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  • Finding the Best IOL for You

    Intraocular lenses (IOLs) allow many people with cataracts to see clearly again. If you’re considering speaking with your ophthalmologist in Chicago about the benefits of cataract surgery with intraocular implants , then watch this video to learn about finding the best IOL for you.

    Before your surgery, your ophthalmologist will measure your eye to determine what strength IOL is right for you. The different types of IOL designs will affect how well you will see without corrective eyewear. To determine the best choice of IOL for you, you will work together with your ophthalmologist and consider factors such as the health of your eyes, your vision needs, and your treatment goals.

  • Tips for Avoiding Eye Injuries in the Workplace

    Your eyesight is precious, but if you’re like many people, you probably take it for granted. You should know that thousands of American workers suffer from vision loss and blindness every year because of preventable eye injuries sustained in the workplace. As an employee, you have the right to work in a reasonably safe and healthy environment. Consider scheduling a visit to an optical center near Chicago. You can ask an ophthalmologist about the potential eye injury risks at your workplace. You’ll also get some easy-to-follow eye care safety tips to protect your vision. Eye Care Safety Tips by Gerstein Eye Institute

    Identify the Risks of Eye Injuries

    A couple of the main causes of eye injuries are airborne particles and chemical exposure. Eye penetration can be caused by objects falling off scaffolds, sparks from welding equipment, and blown sawdust. Other objects may swing into a worker’s eye, such as chains, ropes, and tree limbs. Similarly, chemical eye burns can cause permanent damage, especially if the caustic chemical penetrates to the deeper layers of the eye. Chemical eye injuries can be caused by a variety of substances, including potassium, lye, magnesium, ammonia, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, plaster, and cement.

    Reduce Hazards in the Workplace

    Identifying the potential causes of eye injuries at your jobsite is the first step toward protecting yourself and other employees. Next, talk to your employer about the safety precautions recommended by your ophthalmologist. Your employer may need to add machine guards, safety screens, and caution flags. High-risk jobsites should have an emergency eyewash station that is fully stocked with sterile eyewash solution. Employers have a responsibility to train each worker to follow safety precautions and to know how to respond when an eye injury does occur.

    Wear Protective Eyewear

    Protective eyewear can prevent most of all eye injuries that occur in the workplace, but only if it’s worn consistently. Every employee should have access to the appropriate eyewear for a task. These include goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and safety glasses with side shields. All personal protective equipment in the workplace must be OSHA-compliant.

  • Glaucoma: How to Protect Your Vision

    Glaucoma develops when the optic nerve sustains damage. Usually, glaucoma is the result of excessively high levels of intraocular pressure, or eye pressure. It develops slowly, which is why most people diagnosed with glaucoma are older adults. Although glaucoma is a major culprit of blindness in the U.S., there isn’t a cut-and-dry way to prevent it. However, you can talk to an ophthalmologist located in the Chicago area about your risk factors. By knowing your risk factors, your ophthalmologist can help you learn ways of protecting your eyes. Protect your vision in Chicago

    Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly for Exams

    When glaucoma is allowed to progress untreated, the vision loss is irreversible. Visit an optical center regularly to get your eyes checked. Your eye doctor will let you know how often you should schedule an exam, based on your individual risk factors. In general, glaucoma tests are recommended every 2 to 4 years before age 40. After age 40, you should be tested for glaucoma more frequently. Early detection of this vision problem allows for early treatment, which can slow the progression of vision loss.

    Wear Protective Eyewear

    Some people develop glaucoma not because of high intraocular pressure, but because of severe eye injuries that damage the optic nerve. These include injuries from caustic chemicals and flying projectiles. Ophthalmologists strongly recommend wearing protective eyewear whenever you’re doing a high-risk activity. These include using power equipment like chainsaws, mowing the lawn, doing carpentry work, and playing sports. Eye injuries can also occur from activities that aren’t generally seen as dangerous, such as using chemical cleaners in the kitchen.

    Lead an Active Lifestyle

    It’s thought that exercising regularly may help lower the pressure in the eyes . Researchers do not think that exercise has a lasting protective effect. In other words, exercise may only help if you continue to do it throughout your lifetime. Experts recommend moderate exercise at least 3 times per week. If you do yoga, try to avoid poses that invert your body. Headstands may increase your intraocular pressure.

  • How Intraocular Lenses Can Address Your Cataracts

    Cataracts usually develop very slowly. These cloudy areas of the eye’s lens cause blurry vision, double vision, and sensitivity to light. When your symptoms start to interfere with your daily life, it’s time to visit a cataract surgeon near Chicago. During your cataract procedure, the cloudy lens will be removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). This lens is a flexible, synthetic lens that functions just like a natural, healthy lens would. It receives light and focuses it on the retina at the back of the eye. This allows your brain to receive images via the optic nerve.

    Your cataract surgeon can walk you through the types of IOLs available to you. He or she might suggest an aspheric IOL, which mimics the natural variations in the curve of the eye’s lens. This could help you enjoy sharper vision. On the other hand, your ophthalmologist may recommend a toric IOL if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. This lets you see things clearly, without the blurriness that astigmatism causes.

    Intraocular Lenses

  • May is Healthy Vision Month

    Although you should practice proper eye care every day, May happens to be Healthy Vision Month. The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and teach people how they can keep their vision sharp for the rest of their lives. In order to stay on top of your eye health, you should know a little bit about your family history and what you might be susceptible to. Do your best to protect your vision when you’re out and about, and see your eye doctor in Chicago for routine checkups. May is Healthy Vision Month, so continue reading to learn about the principles it focuses on. Healthy Vision Month in Chicago

    Know Your Family History

    You are who you are thanks to nature and nurture, and both of these constructs play a role in your eyesight as well. Some of the traits that make you who you are will have been passed down through your bloodline. For this reason, it’s a good idea to know what kinds of health issues run in your family. Just like heart disease and bipolar disorder, eye conditions can be hereditary. Celebrate Healthy Vision Month by learning about your family’s eye health.

    Protect Your Eyes

    Your eye doctor wants the best for your eyes, but you need to do your part to keep your vision sharp. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays can have a negative impact on your vision and even lead to eye health issues. When you go outside, be sure to wear sunglasses that block out ultraviolet rays. It’s also a good idea to stay in the shade, and you can even wear a hat for extra coverage. The better you protect your eyes, the happier your eye doctor will be during your next visit.

    See Your Eye Doctor

    Proper eye health is a team effort, so you can’t handle it alone. Your ophthalmologist knows what’s best for your eyes, and he or she can screen you for diseases that you might not catch yourself. If you haven’t seen your eye doctor lately, take the opportunity to make an appointment during Healthy Vision Month.

  • What to Expect from Cataract Surgery

    Cataracts are common among older adults. These are areas of clouding on the lens of the eye. If you experience blurry vision, worsening night vision, and halos around light sources, your ophthalmologist will evaluate you for cataracts. It can be alarming to be diagnosed with condition that affects something as precious as your vision, but there is an effective treatment option available: cataract surgery . Discuss what you can expect from the procedure with your cataract surgeon serving Chicago. Cataract Eye Surgery

    Preparing for Cataract Surgery

    It may not be necessary to have the procedure right away. Many patients find that their symptoms are barely noticeable. When cataracts grow larger and begin interfering with daily life, your cataract surgeon will help you prepare for the procedure. First, you’ll have a thorough eye exam to measure your eye’s size and shape. You’ll likely be asked not to consume food or liquids for 12 hours before your appointment. It will be necessary to have someone else drive you home from the optical center. You’ll be awake during the procedure, but you won’t be able to feel anything because the cataract surgeon will numb the eye. Some people find it helpful to use a prescribed sedative to help them relax.

    Undergoing Cataract Surgery

    During this procedure, the ophthalmologist removes the affected lens and implants an artificial replacement, which is known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Your surgeon may perform laser-assisted cataract surgery, which relies on a precise laser to make the incision. The lens is broken up and removed through the incision. Then, the new lens is placed. Stitches usually aren’t required because the incision is tiny. The new lens restores both near and distance vision.

    Recovering from Cataract Surgery

    Immediately after the procedure, your surgeon will place a protective patch over the treated eye. You’ll rest for about 30 minutes to an hour before a responsible adult can drive you home. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for your recovery, which will include using the eye shield for several hours after the surgery and while sleeping. In addition, your surgeon may ask you to take the following precautions:

    • Rest quietly for a few days
    • Avoid driving until your eye doctor clears you
    • Use eye drops as prescribed
    • Avoid rubbing or applying any pressure to the eye
    • Go to a follow-up appointment
    • Call your eye doctor if side effects develop

    It’s normal to experience some discomfort, which should go away within a few days. Expect complete healing in four to eight weeks.

  • Choosing the Right Glasses for Your Face Shape

    If you wear glasses for vision correction , then you may realize how great an impact your frames can have on your appearance. Are you planning to see an ophthalmologist to get new eye glasses in Chicago? If so, then watch this video for tips on choosing glasses that complement your face shape before heading to the eye doctor.

    Start by pulling your hair back and outlining your face by tracing it on a mirror. Then, determine if it most resembles a circle, heart, oval, diamond, square, or rectangle. If your face shape is a circle, then choose glasses that have strong, angular shapes which will add definition to your look. Conversely, a square face shape can be softened with glasses that have round frames. For heart-shaped faces, rimless frames can be ideal, and heavy or over embellished ones should be avoided.

  • The Importance of Diagnosing Glaucoma Early

    When was the last time you visited an optical center in Chicago to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist? According to eye doctors, you should have your eyes examined every 2 to 4 years if you are under age 40. This rate increases to every 1 to 3 years from age 40 to 54, every 1 to 2 years for ages 55 to 64, and every 6 to 12 months for individuals ages 65 and older.

    Diagnosing glaucoma early is an important part of eye care because this condition can result in permanent damage to your vision. Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve. When left untreated, glaucoma can lead to permanent loss of vision and blindness.

    Glaucoma causes increased pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve and is the second-leading cause of blindness in the United States. When caught early, glaucoma can be treated to stop or slow the progression of damage to the eye and preserve the patient’s vision.

    Glaucoma care by Gerstein Eye Institute

  • What Patients Should Know About Intraocular Lenses

    Myopia is a common vision problem. If you’re nearsighted and want a solution other than eyeglasses or contact lenses, then your eye doctor may recommend treatment with intraocular lenses (IOLs). If you’re interested in intraocular implants in Chicago , then continue reading to learn more about this option for vision correction. Intraocular Implants In Chicago

    Intraocular lenses offer a solution for myopia.

    Many people wear contacts or glasses daily in order to see properly. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the most common type of refractive error, and its prevalence continues to grow. If you suffer from myopia, then this means that you have difficulty seeing objects that are at a distance. Some other symptoms of myopia include eye strain, headaches, and squinting. If you’re nearsighted and are tired of wearing glasses or contacts to see clearly, then intraocular lenses could be right for you.

    Intraocular lenses are like permanent contacts.

    An intraocular lens is a lot like a contact lens, except that it is surgically implanted in the eye. This means that instead of sitting on the surface of the eye, it is placed in the eye where it can provide you with clearer vision 24 hours a day. An IOL is implanted in front of the eye’s natural lens to work with it and correct your blurry vision. Intraocular lenses require just one surgical procedure and do not need to be removed.

    Intraocular lenses offer many benefits.

    As an individual with impaired vision, IOLs have a lot to offer you. Intraocular lenses provide stable and predictable results when it comes to giving patients excellent quality of vision. Also, the IOL procedure is relatively simple surgery, allowing your eye doctor to insert the implant through a microincision. IOLs require no maintenance, are invisible, and can be removed later, if necessary. Finally, intraocular lenses are a versatile solution, providing vision correction for a broad range of eye problems and offering an alternative treatment for individuals who are not candidates for LASIK.

  • Signs That You Could Benefit from Intraocular Lenses

    Intraocular lenses are implants that an ophthalmologist can surgically place in the eye. This type of eye surgery is most often performed for patients who require treatment for cataracts. However, intraocular implants may also be appropriate for vision correction. Because of the delicate nature of eye surgery and because your vision is so important, it’s critical to find an ophthalmologist who regularly performs this type of eye surgery in Chicago . Before undergoing any eye surgery, patients should be fully informed of what the procedure involves and what they can expect. Eye surgery in Chicago

    Cataracts

    Cataracts are one of the most common causes of vision loss. They are cloudy areas on the lens of the eye that interfere with the ability of the lens to focus light on the retina. If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, eyeglasses may initially work to correct your vision. However, if you’re having trouble despite your eyeglasses, it may be time to consider cataract surgery to receive intraocular implants. If you haven’t yet been diagnosed, but are experiencing possible symptoms of cataracts, then it’s important to see your eye doctor right away. Cataracts can cause blurry, cloudy, or dim vision, impaired night vision, sensitivity to light and glare, the appearance of “halos” around light sources, double vision in one eye, and the fading of colors. During cataract surgery, the ophthalmologist will remove the natural lens of the affected eye and place an intraocular lens in its place.

    Nearsightedness

    Although the development of a cataract is the most common reason to have intraocular lens surgery, some patients with nearsightedness may undergo Visian ICL. These are implantable contact lenses that are surgically inserted into the eye to provide permanent vision correction. This FDA-approved procedure does not involve removing the natural lens; rather, the doctor implants the artificial lens in front of the natural lens. If you are nearsighted, this procedure may be right for you if you have trouble wearing contact lenses or you’re concerned about possible infections from contact lenses. Visian ICL may also be appropriate for people who prefer not to wear eyeglasses, including athletes.