Bad Genes, Glasses, and a Telescope in the Eyes (2)

Among the general population, there’s a popular opinion that the constant wearing of glasses can exacerbate already-poor eyesight. Is there any truth to this?

They don’t think that everywhere, but in one African country, 64% of students believe that glasses are harmful to vision, in Pakistan 70%, and in Brazil even health workers are convinced of this. It’s surprising, however, that the long-term wearing of glasses and its effects on vision have not been fundamentally studied. Nevertheless, available data does not support this popular hypothesis in which the causal relationship has been turned on its head. In the long run…

…in the long run we all dead, as economist John Keynes said. Sorry, I interrupted. 

I don’t know if Keynes wore glasses, but according to this perspective it is completely unimportant whether you wear glasses or not. Although it is desirable to not overtax your eyes, be it from a computer or a restaurant menu, which you have to push away at arm’s length because farsightedness won’t allow you to see the prices, your pride sometimes won’t stop you from wearing them. At the same time, there are other stereotypes that might prevent you from going to the ophthalmologist, who may be able to restore your vision without the help of glasses.

And in the case of children it’s the same?

Not really. If glasses are needed in childhood, it is extremely important to select the right ones. If you’re wearing the wrong glasses at an early age or not wearing them at all, it may not be the best way to have a positive effect on your vision.

As a child, I was given plus-lenses as a “Japanese” treatment of myopia. You strain, suffer, and try to see what’s written on the chalkboard in plus-lenses, and the benefits are a hundredfold. 

There was at a time when it was believed that it’s supposedly helpful to wear glasses that are weaker than necessary, and this will slow down the process of elongation of the eyeball, thus slowing down the development of myopia. It was assumed that if you wear glasses that allow normal vision at a distance, but require focus up close, the eyeball will be more likely to stretch, which should be avoided at all costs. This theory or better said myth was refuted 15 years ago in a Malaysian study. Myopic children were divided into two groups – one wore glasses at the exact strength required, and the other weaker than necessary. Children from the second group had such a severe stretching of their eyeballs that the study had to be stopped ahead of time.

Sounds like kids with myopia are better off wearing glasses which match vision 100%. 

Children’s eyes are still learning how to see, and that’s why they may develop amblyopia if the prescription is not precise, also known as lazy eye. The retina loses the ability to focus on an image. Also, correct prescriptions can help kids read faster and lower the risk of becoming cross-eyed. And as for adults, as I said earlier, correct glasses can’t harm your vision, but LASIK is much better, as it can improve your mood, looks, and even quality of life, in case you are a good candidate for it.

As we all remember there is another alternative. In USSR I once got a hold of a rare pair of Czech contact lenses, the kind that needed to boil daily. Everyone knows that the technology of things has advanced a lot. However, there are not many people in my circle of friends who are older than 40 and still wear contacts, as all of them have chosen LASIK. And those who have light myopia just put their glasses on when driving or go to the movies. But maybe contacts are still on the radar? I’ve read about the development of contact lenses that can be paired with glasses to achieve a telescopic effect, and the combination can provide zoom on objects up to 2.8 times.

Those lenses were created for people with macular dystrophy or age-related vision weakening. The telescopic element that you are talking about is positioned in the central ring of the lens. Microscopic aluminum mirrors with refractive cuts become magnifying glasses. They reflect the light within the eye 4 times; after that it goes to the retina. The problem is these kinds of lenses must be allowed to breathe if you wear them all day. That’s why they are infused with a net of small channels, providing the cornea with oxygen, and this drastically increases the complexity of production. However, there is a chance that these lenses, for people with macular dystrophy, will become popular in the near future. At this point, this type of patient has to wear very heavy glasses with telescopic lenses, or get a very complex and expensive surgery that introduces special transplants into the eye.

I’m dreaming away and looking into the far future, when one can put on telescopic lenses and see how the things are going on Mars. 

I would still advise getting back down to the Earth and taking care of your eyes today.

LASIK, CATARACT, GLAUCOMA: Take advantage of the latest technology and one of the best teams in LABenjamin Eye Institute310-494-7193

ВРЕДНЫЕ ГЕНЫ, ОЧКИ И ТЕЛЕСКОП В ГЛАЗУ (2)

– Среди широких слоев населения популярно мнение, что постоянное ношение очков – усугубляет и без того плохое зрение. Есть тут рациональное зерно?

– Так думают не везде. В одной африканской стране 64% студентов уверены, что очки опасны для зрения, в Пакистане – 70%, а в Бразилии даже сами медицинские работники убеждены в этом. Как ни удивительно, но влияние долгосрочного ношения очков на зрение фундаментально не изучалось. Однако имеющиеся данные не подтверждают этой народной гипотезы, в которой причинно-следственная связь перевернута с ног на голову. В долгосрочной перспективе… 

– В долгосрочной перспективе все мы покойники, как сказал экономист Дж. Кейнс. Простите, что перебил.

– Не знаю, носил ли Кейнс очки, но в этой перспективе совершенно неважно, носите вы их или нет. Хотя желательно не перенапрягать глаза, будь то компьютер или меню в ресторане, которое вам приходится отодвигать от себя на вытянутой руке или ноге, поскольку дальнозоркость не позволяет вам разглядеть цены, а гордость не позволяет надеть очки. При этом еще какие-то стереотипы мешают пойти к офтальмологу, который, возможно, вернет вам нормальное зрение без помощи очков. 

– А в случае с детьми все то же самое?

– Не совсем. Если очки нужны уже в детстве, то крайне важно их правильно подобрать. Если вы с малых лет носите неправильные очки или не носите их совсем, это может не лучшим образом отразиться на зрении. 

– Мне в детстве давали плюсовые линзы для «японского» лечения близорукости. Ты, мол, малыш, напрягайся, мучайся и пытайся разглядеть, чего там на доске написано через плюсовые стекла, и тебе вернется сторицей.

– Была эпоха, когда считалось, что при близорукости якобы полезно носить очки слабее, чем нужно, и это позволит притормозить процесс удлинения глазного яблока. А а раз так, то и замедлится развитие близорукости. Предполагалось, что если носить очки, позволяющие нормально видеть вдали, то фокусируясь на близком предмете, глазное яблоко будет «еще охотнее» вытягиваться, чего нужно любыми средствами избежать. Эта теория, чтобы не сказать фантазия была опровергнута в исследовании, проведенном лет 15 назад в Малайзии. Близорукие дети были разделены на две группы: одни носили очки по точному рецепту, другие – слабее, чем нужно. У детей из второй группы удлинение глазного яблока зашло далеко настолько явно, что эксперимент остановили раньше времени. 

– Получается, что детям с близорукостью лучше носить очки, причем очки, четко соответствующие показаниям.

– Детские глаза, так сказать, учатся видеть, и потому без аккуратно подобранных очков у ребенка может возникнуть амблиопия, что можно передать выражением "ленивый глаз": сетчатка лишается опыта получения четкого изображения. К тому же правильные очки помогают быстрее читать и снижают риск косоглазия. Что касается взрослых, то правильные очки, повторюсь, не могут повредить зрению. Зато сильно улучшить настроение , внешность и качество жизни порой может лазерная коррекция зрения – в тех случаях, когда она возможна. 

– Есть, как мы помним, и другая альтернатива. Еще в СССР я добыл себе дефицитные чешские линзы, которые нужно было ежедневно «варить». О том, что эти штучки с тех пор шагнули вперед, все знают. Правда, в кругу знакомых от 40 лет и выше уже не вижу никого, кто бы их носил: все предпочли лазерную коррекцию, а у кого слабая близорукость, те нацепляют очки лишь за рулем или в кино. Но, может, «контакты» еще не сказали последнего слова? Читал, что разработаны линзы, которые в паре с обычными очками могут создать телескопический эффект. И эта комбинация способна обеспечить увеличение в 2,8 раза.

– Эти линзы создавались для людей, страдающих макулодистрофией или возрастным ослаблением зрения. Телескопический элемент, о котором вы говорите, расположен в кольце вокруг центральной области линзы. Микроскопические алюминиевые зеркала с рефракционной насечкой как раз и выполняют роль увеличительного стекла. Они четырежды отражают свет внутри кольца, после чего он направляется на сетчатку. Проблема в том, что такие линзы должны «дышать», если вы носите их весь день. Для этого их пронизали сетью крошечных каналов, по которым к роговице поступает кислород, но это драматически усложнило процесс производства. Тем не менее есть шанс, что линзы для пациентов с макулодистрофией в скором будущем войдут в обиход. На сегодняшний день таким пациентам приходится носить тяжелые очки с телескопическими линзами, либо делать очень непростую, но весьма дорогую операцию по пересадке специальных линз в глаз. 

– А я смотрю в далекое светлое будущее, когда можно будет надеть телескопические линзы и посмотреть, как там дела на Марсе.

– Полагаю более разумным вернуться на Землю и позаботиться о собственных глазах уже сегодня. 

en_ru

Bad Genes, Glasses, and a Telescope in the Eyes (2) - Benjamin Eye Institute

Dr. Benjamin is busting some myths about myopia. Do you need your glasses prescription to be a little weaker to train your eyes? Does constant wearing of glasses exacerbate poor eyesight? Read on! 

Доктор Бенджамин разрушает мифы японских методов лечения: - А нужно ли, чтобы очки были послабее, а ты малыш напрягайся?  - Постоянное ношение очков только ухудшает зрение? Дружненько переходим в пост и читаем.



Bad Genes, Glasses, and a Telescope in the Eyes ( part 2)

ВРЕДНЫЕ ГЕНЫ, ОЧКИ И ТЕЛЕСКОП В ГЛАЗУ (часть 2)

Staff was very personable and accommodated my needs.  Dr Benjamin was very professional and great bedside manner.  I would highly recommend the office to friend and family

An awesome experience as is the norm for our visits to Dr Benjamin. We have trusted him and his office with our multiple surgeries and care for many years, and plan to continue forward. Thank you Dr Benjamin, and your staff.

Great front desk and tech staff. The doctor was super nice and I’m so pleased I found this eye institute! Everyone was great and happy to finally have taken care of an appointment I had been putting off for a while. Great check-in process also for first time patients.

⭐️ My review of LASIK after one year ⭐️I told Dr. Benjamin I would do this a while ago, but I kind of feel like it says a lot I have kept this on my checklist for a year. I feel like a year is a good amount of time to review a procedure like this and give my honest thoughts and recommendation.So, let me tell you about my journey to getting LASIK and how I ended up in the amazing care of Dr. Benjamin. After going to an optometrist for years and him advising against LASIK because of my genetically dry eyes, I finally got a second opinion from an ophthalmologist (Dr. Benjamin). I didn’t know the difference between an optometrist vs. opthalmologist, but once I learned it kind of made sense why my optometrist didn’t want me getting LASIK lol. Because he couldn’t sell me on contact lenses or glasses for the foreseeable future if I got my vision corrected :) I mean, who knows, but I am glad I got a second opinion.I figured being in Los Angeles with some of the best doctors in the world… if anyone is going to touch my big, blue eyeballs, might as well get it done while I’m here. I found this business due to the reviews and they seemed to really know what they were doing and how to talk to clients.Upon meeting Dr. Benjamin he told me that I wasn’t a candidate for LASIK with my dry eyes, but he could put me through treatments for dry eyes and reevaluate after; and that these treatments had a good success rate for most.So, I started doing two treatments every other week for about 2.5 months - IPL laser treatment and Lipiflow. Lipiflow, especially, was a weird painless experience but highly recommend anyone with dry eyes to ask about it regardless of LASIK. I could tell my eyes felt way less dry a couple days after each treatment. There are videos on YouTube that talk about this treatment… Who knew this stuff existed. I’m not gonna lie, it’s an investment to do all these treatments on top of LASIK, but my eyes rarely feel dry anymore so if you’re going to get it done - do it right.Finally, I was approved for LASIK. I ended up waiting until the end of year to make sure I saved up the funds to do it and had some time to heal. I also took advantage of an end of year deal they were offering. $1000 off was a pretty nice forcing function to get me to finally do it after prepping my eyes with the treatments. The procedure itself I couldn’t feel anything even though I was awake the entire time (medicated). Even the scary part when bubbles form on your eyes Dr. Benjamin let me know about in advance so when it happened I just went with the flow. I think the worst part was the recovery the few days after and coming home drugged up lol. I remember day 1 thinking omg what did I do to my eyes. My eyes just hurt and felt weird, but omg I could see 20/15 immediately. And then, day by day it gradually got better. It took a few weeks for my eyes to heal, but after 1 month you couldn’t even tell I had surgery. One eye was a bit more bloodshot than the other.I can see 20/15. It’s been life changing for the past year not having to worry about contacts or glasses. I just got married and was able to walk down the aisle with clear vision. I only wish I had the means to have done this earlier in life. If you’re considering it - do it! And definitely consider Dr. Benjamin to do it right.Lastly, to continue treating my dry eyes, Dr. Benjamin gave me an extra LipiFlow treatment, and also recommended I try punctal plugs (painless plugs inserted into your lids that help your tears last longer). He placed the plugs in my eyes under 5 mins. Wild.I heard from people during the LASIK process they have been nervous to get the procedure so I wrote this to help and because I think highly of this business for changing my life. And, some of the dry eye treatments I would’ve never known about had it not been for them. Again, I wish I would have had been able to do this years ago. It is so, so worth it!Thank you, Dr. Benjamin (and staff!)

Concerned about a reoccurring virus, I text Dr Benjamin’s office first thing in the morning seeking immediate advice and an appointment. In quick time I received both sage advice and a same day appointment. Dr B takes a personal interest in his patients well being and has diligent, competent and attentive staff to support the care and support needed. Can’t speak highly enough.

Been going to Dr B for nearly a decade after trying many other eye doctors in LA.  Beyond solving my chronic dry eye and being the most knowledgeable, he is an all-around great guy and spends time educating. The staff is wonderful as well.

The ophthalmologist that performed my surgery, Dr. Benjamin, was extremely skilled and knowledgeable. He took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure and answer all of my questions. I felt confident in his abilities and knew that I was in good hands.

Dr Benjamin and his team are extremely professional. I had Lasik surgery performed by him and his team and everything to date has gone exactly as described to me. Front office is very friendly and scheduling appointments is easy.

The office staff were kind and considerate. The technician that assisted me explained everything she was doing. The Doctor was very nice and explained everything. He was definitely knowledgeable about my condition.

Dr Benjamin has been the “go to” eye specialist for 3 generations of my family, starting with my father and now grown children. Simply put, he’s an exceptionally capable, trustworthy, and cutting edge doctor with a courteous and professional staff.Without any reservations, I recommend him to anyone seeking an exceptional eye doctor.

The surgeons at Benjamin Eye Institute are true experts in their field - they were able to explain the procedure in detail and answer all of my questions and concerns. The surgery itself was quick and painless, and the recovery was much faster than I had anticipated.

I just completed my first visit and can say that this office deserves every high ranking it gets. The staff are efficient, friendly but highly professional.  The office is modern and sparkling clean. The examination was smooth and thorough. The doctor saw me on time.  He listened closely to the background of my problem, and he clearly communicated his treatment plan and the rationale for it. I absolutely trust him and highly recommend him.

Dr. Benjamin is always personable and thoughtful and very much an expert.  He has been my eye doctor for many years.  Now that I am older I am very grateful that he is still my ophthalmologist. Everyone in the office is very helpful. I, of course, highly recommend Dr. Benjamin.

One of the things that sets the Benjamin Eye Institute apart from other ophthalmology practices is their team of experienced and highly trained surgeons. The surgeons at the Benjamin Eye Institute have performed thousands of cataract and LASIK surgeries, and have a wealth of experience in these procedures. They are committed to providing the best possible care for their patients and strive to achieve excellent outcomes.

No exaggeration, this was the best visit with any doctor I've ever had. The facility is very nice, the staff is exceptionally thorough, professional, and efficient and Dr Arthur had by far the best bed side manner I've ever encountered. I 100% recommend him and his team

My experience at Benjamin Eye Institute was exceptional.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever encountered such an efficient and professional staff in a doctor’s office.  The front desk was communicative and everyone up to the doctor was beyond detailed in their care.  I would recommend this place to anyone who has eye problems because they have the most advanced equipment and Dr. Benjamin is caring, thorough and knowledgeable.

Dr Benjamin and his staff are excellent! 3/5 members of my family are patients from senior to adult to teen. Great care and professionalism. Highly recommend!

Immediately after  cataract surgery, I can see my husband’s face accross the room for the first time in 40 years! No more glasses since childhood, both distance and close up. If you are thinking, should you spend the big bucks to see everything both near and far?  I can tell you it’s so worth it! Thank you Dr. Benjamin and all the wonderful people in your office! I appreciate your efficiency, attentiveness, professionalism and welcoming space! Please feel free to use me as a reference any time!

I can’t ever express my deep gratitude for Dr . Benjamin and his entire extraordinary team at the Benjamin Eye Institute.I was nervous as eyes are so sensitive,  but his incredibly kind receptionists and nurses make you feel at ease and diminish all fears right away . He offers impeccable medical knowledge and state of the art technology to heal . My son and I have both experienced his phenomenal treatment and have had all our eye issues resolved . I am so thankful and can’t recommend him and the Benjamin Eye Institute highly enough 🙏

Dr.Benjamin is the best of the best.Very personable, knowledgeable and kind.I had a stye and in a bad shape.He  took me right in.His staff polite , kind and very professional.Highly recommended.

My 18-year-old son has been under Dr. Benjamin's care, and we were truly impressed by the level of service we received at Benjamin Eye Institute. From the moment we stepped into the clinic, the staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating.Dr. Benjamin conducted a comprehensive eye exam for my son, and his expertise and professionalism were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure my son understood his eye health and any potential concerns. His patience and attentiveness were truly appreciated.We highly recommend Dr. Benjamin to anyone seeking exceptional eye care. He and his team exceeded our expectations, and we are grateful for the outstanding service we received. Thank you, Dr. Benjamin!

Dr Benjamin and Alba were great. He is very professional, kind and with clear explanations. I had an eyelid quick surgery and I’m just missing the glasses prescription, I left the office and forgot to ask for it. But he and his team were amazing!

I was referred to Dr. Benjamin from both my eye doctor and a very close friend of mine who also had her LASIK performed there. My experience was exceptional. Every single person that you meet in the office is a joy to work with. Whether it was the constant and clear communication, or the fact that they were always listening to feedback and answering my questions and concerns, they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable trusting my vision to them. They were very kind and never once pressured me into anything (including when I had to push my surgery back after I broke my leg).I would recommend this place to anyone who has eye problems because they have the most advanced equipment and Dr. Benjamin is caring, thorough and knowledgeable.

Top notch service and staff! By far the best experience I’ve had at a doctors office in 20 years. I wish every office was as well trained, friendly, and professional as Benjamin Eye Institute. Seriously if you have eye problems you won’t find a better doctor.

More than everything I value professional people. Dr. Arthur Benjamin is one of them. He is taking care of me and my husband for pretty long time. All I can say we are very thankful to the doctor and people who work as a team to make us healthy and happy !

LASIK Eye Surgery- The short is go see Dr. Benjamin!I visited Dr. Benjamin Eye Institute after deciding I wanted to learn more about Lasik eye surgery and what the process would look like. I stare at computer screens for very long periods of time so I was nervous to make this life change but ready to ditch my glasses for good! The entire team from day 1 of my consultation made me feel very comfortable. The office is clean the staff are extremely welcoming, friendly and all took the time to answer any questions I had about the procedure - which was very quick and painless the day of. They also have awesome social content for educational purposes and just to make you laugh!I am about a month post procedure and it has been life changing and a freedom restored. Your eyes are important so make sure you consult with the best.Thank you Dr. Benjamin and team!!!

Dr. Benjamin is an exceptional doctor and eye surgeon. He is innovative, and anticipates a patient’s needs. Above all Dr. Benjamin is kind and caring. My results are outstanding. I can thank him for changing my life. Thank you.

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