Vision changes can be a bit disconcerting. Here’s why you might be experiencing spots or flashes.

“Floaters” or flashes in the eye are a fairly common occurrence. Of course, if you are experiencing this, you may be wondering if this is something you can get rid of, or if it’s something to be concerned about. Here’s what you should know about light flashes and spots in your vision, and when you may want to visit Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, for medical eye care and evaluation.

What are eye floaters?

This is fairly common as people grow older, as the fibers within the vitreous (the clear fluid inside the eye) begin to clump. Floaters can take on different sizes and shapes, from dots and lines to spiderwebs.

What are the flashes?

Just as you can imagine, flashes look like a camera flash has gone off in your field of vision. Most of the time flashes and floaters go together and you may experience flashes in vision after closing your eyes or during the middle of the night.

When should I see an eye doctor?

So, when do floater and flashes in your vision warrant seeing a doctor? If you’ve had these issues for years, then chances are good that you won’t need to see an eye doctor to find out what’s going on; however, if you suddenly notice floaters or flashes in your vision and you’ve never had them before, then it’s time to see your eye doctor.

Flashes are often more of a concern for eye doctors than floaters, as this could be a sign of infection, inflammation, or tearing of the retina, which can increase the risk for a retinal detachment (which requires emergency medical care).

Finding Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, During the Pandemic

While we are still providing eye care to our patients here in Elmhurst, IL, at this time, there are some changes we have made to our schedule. We are always available for urgent and emergency appointments; however, we are limiting the number of patients we see to no more than two per hour.

Extreme care is being taken to ensure that our office is completely disinfected to protect our patients when coming into the office. If you are having issues with your vision and you need to schedule an immediate appointment, please call Skowron Eye Care at (630) 834-6244.

Roughly 3 million people in the U.S. suffer from glaucoma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In most cases, this eye condition is painless, but if left untreated could cause your optic nerve to become damaged permanently.

Although there’s still no cure for glaucoma, you could preserve your eyesight when you undergo early treatment for your condition. If you’re concerned about glaucoma or are suffering symptoms, staying vigilant and going to one of our eye doctors here at the Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, for an eye checkup is key.

Glaucoma Causes

One common cause is high pressure inside the eye that leads to the compression of the optic nerve. Another common cause could be decreased blood flow to the optic nerve. However, even individuals with normal pressure in their eyes could still develop glaucoma. Uncontrolled high blood pressure could likewise cause optic nerve damage. The problem with diagnosing glaucoma is that it seldom causes pain and doesn’t come with noticeable warming signs. Further, damage to your vision is irreversible.

Glaucoma Symptoms

While glaucoma doesn’t typically cause noticeable symptoms during its earliest stages, there are certain warning signs that might suggest its onset. These include changes to your eyesight like sensitivity to light and blurry vision, pain around or in your eyes, and headaches. In most cases, these symptoms might come and go or get progressively worse over time. This is why routine eye exams by our Elmhurst eye doctor is extremely important because early detection leads to early treatment that can prevent the progression of glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

Glaucoma isn’t curable. Also, vision loss and nerve damage due to this condition can’t be reversed. The good news is that when caught during the early stage, you can opt for treatment options that could prevent you from losing your vision and slow down the disease’s progression. Essentially, the main aim of treatment is to try and decrease pressure in the affected eye. Treatment options include oral medications, eye drops as well as traditional surgery and/or laser surgery.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your eye doctor may recommend oral drugs and medicated eye drops first. These drops work by reducing eye pressure through draining fluids or minimizing the fluid your eye produces. If these fail to work or are not enough to relieve your symptoms, your eye doctor may recommend surgery.

Worried about your vision?

If you are having vision problems, or think you are experiencing symptoms of glaucoma, reach out to us at Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, by calling (630) 834-6244 to schedule an eye checkup with one of our eye doctors.

How regular visits to your eye doctors in Elmhurst, IL, can help protect your sight

While eyesight is one of your most important assets, it is also, unfortunately, one of the most commonly ignored parts of healthcare. Do you want to protect and prolong your vision? Well, regular visits to the eye doctors here at Skowron Eye Care in Elmhurst, IL, can help accomplish just that!

The benefits of eye-care appointments

When you regularly visit your eye doctor, you can more easily discover the onset of serious eye diseases, thus creating the opportunity for better outcomes from eye diseases and conditions, such as:

• Eye allergies
• Pink eye
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Lazy eye
• Macular degeneration
• Removal of a foreign body
• Ulcers of the cornea

During your eye care visit, the eye doctors at Skowron Eye Care will use a full complement of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and techniques to evaluate and measure:

• Depth perception
• Peripheral vision
• Problems seeing color
• Eye muscle balance
• Focus and tracking ability
• Eye pressure to diagnose glaucoma
• Hypertension symptoms in your eyes
• Bio-microscopic evaluation of the structures in your eyes

Furthermore, here at Skowron Eye Care, your eye doctors will use computer-assisted methods to determine the accurate vision prescription for you. Whether you want eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision correction methods, the eye doctors at Skowron Eye Care can help you see better.

To find out more about eye care services, please view the Services section on the Skowron Eye Care webpage at http://www.skowroneyecare.com/services.html.

Concerned about the health of your eyes? Give us a call!

Regular eye care visits are important—it’s also important to trust your vision to the experts. During the last 5 years, Skowron Eye Care was rated over 90% in overall patient satisfaction. You and your vision deserve to enjoy that kind of success! To learn more about protecting your eyes, call our office in Elmhurst, IL, today at (630) 834-6244.

Being able to see well is essential to performing the activities of everyday life. For those with imperfect but correctable vision, contact lenses can help to improve sight. Here at Skowron Eyecare in Elmhurst, IL, your optometrists offer a full range of eye care services to their patients—read on to learn more about how contacts from our office can help you!

What kinds of contacts are available?

Hard contacts are rigid gas permeable lenses which allow for more oxygen to flow through the lens material to the eyes. They offer crisp, clear vision, and they can correct most flaws in your vision.

Soft contacts are made of a flexible plastic material that allows oxygen to pass through the lens to the eyes. Soft contacts provide better initial comfort than hard contacts. Colored contacts allow you to correct your vision and eye color at the same time.

How long will it take to get used to my contacts?

Most patients get used to the feel of contact lenses within a couple of days of wearing them, with the comfort tending to increase each day. If your contacts are still not comfortable after the first week, your healthcare provider may need to switch you to a different type of contact lens.

Should contacts be worn while playing sports?

Sports vision specialists agree that contacts are the best vision correction option for fitness enthusiasts and athletes. They can correct your vision flaws, and unlike eyeglasses, they stay in place and eliminate the risk of glasses-related injuries.

Am I a good candidate for contact lenses?

The quality that makes you a good candidate for contact lenses is motivation. Most people can successfully wear contact lenses if they're excited about them and are willing to give them a try. That being said, patients with abnormally dry eyes might have a more difficult time wearing contacts.

Call our Elmhurst office today!

If you need contact lenses, why wait? We can help you today! Call Skowron Eyecare at (630) 834-6244 to schedule a contact lens exam. You will experience exemplary service and state-of-the-art care at our Elmhurst practice.

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.