LASIK Chicago

People who are good candidates for LASIK surgery are those with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.  This procedure which uses specialized lasers to correct these vision problems has been very successful and has allowed many people to stop having to wear glasses or contact lenses.

A kind of refractive eye surgery, LASIK uses a laser called an excimer laser to actually etch away small areas of the cornea and thereby re-shape the structure out of which they are seeing.  Because vision errors are caused by miss-shape of the lens, which alters the focal length of your eye, re-shaping the cornea has the effect of correcting the focal length.

Developed in the 1980’s, the excimer laser is able to work on very small areas of the cornea without harming any surrounding tissue. There are several types of LASIK surgery which differ in which layer of the cornea is utilized and the technique used to reach an inner layer.

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) - this technique involves using the laser directly on the outer layer of the cornea, or epithelium to re-shape and ablate the tissue.  The destroyed tissue eventually heals and grows in to its new shape.  This is an older technique and while effective, can have a longer recovery period and more discomfort for the patient.  It is sometimes used with people with people who have very thin corneas.

With The LASIK technique, the surgeon uses the excimer laser to ablate the middle layer of the cornea - or stroma. The doctor uses a microkeratome (femtosecond laser microkeratome), which is a very precise blade to cut a thin layer of the cornea away and create a flap.  The flap is called a LASIK flap and is folded back to expose the stroma, where the surgeon applies the laser for re-shaping.  When finished, the flap is replaced over the cornea and heals back into place in the next week or two.  In bladeless LASIK, a laser is used instead of a metal blade to cut the cornea.

A new innovation called Wavefront-guided LASIK employs a computer-assisted machine that is used to measure a topographic image of your entire eye prior to surgery.  This allows the surgeon to more precisely use the laser to etch the cornea, ensuring the right results. The entire operation takes about 15 minutes and you go home (someone else must drive you) shortly after the procedure.

A very important part of your LASIK is the preparation and measurements of your eye.  The thickness of your cornea as well as the contour of your cornea’s surface must be measured.  This will help determine if you need the PRK type of surgery because if your corneas are very thin, a LASIS flap cannot be created. The exact contour of your cornea will tell the doctor where and how much ablation is required to correct the shape.   If you wear contact lenses, the doctor may ask you to cease wearing them for several weeks before surgery.

Just before surgery the patient is administered a local anesthetic and also eye drops with an anesthetic.  Some people are also given a sedative such as Valium.  The patient stays awake during the procedure.

Finding a LASIK surgeon in the Chicago area requires careful research.  The doctor you choose should be experienced with a record of successful outcomes.  The The American Board of Eye Surgeons and The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance have a recognition and approval board for local LASIK surgeons.  Checking with these organizations to make sure that your doctor is approved is another way to ensure that you will be treated by a competent surgeon.

You should also be aware that some practices advertise unbelievable discounts for LASIK services, but often they are not what they appear to be.  Usually these prices do not include necessary aspects of the procedure which is really part of your total cost.  Fees associated with the surgery such as additional staff or use of a facility, as well as follow-up visits up to 1 year afterward are omitted from the price.  Follow-ups are very important and should be done, as they can prevent a complication from developing.  Sometimes these low prices only include people with very small prescriptions, which is a very small minority of LASIK patients.  Once you are in your consultation meeting, the true costs are revealed.

It is preferable to know up front all costs involved, so you won’t be surprised later on. Also, if the follow up visits are not included at the beginning, people tend to omit them in effort to save costs. Unfortunately, this can cost more in the long run if a complication, has not been handled right away.

Chicago IL
Founded in 1833, Chicago, IL and quickly became an important port of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.  After the Treaty of Chicago was signed in 1821, the Native American group, the Potawatomi, were forced off their land in Chicago and moved to a reservation in Nebraska.  Chicago became a major hub of transportation and telecommunications.

Chicago is home to O’Hare airport, the 2nd busiest airport in the world and is a one of the largest cities in the U.S. with respect to infrastructure and many industries.  In 2008, about 45.6 million visitors, both U.S. natives and overseas people visited Chicago.  The city is considered a Global Financial center, with large, influential Business and Finance operations centered there.