Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas

Carter Eye Center Official LASIK Provider for Dallas Cowboys

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:13:00 +0000

As true Dallas Texans, the team members at Carter Eye Center are fans of our local pro football team, the Dallas Cowboys. But did you know that the Cowboys are also fans of Carter Eye Center?

As the Dallas Cowboys' official LASIK provider, Dr. Harvey Carter provides laser vision correction to the Cowboys, and helps them achieve the vision they need to perform at their best possible level. We have helped team members Alan Ball, Orlando Scandrick and Tashard Choice get rid of their contacts for good.

Even if you are not a professional athlete, Carter Eye Center can help you play your best game by eliminating problems like:

Torn contacts
Glasses glare
Dry contacts
Old prescriptions

As the official LASIK provider for the Dallas Cowboys, we know how important focus and vision are in both your game day preparation and in your vision. If you are letting the results of your football, golf, soccer, or any other sport be effected by contacts or glasses, Carter Eye Center would like to help you eliminate that extra variable by laser vision correction, or alternative vision correction surgery.

To learn more about our role as the official LASIK provider for the Dallas Cowboys, please contact Dr. Harvey Carter at Carter Eye Center today, serving sports enthusiasts in Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding areas.

History of LASIK

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:03:00 +0000

You may have been considering LASIK for a period of time but have been concerned about whether or not such a new procedure is safe. While you are acting wisely by making sure you know all the pro’s and con’s of a procedure before investing in it and trusting your eyesight to another person, LASIK is probably not as new a procedure as you believe.

Corrective eye surgery first became available in the US in the late 70's, but by the 1980's had been added to by the use of the excimer laser, a laser originally created for the manufacture of computer chips. The excimer laser is a "cool" laser which produces no heat, and therefore is safe for use in surgical procedures on and around the eye.

The excimer laser LASIK, or Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, possible, but since the first LASIK procedures were performed newer technology like CustomVue and Wavefront LASIK have provided greater accuracy for doctors and safety to patients. The accuracy and safety made possible by CustomVue and Wavefront technology allows Carter Eye Center to offer our 20/20 or it's Free™ guarantee.

To learn more about the history and safety of LASIK, please contact Dr. Harvey Carter today at Carter Eye Center, serving Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding areas.

Questions about Presbyopia

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000

What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the age-related loss of the ability to see close-up. Presbyopia can be identified by your need to hold objects at arm's length to be able to see them clearly. Often this condition prompts people to buy over-the-counter reading glasses or get bifocals when they are beyond the ages of 40-45.

Is Presbyopia common?
Presbyopia is one eye condition that every person is at risk for, because every person is aging. Although it may not affect every individual, it is very common, and there is no one theory on what causes presbyopia. Some theories have to do with the muscles surrounding the lens getting weaker with age, or the hardening of the lens. But until the true cause of presbyopia can be discovered, it cannot be prevented, only treated.

What are my options to treat Presbyopia?
At Carter Eye Center, we offer our patients in Dallas, Texas many options for the treatment of presbyopia. Conductive keratoplasty (CK) can reshape your cornea to give you a better field of vision. IOLs, or intraocular lenses, are used to replace your natural lenses. These can give you good vision at many distances, and have the advantage of preventing cataracts.

You can find out more about how to see clearly without the nuisance of reading glasses by asking us your questions today.

Questions about Cataracts

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:58:00 +0000

What are cataracts?
Cataracts are a clouding in the eye that blocks light from reaching the retina, making it more difficult to see. It is possible to have cataracts in only one eye. The most common cataracts are caused by aging, but younger people can also develop cataracts from various conditions, or may even be born with them.

Who gets cataracts?
Almost anyone may develop a cataract. The early symptoms of cataracts may include a lowered ability to see blue colors, and a yellowing of the eye lens. Blurry vision, halos, glares, and sensitivity to light may also be symptoms of developing cataracts. If you think you might have cataracts, you should make an eye appointment immediately.

Is there a cure for cataracts?
At this point, there is no cure for cataracts. However, the affected lens can be replaced with a substitute lens, an IOL (intraocular lens). There are various types of IOL which can be compared to other types of vision lenses. IOLs are placed under the surface of the eye, and may be for near vision or may be multifocal.

If you have cataracts or know someone who does, find out the answers to more of your questions by visiting our Cataract FAQ page, or contact us today to learn about your treatment options at Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas.

Questions About LASIK

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:56:00 +0000

What is LASIK?
LASIK is so commonly used that many people don’t know that the acronym stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. In simple phrasing, it means surgery to the cornea with the use of a laser. Lasers were first used to perform corneal surgery around 1950, but the procedures used have changed and improved over the years.
Wavefront-guided LASIK, the kind used by Dr. Carter, uses technology utilized for years by astronomers but was only recently applied to LASIK. It allows Dr. Carter to precisely map the shape of your eyes and achieve a more uniform shape of the cornea. This allows greater accuracy in the procedure and helps you have even better vision.

Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
There are many factors which contribute to whether or not you are a good candidate for LASIK. Some indicators that you may be a good candidate for LASIK are:

You are over 21
You aren't nursing or pregnant
You currently use glasses or contacts
Your prescription has not changed within the past year
You understand risks associated with LASIK
You don't have a history of scarring or dry eyes

What will happen at my LASIK consultation?
When you come see Dr. Carter for a consultation, you will be asked about your health history and your eye history. Dr. Carter will then examine your eyes and let you know if you are a good candidate for LASIK. If you are disqualified from LASIK, Dr. Carter may be able to offer you another option for seeing without glasses and contacts.

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas is to make an appointment with Dr. Carter today.

Visian ICL

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:54:00 +0000

You probably already know that not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. But did you know there is an option for near-sighted adults that can still allow you to see clearly without contacts or eyeglasses?

Rather than adjusting your natural lens, Visian ICL is a lens which is placed over the front of your eye's natural lens, adjusting the refraction of light to help you see clearly. Other lenses have been used for older adults (over the age of 45), but Visian ICL is specifically for younger adults between the ages of 21 and 45 who may not be good candidates for traditional LASIK.

ICL stands for Implantable Collamer® Lens, a hypoallergenic material that is safe for use in the eye. Unlike a contact, which sits on top of the eye, Visian ICL is inserted under a flap in the eye, so you will not be able to feel it like you would contacts. Also, if your vision changes in the future, Dr. Carter can replace the ICL with a new lens to adjust for the change.

You can learn more about Visian ICL at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas by emailing Dr. Carter. If you have been told LASIK isn't a good option for you, Visian ICL may be the right choice.

LASIK for Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:13:00 +0000

Deciding what you get your college graduate as a graduation present can be nearly impossible. Finding something special, memorable, significant, and beneficial may sound suspiciously like the search for the holy grail of graduation gifts: You've heard it's out there, but you're not sure where to start looking.

But what about the gift of a glasses- and contact-free life after graduation? A graduate looking forward to searching for a "real life job" and standing on his or her own feet is sure to be excited at the idea of never having to search for glasses in the morning or put in contacts. In fact, LASIK patients often see better than they did when using glasses or contacts before the procedure.

Carter Eye Center’s "20/20 or it's free" guarantee insures that this investment in your graduate's future will be worth every penny.

You don't have to wait for your grad to finish classes before giving him or her a hassle-free vision of the future. Mid-terms and finals will look a lot less daunting when seen without glasses, and graduation pictures, job interviews, and weddings will all look different when seen with glasses- and contacts-free 20/20 vision.

You can make a consultation appointment at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas for your grad today by visiting our contact us page or calling the phone number at the top right-hand corner of our blog.

Big Names who have had LASIK at Carter Eye Center

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Over the years, we have had many well-known names come to Carter Eye Center with the same goal that you have. Their professions may be a little different, as professional football players or media personalities, but they are all looking for our 20/20 or It's Free guarantee.

The who's who of CEC patients include:

Pat Summerall, former professional football player, who had Crystalens says, “It’s changed my life!”
Norm Hitzges, author and sports talk radio host, said working with CEC to have LASIK done was a piece of cake.
Preston Pearson, former running back for the Dallas Cowboys, trusted his vision to CEC and is very pleased with the clarity of his vision.

Other celebrities and personalities have worked with CEC to find 20/20 or better vision, and you can find their names on our Who's Had LASIK at CEC page. But you don't have to be a professional football player or a talk show host to have the high-definition vision Tony Castillas talks about.

Our 20/20 or It's Free guarantee insures that you're not risking your finances for better eyesight, so you can have perfect vision without making millions. But whether you are a professional football player or a student in college, you can have clear vision without contacts or glasses. Please contact us today to learn more.

Our 20/20 Guarantee

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Lots of people come to Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas concerned about the risks involved with having LASIK or other eye surgeries performed on their eyes. The old types of laser eye surgery were more risky, and the technology which has developed over the years, such as Wavefront® guidance technology and CustomVue offer greater precision and with that greater safety.

It is possible that a person who has LASIK can't see perfectly afterwards, but usually this is because the individual wasn't a good candidate for LASIK to begin with.

At Carter Eye Center, our 20/20 or It's Free Guarantee means we will meet with you before your procedure to determine whether or not LASIK is right for you. If you aren't a good candidate for LASIK, we will provide you with different options can still help you see clearly without the hassle of contacts or eyeglasses.

If you are considering LASIK, please schedule an appointment at Carter Eye Center to find out if you are a good candidate. If you are, your procedure will be painless, with little necessary recovery time. Many eye centers make this promise to their patients. But only Carter Eye Center promises that if your LASIK procedure doesn't give you 20/20 vision, you get every penny back.

At What Age Should I Get LASIK?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:03:00 +0000

LASIK is most appropriate for patients between the ages of 18 and 40, although age 40 is not an absolute limit. Because of the FDA’s approval for LASIK for those over 18 years old, pediatric LASIK is considered an "off-label" use and is reserved for cases where the child's sight is seriously threatened.

People's natural eye lenses begin losing their flexibility and around age 40 often develop a noticeable decrease in their vision due to presbyopia, the inability of the lens to flex and focus sufficiently. LASIK will not correct presbyopia, so, other procedures should be considered to correct this condition.

Around age 60 people begin developing cataracts. LASIK, again, is not a solution for cataracts, as it can't get rid of the cataract. But lens replacement can correct both the cataract and the refractive error. If older patients' lenses are clear and healthy, they may have the option to choose between refractive lens exchange or RLE (lens replacement) and one of the refractive corrective procedures, such as LASIK. This would be a case where being over age 40 is not a limitation

Eye stability is more important than age, so even if you are over 18, if your vision isn’t stable, your refractive error is very large, or your corneas are very thin, LASIK would not be recommended. There are other procedures that are more appropriate to correct these aberrations.

No matter what your age, if your vision isn't perfect, please contact Dr. Harvey Carter at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas. Not only will he schedule a free consultation, but, if you qualify for LASIK, he will also give you his 20/20 or it's free guarantee.

LASIK and Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Because you will need to return for a follow-up visit a day or two after your LASIK procedure, you should avoid travel, and plan to rest for a few days after surgery. If you are given the OK to return to work, someone else may have to drive you for a few days. More than likely you will wear a shield until your follow up visit, a couple days later.

LASIK patients usually can't drive until a few days after their procedure. Your eyes may be itchy, irritated and possibly feel like they are burning right after surgery. While over-the-counter pain relievers will control this discomfort, if you plan to travel by car, make sure someone else does the driving.

If your vision is hazy or blurry, often a result of dry-eye, your ability to rely on what you see will be compromised. Your LASIK surgeon will give you drops that will reduce the irritation as well as help you focus.

It would be wise to do some research before you travel. Air travel is safe after LASIK; however, if you plan to fly, or travel to an area that is dry or windy, dry-eye may be worsened. Air conditioning in hotels, jets, planes, and even cars can aggravate dry-eye. Dry, irritated eyes are more easily infected, so, talk to your surgeon and make sure your travel plans are OK, and that you are prepared to accommodate climate changes.

For more information please visit the website for the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, or contact them to schedule a free consultation. Dr. Harvey Carter and his team of eye surgery specialists are proud to offer you their 20/20 or it's free guarantee, and the assurance that they offer the highest quality of care possible.

Benefits of LASIK

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:51:00 +0000

It would be an understatement to say that the successful LASIK procedure has made it possible for many thousands of people to see better. In addition to vision improvement, LASIK usually eliminates the need for glasses, altogether. And when they are needed, it should certainly reduce that need to special circumstances, such as driving at night or in bad weather.

If you work in an industry that relies on accurate vision, LASIK has been approved for some of the most critical workers such as airplane pilots, astronauts, firefighters and emergency responders. LASIK is also sought by sports players because of its potential to eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses.

A few of the many benefits of LASIK are:
LASIK patients typically achieve at least 20/20 vision, and often better than 20/20 vision. One study showed that 85% of 908 participants achieved 20/16 vision, and 97% of 34 patients received 20/20 or better
LASIK patients heal faster than those undergoing other procedures. Recovery can be I as little as two days to one week
LASIK patients experience less discomfort
LASIK patients recover faster. They can drive within three days of surgery.
LASIK patients experience instant visual clarity
Undesirable side effects, such as corneal haze, are very rare
LASIK is an outpatient procedure that takes about fifteen minutes per eye. The actual procedure takes only a minute or so, with the rest of the time spent in preparation. For such a small investment of time to produce such remarkable results, these are priceless benefits to LASIK.

Please take a moment to visit the website of the Carter Eye Center in Dallas. Please also contact them today for a free consultation. Dr. Harvey Carter is the only eye surgeon in North Texas to offer the 20/20 or it's free guarantee, so why spend any more time with less-than-perfect vision?

LASIK Affordability (20/20 or It’s Free)

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:49:00 +0000

LASIK is getting more affordable all the time. As a long-established procedure, it has not only become less expensive, but improvements over the years have elevated LASIK to one of the most reliable procedures done today.

In a previous blog, we wrote about selecting your eye surgeon. It's important to note the confidence your eye surgeon has in his work and the work of his fellow staff members. Our more than 20 years of success in performing LASIK procedures not only reinforces our confidence, it justifies our patients' confidence in us.

Please take a moment to see what our patients have to say about their experience with the Carter Eye Center surgeons. Also, check out our list of celebrities who are quite outspoken about the quality of the treatment they received from us.

It's because of our tremendous success rate that we can offer our "20/20 or It's Free" guarantee. This means that your results are guaranteed, or we will refund your money. No other eye center in Dallas, Texas offers this assurance to their patients.

If you would like to see better without glasses or contacts, please schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Harvey Carter or one of his staff at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas. Meanwhile, please visit the Carter Eye Center website to learn more about LASIK procedures.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Conductive keratoplasty, also known as CK or near-vision CK, differs from LASIK surgery in several ways. Most notably, it uses radio waves rather than a laser to reshape the cornea. CK treats farsightedness and presbyopia.

CK usually involves reshaping the cornea of the non-dominant eye to see close up for reading, and the dominant eye for distance, creating monovision. The process shrinks the collagen on the outer edges of the cornea to reshape it. It's a short procedure that takes only a few minutes per eye. It is a minimally invasive procedure with few complications and risks.

The monovision takes a short while to adjust to, and may decrease depth perception. But, most people adapt quickly and have no problems with adjusting to either change. In many cases, both eyes can be treated in the same visit. This painless procedure can produce immediate results, allowing you to read without glasses immediately.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 40, have a stable lens prescription, no eye-disease that can interfere with healing, and your eyes tear normally, you may be a good candidate for CK.

If you are interested in vision correction, and getting rid of your glasses or contacts, please contact Dr. Harvey Carter at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas for your free consultation appointment. Whether or not you qualify for CK, there are many solutions for better vision, regardless of your age, or other factors.

Am I a Candidate for Crystalens®

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Crystalens® is an Accommodating Intraocular Lens (IOL) that differs from other IOLs. Because it is controlled naturally, using your eye muscles, it is able to move and accommodate vision to see at variable distances. It is a wonderful corrective solution for both presbyopia and cataracts. Although presbyopia and cataracts are two entirely different anomalies of the eye, they both involve the ocular lens.

In presbyopia, the lens loses its ability to accommodate or change its shape to focus clearly between near and far. This is a normal aging effect and is seen most often in people over 40. It generally affects both eyes.

Cataracts are clumps of protein whose density creates a cloudy area in the lens that blurs vision. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes, and can result from aging or from trauma to the eyes. In the case of trauma, cataracts may develop earlier in life.

Crystalens® IOLs are implanted, replacing the natural lens. This procedure attaches the IOL to the eye muscles and allows these muscles to move the lens to accommodate focus changes between near and far vision. A recent improvement to Crystalens® is the FDA approved HD model that provides better contrast sensitivity and depth of focus. Most patients can see well at all focal ranges without the need for glasses, at all. Read more about Crystalens®.

Dr. Harvey Carter of the Carter Eye Center in Dallas was the first U.S. surgeon to implant Crystalens® after the FDA approved its use, and has performed more Crystalens® implants than any eye surgeon in the world. If you would like to know more about the Crystalens® procedures, please contact the Carter Eye Center for a free consultation.

Selecting a LASIK Surgeon

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Selecting an eye surgeon best qualified to perform LASIK is not nearly as difficult as it might seem. Selecting any surgeon requires careful research, and there are a number of steps you can take to ensure that you choose an eye surgeon wisely.

One of the first things we tend to do is ask around. Word-of-mouth recommendations are valuable, and you can learn a lot about a doctor, his clinic, staff, and care by speaking to former patients. But, sooner or later you will find a disgruntled patient. Bear in mind that some people are never satisfied and always manage to find fault with everything. On the other hand, give careful consideration to what their complaint is and try to determine if they contributed to the problem and how. In other words, use caution and “consider the source.”

Another step is to research LASIK, carefully, to learn what is involved in the procedure, and what you can expect regarding results, recovery, discomfort, improvement, and possible alternatives to LASIK.

You want to evaluate potential surgeons based upon their professional qualifications, experience, and other attributes. Most eye surgeons make their training, credentials and affiliations known. When you find one you think you may want as your surgeon, be prepared to ask him questions to help you decide for certain. Check out this free, downloadable, PDF file of 50 questions you can ask you physician.

Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas are among the most highly qualified and experienced eye surgeons in North Texas. Dr. Carter performed the first laser refractive correction in North Texas, and has earned many honors in his field. In addition, he was invited to be a core investigator in the International Society for Refractive Surgery’s American LASIK study, in 1996.

Dr. Carter is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and has over 20 years of experience treating tens of thousands of LASIK patients. Please visit his site to learn more about LASIK, Dr. Carter and his staff, and to contact him for a free consultation. Don’t forget to ask about his “20/20 or it’s free” offer.

LASIK Misconceptions

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:44:00 +0000

LASIK is improving over time. New techniques and equipment are constantly being researched in an ongoing effort to find new and better ways to help people achieve better health and better vision. There is much misinformation circulating about surgical procedures. Often this comes from dated articles that people read about LASIK, or information they learned from their doctors, family or friends, months or even years ago. What they knew then may no longer be the case.

Some of the misconceptions include:

Thinking your eyesight is too bad for LASIK to help you
LASIK doesn’t correct astigmatism
Thinking you are too young, or too old, for LASIK
Thinking you’ll still have to wear glasses after LASIK, anyway
Vision requirements of your job disqualify you for LASIK
Your doctor has told you, in the past, that you don’t qualify for LASIK

New products, ones that were formerly in research and development stages, have been approved by the FDA and are now on the market. Researchers are continually studying the eye, eye disease and aberrations, and are continually finding new ways to treat these.

If you have always wished there was a way to improve your vision and to eliminate the need for glasses or contacts, see a qualified eye surgeon for a complete examination and discussion of new methods that might work for you. What couldn’t be done just a few years ago, is being done for thousands of people today.

The Carter Eye Center in Dallas has a staff that is qualified to let you know, based upon your examination, what corrective procedures are best for you. Please contact them today for more information, or call them at 1-800-950-2020.

Is LASIK Safe?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:52:00 +0000

LASIK complications are less than 1% nationwide, which places it among the safest of any surgical procedure. The CustomVue® VISX STAR 4 wavefront laser that Dr. Carter uses has been used for over a million LASIK surgeries and is the most reliable equipment for both diagnostic and surgical LASIK procedures. Using such state-of-the-art equipment by highly experienced staff reduces the risks of surgery to below national averages.

Yet, all surgery has risks, and you should be aware of these so that you can make an informed choice whether to have LASIK surgery or not. The risks of LASIK are well-established but many are temporary. Others are correctable with additional treatment. Both the risks and benefits of LASIK are listed on the Risks/Benefits of Lasik page.

Overall, most of these risks are almost entirely eliminated by using wavefront technology. Dr. Carter, a former FDA investigator was the first in North Texas to perform LASIK after it’s approval. Dr. Carter has performed thousands of LASIK surgeries since then.

To schedule you free consultation, please contact the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, or call 1-800-950-2020. The Carter Eye Center is committed to giving you the best care possible, and offers a 20/20 or it’s free, guarantee to back up their promise.

How Do I Know If I Have Cataracts?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Cataracts aren't always obvious, and if they are not blatantly obstructing your vision, you may not even know you have them. The only sure way to know is to have a qualified, experienced eye doctor do an eye examination.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are areas of cloudiness forming in the lens of the eye due to proteins that congeal. Cataracts are not contagious and may appear in one eye and not the other. They tend to worsen over time but may be located out of the center of your vision where you may be less aware of them.

In the early stages they may be difficult to see, and cause only minor disturbance to your vision. As they become denser, or wider you will notice increasingly blurry vision. This may seem, at first, to be a deteriorating ability to focus, that could be corrected by a prescription for stronger glasses.

While cataracts are more prevalent in older people, they can occur in younger people as well. In particular, injury to the eye(s) predisposes them to cataracts, which may cause them to appear at a much younger age than one would expect. Over half of all people, by age 80 years have cataracts.

Risk Factors for Cataracts

While doctors understand what increases the risk for cataracts, they still don't understand what actually causes them. Risks include:

Age, progressively increases with age
Diabetes
Smoking
Long-term use of alcohol
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight
Exposure to lead

Prevention and Treatment

While you may not be able to prevent all cataracts, you can make some changes that might delay their development. Based on the risk factors, keeping diabetes under control, quitting smoking, drinking in moderation if at all, wearing UV protected sunglasses and hats with brims to block UV sunlight, and avoiding lead can help delay or diminish the development of cataracts. Treatment is indicated when the cataracts interfere with your ability to carry out normal tasks, and involves surgically replacing the lens with an intraocular lens (IOL.)

If you suspect that you have cataracts, it's time for an eye examination. Please contact Carter Eye Center in Dallas for an appointment with one of our highly qualified and experienced eye doctors.

Cataracts

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Cataracts occur when the natural lens develops opaque or cloudy areas that prevent light from passing through to the retina properly. Cataracts may occur as a normal part of aging, or as a result of trauma. Treatment involves removing and replacing the lens with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL.)

Cataracts develop slowly, so are not always apparent in their early stages. As proteins in the lens cohere to each other they begin to form cloudy areas that diminish visual clarity. This may seem, for a while, to be merely a need for "new glasses" with a stronger prescription. Over time they can develop into visible cataracts, for which the only treatment is replacement.

There are three types of IOLs and each has pros and cons. Crystalens®, an accommodating lens, moves under the control of your eye muscles. ReZoom® and ReSTOR® are multifocal IOLs, or fixed lenses. They don't move within the eye. These use concentric rings of incremental focal power to allow good vision at various distances.

Older types of IOLs are still used occasionally. These are monofocal lenses that focus clearly at a single distance range. With the monofocal lenses you will need glasses to see at other distances.

Astigmatism can complicate IOL implant surgery, and cause the individual to need glasses for some or all activities. An alternative is to undergo a procedure to correct the astigmatism as well. Your eye surgeon can advise you of the most suitable options once he does a thorough eye exam.

The Carter Eye Center in Dallas is a perfect choice for your exam. Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff use the newest equipment and techniques to diagnose and treat cataracts. Please visit their site for more information, and contact them for a free consultation. Call 1-800-950-2020.

Ready for LASIK but not sure you can afford it?

noreply@blogger.com (TexQueenie) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Now you can!

Carter Eye Center is offering 60% off your LASIK procedure! That's better than any other offer he's had, and it beats out all other competitors in the DFW area.

Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff know the economy is down, but your eyes shouldn't suffer because of it. If you want to see the best, come see THE best at Carter Eye Center.

*Carter Eye Center's 60% offer ends on October 31st.

Does LASIK Hurt?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:48:00 +0000

No Pain

One of the remarkable facts about LASIK is the lack of pain from this surgery. During surgery, you will be given anesthetic eye drops, eliminating pain from the procedure itself. You might feel a little pressure, but that shouldn’t cause any discomfort.

There is, however, some discomfort that you might experience for a short period (12 to 24 hours), such as itchy or watery eyes or even dry eyes until the nerves heal. The total healing period for LASIK can take six months, but recovery to normal activities can be as soon as two days to a week.

Because the tear ducts and sinuses affect each other, dry sinuses may accompany dry eyes, causing "sinus headaches" for a short time. You will be given drops that will relieve the discomfort.

It isn't entirely certain why dry-eye occurs, as there are several mechanisms involved in tear-production. One theory is that the tear stimulating nerve is severed during corneal surgery, and tears don’t return until that nerve heals.

You can lessen the effect of dry-eye by avoiding antihistamines and other medications that tend to dry up sinuses (and eyes as well). Check with your doctor about medication that you can change or eliminate or drops that will lubricate your eyes. Avoid drops that have preservatives. Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, use a humidifier and avoid dry or windy areas. Air conditioning, fans, heating systems and extreme cold can dehumidify the air, aggravating dry eyes.

Plenty of Gain

On the positive side, LASIK results in clear vision almost immediately. While dry-eye can blur vision, using drops until natural tears resume will take care of that effect. With risks running as low as 1%, the benefits of LASIK are many.

Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff at Carter Eye Center of Dallas are ready to make your LASIK surgery experience pain free and comfortable for you. Please visit them at Carter Eye Center or call 1-800-950-2020 to schedule a free consultation.

CustomVue® Wavefront Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:44:00 +0000

What is Wavefront Technology?

Wavefront technology has been used for years to adjust telescopes to eliminate aberrations caused by the earth's atmosphere. This technology, applied to LASIK surgery, offers a very high degree of safety and precision in shaping the cornea. Wavefront technology is used both to diagnose aberrations, as well as to ablate the excess tissue.

What are the Advantages of Wavefront Technology?

The CustomVue® wavefront can pinpoint a broader range of refractive errors than other diagnostic methods, giving many patients, who could not qualify for other procedures, the option for LASIK corrective surgery. As a diagnostic measure, CustomVue® wavefront is accurate enough to determine if the patients' aberrations would be made worse from surgery, or it can determine which LASIK procedure is best for the specific individual.

CustomVue® wavefront's accuracy in ablating excess corneal tissue results in more precise shaping of the cornea. Many patients experience outcomes of better than 20/20 vision. It can also diagnose higher order aberrations better than other diagnostic methods can.

And If That Isn't Enough

According to USAeyes.org, a LASIK-patient advocacy organization, "…virtually every person considering Lasik, LASEK, PRK, or Epi-Lasik should have a wavefront diagnostic evaluation." Read more about CustomVue® and wavefront technology.

Dr. Carter and his staff at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas have extensive experience, and work with state-of-the-art equipment, including the CustomVue® VISX STAR 4 wavefront laser. Add to that their 20/20 or it's free guarantee and you can feel confident in getting the best care possible. Please call 1-800-950-2020 or contact the Carter Eye Center for a free consultation.

LATISSE® for Longer, Thicker, Darker Lashes

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:47:00 +0000

If you have tried every mascara, extensions, or false lashes, you know the shortcomings of all these methods for achieving the fuller, darker lashes you desire. Now, there is a treatment clinically proven to help you grow your own lashes significantly thicker, longer, and darker.

LATISSE® is the first and only FDA-Approved treatment for helping you grow thicker, longer, and darker lashes. There is no surgery, and it requires no downtime. All it takes is applying LATISSE® to your lashes on a daily basis, and after a few short weeks, your lashes will grow in thicker and darker.

In clinical trials, nearly 80% of participants saw significant improvement in the appearance of their eyelashes. On average, those seeing results had lashes that were 25% longer, 106% fuller, and 18% darker. The only common side effects are itchy eyes and eye redness, but for many these went away with use.

If you would like to learn more about this exciting new treatment for achieving more attractive lashes, please contact the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas today.

Crystalens®

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Planning for lens implant surgery is no small consideration and is worth researching until you are fully satisfied with your decision. One of the most popular and successful brands of lenses to choose is Crystalens®, an accommodating intraocular lens. Crystalens® was approved by the FDA in 2003, and its long history of success speaks well about its value.

Why Implants?

Lens implants are typically recommended to correct cataracts (clouding of the lens,) presbyopia (loss of flexibility in the lens,) or refractive lens disease. Of the three major intraocular lenses (IOL) on the market, Crystalens® is the only one that focuses under the control of your eye muscles, much the same as the natural crystalline lens it replaces. The implant procedure is not complex and takes only about 20 minutes per eye. The second implant can be done about a week later.

Crystalens® provides vision in all three ranges–near, mid-range, and distance–and provides the best night vision of the top brands. It offers the best clarity of vision, and stable long-term outcomes.

Be Aware and Prepare

Some of the drawbacks to Crystalens® implants are that it may take longer to adapt to them than with other brands of IOLs, and some insurances don’t pay for all of the costs. The Carter Eye Center's payment plan might be a perfect solution for costs that aren't covered.

Experience Counts

An important consideration for choosing Crystalens® is to make sure your eye surgeon has plenty of experience. Dr. Harvey Carter of Carter Custom Care in Dallas, Texas was the first physician to implant Crystalens® after it received FDA approval. He has performed more Crystalens® procedures than any eye surgeon in the world.

The Carter Eye Center in Dallas invites you to come in for a free consultation to learn more about Crystalens®. Please contact us at 1-800-950-2020 or through our online contact page.