Refractive surgery (LASIK) is a sight improving procedure that does not call for the use of glasses or contact lenses. It is necessary to know that the eye works as a camera. The eye has 2 lenses, cornea and crystalline, which focus the images in the retina (which would be like film). This process to refract the light and images is called refraction. For images to be properly focused in the retina, both lenses must offer a clear image; is the image is projected before of after the retina or it is deformity projected, it would cause refraction defects, such as shortsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Currently, there is the possibility of using laser called EXCIMER to correct refraction defects. Even long-sightedness can be treated, depending on the patient. Each patient’s refraction problems are unique, so it is like a digital imprint that calls for a personalized treatment called personalized LASIK, performed using FRENTE DE ONDA technology.

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Ophthalmology includes a condition called presbyopia. It is the age-related inability to focus on and clearly see objects that are close. It is popularly known as “tired eyes” and usually appears between the ages of 40-45. This is a natural physiological alteration and not pathology.

Transmission – The first symptoms are very specific: objects that are close by are seen blurred; to be able to read, you must put the text away from you and you need more lighting. This condition affects myopic people and hyperopes the same, though the later usually suffer from it earlier. It also affects people who have never worn glasses.

Causes – It is a consequence of the natural muscular deterioration caused by age. The eye has a muscle called ciliary that accommodates the crystalline lens (ocular “lens”) so those close-by images are properly seen. The ciliary muscle, as any other muscle, looses elasticity with time, and so, looses the capacity to focus the crystalline lens and see close-by objects.

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Within Ophthalmology we find glaucoma, a degenerative disease caused by increased pressure in the eye (ocular tension). The eye has a liquid similar to water that renovates constantly, but, if the drain system fails, intraocular pressure increases and can damage the optic nerve.

Causes – It is unknown what causes this disease, though sometimes it can affect several family members. That is why, if you have family records, it is advisable to have regular check-ups with your ophthalmologist. In every case, a check-up every two years is recommended since glaucoma detection is very simple.

Diagnostic – It is diagnosed through an intraocular pressure test, a painless procedure that takes only a few minutes. People who suffer from glaucoma show abnormally high intraocular pressure; nevertheless, not all people with this symptom suffer from glaucoma. It is just a risk factor in the pathology. In those cases, two additional tests are required: perimetry or visual field exam and ophthalmoscopy or observation of the optic nerve in the fondus.

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Within Ophthalmology, retinal detachment appears when the eye layer is broken and the fluids in the vitreous cavity trespasses the retina, and accumulates below it. One of the signs that there is a hole is seeing “flying flies” or light sparkles. These symptoms should be discussed with the ophthalmologist.

Causes – Several factors could cause retinal detachment. This is one of the most severe disorders in diabetic retinopathy. It could also appear as the consequence of a retinal degenerative process, traumatism, inflammation or hemorrhage that could break the layer and detach the retina.

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Macular disease is a degenerative condition that affects the center of the retina of people over 60. It is the second most frequent cause of blindness in older people, after diabetes.

The center of the retina is called macula, the area in charge of sharp and discriminative vision. It is the area where spatial perspective resides and is related to such activities as reading and driving, that is, in situations that call for specialized vision. When macular degeneration occurs, the macula is the most affected area.

Causes – There are several theories: sometimes, ultraviolet light is found guilty and other times, nutritional factors are mentioned. The retina is the light-sensitive part of the eye that lies behind it. Its function is to turn light into nervous stimuli that go to the brain. It is a very sensitive tissue, where small alteration can result in blindness. 

Symptoms – The most common symptom is loss of visual sharpness. Symptoms can be of two kinds:
• Dry MD is characterized by progressive loss of central vision. It is a central macular atrophy.
• Wet MD causes distorted vision or the vision of weird lines. It is a diffuse atrophy with ongoing hemorrhages in the retina.

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Cataracts are a problem everyone will have to face sooner or later. It is not a disease; it is the eye’s natural aging process, so there is no reason to worry. At the present time, surgery is the best option.

Cataracts are a significant age-related public health issue.  It is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens in charge of focusing. This lens is usually clear and crystalline. It is neither a tumor nor the formation of new skin in the eye; it is actually a clouding of the lens.
Types – The most common type of cataract is senile, which appears around the ages of 65 and 70. This is just an approximation, since it can develop earlier, around 55 years, or even after 80.

Symptoms – Depending on the size and location of the opacity areas, a person can become aware that he is developing cataracts. For example, if it is located at the external border, vision is not affected, but if it is around the center, it usually interferes with vision. When cataracts grow, vision becomes more blurred. This loss of visual clarity is one of the main symptoms of a cataract. Eyes can become more sensible to light, which interferes with driving. Color perception might be altered and in many cases diplopic vision can appear (double vision in the eye where the cataract is developing).

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Astigmatism is a problem in the cornea’s curve that results in nearsightedness or farsightedness due to the cornea’s shapes (shorted at the ends). This causes different curvature radio in each of the main axis so, when the light gets through the cornea, images are distorted. The hereditary factor is present in astigmatism, so in some cases it can occur after a cornea transplant or cataract surgery.

Types – There are different kinds of astigmatism:
- Simple astigmatism: only in one axis.
- Compound astigmatism: besides affecting on axis, it is related to shortsightedness or farsightedness- Mixed astigmatism: when an axis focuses before the retina (short) an another behind it (far).

The most common symptom is distorted images. Nevertheless, the patient might experience headaches or eye trouble, besides, depending on age and type of astigmatism, symptoms could be different or they could even affect vision.

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