Jason Randall Smith, OD,MS

I would strongly suggest that you wear protective sunglasses with proper, approved UV protection any time you are exposed to sunlight. UV rays can affect our eyes, our skin, and our bodies even on a cloudy day. Sunlight reflected off of the snow in winter can create UV induced problems even when the temperature is cold outside.
"UVB is the second shortest wavelength and the main culprit of sunburn.
It is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer but still gets through (about 5% gets through overall). It harms the top layer (epidermis) of your skin in as little as 15 minutes of sun exposure. UVB rays are stronger or weaker depending on the time of day and season. There is a strong link between UVB rays and skin cancer. UVB rays do age skin over time.
UVA is the longest wavelength, penetrating the deepest and causing the vast majority (upwards of 95%) of UV radiation getting through earth's atmosphere. This is the form of radiation that causes skin aging, like spots and wrinkles, because it does reach so deeply into skin layers (through to the dermis layer). UVA rays can tan your skin quickly and do appear to be linked to cancer. UVA rays, unlike the others, penetrate glass and clouds, causing harm on overcast days or via your windshield.
You should protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays by applying broad spectrum sunscreen, wearing UPF clothing and sunglasses, and blocking UV rays with umbrellas and car shades as needed."
Please remember that UV radiation can cause skin cancers and can contribute to cataract development. Sunglasses that provide 100% UV or UV400 protection are highly recommended. If you are not sure about the actual lenses or glasses that you are choosing, please check with your optician or eye doctor so that they meet specific protective UV standards.
Please refer to this website which I used if you have any other questions.
https://www.stouchlighting.com/blog/uva-uvb-uvc-differences
Good luck and best wishes.

The answer to your question may be YES or NO because you need to know or find out from your family doctor or an eye doctor why your eyes are red. Red eyes can come from many reasons including a conjunctivitis which can be allergic, viral, or bacterial. And there are other more serious conjunctivitis problems such as hyperacute and hemorrhagic. Red eyes can come from turned-in eyelashes that are rubbing on your conjunctiva or cornea. Red eyes can come from foreign bodies that have lodged in the eye or from a scratched cornea. There are other more serious internal eye problems such as uveitis or iritis which can cause red eyes. Pingueculas that are growths on the conjunctiva can cause red eyes. Pterygiums which are growths on the cornea can cause red eyes. If you are a contact lens wearer, wearing your lenses longer than prescribed, sleeping in contact lenses, or using incorrect contact lens solutions can definitely all cause red eyes or worse.
I would strongly suggest that you see a doctor in order to properly diagnose and to treat what your eye problem may be. Good luck and best wishes.

There are many toric contact lenses that can correct your astigmatism. These include Cooper Biofinity, Cooper My Day Toric, Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, Air Optix for Astigmatism, Precision 1-Day Dailies for Astigmatism, Alcon Total for Astigmatism, Bausch and Lomb Ultra for Astigmatism Cooper Proclear Toric, and Avaira Vitality Toric to name a few. These contact lenses are defined by the base curve which must fit your eye, the prescription, the thickness, the diameter, and the Dk value which is the oxygen transmissibility.
It is important that your eye doctor does a "fitting" which will allow you to be sure that you see well and that the lenses are comfortable and affordable. And you will be provided a "lesson" so that you know everything about your contact lenses including proper insertion and removal, how long to use them for, what solutions must be used to clean and to store the lenses, and when you need to return for follow-up care. Good luck and best wishes.

This question should definitely be answered by your eye doctor/refractive surgeon because he or she knows your eyes the best. Under most circumstances, after 3 weeks swimming may be OK, but swim goggles are recommended. After 4-5 weeks, you should be able to swim without goggles. It is always recommended to never "err", but to err on the safe side. Your eyes must heal and you never want to take any unnecessary risks after such a delicate and expensive, but important surgery.
So, please check with your eye doctor. Good luck and best wishes.

You should be able to fly within a few days after your LASIK surgery depending upon your post-op appointment schedule. You will be using post-op drops based upon your surgeon's recommendations. Since your eye doctor/refractive surgeon knows your eyes the best, please check with him/her in order to know specifically when they recommend when you can fly.
Good luck and best wishes.

There are always risks with any type of surgery, but in the hands of a competent and experienced refractive surgeon, you should be fine. The benefits of refractive surgery/LASIK include not needing glasses or contact lenses in order to see correctly. You should achieve close to 20/20 uncorrected vision. If you had a "self-esteem/social" issue because you were wearing glasses, this "problem" goes away. Some risks include not achieving a goal of good 20/20 corrected vision. Halos, glare, or double vision can occur after surgery. Your eyes may become dry because corneal nerves are cut during LASIK. The corneal flap can become displaced if you rub your eyes after LASIK. Over time, your surgically corrected prescription may change. If this does happen, will you need an "enhancement" surgery or will you have to wear glasses or contact lenses at that time? Although not a risk, there is a financial cost in having LASIK done. Does this cost equal or offset the cost of eye exams and the purchase of glasses or contact lenses over your lifetime? Only you can determine if this financial commitment makes sense. I would strongly suggest that you do your "homework" and have all questions asked and answered to your satisfaction. "Google" as many sites as you feel is necessary to be educated about what you want accomplished. As my dear Father once said when asked the same question when he was practicing optometry, "there is no eraser at the end of a scalpel or a laser". Good luck and best wishes.

There are several "treatments" for myopia. These options would include glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. If you are considering surgery, LASIK, LASEK, PRK, Refractive lens exchange (RLE), and Implantation of a Phakic Intraocular Lens (pIOL) would be possible options. If you want to wear glasses or contact lenses, an appointment with an optometrist or an optician would be necessary. You would need a refraction in order to determine what your prescription is, then consider your options based upon your age, your job, hobbies, and recreational requirements. If you are considering refractive surgery, you will need to see an ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon in order to have your corneal thickness measured and to also determine the amount of myopia present and if there is any associated astigmatism present. This can also be evaluated by an optometrist. Once the surgeon has all of your visual information and knows what visual outcomes you are seeking, he/she can then provide you with all of the surgical options that are available to you. Good luck and best wishes.

If you have "pink eye", you should be aware that pink eye or conjunctivitis can be allergic, viral, or bacterial, if you actually have a conjunctivitis. And these treatments vary. Some conjunctivitis/red eye problems can be a problem within the eye. Turned eyelashes, foreign bodies within the eye, scratched corneas, and styes can cause red eyes and you may assume that you have "pink eye" when you may not have pink eye. Your eyes are red for a reason.
If you have a bacterial conjunctivitis, an antibiotic eye drop would have to be prescribed. If it is an allergic conjunctivitis that itches, there are over-the- counter allergy drops and artificial tears that can be used and prescribed for you. If you have been sick with an adenovirus or another virus, this can be contagious. Using warm or cool compresses can help while also using artificial tears. Towels and washcloths should be washed regularly so the virus does not spread to other people. Hand sanitizers should also be used.
I would suggest that you see your family doctor or an eye doctor in order to fully know what your eye problem actually is. Good luck and best wishes.

In order to be accurate in responding to your question, there are contact lenses and eyeglass lenses that can correct myopia. If you are considering contact lenses, there are many contact lenses available that an eye doctor can provide you. But you would need a contact lens fitting in order to determine which lens fits your eyes. Then your eye doctor would need to know what jobs, hobbies, or other circumstances would be involved in order to provide you with the best option. Plastic, polycarbonate eyeglass lenses can be used in order to correct myopia. There are other options including sunglasses, tinted lenses transition lenses which get darker in brighter lights, and depending upon your age, progressive lenses which clear things up at all distances. If you are engaged in any contact sports such as racquetball or basketball, protective safety frames and safety-polycarbonate lenses would be required. If you have a construction job or a mechanic's job, protective eyewear would be necessary in order to protect your eyes. If you work outdoors or participate in hobbies outdoors, UV protection and sunglasses would be highly recommended. My best advice to you is to please talk to your eye doctor or optician in order to get a better understanding of your options and to know what the cost to you will be. I do have many friends and patients who wear contact lenses full time and wear their glasses as a backup. And the reverse can be true where you can wear glasses most of the time and wear contact lenses for social events or when participating in sports or hobbies. Good luck and best wishes.

The answer to this question can vary because of many factors including age, general health, amount of astigmatism that needs to be corrected, medications being taken, and is there any associated nearsightedness/myopia that also needs to be corrected? Hopefully, immediately after your astigmatism surgery, there should be a significant and noticeable improvement in your uncorrected visual acuity. Full recovery can sometimes take as long as 6-12 months, but again, everyone heals differently, especially based upon the factors that I have mentioned. In order to receive a more accurate and detailed time frame, have your eye doctor/refractive surgeon answer all of your questions and concerns. And please be sure to keep every follow-up appointment and follow the eye drop regimen that you will be advised about after your surgery. Good luck and best wishes.

I would strongly recommend that you please have this question answered exactly by your eye doctor/surgeon. Your doctor knows you best and knows everything about your surgery, your age, your health, medications that you are on, and any other circumstances that are required for a successful outcome. In doing a Google search, there are varying opinions concerning flying from 24-48 hours to a few days to a week before you can fly safely. Also, within an airplane, the environment may be dry, so adequate lubrication with artificial tears will be necessary based upon your doctor's orders. Again, please check with your refractive surgeon to properly get the necessary answers. Good luck and best wishes.

Lasik surgery usually takes from 20-30 minutes but this time frame can vary from patient to patient. And you should expect to be available for 3-4 hours between the pre-op preparation, forms that need to be filled out, instructions, and the post-operative care and instructions. Please check with your refractive surgeon/ophthalmologist in order to get a more precise idea as to what to expect, time-wise. Good luck and best wishes.

Yes, prescribed antibiotics can help with an eye infection, if you actually have a bacterial eye infection. There are other reasons for having red eyes including viral and allergic conjunctivitis, a scratched cornea, a stye, an internal eye problem, or an iritis. I would suggest to you to see your family eye doctor or an eye doctor in order to properly diagnose exactly what your problem is. Good luck and best wishes.

My question to you that should be evaluated by an eye doctor is, "what type of pink eye do you have"? Pink eye, called conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria, virus, or allergies and the treatment can vary for each one. Sometimes, a "pink eye" can be mistaken for a red eye which can be caused by a stye, a turned eyelash, a corneal scratch, or an internal eye problem, to list a few. I would strongly advise you to see your family doctor or an eye doctor in order to know exactly what is causing your eye problem/ pink eye problem. Good luck and best wishes.

Myopia is also called nearsightedness and is a very common eye condition where the shape of the eye is "longer" so that what you are looking at focuses in front of the retina resulting in blurry vision in the distance. Depending upon the amount of myopia, things may be clear or clearer looking at close objects.
"Regular physical activity has been linked to a lower risk of myopia. Engaging in outdoor activities, sports, and exercises not only promotes overall physical well-being but also provides exposure to natural light and a break from near work, which can contribute to reducing the onset and progression of myopia."
There is no way to reverse myopia (nearsightedness). Myopia usually occurs due to progressive structural changes in the eyes. These changes cannot be undone, but the blurry vision can be corrected. And, if detected early enough, it is possible to slow down myopia progression.
Orthokeratology is a type of treatment using gas permeable contact lenses which can alter the shape of the cornea which can reduce or eliminate myopia. This procedure is expensive and is not suggested for higher amounts of myopia. The use of contact lenses or glasses will correct the myopia as it exists. But with time, myopia can change and there will be a need to see an eye doctor in order to have an eye glass or contact lens prescription updated.
And if there is any astigmatism associated with the myopia, that also needs to be corrected with lenses or refractive surgery. There are refractive surgical procedures that can be done in order to correct myopia or astigmatism. You can check with an ophthalmologist, a refractive surgeon, or an optometrist in order to determine what your surgical options are. Good luck and best wishes.

My question to you, first is, was your viral conjunctivitis diagnosed by a doctor or by an eye doctor? I ask this because there are many types of conjunctivitis and the treatment varies. For viral conjunctivitis, cool compresses over the closed eye and a clean, cool or cold washcloth placed over the eyelids can provide some relief and possibly relieve some of the inflammation symptoms. This can be done several times a day. Be sure to limit any contact from one eye to the other in order not to contaminate or infect an unaffected eye. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. Preservative-free artificial tears can be used, using 1-2 drops per eye several times a day. Any debris that accumulates on your eyelids can be cleaned away with a soft wet Kleenex tissue being sure not to rub the eyes. If the conjunctivitis does not clear up within 2-3 weeks or your symptoms get worse, please see your family doctor or an eye doctor. Good luck and best wishes.

If you have "cloudy vision", you must see your eye doctor in order to determine the cause. Sometimes the cloudy vision can be corrected in an office by using a laser, a simple procedure which is quite common after cataract surgery. If the cloudy vision is being caused by something else, this will be evaluated by an office visit with your eye doctor. So, I would suggest making an appointment with your surgeon/eye doctor in order to figure out exactly what is the issue. Good luck and best wishes.

Please DO NOT USE SALTWATER, especially if it is home-made. You should have your "infection" analyzed by a doctor or an eye doctor ASAP. Eye infections can include conjunctivitis problems of which there are many, scratched corneas which can "mimic" an infection, styes, or other more serious internal eye problems which create a red eye problem. Please do not "self-medicate" or "self treat" yourself because this can sometimes lead to bigger problems. See a doctor, please. Good luck and best wishes

There are many types of eye surgeries and refractive surgeries that can be done for myopia and all are relatively safe when done in the hands of an experienced ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon. Which surgery that would be best would depend upon several factors including your age, the amount of myopia present, is there any associated astigmatism present, your visual needs associated with your job, lifestyle, and hobbies, what is your corneal thickness, and are there any other visual/eye issues? Some of these surgeries include LASIK, PRK, and Refractive Lens Exchange.
Here is 1 of many websites for you to refer to:
https://www.tlccoralgables.com/2022/11/13/types-of-refractive-surgery-for-myopia-correction/
If you are interested in this surgical option, please see an eye doctor/ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon so that they can assess you fully and provide you your visual options. Good luck and best wishes.

If you had corneal refractive surgery, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT YOU CHECK WITH YOUR EYE DOCTOR/REFRACTIVE SURGEON TO BE SURE THAT YOUR EYE DROPS ARE USED IN THE CORRECT AMOUNT, HOW OFTEN THE DROPS SHOULD BE USED DAILY, HOW MANY DROPS TO USE PER EYE, AND FOR WHAT TIME LENGTH. Depending upon what eye drops your eye doctor uses after refractive surgery, they may recommend a steroid eye drop, artificial tears, and Restasis. But every patient is different and every doctor has their favorite eye drops which helps in the recovery stage. Again, contact your eye doctor's office in order to insure your full and appropriate post-operative recovery with 100% success. And get everything in writing and take good notes. Good luck and best wishes.