Eye Health Blog

Cataracts affect millions of people and are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Because the condition is so common, it is important to be aware of what you can do to restore your vision if you develop cataracts. For many, the decision to have cataract surgery is an easy one, but it is important to be informed about all aspects of the procedure. The experts at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute break down a few important things every patient should know about cataract surgery. Cataract Surgery Is Safe and Effective Cataract surgery, which is designed to… More

All branches of the military value crisp, clear vision. This includes the Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marines. Historically, vision problems and even surgery to correct the vision problems could cause issues for military members or individuals hoping to enlist. Now, however, military members can benefit from LASIK surgery and other laser vision correction procedures. The eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute value our military members. They offer advanced surface ablation (ASA) and epi-LASIK, which are popular options among those in active duty. Here, they discuss these procedures and how they can… More

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) are both laser surgery techniques. The surgical techniques are used to correct refractive errors and reduce a person’s dependence on contact lenses or prescription eyeglasses. A common concern for patients considering laser eye surgery is whether PRK is better than LASIK. Neither procedure is better than the other. However, PRK may be more suitable for certain patients. The eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute are skilled at providing laser vision correction to patients in the Tampa Bay area, Pinellas County, and Largo, FL. Here, they… More

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and even blindness. While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are a number of treatment options available to help preserve vision and prevent additional vision loss. The eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute are experts at diagnosing and treating glaucoma for patients in the Tampa Bay area, Pinellas County, and Largo, FL. Here, they discuss glaucoma treatment options for preserving your sight. Medication One of the most common treatment options for glaucoma is medication; some medications are taken orally, and… More

When someone is wearing eyeglasses, it is safe to presume that their vision is imperfect, but it may not be apparent exactly what is impairing their vision. The three most common likely culprits are nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. To help their patients understand the difference between these refractive errors, the eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute in Largo, Florida briefly explain each type in this blog. Myopia (Nearsightedness) Nearsightedness is a condition in which the eye has difficulty seeing objects that are further away, but no problem seeing objects up close. The main cause… More

Keratoconus is a condition in which a patient’s cornea gets progressively thinner, causing it to bulge outward in a cone-like shape. This irregularity causes incoming light to refract improperly to the retina, which means that patients usually experience vision distortion in the form of astigmatism and nearsightedness. While keratoconus used to be a terrible diagnosis because treatments were limited, advancements have made it so that most patients do not have to worry about major consequences. Here, the doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute explain the evolution of keratoconus treatments. Early Keratoconus Treatments Keratoconus was… More

By the time they reach their mid-70s, about half of all American adults have developed cataracts. They are caused by a breakdown of proteins in the eye’s lens. The outstanding eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute work with many cataract patients, as well as plenty of people who are concerned that they may get cataracts. In this blog, they discuss when the average patient should start thinking about cataracts. Cataracts Can Start at Any Point Although most patients do not develop cataracts until they are senior citizens, it is possible for cataracts to start… More

If you regularly struggle with stinging, itchy eyes (which may or may not also include symptoms like blurry vision or light sensitivity), then you may have dry eye syndrome. Dry eye strikes when your eyes are not sufficiently lubricated. Not only is dry eye uncomfortable, but prolonged or chronic dry eye can leave your eyes vulnerable to even more serious conditions. Here, the eye doctors at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute offer advice to help you to mitigate dry eye symptoms. STAY HYDRATED While drinking water should already be a part of your daily routine, it is… More

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that robs people of their vision. Currently, it ranks as the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. At St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, we find that many of our patients do not know much about glaucoma, figuring it is something they can learn about when they are older. As they get older, however, they may still not take the time to become familiar with the symptoms and the consequences of leaving glaucoma untreated. To better educate our patients, our eye doctors offer this blog with important facts about glaucoma.  1. NEARLY HALF… More