Dr. Patricia Kim, OD

• Is it harmful not to wear glasses when I am nearsighted?

  If you don't wear glasses when you need, you may have blurry vision when seeing far away and even get a headache in the long time. If you are slightly nearsighted, you don't need wear them all the time and just use them for distance vision.

• Can the eye doctor know the vision distortion is caused by astigmatism or cataracts?

  It is quite easy for the doctor to tell as they are quite different things. You can see cataract through the pupil because it is a physical change in the lens of the eye, while astigmatism are caused by light refracting. They can't be confused.

• Where can I get daily disposable contacts for astigmatism?

  Of course there are. They are toric lens and often come in 30 packs in a box. You can go to the nearby optical store and have a ask.

• Will the Color of Tinted Contact Lenses Fade?

  Yes, the color will start to fade over time. But fortunately most colored contacts have to be replaced before they start to fade. So you don't need to worry about this.

• What are the disadvantages of lined Bifocal glasses?

  There are some separated vision areas in lined bifocal glasses. Therefore, some wearers can not get used to radical vision change with those glasses. Or some of them will suffer from very serious dizziness or headaches.

• What is the difference between lasik surgery and PRK surgery?

  With a full name of Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis, LASIK is usually performed to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Among all of the surgeries, only LASIK cuts a corneal flap during the surgery. LASIK uses a laser to apply the corneal tissue under the flap. In this way the corneal surface can be reshaped. In other words, a necessary amount of corneal tissues are removed. Until now, LASIK is the most popular vision eye surgery among the public. PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) is another popular choice. This procedure is also capable of curing nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism in mild and moderate forms. PRK involves no corneal cutting. During a PRK surgery, a laser delivers cool pulses of ultraviolet light directly on the cornea. During this process, the corneal surface will be reshaped. As a forerunner of LASIK, PRK is also a popular option today.

• Will it damage my eyes if I use only one contact lens?

  I think it would not harm your eyes as you can see fine with your right eye and don't need vision correction. As long as you can feel comfortable with it, it is ok to wear only one contact lens.

• What are the benefits of pinhole glasses?

  While ensuring the sharpness of the image, pinhole glasses can further relax the eyes. This additional effect occurs because those pinhole glasses are smaller than the size of the eye's normal pupil. Eye strain and even headache are common after a long period of computer work. Similar situation may also occur while reading in very poor light. These pinhole glasses can help the eyes reduce tension, and this effect can be immediately felt.

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