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.

Workplace incidents are a common cause of eyes injuries treated by ophthalmologists near Chicago . In fact, about 2,000 workplace eye injuries occur daily in the U.S., and most of these are caused by small, falling, or flying objects. To avoid being among these statistics, consider the following tips for avoiding eye injuries in the workplace:

Promote a Safe Work Environment

Creating an environment in which accidents become less likely is the first step towards reducing the chances of eye injuries. To do this, ensure that all tools and equipment are working properly and that all necessary safety features are functional and in use. Next, inspect the area for unstable objects and similar hazards and remove or repair these. Also, ensure that bystanders remain out of hazardous areas, and that staff members know how to use every tool correctly.

Check Your Worksite Regularly

Checking your workplace once isn’t sufficient for preventing injuries long-term, so schedule regular evaluations. Inspect your work areas and identify hazards from machinery, falling or moving objects, and other workers. After evaluating any safety hazards, take action to eliminate or minimize them.

Wear the Right Equipment

Most workplace eye injuries occur where the use of safety eyewear is not required or is optional, and many people end up having to visit an eye doctor because they chose not to wear protective eyewear or used it improperly. Start by selecting the right protective eyewear for your worksite. Then, always check that the eyewear is in good condition before each use. Finally, ensure that protective eyewear fits properly and stays securely in place while you work.

Adhere to Smart Safety Practices

Before removing your protective eye gear, you should shake, brush, or vacuum away any dust or debris that may have accumulated on your head, forehead, or hardhat. Also, never rub your eyes with dirty clothing or hands. Finally, clean your protective eyewear regularly. Following these steps is a smart way to practice good eye care and avoid a trip to an eye doctor because of an injury.

Are you planning to see an ophthalmologist about getting intraocular implants in Chicago ? If so, then you could benefit from knowing more about this type of eye surgery. Read on to learn the answers to common questions about intraocular implants.

What are intraocular implants?

Sometimes referred to as intraocular lenses (IOLs), intraocular implants can be thought of as permanent contact lenses. However, instead of sitting on top of the cornea, an IOL is implanted in the eye and can be used to treat refractive errors or cataracts. An intraocular implant can replace your eye’s natural lens after it is removed during cataract surgery, or it can work with your eye’s natural lens to improve its focusing power and enhance your vision.

What are the benefits of intraocular implants?

Intraocular implants provide a solution for poor vision that can eliminate the need for wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. IOLs offer great performance and excellent quality of vision along with stable and predictable results. Also, the procedure is simple, requiring just one operation through a microincision and no additional maintenance. Intraocular implants can address many levels of nearsightedness and can be removed later if needed.

What happens during intraocular implant surgery?

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and your ophthalmologist will surgically place the lens in your eye. For cataract surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and then the IOL is put in place. The procedure takes only a short amount of time, and the full recovery period is usually about a month.

What is Visian ICL?

Visian ICL is the first intraocular implant of its kind to receive FDA approval for use in the United States. The ICL lens is made from Collamer, which is a soft and flexible material that provides unmatched biocompatibility. Visian ICL can be used to treat a wide range of refractive errors. If you have been turned down for LASIK and other surgical eye procedures, then ICL surgery may offer you a solution for improving your vision.

Your ophthalmologist near Chicago will tell you that the holiday season can be particularly hazardous for the health of your eyes. To help avoid an accident, continue reading to learn how to practice good eye care this New Year’s Eve.

Champagne

If you’re like most people, then you intend to ring in the new year with a champagne toast during your holiday party. To make a great impression on your guests, learn how to open a champagne bottle like a pro, something which does not involve flying corks. The uncontrolled release of a cork from a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne can reach up to 50mph, making it a serious eye hazard, according to eye doctors. You can help protect everyone’s eyes at your party by learning to safely open champagne.

Fireworks

A frequently underestimated New Year’s Eve tradition, the use of sparklers is one of the leading fireworks-related causes of emergency trips to an eye doctor. For this reason, their use should be approached with the same level of caution as fireworks. To use sparklers safely this holiday, only light them outdoors, light only one at a time, point sparklers away from your face and those of others, and always keep a bucket of water nearby. As for fireworks, do not touch unexploded fireworks, always wear protective gear when handling fireworks, and respect all safety barriers at fireworks shows.

Poppers

For many people, a New Year’s Eve party is lacking if there aren’t party poppers involved. If you plan to celebrate with party poppers this holiday, keep in mind that they can cause eye injuries if they aren’t used with caution. First, always point party poppers away from your face and those of others. Second, avoid trying to fix poppers that turn out to be duds because there is a chance that they will explode in your face while you’re working on them. Finally, never allow children to use party poppers alone and be sure to instruct them on their safe and proper use.

Once the cold, dry weather of winter arrives, many people are forced to make changes to keep their eyes comfortably lubricated. If you’re thinking about visiting your eye doctor in Chicago about dry eye treatment, then continue reading to learn what else you can do to prevent dry eye symptoms this season.

While outdoors, dry winter winds can take quite a toll on your eye lubrication, so consider wearing sunglasses during the day and glasses at night when you head outside. Additionally, wearing contact lenses for extended periods of time can lead to dry eye symptoms, so consider favoring your eyeglasses more during the winter and wearing your contact lenses for shorter durations.

Getting enough fluids is important for your overall health year-round but is particularly significant when you want to prevent your eyes from feeling dry and gritty. Also, if you want to avoid dry eye symptoms, then be sure to include plenty of vitamins A, C, and E in your diet this season, as well as foods containing omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, if the air in your home feels dry, run a humidifier as often as necessary to keep your indoor humidity levels within a comfortable range.

If you have diabetes, then your eye doctor in Chicago may speak with you about diabetic retinopathy, an eye problem that can affect diabetics. Continue reading to learn the answers to common questions about diabetic retinopathy.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

In people with diabetes, progressive damage to the retina, which is the lining at the back of the eye that is sensitive to light, is what ophthalmologists refer to as diabetic retinopathy. This condition is a serious complication of diabetes that can threaten your eyesight.

What causes diabetic retinopathy?

When you have diabetes, your body’s ability to use and store glucose (sugar) is affected, a problem which can lead to high blood sugar levels. When your blood has too much sugar in it, this can cause damage to your tissues, including those of your eyes. Over time, diabetes can harm the blood vessels of each retina, causing blood and other fluids to leak out. As the retinal tissue swells with these fluids, blurred or cloudy vision can result. When left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can eventually lead to blindness.

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

When diabetic retinopathy develops, the individual may experience any of several symptoms that include blurred vision, trouble seeing at night, seeing floaters or spots, and having an empty or dark spot in the field of vision. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your eye care professional right away. Although vision loss that results from this condition can be irreversible, early detection can significantly reduce your risk of blindness.

What can I do to prevent diabetic retinopathy?

This eye condition frequently develops without any early warning signs. For this reason, it’s critical to see your eye doctor at least once per year for a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Also, controlling your diabetes can slow the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy, so work with your doctor to help keep your blood sugar and blood pressure at healthy levels.

Are you wondering if you need to see an eye doctor for vision correction in Chicago because of your deteriorating eyesight? If so, then you may benefit from knowing more about glaucoma, which refers to several eye diseases that affect the optic nerve. Continue reading to learn about the types of glaucoma.

Open-Angle Glaucoma

The most common form of glaucoma in the United States and Canada, open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is characterized by worsening sight in both eyes that usually occurs slowly and even unnoticeably. In the case of OAG, the symptoms develop so slowly that it’s not uncommon for them to go unnoticed until the person’s vision is severely deteriorated. Often, this is because one eye can be more affected than the other and the one that’s in better condition makes up for the discrepancy. With open-angle glaucoma, peripheral eyesight tends to deteriorate before the central vision.

Closed-Angle Glaucoma

Less common in the United States and Canada than OAG and affecting only one eye, closed-angle glaucoma (CAG) can come on suddenly and can even result in a medical emergency. However, CAG symptoms can also be mild and can cause blurry vision that comes and goes and is short-term. When severe, the signs of CAG can include episodes of blurred vision that last for longer periods and can include pain that’s felt around or in the eye. Some other symptoms of closed-angle glaucoma include nausea, red eyes, and seeing colorful halos around lights. If you notice that your vision is suddenly blurry, see an ophthalmologist at an eye care center right away.

Congenital Glaucoma

Occurring in infants at birth and sometimes in children and young adults, congenital glaucoma is the rarest type of this eye disease. An individual suffering from this condition may have symptoms that include eyes that water a lot and are sensitive to the light. If a child has congenital glaucoma, you may notice that she often squints, closes her eyes, or rubs her eyes. If you notice these behaviors in your baby, she should be seen by an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Are you tired of having to wear glasses or contacts to see well? If so, then you may be interested in treatment with intraocular implant lenses, or IOL. These lenses work similarly to contact lenses, but they are implanted into your eyes, offering you a more permanent form of vision correction. When determining your candidacy for IOL, there are several factors that your ophthalmologist near Chicago will consider.

Whether or not your eye doctor will recommend intraocular lenses can depend on your level of visual acuity. IOLs are considered ideal for individuals who have severe myopia, or nearsightedness, and are often advised for patients whose high level of myopia makes LASIK a poor choice. If you have nearsightedness greater than -10 or -11 diopters, then you could be a candidate for IOLs. If you’re interested in learning more about whether this procedure is right for you, then schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for an intraocular lens consultation.

Routine optical exams are an important part of overall eye care, so it’s important to see your eye doctor in Chicago regularly. Doing so can help keep your eyes healthy by detecting problems, such as glaucoma, in their early stages. Read on to learn more about this eye disease.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma typically results due to fluid buildup that increases the pressure in the eye and causes damage to the optic nerve. The early symptoms of glaucoma are often minor or non-existent, so many people do not realize that something is wrong with their eyes until the disease has become advanced. Because glaucoma progresses slowly and often develops unnoticed, it’s important to visit your ophthalmologist regularly for exams. When caught early, glaucoma treatment can help preserve your vision.

Symptoms

The most common form of this disease is called open-angle glaucoma, and it usually has no symptoms while it’s in its early stages. Eventually, the damage to the optic nerve begins to cause blanks spots in the individual’s vision, but even these are difficult to notice until they become substantial in size. Another form of this disease, called angle-closure glaucoma, can cause an acute attack. These attacks can result in nausea, vomiting, severe eye pain, blurry vision, headache, and rings or halos around lights. If you experience any of these symptoms, see an ophthalmologist immediately.

Causes

The inside of your eyes are lined with a layer of tissue that is sensitive to light, called the retina. The optic nerve, which is composed of many nerve fibers, runs like a cable between your retina and your brain, communicating signals from the eye, which your brain then interprets as images. The front portion of an eye contains a clear fluid called aqueous humor. A healthy eye continually produces new aqueous humor, while draining out the existing fluid at the same time. This process works to maintain the healthy balance of pressure within the eye. Eyes with glaucoma, however, fail to preserve this balance, and the added pressure damages the optic nerve fibers and leads to reduced vision or blindness.