What Does LASIK Feel Like?

May 5th, 2021
Top Choice in Toronto for LASIK

For prospective patients who are worried about the pain of a LASIK procedure, the good news is that there isn’t any. The state-of-the-art fraxel laser used by skilled Toronto area ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein is in touch with the cornea for 40 seconds or less, and its concentrated energy is cool to the touch.

Top Doctor, Superior Comfort

Dr. Stein has performed thousands of laser vision correction surgeries, and is a recognized pioneer in the field — teaching, publishing and innovating on all aspects of the procedure. He magnifies the comfort of the experience by discussing each element of the surgery in depth, answering every question and working to understand the goals and expectations of each patient.

It’s no surprise that LASIK vision correction at Bochner Eye Institute would be a thoroughly comfortable and satisfying experience. After all, Dr. Stein’s practice was named Toronto’s Top Choice Winner for Laser Vision Correction this year. That adds an extra layer of reassurance to an already discomfort-free procedure.

Blade-Free Precision

Your first clue that there is nothing to fear from LASIK is that there is absolutely no blade involved. In addition, a local anesthetic will ensure maximum comfort as the precise fraxel laser briefly reshapes the cornea. There may be a mild sensation of pressure, and a short-lived blurring and dimming of vision. Patients often compare the short session to the experience of a typical contact lens fitting.

Quick Recovery

Any discomfort you notice won’t be in the surgical chair, but in the hours after a procedure. Very mild discomfort is common during recovery, but healing happens quickly, with your vision coming into focus with new clarity within a day.

Temporary sensations may include itchiness, warmth or a feeling of some debris in the eye. In the end, the most uncomfortable aspect of these minor side effects is that you must refrain from rubbing your eyes in response. This can take some self-control, but it is one of the keys to successful, complication-free healing.

To schedule an appointment to discuss LASIK with premier Toronto area ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for LASIK?

April 4th, 2021
LASIK vision correction in Toronto

Most of us make decisions by weighing pros and cons. That’s what makes the decision to try LASIK vision correction so straightforward — there simply aren’t very many downsides to consider.

Your decision will depend mostly on your own personal preferences, as there are few limiting factors that would make LASIK impractical for the average adult. Here, experienced Toronto area ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein offers his perspective on the key benefits of LASIK, and whether this remarkable technology is right for you.

New Freedom

If you’ve ever imagined life without lenses, you are probably a good candidate for LASIK. Laser vision correction gives you freedom from the bulky frames that may have limited your choices of sporting activities and lowered your confidence in social situations. It also frees up the time you spent on the care, disinfection and replacement of contact lenses; and eliminates the discomfort you may have occasionally felt with them.

LASIK works by reshaping your cornea, and thereby adjusting the way light focuses on your retina. Over time your cornea can change shape, or you may have been born with a corneal imperfection. This can result in nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. By restoring optimal contours to your cornea, the advanced LASIK instrument refocuses your eyesight, adding new sharpness, vibrancy and detail to the world around you.

Making the Choice

Although any time is a great time for clear vision, the best outcomes can be expected in patients whose eyes have fully matured. This usually happens some time before our late 20s. Choosing LASIK at this point will help ensure that your results are permanent and your surgery will never need to be redone.

Apart from age, there are very few factors that could rule out LASIK for most patients. If you were born with corneas that are very thin, you may not be a good candidate for LASIK. That is because there may not be enough corneal surface for a surgeon to work with when cutting and reshaping the cornea with the surgical laser. Patients in this specific group may still achieve wonderful results with PRK, a similar vision correction procedure. PRK may also be the better choice for patients who had earlier eye surgeries, including cataract removal, refractive lens exchange (RLE) or radial keratotomy.

To schedule an appointment to discuss LASIK with premier Toronto area ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

This Year’s Top Choice Winner for Laser Vision Correction

March 4th, 2021

Top Choice in Toronto for LASIKDr. Raymond Stein and his team are pleased to announce that Bochner Eye Institute is Toronto’s 2021 Top Choice Winner for Laser Vision Correction. The recognition honors “consistent excellence in the pursuit of customer satisfaction.”

The award is based on surveys of hundreds of customers and members of the community. Their experiences are used to quantify “the trust and loyalty [businesses] have earned from the people they serve.” Winners display the proprietary Mark of Excellence and are listed in the iTrustLocal.com directory.

Dr. Stein is gratified that clients prize his depth of experience, the convenience and value of the laser vision correction procedures he offers, the extraordinary precision of his LASIK surgical technique and also the satisfying customer experience. This includes the friendliness of the staff, the transparency and integrity of the Institute’s core values and the personalized attention every patient receives.

Trust a Top Surgeon

As a trusted Toronto ophthalmologist, Dr. Stein’s commitment to our city and its communities runs deep. A graduate of the University of Toronto Medical School, Dr. Stein also served as Chief Ophthalmologist at the Scarborough Hospital and is currently Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto. Although his reputation transcends the community, he always puts local patients first, providing advanced care and the most sophisticated surgical procedures to the families of our city.

A former president of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Dr. Stein is a prolific author, popular lecturer and recognized innovator. He is also the current editor of Clinical and Surgical Ophthalmology, a highly respected medical journal. His years of training include an ophthalmology residency at the Mayo Clinic and a cornea and external diseases fellowship at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

He estimates he has performed nearly a quarter million surgical procedures to date, including cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange, LASIK and PRK. He is equally adept at routine vision correction procedures and complex cases involving keratoconus and loss of eyesight.

To schedule an appointment with experienced Toronto ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

Common Habits That Could Harm Your Eyes

February 28th, 2021

Preserving the health of your eyes is not just simple — it’s essential to the clarity of your sight and ultimately your enjoyment of life. By adopting a small number of key lifestyle choices and habits, you can help protect your eyes and ensure a lifetime of clear, vivid and panoramic vision.

Here, experienced Toronto ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein of Bochner Eye Institute outlines the best strategies for supporting optimal eye health.

Ultraviolet Rays

Sunglasses are an important way to protect your eyes, and not just on sunny days: Harmful ultraviolet rays easily pass through clouds and reflect off water and light-colored surfaces. Quality sunglasses with high levels of UVA and UVB protection are essential to preventing damage to your eyes and the development of conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. 

Digital Screens

Damaging ultraviolet rays are at the far blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum, but you can get an unhealthy dose of blue light even when you’re out of the sun. Computer screens and other digital devices emit blue light, as do high-definition TVs and the LED lights that are steadily replacing the old incandescent bulbs. Using a screen filter, special glasses designed for computer use, and simply limiting your screen time, are all smart ways to protect your eyes and reduce strain.

Contact Lens Habits

If you wear contact lenses, keeping them free of bacteria should be a priority. When bacteria develop on lenses or in lens containers that haven’t been properly cleaned or replaced, the results can range from irritation to serious infection. And some types of eye infection can lead to loss of vision.

Rubbing Your Eyes

Because the eye is so fragile, even a moderate amount of rubbing can result in damage. When rubbing causes small blood vessels to break, the eyes appear bloodshot. Leakage from capillaries can even create dark circles under the eyes.

In the process of rubbing the eyes, your hand may transfer germs to the area, which can cause conjunctivitis or other infections. If there is dirt, debris or a grain of sand in the eye, it can scratch the cornea when you rub your eyes. The effect is even greater if you wear contact lenses.

Too much rubbing can affect your vision, changing your prescription by shortening or lengthening the distance between lens and retina. It can also cause an increase in intraocular eye pressure, which is especially dangerous for those already suffering from elevated eye pressure.

To learn more about ways to preserve the health of your eyes, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

Understanding the Different Types of Cataracts

February 15th, 2021

When cataracts develop, images progressively become duller and hazier. Colors fade and vision slowly dims. These effects have real consequences for the quality of life and safety of individuals whose cataracts have become advanced.

Although the effects are the same, the types of cataracts that precipitate this visual decline vary. Here, experienced Toronto ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein of Bochner Eye Institute reviews the fundamental causes and effects.

Classifying Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the lens becomes cloudy, obscuring the image it projects on the retina. This process can begin in our 60s, and becomes more common with each passing year.

The most common type of cataract follows this age-related pattern, and is referred to as a nuclear sclerotic cataract. With this variety of cataract, the central part of the lens (nucleus) hardens and gradually becomes yellow or brown. Cortical cataracts, by contrast, form around the edges of the lens nucleus. When the clouding begins at the back of the lens, the result is a posterior capsular cataract.

Congenital cataracts are less common, and are usually detected during a child’s first year. Medications or diseases such as glaucoma and diabetes can cause a type of cataracts referred to as secondary cataracts. Injury to the eye sometimes results in traumatic cataracts, which may appear years after the initial impact or injury. Radiation cataracts can develop in cancer patients who are receiving radiation treatment.

A Proven Solution

In each case, the solution is the same: cataract surgery, a simple, convenient and routine procedure. Millions of cataract surgeries are performed each year. In this procedure, the clouded lens is removed and replaced with a lens implant that will remain clear for life. Originally performed with the use of a miniature blade, cataract removal is now done using a femtosecond laser to make incisions.

As a premier eye surgeon, Dr. Stein performs advanced cataract surgical procedures for patients in Toronto and throughout Ontario. He also offers state-of-the-art intraocular lenses that will replace your natural lens with a permanent, resilient artificial version that, depending on your choice, can give you superb vision at a variety of distances.

To learn more about cataracts, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

Why Now Is a Smart Time for LASIK

December 1st, 2020

Is there a best time to consider LASIK? When it comes to your age, there are times in your life when laser vision correction is the most appropriate. But in general, there has never been a better time for most adults to liberate themselves from lenses, prescriptions and the significant costs of eyewear.

Below, experienced Toronto ophthalmologist Dr. Raymond Stein of Bochner Eye Institute discusses the key variables you’ll want to consider to ensure your new lens-free life is perfectly timed.

Vision Through the Ages

In our early to mid-20s, our eyes continue to change before settling on a more stable range of vision. That is why LASIK is not recommended for persons under 18 — and why patients under 30 should also consider waiting if their prescription has changed within the past year. If LASIK is performed while your vision is still maturing, you may need a revision at a later date. 

Otherwise, you are an excellent candidate for LASIK if you are in good health, have a stable prescription, and do not suffer from an eye condition that could affect an ophthalmologist’s ability to reshape the cornea.

If the eye’s lens is clear, LASIK can be an appropriate choice for seniors, as well. If cataracts have begun to develop, however, a better option may be cataract surgery with implantation of an advanced IOL lens. New varieties of these lenses now offer trifocal vision and feature an artificial lens that will remain clear for life.

Time to Discover LASIK

Once you choose laser vision correction, there’s no time like the present to start benefiting from the technology. LASIK provides a high-definition view of the world with a whole new dimension in clarity. After the simple and convenient procedure, your field of vision is wide open, without the visual intrusion of eyewear. You’ll enjoy the convenience and freedom of unlimited peripheral vision, unframed by frames.

Freedom from lenses also means substantial cost savings. With today’s economic uncertainties, many of us have decided that now is a smart time to reduce our personal expenses. LASIK savings begin immediately and grow over the years. Prescription lenses with frames can cost hundreds of dollars. If your prescription changes frequently, or if you simply have a habit of misplacing or cracking your glasses, the expense will be substantial.

Costs for contact lenses add up quickly, too. Depending on the recommended frequency of disposal, you may pay up to several hundred dollars each year for fresh lenses. Contacts that correct for astigmatism will be more expensive. During your regular eye exam, you will also pay extra for an additional contact lens fitting. LASIK eliminates all of these future expenses.

To learn more about LASIK, please call or email Bochner Eye Institute today.

Dr. Stein awarded the IJCAPO Statesmanship Award

November 23rd, 2020
dr raymond stein award

The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAPO) in St Paul, Minnesota, awarded the coveted Statesmanship Award to Dr. Raymond Stein, Medical Director of The Bochner Eye Institute.

This is the highest level award from IJCAPO, given to one individual each year. The awardee is selected by Past Presidents and the Board of Directors in recognition of the candidate’s efforts to promote ophthalmic education internationally. Dr. Stein was recognized for his extensive lecturing, continual sharing of innovations and proven techniques, and authorship of text books and scientific/ophthalmic articles. ⁣

What Is Life Like With Cataracts?

September 30th, 2020

Cataracts are a nearly unavoidable part of getting older. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that occurs when the proteins that make up the lens clump together. In the early stages of a cataract, it may have little effect on vision. But as a cataract progresses, the visual effects will become nearly impossible to ignore.

Read on as Dr. Raymond Stein of Bochner Eye Institute explains what life is like with cataracts.

Declining Ability To Read Small Text

Cataracts cause blurry or cloudy vision, which makes it hard to see fine details. In the early stages of a cataract, a person may notice he or she needs brighter light to read a newspaper or magazine. But as the cataract gets bigger, it may be challenging to read small text no matter how bright the room is. A decline in the ability to read fine print can impact many basic tasks, such as checking the time, reading an expiration date, typing out a text or using a computer.

Difficulty Driving at Night

A decline in night vision is common with cataracts. Glare, halos and starbursts around lights can interfere with reading road signs or noticing other cars or pedestrians. In fact, some people with cataracts opt not to drive at night at all because of concerns about safety.

Colors Appear Dull or Faded

Cataracts can cause colors to appear dull, faded or yellowish. This may make getting dressed or discerning between ripe or rotten produce tough.

Frequent Changes in Vision Prescription

When the effects of cataracts first become apparent, a person may assume he or she needs stronger glasses. But after repeated prescription changes in a relatively short amount of time, it may become apparent that cataracts — not the glasses — are the problem.

Inability To Enjoy Hobbies or Exercise

Because of blurry vision, dull or faded colors and other effects of cataracts, some people lose their ability to enjoy hobbies and exercise. Cooking, baking, golfing or even taking a leisurely walk outside is less pleasurable when faced with the symptoms of cataracts. Hobbies like sewing, photography and fishing can actually become more of a burden than a joy with diminished vision.

Improve Vision With Cataract Surgery

Are cataracts interfering with your ability to live an active, independent lifestyle? Cataract surgery can help. The procedure is extremely safe and routine, with a high success rate. Your eyes will be completely numbed and you will receive additional medication to help you relax during the procedure. Your clouded lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial lens to restore clear vision and even improve upon the vision you had before cataracts. Thanks to cataract surgery, you can look forward to reading, driving, exercising and enjoying your favorite hobbies again, without relying on loved ones for help.

To speak with Dr. Stein and the team at Bochner Eye Institute about cataract surgery, please contact us today.

Femtosecond Laser Online

June 30th, 2020

PanOptix Trifocal Lens Exchange Toronto

May 27th, 2020

Refractive Lens Exchange replaces the crystalline lens of the eye with an intraocular lens. This procedure is recommended over laser eye surgery when patients desire improvements in distance and reading vision, have early cataracts or have a high degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness.