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 features information about several common eye disorders, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and cataracts. If you suffer from poor vision and are considering laser vision correction or intraocular lens implants, please schedule a refractive surgery consultation at one of our locations in Austin or Central Texas. During your vision correction consultation, our ophthalmology specialists will identify any eye health problems you may be suffering from and determine the appropriate treatment for your refractive error.
- 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 on the front of the eye) and the lens must bend or curve light rays so they can focus on the retina (the lining on the back portion 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, presbyopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism featured at our Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop and Burnet eye centers, including laser vision correction. These treatments are designed to either reshape the eye to correct refractive error or replace the natural lens of the eye to improve accommodation. Contact Texan Eye in Austin to learn more about our vision correction alternatives.
^ top
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Myopia is a common type of refractive error that 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 laser vision correction or general ophthalmology services, including glasses and contact lenses. At our Austin practice, laser vision correction with LASIK surgery is the most popular choice for patients with myopia who would like to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contact lenses. During laser vision correction surgery, the eye 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-PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, 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
^ top
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Hyperopia is a refractive error that 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 standard 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 glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, or ASA-PRK. At our Austin practice, laser vision correction with LASIK is the procedure of choice for patients with hyperopia. During LASIK surgery, 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, including print from a magazine or book.
Visit our general LASIK and ASA-PRK page for an in-depth look at how laser vision correction can be used to treat hyperopia.
^ top
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that can be linked to an irregularly shaped cornea. 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 may sometimes occur alongside myopia or hyperopia. It is important to schedule an exam with an eye surgeon at one of our Austin vision correction centers each year to track the progression of astigmatism and determine the proper course of treatment.
How is Astigmatism Treated?
Astigmatism can be treated with corrective eyewear or laser vision correction. 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 vision correction consultation with one of our premier eye surgeons.
^ top
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a common condition that generally affects men and women over the age of 40. Patients with presbyopia suffer from poor near vision and have 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, or "unaccommodating" lens.
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 vision correction consultation and 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 intraocular lens implants. A consultation with one of our surgeons will help you decide on the most appropriate option for your particular situation.
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 one eye and at a distance with the other eye, producing what is known as "monocular vision." Our surgeons can achieve monovision via laser vision correction, lens implants, or contact lenses.
Lens implants are designed to replace natural lenses clouded by cataracts; however, they also have the added benefit of correcting near and distance vision for patients with presbyopia. Lens implants like Crystalens®, ReZOOM™, and ReSTOR® are flexible and can change shape, or "accommodate," to allow the eye to change focus. This produces a much higher quality of vision for presbyopia patients.
Contact Texan Eye in Austin to find out more about presbyopia vision correction.
^ top
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that prevents light from focusing 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 few years, 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 ReZOOM™ 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. In fact, our nationally recognized doctors have trained several hundred doctors from around the world in these advanced techniques. It’s no surprise that eye doctors in Austin choose Texan Eye for their own surgical eye care.
Contact Texan Eye today to find out more about the eye conditions treated at our Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet laser vision correction centers.
^ top
Glasses & Contact Lenses
Texan Eye is world-renowned for our surgical expertise, but we also provide world-class eyeglasses and contacts for patients who need vision correction or have special needs. 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 want to schedule a general eye care exam with one of our doctors, contact Texan Eye today.
^ top
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that is usually associated with increased eye pressure. As pressure increases, the optic nerve can become damaged, causing blind spots to develop. In the early stages of glaucoma, side vision (peripheral vision) may be affected, but if glaucoma is allowed to progress undetected, it is possible for the entire optic nerve to be destroyed, leading to significant vision loss or blindness.
^ top
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 glaucoma screenings for our patients. To detect glaucoma, we perform visual field testing, measure intraocular pressure, and check for optic nerve damage. In most cases, treatment for glaucoma will consist of eye drops and/or laser therapy; in some cases, incisional surgery is necessary. To prevent unnecessary vision loss, we recommend that our glaucoma patients visit us frequently for periodic checkups.
^ top
Retina
The retina is a thin layer of tissue in the 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 consult a retinal specialist for retinal screening. 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.
^ top
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.
^ top
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