Considering LASIK? Diagnosed with glaucoma or cataracts? Dr. Bill Lloyd shares advice and information on eye disorders and general eye care to help you see your best.

Photo Credit: Joe Loong Chemical engineering researchers at McMaster University have shown that a natural substance found in our bodies can be used as a natural moisturizing agent in contact lenses . This is a step up from the current wave of self-moisturizing contact lenses that use synthetic materials as a wetting agent to prevent eye dryness and increase wearer comfort.

The last few weeks before an older child enters college are always exciting, always busy, and usually very expensive! That first college tuition statement is always a shock Having sent three to college I wanted to share some ideas regarding coed health.

AHHH-CHOO!!! Although this specific WebMD blog is devoted to the marvels of vision this post marks the second time I find myself talking about sneezing! A while back I wrote about photic sneezing , a harmless natural reflex that results when a bright light is shined into someone's eye. It happens frequently in the clinic so I always keep a few extra boxes of tissue nearby! Now we learn about a different kind of sneezing phenomenon - and this one carries a warning label! It's called 'injection sneezing'.

Sometimes what starts out as one eye operation turns out to be four...sometimes six. With all respect to my dermatology colleagues, performing an eye operation is not like having a wart frozen. "There, that's done. You're cured!"

As predicted in a recent WebMD blog, Congress has voted to reverse a scheduled 10.6% cut in Medicare reimbursements. Moreover, instead of another planned cut of 5% in January 2009 there will actually be a 1.1% increase in Medicare payments. Click here to learn how Congress got itself into this mess in the first place. So everybody can take a deep breath and relax for a little while. Now some doctors can get back to work. Yes, I said back to work.

There are lots of news stories this week regarding the long-term benefits of maintaining normal blood cholesterol levels (HDL, LDL, triglycerides). The lifetime risk of stroke and heart attack may be cut by 36% in the United States over the next 30 years if everyone with elevated lipids is diagnosed and treated. Some pediatricians now advocate prescribing statins for susceptible children .

You may not be aware of this, but Congress is wrestling with some important budgetary issues that will affect nearly every family in America. Years ago, in order to curb the rapid expansion of health care costs, Congress wrote a law that instituted automatic semi-annual cuts to physician reimbursements. This approach allowed politicians to revisit the Medicare mess less frequently while escaping lobbyists and angry doctors. Well, the strategy backfired and all parties agreed that a better approach was needed to achieve comprehensive health financing reform. Nevertheless, the law remains on the books, so every year Congress votes to rescind the programmed cuts. According to their formula, a 10.6% cut in Medicare reimbursements was due to take effect on July 1 with an additional 5% for January 2009. That represents a 15.6% pay cut for doctors treating Medicare beneficiaries. Would you be willing to keep your job if your employer announced a 15.6% pay cut? Many would throw up their hands and declare, 'I'm outta here!'

Last month this WebMD blog examined important reasons why some folks have problems taking all of their medications - the precise terminology is patient compliance. There are lots of reasons that contribute to poor compliance but the simplest one to appreciate is the fact that the patient never filled the prescription in the first place! Now, at first glance, that doesn't seem to make any sense at all: go to all the trouble to make an appointment, sit through the complete eye exam, listen to the doctor's counseling, and then simply go home without any treatment whatsoever. What's up with that?

Advances in technology and surgical technique (but mostly technology!) have led to very successful, predictable LASIK outcomes in appropriate surgery candidates. It can truly be the right operation for the right person. Two areas of LASIK that deserves more attention are patient counseling and clear communication. One huge misunderstanding experienced by all LASIK candidates is that they will never need to wear eyeglasses or contacts ever again. That statement is very inaccurate. Truth be told, most LASIK patients will need glasses later in life. Here's why:

• The LASIK procedure may not fully correct the preoperative refractive error. This is common for extremely nearsighted (myopic) folks. LASIK will, however, convert them to thinner, lighter eyewear.

Photo: Christopher Thomas Americans are definitely living in the 'Land of Plenty'. Most of us have access to some kind of health care and we can usually acquire whatever medications are prescribed:

• Families enrolled in employee-sponsored health coverage usually pay a modest co-pay.