Shapiro Laser Eye Center: David Shapiro, M.D.

TWO TOP MASK PICKS TO HELP WITH GLASSES FOGGING Consumer Lab recently picked two masks as their top choices for helping with glasses fogging. The Gifington mask was given high marks for minimizing glasses fogging because the bridge of the mask rides high up on the nose, allowing glasses to sit below the rim of the mask. The Gifington mask was also noted to have a very moldable nose wire that allowed a a good seal as it contoured to the nose and cheeks. Finally, the ear loop...s were considered to offer excellent adjustability to optimize mask fit on the face to reduce glasses fogging. Consumer Lab noted that even with the Gifington mask, fogging could still occur of course. The other mask that Consumber Lab gave top marks to for helping with glasses fogging was the Atelier mask. Consumer Lab praised the nose wire on this mask for its excellent fit but felt that the ear loop design would be difficult for anyone with a hearing aid to wear. GO AHEAD FINALLY HAVE LASIK INSTEAD! We have seen a significant increase in the numbers of people seeking laser vision (LASIK and PRK) correction since COVID began. Frustratoin with glasses fogging up from masks is one of the main reasons patients mention as finally spurring them to have laser eye surgery. Others say they don’t like the idea of putting contact lenses in their eyes and risking contracting COVID. Perhaps for many people these are just excuses to push themselves over the line to finally have their poor vision fixed something they’ve always wanted to do anyway but had just put off. After LASIK or PRK, patients so many patients say, Why didn’t I do this sooner!!. Masks don’t fog your vision after laser eye surgery!! https://shapirolaser.com/masks-that-fog-your-glasses-less/

LASIK vs SMILE: safety, efficacy after 40 WHAT IS SMILE LASER VISION CORRECTION? SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction) is a relatively new laser vision correction procedure that is an alternative to LASIK and PRK. SMILE involves two steps: 1) a small incision is created with the laser at a similar diamter to where a LASIK flap edge would be and then 2) the laser is then focused within the cornea to sculpt out a disc shaped segment of tissue called the lenticle. The len...tical is then removed through the small incision creating a cavity in the cornea. The top of the cornea then sinks down to fill in that cavity, changing the shape of the cornea and correcting nearsightedness and astigmatism. NEW STUDY ON SMILE LASER EYE SURGERY A study published this month in the British Journal of Ophthalmology compared the safety and efficacy of SMILE in patients under age 35 versus those over age 40. 102 eyes of 53 patients were included in the study. Results were recorded at six months after surgery. In the words of the authors, Post-SMILE refractive outcomes in those patients over 40 years of age, although acceptable, are not as good as those obtained in younger patients, showing a significantly lower efficacy and safety indexes, and poorer astigmatic outcomes, with a tendency towards undercorrection. There is a theory that the human cornea becomes stiffer and biomechanically stronger with age. The authors felt that this increase in stiffness might be causing the lower safety and efficacy found in the older patient group. Ironically, this increase in corneal strength would in theory only help the results of LASIK or PRK, certainly not hinder them. https://shapirolaser.com/lasik-vs-smile-safety-efficacy-af/

NFL KANSAS CITY CHIEFS’ STAR CORNERBACK CHARVARIOIUS WARD HAS LASIK Kansas City Chief’s Cornerback Charvarious Ward had terrible eyesight his entire life and now he’s 20/20 thanks to having LASIK laser eye surgery. Ward thinks his new eyesight will help him become one of the best corners in teh game. A LIFETIME OF POOR VISION... Ward suffered from terrible eysight since kindergarten. In fact, he had to repeat kindergarten as his school thought he had a learning disability. In fact, he did not have any learning disabilities at all, he simply needed a pair of glasses and was fine in school after that. Ward even says of his life before LASIK, I couldn’t see a thing, man. I couldn’t see nothing. NFL STAR EVEN WHILE UNABLE TO SEE After high school, Ward joined the Kansas City Chiefs. As a testament to his raw talent, Ward eventually worked his way onto the starting roster even though he could not see the football once it was in the air. As Ward said, I could see a human body that’s right in front of me, but once that ball is in the air, who knows what’s going to happen? I could see it when it first got in the air, but once it starts traveling, I just lose track of it and have to pray I put my hands in the right spot. I just have to pray the ball comes back in my line of sight. Despite his poor vision, Ward posted impressive statistics, ranking first in passer rating and reception percentage allowed, but probably due to his poor eyesight only managed two interceptions. HAVING LASIK TO BECOME AN EVEN BETTER PLAYER Last season, Ward talked about wanting to take his game to the next level and he knew that would mean having better eyesight to get more interceptions. This past March, just before COVID-19 temporarily shut down elective surgery, Ward underwent LASIK surgery in both eyes. He now has perfect 20/20 vision. Ward now says, This year I’m trying to intercept everything. I’m not going to be scared to turn my head around. Because I know now I can see the ball and stay in contact with the receiver at the same time. So I feel like it’s going to make me a way better playmaker, which is what we need in the secondary: turnovers. I just want to take the next evolution in my game and become one of the top corners in the game. MANY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES HAVE HAD LASIK TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME Many professional athletes, including many I have had the pleasure to help undergo LASIK and get to know, have found LASIK to be the magic ingredient that helps them take their game to the next level. LASIK can be lifechanging for most anyone wearing glasses or contacts, but athletes have a particular benefit in gaining that extra edge in their performance. https://shapirolaser.com/kc-chiefs-charvarious-ward-has-la/

Is Your Face Mask Fogging Your Glasses? Many people who have not had LASIK are finding another inconvenience with using glasses: their face mask for the coronavirus keeps causing their glasses to fog up. This can make for dangerous vision impairment. Removing the glasses repeatedly to clean them can involve touching the face, which increases exposure risk for COVID-19. WHY WEAR FACE MASKS FOR COVID-19?...Continue reading

Want to learn more about LASIK while staying at home during the coronavirus crisis? We are offering tele-consults to help you learn more about LASIK and see if you could be a good canidate for surgery. You can schedule a tele-consult through our website www.shapirolaser.com or by calling Stacy, our office manager, at 805-339-0566 to arrange a one on one phone consultation with Dr. Shaprio.

NFL Quarterback Jameis Winston Has LASIK Ahead of His 2020 Free Agency Winston Has LASIK To Correct His Nearsightedness After Throwing League High 30 Interceptions Winston had been struggling with his nearsightedness (myopia) while playing as an elite quarterback since his college days. Last season, before having LASIK, Winston threw a league high 30 interceptions despite also throwing for a league-leading 5,109 yards. At the end of the season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coac...h Bruce Evens commented about Winston, he can’t read the scoreboard but he can see the guys in front of him. Obviously very talented, Winston decided to have LASIK to improve his eyesight to improve his game. Winston’s spokesperson said of his decision to have LASIK: Jameis did not want to count out any options that he had that could possibly help him with the game he loves so much. He doesn’t want to miss out on any opportunity that presents itself. This is the game he loves and he wants to be the best at it and if there are any options that can improve his game he is willing to do it. Before announcing his decision publically, Winston gave a big hint to his fans by posting a picture of himself on Instagram in post-operative dark glasses. At the bottome of the picture he wrote: They Know!!!!. Many professional athletes from NFL to NBA to MLB players to race car drivers, including many I have performed laser eye surgery on, have chosen to have LASIK or PRK to be able to make their vision the very best possible and not have to rely on glasses or contact lenses during the demanding challenges of professional sports. I fully expect Winston to be an even more formidable and effective quarterback next season with his new and improved eyesight! https://shapirolaser.com/nfl-tampa-bay-qb-jameis-winston-h/