Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago

Learn about Your Eyes with this App

Your eyesight plays a big role in your daily life, but what role are you playing to ensure that your eyes maintain optimal health?

If you need guidance on how to evaluate your eyesight and maintain proper eye care maintenance, download the Eye Handbook app. You’ll find definitions and descriptions of common eye disorders and eye medications. You’ll also find eye anatomy diagrams, eyesight test charts, access to medical journals and associations, and more. You can even download videos, so consider downloading this app today and get smart about your optical health.

If you’re suffering from a painful or debilitating eye disorder, contact Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago for treatment. We offer cornea consulting and treat a variety of conditions, including keratoconus, dry eyes, blepharitis, and more. Find a complete list of our surgical and non-surgical services on our website or call us at (847) 388-0309 for more information.   

Keeping Your Blepharitis Under Control

Blepharitis is an ophthalmologic condition that primarily affects the upper eyelids, causing redness and inflammation. Symptoms most commonly appear on the skin nearest to the eyelashes as a result of oil gland malfunction. Other symptoms of this disease include irritated eyes and itchy eyelids. Despite some irritation, blepharitis is not known for causing permanent eyesight damage. 

• What Causes Blepharitis?
  Ophthalmologists are still unclear as to what specifically causes blepharitis, but some factors certainly contribute to the condition. Those factors include dry, flaky scalp and eyebrows, otherwise known as dandruff, bacterial infections of the face, rosacea, allergic reactions to certain eye medications, prescription acne medications, and eyelash mites or lice. The risk for blepharitis may increase if a combination of these factors occurs at once.
• What are Possible Side Effects of Blepharitis?
  Patients with chronic blepharitis have been known to suffer eyelid scarring, dry eye syndrome, sty infections, chronic pink eye, and corneal ulcers.
• How to Keep your Blepharitis Under Control
  You can minimize blepharitis symptoms and side effects by thoroughly cleaning your face and eyelids daily. Use artificial tears to flush your eyes and prevent dryness. If you wear makeup, be sure to fully remove it from your eye lashes and eyelids before you go to sleep. If these at-home remedies don’t help, ask your ophthalmologist to prescribe eye drop antibiotics or steroid ointments. To properly clean your eyelids, pat your eyes with a warm wash cloth. This will loosen any dried debris that has accumulated throughout the day. Then, use a mild cleanser such as baby soap to wash away excess oils, making sure to clean at the base of the eyelids where the lashes begin. Finally, gently rinse the soap and pat the area dry.

If you’re suffering from blepharitis, call Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago. We can prescribe prescription medication that may help relieve your symptoms. We can also provide tips on how to keep symptoms at bay. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call us at (847) 388-0309 today.

What to Expect from Cataract Surgery

Your natural lens helps focus light on the retina and sits behind the iris. Severe cataracts obstruct light passing through the lens, which can cause visual impairments and visual discomfort. Therefore, ophthalmologists recommend having cataracts surgically removed for safety and improved quality of life.

·         What to Expect Before Cataract Surgery

Before your surgery, your ophthalmologist will examine your cataract condition. He or she will also measure your eye in order to determine what type of intraocular lens you’ll need. Your ophthalmologist may then ask you about the medications you’re currently taking and instruct you on how to properly arrange for your cataract surgery.

·         What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

On the day of your surgery, you’ll need to ask a friend or loved one to take you to the surgery center. If your surgery is scheduled for early in the morning, you may be instructed to refrain from eating breakfast until after the surgery. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, so a friend or loved one will need to be available to drive you home on the day of your surgery. Shortly after you’re processed for surgery, you’ll be given a series of eye drops that contain a mild anesthetic. Once the ophthalmologist is prepared for surgery, the area around your eyes will be thoroughly cleansed and the nursing staff will apply sterile cloths around your head to minimize risk for infection and complication. Once the anesthetic eye drops have taken full effect, you’ll only be able to see bright light and movement. Next, your eye doctor will make a small incision in the eye. He or she will then use a microscope and several surgical instruments to remove areas of cloudy lens from the eye until the cataract is completely gone.

If you’re interested in consulting with a certified ophthalmologist about cataract surgery, call Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago at (847) 388-0309. We specialize in surgical and non-surgical treatment of common eye disorders. For a complete list of our services, call us or visit our website today.

Visit These Sites For Important Information About Your Eye Symptoms

If you’re suffering from the eye symptoms detailed in our recent blogs, check out the following links to learn more about them. Consult Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago by calling (847) 388-0309 or visiting our website.

• Visit the National Eye Institute for an in-depth guide to cataracts.
• New technologies are arising everyday to help individuals suffering from dry eye. Learn all about them at EyeWorld.org.
• LASIK and other laser surgeries are at the forefront of ophthalmic medicine, as the FDA explains.
• Red eye is another common eye symptom. Read about its causes and treatment at MedlinePlus.
• Keratoconus is a thinning of the cornea that shares many symptoms with disorders such as cataracts. Learn more at NKCF.org.

Understanding Dry Eye

Dry eye is a collection of symptoms that includes a stinging or burning sensation, itchiness, the buildup of stringy mucous, increased sensitivity to wind or smoke, and excessive tearing. The eye has two different mechanisms to correct dryness: It constantly produces a small amount of tears to lubricate the eye, and it produces an excessive amount when the eye comes into contact with an irritant. If these two mechanisms fail, it is time to seek treatment for dry eye.

Dry eye occurs naturally with age, although there are other factors that can induce dry eye. Certain syndromes can cause eye dryness, as can medications commonly prescribed for other symptoms, including diuretics, beta blockers, allergy medications, sleeping pills, and pain relievers. Eye dryness due to the use of these medications can usually be treated with simple eye drops.

If you suffer from dry eyes, the best course of action is to visit your eye doctor. He or she can determine the cause of the dryness by examining your eye and reviewing your symptoms. Dry eyes are fairly common, though they occur more frequently in women.

For the most part, dry eyes can be treated with eye drops or artificial tears. A visit to your ophthalmologist can determine the proper course of treatment. People with dry eyes are also more sensitive to eye drops and other similar treatments, so the medication may need to be preservative-free. These eye drops are typically available with a prescription from your ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmic Consultants of Chicago offer a wide range of services and surgeries, from dry eye care to cataract surgery. Contact us at (847) 388-0309 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about the services we provide.