January 27th, 2012
Many patients are rightly suspicious of discount laser centers that offer LASIK eye surgery at extremely low prices. Something that sounds too good to be true, usually is. How can these bargain LASIK centers afford to perform state-of-the-art LASIK procedures at $599/eye? The most basic answer is: they can’t and they don’t. What is commonly offered is an older LASIK procedure that is performed using outdated, less expensive technology.
However, even the low-cost LASIK centers that are equipped with newer technology rarely live up to their promise of savings. For example, the “discount” pricing often does not include pre-operative care, post-operative care, or fees for each refractive disorder you have (and the level of its severity). When all of this is added up, the true price for discount LASIK often ends up being well over what it is worth.
Discount LASIK centers around the United States are constantly shutting down, because this type of business model is ultimately unsustainable. If you are considering LASIK surgery, the technology, surgeon, and surrounding care will all make a huge impact on the quality of your treatment. In the end, don’t you want your LASIK surgeon to still be available a year or three down the road?
Our experienced Chicago LASIK eye surgeons at Doctors For Visual Freedom have been performing Laser Vision Correction for decades. Contact us today for your free LASIK screening, and ask us about our convenient financing plans. We have two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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January 26th, 2012
Astigmatism is a common eye disorder that occurs when a person’s cornea is misshapen. Ideally, your cornea should be shaped like a sphere or globe. In eyes with astigmatism, however, the cornea is shaped more like the surface of an egg or a football. The ideal spherical eye shape causes all light to converge at a single point at the back of your retina, but those with astigmatism have two different focal points resulting in blurred vision. Astigmatism can be seen by itself or in combination with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).
Unlike patients with myopia alone, who may only need eyewear when performing certain activities, patients with large amounts of astigmatism usually require correction with glasses or contact lenses at all times. Thankfully, modern LASIK technology and techniques can treat even large amounts of astigmatism, freeing patients from their constant reliance on cumbersome eyewear.
At Doctors For Visual Freedom, we will perform a thorough examination of your eyes to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for LASIK. The type of astigmatism you have and the severity of your disorder will both be factors in determining whether or not LASIK is the best treatment method for you. If you are not an ideal candidate for LASIK, an alternative type of Laser Vision Correction may be a better option for you, such as Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).
If you have further questions about what LASIK can accomplish for you, please contact our Chicago LASIK surgeons today to schedule your free screening. Doctors For Visual Freedom has two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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January 25th, 2012
Clear Lens Exchange (CLE) is a procedure designed to correct both near vision and distance vision for patients who want to reduce their dependency on glasses and contact lenses. CLE is an intraocular procedure that is similar to cataract surgery, since it involves removing the natural lens of your eye and replacing it with an artificial one. In a cataract, the natural lens is cloudy. In Clear Lens Exchange, the natural lens is removed before it develops a cataract.
The artificial lens that is most commonly used with CLE replace to your natural lens is called a Multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL). This lens may allow you to have good vision for near and far objects without the need for glasses. During the CLE procedure, a tiny ultrasound probe is used to break up and remove the lens of the eye. The Intraocular lens is then placed permanently in the location of the previous natural lens.
Because Clear Lens Exchange is a procedure performed inside of the eye, it comes with substantially increased risk when compared to LASIK. Infection or bleeding can lead to loss of the eye whereas devastating complications with LASIK leading to blindness are less than one in one million. On the other hand, everyone who lives long enough will develop cataracts and CLE is a way to prevent the need for cataract surgery. Potential complications of Multifocal Implants include decreased depth perception and haloes around lights at night. Clear Lens Exchange is generally only recommended for patients who are not good candidates for Laser Vision Correction or those nearing the time for cataract extraction.
When you come in for an evaluation for Refractive Surgery, we will discuss all of the viable options with you. CLE with a multifocal intraocular lens can be a great option for some and then those so corrected have the ability for good near and far vision in the same eye.
To find out if you are a candidate for Clear Lens Exchange, please contact our experienced Chicago eye doctors today to schedule a free consultation. Doctors For Visual Freedom has two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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January 24th, 2012
Many patients are understandably confused about the difference between LASIK eye surgery and another procedure called LASEK. Essentially, LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) is a version of Advanced Surface Ablation or PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy).
The differences between LASIK, PRK, and LASEK can be summarized as follows:
- During LASIK surgery, a thin corneal flap is cut into your eye’s surface and then lifted so the laser can re-shape your eye for optimal vision correction. Once the treatment has been applied by the laser, the corneal flap will be replaced, serving as a natural bandage to help your eye heal.
- Meanwhile, PRK does not require a corneal flap to be cut into the surface of your eye. Instead, the laser energy is directly applied to your eye’s surface, resulting in the complete removal of the thin outer layer (called the epithelium). This layer will eventually grow back, but because it is removed, PRK involves a longer recovery period than LASIK.
- LASEK is designed to preserve your eye’s thin epithelial layer. Instead of cutting into it (as in LASIK) or removing it (as in PRK), the epithelial layer is lifted from the surface of your eye in order for laser energy to be applied for re-shaping. After the LASEK procedure is complete, the epithelium layer will be replaced on your eye’s surface. Carefully controlled studies have shown that there is no difference in the end result with LASEK and PRK and most surgeons have stopped attempting to save the epithelium. The replaced epithelium is regrown just as in traditional PRK before healing is complete.
Advanced Surface Ablation is mostly used for patients who have corneas that are either too steep or too thin for LASIK. This procedure was originally developed to reduce the potential complications that can occur when a LASIK flap does not have the ideal diameter or thickness. In other words, it is an alternative procedure that allows people with thin or steep corneas to still benefit from Laser Vision Correction.
If you have further questions about the differences between LASIK and LASEK, please contact our experienced Chicago eye surgeons today to schedule a free consultation. Doctors For Visual Freedom has two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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January 12th, 2012
The popularity of LASIK eye surgery has unfortunately led to some confusion about the various types of LASIK that are available. We often get questions about LasikPlus, but it’s important to understand that this is not a technology or a technique; LasikPlus is a chain of corporate laser centers around the country that offers LASIK at a discounted price. There are several problems with having your procedure at LasikPlus. One of the biggest problems is that for most, the only contact the patient has with the operating LASIK surgeon is at the time of surgery. All pre-surgical examinations and follow-up care are performed by optometrists or technicians instead of board-certified ophthalmologists as occurs at Doctors For Visual Freedom.
Custom WaveFront LASIK is the name of the advanced Laser Vision Correction procedure we use at Doctors For Visual Freedom. This procedure differs from traditional LASIK in that it allows Dr. Golden to tailor your LASIK procedure to the unique characteristics of your individual eyes. Each imperfection in your eyes is precisely measured and “mapped” to ensure your vision is corrected with pinpoint accuracy. When LasikPlus advertises a low price for LASIK, they are commonly referring to traditional LASIK and Custom WaveFront LASIK is an upcharge.
Custom WaveFront LASIK is widely considered the most advanced and successful LASIK procedure currently available. When it comes to your Visual Freedom, we encourage you to not let the price tag be the deciding factor in choosing your LASIK surgeon. The lower price of a corporate chain may be enticing, but many patients end up paying extra for enhancement procedures and add-ons that elevate their costs.
You only have one pair of eyes: make sure they are getting the best and most skilled treatment possible. Contact our experienced Chicago LASIK eye surgeons today to schedule your free LASIK screening. If your budget is a concern, we offer several convenient financing plans designed to take the monetary stress out of your LASIK experience.
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January 3rd, 2012
As an athlete you should have concerns about the safety of your eyes, and what role LASIK will play in your active lifestyle. First consider what risks come with what sports, and what risks those sports pose with contacts or glasses. With high contact sports like boxing, basketball, and soccer injury can result from high person-to-person impact. Sports played with a ball or racquet like racquetball, baseball, or even hockey poses the risk of an ocular injury from the impact of a compact object at high speeds. These types of sports often result in injuries ranging from corneal abrasions to retinal detachments. These are the types of sports we automatically think cause ocular injuries but what about the less obvious sports risks. Bikers, swimmers, fishermen and skiers are also all at high risk for ocular damage from their active lifestyles. As a biker there are risks of road debris damage, with swimmers the risk of infection, and with fishermen and skiers a high risk of UV damage from reflective surfaces.
Knowing what types of risks we face in each activity is the first step, now we must decide how to reduce our risk of injury. With contact lenses we do not have any real form of physical protection against physical sports. This is the same for glasses unless they are specially made with materials like polycarbonate. LASIK will also offer no protection against high impact sports injuries, in fact LASIK may not be right for these types of athletes. A procedure called PRK may be a better corrective option for high impact sports players. With LASIK you run the risk of flap dislocation but with PRK there is no flap to be moved. With a procedure like PRK you are no more vulnerable than a player with contacts or even no correction. This is one reason that athletes may decide on a procedure like PRK over LASIK. But in almost all cases the best policy is to wear protective facial gear like goggles when participating in these forms of activities.
When it comes to swimming LASIK may actually be your best option. Contact lens wearers run a high risk of infection if they wear them while swimming, especially if they are not removed once out of the water. LASIK patients run a much less significant risk. And when it comes to UV damage from outdoor activities it is important that all individuals wear some form of UV protection. This can help to reduce your risk of pterygiums, pingueculas, and cataracts.
In the end LASIK or PRK can offer the freedom you desire for your active lifestyle unlike you would receive with glasses, and is considerably safer than contact lenses. While laser correction can not protect you from all the risks of your active lifestyle it will give you more freedom and will do nothing to stop you from taking all the precautions necessary to stay safe.
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December 28th, 2011
Dry eyes are an inevitable side effect to any Laser Correction Procedure. The dryness from LASIK, and to a lesser degree PRK, typically lasts three to four months after surgery. It is our goal to reduce dry eyes to a minimum. The dryness seen in Laser Refractive Surgery can cause discomfort, but more commonly we hear from our patients that it can also cause blurriness of the vision. Patients commonly come in shortly after surgery, saying that they may have to blink a few times in order to see something small. Others notice glare at night that goes away with the use of tear drops. An effective way to reduce dry eyes is with a drop called Restasis. Restasis works to increase your eye’s natural tear production, reducing the amount of dry eye that you experience from your procedure. We encourage our patients to begin using Restasis prior to their procedure in order to begin increasing their tear production as soon as possible. Restasis takes about a month to change the tear production ability, so the earlier it is started, the better. While Restasis is not mandatory we do recommend it to each and every patient we see since we know how much it can influence the comfort of the healing process. The use of Restasis decreases the frequency of tear drops, making the healing process easier.
When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you must trust that the facility will deliver the high quality care your loved one deserves. Unfortunately, this trust is not always rewarded. Instances of nursing home abuse are on the rise across the United States.
It is important to be aware of the signs of nursing home abuse to ensure your loved one maintains a safe and healthy living environment. Common signs that your loved one may be the victim of physical abuse include:
- Unexplained or frequent trips to the hospital
- Unexplained emergency room visits
- Broken bones
- Hip fractures
- Weight loss
- Unexplained or poorly explained injuries
- Bruises, scars, or cuts
- Wrist or ankle marks indicating excessive restraint
- Frequent or unexplained falls
Signs that your loved one may be the victim of emotional abuse at a nursing home include:
- Sudden change in personality
- Withdrawal/lack of social interaction
- Unwillingness to talk to or visit with family members
- Lethargy or disinterest
- Loss of interest in physical activities
- Dementia-like behavior
- Lack of self confidence
- Deflated spirit
- Unwillingness to make eye contact
Signs of nursing home neglect include:
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Muscle atrophy
- Bed sores
- Unclean living conditions
- Dirty clothes
- Poor grooming
- Wandering
If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect, you should consult an experienced lawyer at once. The attorneys at the Taylor Law Firm can hold the negligent nursing home facility accountable for their actions and help ensure your loved one’s rights are protected moving forward.
Please contact the Taylor Law Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
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October 13th, 2011
Even if you had LASIK surgery many years ago, the problem of starbursts, halos, and glare can commonly be treated. The first step involves a careful examination performed by our experienced Chicago LASIK surgeon, Dr. Golden. There are three main causes of halos, glare, and starbursts:
Dry eyes are especially common after LASIK; in most cases, the solution is as simple as using lubricating tear drops. Other patients may benefit from more extensive dry eye therapy, while still others might have residual refractive error left over from their initial procedure that needs to be corrected through a LASIK enhancement treatment.
Patients who had older, more classic LASIK treatments in the past often experience significant improvement when taking advantage of modern laser technology. Dr. Golden believes that the benefits of Custom WaveFront technology strongly outweigh the additional costs. Our practice commonly helps patients with post-LASIK problems find their Visual Freedom to an even greater extent than they did before.
If you have further questions about LASIK follow-up procedures, please contact our Chicago LASIK eye surgeons today to schedule your free consultation. Doctors For Visual Freedom has two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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October 12th, 2011
LASIK surgery is actually the fastest part of the entire Laser Vision Correction process. The procedure itself only takes around ten minutes to complete for both eyes. However, you should plan on spending about an hour and a half in the office on the day of your surgery to meet with Dr. Golden and allow time for the Valium to take effect. Once you are fully relaxed, you will be escorted into the laser room for your LASIK procedure.
The longest part of the Laser Vision Correction process is your pre-surgical evaluation, which will include a review of your medical history and a thorough eye exam, as well as a comprehensive discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of LASIK as they relate to your unique condition.
Dr. Golden has performed over 24,000 laser refractive procedures on patients over the years, and has taught hundreds of doctors around the world in the techniques of LASIK. If you are considering LASIK eye surgery to free yourself from the burden of glasses and contact lenses, you can trust Dr. Golden and the eye surgeons at Doctors For Visual Freedom Laser Center to help you achieve the Visual Freedom you deserve.
If you live in Chicago or Arlington Heights, Illinois and have further questions about LASIK, please contact our experienced Chicago LASIK eye doctors today to schedule your free LASIK screening. We have two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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October 11th, 2011
One of the best advantages of LASIK is that it significantly improves a patient’s peripheral vision. When you wear glasses, you are only able to see properly through the optical center of your glasses’ lenses. If you have a higher prescription, you may be familiar with the fact that you need to turn your head to the side in order to view objects that are not directly in front of you.
With LASIK, your entire cornea is corrected, which restores a full range of vision to your eyes. This can improve everything from your driving safety to your performance in athletics, since you will be able to see well without worrying about missing an object that falls outside of your primary visual field.
Our advanced LASIK technology maps the exact contours and imperfections of your individual eyes using Custom WaveFront mapping, which makes the laser able to improve your vision more precisely than glasses or contact lenses are able to. This means you might walk away from your LASIK procedure with even better vision than a person that has never needed corrective lenses.
If you have further questions about the benefits of LASIK, please contact our experienced Chicago LASIK eye surgeons today to schedule your free consultation. Doctors For Visual Freedom has two offices in Illinois: one in downtown Chicago, and one in Arlington Heights.
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