Approximately 14 million Americans experienced some sort of visual impairment. Refractive errors cause some of these impairments, while eye diseases are responsible for other cases.

However, because we are an aging population, this figure is only set to rise. By 2050, estimates show that this number will rise to 24.4 million.

Fortunately, it is possible to correct so of these visual impairments so you no longer have to live day-to-day with poor sight. And this could vastly improve your quality of life. Still wondering “Should I get LASIK eye surgery?”

Then read on to find out everything you need to know about LASIK surgery to help you make your decision.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery? 

LASIK eye surgery is just another name for laser eye surgery. It is short of Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure targets your eye’s cornea to correct refractive eye problems using a laser.

This might sound like something from a Sci-Fi movie but you’ll be surprised how common these surgeries are. In fact, by 2018 around eight million Americans had undergone this corrective procedure.

How Does LASIK Eye Surgery Work?

LASIK surgery works by targetting the cornea of your eye. This is vital for helping you see properly. 

Your cornea helps you see by refracting light into your eye at the correct angle. This light passes through the cornea and onto the retina of your eye. This light is how our eyes process images of the world around us.

If your eye doesn’t take in light properly then this will affect your vision. This can happen if your cornea becomes damaged or is the wrong shape. But laser eye surgery can correct this in some cases by reshaping the cornea.

This means that you can correct your vision impairment without having to wear glasses or contact lenses on a daily basis.

Who Can Get LASIK Eye Surgery? 

There are several different types of LASIK surgery and each one can treat different conditions effectively. However, there are three common eye conditions that basic surgery targets. 

These are: 

• Myopia or nearsightedness
• Hyperopia or farsightedness
• Astigmatism, which causes blurry vision

These conditions can vary somewhat in their severity and this might effect if you are eligible for surgery. LASIK is ideal for patients with mild or moderate eye conditions. If the cornea is extremely misshapen you may require more extensive surgery.

There are some other conditions that may mean you don’t qualify for LASIK eye surgery. These include: 

• Suffering from an autoimmune system illness, even if you take medication for this
• Suffering from persistent dry eye
• Having thin or irregular corneas
• High pressure within your eye that is not under control
• Being pregnant or breastfeeding
• Having large pupils that dilate easily

If you find that you can get through the days only wearing corrective lenses sometimes then this might not be the procedure for you. And if you regularly play contact sports, such as football or boxing, then you shouldn’t get LASIK. Receiving a blow to the face could damage the results of your surgery.

Finally, when you can get LASIK also depends on your age. You must be over the age of eighteen in order to qualify for the procedure. 

There is no upper age limit for LASIK surgery although after forty your eyes start to deteriorate naturally. When this happens, doctors may be more reluctant to advise surgery. So it’s important to keep this in mind if you’re deciding when to get LASIK.

If you meet all these criteria then you’re good to go! So let’s take a look at what happens during a LASIK surgery.

What Happens When You Get LASIK Eye Surgery? 

There are several different types of LASIK surgery. Standard LASIK surgery is the most popular type around the world but some other surgeries include:

• Intra-LASIK surgery
• Wavefront LASIK surgery
• Epi-LASIK surgery
• LASEK surgery
• PRK surgery

LASIK eye surgery involves making a small cut at the bottom of the cornea using a blade. This means that the surgeon can lift the cornea up like a flap. After that, they use a laser to carefully remove thin layers from your cornea.

Removing these layers allows them to adjust and reshape it so that you can see better.

A typical LASIK procedure takes between fifteen and thirty minutes, so it’s over very quickly. This is something to keep in mind when considering the answer to one of patient’s most common questions: are you awake during LASIK eye surgery?

The short answer is, yes you are. This might seem daunting but doctors administer numbing eye drops so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. If you want to distract yourself during the surgery, try listening to a podcast or audiobook.

Recovering from LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK is a pretty quick and straightforward surgery and it comes with a speedy recovery.

You will need to take the day off work as your vision will be weak immediately after the surgery. If you are planning to go home then it’s a good idea to get a friend or family member to collect you. But your vision will start to come back after a couple of hours.

This will continue to improve over the days following your procedure. While this happens it’s very important to stick to the eye care routine that doctors layout for you.

You will need to bathe your eyes regularly to avoid any risk of infection. You should also avoid all contact sports, as this could damage the results of your surgery. Some surgeries also require you to wear protective lenses for four days following your surgery.

While you recover from your surgery you may notice some visual disturbances. These include halos, particularly around bright lights, and weaker night vision. These should improve over time, so wait to see if they continue before seeing your doctor about them.

What Are the Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery? 

For anyone who has to wear contact lenses or glasses on a daily basis, the benefits of LASIK eye surgery are clear. But there are actually more than you might realize and you don’t just have to look at LASIK before and after cases to understand them! 

As a vision correction solution, LASIK eye surgery boasts quick results. You will find that your vision is corrected on the day of or the day after your surgery. This is remarkable for surgery that takes less than an hour!

You may experience some discomfort during the procedure. However, it is pain-free thanks to the numbing eye drops.

It also is minimally invasive thanks to its short recovery time. Once your vision starts to come back you will be able to go back to work and resume your normal activities.

You may also save huge amounts of money on corrective eyewear by investing in LASIK surgery. The average surgery costs between $3,000 and $6,000 for both eyes.

This might sound like a lot but take a moment to think about how much you spend if you wear contact lenses every day. Standard contact lenses cost around $260 a year but specialist lense could cost you up to $700 a year! And reports show that some Americans spend to up $1,000 on a pair of new glasses!

So within a few years, your spending will quickly balance out. In fact, it could save you a considerable amount of money.

Finally, as we already mentioned, your eyes can deteriorate over time, which might put people off getting LASIK surgery. But the beauty of this procedure is that it isn’t a one-time thing. If your vision deteriorates with time you can revisit LASIK to help correct this.

Does LASIK Surgery Come With Risks?

No guide to LASIK surgery would be complete without outlining some of the risks. Because this surgery involves changing your eye, the most common side effects relate to visual disturbances.

Dry eye, for example, is a possible side effect. This happens when your tear duct doesn’t produce enough moisture to lubricate the surface of your eye. In some cases, this may be temporary but for some, it will become a permanent problem.

LASIK surgery can also have a negative effect on how your eye processes light. This leads to visual disturbances such as halos, starbursts or glare.

These are fairly common immediately after surgery but should go down over time. If they don’t it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible to explore the cause of them. 

Unfortunately, some risk factors for LASIK surgery are more serious and can result in long-term problems. These include: 

• Chronic pain
• Detached retinas
• Eye infections
• Loss of vision

If you experience any of these problems then you may also find that they are difficult to correct. So it’s worth considering this before you go in for surgery. And if you have any concerns discuss them with your doctor before signing up. 

Still Wondering “Should I Get LASIK Eye Surgery?”

If you’re still wondering, “Should I get LASIK surgery?” we’ll leave you with these statistics. One surgeon reported that, out of 85,000 procedures, 96% to 98% of them resulted in 20/20 vision. A further 40% to 50% of patients found that their vision was better than 20/20 after their surgery!

For more amazing news about how medicine from around the world could help you, keep scrolling!

Calling a psychic hotline and getting readings for your future used to be something most people wouldn’t admit to. But nowadays, psychics and healers are recognized as an essential part of many people’s lives.

So what exactly happens when you call for a reading? Well, there are probably a few things you want to get prepared before you pick up the phone. Check out this guide on what to ask a psychic during an over-the-phone reading.

Prepare Before Calling

Preparing yourself before you call to ask a psychic about your life isn’t a long, intricate process. You should simply put yourself in a mental space to be open and receptive to the information they have to offer you. Also, try to write down your questions beforehand so that you won’t forget anything.

Choosing a Topic

Everyone might not need to ask a psychic about their entire life. And, honestly, this might not be the best way to get any specific answers. Depending on how much time you have, you should focus on specific areas of your life. If you have a longer amount of time to speak with the reader then you can probably ask questions about more than one part of your life. 

Most people will ask about a few main areas of life, such as love and career. But if there is something else you want to focus on like health then let this be known. However, keep in mind that sometimes you get advice that you didn’t even know you needed even when you have focused on a specific topic.

The important things are to remain open-minded and take in all of the information for you to decipher and apply accordingly afterward. 

Phrasing Questions

One of the most unhelpful things you can do for yourself is to ask a “yes” or “no” question. These types of questions are shortsighted and won’t give you the type of advice you need. It’s better to focus on phrasing your questions in an open-ended format. 

For instance, asking “will I get a million dollars” is probably going to get you a much different answer than “how can I get a million dollars”. As you can see, one of those questions can easily leave you with a one-word response. While the other leaves it open for advice on methods, using skillsets, strategies, etc.

Avoiding these types of questions also takes the responsibility off of the reader making decisions in your life. These types of confirmation questions are more for reassurance but lack the depth and complexity to account for other factors that affect these events. 

Another thing to watch out for is asking questions that could restrict you to a certain time frame or living a particular way. For instance “when will I meet my spouse” can aim to put a time limit on something that is determined by multiple different factors. A better way to phrase this would be “what types of things can I do to invite love into my life”. 

Set your inquiries up in a way that encourages elaborate replies and great conversation around the question. You should be able to dig deep inside of the answer and you surely won’t be able to do this if there’s only a single word in the reply.

Questions to Ask a Psychic

So you still may be a little confused about what you should actually ask a psychic during your reading. The truth is, its completely up to you. But here are some questions across various topics that might give you some inspiration. 

Love

• What are some ways I can strengthen/heal my relationship/marriage?
• How can I start to invite love into my life?
• What are the issues standing in the way of me finding love?
• Where can I find the most opportunities to find love?
• What would be the differences in my life with/without my partner?
• How can I better support my spouse/relationship?

Career

• How should I go about asking for a raise/promotion?
• What are some ways I can prepare myself to go for a promotion?
• What direction/skills/talents should I focus on for a career change?
• How can I combine my career with my life purpose?
• What are some blockages that may be stopping me from making more money/having more success in my career?

Life

• What areas of my life am I asked to grow in?
• How can I get closer to living my life’s true purpose?
• What general blockages are hindering my growth currently?
• what steps can I take to improve myself overall?
• How can I strengthen my relationships with my family and friends in my life?
• What ways can I find more balance/peace/etc?

You can also ask about general information on past lives is the psychic offers this service. In general, try to give them enough of a lead on what you’re interested in knowing more about, uncovering or fixing.

You can always start with “can you tell me more about” and then ask a topic to give you more possibility for depth in the responses. Reaching out to these phone psychics can be best for this. 

More Things to Remember

When consulting with a psychic, its best to focus on yourself. Try not to ask questions that are about other people and their feelings unless you are referring to you two in a relationship. And even in this situation, you should, the role you play should be the focal point.

Also, keep a notepad nearby during the call so that you can write down all of the valuable information and advice you’ll receive.

Learn More About Life By Asking a Psychic

This might sound weird that you can ask a psychic answers to your life. But the advice is tailored for you to enhance your life and live to be the best version of yourself. 

And ultimately it’s up to you to make those decisions and changes that will lead you to new horizons. For more advice and tips on improving your life, check out the family life section of our blog.

There are over 1 million doctors of medicine in the United States. 

If you’re in the market for a new doctor, you want the very best one possible. But with that many choices, it can be hard to separate the mediocre doctors from the superior doctors. Find the right doctor for you takes a little bit of time, but your health is more than worth it. 

Keep reading to discover five tips for choosing a new primary care doctor.

1. Look for Doctors in Your Area

When you’re searching for a primary care physician, you’ll want to first create a list of all the doctors in your immediate area. 

You don’t want to find the perfect doctor only to discover they’re a two-hour drive from your home. You’ll want to find a doctor that is a short drive so you can easily visit your doctor regularly. 

Use an online doctor database and enter your address to discover all your local doctors. Write down a list of all the doctors within a feasible driving distance. 

2. Consult Your Insurance Provider

Once you have a list of close doctors, you will then want to consult your insurance provider. You’ll need to check to see which doctors in your area are covered in your network. 

If you choose a doctor that’s out of network, you’ll have to pay full price for all of your appointments. With insurance, you’ll pay a co-pay fee that will be much more affordable than the full price. If you’re already paying for insurance through your employer, there’s no reason not to take advantage of it.

3. Look for, Ask for Reviews 

Once you have a few strong contenders, start looking and asking for previous patient reviews. 

You can look online at resources like Google My Business or Yelp to see what previous patients are saying. With online resources, people are more likely to be honest and open with their reviews since there is a layer of anonymity. 

Then, ask your friends and family members which local doctors they recommend. Also, ask around your workplace since your coworkers will use the same insurance provider. 

4. Schedule a New Patient Appointment

Before committing to a physician, schedule a new patient appointment to see if they’re the right fit for you. 

During a new patient appointment, the doctor will ask you basic medical questions to learn more about your needs. They’ll be able to tell you if they think they’d be able to provide the right care for you. 

This is also an appointment for you to test how comfortable you feel with the doctor. You want a doctor that you can be honest with and trust. 

Find the Right Primary Care Doctor 

Using these tips, you can easily find the right primary care doctor and make your health a priority. 

Start by looking for doctors in your area and finding out which ones are covered by your insurance. Then, be sure to ask for reviews and schedule a new patient appointment to see if they’re the right fit for you.

Looking for more ways to keep you and your family happy? Browse the lifestyle section of this blog today. 

Congratulations! You’re about to have a baby!

Although it can seem extremely scary, you’re in good company. In fact, 130 million babies are born each year, meaning you’ve got at least 130 million other parents anxiously awaiting their new little bundle.

There are so many things to think about when you’re pregnant that you might feel overwhelmed. Some parents don’t feel they can begin really shopping and decorating until they find out during the pregnancy the gender of their baby.

While some parents-to-be opt not to find out their new baby’s gender, others can’t wait to know. But most have to wait until 16 to 20 weeks in the pregnancy so that the ultrasound tech can see the fetus’ genitals.

But what happens if you want to know earlier than that? Are there any reliable ways to find out the baby’s gender as early as 8 weeks in?

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to find out your child’s gender as soon as humanly possible.

When During the Pregnancy the Gender Develops

Before we go over some of the ways you can tell a baby’s gender before 16 to 20-week scan, let’s discuss when the baby actually develops a gender.

You may or may not be aware that until several weeks into the pregnancy, all babies look the same no matter their gender. However, the child’s gender is set in stone from the moment of conception. The mother’s egg carries an X chromosome. The father’s sperm carries either an X or Y chromosome, which means the baby’s sex is the man’s “responsibility.”

If the egg meets a sperm carrying an X chromosome, the baby is a female. If the egg meets a sperm with a Y chromosome, the baby is male. But until the 7th week of pregnancy, your baby’s genitals do not exist, and instead, there is what is called a “genital ridge.” From week 7 to week 12, the baby begins to develop the genitals of their assigned sex.

Boys, for instance, do not develop a penis until week 9.

So, now that we know the inner workings of when the gender begins to “show,” are there ways to tell the baby’s gender before the scan? Yes.

We’ll move on to discuss some accurate ways and a few folklore methods.

Scientifically Accurate Ways to Determine the Baby’s Gender at 8 Weeks

During your pregnancy, you’ll probably hear a lot of wives’ tales and folklore about whether you’re carrying a boy or a girl. These likely stem from the fact that most parents weren’t able to find out the gender of their baby, unless the child was being tested for genetic abnormalities, until the last few decades.

But, thankfully, times have changed, and there are ways you can have your future baby’s gender accurately predicted at just 8 weeks.

Here are some of them:

1. Blood Test

An early gender blood test isn’t routine, but parents can turn to private companies to learn to the sex of their babies very early on in the pregnancy.

This test looks at the fetal cellular material that gets released in the mother’s bloodstream and is an accurate way to determine your child’s sex at this stage.

2. Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a way for doctors to determine if your child has fetal infections or any type of chromosomal abnormality. It can also predict the gender of the baby much earlier than scans, as it can help determine if the child has an abnormality related to their gender.

This procedure is done by inserting a needle into the sac through the mother’s abdomen and taking a sample of amniotic fluid for analysis.

While gender can be determined this way, most doctors would not agree to perform one for gender detection alone. For those who have to have this test to ensure the health of their baby, it’s simply a perk.

3. Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic villus sampling, or CVS, is another way to accurately determine your child’s gender. But, like amniocentesis, it is only done if the doctor believes your child is at risk of a genetic or chromosomal abnormality.

This procedure involves taking a sample of the placenta tissue. Doctors can perform it through the vagina, or through the abdomen, the way amniocentesis is performed.

This test can take place as early as 8 weeks into the pregnancy.

Non-Scientific Ways to Guess Your Child’s Gender

While the three options listed above are the only way to tell if you’re having a boy or girl prior to your 16 to 20-week scan, wives’ tales and folklore abound to help parents-to-be guess their child’s gender. These are by no means scientifically accurate, but some people find them fun.

1. Your Stress Level Before Pregnancy

While science has seen a higher rate of stress correlated with conceiving a girl, it isn’t a fool-proof method. But some folks equate being stressed at the time of conception with having a girl.

2. Having a Craving for Salt

An old wives’ tale states that if you crave salt, you’re more likely to have a boy. However, most pregnant women have cravings, but it mostly relates to the baby’s nutrition requirements.

3. How You’re Carrying

It’s a popular theory that if you’re carrying your baby high, you’ll give birth to a girl, whereas if you carrying your baby low, you’ll give birth to a boy. In reality, the shape of your stomach isn’t really determined by the sex, but many hold fast to this belief.

Determining Your Child’s Sex

Most parents don’t mind what sex they will be having, as long as the baby is healthy. But with modern technology, you determine earlier in the pregnancy the gender of your child.

Check out the rest of our website for more content for parents, and parents-to-be, looking to save a little bit of cash!

In the United States, consumers pay around 13.30 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, this cost will vary on a location and electricity provider basis. You may think it’s next to impossible to secure the best rates, but that’s far from the truth.

We’ll tell you the best-kept secrets about choosing an electric company. It doesn’t matter where you live, you can find the best electricity provider in your area.

Don’t know how? Here are our top 5 tips to choose the best electric company today.

1. Search Online for Electricity Providers in Your Area

This tip may seem obvious, but let’s face it sometimes we stick with the electricity provider that sends us deals via email or mail. While these deals may seem like a bargain, you should always search online for electricity providers in your area. You should make a list of these companies and call them to learn more about their offers.

2. Survey the Market as If You’re Switching Providers

Consumers often prefer to stick to their current electricity company because the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. However, every year you should survey the market as if you’re going to switch providers. This approach will allow you to take an unbiased look at your different options.

3. Compare Your Current Rates to What’s Available in the Market

Before searching for a new provider, it’s important to learn everything about your current electricity plan. What’s the term of your contract? How much are you paying per kilowatt-hour?

Learning these details will help you compare your current offer to what’s available. Consider using a site to compare electricity rates in your area. Most websites allow you to search by zip code to narrow down your providers.

4. Look for an Offer That Fits Your Energy Consumption

Electricity providers run a business so their representatives may offer the option that makes them more money instead of the best package. When you contact them, you should ask them about packages that fit your energy consumption.

An example is how some electricity providers offer free nights or weekends. This offer may be the best choice if you and your loved ones spend more time at home during the weekends or nights.

5. Read the Contract and Check Their Fee Schedule

Most consumers get the short end of the bargain when it comes to their electricity bills due to their contracts. Before choosing a provider, you should read their contract and make note of any hidden fees including cancellation fees.

Make sure the term of your contract is the term you agreed. If you choose a tiered plan, you should also verify the tiers and price per kilowatt-hour matches what you discussed with their representative.

So You Learned the Best-Kept Secrets About Choosing an Electric Company, Now What?

Learning the best-kept secrets about choosing an electric company will help you lower your utility bill. Believe it or not, doing your homework will point you in the right direction to find the best electricity provider in your area.

Remember to ask their representative any questions you may have before signing their contract. It may seem difficult, but we’re confident you’ll find the best electricity company if you follow our easy to follow tips.

Did you find this article useful? Check out the rest of our site for more interesting articles.