Why LASIK Co-Management Is a Win-Win

LASIK is a relatively straightforward surgery for most patients and surgeons. However, just because it’s a common procedure doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to coordinate. If you’re looking for LASIK in Champaign, IL, we’ll look at how co-management makes for a more streamlined patient experience and why it can help optometrists and surgeons simultaneously.

An Equal Exchange

LASIK co-management is essentially a referral from your optometrist to a LASIK surgeon. It’s a partnership that’s meant to benefit everyone involved. The optometrist takes care of the pre-and post-operative care and follow-up. The surgeon gets a steady flow of patients, and the price may be lower for the patient (depending on insurance).

How the Patient Benefits

It would be easy to look at a co-management situation and assume that the doctors and staff were the only ones coming out on top. This isn’t so, though. Patients see more benefits than just a lower bill:

  • Familiarity: Sometimes, working with someone you already know is easier. With this option, you don’t have to worry about visiting a new doctor for anything other than the main event.
  • Consolidation: Your patient care will be coordinated by one team, so there are fewer chances of confusion. If you end up at an unaffiliated surgeon’s office, you can end up in a confusing back-and-forth between the two offices. Plus, they’re more likely to miss an important detail about your optical health.

Optometrists in Champaign

If you’re looking for an optometrist in Champaign, IL, who can refer you to a good surgeon, the staff at Champaign Eye Professionals offers co-management for LASIK. We’ve seen countless patients get the vision they want without the hassle, so contact us today to learn more about the program and what it can do for you.

How to Go from Outdoors to Inside with Prescription Sunglasses

Prescription sunglasses offer numerous benefits to anyone who’s tired of squinting or wearing hats when they wear their regular glasses. However, it poses the question of how you can easily transition from bright natural light to somewhere like the interior of a movie theater. We’ll look at a few tips and how you can make the right decision if you’re ready to purchase a pair of glasses.

You Can Wear Them Inside

People who wear prescription sunglasses in Champaign, IL can wear them indoors (even if the optics of this decision may look a little strange). Prescription sunglasses may not be recommended in a dark room, but in rooms with lots of windows or bright lights, it can cut down on squinting you do. Reducing squinting isn’t just good for the lines on your face, it’s also good for headaches you might get from too much stimuli. Plus, you’ll block out UV rays that can come through the glass. This can potentially help you ward of vision loss as you age, particularly if you’re prone to macular degeneration.

The Pros and Cons

For those who don’t want to wear prescription sunglasses inside, the best alternative is to keep your regular glasses in your pocket or purse. You can even put your glasses case in your glove compartment so they’re ready to go as soon as you park, and as soon as you come back out. You can also consider transitional lenses instead of sunglasses, which will darken in bright light and clear up as you head indoors.

Sunglasses in Champaign, IL

The right optometrist in Champaign, IL can tell you more about whether prescription glasses would be a good fit for you. At Champaign Eye Professionals, our staff is here to help you find the perfect fit.

Do Designer Eyeglasses Last Longer than Off Brands?

Designer sunglasses are everywhere these days, with nearly every designer trying to get in on the action. However, their prices might raise an eyebrow or two, which then raises the question of what exactly you’re paying for. Are you paying strictly for the name or are these designers using better materials that are configured in a way that will stand up to wear and tear? At Champaign Eye Professionals, we offer a number of designer eyeglasses in Champaign, IL, so we can tell you more about what you can realistically expect from your purchase.

Designer Frames in Champaign

There is a lot of variability between eyeglass frames, but in general, the quality of designer frames may exceed those of off-brands. They may also come with a better warranty than other pairs, which can be a great comfort to someone who’s less-than-careful when it comes to caring for their frames.

Enduring Style

There’s another major benefit to designer eyeglasses that has everything to do with your style. While fashion trends come and go, enduring designers like Safilo and Dolabany are attuned to what their customers are looking for. By tapping into their needs, they’ve created frames you’ll want to wear repeatedly. So you can end up getting frames that last you a decade or more and may only need to be repaired once or twice.

Optometrists in Champaign, IL

If you’re looking for an optometrist in Champaign, IL, who carries the best brands, the staff at Champaign Eye Professionals can help you pick out a frame that fits your face to a tee. If you don’t want to spend money on a designer frame, we can point you in the right direction for your best alternative.

3 Tips for Healthier Eyes

There’s a lot of advice out there about how to keep your eyes healthy, but not all advice is created equal. Here are a few tips from an optometrist in Champaign, IL on how to keep your vision as clear as possible for as long as possible.

Take Care of Your Body

Your eyes are connected to the rest of your body. Eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough hours of the night are all proven ways to help you maintain healthy vision. Load up on vitamins, hit the ground walking several times a week, and start saying goodbye to computer screens at least an hour before your head hits the pillow. It may be basic advice, but it works.

Protect Your Eyes

You won’t be able to prevent all germs from entering through your eyes, and nor should you. (If you aren’t exposed to common contaminants, it’s harder to build up your immune system). That being said, you don’t want to expose your eyes to chemicals or harmful irritants (e.g., soil treated with pesticides, etc). It can be as simple as wearing goggles when you mow the lawn or paint a room.

See Your Optometrist for Healthy Eyes

Yearly eye exams in Champaign, IL with a regular optometrist don’t just give you a clean bill of health, they also give the doctor a baseline for comparison. If something changes from one appointment to the next, they have a clearer understanding of whether it’s a cause for concern or just a standard change. No matter how well you take care of yourself, your eyes will inevitably start to change over the years. If you want to preserve your vision as long as possible, the staff at Champaign Eye Professionals can help you get the care you need.