New medical technology and innovation are continually improving and available to consumers to treat eye disorders and diseases. These new innovative technologies are available today and others will be available shortly to consumers. The new technologies will enhance testing instruments for enhancing procedures for eye exams, patients’ vision, and surgical procedures to help protect and improve vision loss and treat eye diseases.
Many eye disorders that cause total blindness can be treated successfully enough to prevent this outcome. Modern technologies and techniques allow eye care providers to perform advanced procedures to reverse, arrest, or at least slow vision loss. Some of these procedures include:
Smart Optometry
This is a new technology that leverages Android and iOS devices in assisting doctors through eye examinations, patients with eye therapy, and the general public in monitoring their eye health and preventing eye damage. This new technology will be a game-changer, great patient care, and convenience.
Wearable Technology
In 2019 approximately one-in-five U.S. adults (21%) say they regularly wear a smartwatch or wearable fitness tracker, according to a Pew Research Center. Most Americans wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker to monitor vital signs. The number of connected wearable devices in North America is expected to grow to over 439 million in 2022. Wearable technology can be integrated into eyeglasses, and researchers are working on developing smart contact lenses. This technology could be helpful for the treatment of congenital diseases and eye injuries.
Smile Eye Surgery
SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) eye surgery is the latest FDA-approved procedure that corrects even severe nearsightedness. In a SMILe procedure, a special laser creates a tiny incision in the cornea, which allows a surgeon to remove the lenticule from the eye.
SMILE vision correction surgery is both powerful and fast. It corrects nearsightedness up to -10 diopters while taking about 30 seconds per eye. It’s an outstanding option for people with active lifestyles and has the most comfortable patient experience of all vision correction procedures.
Corneal Transplant
Individuals who suffer from weak, damaged, or deformed corneas may opt for a corneal transplant after other corrective procedures have failed. Depending on the extent of the problem, your eye doctor may extract the entire central portion of the cornea or just the epithelial layer beneath the topmost layer of tissue. You will then receive a donor cornea or a biocompatible synthetic cornea. While you may be able to return to your daily life activities after a few weeks, total recovery can take a year or more.
Corneal Collagen Crosslinking
People with keratoconus suffer from weak collagen bonds in their corneal tissue. Corneal collagen crosslinking addresses this problem by using a combination of riboflavin and UV-A rays to strengthen the bonds between the collagen fibers. This type of procedure is referred to as CXL or C3R; while it does not reverse the bulging caused by keratoconus, it might slow the disorder and thus help you avoid a corneal transplant.
Intacs for keratoconus
If you suffer from a bulging of the cornea known as keratoconus, you may be able to flatten that bulge out with the aid of Intacs. These tiny, sliver-shaped inserts are fitted into an incision around the periphery of the cornea. They exert just enough outward pressure to flatten the bulge back to a normal spherical shape. If you can’t get satisfactory vision correction from glasses or contacts, Intacs may be the next logical choice.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are tiny, biocompatible devices inserted into tear ducts to block drainage. This increases the eye’s tear film and surface moisture to relieve dry eyes. Also known as punctum plugs, lacrimal plugs, or occluders, these devices often are no larger than a grain of rice. Punctal plugs usually are considered when non-prescription or prescription eye drops fail to relieve your dry eye condition.
Two general types of tear duct plugs are:
Semi-permanent, typically made of long-lasting materials such as silicone.
Dissolvable, made of materials such as collagen that the body eventually absorbs.
Wavefront Analytics
This technology measures how the eye focuses light and creates an eye map so your ophthalmologist can diagnose eye problems and even help determine your eyeglass prescription.
Argon or Diode Laser
These lasers are used to treat retinal tears. The laser scars the retina so it bonds to the underlying tissue and prevents further retinal detachment.
Femtosecond Laser
Lasers do not have to be used in cataract surgeries. However, the femtosecond laser is incredibly precise, efficient, and safe.
iStent, ExPRESS Shunt, And Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty
Glaucoma patients now have many innovative front-line procedures available. This new technology can be used instead of the customary eye drops to help lower intraocular pressure,
If it has been a while since you visited your eye doctor it may be worth your time to have an eye exam. Contact us and schedule an all-inclusive eye exam. Let us take care of your eyes. The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want. F. Scott Fitzgerald