Thursday, December 26, 2013

LASIK and Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common refractive error, which means that the eye does not focus light properly on the retina (the back of the eye). This condition causes light to focus on areas in front of and/or behind the retina, making vision blurry or distorted at all distances.

Astigmatism occurs when you have an irregularly-shaped cornea. LASIK vision correction can often correct the “football” shaped cornea of astigmatism into more of a “basketball” shape, thereby allowing light to properly focus on the retina and provide clear vision.

LASIK is not the best option for all patients with astigmatism. For example, if your corneas are too thin to support the procedure or if you have a medical condition that may interfere with healing, an alternative to LASIK (such as PRK) might be more appropriate.

Advances in LASIK technology have made this popular procedure a viable option for more patients than ever before. To find out if you might be a good candidate for LASIK, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon to schedule your free LASIK Consultation at 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Ways to Celebrate the Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year is almost here. December 21st is the Winter Solstice; it’s the first day of winter and a great time to step back from all of the craziness of holiday preparations and just enjoy the simpler things in life.

Here are a few suggestions we have for unwinding:
  • Make a homemade craft for a loved one
  • Enjoy the beauty of the season: take a hike, watch the sun set, build a snowman
  • Light candles in your home, build a fire in the fireplace
  • Sip hot chocolate and read a book
  • Have a simple dinner party (or go out to dinner) with family and friends
  • Reflect on what you wish for the upcoming year

While you are reflecting, if “improving your vision” tops your list of wishes, take a moment out of your Winter Solstice celebration to schedule a free LASIK consultation. Even though this day falls on a Saturday, you can still schedule an appointment online at Lake Dillon Eye Care’s website: lakedilloneye.com.

LASIK vision correction helps people reduce or eliminate their need for glasses. Dr. Buckley has helped tens of thousands of patients correct their refractive errors and live a clearer life. The procedure isn't
for everyone, which is why the free LASIK consultation is so important.

Enjoy the 2013 Winter Solstice! And, if you wear glasses or contacts, let Dr. Buckley show you how much more enjoyable your winter can be with LASIK. 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Busting LASIK Myths

If you have been considering LASIK, but you’re confused about some of the claims being made, you might be falling victim to some common LASIK myths. In this blog, we will provide the reality behind five common LASIK myths.

#1 – Anyone can have LASIK.

This simply isn’t true. Certain vision conditions and even your overall health may cause you to be a poor candidate for LASIK. You must have a full LASIK examination by a trained ophthalmologist to determine:
  • The thickness of your cornea (if it is too thin, LASIK is not recommended)
  • Prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome
  • Prevalence of eye disease, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
  • Your current medical health
If a surgeon tells you that anyone can have LASIK, go somewhere else!

#2 – You’ll never need glasses again after LASIK.

Regardless of whether or not you have LASIK, a condition called presbyopia can “sneak up” on you when you reach your mid-40s. Caused by the stiffening of the eye lens, the eyes begin to have problems focusing on near objects. This is an age-related problem that happens to virtually everyone, and you may need reading glasses later in life to read up-close or in dimly-lit situations.

#3 – If you have astigmatism, you can’t have LASIK.

When you have a cornea that is shaped more like a football than a basketball, advanced LASIK technologies can be used to change the shape of the cornea to create the optimal shape and improve vision. Of course, every patient is unique. You can find out if your particular degree of astigmatism can be corrected by having a full eye exam.

#4 – LASIK is expensive. It’s cheaper to wear glasses.

When you look at the total cost of LASIK, it may seem like an unobtainable luxury. However, studies have shown that in the long run people may spend less on LASIK than on the continued maintenance of eyeglasses and contact lenses…and these are expenses that never end. When you weigh that number against the one-time cost of LASIK, and the fact that excellent LASIK financing options exist, the procedure looks much more affordable.

#5 – If I can’t have LASIK, I can’t get my vision corrected.

There are actually alternatives to LASIK for people who aren’t candidates for LASIK. PRK or ASA procedures do not require that a corneal flap be created, so those with thin corneas are sometimes candidates for this option. Alternatively, Refractive Lens Exchange is a procedure in which the natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial IntraocularLens (IOL) to correct vision. There are other options as well, and your doctor should discuss those with you.  

Don’t write off LASIK without knowing all of the facts. Schedule your free LASIK Consultation at Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon today at 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com to learn more. 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Celebrate Letter Writing Day!

Did you know that December 7 is Letter Writing Day? It’s a real observance that encourages people to swap their computer keys and texting thumbs for a pen or pencil…and to craft a hand-written note to someone. Sending someone a personal letter shows that you took time out of your busy schedule to share a story or two about your recent activities…or to thank them for a kind gesture…or to ask Santa for that new remote-controlled car!

For some people, writing a letter means getting out their glasses or putting in their contacts to see their words form on the page. Farsighted people have difficulty seeing things up-close, which can make writing, reading and fine detail work just plain impossible without corrective lenses. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to jot down a note anytime, day or night, without the hassles of glasses or contacts?

LASIK vision correction can make letter-writing a breeze for some patients. The process actually corrects the shape of the cornea in farsighted patients, helping light to focus directly on the retina as opposed to behind it.

LASIK won’t help you craft the great American novel, but it has helped millions of Americans see up-close more clearly. It’s also important to know that even after LASIK, some patients need reading glasses in later life due to the natural stiffening of the eye’s lenses…a naturally-occurring condition called presbyopia.


To find out if your next Letter Writing Day could be celebrated without glasses, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon today by calling 970-468-0389 or visiting lakedilloneye.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from Lake Dillon Eye Care!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the team at Lake Dillon Eye Care would like to take a moment to share a few of the things for which we are thankful.

We are thankful that:
  • We have an outstanding ophthalmologist who is specially trained and highly experienced in LASIK vision correction.
  • The LASIK technologies we've invested in are allowing us to improve vision for even more patients – even some of those who were not candidates in the past.
  • Our entire team maintains strong ethical standards and only performs LASIK on qualified candidates.
  • We help patients afford the improved vision they desire through LASIK financing options.
  • We get the opportunity to help educate people about every aspect of LASIK, whether or not they choose us for their procedure.
Our goal is to make our patients feel thankful that they chose Lake Dillon Eye Care for their vision correction.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy time with your loved ones this holiday season. And if the quality of your vision isn’t something that is making you thankful, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. Call 970-468-0389 or visit lakedilloneye.com.  

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) has designated the month of November as National Family Literacy Month®. Having the ability to read with your children can dramatically improve their performance at school as well as their economical, emotional and social development. Family reading time also helps to strengthen the family bond.

At Lake Dillon Eye Care we work hard to help adults achieve clear vision so it’s easy and fun to read – both to their children and for their own enjoyment. One way we do this is through LASIK vision correction. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by actually changing the shape of the cornea. When the cornea is properly shaped, light coming into the eye will focus correctly on the retina (the back of the eye).


Some patients are able to eliminate their need for glasses and contacts after LASIK. Of course, every patient is different, but think of how much more enjoyable reading would be if you didn’t have to hunt for your glasses or take out your contacts at night when reading before bed.


Not everyone who wears glasses is a good candidate for LASIK. You need an in-depth examination by a trained ophthalmologist to find out for sure. At 
Lake Dillon Eye Care we offer free LASIK Consultations to do just that.

The NCFL has created a fundraising challenge called The Big Give for Families Learning to raise money to support family literacy and learning programs. Participants can win a variety of fantastic prizes. Visit the NCFL website to learn more: http://www.famlit.org/.


Make this a National Family Literacy Month to remember. Contact 
Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation to find out if LASIK is right for you: 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

What is a LASIK Self-Evaluation?

A LASIK Self-Evaluation is an interactive online tool to help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK vision correction surgery. While this is not a substitute for a full LASIK Consultation from an experienced ophthalmologist, it is a great first step in the LASIK research process.

The Self-Evaluation asks questions about what your vision is like right now, such as:
  • I can’t see things up close
  • I can’t see things far away
  • It’s difficult for me to drive
  • I’ve been diagnosed with astigmatism
  • I wear glasses / contacts / reading glasses

The Self-Evaluation also asks questions regarding your current medical health and your eye health. This information is kept strictly confidential.

When all of the details are submitted, the Evaluation tallies the information and provides an immediate, personalized result as to whether or not LASIK might produce the results you desire. You can use this information to further research your options or as back-up information to share during your full LASIK Consultation with a surgeon. The only way to know for sure if you are a candidate for LASIK is by having a complete eye exam to determine your corneal thickness and overall eye health.  

Our doctors at Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon offers a free LASIK Self-Evaluation on his website at lakedilloneye.com. If you are considering LASIK, we encourage you to take the quick assessment to see what might be best for your unique situation. 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Possible Cause for High-Grade Nearsightedness Discovered

A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics has identified gene mutations associated with severe, high-grade myopia (nearsightedness). Researchers at Duke Medicine found these mutations in the SCO2 gene that metabolizes copper, which is important to regulate oxygen levels in eye tissue. When there is too much oxygen, the eye’s development can be altered.

"This is the first time a gene mutation for autosomal dominant nonsyndromic high-grade myopia in Caucasians has been discovered," said senior author Terri Young, M.D., MBA, professor of ophthalmology, pediatrics and medicine at the Duke Eye Center, Duke Center for Human Genetics and the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS). "Our findings reflect the hard work and collaboration of our international research team."

"Our findings, plus information from the literature, suggest that copper deficiency could predispose people to develop myopia," Young said. "While this wasn't directly tested in this study, it's possible that our diets - which are deficient in a number of minerals and vitamins - play a role, and it may be something as easy as taking a supplement with copper that helps thwart the development of myopia."

Other factors besides gene mutations are likely responsible for myopia development. Additional myopia research will continue.

Nearsightedness is one vision condition that is often corrected through LASIK eye surgery. However, laser vision correction is not appropriate for all patients who have myopia, especially high-grade. The FDA has approved certain lasers to treat varying levels of myopia, even up to -.12 diopters; however, some doctors may recommend a different type of procedure for patients who don’t meet the right vision requirements.


If you have any degree of nearsightedness and would like to know if you are a good candidate for LASIK, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon to schedule a LASIK Consultation: 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com

Monday, October 28, 2013

How Does LASIK Correct Myopia?

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a vision condition that affects approximately 30% of people in the United States. This condition makes it difficult to see objects that are far away, so corrective lenses are often prescribed to see things like white boards/SMART boards in school, televisions, movie screens or road conditions when driving.

Distant objects are difficult to see is because light is not focusing properly on the back of the eye (the retina); the cornea is too steep or the eye is too long. Light ends up focusing in front of the retina so distant objects appear blurry.

LASIK eye surgery corrects myopia by reshaping the inner layers of the cornea so light will focus on the right spot on the retina. Only a microscopic amount of tissue is reshaped using a laser, but the results can be amazing. In fact, many people achieve 20/20 vision (or better) after LASIK vision correction.


If you are nearsighted and are tired of wearing corrective lenses, look into LASIK today by scheduling a free LASIK Consultation at Lake Dillon Eye Care. This Consultation will tell you if your cornea is thick enough to support this procedure or if a different procedure would be more appropriate for your eye structure and still give you the results you want. Contact us today at lakedilloneye.com or 970-468-0389. 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Set up an Early Detection Plan for Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At Lake Dillon we are proud to treat our patients as family, and we work very hard to make sure the procedures we perform for them are as life-changing as possible. Whether it’s through LASIK vision correction, cataract surgery, treatment for an eye disease or even just a routine eye exam, our main goal is always to provide a better quality of life.

Did you know that certain cancers can spread to the eyes? Breast cancer is one type of cancer that can cause secondary intraocular cancer in the middle layer of the eyeball. It often has no symptoms, but it can be detected during routine eye exams. This is one more reason why regular eye exams are so important.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, an astounding 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is absolutely key in fighting and surviving breast cancer. Having an early detection plan for breast cancer in place is extremely important for women. This plan should include such scheduled monthly/yearly activities as:

  • Breast self-exams
  • Mammograms
  • Clinical breast exam by a gynecologist or family doctor
  • Lumps
  • Skin texture changes
  • Nipple tenderness or changes
  • Breast size or shape changes
  • Nipple discharge


You should look for changes in the breasts, including:
Our doctors don't treat breast cancer, but their detailed eye exams may help identify potential underlying health problems. If you are experiencing any changes in your vision or just want to be proactive in preserving your health, please contact Lake Dillon Eye Care right away to schedule your Consultation. Contact us today at 970-468-0389 olakedilloneye.com

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes - #4 of 4

This is the final installment of cool facts about dolphin eyes that we learned about from Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld.

“Dolphin eyes ‘glow’ at night! Just like cats and dogs, dolphins have a layer of reflective cells behind their retina which helps them see better in low light conditions.”

It would be pretty cool if we could make our patients’ eyes glow in the dark. Unfortunately, technology just doesn't allow us to do that yet.

What we do see, however, is the ‘glow’ of many of our patients’ faces after they've had a successful LASIK procedure. This glow may come immediately after the procedure, when they can read a clock on the wall, or it may come several visits later when their vision has stabilized and they realize what type of freedom they now have. Not all outcomes are the same, of course, and not everyone experiences this glow.

Many people research LASIK technology and surgeons for years before making the decision to move forward. Sometimes they end up wasting a lot of time, energy and even anxiety thinking about LASIK…only to learn that they aren't good candidates for LASIK in the first place.

Everyone has their own unique set of eyes. Even if you think you have the same eyeglass prescription as another person who had LASIK, your own genetic make-up and health conditions may preclude you from having a successful outcome. Without a detailed eye examination from an experienced LASIK surgeon, you’ll never know if you have the right conditions to possibly reverse your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

We hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit dolphins – and learning a little about LASIK along the way. We’d love to tell you more. Contact Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 970-468-0389 or visit lakedilloneye.com today.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Another Reason to Get Your Kids Outside

Getting your kids to play outside may not only help prevent obesity…it may also be beneficial for their eye health.  According to two studies done in Taiwan and Denmark, spending more time outdoors may help minimize or prevent nearsightedness (myopia) in children. The full research was published in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Genetics are often responsible for the development of myopia in children, but these studies have shown that the environment may also play a factor. According to Medical News Today, nearsightedness has increased in the United States by more than 65% since 1970, and researchers are studying why this condition is increasing so rapidly in the U.S. as well as in other countries.

The Taiwan study compared students who were required to spend 80 minutes of recess outdoors per day versus students who were not. Those who were required to play outdoors had fewer instances of myopia. In the Danish study, students’ axial eye length was tested for students in seven different groups with varying access to daylight hours. (When the axial eye length becomes longer, myopia worsens.) The children who experienced less daylight had larger axial eye growth than those exposed to more daylight.

Nearsightedness is one condition that can be corrected by LASIK eye surgery in adults. At Lake Dillon Eye Care, we would rather help patients prevent nearsightedness, if possible, but we are also focused on helping adult patients correct their vision problems through LASIK.


If you are nearsighted and would like to see if LASIK could correct your vision, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care today at 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com to schedule a free LASIK Consultation in Lake Dillon.  

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Scared of LASIK? Get the Facts!

If you’ve been living for years with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, constantly annoyed with contact lenses and glasses, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how LASIK can improve your vision. You may have even gone so far as having a LASIK consultation to find out that you are, indeed, a good candidate for the procedure. So why haven’t you taken the plunge and had LASIK eye surgery?

Maybe it’s the cost of the procedure (although there are excellent financing options available). But maybe you are apprehensive – scared, even – about having someone perform a procedure on your eyes. It is understandable to have anxiety about LASIK, but consider this: According to the Eye Surgery Education Council, “LASIK vision correction has the highest patient satisfaction rate of any elective surgery: 95.4%, according to a 10-year survey of scientific studies from around the world. And new advances in technology now deliver better outcomes than ever. The majority of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better after laser vision correction. Nearly all patients achieve 20/40 or better, which is fully functional and good enough to drive legally in most states without corrective lenses.”

Other studies have shown that there are more than 700,000 LASIK procedures performed in the United States every year. Satisfied patients express feelings of amazement because they can see with clarity, first thing in the morning; play sports, swim and travel without worrying about glasses or contacts; and have clear peripheral vision.

LASIK is not something to jump into; you should take time to fully research the LASIK surgeons in your area to determine who offers the best technologies and has the best track record of success. Notice we didn’t mention finding the best price. Advances in LASIK technology have bumped up the cost of LASIK slightly, but the overall results are superior and, according to most who’ve had it, well worth the money.

You should also be fully aware of the potential complications of LASIK, which can include:
·         Dry eye syndrome
·         Possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery
·         Potentially debilitating vision problems like glare, starbursts, halos or double vision
·         Vision loss


If you want to find out all the facts about LASIK, contact Dr. Chang at Lake Dillon Eye Care to schedule a free LASIK consultation at lakedilloneye.com or call 970-468-0389. You can also take a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation on this website. 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

The Effect of Vision Problems on the Collective American Wallets

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) recently commissioned researchers from the University of Chicago to determine how the cost of vision-related diseases affects the American economy. What they discovered is that the long-term effects of eye diseases/disorders and vision loss cost our government, insurance companies and patients approximately $139 billion every year…and there is no growth end in sight. The largest burden, $71.6 billion, falls on patients and their families. This makes eye diseases/disorders one of the most expensive medical conditions in the United States.  

Vision problems and vision loss can make a huge impact on a person’s ability to lead a productive professional and personal life. Having regular eye exams can act as a safeguard to stay on top of any obvious or “silent” vision changes that may be developing and allow patients to take proactive measures to preserve their sight. Eye exams can even help detect the presence of other medical conditions, such as diabetes.

At Lake Dillon Eye Care in Lake Dillon, our goal is to help our patients live fuller lives through eye care. We do this through medical procedures like cataract surgery and LASIK eye surgery, as well as treatment/maintenance of conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration. We work hard to help our patients see with clarity to perform everyday tasks and remain productive members of society.  

Eye disease prevention, maintenance and research will go a long way toward keeping vision medical costs in check. We encourage you to schedule an eye exam/Vision Consultation today. Call 970-768-0389 or visit lakedilloneye.com.

(The University of Chicago report is titled: "Cost of Vision Problems: The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in the United States.")

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Glasses, Contacts and Sports – How to Improve Your Game

Recently we read that September is National Little League Month. We’re not sure how many people actually celebrate this observance, but it got us thinking about all of those boys and girls on the field who wear corrective lenses as they play. In turn, this made us think of “vision-challenged” adults who continue playing sports of any kind.

Being nearsighted, farsighted or having astigmatism can become a real nuisance in life, especially if you are trying to see to hit a baseball/softball, swim laps in a pool, putt a golf ball into a hole or any other type of sport. Forced to wear glasses or contact lenses as you play, you can face different challenges than those with “near-perfect” vision. Sweaty noses can cause glasses to slide, dirt and debris can get underneath contacts, glasses can be broken and contacts lost.

Think of how much you could improve your game of choice if you were lens-free.

When you add LASIK vision correction to your pre-season training activities, you may be able to erase corrective lenses from your sports equipment list.


Dr. Chang at Lake Dillon Eye Care is ready to be your vision trainer. Schedule your free LASIK Consultation with us today at lakedilloneye.com or 970-468-0389 to find out if your eyes are in the right physical condition to handle LASIK. You can also ask questions about LASIK and learn more about Dr. Chang's background and experience.  

Friday, September 13, 2013

Elephant Eyes



In honor of National Elephant Appreciation Day on September 22, here are some facts about elephant eyes.

  • Their eyes are very small, only about 1.5” in diameter
  • The location of their eyes on the side of their heads allows for peripheral vision but not depth perception; the trunk creates a large blind spot in their vision
  • They have three eyelids: an upper, lower and one that moves vertically for more protection
  • Their long eyelashes keep foreign matter out of their eyes
  • They have the same visual pigments as humans with red/green color-blindness
  • Their range of vision is only about 30 feet - some people might say that elephants are nearsighted!

Because of their poor vision, elephants use their sensitive trunks to navigate. Their poor vision does not hinder their ability to orient themselves, and that’s a good thing since vision correction surgery just isn’t performed on elephants!

It is, however, performed on millions of Americans every year. At Lake Dillon Eye Care, we’ve performed many LASIK vision correction surgeries to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. LASIK in Lake Dillon is considered to be one of the safest medical procedures when performed by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Chang. Of course, there are risks with any type of surgical procedure, so it’s always advisable to get all of the facts about LASIK before you decide to pursue this popular procedure.

One way to get the facts is by scheduling a free LASIK Consultation at Lake Dillon Eye Care. You can find out if your eyes have the right characteristics for LASIK and you can get all of your questions about LASIK answered.

So don’t forget to take a minute to appreciate elephants on September 22 (an elephant wouldn’t forget). And, if you’re stuck wearing glasses or contacts, contact us today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation at lakedilloneye.com or 970-468-0389.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

How LASIK Works








You’ve undoubtedly heard the term LASIK eye surgery, and you may even know someone who has had the procedure done. But do you really know what steps are involved in a LASIK procedure?

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, commonly referred to as LASIK, is a procedure to treat farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. In these vision conditions, the cornea is shaped so light does not focus properly onto the retina so clear vision is not achieved. LASIK uses a laser to actually reshape the cornea so light does focus properly.

LASIK is not performed on a “whim.” An experienced LASIK surgeon will perform a detailed eye exam to determine your exact vision characteristics and determine if LASIK could help or hinder your vision. This procedure isn’t right for everyone; some people have corneas that are too thin to support the procedure…others have pre-existing eye health or medical conditions that will interfere with healing.

LASIK Steps
 
  1. Numbing drops are placed into your eye and a lid speculum keeps the eyelids open
  2. A corneal flap is created using either a hand-held microkeratome surgical tool or a femtosecond laser. Once the flap is created it is gently folded back to give the surgeon access to the underlying corneal tissue
  3. Corneal tissue is removed/reshaped using a computer-controlled excmier laser
  4. The corneal flap is put back into place where it begins to heal without stitches.
The entire process only takes a few minutes per eye and most people report that it is virtually painless.
There is a whole lot more to know about LASIK! If you are curious, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care today at 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation to get all of the facts about LASIK.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Do Starfish Have Eyes?



The next time you stumble across a starfish while swimming in the ocean, gaze into his arms to see if he notices you. That’s right…his arms!

Oddly enough, most starfish have primitive compound eyes on the tips of each of their arms. A recent study showed demonstrated that starfish use these eyes to process visual information, especially when there was a need to locate food sources. Two groups of starfish were studied: one group with eyes and one group without. The two groups were placed in a sandy area of the ocean and studied how they moved toward the coral reef, which was their food source. The group with eyes was able to navigate directly toward the reef, while the group without eyes wandered aimlessly.

Additional studies into starfish may help researchers learn more about eye evolution.

Researchers are also continually studying human eyes and devising new technologies to correct vision problems. For example, in the past if you were nearsighted, farsighted or had astigmatism, you were stuck wearing glasses or contact lenses for life. Today, people have options, such as LASIK laser vision correction, to potentially eliminate their need for corrective lenses.

That means swimming in the ocean (and checking out the starfish) with clear vision using just a regular snorkel/diving mask or goggles.

If seeing starfish and other sea creatures more clearly sounds attractive to you, contact Lake Dillon Eye Care at 970-468-0389 or lakedilloneye.com today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation. Dr. Chang isn’t an expert on starfish, but he has extensive experience in helping qualified candidates improve their vision.