Dr. Ants Haavel
Ophthalmologist, CEO of KSA Vision Clinic
Dr. Ants Haavel is an ophthalmologist and founder of KSA Vision Clinic with over 25 years of clinical experience. He has performed more than 55,000 eye procedures, including Flow3 laser correction, dry eye diagnostics and treatment, and cataract surgery. Dr. Haavel is one of Estonia's most recognised refractive surgery specialists. He regularly presents at international ophthalmology conferences and practises evidence-based medicine. All medical claims on the KSA blog are reviewed and approved by him.
107 articles
Taking Long-Term Medications? Here is Why Your Yearly Eye Exam is Non-Negotiable
Long-term drugs like Tamoxifen can quietly alter your cornea and retina without any warning symptoms. A yearly eye exam catches these changes early and helps determine if laser vision correction is still a safe option.
What Are Punctum Plugs? A Quick, Painless Solution for Dry, Irritated Eyes
Wondering if punctum plugs mean surgery and downtime? They take minutes, cause no pain thanks to numbing drops, and often start with a dissolving trial version before any permanent decision.
How AI Learns to See: What Computer Vision Teaches Us About the Magic of Human Eyes
AI grades diabetic retinopathy as accurately as ophthalmologists and predicts blood pressure from eye scans. But it finds patterns, not genuine understanding.
More Than Just Reading the Board: A Parent’s Guide to Children’s Eye Health
Screenings miss many vision problems, so parents should watch for squinting or headaches. Sports cause most child eye injuries, but polycarbonate eyewear prevents about 90%.
Headline: Why Your Go-To Headache Pill Might Be Making Your Eyes Dry
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs enter the bloodstream, destabilising the tear film and speeding evaporation into gritty, burning eyes. A stable tear film matters most before laser vision correction.
Demystifying Cancer Meds: What Chemo and Immunotherapy Mean for Your Vision
Chemo, hormone therapy and radiation can affect eyes for up to 18 months after treatment ends. Sudden vision loss, bent lines or new floaters warrant an eye exam within a week, not later.
Nutrition, Age, and Technology: How to Preserve Your Vision for Years
Diet and the AREDS2 formula can slow macular degeneration, but glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often damage eyes silently. Specialists advise a baseline screening at 40, since early detection keeps these diseases treatable.
Beyond Style: How to Choose Sunglasses That Actually Protect Your Eyes
UV exposure, not tint or price, drives cataracts, macular degeneration and photokeratitis over time. Only "UV400" or "100% UV protection" labels with wraparound coverage confirm real defence, vital after laser eye surgery.
Does Acne Medication Change Your Eye's Shape? The Truth You Need to Know Before a Laser Procedure
Isotretinoin (Accutane, Roaccutane) thickens the cornea's outer layer and thins the middle one, skewing laser-surgery maps. Doctors advise three months' wait after treatment, six before LASIK, since early surgery can reverse results.
The Athlete's Edge: Why Clear Vision is Your Best Gear in Sports
Glasses can shatter on impact, and swimming lenses can trap bacteria like Acanthamoeba against the eye. Polycarbonate eyewear, watertight goggles and laser correction all cut those risks.
The Secret to Lifelong Good Vision: It's Not Just About Your Eyes!
Eye disease risk is tied closely to overall body health, not just eye care alone. The Steno-2 trial found that managing diet, exercise, smoking and blood pressure together cut the risk of worsening eye disease by more than half.
From Seeing the Invisible to Smart Health Tracking: The Magic of "Upconverting" Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles that turn infrared light into visible colours sit in contact lenses, letting wearers decode signals with eyes shut. Woven into stretchable fibre, the same particles track body temperature within 0.3°C.