Is pink eye going around your child’s school? Find out what to do if you or your little one catches it.

Pink eye, also referred to a conjunctivitis, is a common and highly contagious infection of the eye that leads to redness, itching and excessive tearing. This infection frequently occurs in school-age children; however, it’s possible for anyone to catch pink eye if they come in contact with someone who has this infection. Find out the symptoms of pink eye and when to see our Elmhurst, IL, optometrists for treatment.

Causes of Pink Eye

There are three main types of pink eye:

Allergic: An allergic infection occurs as a result of coming in contact with outdoor or indoor irritants such as pet dander, pollen, ragweed, or dust. Those whose allergies may experience seasonal flare-ups that also result in pink eye.

Bacterial: A bacterial infection such as Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae can also cause pink eye. Those with bacterial conjunctivitis are more likely to deal with pus or very thick discharge coming from one or both eyes.

Viral: This is the result of a virus such as a common cold. This is extremely contagious but will often go away on its own after a few days. No treatment is usually necessary.

Symptoms of Pink Eye

There are a lot of things that can cause red, itchy eyes, from allergies and environmental pollutants to infections. So, how do you know that you have pink eye? The symptoms you experience will vary depending on the cause of your pink eye:

Viral: This infection can cause symptoms in either one or both eyes. You may notice that your eyes are more sensitive to light. You may also have itchy, red, and watery eyes.

Bacterial: This type of infection can infect both eyes. You may notice a yellowish and sticky discharge that may be so thick that it seals your eyes shut in the morning.

Allergic: Those with allergic conjunctivitis are more likely to experience burning, itchy, and watery eyes that may also be sensitive to light. Along with these symptoms you’ll also experience normal allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or stuffy or runny nose.

When to See an Eye Doctor

If your child’s eyes and eyelids are getting progressively red, tender or swollen it’s important to see your Elmhurst, IL, eye doctor right away to prevent the infection from spreading. Bacterial conjunctivitis will require proper treatment to prevent severe and permanent eye damage. This is why it’s important to recognize the symptoms and if in doubt give us a call. We can talk to you over the phone about your symptoms to see if you need to come into the office right away.

If you or your child is dealing with the uncomfortable symptoms of pink eye then call Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, today to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors.

The health of your eyes is just as important as the rest of your health, making proper eye care a necessity. This includes attending regular eye exams with an optometrist who can check for changes in vision, as well as any other potential eye health concerns. These visits can address problems as soon as possible, helping you maintain healthier eyes. At Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, Dr. Mark Skowron, Dr. Kerry John, Dr. Lavender Streiff, and Dr. Mirjana McCarthy are here to help!

Eye Exams

Attending regular exams from an optometrist at our Elmhurst office is one of the most important ways you can care for your eyes. These exams allow your eye doctor to monitor your vision and detect any changes sooner rather than later. If these vision changes are affecting your ability to see clearly, an exam can indicate if you would benefit from prescription glasses or contacts. If you already wear glasses or contacts, an eye exam can indicate if a change to your existing prescription is needed.

Eye exams can also reveal potential problems with the health of your eyes. Left undetected and untreated, some eye conditions can become worse or even lead to additional eye problems. Examples of conditions that could affect eye health or vision include:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Blocked tear ducts
• Macular degeneration
• Corneal degeneration
• Corneal ulcers
• Pupil anomalies
• Styes

Emergency and Urgent Eye Care

It's also important to see an eye doctor when changes to your vision suddenly occur, even if you are not yet due for a routine exam. Some situations that require emergency or urgent eye care with an optometrist include loss of vision, injuries to the eye, seeing light flashes, spots in the eye, as well as conditions such as conjunctivitis (i.e. pink eye). Allergies can also affect the eyes and an optometrist can offer recommendations for maintaining eye health and comfort when allergies are acting up.

Time for Your Next Appointment? Give Us a Call!

Eye care is an extremely important component for maintaining both your vision and the health of your eyes. To schedule an eye exam with Dr. Skowron, Dr. John, Dr. Streiff, or Dr. McCarthy, your eye doctors in Elmhurst, IL, contact Skowron Eye Care at (630) 834-6244.

Many people who wear glasses wonder if contacts are a good option for them. The optometry team at Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, has many patients who visit their practice asking this question. Regardless of the vision correction you need, contacts are likely available to help you see more clearly and conveniently. Read on to learn more about contacts and how they can benefit you!

What are the advantages of wearing contacts?

Although glasses are often considered fashionable these days, many people still don't like the way they change their appearance. Others have jobs or activities that require a lot of physical activity, and glasses get in the way. Contacts are convenient to travel with, easy to apply, and simple to care for, as rinsing them each day with a cleaning solution or using daily disposables is all that's necessary to keep them free of debris and bacteria.

Who should not wear contacts?

The good news is that most people—9 out of 10, according to the Prevent Blindness Foundation—can wear contacts as a matter of preference. There are, however, certain conditions may prevent contact use. Those who have been diagnosed with chronic dry eye (often a symptom of diabetes, thyroid conditions, or rheumatoid arthritis) will often find wearing contacts to be uncomfortable and ineffective. Additionally, if you have severe, uncontrolled allergies that include itchy, watery eyes, your contact lenses may not stay in place and may further irritate your eyes. If your job includes exposure to a lot of dirt, dust, or smoke, contacts may not be appropriate for you, as well. Your Elmhurst optometrist will discuss your options with you at your consultation.

Interested? Give us a call!

If you're ready to make the switch to contacts, contact Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, for an appointment with one of our eye care specialists today! Our number is (630) 834-6244.

Do you need an eye examination from your Elmhurst, IL, doctor?

Skowron Eyecare in Elmhurst, IL, has long invested in state-of-the-art eye examination technology for easier and more accurate results. With these tools, the skilled staff at Skowron tests color vision, muscle imbalance, peripheral vision, depth perception, and blood pressure. Read below to learn more!

Different Types of Tests

• Refraction: Your Elmhurst doctor uses this to determine what prescription accurate glasses and/or contact lenses you need.
• Focus and Eye Movement: This helps the doctor assess focus and eye-tracking ability.
• Bio-Microscope Examination: This is a high powered magnifying lens that evaluates eye structures. It checks for corneal degeneration or injury, blepharitis (dandruff on eyelashes), blocked tear ducts, styes, dry eye evaluation, cataracts, glaucoma, pupil anomalies, macular degeneration, optic nerve health, and general retinal health.
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography): Your doctor splits individual layers of the optic nerve and macula.
• Zeiss Humphrey Full Threshold Perimeter: This instrument identifies and monitors glaucoma.
• Digital Retinal Photography: This high-resolution camera enables the diagnosis of eye conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, swollen optic nerves, macular pathologies (macular degeneration, macular hole, and macular edema) and subtle bleeding due to diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or blocked arteries.

Your doctor treats several issues, including:

• Allergies
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Glaucoma
• Prism prescriptions
• Foreign body removal
• Corneal ulcers
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Pink eye
• Spots or light flashes in the eye
• Loss of vision
• Eye injuries

Other Eye Examinations:

• LASIK: Your doctor examines your eyes for LASIK treatment as not everyone is a good LASIK surgery candidate. Approximately 20 percent of individuals are not a good fit for this procedure.
   
• Contact Lenses: You need a proper eye exam to get contact lenses. There are several issues contact lenses deal with and there are several types, like soft disposables, tinted lenses, toric lenses (for astigmatism), bifocals, monovision, rigid gas permeable lenses, keratoconus fittings, and corneal transplant fittings.

If you have any questions or concerns, call Skowron Eyecare in Elmhurst, IL.

Having trouble seeing as clearly with that old pair of glasses?

Have you had your glasses for a few years? If so, you might think that you see great with them; however, your vision often changes over time. This change can be gradual enough that you might not even notice; however, if you are experiencing these top three issues then it might be time to turn to our Elmhurst, IL, optometrists for new glasses.

Headaches

Are you noticing frequent or recurring headaches? If so, this is one of the classic symptoms of visual changes. While you might not notice those small changes in your vision, your brain certainly does. As a result, it goes into overdrive, working its hardest to fix the issue.

Unfortunately, what you’re left with is a pretty annoying and nagging headache. If you are nearsighted you may experience headaches right around the brow line, while those who are farsighted often experience headaches if they’ve been staring at one thing too long (e.g. a computer screen). Dealing with regular headaches? It’s time for our Elmhurst, IL, eye doctor to check your vision.

Squinting

While enjoying a beautiful day without sunglasses may certainly leave you squinting, if you notice that you have to squint to read traffic signs or to read a menu at a restaurant then this is a telltale sign that your vision needs to be checked. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t aware that they are even squinting. This bad habit is a problem because squinting can actually cause long-term damage and make your vision worse since it’s putting unnecessary strain on your eyes.

Therefore, if you find yourself squinting or straining to read your computer screen or that construction sign up ahead, then it’s time to give us a call.

Tired, Fatigued Eyes

Do you feel like your eyes are constantly feeling sore or tired? Sure, a lot of people can blame sitting in front of a computer screen all day for this problem and there are certainly only reasons including allergies that can lead to this symptom; however, if your eye fatigue lasts more than a day or two then your strained eyes could be due to an old prescription that needs to be updated.

Everyone should visit their optometrist every year to check their prescription as well as the health of their eyes. If it’s time you had your eyes checked then call Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, to schedule your next appointment.