Disturbance in vision is very irritating. Whether it is shortsightedness, glaucoma, or cataract, the best way to deal with a disturbed vision is getting your eye checked by an experienced ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will provide personalized checkups depending on the type of issue she diagnoses. With ophthalmologists now using state of the art machines to perform eye checkups, you can feel safe knowing that any eye problems will be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. The following are six of the most common procedures done in eye clinics for maintaining visual health.
1. Chicago Eye Exam
Routine eye exams play a critical role in keeping your eyes healthy. It's essential to understand that many eye diseases do not manifest any symptoms, which means you may not realize you have them unless you get your eyes checked by a professional. During a Chicago eye exam, an eye expert will conduct a series of tests to diagnose potential diseases, measure visual acuity, and identify causes of visual changes in case you suffer from any. It also involves checking your current glasses or contact lenses to ensure that you're wearing the appropriate prescription.
2. LASIK
LASIK is a popular eye surgery that corrects your vision if you have farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. This vision-correction surgery reshapes your cornea and your eyes' front parts so that more light can enter into your retina at the back of your eyes. If you experience a blurry vision, it may be due to the above-mentioned issues. Ophthalmologists usually recommend LASIK surgeries to patients who are 18 and above, don't take medicines for severe health conditions, and are not pregnant.
3. PRK
Photorefractive keratectomy also treats farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism but follows a different procedure compared to a LASIK surgery. In this process, the ophthalmologist will perform a laser refractive surgery to correct your vision. PRK reshapes your cornea with an excimer laser. This allows light to enter the retina so that you get better vision without requiring contact lenses or glasses. PRK is an age-old vision-correcting technique that many clinics follow even today.
4. Kamra inlay
Kamra inlay is a safe and long-lasting solution for patients with presbyopia and issues with nearsightedness. The inlay used in this procedure is an opaque ring with a small opening in its center. It is thinner and smaller than any contact lens and is lighter than a tiny grain of salt. The concept of Kamra inlay works similarly to the aperture of a camera. A small aperture increases a camera's depth of focus. Similarly, an open inlay allows more light to enter your eyes, enabling you to see better.
5. Cataract surgery
Sometimes blurry visions may not be due to farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. A cataract can also give you hazy visions. And a cataract surgery is the only way to deal with the problem. Consider cataract surgery as cleaning tainted windows. Depending on the dirt that accumulates on your eye, the ophthalmologist will decide whether to clear the cataract or replace it with an artificial lens. Like a clean window, a clean lens will allow you to see things clearly.
6. Glaucoma surgery
There are various types of glaucoma surgeries and the ophthalmologist will decide which one is suitable depending on your health conditions. Argon laser trabeculoplasty opens clogs in your eyes to let accumulated fluid to drain out so that you get a clear vision. An ophthalmologist will perform selective laser trabeculoplasty if ALT doesn't work on your eyes. This procedure involves focusing a beam of low-level laser at the affected spots. An SLT takes comparatively less time than ALT.
If you want to maintain your visual health, start developing the habit of getting an eye exam in Chicago at least once a year. Nothing beats having a professional to check your eye condition, especially if you suffer from visual changes or impairment. Depending on the diagnosis, the ophthalmologist may recommend LASIK, PRK, Kamra inlay, cataract surgery, or glaucoma surgery. An annual visit to an eye expert can keep your eyes healthy and even help you save money by preventing the progression of eye diseases.
