LASIK Eye Surgery Beverly Hills Archives

4 Signs It’s Time to Rethink Contact Lenses

Paul Stubenbordt on October 29, 2021

Contact lenses are great if you want to be able to see during the day without glasses. There are many different types of contacts, each with its benefits and drawbacks.

But contacts aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. Even after you get used to wearing them, they can still be annoying and frustrating.

But what’s the alternative, besides glasses? A vision correction procedure!

Vision correction procedures like LASIK give you the ability to see without contact lenses. Keep reading to learn about four signs that it’s time to rethink contact lenses.

You Hate Losing Your Contacts

No one likes losing their contacts, but how often does it happen to you? Everyone loses one sometimes.

It might be from an incredibly windy day or from just getting an eyelash stuck in your eye. It isn’t just about losing them when you’re wearing them, either.

You also have to keep track of them when they’re in their case. It’s just one more thing to forget when packing your bag, whether it’s for a long trip or just to bring to work.

Even if you have dailies, it’s easy to misplace a few pairs and then not have enough left before your next shipment. If you’re done with the hassle of keeping track of your contacts, it’s time to put them away for good.

You Like To Stay Up Late

If you’re a night owl, chances are you’ve had to contend with the discomfort of having your contacts in too long. By the end of the day, your eyes are probably ready for a break.

But if you have evening plans, you don’t want to take them out and wear your glasses. Either you’re stuck wearing them longer, you wear your glasses out, or you go without glasses or contacts and walk around blind!

None of those options are great. You shouldn’t have to decide between convenience, comfort, and your nightlife.

Your Eyes Are Always Irritated

Contact lenses naturally dry out your eyes. Contact solution does help to prevent dryness.

But no matter how much contact solution you use, there will always be some degree of irritation. And the longer you have your contacts in, the more irritated your eyes will get.

Wearing contact lenses also makes you more prone to eye infections. If you’ve ever had an eye infection, you know how miserable they can be!

Sure, you can always take a break from your contacts, but then you have to rely on your glasses. That defeats the whole point of wearing contacts in the first place!

You’re Done With Vision Aids in General

Glasses can be just as troublesome as contacts, if not more so. But contact lenses aren’t the best alternative.

Luckily, there is a way to see without visual aids. You can permanently correct your vision! Vision correction is more popular than ever because of minimally invasive procedures like SMILE and LASIK.

After the procedure, you’ll have true visual freedom. You won’t have to worry about glasses or contacts ever again!

If you’re tired of glasses and contacts, schedule an appointment at Berg and Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA, today! See which vision correction procedure is correct for you!

Can Allergies Hurt My Chances of Having LASIK?

Paul Stubenbordt on April 19, 2021

If you’re considering LASIK, you may wonder if you’re a good candidate. Most people with a refractive error can safely have LASIK.

About 85% of people who have a consultation end up qualifying. Generally, if you’re in good health and don’t have any conflicting eye conditions, you’ll qualify for LASIK.

But what about minor eye conditions like allergies? While allergic symptoms can be uncomfortable, they don’t always mean that you can’t have a safe and comfortable recovery.

Allergies and Dry Eye

If you have allergic conjunctivitis, which is an allergic reaction in your eyes, you may already be familiar with the symptoms. These can include itching, burning, watering, and even mucus buildup.

They can occur around any allergen, but one of the more common allergens is pollen. Pollen is most abundant during the spring.

But another condition with similar symptoms is dry eye syndrome. It occurs when your eyes aren’t getting enough moisture.

It’s common to have dry eyes in warmer weather, so it can even coincide with seasonal allergies. But where allergies usually cause an itchy feeling, having dry eyes may feel more like burning or like there’s grit in your eyes.

Anything that interferes with your eye’s ability to create tears can affect your ability to heal after a refractive procedure. If you have dry eyes, they need treatment before getting LASIK. If you have allergies, you also need to deal with them before you can have LASIK.

Pre-LASIK Treatment

Before you have LASIK, your eyes need to be healthy, which means they need to produce adequate tears. If your tear production isn’t sufficient, you may be able to treat your eyes with simple environmental and lifestyle changes.

For example, using a humidifier indoors, drinking plenty of water, and eating food rich in omega-3 fatty acids can make a difference. These simple changes may be able to help your tear production.

Both allergies and dry eye can affect your eye health, and they can also feed into each other. If you know you have allergies, you should make sure you have a way to manage them.

If over-the-counter medication doesn’t work for you, talk to your eye doctor about a prescription for stronger allergy medication. But the best thing to do when it comes to allergies and LASIK is to avoid the allergens altogether.

Allergy Avoidance

If you have a pollen allergy, you should have LASIK after allergy season is over. Some people are more affected in the spring, while others are more affected in the fall.

Whatever the case, talk to your eye doctor about scheduling LASIK at the end of the season. If your allergies are related to other common allergens, like dander and dust, it may be more tricky to avoid them.

But if you do your best and have allergy medication on hand, you should be able to have a smooth recovery from LASIK.

The bottom line is, if you have allergies, you can still have LASIK, you just need to plan ahead a little more.

Thinking that LASIK could be right for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA, today!

4 Things You Should Know Before Having LASIK

Paul Stubenbordt on February 23, 2021

LASIK is a great option for so many people who otherwise have to rely on contacts or glasses. It’s also become more popular in recent years as the technology has become more widely available.

If you’re considering LASIK for yourself, great! You could be in for an amazing experience and the best vision of your life. But before you make any decisions, keep reading for 4 things you should know before having LASIK!

1. LASIK is a Low-Risk Procedure

Every surgery, even minor ones, has some degree of risk. But the risks with LASIK are minimal.

The most recent technology allows surgeons who perform LASIK to be extremely precise. That means they are able to avoid damaging any part of your eye that isn’t part of the procedure.

While complications do happen on rare occasions, you can’t go blind because you had LASIK. That’s just a silly urban legend and you should ignore it.

The procedure has been around for over 25 years and in that time it’s only become more safe and effective. Even the earliest LASIK patients have a high rate of long-term satisfaction with their results.

If you have safety concerns, know that they may not be as big an issue as you think. Do be sure to talk to your LASIK surgeon, as there are still some risks. You should also know that LASIK may not be safe for everyone.

2. Not Everyone Can Get LASIK

While most people with refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism make good LASIK candidates, it’s not right for everyone. Around 85% of people who seek out LASIK end up qualifying.

The rest are screened out either because the surgery wouldn’t be effective for them or because it would be dangerous.

Generally speaking, if you’re over 21 and in good health, you should qualify for LASIK. But there are some things that can make LASIK unsafe, like if your cornea isn’t thick enough or you have dry eye syndrome. But even if you don’t qualify for LASIK, there are still options.

3. There are Surgical Alternatives to LASIK

If you don’t qualify for LASIK, you may still be able to have vision correction surgery. While LASIK is the most popular option, there are alternatives that are safer for certain people.

For example, PRK is great for people who want LASIK but don’t qualify because their corneas are too thin. PRK is almost exactly like LASIK, but it doesn’t need a corneal flap, meaning your cornea doesn’t need to be a certain thickness.

There are plenty of other procedures, too, including SMILE, Visian ICL, RLE… the list goes on. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, talk to your surgeon about what other options they have available.

4. Clearer Vision is Likely, but not Guaranteed

The majority of LASIK patients come out of LASIK with 20/20 vision or better. But not everyone achieves clearer or the perfect vision they’ve always wanted.

Some people do need a follow-up procedure for touch-ups. But you can maximize your chances for success by choosing a reputable practice and a skilled surgeon.

Think that LASIK could be right for you? There’s only one way to find out: a LASIK consultation. Schedule yours at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA, today!

Who hasn’t dreamed about waking up with clearer vision for the rest of their life? LASIK can help make that dream a reality!

3 Reasons LASIK Is A Good Investment

Paul Stubenbordt on November 18, 2020

Tired of glasses and contacts? You may have thought about LASIK but dismissed it due to the cost.

How much it costs varies depending on factors like your prescription, the surgeon, the practice, and the equipment used. On average, though, it’s more than most people want to spend up-front. But have you ever considered LASIK as an investment instead?

Investing in LASIK can not only improve your quality of life but also pay for itself in the long run. Keep reading for 3 reasons LASIK acts as a great investment for your future!

1. Eliminate the Need for Contacts and Glasses

The goal of LASIK is to make it so you can see without contacts or glasses. For the vast majority of patients, the procedure is successful and does exactly that!

LASIK does away with not only the inconvenience of contacts and glasses but also the expense. Think about it, how much do you spend on contacts every year?

Even with insurance, quality contacts can get pricey. And whether you wear contacts regularly, you also need a pair of glasses for backup, if nothing else. Glasses are notoriously expensive, even if you buy online.

You may not spend as much money on glasses or contacts in a year to match the cost of LASIK, but those expenses add up over time. LASIK is a one-time expense.

That means that over the course of a few years, LASIK can pay for itself by saving you the money you’d otherwise have to spend on other visual aids. When you look at it this way, it’s simple math!

2. Build Your Credit

Don’t have the cash on hand to pay for LASIK right now? No problem!

There are several ways you can pay for LASIK. This includes zero-interest financing plans and even credit cards you can use.

Monthly payments can be as low as $60 a month, and minimum credit card payments can be even lower. Paying back the credit for elective surgery can also be a great way to build credit.

Many young people these days have no credit because they prefer to use debit cards. But credit is important. You need to have good credit to buy a house, car, or even rent an apartment.

Some employers even look at credit scores before hiring potential employees. If you’re a young adult, you can get the most out of LASIK by building your credit. This will allow you to maximize the amount of time you’ll have to enjoy a life free of glasses and contacts.

3. Use It or Lose It: Spend Funds from Your FSA

Do you have a Flexible Savings Account, or FSA, with your employer? An FSA can be a good way to pay for medical expenses, but unlike a Health Savings Account, or HSA, the money doesn’t roll over year to year.

If you get to the end of the year and have money put aside in your FSA, you’ll lose it! Don’t let this happen.

LASIK is a great way to make a solid investment in your long-term vision and ensure that your money won’t go to waste. Why not use it to invest in yourself for years to come?

Ready to find out if LASIK is right for you? The first step is to schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA! Why not make 2021 the year you finally see clearly?

How Will I Know I’m A Good LASIK Candidate?

Paul Stubenbordt on August 28, 2020

LASIK can be life-changing. For so many people, LASIK means freedom from glasses and contacts.

But how do you know if you’re someone who can get LASIK? How do you know if LASIK is safe for you?

Here’s the good news: most people are good candidates for LASIK. Over 80% of people who go in for a LASIK evaluation qualify for the procedure.

How do you know if you’re one of them? The only way to know for sure is to go in for a LASIK consultation.

But there are some things you can check for yourself to get a better idea of if you’re a candidate. Keep reading to learn if you could be a good LASIK candidate!

You Are at Least 18

To have LASIK, you need to be at least 18 years old. Most of you, including your body, will finish maturing by this time.

But your eyes may still change even after 18. You’re more likely to have prescription changes until you’re at least 21.

You want to make sure your eyesight has stopped changing before you get LASIK. There’s no point in getting LASIK if your eyes are still changing.

If your prescription changes after having LASIK surgery, it makes the procedure less effective. For the best possible results, wait to have LASIK until your mid to late twenties.

Your Prescription is Stable

Even if you’re over 21, your prescription can still keep changing. You want to have no prescription changes for at least two years before you have LASIK.

This ensures that your procedure will be as effective as possible. Having stable eyes that haven’t changed in at least 2 years is a good way to guarantee this.

You are in Good Health

To have any eye surgery, you should be in good health. This means you should have no pre-existing conditions that could complicate recovery.

Having diabetes or an autoimmune disease may make it difficult for your eyes to heal after LASIK. Having pre-existing eye conditions can also make surgery dangerous.

Some conditions may not interfere with surgery, and these can be discussed during your evaluation. But as a general rule, if you’re completely healthy, there should be no trouble.

You don’t need to be in perfect health to have LASIK, but you should be pretty healthy.

Your Prescription is Within Acceptable Limits

LASIK can correct your vision even if you have a very strong prescription. But it’s most effective in correcting nearsightedness.

It can have some limits when correcting farsightedness and astigmatism. LASIK can correct up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness, +6 diopters of farsightedness, and 6 diopters of astigmatism.

If your prescription falls outside of those limits, LASIK is likely not for you. Don’t worry though, because there are other refractive procedures you may qualify for instead!

You Don’t Have Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye is a condition some people don’t even know they have. Even if you don’t experience symptoms, you may be predisposed to dry eye syndrome.

Eye surgery can trigger symptoms and make recovery difficult. Part of the screening process for LASIK includes evaluating tear production and tear quality.

But even if your tears are found to be lacking, your surgeon can recommend treatments to manage potential dry eye. If treated effectively, you may be able to have LASIK surgery after it’s under control.

Think that LASIK may be the vision correction procedure for you? Find out for sure by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA!

If you’re frustrated by glasses or contacts, isn’t it time to find something better?

What Makes The Cost Of LASIK Worth It?

Paul Stubenbordt on June 26, 2020

If you’re sick of wearing glasses and contacts, you may have already considered having LASIK. But LASIK can be a bit expensive, so it’s definitely something you want to think over.

Here’s the thing: the price of LASIK is usually worth the results. Over 90% of LASIK patients report satisfaction with their results.

Not only that, but LASIK can save you time, energy, and even money in the long run. Keep reading to learn what makes the cost of LASIK worth it!

Long-Term Investment

LASIK isn’t inexpensive and you don’t want it to be. If a practice is offering extreme discounts, that should be a red flag. There are plenty of situations where getting the cheapest deal possible is the goal.

When you get LASIK, this should not be one of those situations. If you see a reputable surgeon, you get what you pay for.

But LASIK may also save you money. Think about how much money you spend on glasses and contacts every year.

With LASIK, you don’t have to worry about those expenses anymore. Most patients pay off the full cost of their procedure after two or three years.

Now think about the benefits you’ll continue to have a decade or two after LASIK. The money you used to spend on glasses or contacts can be spent on something else. That money can add up to something pretty nice.

And if you don’t have the money for LASIK to pay upfront? No problem because most practices offer financing plans or accept things like CareCredit.

You can get a plan with no interest and low monthly payments. There are plenty of ways that you can make getting LASIK an affordable investment.

Increased Safety

LASIK is not without risks. Any surgery, no matter how minor, has some risk for complications. But LASIK is considered a very low-risk procedure.

Not only that, but LASIK can actually make you safer in the long run. How? By eliminating the need for contacts.

The chances of getting an infection from LASIK is minor. You can keep those chances low by taking care of your eyes after the procedure.

But contacts often cause wearers infections. In the long run, a one-time procedure like LASIK can be safer than a lifetime of wearing contacts.

Contacts work great for some, but they tend to dry out your eyes if they are not supplemented with contact solution. This, in turn, increases your risk of infection.

Even taking out or putting in contacts without completely clean hands increases your risk of infection. In the long-term, not having to wear contacts keeps you safer from eye infections.

Boost Productivity

Anyone who wears contacts knows that they take time to manage, even if it’s only a few minutes every day. They can take more time when you have an issue and need to change them out.

Even glasses need management and frequently need cleaning as well. For some people, wearing glasses for too long, especially while working, can give them a headache.

With LASIK, you don’t have to spend any time cleaning your glasses or changing out your contacts. Those little moments that you spend on them add up.

When eliminated, you can spend more time putting your energy into your work or some self-care. Either way, not having to worry about glasses or contacts can make you more productive and less stressed.

Think investing in LASIK is worth it? Find out if you’re a good candidate by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA!

Getting LASIK could be one of the best things you ever do for yourself, so why wait any longer?

Should I Get LASIK Before Allergy Season?

Paul Stubenbordt on April 9, 2020

Spring can be a tough time for anyone with allergies. Somewhere between 10 and 30 percent of adults suffer from seasonal allergies.

If you have allergies and want to have LASIK, you may be concerned about when to have your procedure. It’s best not to have it during allergy season.

But should you have it before or after? Keep reading to learn more about how allergies can affect getting LASIK!

LASIK and Allergies

Patients with allergies don’t tend to have a higher rate of complications when they get LASIK. It is safe to have LASIK if you have allergies that cause conjunctivitis.

But it can affect how you heal if you’re exposed to allergens while you’re recovering from LASIK. If you have any allergic symptoms while recovering from LASIK, it’s harder to not rub your eyes.

If there is a rule to follow after LASIK, it’s to not rub your eyes. The reason for this is because, during LASIK, a small flap is created in your cornea.

This flap will heal over time but it can take a few months. While the flap heals, rubbing your eyes could run the risk of dislocating the flap. If this occurs, it often requires a follow-up procedure to fix the problem.

Allergic symptoms are also generally uncomfortable. They can make inflammation in your eyes even worse after surgery.

Even if you experience conjunctivitis after surgery, your doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops. These eye drops should keep your eyes from becoming infected or in too much pain.

If you have severe allergies, steroid medication may also be prescribed. If you can, do your best to avoid any and all allergens when recovering after LASIK.

Recovery Time

After you have LASIK surgery, your eyes will need time to heal. While initial recovery only takes a matter of days or weeks, the full recovery takes several months.

You won’t feel any different during much of that recovery. The corneal flap made during surgery acts as a natural bandage to protect your eye.

It takes about six months for the corneal flap to fully heal. During that time, it’s safest to do what you can to avoid infection or dislocating your corneal flap.

Most patients don’t need to do much to avoid complications during the majority of their recovery. If you suffer from allergies, it can be harder.

It may be wise to time your surgery so you can avoid allergens during your full recovery.

Timing Your Surgery

Having LASIK right before allergy season means you’ll still be in recovery during allergy season. Since it’s the recovery period where your eyes are most vulnerable, it’s best to have LASIK after allergy season.

The ideal time for patients with seasonal allergies is in the summer or fall. This ensures that the typical allergy season doesn’t fall during your six-month full recovery time.

This approach is cautious as you can have LASIK and recover while experiencing allergy symptoms. To have the least amount of stress and the best recovery, wait until after allergy season.

Wondering if LASIK could be right for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA!

4 Tips To Calm Down Before LASIK

Paul Stubenbordt on March 10, 2020

LASIK surgery is more popular than ever. Modern advances in technology have made LASIK more accessible, safe, and effective.

Chances are, you might even know someone who’s already had LASIK. Maybe you’ve considered it for yourself.

But any surgery can be a little scary, even a minor procedure like LASIK. Before you have LASIK, you may be nervous.

But there are ways to ease your worries and go into LASIK relaxed, calm, and in control. Keep reading for 4 tips to calm down before LASIK!

1. Have an Honest Discussion with Your Doctor

The most important step in dealing with anxiety is knowledge. Knowing what to expect can do wonders for your mental state.

So talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you have well before you have LASIK. Your doctor should have no problem walking you through what to expect. When you take away the unknowns, it’s a lot easier to feel comfortable about LASIK!

Keep in mind that while LASIK does involve a laser, it’s a painless procedure. You will be awake but your eyes will be numbed completely thanks to numbing eye drops.

There’s no need for injections! Some doctors even offer anti-anxiety medication to their patients.

This is a great way to help calm their nerves. Ask about what your surgeon can do to help if you think you’ll be especially nervous.

2. Practice Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a wonderful stress-relieving technique for all kinds of situations. But it’s something you should have some experience with before you use it on the day of getting LASIK.

The most important aspect of deep breathing is breathing in and out at a consistent rate. Breathing too quickly can lead to hyperventilating, which is the opposite of what you want to do.

Try practicing by laying down. Then count the seconds as you breathe in, hold your breath, and breathe out.

There are videos online that explain different breathing techniques for relaxation. Try out a few techniques you can use when you’re getting ready for your procedure.

3. Listen to Music

It can be tough to stay calm when it gets closer to your surgery. On the day of, you may want to have some techniques to calm yourself while in the waiting room and surgery prep.

Besides practicing deep breathing, you can listen to music to distract yourself. Your surgeon may even allow you to listen to music during the procedure. Be sure to discuss it with them in advance to make sure!

4. Bring a Friend

Having someone with you is a great way to distract your mind while also having a shoulder to lean on. You’ll need a ride to and from your LASIK procedure.

You’re not allowed to drive yourself home after the procedure, after all! It’s a good idea to have a close relative or friend with you.

They can wait in the lobby with you and help you relax before the procedure. They’ll be there for you afterward to help you unwind.

LASIK doesn’t have to be scary. The procedure itself is far less complex than people realize. All you have to do to have the most comfortable experience is to stay relaxed!

Ready to stop being afraid of getting LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA, and face your fears!

Can Diet Make You a Better LASIK Candidate?

Paul Stubenbordt on January 17, 2020

Most people who get screened for LASIK qualify for surgery. Only about 15% get screened out after getting evaluated.

There are several reasons you may not qualify for LASIK. This could include your age, prescription, or the thickness of your corneas.

But can you become a better candidate by eating differently? Maybe, but only in specific instances. Keep reading to learn if diet can make you a better LASIK candidate!

Nutrition and Eye Health

Your ocular health is closely tied with the nutrients you get in your diet. You may have heard of urban legends about people going blind because they eat nothing but junk food.

It’s pretty hard to go blind from eating an average diet. What is true, though, is eating a more nutrient-rich diet can help your eyes.

It can help lower your risk of developing conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. These conditions are more likely to occur as we get older.

Some nutrients can also help your eyes produce higher-quality tears. This can do its part in helping to prevent dry eye syndrome.

Qualifying for LASIK

Many of the qualifying factors for LASIK are beyond your control. For instance, it isn’t safe to get LASIK if your cornea isn’t thick enough or your pupils are too big.

You cannot change the size of your cornea or pupils since it’s how you’re born. But one of the things that make getting LASIK difficult is having dry eye, or being prone to dry eye.

Dry Eye

Part of the screening process for LASIK involves assessing the quality of your tears. Your tears are made from mucus, oil, and water.

Dry eye is usually caused by having less water in your tears and more mucus and oil. If you’re prone to dry eye, recovery from LASIK can be very difficult. Keeping your eyes lubricated with high-quality tears is vital for them to heal.

But even if you’ve been screened for dry eye and you’re at risk, there are things you can do to improve your tear quality. It may be as simple as changing your diet.

Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, folate, and vitamins A, B, and C improve tear quality and eye health. These foods include leafy vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, beans, and bananas. You can also take nutritional supplements like fish oil.

Changing your diet or taking supplements isn’t guaranteed to cure your dry eye, but it’s a good first step of treatment. You may need further treatment as recommended by your doctor. But it’s also possible that all you need is better nutrition.

Maintaining Good Eye Health

Having a healthy lifestyle is the best way to have a healthy body and healthy eyes. Having a diet rich in nutrients can keep your eyes healthy longer and prevent conditions as you age.

But to qualify for LASIK, you sometimes need more than a set of healthy eyes. Not sure if you would be a good LASIK candidate?

Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield in Sherman Oaks, CA today and find out!