Am I too old for Laser Eye Surgery?

One of the most common questions about getting Lasik treatment is - am I too old for Lasik?

In order to decide if you are an ideal candidate for Lasik / Laser Eye Surgery, it tends to be the conditions that exclude you that are first looked at. Most people are candidates for Lasik, and quite often, suitability tester web widgets are designed to get as much interest in the product as possible.

Conditions that may exclude you from having Laser Eye Surgery may include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Whether your lens prescription has changed in the last couple of years

It is important to understand that the eyes are always deteriorating. Lasik can improve deteriorating eyesight momentarily, but the eyes will continue to deteriorate regardless over the years.

Presbyopia is a normal age related deterioration of vision, and Lasik is not used to specifically cure it. Lens replacements are now common in the form of IOL treatment, whereby the lens is completely replaced with an artificial one. This is now proving a very popular treatment in the elderly.

Whatever you might read, Lasik is open to most, clinics vary in their criteria for who is suitable. As we always recommend on this blog. Shop around, never commit to one Laser Eye Clinic, just because it is in your neighbourhood, or your best friend went there - see what is out there.

If you don't believe it is for everyone, William Shatner had the treatment done recently by Robert Maloney MD at the Maloney Vision Institute - at the bright age of 80!

Kim Kardashian gets Lasik treatment

Kim Kardashian Humphries is an American television personality,entrepreneur, model and actress. Recently she is best known for her reality TV series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians". She is also known for her famous sex tape with her former boyfriend Ray J, which is best left out of this post.

Kim has opted to have her Laser Eye Surgery treatment done with Robert Maloney MD of the Maloney Vision Institute, who you will remember from a previous post on this blog, has also treated stars such as William Shatner and Micheal Bolton.

According to a quote from the Maloney Vision Institute, she was very happy with the results.

"The next day I woke up and I could see so clearly. I can see better than I ever have before. I am just loving everything that's going on right now."

Kim Kardashian's interview with Details magazine

Final Destination 5 Lasik Death Scene

It has now been over a month since the latest installment of the Final Destination series of movies. As always, a group of fortunate survivors that have cheated death are unfortunately confronted with trying to cheat him once again as he seeks to recover his debt.

The template for the films is consistent, take a group of diverse, but stereotyped American teens, and place them in a spectacular catastrophe where they all survive. Gradually throughout the movies, each of them comes to a terrible end, with the exception of a few that have their heads screwed on right to try and unravel the mystery of death.

For nearly 2 years it was revealed that the new installment of the movie would have Lasik as one of the signature death scenes in the movie, and that may have caused some concern for Laser Eye Surgery providers globally. Movies have a profound affect on us all, and the more realistic the movie is - the more it makes you think about the risks of daily activity. For instance, how did you feel after watching the first Final Destination movie after the plane crash. I bet you thought about it at least once waiting at the gate to get on a flight and certainly not something to think about when getting on a roller coaster either.

Death by sunbed and garbage disposal units are just two examples of previous death scenes in the Final Destination series, and it never gets boring, the formula works. The question is, did it stop you from using a sun bed or disposing of your garbage down the sink and ultimately - would it stop you from having the Lasik procedure?

The Lasik death scene is not that realistic, as a doctor would never leave a patient unattended as it was portrayed in the movie, indeed the Lasik machine was rather medieval looking - all for effect. Whether it has affected Lasik sales in the real world is another matter, but overall - it hasn't created much negativity.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the subject and please leave your comments below.

Did it make you think twice about having Lasik?

William Shatner treated with Lasik at the Maloney Vision Institute

Lasik, The Final Frontier?

William Shatner requires little introduction. His iconic role as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek television series and the subsequent movies, compounded by his role as T.J. Hooker in the 80s cops series have made him a legend to all. As well as acting, he is also a musician, recording artist and active in charity work.

William [or Captain Kirk as you trekkies would like to call him], is now at the impressive age of 80 and looking very good for it too. Whilst being immortal on screen, he, like us all, has suffered from deteriorating eyesight over the years.

He has now been treated at by Robert K. Maloney MD at the Maloney Vision Institute in Los Angeles using the  Lasik procedure. He quotes Dr Maloney as being "One of the finest".

Dr. Maloney appeared frequently on television as the exclusive LASIK surgeon for the ABC hit series Extreme Makeover. He has also treated stars such as Dennis Quaid, Cindy Crawford, Kristin Cavallari, Henri Simmons, and the Fonz - Henry Winkler.

We would like to congratulate William on his new found eyesight, and hope he can still continue to go where no man has gone before. A fine testament to the capabilities of Lasik, even for patients at the age of 80.

I wonder if Dr Maloney said, "Set phasers to stun" before treating him. He must be a Star Trek fan himself - we would like to think so. 

Cash for Peepers program proposed by Rajesh Khanna MD

Dr. Khanna of the Khanna Vision Institute in Beverly Hills as come up with a novel idea to boost the economy of the United States and improve the quality of live of its citizens.

His "Cash for Peepers" program is similar to the "clunkers" program which was a great success in reviving the automotive industry, which according to President Obama, gave the "American economy, a much needed boost."

The program involves providing a 4500 dollar voucher for people having advanced Lasik by Board Certified American Surgeons utilising American made 4th generation lasers.

It is hoped this program would boost the economy by increasing the optical industry through skilled and unskilled labour and decreasing the burden on the insurance industry.

Rajesh Khanna MD was voted the best Lasik surgeon by readers of LA Daily news and Ventura County Star Readers.

The difference between Lasik and Lasek procedures

The procedures for Lasek and Lasik are very similar. The main difference is how the surgeon accesses the eye to perform the corrective procedure. The results of both procedures are generally the same.

With the Lasik procedure the surgeon creates a flap which comprises of the thin outer layer of the cornea. This is lifted away and the surgeon applies the laser to the cornea and then the flap is returned and left to heal.

The Lasek procedure does not require a flap to be created and the surgeon moves the top layer of the cornea and moves it to the side to apply the laser to the outer layer [epithelium], and then replaced and left to heal.

Lasik is prefered as it has a quicker recovery period, whereas patients can experience pain and discomfort with the Lasek procedure. Generally Lasik is a far more comfortable procedure and hence more popular.

Lasek has fewer risks despite the level of discomfort post procedure, as a result of the flap creation in Lasik - this gives rise to the added chance of complication.

For the most part, the decision on what procedure to go for will be defined by your own preference, but your surgeon may dictate to you what procedure to get based on the thickness of your cornea.

The best advice is to make sure that your surgeon has fully consulted with you all the options. There are minimal risks with both procedures, but Lasik tends to be the most popular as the lack of discomfort is what 99% of patients prefer despite the more intrusive procedure.

NFL's Jerod Mayo of the Patriots gets Lasik

Many pro American Footballers are now turning to Lasik to improve their eyesight and increase their performance on field.

The latest addition to the Lasik NFL hall of fame is Jerod Mayo of the Patriots who returned to the field this week packing some new muscle - Lasik.

Jerod is a linebacker for the New England Patriots and was drafted by the Patriots in the 2008 NFL draft. In 2008 he was named the defensive rookie of the year. At 6 ft 1 inches and weighing in at 237 lb, this guy can move, despite his size, he can do the 40 yard dash in 4.56 seconds. Contact lenses might be tolerable for a golfer, but for a guy like this taking extreme knocks - contacts just don't cut it.

Jerod took advantage of the offseason to get his eyesight improved and was treated by Dr. Sam Melki at the Boston Laser clinic. Jerod is now involved in commercials for the clinic.

Highlights of Jerods 2010 season

Michael Gambon narrates new Optical Express advertisment

Sir Michael Gambon, CBE is one of the most respected British actors of this and the last century. He has worked in TV, theatre and film. One of his most memorable roles was in the television series "The Singing Detective" as Philip Marlow, and recently as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, replacing the late Richard Harris.

For those of you that have seen the very latest Optical Express TV ad, you will instantly recognise his calming regal accent. The latest Optical Express ad is really executed well and unlike many of the other Laser Eye Surgery ads of late from all providers, it is easy on the eyes and Michael Gambon does the hard work with his calming and well paced narrative. Excellent.

Optical Express - Michael Gambon