Laser-assisted surgery, better known as LASIK, is generally accepted as a safe and easy way to repair eye problems and ditch glasses and contact lenses for good. It was approved by the FDA in 1995, but has been under scrutiny in recent years.

LASIK is refractive eye surgery used to reshape the lens to improve focus and clarity. It is mainly used to help those with:

• Myopia
• Hypermetatropia
• Astigmatism

The whole process takes place with half an hour. It begins by numbing the eye with solution. Once they stabilize the eye with a ring to minimize the risk of bursting blood vessels, a laser is used to make a tiny incision on the lens. The lens is lifted, reshaped and returned to it’s original position.

As with any surgery, LASIK does carry some risk. Though it seems simple enough, it does have some minor side effects and it carries the risk of more serious long-term effects.

• Dry eyes
• Halos
• Burred vision
• Double vision
• Glare
• Floaters
• Sensitivity to light
• Infections
• Scarring
• Flap complications
• Misalignment of the lens
• Overcompensating
• Glaucoma

While the surgery has a very high satisfaction rate among those who’ve had the procedure done, it is disappointing to some who still need to wear glasses again at some point. The long-term effects of LASIK are still unknown and need more research. Weigh your options carefully and get a second opinion before making the decision to have the surgery.

The use of light therapy can be used to treat mood disorders and skin conditions. It was first discovered in 1903 and was used to treat tuberculosis. It can also help with vision impairments though. Exposure to daylight, florescent bulbs, and color therapy are useful in correcting mild eye problems. They are especially helpful for kids with vision problems.

Kids often experience a hard time in school because they have trouble reading the board, using computers, have dyslexia, get frequent headaches, or have trouble staying focused. Diagnosing the problem and getting the necessary treatment is difficult, however, as it can be misread a s a learning disability, laziness, or attention-deficit disorder.

Once identified as a vision problem, finding the right treatment can be tricky. Surgery isn’t recommended in most cases. Light therapy is a noninvasive treatment method that is safe for kids and adults. It can:

• Improve peripheral vision
• Reduce sensitivity to light
• Reduce headaches
• Improve memory and attention span
• Reduce eye strain
• Help with lazy eye and double vision
• Help with dyslexia linked to poor vision
• Expand the field of vision
• Strengthen weak eye muscles

Light therapy improves brain functioning and makes the connection between the brain and vision. One the connection is made problems with vision are solved. Though it is approved as a home remedy for eye problems, it must be supervised by an adult. Also, it’s unsafe for anyone who has a history of seizures.

Vitamin D plays a key role in overall health, going beyond just bone health and cell growth, as it is normally associated with. In fact, vitamin D deficiency can cause a host of health issues. Getting more vitamin D can prevent chronic diseases, including irreparable vision loss.

There’s no cure for AMD. It’s vital to reduce the risk factors. Vitamin D deficiency may not often be considered as a risk factor for vision loss, but it certainly can contribute to the problem.

Higher doses of vitamin D can reduce vision loss by as much as 60% in elderly women, according to research by the National Institute of Health and the Research to Prevent Blindness.

Vitamin D can:

• Eliminate toxins from the eyes
• Provide better vision
• Create fewer retinal infections
• Prevent age-related macular disease (AMD)
• Enhance lens protection
• Reduce inflammation
• Improve visual accuracy

There are plenty of sources of vitamin D. The easiest and most readily available option is simple sunlight. Taking a walk or sitting out in direct sunlight just a few minutes a day can improve vision and protect from diseases. Use caution and don’t look directly at the sun, however.

Food sources are another option. Fish, eggs and dairy products are just a few examples of foods high in vitamin D. Also look for foods that are fortified with vitamin D, like cereal.

Don’t overlook supplementation. It may be tough to get enough vitamin D through diet alone, especially in a deficient state.

A healthy eye lens (cornea) is rounded to filter light in and provide focused vision. As light enters the cornea of an imperfect eye, one with astigmatism, it isn’t able to provide the same kind of focus. The imperfect lens usually has some type of defect, like having a flat area that doesn’t allow it to reflect light.

Astigmatism is a fairly common condition. In fact, most people have an astigmatism to some degree, but for most people it is not severe enough to interfere with their vision. It often accompanies either farsightedness or nearsightedness, causing a refractive error. Severe curvature of flat parts of the cornea most likely need to be repaired to establish clear vision.

A routine eye exam is necessary to detect astigmatisms and come up with a solution to solve the issue. This is especially important for kids, whose astigmatisms aren’t usually found until they are school aged and having trouble learning due to and reading problems, trouble reading the board and squinting to make sense of the work.

Common symptoms of astigmatisms include:

• Blurred distance vision
• Squinting
• Eye strain
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light
• Headaches

Treatment for astigmatism is generally the use of glasses or corrective lenses, which have come a long way in recent years. The other option is to have surgery to either repair the natural lens or replace it with an artificial one.

There isn’t a known cause at this point, but a majority of astigmatisms are present at birth, leading to the belief that it is genetic.

Pink eye is a fairly common condition that is contagious, but does not cause vision loss or long-term damage to the eye. What happens is the outer layer of the eye (conjunctavitis) gets inflamed and all of the bloods vessels show up in the white part of the eye.

Causes of pink eye are:

• Infection in the respiratory tract
• Allergies
• Bacterial Infection
• Chemical reaction

Signs of pink eye include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Watery eyes
• Pussing
• Crusting
• Itching
• Feeling gritty
• Mild pain
• Inability to open eyelids, especially when waking up

The best advice is to simply control the symptoms and prevent spreading it. Use caution when going in public and practice a higher level of consciousness when it comes to hand washing and sanitizing the environment.

Treatment for pink eye is also fairly simple and only lasts a few days to a week. Remove contact lens and discontinue use until the issue clears up. Use eye drops or an ointment with antibacterial properties to help clear up symptoms faster.

Home remedies often work just as well as over-the-counter options. A cold compress can help relieve the pain and swelling associated with pink eye. If allergy-induced, take an antihistamine to reduce symptoms.

Supplementing with the following can also be used to prevent and treat pink eye:

Probiotics

Cod liver oil pills

Vitamin A

Barberry plant

Boric acid

Honey

Be careful not to touch or rub the infected eyes. Don’t share tissues or facial products and avoid makeup until the issue is resolved.