Last updated 2 months ago
Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are common vision problems that can disrupt your daily life. If you have any of these conditions and you want to live free of corrective lenses, contact Gerstein Eye Institute to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Here is a brief overview of the steps involved in the LASIK procedure.
Tiny Incision
The entire LASIK procedure takes less than 20 minutes for both eyes. The procedure begins with the application of numbing drops in your eye before it is positioned under the laser. Your eyelid is kept open by a tiny instrument called a lid speculum. Before the laser is used to shape the surface of the eye surgeon then makes a tiny incision to create a circular “flap” in your eye’s cornea.
Cool Light Beam
At the time of LASIK surgery, your eye doctor will have already measured the curvature of your eye’s surface to create a map of your cornea. He or she may also order a wavefront analysis that sends light waves through your eye. This testing will determine the extent of refractive errors and measure cornea size. Through the corneal flap made at the beginning of the procedure, your surgeon will use a cool UV light beam to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue.
Reshaped Cornea
LASIK is an extremely effective surgical technique for the three most common refractive errors: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. For nearsighted people, the surgeon’s goal is to flatten the eye’s cornea. For those with farsighted vision, a steeper cornea is desired. The doctor may also use specialized lasers to smooth an irregular cornea that causes astigmatism.
LASIK is a pain-free procedure, and most patients are able to return to their normal daily activities within 24 hours of surgery. To explore additional information about WaveFront Guided LASIK, schedule a consultation with an experienced eye doctor and optical surgeon. If you live in the Chicago area, call Drs. Melvyn and Craig Gerstein at Gerstein Eye Institute today by dialing (773) 649-5532.
Last updated 3 months ago
Tax season is just around the corner and everyone is scrambling to see what is deductible, what they can write off and trying to save money wherever they can. But did you know that you can write off certain medical expenses such as LASIK, IOLs and ICL surgery? You can!
If you’ve had any medical procedures this year and it was pretty expensive, chances are you can write it off. If your medical expenses are more than 7.5% of your annual gross income, then you can deduct all of it. Let’s say your AGI is a total of $40,000 and your medical expenses were $1,000, then you would not be able to write it off since it doesn’t fully approach the 7.5% threshold. But if your medical bills were $3,000 or above at the same gross income than you can write that amount off for that year’s tax season.
Medical expenses such as contact lenses and glasses can be included in this amount, every little bit helps getting to that 7.5%. You can count prescriptions prescribed by your doctor, any additional fees you were charged for extra testing or procedures. But you CANNOT include any expenses for which your insurance company reimburse you for or pay up front for you. Follow these simple guidelines and you can be well on your way to making some significant tax deductions this tax season.
Call now to schedule a consultation with an experienced eye doctor and optical surgeon. If you live in the Chicago area, call Drs. Melvyn and Craig Gerstein at Gerstein Eye Institute today by dialing (773) 649-5532.
Last updated 3 months ago
If you’re looking for more information about LASIK, cataract treatments, or other vision correction options, check out the links below:
At Gerstein Eye Institute we know that each patient has unique vision needs. If you are experiencing any type of vision impairment make an appointment with Dr. Gerstein today! For more information or to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (773) 649-5532.
Last updated 3 months ago
Cataracts are extremely common among adults aged 70 and older, though they can develop at any time. Cataract surgery is a successful treatment in an overwhelming 95 percent of operations, but it’s important not to jump straight to cataract surgery prematurely. Many patients who develop cataracts find that they are able to continue with normal activities for quite some time before the cataracts begin to interfere with their ability to see well.
New Attitudes Toward Cataract Surgery
The gold standard in cataract treatment has always been cataract surgery. In days past, however, most eye surgeons preferred for their patients to wait until the cataract had spread to a certain point before recommending surgery. Today, the decision of when to go forward with cataract surgery is left largely up to the patient. Since different people have different levels of activity, and each individual knows best when their vision is causing difficulty, cataract surgery is now viewed as appropriate at most any progression if cataracts cause the patient problems.
Types of Cataract Surgery
Today’s options for cataract surgery can be customized for the patient. Traditional cataract surgery removes the clouded cornea and replaces it with a monofocal intraocular lens. While this surgery restores clear vision, it does not correct refractive errors, so eyeglasses may still be needed for reading and other activities.
Advanced cataract surgery offers the patient the option of correcting underlying refractive errors at the same time the cataracts are removed. Many options for intraocular lenses exist, including multi-focal lenses and astigmatic correcting lenses. Your eye surgeon can advise you on which of these options are best for your unique situation. Going to regular screenings for eye health and understanding your risk factors for developing cataracts can help to ensure your vision is the best it can be.
At Gerstein Eye Institute, we offer both traditional and advanced technology cataract surgery. Visit our website to learn more about each type of surgery, or to learn more about our other services. Give us a call at (773) 649-5532 if you would like to schedule a consultation.
Last updated 3 months ago
Cataracts, while not harmful to your general health, can severely interfere with your ability to live a full and active life, and may ultimately lead to blindness. 50 percent of people over 60 years old develop cataracts, and many people develop cataracts at even younger ages.
This video explains how cataracts develop and the effects that cataracts have on your vision. You’ll also learn about an exciting cataract surgery option called Tecnis Multifocal Lenses which can help restore your vision to levels similar to when you were much younger.
If you are interested in learning more about cataract surgery options, including the Tecnis Multifocal Lens, contact us at Gerstein Eye Institute. Schedule a consultation with our eye surgeon by calling (773) 649-5532 today. You may also visit our website for more information.
