When it comes to practicing good eye care in Chicago , this means more than just visiting your optical center for regular exams with you eye doctor. Caring for your eyes involves taking certain precautions when necessary to help protect your vision, and this includes when you are at home. There are several things that you can do to help avoid household eye injuries.

If you ever use hazardous chemicals or products around the house, then eye doctors recommend that you protect your eyes from injury by wearing protective eye gear. Also, if you ever work with power or hand tools, bungee cords and loads, lawn mowers, or hedge trimmers, then these are all situations in which you should be cautious about fragments injuring your eyes and in which you can benefit from using protective eyewear. Finally, take care in the kitchen while preparing anything with oil or hot liquids to prevent them from splattering and causing eye injuries.

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.

November marks the beginning of National Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month. These health awareness designations are intended to encourage individuals to become informed of their own health risks and the potential consequences of poorly controlled diabetes. In recognition of these designations, take the time to check the date of the last comprehensive eye exam you had at an optical center in Chicago . If it’s been more than one year, it’s time for another visit with your ophthalmologist.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to life-altering and life-threatening complications, including eye health problems. Diabetes occurs when the body can no longer make enough insulin or use insulin properly, which results in high blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause all sorts of damage to the body, including to the optic nerve and the tiny blood vessels in the eyes. Unfortunately, many people have diabetes or prediabetes without realizing it. In addition to making regular appointments with an ophthalmologist, consider talking to your family physician about blood glucose screenings.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Practicing good eye care habits is important, but so too is controlling blood glucose levels carefully. Uncontrolled diabetes greatly increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy, which causes the blood vessels in the eyes to swell, leak blood and other fluids, and close off entirely. Abnormal new blood vessels can also form; these do not work properly and they may be accompanied by scar tissue development. If you experience blurry vision or floaters, see your eye doctor promptly.

Cataracts

The lens of a healthy eye focuses light on the retina, which allows for clear vision. If the lens becomes cloudy, it cannot focus light properly and so vision becomes distorted. A cloudy area of the lens is called a cataract. Diabetes increases the risk of cataract development because high blood sugar levels can result in undesirable changes to the lens.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases that are strongly associated with increased intraocular pressure, or pressure within the eye. These diseases develop as damage is inflicted on the optical nerve. The longer a person lives with diabetes, the higher the risk is of developing glaucoma.

For many people, seeing an eye doctor in Chicago once per year for a comprehensive eye exam is sufficient. However, if you have diabetes, your ophthalmologist may recommend that you visit the optical center more frequently for exams. This is because diabetes places you at a high risk of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy doesn’t cause symptoms right away, but your ophthalmologist can detect abnormal changes and explain your treatment options.

Watch this brief animation to learn more about diabetic retinopathy. It explains that this eye disease occurs as a result of abnormalities of the small blood vessels of the retina. The blood vessels can become swollen and susceptible to leakages. Some patients may also display the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels. These changes can lead to permanent vision loss.

Glaucoma is a common cause of irreversible vision loss. This group of eye diseases, which inflict damage on the optic nerve, does not result in symptoms in the early stages. This is one reason why an ophthalmologist in Chicago may speak with you about your risk factors. If you are at a high risk of glaucoma, your ophthalmologist can explain the screening tests that are available at the optical center. One major risk factor is your family history. Having a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with glaucoma can increase your own risk substantially. Be sure to update your personal and family health history each time you visit the eye doctor.

Another significant risk factor of glaucoma is your age. Your risk increases with each birthday, particularly when you reach your 40s and beyond. Individuals with severe nearsightedness are also at an increased risk of glaucoma, as are those who are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage. Patients with type 2 diabetes may already know of their risk of diabetic retinopathy, but they’re also at an increased risk of glaucoma, especially if they’ve had diabetes for a long time.

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.

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.

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.

With the growing popularity of DIY projects and home improvement repairs, it may come as no surprise that eye injuries that occur at home are on the rise. As part of your family’s ongoing eye care near Chicago, use the following tips to help prevent eye injuries around your home.

Inside the Garage

Unsurprisingly, many household eye injuries occur inside the garage or workshop. In many cases, these accidents result due to a lack of protective eyewear. If you are using chemicals, working with tools, securing items with bungee cords, or doing a task that creates dust or other eye irritants, it’s important to use caution. Due to the dangers that these activities can pose, eye doctors advise that you and anyone nearby wear protective goggles to help avert accidents.

In the Yard

While people often worry about the safety of using a lawnmower due to the sharp blades, this type of equipment can present a different kind of hazard. While they may seem innocuous, the pieces of grass and the dust particles that become airborne as you mow can be a threat to your eyes, so use protective eyewear for this task. The same eye care advice goes for using power trimmers on your shrubs and hedges.

Inside the House

Many of the eye injuries that occur inside the home involve chemicals and hazardous items such as bleach and household cleaners, so always wear protective goggles when necessary, and wash your hands after using these products to avoid getting them into your eyes. If anyone in your household uses curling irons or other heated styling devices near their face, remind them to take care when using these appliances, so they can avoid inadvertently making contact with their eyes. Also, eye injuries can occur when cooking due to splashing oil or other hot liquids, so always take care while in the kitchen. Finally, eye doctors advise that you always use caution while drilling or hammering, and even while opening champagne bottles, to help avoid injuries.

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.