years. Call (212) 580-8881 to schedule an appointment today! In the meantime, click on the links below to learn more about how Dr. Hornfeld can create your customized plan for vision correction today.
- You can familiarize yourself with the procedure, risks, and aftercare involved with cataract surgery by checking out this helpful overview from the American Optometric Association .
- Did you know that LASIK can correct all refractive errors , including astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness? Read this ABC News brief to find out how.
- Find out what you can expect before, during, and after LASIK surgery with this FDA article.
- Determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK by talking to your eye doctor and taking this quick two-minute screening test .
- Review these tips from Daily Finance to find out how laser eye surgery can be an affordable option for almost anyone.
If you are considering investing in laser vision correction surgery such as LASIK, you deserve to have the procedure performed by an experienced ophthalmologist who will guide you through the process from your initial consultation through surgery. Dr. Mark Hornfeld is an experienced LASIK surgeon and regularly teaches cutting-edge laser vision correction techniques to New York physicians. Be sure to ask your ophthalmologist these important questions before undergoing LASIK.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Whether you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia, you may be a good candidate for LASIK. A good surgical outcome depends on your ophthalmologist’s comprehensive evaluation of your eyes before the surgery is performed. Your eye doctor should examine your eyes, discuss your medical history, and review any risks and side effects before your LASIK surgery.
What Is Your Experience Performing LASIK?
Many ophthalmologists offer laser vision correction surgery, but not all doctors have achieved the same level of expertise. Be sure to ask your ophthalmologist about his training and experience with new LASIK technologies. An experienced surgeon should be able to provide patient testimonials from satisfied customers.
How Can I Make the Procedure More Affordable?
LASIK eye surgery is a significant financial investment. While LASIK is not typically covered by health insurance providers, your carrier may still cover part or all of the costs . Many ophthalmologists offer discounts and flexible financing options to make the procedure more affordable.
Do You Provide Post-Operative Care?
Ideally, the same doctor should handle both pre-operative and post-operative care to ensure that your eye condition is accurately tracked. Although side effects after LASIK are rare, it is always a good idea for a doctor to examine your eyes after surgery in order to address any post-op concerns.
Whether you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you may be a good candidate for LASIK. Call the NYC Vista Laser Vision office of Dr. Mark Hornfeld at (212) 580-8881 to find out how our superior customer care sets us apart from the rest. Call us today to set up your first consultation.
If you suffer from blurry vision, you know firsthand how frustrating the daily struggle to see clearly can be. Dr. Mark Hornfeld of has helped hundreds of NYC patients see clearly through innovative new technologies in laser vision correction, lens implants, and glaucoma and cataract treatments. If you live in the New York City area, call the centrally located office of Dr. Mark Hornfeld at (212) 580-8881 to schedule an appointment today.
- Is your vision blurry? Check out this helpful overview of common refractive errors from the U.S. Library of Medicine.
- If you have recently been diagnosed with glaucoma , read this article from the Glaucoma Research Foundation to better understand your diagnosis.
- Read this Mayo Clinic article to fund out why LASIK is the most common refractive surgery performed today.
- Does the idea of surgery make you nervous? Here are five reasons why LASIK isn’t as scary as you might think .
- Read this New York Times article to learn more about what you can expect with cataract surgery .
Most vision problems are caused by four common refractive errors. If you are nearsighted, farsighted, have difficulty focusing, or are struggling with vision loss caused by the natural aging process, speak to an ophthalmologist about your options for vision correction. Here is an overview of common refractive errors and treatment options.
Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina. This causes problems in refraction, the bending of light as it passes through one object to another. Myopia is a condition where the distance between the cornea and the retina is too long, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Also known as nearsightedness, myopia makes close objects appear clear while distant objects appear blurry.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a refractive error that occurs when the distance between the cornea and the retina is too short. This causes light rays to focus behind the retina, and hyperopia patients can see distant objects more clearly while they struggle to make out close objects. People experience farsightedness differently, and significant hyperopia can make objects appear blurry at any distance.
Astigmatism is a condition in which the cornea is misshapen and curved, causing light to focus unevenly on the retina. Patients who suffer from astigmatism usually complain of objects appearing blurry or stretched out.
As you age, your eye’s lens becomes less flexible. Presbyopia causes difficulty focusing on close objects. As with all refractive errors , presbyopia may be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as LASIK. LASIK is a safe, affordable, and effective laser correction surgery that offers patients the chance to regain 20/20 vision.
If you live in New York City and want to learn more about your options for laser vision correction surgery, call Dr. Mark Hornfeld’s office at (212) 580-8881. Dr. Hornfeld offers a full range of ophthalmology services and specializes in LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, and refractive surgery.
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, pupil, and lens, and images are relayed to the brain from the retina. As you can learn by watching this video, unclear vision is usually caused by one of four kinds of refractive error.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the distance between the cornea and the retina is too long and light rays focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a refractive error that occurs when the distance between the cornea and the retina is too short, causing light rays to focus behind the retina. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is curved and light cannot properly focus on the retina, while presbyopia is caused when the lens ages.
If you live in NYC and are considering LASIK or other treatment options to correct refractive errors, call Dr. Mark Hornfeld of Vista Laser Vision today at (212) 580-8881. Visit our website to learn more about our treatments.
Are you tired of irritating contact lenses and uncomfortable glasses? If you are like many people who suffer from blurry vision, your daily struggle to see clearly can be frustrating and even painful. Fortunately, recent developments in laser vision correction technology have made LASIK surgery an affordable and safe solution for many refractive errors. Here are the top four reasons you may want to consider undergoing the LASIK procedure.
There is a reason why LASIK is the most common kind of refractive surgery —it delivers clearer, sharper vision in only about 15 minutes for both eyes. From start to finish, most patients spend less than an hour on the entire procedure. Patients are free to drive the day after LASIK, and most can return to work within 24 hours.
You may already know that LASIK today is virtually painless, and any minor post-surgery irritation can be alleviated with artificial tears and a good night’s sleep. But when LASIK is performed by an experienced and skilled surgeon, 99% of patients experience no complications at all.
Whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or suffer from astigmatism, LASIK can improve your vision and help you see the world clearly the next day. Most patients are able to achieve 20/20 vision or better. Speak with your ophthalmologist about the results you can expect from your LASIK procedure.
Depending on your prescription, LASIK surgery may cost between $1,000 and $2,800 per eye. Once you add up the cost of expensive contact lenses and solutions, pricey glasses and designer prescription shades, and over-the-counter or prescription eyedrops, LASIK can actually save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
When you invest in vision correction surgery, you deserve to have an experienced and sympathetic doctor who is skilled in the newest surgical techniques. Dr. Mark Hornfeld has worked in private practice in New York City for 10 years, and teaches new surgical techniques to other physicians. You can schedule an appointment at his Vista Laser Vision office today by calling (212) 580-8881.
The eye’s lens is composed mainly of water and proteins. As you will learn in this video, these proteins may begin to clump together and cloud the lens as you age, resulting in the development of a cataract.
Cataract surgery removes the faulty lens from the eye and inserts a new artificial lens. Before your surgery, your pupil will be dilated with drops, and your eye area will be cleansed. You will have a local anesthetic injected, and may be offered a sedative to help you relax. The entire surgery lasts less than one hour.
If you suffer from cataracts , this minor surgery can help you see clearly again. Whatever your vision ailment might be, contact the NYC Vista Laser Vision office of Dr. Mark Hornfeld at (212) 580-8881 today to find out what your treatment options are.