Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago

What is LASIK Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery, often referred to as laser eye surgery, has become one of the most popular methods of vision correction. Offered as an alternative to contacts or corrective lenses, LASIK eye surgery is designed primarily for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

Performed by an ophthalmologist, LASIK eye surgery is an outpatient procedure, and the patient is awake throughout the process. During the procedure, your ophthalmologist will reshape your eye’s cornea using a laser. With the proper post-operative care, LASIK eye surgery can eliminate most patients’ need for contacts or corrective lenses entirely.

If you are considering laser eye surgery, call (847) 388-0309 today. The professional staff at Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago can provide you with the information and insight needed to determine whether laser eye surgery is a good fit for you and your eyes.

What Are Refractive Errors?

A refractive error is one of the most common eye disorders. According to the World Health Organization, it affects an estimated 153 million people every year. A refractive error occurs when your cornea has an irregular shape and does not allow the light coming into your eye to focus properly. The result is significantly blurred vision. Before visiting your ophthalmologist, read on to learn more about this common visual impairment.

Symptoms: The most common symptom of a refractive error is eye blurriness. However, the disorder can also reveal itself in the form of double vision, haziness, glare, or halos appearing around bright lights. Visit your ophthalmologist if your vision problems are causing you to squint or are resulting in headaches or eye strain, as these too can be signs of a refractive error.

Types: Refractive errors typically take one of four forms: myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or presbyopia. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition in which faraway objects appear blurry, while hyperopia, or farsightedness, causes nearby objects to appear blurry. Astigmatism causes light to not focus evenly on the eye, making all objects appear blurry and stretched out. Presbyopia is the only form of refraction error that is age-related and it occurs when the eye lens can no longer change its shape enough to allow the eye to properly focus.

Diagnosis: With the exception of presbyopia, which predominantly impacts adults over the age of 35, refractive errors can affect individuals of all ages. While there is little you can do to prevent refractive errors from developing, they can be diagnosed with a routine eye exam and treated with the use of corrective lenses, contacts, or refractive surgery. Refractive surgery is designed to permanently reshape the cornea and restore the eye’s ability to focus. Ask your ophthalmologist to help you determine if refractive surgery is right for you.

If you think you may be suffering from a refractive error, contact Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago at (847) 388-0309 today. Our team of experienced ophthalmologists can help to diagnose and treat any vision disorders. Call us today to schedule a consultation!

Take The Right Steps to Promote Eye Health!

Are you taking the necessary steps to promote your eye health? Check out these links from around the Web for more information on living with Keratoconus and tips for choosing sunglasses. Contact Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago through our website or at (847) 388-0309 to sets up a consultation.

• Many eye conditions take time to develop before they result in noticeable symptoms. Explore this article from the American Optometric Association for more information regarding Keratoconus.
• Learn how Keratoconus can affect your daily life by reading over this link from the National Keratoconus Foundation.
• How does the sun impact the health of your eyes? Get the facts by reading through this USAToday.com article.
• Wearing sunglasses is an effective way to protect the health and integrity of your eyes. You can find out how to choose the right pair of sunglasses by following the tips discussed in this article from American Academy of Ophthalmology. 
• Are you at risk of developing cataracts? Find out by reviewing this link from the National Eye Institute. 

How to Choose the Best Sunglasses for Your Eye Protection

Overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays can cause permanent damage to your eyes, increasing the chances of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases. One of the best ways to protect your eyes from these conditions is to wear sunglasses when you are outside or while driving. Check out these tips to make sure that you are getting the right pair of sunglasses for your eye health.

Pick Ones that Block 99 Percent UV Light

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are what cause damage to your eyes, which means that the sunglasses you pick should block 99-to-100 percent of both UVA and UVB light. As a good rule of thumb, try to choose a pair of sunglasses that wrap around the edges of your eyes so that you can limit the amount of ultraviolet radiation coming in through your peripherals.

Check the Quality of the Glasses

Once you have ensured the sunglasses of your choice protect against both types of ultraviolet radiation, it’s time to check the actual quality of the lenses themselves. A good way to do this is to look at something with a rectangular pattern while holding the glasses at a comfortable distance. Cover one of your eyes and move the glasses around from side to side, as well as up and down. If the lines remain straight, the lenses are sufficient.

Make Sure the Lenses are Scratch-Resistant

Scratch-resistant glasses are always a good choice—not only because they will save you money in the long run, but also because small scratches can interfere with the coating of the lenses, ultimately reducing their ability to block the sun’s UV rays.

To learn more about how to protect your eyes, contact the eye doctors with Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago at (847) 388-0309 today! We also offer LASIK eye surgery as well as treatment for dry eyes, red eyes, and refractive errors. For additional information about our services, visit our website.

The Patient's Guide to Cataracts

A cataract is defined as a clouding of the lens responsible for focusing light, typically as a result of protein buildup within the lens that causes light to focus on several areas of the retina. This often results in blurred vision, halos around light, and increased glare. Many individuals develop cataracts as part of the natural aging process. This video takes a closer look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment options available for cataracts.

If you are suffering from cataracts, it may be time to consider cataract surgery. Give Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago a call at (847) 388-0309 to set up an initial consultation with our skilled ophthalmologists.