Cataracts develop with age and create cloudiness over the lens of the eye. Before you can get custom cataract surgery to improve your vision, you have to have a better understanding of the different kinds of cataracts. Keep reading to learn more about cataracts:

A Subcapsular Cataract

This kind of cataract develops at the back of the lens. Subcapsular cataracts usually start off as a small dot and gets in the way of light as it travels toward the retina. Because of its location, a subcapsular cataract typically affects one’s ability to read. It can also make it more difficult to see in bright lights. People with these kinds of cataracts might also start to see halos around lights at night. If you have any of these issues, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor in Chicago to see if you need cataract surgery.

A Nuclear Cataract

This kind of cataract develops in the center of the eye. Nuclear cataracts are usually a result of the natural aging process. When this kind of cataract first develops, it might make a person more nearsighted, but some people actually experience an improvement in their reading vision. A nuclear cataract can eventually turn the lens yellow or brown. Once it advances, it might make it more difficult to differentiate between shades of color.

A Cortical Cataract

Cortical cataracts start at the outer edge of the lens and move toward the center. Cortical cataracts worsen slowly, but when they finally reach the center, they can hinder the way light hits the lens. People who have this kind of cataract usually have difficulty seeing when there is a glare.

A Congenital Cataract

Although it is very rare, some people are born with congenital cataracts. They develop when a mother has an infection while pregnant or as a result of other conditions like myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, Lowe’s syndrome, or rubella. If you suspect that you have any kind of cataract, it is important to visit your eye doctor to get the treatment you need.

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Have you heard of LASIK eye surgery? This procedure becomes more popular every year, allowing patients with a variety of vision problems to enjoy clearer and brighter vision without the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses!

Watch this video for a brief overview of how the LASIK eye surgical procedure works. The eye surgeon starts by cutting a flap in the cornea. This allows access to the eye’s interior so the laser can reshape the cornea to result in clearer vision. The laser works quickly, allowing most patients to walk in and out of the eye care center in 15 to 30 minutes!

If you are interested in learning more about LASIK eye surgery, it is important to find a professional and trustworthy ophthalmologist in Chicago .

How often do you visit a vision center ? Scheduling regular appointments with your ophthalmologist can help you protect your vision and eye health. These appointments can also help you learn how to spot the signs of cataracts as early as possible. Read this guide to understand the basics of cataracts:

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts vision flaws that can develop naturally as people get older. Each eye features a lens that focuses what we see to give us clear vision. A cataract causes cloudiness in the lens, obstructing the clarity needed to accurately focus from the lens back to the retina. This results in blurry vison that cannot be corrected or improved without surgical intervention.

What Causes Cataracts?

The most common type of cataract is believed to be primarily caused by aging. The lens consists of protein and water. As we get older, the protein may shift and bunch together, resulting in cloudiness that affects vision quality. These clouds are small at first but grow over time, gradually making vision worse. Other habits and conditions can also put people at a higher risk for developing cataracts. The list includes smoking, medical conditions, eye health issues, and diabetes.

What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?

Because cataracts cause cloudiness over the lens, blurry vision is one of the most common and noticeable signs of their development. Cataracts can also cause colors to start fading and interfere with your night vision. Other common symptoms associated with cataracts include glare from natural and indoor lighting, double vision, and frequent changes in your eye prescription to adjust to constantly changing vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, you might want to schedule an appointment with your Chicago ophthalmologist.

How are Cataracts Treated?

New eyeglasses or contact lenses might help improve vision during the earliest stages of cataracts. Unfortunately, these options do not always work when cataracts become larger and have a greater impact on vision. If cataracts start affecting your ability to complete daily activities, you should meet with an ophthalmologist to discuss surgical treatment. During surgery, the lens is replaced with an artificial one that is not affected by cataracts.

Are you tired of fumbling with glasses and contact lenses every day just so you can see clearly? Do you wish you could wake up in the morning with crystal clear vision? If so, it might be time to consult your eye doctor in Chicago to find out if LASIK or ICL might be right for you. LASIK eye surgery is a laser-assisted procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. ICL, or intraocular contact lenses, are implanted right in the eye and can correct moderate to severe nearsightedness. Take a look at this infographic from Gerstein Eye Institute, an eye surgery center in Chicago, to learn more about whether one of these procedures might be right for your vision. Please share this helpful information with your friends and family!

This medical expert has the tools and knowledge to spot signs of problems and offer advice for protecting your eyes as you get older. Finding the right ophthalmologist is essential for creating the partnership needed to ensure your eye health and vision accuracy.

If you are looking for an eye doctor that will help you feel comfortable and confident, consider meeting with Dr. Melvyn A. Gerstein at Gerstein Eye Institute in Chicago . Dr. Gerstein has been providing excellent vision care to patients since earning his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and more training from the Los Angeles County General Hospital and the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago. Patients can feel comfortable knowing that Dr. Gerstein is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology! He is also a member of the Honor Medical Society, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Over 20 million people have corrected their vision problems with the help of LASIK eye surgery . Visiting an eye care center in Chicago is the first step to take when determining if LASIK is right for you. This procedure can help you if you are interested in benefits such as:

Improving Your Eyesight

Everybody wants perfect vision, but various conditions and illnesses make it difficult to achieve or maintain that goal. LASIK eye surgery offers the perfect solution for anyone with vision problems that wants to correct them. This procedure can help patients with astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia. Approximately 96% of patients say they have reached their vision goals after undergoing LASIK eye surgery.

Saying Goodbye to Glasses and Contacts

Eyeglasses are obnoxious and get in the way. Contact lenses can be uncomfortable and difficult to put in every morning. If you are ready to get rid of your glasses or contacts, LASIK eye surgery might be the right option for you! LASIK eye surgery will let you say goodbye to your obnoxious glasses. This procedure can also help you save money over time as you will no longer have to worry about purchasing contact lenses.

Getting In and Out Quickly

Are you worried that laser eye surgery will take too much time out of your schedule? Luckily, LASIK is a quick and easy procedure that provides almost-instant results! Your ophthalmologist will give you details about what to expect during and after the surgery. The procedure is very short, typically taking between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. Patients are usually able to return to normal activities the date after the procedure, making it easy to schedule the procedure and enjoy better vision almost immediately.

Enjoying Precise and Long Lasting Results

LASIK eye surgery utilizes an advanced laser system to reshape the cornea and correct vision problems. This laser provides accurate results, allowing many patients to achieve the best and clearest vision they have ever experienced. LASIK eye surgery also provides long lasting results that are permanent for many patients. Undergoing this procedure can help you forget about your vision problems and never look back!

Not everyone is a good candidate for this eye surgery, though. If you can relate to any of the following, you might have to talk to your eye doctor about some alternative options that can help with your vision issues:

Your Prescription Is Still Changing

If you had to get a new prescription for glasses or contacts within the last year, now is not the time for LASIK eye surgery. Younger patients, people with significant hormonal changes, and people taking certain medications often have fluctuating prescriptions. You will not be a good candidate for the procedure until your prescription stabilizes.

You Have an Illness that Could Affect Healing

Certain autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis might affect the way your body can heal. If you have autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency states, or diabetes, your eye doctor might not want to go ahead with the LASIK procedure. Certain medications like retinoic acid and steroids might also prevent you from healing after the surgery.

You Regularly Play Contact Sports

If you are at high risk for getting hit in the face or the eye area, the ophthalmologist might not feel comfortable about giving you the LASIK procedure. Playing sports like boxing, wrestling, and martial arts put you at a higher risk for getting hit in the face, which can cause problems after the procedure.

You Do Not Like Any Risk

Although the LASIK procedure is safe and has approval from the FDA, there are still some risks associated with the procedure. Schedule a LASIK consultation near Chicago to talk to the doctor about the procedure and its risks. This will help you decide if you feel comfortable with this kind of eye surgery.

The only way to decide whether or not you make a good candidate for LASIK is to schedule a visit with the ophthalmologist. The doctor can examine your eyes, learn your history, and help you decide if you should go forward with the surgery.

Although there is no way to treat a cataract, custom cataract surgery is an effective way to eliminate the cloudy lens and replace it with an intraocular lens. If cataracts are making it difficult to see, your ophthalmologist might suggest this kind of eye surgery to rectify your problem. Keep reading to learn more about the procedure and how it works:

The procedure only takes about ten minutes. After a thorough eye exam that allows the ophthalmologist to get a better understanding of the size and shape of your eye, you are ready for the surgery. The eye doctor makes a small incision and removes the damaged lens. He or she then replaces it with an intraocular lens. The incision will not require a suture, which significantly decreases your healing time after the surgery.

Custom cataract surgery in Chicago helps you get rid of the cloudy lens that is negatively affecting your vision. If you think this procedure can help you restore your vision, you should schedule a consultation at an eye surgery center.

Many people develop cataracts at some stage of their life. Cataracts cause lenses to get cloudy, which makes it more difficult to see. Most people with cataracts are older, but even younger patients can deal with this condition. If you and your ophthalmologist have decided that custom cataract surgery is the best option to get rid of your cataracts, use the following tips to prepare for your surgery:

Visit the Eye Doctor for Tests

About a week before your actual surgery, you will have to visit the ophthalmologist to get a series of tests that help the doctor learn more about your eyes. These tests will give an exact measurement of the size and shape of your eye and your lens to help the eye doctor perform the most precise surgery.

Pay Attention to Your Medications

During your consultation, the doctor will also collect a list of the medications that you take. If there are any prescriptions that might increase your change of bleeding during the procedure, the doctor might ask you to temporarily stop taking them. The ophthalmologist might also give you a prescription for some antibiotic eye drops that you should start using a day or two before your procedure.

Do Not Eat or Drink

Many eye doctors ask their patients to fast for twelve hours before the custom cataract surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions about what to do in the hours leading up to the surgery and follow them closely.

Arrange for a Ride Home

Most patients can go home right after the procedure, but they cannot see well enough to drive. Ask a friend or family member to go with you to the surgery center so you can safely get home once your procedure is complete.

With new advancements in the field, custom cataract surgery is now more effective than ever. Schedule an appointment at an eye surgery center in Chicago to learn more about the procedure and to see if it can help you improve your vision.