Our latest edition of
A Patient Guide to Cataract Surgery
is now available for download!
Click the image below for your own copy today:
iLASIK and Refractive Multifocal Cataract Surgery
A Patient Guide to iLASIK and Refractive Surgery
Our latest edition of A Patient Guide to iLASIK and refractive surgery is available for download today!
Click below to get your copy:
A Patient Guide To Refractive Surgery
(click image to download your copy)
Latest Edition of a Patient Guide to Cataract Surgery
Latest edition of A Patient Guide to Cataract Surgery
Enjoy Spring by getting eye allergies under control!
Enjoy Spring by getting spring allergies under control.
If you feel your eyes are becoming irritated and red over the last couple of weeks, you may be developing symptoms of ocular allergies. Read more from The American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Watch this video regarding Ocular Allergies.
The Harman Eye Clinic in Arlington WA
Post Questions on Facebook for LIVE Fridays
We are authentic people who have had the experience of refractive surgery. We have embraced the culture at The Harman Eye Clinic since our first day of employment. We love to share our knowledge and heart with our patients.
Pam loves to talk about life! She loves to hike, get out in a canoe, run and so much more. But she also loves to talk about refractive surgery. That is why her position here as head Refractive Consultant, is an awesome fit. About a year ago, Pam created a LIVE show to help patients navigate through iLASIK and Cataract surgery concerns.
Now it is possible to post your questions on Facebook or on our blog. These questions will help others who may hesitate writing on the internet. If you are so inclined, post your questions and tune-in to The Harman Eye Clinic Facebook LIVE program on Friday and one o’clock.
Facebook LIVE
Fridays at 1:00 p.m.
Ask you questions now or during the LIVE program.
Look forward to hearing from you!
A Happy Patient Is An Informed Patient
You might ask, “What are possible temporary side effects after cataract surgery?” To answer this question and to help you prepare when you talk with your surgeon, here are frequent questions and concerns patients ask about after surgery.
BLURRED VISION: what are common causes of blurred vision after cataract surgery?
- Dropless cataract surgery is routinely performed at The Harman Eye Clinic, and causes black dots in the vision for at least day or two after surgery. Patients are instructed to sit upright for at least a few hours when the get home to help the medicine settle to the bottom of the eye, like a snow globe.
- Dilation lasts for at least a day or two after cataract surgery and commonly causes blurred vision.
- PCO or posterior capsular opacification occurs 10-20% after routine cataract surgery. It causes glare at night, but is curable by a simple YAG laser procedure that takes 2 minutes to perform, but an hour and a half for the paperwork!
- CME or cystoid macular edema occurs about 1% of the time after routine cataract surgery. It causes difficulty reading and even distance vision. Risk factors include diabetes, ERM (epiretinal membrane), prior retinal surgery and possibly cigarette smoking. It often can be cured with topical steroid and anti-inflammatory eye drops.
- Residual refractive error may cause blur until new spectacles are prescribed. If a monofocal lens is chosen for best distance vision, then near vision will be blurred (so called presbyopia) until readers are used.
- Dry Eye syndrome is a life long condition, that may cause fluctuating vision, and may be worse at least temporarily after cataract surgery. It is often exacerbated by prescription eye drops (especially generic drops such as ketorolac), but we are seeing much less dry eye problems since switching to dropless surgery.
- ARMD (age related macular degeneration) or ERM may also limit vision due to aging changes in the retina.
DYSPHOTOPSIAS are unwanted visual phenomena occurring after routine cataract surgery.
- Negative dysphotopsia are likened to “horse blinders” with a shadow or dark crescent on the side and usually subside within days or weeks. They are thought to be more common in square edged lens implants, but have been reported in all types of lens implants, however they are not dangerous.
- Positive dysphotopsia are less common, and are often described as an arc of light under certain lighting conditions.
REBOUND IRITIS IS INFLAMMATION that occurs usually 2 to 3 weeks after cataract surgery.
- It is thought to be a result of the dropless medicine wearing off, especially found in darkly pigmented patients. It happens in less than 10% of patients who have dropless surgery and is treated with topical steroids. This is the best reason for patients to keep their 3-week postoperative appointment after surgery.
For more information. download a free copy of our Cataract Surgery Patient Workbook, here.
Or take time to read, A Patient’s Journal – Cataract Surgery
Cataract Surgery Day – A Journal III
Surgery Day. Must admit, I’m a bit anxious. Tossed and turned all night.
No coffee or breakfast this morning. Just a couple meds with a sip of water. Brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth out, being careful to not swallow any of that tasty toothpaste!
My co-workers learned I’m not as perky when I am caffeine deprived! But I took a couple Tylenol with my meds to keep the headache minimized and made it through to admission time.
The staff are fantastic! I don’t think I was ever alone. Super supportive, keeping me informed of what was happening along the way. There were a bunch of eye drops that got easier each batch because there was always a numbing drop first. IV, monitors placed for heart rhythm, SAT and a blood pressure cuff. You know, surgery stuff! I was a bit chilly and a hand warmer and the heated chair were perfect. Even got a bit of a massage from the chair.
Seemed like no time at all and I was fitted with O2 tubing and being escorted into the Operating Room. Normally there are 4 folks in the OR with a patient: the Surgeon, Anesthesia, Scrub Tech and Circulator. As I said, never alone.
There was a little shuffling around to get comfortable in the chair and after that I really don’t remember much! I do remember seeing a really cool pattern (like a beautiful wallpaper), some colored lights, the surgeon saying we were going to do a final test, doing that and then being told the lens was in. Then the slight sensation of the medication being placed in my eye and we’re done!
Out to the post op area with another great staff member who recorded vitals while I had a cup of coffee and a “continental breakfast.” With strong vitals and me feeling good, time to disconnect the IV and head home.
Now this dropless medicine manifests differently for everyone. For me it’s like oil on top of a bowl of water being swirled around. At first it looked like mountain ranges, later it was bubbles, and even later just a patch of black dots! I was told to go home and rest in an upright position for a couple hours so that the medicine could settle to the bottom of the eye.
Headed home, noticing my eye felt a bit scratchy as the numbing wore off. Laid down with a bunch of pillows to keep my head elevated and took a short nap, woke up feeling great. My husband and I picked up our grandson and went to Taekwondo; back to normal except no driving today.
What a great experience! From checking in to checking out, the staff are very caring, friendly and professional. Yes, I work with them every day, and from a patient perspective, I’m proud to say GREAT JOB!
Tomorrow, back to work and I’ll see the doctor for my first follow up visit and I’ll keep you posted as I continue this journey and the second surgery next week.
My biggest WOW right now it how bright white is with my new eye! The old eye looks like someone turned the dimmer switch down. This is exciting!
Imagine iLASIK working for you.
The Harman Eye Clinic, in Arlington, Washington, invites you to stop in for a free, brief screening and meet-up with one of our surgeons. There is no pressure or obligation to have surgery. We are here to help you decide what type of vision lifestyle is best for you and whether you want to research further. No one is the same and we do not expect to treat you like everyone else.
When you are ready either stop in (903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA) or call us at 360-474-2561 or 800-755-3937 and ask for a free screening. Make the most of your lifetime!
