Category: Michigan Lasik

Getting routine eye exams is vital to being proactive with your health management. During a comprehensive eye examination, your eye specialist will screen for prevalent eye conditions, evaluate the coordination of your eyes, and much more. Diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are often detected during eye exams.

At Zen Eye Institute, Our Comprehensive Eye Exam Includes Measuring Your Visual Acuity – But What Exactly Does This Entail?  

Visual acuity refers to the clarity or sharpness of vision. It measures how well an individual can discern the details and shapes of objects at a distance. Several tests measure visual acuity, but the Snellen chart test is the most common.

The Snellen chart displays letters of progressively smaller sizes, and the individual being tested is asked to read these letters from a specific distance, usually 20 feet. The results are often expressed as a fraction, such as 20/20. The top number refers to the distance from the chart, and the bottom number indicates the distance at which a person with normal eyesight could read the same line you correctly read.

For instance, if you have 20/40 vision, you need to be 20 feet away to read a letter that a person with normal eyesight could read from 40 feet away.

There are also visual acuity tests to measure near vision. These often involve reading from a card held about 14 inches away from the eyes.

It’s essential to regularly test visual acuity because it can identify vision changes that might require corrective lenses or other treatments.

Other Components of a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Measuring your visual acuity is just one component of a comprehensive eye exam. We test to ensure that your eyes are properly working together, can track moving objects, access a full spectrum of colors, detect blind spots, and determine your perception of depth. We also measure the pressure in your eyes with a harmless puff of air to test for Glaucoma.

Other screening may include ophthalmoscopy, which examines the interior structures of the eye, such as your blood vessels, retina, and optic nerve, to diagnose and monitor a multitude of ocular and systemic conditions. Retinal imaging and screening slit lamp examinations are other tools ophthalmologists can use to help diagnose various eye conditions and diseases if symptoms suggest.

What Is a Phoropter?

A phoropter, or a refractor, is the large instrument placed in front of a patient’s face during an eye examination. The phoropter allows the eye care specialist to determine the patient’s eyeglass prescription, often referred to as “refraction.” This tool has various lenses of different strengths that can be rotated into the patient’s view, allowing the optometrist or ophthalmologist to determine the best lens power for each eye to provide the sharpest vision.

How Often Should I Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Your eye doctor will typically advise you to undergo a comprehensive eye exam annually. However, if pre-existing conditions elevate your risk, you may be advised to have exams more regularly.

When did you last undergo a thorough eye check-up? Delay no further — contact Zen Eye Institute to book your eye evaluation.

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Zen Eye Institute, formally Rohr Eye & Laser Center, has served the greater Grand Blanc area for over twenty years. Now operating under Dr. Charles Zenzen, we offer comprehensive medical and surgical eye care treating various conditions and diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, dry eyes, and more. For exceptional eye care at our state-of-the-art practice, call (810) 579-0202 to make an appointment today! 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com

An effective treatment for dry eyes has emerged from a collaboration between an industry leader in dry eye treatment and an innovative medical device startup. Mann Eye Institute and ThermaMEDx partnered to evaluate EverTears, a novel combination of a self-heating eye compress with a pre-moistened cleansing pad.

Carl Sweat, a co-founder of ThermaMEDx, said that EverTears is designed to provide a convenient, affordable, over-the-counter dry eye solution that is similar to standard, in-office treatments. With precise heat and eyelid cleaning, the novel patented technology provides relief for dry eyes and restores the eyes’ natural tear film. 

Dr. Dana Ondrias, Mann Eye Institute CEO and Executive Director, said, “Just as our founder, Dr. Mike Man, was one of the first doctors in America to perform refractive surgery in 1981, our dedicated staff embraces innovative solutions that advance patient care. Our doctors and staff began administering EverTears treatment for dry eye patients last year and we’ve been pleased with both patient feedback and improvement in their underlying MGD.” 

Ben Nobles, co-founder of ThermaMEDx, said, “Texas is the epicenter of dry eye disease in America and innovative organizations like Mann Eye Institute are at the forefront of bringing the latest technologies to their patients. We are committed to support the implementation of EverTears as the best treatment for dry eyes related to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).”

Have concerns regarding the health and vision of your eyes? Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Rohr today!

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Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Nearsightedness (also called myopia) is common in people of all ages. It is typically defined as an inability to see far away or long distances. Millions of people worldwide suffer from myopia, a relatively prevalent condition. Read on to explore popular questions – and answers – about nearsightedness.

Q: What is nearsightedness?
A: Technically speaking, myopia is a refractive error that results in the eye’s inability to focus on light correctly. While distant objects are blurry, those nearby are visibly clear and crisp. In those who do not have myopia, light rays enter the eye and pass through the cornea and lens, followed by the retina at the back of the eye. When the eyeball grows too long (or the cornea is uneven), light rays focus in front of the retina instead of centered on it, and the image sent to the brain is blurry. Those with nearsightedness can correct their vision by donning prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser vision correction such as LASIK.

Q: How common is nearsightedness?
A: In a recent study published by Jama, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of adults in the United States are nearsighted. It is estimated that by 2050, nearly half of the world’s population will suffer from myopia.

Q: What causes nearsightedness?
A: The exact cause of myopia is unknown, but contributing factors are well-known and include genetics, eyestrain (books, computers, tablets), and lifestyle (not being outdoors where light is much brighter.)

Q: Is laser vision correction for nearsightedness permanent?
A: While laser vision correction reshapes the cornea and corrects nearsightedness at that exact moment in time, the possibility for the patient’s vision to deteriorate in the future is still plausible. If the patient develops cataracts, glaucoma, or presbyopia (natural aging of the eye), glasses will probably still be necessary when the lens loses its ability to focus on nearby objects.

Q: What demographics are good candidates for laser vision correction?
A: Typically, adults over the age of 20 who have a stable prescription, healthy corneas, and are in good general health are recommended for LASIK or other vision correction procedures.

Are you tired of suffering from nearsightedness? Contact the vision experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center to learn about our treatment options today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

A small, randomized trial by the University of California, Davis, found that people who regularly eat a small serving of dried goji berries might see prevention or delay of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in healthy, middle-aged people.

Affecting over 170 people globally and roughly 11 million throughout the United States, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in elderly people.

Glenn Yiu, a co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, said, “AMD affects your central field of vision and can affect your ability to read or recognize faces.”

Research concluded that 13 study participants ages 45 to 65 increased the density of protective eye pigments after eating 28 grams (a handful) of goji berries five times per week for 90 days. Eating goji berries increased eye pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which filter out harmful blue light, provide support through antioxidant protection, and protect aging eyes.

Lead author Xiang Li, a doctoral candidate in the Nutritional Biology Program, said, “Lutein and zeaxanthin are like sunscreen for your eyes. The higher the lutein and zeaxanthin in your retina, the more protection you have. Our study found that even in normal healthy eyes, these optical pigments can be increased with a small daily serving of goji berries.”

Goji berries are commonly used in Chinese medicine to “brighten” eyes through lutein and zeaxanthin. Dietary supplements containing Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin are used to treat intermediate stages of AMD.

“Our study shows goji berries, which are a natural food source, can improve macular pigments of healthy participants beyond taking high-dose nutritional supplements,” said Yiu. “The next step for our research will be to examine goji berries in patients with early-stage AMD.”

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

A novel study by researchers at UCL found that three minutes of exposure to deep red light once a week can vastly improve deteriorating eyesight.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, outlines how using longwave deep red light in the morning activated mitochondria cells in the human retina, repairing declining vision. Previous studies focused on higher energy levels and different times of the day to perform the therapy.

Overall, researchers discovered an average of 17 percent improvement in color contrast vision when exposed to three minutes of deep red light in the morning, which lasted at least a week. The same test, performed in the afternoon, showed no vision improvement.

Researchers’ findings exhibit a breakthrough for eye health which could lead to more affordable home-based therapies. Millions of people suffer worldwide from naturally declining vision, which could be improved with just three minutes of red light therapy every morning.

Professor Glen Jeffery, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, lead author, said, “We demonstrate that one single exposure to longwave deep red light in the morning can significantly improve declining vision, which is a major health and wellbeing issue, affecting millions of people globally. This simple intervention applied at the population level would significantly impact on quality of life as people age and would likely result in reduced social costs that arise from problems associated with reduced vision.”

Working with Planet Lighting UK, Jeffery aims to produce 670nm infrared eyewear at an affordable price; other LED devices made specifically for the same purpose can cost more than $20,000.

Jeffery said, “The technology is simple and very safe; the energy delivered by 670nm long wave light is not that much greater than that found in natural environmental light. Given its simplicity, I am confident an easy-to-use device can be made available at an affordable cost to the general public. In the near future, a once a week three-minute exposure to deep red light could be done while making a coffee, or on the commute listening to a podcast, and such a simple addition could transform eye care and vision around the world.”

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

If you have ever stood up after eating and realized your vision is slightly blurry, you might have experienced a brief blood sugar level spike. If this happens to you more often than not, you may want to schedule a visit with your eye care professional to see whether you have an underlying condition (such as diabetes), which causes these spikes.

Excessively high blood sugar levels generally cause people to be diagnosed with diabetes. When food is digested more rapidly, blood sugar levels can spike. Fluid can build up in the eyes, resulting in blurry vision.

In the eye, the cornea and natural crystalline lens work together to focus light into the retina, resulting in clear vision. To accommodate focusing on objects near or far, the lens changes its shape. In some instances, high blood sugar can cause the eye to swell and cause the focus to be off.

Some foods high in sugar and likely to spike blood sugar include white rice, pasta, cereals, potatoes, pop, fruit juices, candy, and baked goods.

Blurry vision doesn’t always signify diabetes. Other conditions include:

• Carotid stenosis
• Migraines
• Medications
• Eyestrain
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Keratitis
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration

Symptoms other than blurry vision typically accompany these conditions.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is tax-exempt money you can set aside from your paycheck to pay out-of-pocket expenses. Throughout the year, the level you contribute is consistent and even. The maximum amount you can contribute in 2021 is $2,750.

If you have been considering getting LASIK, your FSA could be used to cover the cost. Recent legislation has made it possible for employers to extend the deadline for all 2021 FSA spending. Thanks to this new extension, employees can use their FSA to pay for LASIK.

There are a few limitations when it comes to FSAs, including:

• Pretax funds can only be spent on qualified health and medical expenses
• The current limit that can be used in an FSA account is $2,750
• Any remaining cash in the FSA after December 31 is forfeited – all funds must be used within the calendar year
• Grace periods and the ability to carry over a portion of the funds do exist

FSA was limited due to the global coronavirus pandemic, making spending a challenge. The 2021 FSA deadlines were extended to compensate for this pause in healthcare. Now, the entire amount of FSA can be carried through December 31, 2022.

To use your FSA to pay for LASIK, contact your employer’s HR department to determine whether they have opted to implement the flexible deadlines. Check your balance to calculate how much money you will have available. Schedule a consultation ASAP, and soon enough, you can sigh in relief…no more glasses or contacts after LASIK!

Thinking about LASIK? There’s no better time to achieve your dreams! Contact Rohr Eye & Laser Center today to get started.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Patient-physician discussions are vital for treatment and education, but a new study shows that better communication may also be a valuable tool for determining the severity of glaucoma disease.

“One specific challenge in communicating about glaucoma is that the treating physician doesn’t fully grasp what the patient sees and the words they might use to describe these visual symptoms,” the researchers said. Better communication helps physicians understand the patient’s vision concerns.

One hundred seventy adults diagnosed with glaucoma were analyzed. Questionnaires rated visual symptoms, and the most notable cases were identified. Eye damage was reported in patients who experienced blurry vision, sensitivity to light, glare, cloudy vision, and poor peripheral vision. Those who exhibited the most significant variance in vision (43 percent) were people who complained of little peripheral vision.

Researchers noted there was a 62 percent variance in eye damage. Symptoms described by patients coincided with glaucoma. The information can help judge glaucoma in clinical settings.

“These symptoms suggest specific terms that are likely to reflect glaucoma damage, which can be used when communicating with patients,” said researchers.

“Missing patches can point to glaucomatous scotomas, cloudy vision can be understood as the manifestation of contrast deficits which underlie glaucoma, and worsening vision may reflect eyesight severity because of a greater rate of worsening in severe disease. Reporting worsening vision may also reflect the clinically-observed tendency of subjective vision to fluctuate more in advanced glaucoma, resulting in days of worsening, though some corresponding days of improvement would also be present,” said researchers.

Good communication can help physicians understand patient symptoms, strengthen relationships between the two, and enable patients to understand the impact of eyesight diseases on their life.

The researchers said, “Understanding what symptoms patients with severe glaucoma experience is uniquely important, as they may feel frustrated completing visual testing or lose faith in treatment due to their limited vision. If physicians demonstrate an understanding of what specific symptoms are related to severe glaucoma and the impact on a patient’s vision, they may be able to better develop therapeutic alliances with patients.”

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.