Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about the eye care services provided by Dr. Maehara.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Why should I have an eye exams?
Regular eye exams are an invaluable tool in maintaining your eyes’ health by detecting and preventing disease. Some diseases, such as glaucoma, often develop gradually without causing pain or vision loss – so you may not notice anything wrong until significant and irreversible damage has been done. Early detection of any problems can allow for a choice of treatment options and a reduced risk of further harm.
What is Custom Wavefront?
Custom LASIK involves measuring the eye from front to back, using what’s called “wavefront” technology, to create a three-dimensional (3-D) corneal map. The information contained in the map guides the laser in customizing the treatment to your individual visual irregularities. Prior to the advent of wavefront technology, two people with the same prescription would receive the same glasses, contacts or LASIK procedure.
Wavefront technology is groundbreaking because it has the potential to improve not only how much you can see but also how well you can see, in terms of contrast sensitivity and fine detail. This translates into a reduced risk of post-LASIK complications such as glare, halos and difficulty with night vision.
What is Optic Nerve Analysis?
Analysis of the optic nerve can detect damage caused by glaucoma before you lose any vision. The swift and painless exam helps diagnose glaucoma years earlier than other available technologies.
During the exam, you simply lean into an instrument and look at a light. A harmless laser scans the back of your eye and forms an image in less than one second. The entire procedure may be over in under a minute. It is non-intrusive and does not require pupil dilation.
Exam results take the shape of a color-coded “thickness map” of the retinal nerve fiber layer in your eye. This supplies Dr. Maehara with information about the health of your eyes that cannot be obtained from other exams.
What is SLT for Glaucoma?
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an advanced laser system that targets specific cells of the eye — those containing melanin, a natural pigment. Using a special wavelength and energy, SLT targets these specific cells, leaving the surrounding tissue intact, and improves the flow of fluid in the eye, thereby lowering high eye pressure associated with glaucoma.
Your eye pressure may drop as quickly as a day or more after having the SLT procedure. You may be treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops that will be continued after the procedure. There are no incidences of allergy or systemic side effects with SLT. The treatment is painless.
The SLT procedure is reimbursed by Medicare and many other insurance providers, which minimizes your out-of-pocket expenses.