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Hundreds of thousands of people undergo LASIK every year to minimize or even eliminate their need for glasses or contact lenses. Could you be one of them? Illinois Eye Center can help you find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK.

Many patients who have worn eyeglasses for their entire life are curious about the basics of contact lenses, while other patients who already wear contacts often wonder how they can optimize the benefits and convenience of contact lenses. Our eye doctors are here to share their answers to the most frequently asked questions they receive about contact lenses.

Almost everyone experiences dry, itchy eyes from time to time, but for some people, the condition is both pervasive and progressive. Dry eye syndrome (DES) is characterized by a chronic lack of moisture on the eye’s surface. 

Symptoms can include eye redness, a stinging or burning sensation, or sensitivity to light. You may also find difficulty in wearing contact lenses or driving at night. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment to see your eye doctor for them to determine if you are suffering from dry eye syndrome.

LASIK eye surgery can correct vision problems associated with astigmatism. 

Astigmatism is common, affecting about one in three people in the United States. The vision problem is not a disease – it is merely a refractive error like nearsightedness and farsightedness. Similar to nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism happens when the shape of your eyes prevents them from focusing well. Like other refractive errors, astigmatism can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, and LASIK surgery.

A same day eye appointment can be a real sight-saver! Having access to an eye doctor on the same day that you need one is the ultimate in convenience. Patients ages 5 years and older with acute/urgent eye conditions, or in need of routine vision exams can take advantage of EyeCareToday, Monday through Friday at our Peoria office.

Are you considering LASIK to improve your vision, but wonder if you are a good candidate? You are not alone – more than 700,000 people in the United States underwent LASIK surgery in 2020. They are now enjoying improved vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses.

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month across the nation and at Illinois Eye Center. As summer winds down and kids get ready to go back to school, August is a great month to focus on the eye health and safety of children.

July is a great time to get outside and enjoy the sun. If you are like many people, you slather on sunscreen because you know that ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage your skin. Many people do not realize that UV rays can hurt their eyes, though, and may not know that extended exposure to UV rays is associated with eye damage. To help bring awareness to eye safety and UV rays, many eye care professionals recognize July as Optical UV Safety Awareness Month.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is an elective surgical procedure that can improve your vision. It works by reshaping the transparent outer layer of the eye, known as the cornea. When light enters the eye, the cornea bends the light and focuses it on the back section. Light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, known as the retina, absorbs the light and sends this information to your brain. There, your brain translates these messages into the images you perceive. 

About 80 percent of what a child learns through age 12 is through their eyes, which means that poor vision can prevent children from learning as much as they can in school. In fact, about one in every four children has eye impairment significant enough to affect their ability to learn. Good vision is also important to performing well academically and on the sports field. Because good vision is so important to learning and physical activity, a comprehensive eye exam is critical to every child’s success in the classroom and on the playground.