What are the risk factors for cataracts?

Cataracts are very common. In fact, around half of all people will eventually get cataracts if they live long enough. If cataracts are left untreated, they can cause severe vision loss. What is a cataract, and what causes this condition? Is there any way to reduce your risk of developing cataracts?

The natural lens of the eye is located behind the pupil, which is the hole...Read More

Vision problems can interfere with your daily life. However, not all problems with vision are the same. There are two main types of issues with the eye that can interfere with vision. These are technically known as low-order and higher-order aberrations.

The two categories are very different from each other. Fortunately, with advances in technology, LASIK can now address both types. However, corrective lenses (glasses and...Read More

If you’re currently dependent on glasses or contacts to be able to see well, you may have considered having a laser vision correction procedures, such as LASIK and PRK. These are popular procedures and they work well for many patients. However, there’s also another option that you may want to consider: corrective lens replacement.

What is corrective lens replacement? How does it differ from laser vision correction?...Read More

Cataracts are very common. More than half of all Americans over age 80 have cataracts, or have already had surgery to get rid of them. Cataracts can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life, and there are a number of reasons to address them. After cataract surgery, not only will you see better, but you’ll also be safer on the road. You may even have a significantly lower risk of one of the most feared...Read More

When you’re having cataract surgery, you’ll need to choose an intraocular lens (IOL), which is the artificial lens that will be used to replace your eye’s damaged natural lens. If you have astigmatism, this can influence your IOL options.

What are the options for a person with astigmatism who’s getting an IOL?

In most people, the cornea (the clear part at the front of the eye) is round. This...Read More

Glaucoma is very common. Official estimates indicate that about 3 million Americans have glaucoma. This very serious eye disease is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

In people with glaucoma, the pressure inside the eye goes up. This causes damage to the optic nerve, which is the structure that carries information from the eye to the brain. If glaucoma is caught early and treated, the loss of vision can often be...Read More

As people get older, they may become less willing to tolerate small annoyances that have plagued them for years. For some people, wearing glasses or contacts is one of those annoyances. Many people in their middle aged or older years would like to finally be free of the hassle of using corrective lenses.

Laser eye surgery (such as LASIK or ASA) can offer a way to get rid of the need for corrective lenses. However, middle aged...Read More

Here at North County Laser Eye Associates, we’re always looking for ways to use the latest technology to offer you the best possible experience for your eye care. We’re excited about a new development in the field, called the Topcon Chronos system. This device helps to make the process of getting an eye exam quicker and more efficient, and to ensure the best possible outcomes.

What is the...Read More

Cataracts are extremely common, and almost everyone will eventually develop them over the course of life. A cataract occurs because of changes in the lens of the eye. Located just behind the pupil, this clear structure acts to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye, so that objects can be seen clearly. A cataract occurs when the lens becomes cloudy, blocking the passage of light.

Fortunately, we don’t have to simply accept the...Read More

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is caused by an irregularity in the shape of the eyeball. The eyeball is elongated in a front-to-back direction. This causes light to be focused slightly in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. For people with myopia, objects up close can be seen clearly, but objects farther away will appear blurry.

For kids who have myopia, the condition generally gets...Read More