Many people suffer from Glaucoma, a sight-stealing disease that has no symptoms. Once vision is lost to glaucoma,the loss is permanent. However, this disease is entirely preventable and there are ways to successfully battle blindness.

Millions of Americans use eye drops to treat this silent sight thief. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month: it's a great time to explore other treatment options that are safe, effective and can cost much less.

One new safe treatment option with a 93% success rate is called Lumenis Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). SLT is a laser procedure used to treat glaucoma by reducing the pressure in the eye during a single, office procedure. It is also reimbursed by Medicare as well as other insurance providers, minimizing out-of-pocket expenses and potentially saving patients thousands of dollars in prescription medication costs.

Benefits of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT):

• Safe: SLT is not associated with systemic side effects or the compliance and cost issues of medications.
• Selective: SLT utilizes selective photothermolysis to target only specific cells, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.
• Smart: SLT stimulates the body's natural mechanisms to enhance outflow of the fluid in your eye.
• Sensible: SLT therapy is reimbursed by Medicare and many other insurance providers, which minimizes your out-of pocket expenses.

Recommended Reading:

• What Is Glaucoma?
• Video: Glaucoma and the Eye
• Living With Glaucoma

_{Source: Nicole Vanderploeg / Lumenis Marketing}

If you are scheduled to undergo a LASIK procedure, it is normal to be feeling a little nervous. However, there are a few things you can do to help calm you nerves. Follow the Boy Scout motto and "be prepared," both in body and in mind. 

Take a look at the following tips to prepare yourself for LASIK.

Preparing for LASIK

A child's eyes work together to bring objects into sharp focus. A child's eyes shift focus and work together as a team with hardly any effort.

Did you know, however, that a number of focusing problems can affect a child's vision system?

Focusing Problems and Your Child

Do you secretly long for thicker and longer eyelashes? Until now, sporting longer eyelashes was only possible with the use of fake lashes. However, due to the discovery of a desirable side effect of a glaucoma drug, a treatment for thicker and longer eyelashes may be prescribed by your eye doctor.

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