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Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist
9201 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 709, West Hollywood, California
(310) 275-5533
Website
3.7 | 3 Reviews
29 Questions Answered
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QUESTIONS ANSWERED

I'm thinking about getting toric ICL and only need glasses for reading when possible

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

For reasons unknown to me the promises  of toric ICL approval by the FDA have gone unfilled  for the past 10 years at least. A BIOPTIC procedure is an excellent strategy for correcting both astigmatism and nearsightedness. The procedure consists of a two step process where in the first stage the spherical  ICL is implanted to correct most of the nearsightedness and  the second stage a couple of weeks later to address residual myopic astigmatism with LASIK. The procedure is safe, precise and extremely effective.  It is called BIOPTIC  because it affects the visual system from both the corneal and the len sides. You really  get the best of both worlds, because when you develop a cataract in the future and your ICL is removed with the cataract the corneal astigmatism will have already been corrected. 

provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

25 years old. Both eyes are about spl -18, cyl -3, axis 120. Am I suitable for ICL?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Hello, 

From the parameters you describe the best solution for you in the US would be a BIOPTIC procedure. In short, this is a procedure where most of the nearsightedness, up to -15.0 diopters in your case, would be corrected with the ICL. The residual myopic astigmatism would be safely and precisely corrected with a corneal based procedure such as LASIK or PRK. Of course for this to be successful, you must be a good candidate for both procedures and your surgeon must be experienced in both as well. If you reside outside of the USA your surgeon may have access to a toric ICLs. Use of such an icl would obviate the need for the cornea based procedure to correct astigmatism. Good luck!

provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

I'm 30 yrs old and my prescription is -11 / -3.5. Am I a candidate for LASIK?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
Hello. You have a somewhat an uncommonly encountered situation where
you have a tremendous difference between the two eyes. One eye is
minus 3.5 while the other is minus 11. Because the brain cannot tolerate
a difference of more than 2 diopters of correction in spectacles, your
difference of almost 9 diopters makes it impossible for you to wear
spectacles. The only options that would allow for binocular vision are
contact lenses or vision correction surgery. In fact, vision
correction surgery was made for folks like you.
The eye that is minus 3 should do great with lasik, The eye that is
minus 11 should be corrected using an ICL. Provided you are a good
candidate for each procedure medically, you will be pretty amazed with
the quality of your vision. I have been fortunate to be able to help
several patients in a similar circumstance and all of them were
literally amazed by the quality of resultant vision.
When choosing a surgeon make sure you find someone who has a skill set
to be able to offer both LASIK and ICL vision correction.
Good luck in your journey!
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

I am considering Lasik. I have 498 and 506 micron corneas are they thick enough?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
For years many vision correction surgeons, myself included, had this psychological threshold of 500 microns for performing LASIK.  501 or more LASIK is ok, 499  or less consider PRK.  A recent study of 50,000 LASIK patients has revealed this 500 micron threshold to be completely arbitrary and irrelevant.  What is more important to consider than the thicknes is the shape of the cornea, especially the shape of the back or inside surface of the cornea.  Such evaluation  cannot be performed by a typical corneal topographer capable of imaging and analyzing the front surface only.  Specialized equipment such as Oculus Pentacam, Zeimer Gallilei, or Bausch and Lomb Orbscan  are preferred.  These can image and analyze both the front and the back surfaces of the cornea.  If the shape and architecture of the cornea is shown to be normal and healthy as imaged  with these devices, it would be safe to proceed with lasik.  Good luck with your pocedure!
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

What is the approximate timeline for the stabilization of an astigmatism correction after PRK?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
PRK is a surface treatment procedure during which corneal epithelium, the clear top layer of the cornea, is removed to access the underlying stromal layers so they can be reshaped with the EXCIMER laser.  It takes 3-4 days for the epithelium to regenerate and to cover the treated area completely.  These initial 3-4 days are the most uncomfortable.  Thereafter the vision improves a lot (usually enough to drive a car or better) but may fluctuate  slightly for 4-6 weeks after the procedure while the healing continues.  A lot depends on what kind of correction was performed.  If the treated astigmatism was myopic (minus Rx in glasses or contacts) the recovery should be much faster and vision more stable.  Hyperopic astigmatism (plus glasses or contacts Rx) the treatment algorithm usually results in an overcorrection which  pull back to the target correction over a period of a few weeks.  With any PRK treatment careful postoperative care is very important to prevent haze formation or delayed healing.  Lubrication with artificial tears, good UV protection and adherence to your doctor's advice are key to attaining excellent results.
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

When Is It Ok to Rub Eyes After Lasik?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
It is actually fairly difficult to dislodge a LASIK flap 2 weeks after the procedure. The symptoms would include significant decrease in vision, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation and or eye pain.

We frequently get calls from patients who inadvertently rub their eyes in the first couple of weeks after the procedure. It is very rare to see a slipped flap caused by such accidental rubbing. If such occurs it is almost always associated with change in vision.

Of course, the safest thing to do is to get it checked out, however, if the vision is unchanged and the eye is not uncomfortable or red, it is ok to wait until the next check up in 2 weeks.
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

How Soon Can I Go Running After Lasik Eye Surgery?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
It is important to remember that while LASIK is associated with a rapid visual recovery it is still a surgical procedure that requires the healing of tissues. It takes about 6 months for the LASIK flap to reintegrate into the cornea strongly enough that it is difficult to lift or dislodge. However everyday after the procedure the flap adhesion strengthens.

We recommend our patients sleep with a shield for the first week after surgery and wear protective eyewear (sun or clear) to avoid rubbing the eyes. A month after surgery the flap is extremely unlikely to be dislodged. A week out after the procedure it I believe it is safe enough to jog if protective eyewear is in place.

provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

Can LASIK fix astigmatism and make vision better in general?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
Over the past 20 years LASIK has proven to be a precise and stable procedure. Astigmatism, just like nearsightedness and farsightedness are “lower order” optical aberrations that are very much correctible with LASIK.

In fact modern EXCIMER laser technology is capable of correcting what are called “higher order aberrations”, tiny little imperfections in vision that cause halos, glare, starbursts and are not correctible with glasses or contacts. This means that LASIK with modern EXCIMER lasers utilizing wavefront optimized treatment patterns can even deliver better vision than is possible to achieve with glasses or contacts!
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

What complications are possible with PRK eye surgery?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
Generally PRK is safe, especially when performed on appropriate candidates.
Complications of PRK include:

  1. Dryness, requiring treatment with artificial tears, Restasis drops or punctal occlusion (comfort inserts)
  2. Corneal postoperative haze, reversible clouding of the cornea. This is a less common complication with the advent of flying spot lasers (Wavelight Allegretto), intraoperative use of Mitomycin C, UV protection in the immediate postoperative period lasting for about 6 months. It used to be common to see “holiday haze” in patients who would go on vacation to sunny climates immediately after surgery.
  3. Corneal ectasia; Abnormal thinning of the cornea, resulting in irregular astigmatism. Rare especially when appropriate candidate selection is performed with modern corneal imaging techniques such as with Pentacam or Gallilei instriments. Treatment: Corneal cross linking to strengthen the corneal and prevent further thinning.
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

Poor Vision After PRK. Will This Improve?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)
While it is impossible to accurately diagnose and give treatment advice without seeing a patient, a few things do come to mind. From the description of your preoperative refraction it sounds like you were very nearsighted with a high degree of astigmatism. We can also postulate the reason PRK was chosen over LASIK was the corneal thickness on the lower side. Here are some of the reasons that could explain your symptoms:

  1. Dry Eyes. A common finding after LASIK or PRK causing irregularity in the corneal surface. This should be treated with Artificial Tears, Restasis drops and most likely punctal occlusion.
  2. Post PRK haze. This occurs in patients who have high degrees of correction. To minimize the risk of postoperative haze formation doctors use mitomycin C during the procedure. Postoperatively patients should be encouraged to avoid UV exposure by wearing sunglasses. Haze usually responds well to topical corticosteroids and resolves over weeks to months of treatment. Haze may also be associaged with significant regression of treatment (return of nearsightedness). 
If significant regression occurs an enhancement procedure maybe contemplated. The most dreaded complication would be corneal ectasia or irregular thinning of the cornea. This condition should be diagnosed as early as possible by corneal imaging and may be treated with corneal collagen crosslinking. It is bet to return to your surgeon ASAP and have a thorough evaluation.
provider-Arthur Benjamin, MD-photo

Arthur Benjamin, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

3.7 | 3 reviews

Arthur Benjamin, MD reviews

Arthur Benjamin, MD

RATING DETAILS

3.7
3 reviews

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Arthur Benjamin, MD
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3 Results
Cataract Surgery

tedcooper

It was the best medical experience I've ever had.

I had a very positive & worthwhile experience with Dr. Benjamin & his staff. I found them to be pleasant, informative & caring throughout the process. I was given the best advice, & treatment. The best part is the end result. I am thrilled to say I can see the better than ever before. I highly recommend Dr. Benjamin.

$12,0001 month post-opImplantable Contact Lenses
NShemiraniMD

NShemiraniMD

I Am a Plastic Surgeon and my Career Depended on my Vision - West Hollywood, CA

Hi everyone, I am a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills and was getting sick of wearing contact lenses because I started to get dry eyes, and was just annoyed at not being able to see. 2 other eye surgeons recommended Dr Benjamin to me and I could not be happier. I did not have LASIK, instead, I had a Visian ICL (lens implant placed) because my vision was too bad for LASIK. From the point where I walked into his beautiful office, to meeting his friendly staff, and finally Dr Benjamin, I was great impressed. I could tell that Dr Benjamin was passionate about eyes and getting me the best vision possible. With my severe myopia (nearsightedness), he could've done LASIK, but my vision quality would not be the best. With the ICL implant, I could get high definition vision, and he could make it where I wouldn't need reading glasses until I was much older. I am 35 now, and would probably need reading glasses by 40-45. It would've been a waste to go through surgery, and then need glasses afterwards. It has been over a month, the surgery was easy breezy, I was back to work the next day. No pain, minimal discomfort, and I was 20/20 4 hours after my procedure at the check-up. He is a great surgeon with equally great bedside manner. Mayka, the refractive coordinator, was also very helpful and informative. Please feel free to send me a message on RealSelf if you would like some more details.

phinagen

Kenalog injection for Eyelid Stye

I came here to get a stye injected, They quoted me $175 over the phone, which is ALOT for a little kenalog injection, but I was desperate. 2 hours in the office, I told the Medical Assistant I needed to leave. Dr. Benjamin overheard me and came into the room (upset) dropped the F-BOMB and injected my eye with so much fluid my eye was swollen shut for 5 mins. I have worked in a dermatologist and ophthalmologist office to know, you are only suppose to inject a little, since the eye lid is very thin. two months later, I am still having problems with my eye. He charged me $500 at check out, I was in such a rush, I told myself I would deal with it later. I brushed it off and let it go, to only get a bill two months later for $35.00. I am very fair, but he could care less about his patients and just wants money.

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