Am I a Good Candidate for Visian ICL Lenses?

Visian ICL—Implantable Collamer Lenses—are FDA-approved to correct nearsightedness without the use of glasses and contacts. With a short procedure, this eye surgery can offer life-changing benefits to people who are accustomed to relying on glasses and contacts to get through the day. Should you consider this kind of vision correction in Chicago?

Although only your eye doctor can decide for sure if you are a good candidate for Visian ICL, they are generally appropriate for people who are between the ages of 21 and 45 who are nearsighted with mild to severe myopia. Patients should not have had any changes to their glasses or contact prescriptions of greater than .5D for at least a year—this helps to ensure that their vision loss will not progress further after getting Visian ICL. This procedure is ideal for people who need a treatment that does not create dry eye complications. However, if you have been diagnosed with astigmatism of more than 2.5D, then your eye doctor may recommend a different treatment plan.

Answering Common Questions About Dry Eye

If you suffer from dry eye, then you know how uncomfortable and frustrating the condition can be. Fortunately, you don’t have to simply accept your symptoms. There are many things your eye doctor in Chicago can do to help you get the relief you need. Here are the answers to questions dry eye sufferers often have about their conditions, including what kind of eye care can help with the symptoms.

Is dry eye a medical condition?

Although your eyes can feel dry for a number of different reasons, chronic dry eye is a medical condition that occurs when there is a problem with the amount or quality of tears that your eye produces. You can also develop chronic dry eye if there is a problem with the tear film in your eyes. There are several different factors that can trigger chronic dry eye, including hormonal changes and inflammation in your eyes. Some health conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, can also increase the risk of developing dry eye.

What are the symptoms?

Dry, itchy eyes are the most obvious symptoms of dry eye, but there are other signs, as well. You may notice that you constantly feel like something is caught in your eye or that your eyes burn. You may also experience blurry vision and sensitivity to light, and struggle to see when you’re driving at night. If you wear contacts, they may feel uncomfortable. Some people don’t experience dry eyes at all but have watery eyes, instead. This is usually because the eyes are trying to overcompensate for dryness by producing more tears.

Are treatments available?

If you think you could have chronic dry eye, it’s important to see your eye doctor as soon as possible. Dry eye is a progressive disease and could affect your vision if left untreated. There are several treatment options available that can slow the progression of your symptoms and protect your eyesight, including artificial tears, prescription medications, and tear duct plugs. Your eye doctor will determine which treatments are right for you based on your symptoms and the condition of your eyes.