Learn More About the Eye Conditions Treated by our Austin Laser Vision Correction Specialists
To better understand the benefits of laser vision correction, it is important to understand the nature of refractive error. The following page feautures information about several common eye disorders, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and cataracts. If you wear glasses and/or contact lenses and are considering laser vision correction or intraocular lens implants, please schedule a Refractive Surgery Consultation at one of our locations in Austin. During your vision correction consultation, our refractive surgeons will identify any vision and eye health problems you may have and determine the most appropriate treatment for your visual needs.
- How the Eye Works
- Myopia (Nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Glasses & Contact Lenses
- Retina
- Oculoplastics
How the Eye Works
In order for the eye to see clear images, the cornea (the clear portion of the front of the eye) and the lens must bend or curve light rays so that they can focus on the retina (the inner lining of the eye). The retina is responsible for changing these light rays into signals that are then sent to the brain and accepted as an image.
A person with normal eyes will be able to see clear images because the cornea and lens are correctly focusing images on the retina. A person with refractive error sees blurry or hazy images because the cornea and lens are unable to focus light rays on the retina. This can be attributed to an improperly shaped eye (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism); a loss of lens accommodation (presbyopia); or a clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts).
Fortunately, there are a variety of new and exciting treatments for myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism featured at our Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet eye centers. These treatments are designed to either reshape the eye to correct refractive error, or replace the natural lens of the eye to improve accommodation while also correcting refractive error. Contact Texan Eye in Austin to learn more about our vision correction options.
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Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Myopia is the second most common type of refractive error. It affects approximately one-third of the population. Myopia results when the eye is too long or the cornea is too steeply curved relative to its distance to the retina. Patients with myopia are able to see near objects clearly but have difficulty seeing objects at a distance. Distant objects appear blurry because light from a far away object focuses in front of the retina rather than directly on the retina. Myopia can be easily diagnosed with a simple eye exam at one of our Austin area laser vision correction centers.
How is Myopia Treated?
Myopia can be treated with LASIK, ASA, lens implants, or general ophthalmology services, including glasses and contact lenses. At our Austin practice, laser vision correction with LASIK or ASA is the most popular choice for patients with myopia who seek to eliminate or reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses. During laser vision correction with LASIK or ASA, the refractive surgeon uses an excimer laser to "flatten" the cornea, thereby reducing curvature. This allows light from distant objects to focus directly on the retina, sending clear and precise images to the brain.
ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation) is a technologically enhanced version of PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy). ASA is another treatment offered at our Austin laser vision correction centers for patients with myopia. Visit our FAQs page to find out which type of refractive surgery is appropriate for your needs.
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Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Hyperopia is the third most common refractive error. It affects approximately one-fourth of the population. It occurs when the eye is too short or the cornea is too flat. Hyperopia causes difficulty seeing objects close up, and in severe cases, can also make it difficult to see objects clearly at a distance. Vision from a short distance appears blurry for hyperopic patients because light focuses behind the retina rather than directly on the retina. The eye care specialists at our Austin vision correction centers can easily diagnose hyperopia with a comprehensive eye exam.
How is Hyperopia Treated?
To correct hyperopia, it is necessary to alter the way light focuses on the retina. This can be achieved with LASIK, ASA, lens implants, glasses or contact lenses. At our Austin practice, laser vision correction with LASIK or ASA is the procedure of choice for patients with hyperopia. During laser vision correction surgery with LASIK or ASA, the cornea is reshaped with an excimer laser, essentially "steepened" to allow light to focus directly on the retina rather than behind it. This improves the eye's ability to focus on near objects such as a computer screen, a magazine or a book.
Visit our LASIK and ASA page for an in-depth look at how laser vision correction can be applied to treat hyperopia.
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Astigmatism
Astigmatism is the most common type of refractive error. It is linked to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Patients with astigmatism have blurred vision at all distances. While a normal eye is shaped like a sphere, the eye of someone with astigmatism is shaped like a football. This causes light rays to focus more in one direction than the other, meaning only partial focus can be achieved at any time.
Astigmatism can occur alone or alongside myopia or hyperopia and presbyopia. It is important to schedule an eye exam at one of our Austin, Burnet, Bastrop, and Georgetown centers for proper diagnosis and treatment of astigmatism.
How is Astigmatism Treated?
Astigmatism can be treated with LASIK, ASA, AcrySOF® Toric lens implants, glasses, or contact lenses. At our eye centers in Austin, we offer laser vision correction for the simultaneous correction of astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia. During the surgery, the cornea is made into a more spherical shape with an excimer laser.
The eye surgeons with Texan Eye in Austin use advanced laser vision correction technology to treat patients with astigmatism. With the newest generation of VISX®, and NIDEK excimer lasers, our surgeons are able to correct astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia during a single procedure. If you are considering refractive surgery, contact Texan Eye in Austin today to schedule a Refractive Surgery Consultation with one of our premier eye surgeons.
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Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a common condition that generally affects men and women over the age of 40. It results in blurry near vision with patients having a difficult time focusing for reading and other close up activities. The change in vision associated with presbyopia is due to the fact that over time, the lens of the eye loses its ability to "accommodate," or change focus. Presbyopia tends to be progressive but it is not a disease. It is simply a natural part of the aging process.
Presbyopia is sometimes confused with hyperopia (farsightedness), but the two conditions are completely distinct from one another. Patients with hyperopia share much of the same difficulty with near vision, but this is due to an irregularly shaped eye, while change of vision from presbyopia is caused by an inflexible lens, or the inability to accommodate.
If you are unsure whether your loss of near vision is being caused by presbyopia or hyperopia, contact Texan Eye in Austin to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
How is Presbyopia Treated?
Presbyopia can be treated with glasses, contact lenses or surgical correction. Surgical correction of presbyopia can be achieved with monovision LASIK or ASA, or intraocular lens implants. A consultation with one of our premier surgeons will help you decide on the most appropriate treatment for your visual needs.
Monovision refers to the process of correcting one eye for distance vision and one eye for near vision. This allows patients to see up close with the "non-dominant" eye and at a distance with the other "dominant" eye, producing what is known as "monocular vision". Monovision can be achieved with LASIK, ASA, lens implants, or contact lenses.
Lens implants are designed to replace our natural lenses clouded by cataracts. Moreover, they have the added benefit of simultaneously correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism in patients with presbyopia. These technologically advanced designs have different mechanisms of action. The Crystalens® lens implant is flexible and can change shape, or "accomodate" to allow the eye to change focus. The lens implants ReSTOR® and Tecnis® are multifocal and remain stationary. The AcrySOF® Toric lens implant corrects astigmatism. These lens implants produce a much higher quality of vision for patients.
Contact Texan Eye in Austin to find out more about presbyopia vision correction.
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Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that prevents light from focusing clearly on the retina, causing blurry vision. Cataracts are generally thought to be a natural part of the aging process, but they can also be linked to certain medical conditions like diabetes, or trauma to the eye. Cataract symptoms become progressively worse over time - left untreated, cataracts can cause significant vision loss.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
The best treatment for cataracts is lens replacement with intraocular lens implants. Over the last decade, cataract surgery has evolved, and treatment has become safer and more effective than ever before. Traditional cataract surgery enhances vision at only one point of focus, typically at a distance. Full Focus® Cataract Surgery from Texan Eye allows vision to be corrected for distance, intermediate, and near ranges. Using high performance accommodating intraocular lenses such as the Crystalens®, and the Tecnis® and ReSTOR® multifocal lenses, the specialists at Texan Eye are able to offer improved visual performance over traditional cataract surgery.
At Texan Eye, our doctors were instrumental in developing advanced accommodating intraocular lenses, and our practice performed the actual FDA clinical trial leading to approval of this technology. Our internationally recognized doctors have trained several hundred doctors from around the world in these advanced techniques. Therefore, the choice is clear: Eye doctors in Austin choose Texan Eye for their own surgical eye care needs.
Contact Texan Eye to find out more about the eye conditions treated at our Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet centers.
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Glasses & Contact Lenses
In addition to our world-renown surgical expertise, we also provide comprehensive eye exams for glasses and contact lenses. Complementing the fine surgeons of Texan Eye is a team of trained specialists and highly-skilled optometrists who are an integral part of the high quality vision care we provide. If you wish to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with one of our doctors, contact Texan Eye today.
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Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases with the common feature of optic nerve damage. Though glaucoma is usually associated with increased eye pressure, it can develop with normal intraocular pressure as well. In general, as pressure increases, the optic nerve can become damaged, causing visual field defects. In the early stages of untreated glaucoma, side vision (peripheral vision) may be affected and if glaucoma is allowed to progress, it is possible for the entire optic nerve to be destroyed, leading to significant vision loss or irreversible blindness.
Approximately half the cases of glaucoma in the United States go undetected because it often occurs without pain or discomfort. Therefore, a comprehensive eye exam is recommended on a yearly basis for the early detection and treatment of glaucoma.
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How is Glaucoma Treated?
Early detection is the key to effective treatment of glaucoma. At Texan Eye centers in Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet, we offer comprehensive eye exams which include glaucoma screenings for our patients. To diagnose and manage glaucoma, we perform visual field testing, measure intraocular pressure and corneal thickness, and assess, photograph and scan the optic nerve using the best technology available. In most cases, treatment for glaucoma will consist of eye drops and/or laser therapy, while in other cases, incisional surgery is necessary. To prevent vision loss, we recommend that our patients with glaucoma visit us for periodic checkups as prescribed by their doctors.
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Retina
The retina is the thin layer of tissue lining the inner eye that functions like the film of a camera, translating visual information into an image that is sent to the brain. The retina contains an area specialized for fine reading and distance vision called the macula. Because the components of the retina are often subject to a number of diseases and disorders, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular holes, retinal detachment, and more, it is important to have a dilated eye exam on a yearly basis. While other tissues in the eye can be replaced when damaged (including the lens of the eye), retinal tissue must be preserved and repaired. To learn more about treatments for diseases and disorders of the retina, please contact a Texan Eye center near you.
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Oculoplastics
There are a number of eye conditions that pose cosmetic concerns and also affect vision. Oculoplastics is a broad term referring to any cosmetic or reconstructive treatment of the eyelids, eyebrows, tear ducts, or orbit (bony area) of the eyes. With ocular plastic surgery, our eye surgeons can treat a variety of vision problems caused by everything from droopy eyelids to orbital fractures, skin cancers of the eye, and facial spasms. Our goal is to not only restore vision, but also repair the function and appearance of the eyes.
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Common Oculoplastics Treatments
At Texan Eye, we customize each oculoplastic surgery procedure to meet the needs of our patients. We routinely perform eye lift, or blepharoplasty surgery, to repair drooping eyelids that are obstructing vision, and our surgeons are trained in the latest reconstructive surgery techniques for the correction of eye abnormalities and fractures. We also offer several nonsurgical alternatives, including BOTOX® Cosmetic. BOTOX® Cosmetic offers several benefits for our patients - the injection helps relax the facial muscles responsible for uncontrolled eye movement (blepharospasm) and also smoothes out wrinkles near the eyes and brows.
Please fill out the following form to contact our Austin laser vision correction specialists.
- 1700 South Mopac Expy.
- 5717 Balcones Dr.
- 7000 N. Mopac, #110
- (512) 327–7000
- (800) 252–2020
- 950 West University #108
- (512) 930–3434
- (800) 722–7567
- 85 Loop 150 West
- (512) 303–7300
- (512) 321–2106
- 2801 South Water St.
- (325) 247–2020
- (512) 756–2131
- (800) 252–2020