Haven’t Seen the Eye Doctor Recently? 3 Reasons to Make An Appointment

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It’s important to see your eye doctor in Champaign, IL if you have glasses or if you’re at risk for eye diseases. Seeing your eye doctor can help you keep your eyes healthy, and can also help you maintain good vision. Below are three good reasons to see your eye doctor if you haven’t had an appointment recently.

1. Your Eye Doctor Can Diagnose Eye Diseases

Your eye doctor can diagnose eye diseases when you get a comprehensive eye examination. During these examinations, your eye doctor will dilate your pupils to see far into the back of your eye. If you’re at risk for conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration, or if you have a condition that puts you at higher risk for eye diseases (like diabetes) seeing the eye doctor on a regular basis is important.

2. Your Prescription May Have Changed

If you have eyeglasses, your prescription may change over time. Seeing the eye doctor will catch these changes, so you can update your corrective lens prescription. This helps ensure that you can see clearly when you’re engaging in activities like driving, riding a bike, reading, and so on. Being able to see clearly is important, and it can be a matter of safety as well. Your eye doctor can help ensure that you’re able to see when you need to.

3. It’s Fun to Get New Glasses

Any time you get a new corrective lens prescription, it’s a good chance to get new glasses. Getting new glasses can be fun, especially if you like to follow glasses trends or coordinate your glasses with your outfits.

Ready for an eye exam in Champaign, IL? Call your eye doctor to make an appointment. Call Champaign Eye Professionals today.

Man holding eyeglasses in front his face

Do You Have VSP Insurance? What to Know

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If you’re going to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, then it’s important to know how you’ll pay for your visit. While some people pay for their vision care out of pocket, many have VSP insurance. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we make it our mission to help our patients keep their vision care affordable. We accept a range of insurances – here’s what you need to know. 

What Is VSP Insurance?

VSP Vision Care is a popular form of vision insurance. Though VSP is often offered through employers, this type of insurance can also be offered to individuals for a relatively low rate. You can see what kind of plan you might be eligible for on the VSP website. Remember that VSP might be offered through your job, so if you aren’t sure yet whether you have VSP, check with your employer. 

What’s Covered Under My Plan?

Every plan varies, so if you choose an individualized plan for you and your family members, review the plan before paying. VSP often offers services like frames, vision exams, comprehensive eye exams, and more. Since VSP can be personalized to your needs, know what you want in advance before signing up. 

Does Champaign Eye Professionals Accept VSP?

At Champaign Eye Professionals, we take VSP insurance and can help our patients navigate their insurance to get the most out of their plans. If you’re unsure what kind of services you can get through VSP, check your online VSP account, or call VSP if you have questions.

You can also call the professionals at Champaign Eye Professionals! Call today to make an appointment or to ask your questions.

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Why Does The Eye Doctor Dilate My Eyes?

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When you go to theeye doctor in Champaign, IL for eye examination, your eye doctor may choose to dilate your pupils. If you’re going to the eye doctor for an examination, it helps to know what dilation is, why it’s necessary and when you can expect dilation. Here’s what you should know about this common practice.

Reasons for Eye Dilation

When your eye doctor dilates your eyes, the pupils widen. This allows your eye doctor to see inside your eyes. This unencumbered view into your eyes allows your eye doctor to see irregularities and potential eye problems that could be developing inside your eyes. Your eye doctor will dilate your eyes to check for diseases that are not easily visible from the outside of your eyes.

Will the Eye Doctor Dilate My Eyes With Every Exam?

Unless there is a good reason to dilate your eyes, your eye doctor will likely not dilate your eyes with every eye exam. If you are at risk for certain eye conditions, like diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor may dilate your eyes more frequently than if you were at low-risk for eye conditions. Your eye doctor may tell you when you make your appointment that your eyes will be dilated, but you can also find out if dilation is likely by asking your eye doctor.

What to Expect When Your Eyes Are Dilated

When your eyes are dilated, you’ll experience sensitivity to light. You may also have difficulty focusing on certain objects. Wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes during this time. Your eye doctor will let you know if you need a ride from your eye appointment.

It’s important to check your eyes for diseases and other conditions. If you’re due for aneye examination in Champaign IL, contact your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals.

How Can I Know If I Have Cataracts?

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Cataracts sound scary, but they don’t have to be. Knowing the signs that you have cataracts can help you determine when it’s time to see an eye doctor. Getting treatment early is important for your vision and safety. The good news is that cataracts are treatable, provided that you see your eye doctor in Champaign IL.

What Are Cataracts

A cataract is just a cloudy lens that gets in the way of clear vision. As the cataract grows, the cloudiness becomes worse. Cataracts don’t necessarily develop together or in perfect symmetry with each other – one eye may have a more severe cataract than the other. To manage this, your doctor may prescribe corrective lenses that treat each eye differently.

Signs of Cataracts

Below are some of the most common signs of cataracts:

  • Cloudy vision
  • Double vision
  • Blurry vision
  • Noticing halos around lights
  • Need for increasingly bright light when reading
  • Colors getting faded or yellowed
  • Need for increasingly strong prescription in corrective lenses

What to Do If You Think You Have Cataracts

If you think you have cataracts, the first thing that you should do is contact your eye doctor for cataract services in Champaign IL. Your eye doctor can diagnose your condition and let you know if you have cataracts.

If you do have cataracts, your eye doctor will likely start by prescribing stronger corrective lenses to help with your problem. As the cataracts continue to progress, your eye doctor may eventually recommend corrective surgery to fix the problem.

For more information about how to manage cataracts and other common eye problems, contact Champaign Eye Professionals. We can diagnose your condition and recommend treatments to help improve your vision.

Can Contact Lenses Get Lost Behind the Eye?

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If you are worried about getting contact lenses in Champaign, IL, you may be concerned about someday having your lens get lost behind your eye. There are stories of people who supposedly lost their contact behind their eye, never to find it again. Of course, these stories are false. It’s most likely that the contact lens simply fell to the floor or down the drain, and the wearer thought it was lost in the eye.

It’s Physically Impossible to Lose a Contact Lens Behind the Eye

Because of the way the eye is constructed, it’s a physical impossibility for a contact lens to get lost behind the eye. It helps to have a little understanding of the anatomy of the eye.

The part of the eye that consists of your eyelids and eyelashes is called the conjunctiva. The upper is called the palbebral conjunctiva and the lower is called the bulbar conjunctiva. From the outside, it appears as if you could slide something—like a contact lens—between the eyelid and the eyeball. But what you can’t see is that the conjunctiva folds back onto the eye, creating a kind of pocket. So even if something slides into that pocket, it can never go any farther than the fold. This is why, when you get something in your eye such as an eyelash, you can usually do an eye wash and get it to come out of the eye.

Now you know that your contact lens can never get lost behind the eye. Isn’t it time that you seriously consider getting contact lenses? They are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL can fit you with comfortable contact lenses in just one appointment. Contact us today to book your contact lens eye exam.

 

Which Type of Glasses – Wire Rim or Plastic?

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Are you getting new glasses? If so, you’ll need to see the eye doctor in Champaign IL for an exam. Once you’ve had your eye exam, you’ll need to choose from the eye glasses available in their showroom.

Most eye doctors sell a combination of wire-rim glasses and plastic glasses. Each material is different and has advantages as well as disadvantages. Knowing the benefits of each type of glasses can help you decide which one is right for you.

What to Know About Wire Rim Frames

Wire rim is a classic material that people have been wearing for decades.

Pros: Wire rim frames are relatively lightweight, so many people find them comfortable to wear from the first day. Wire rims are also understated compared to plastic frames, so they’re sometimes seen as more professional.

Cons: Wire rim frames usually include nose pieces that need to be replaced on a regular basis, or they can become discolored and dirty. This may necessitate periodic visits to the eye doctor.

What to Know About Plastic Frames

Plastic frames have been popular for years, so eye doctors carry many varieties and options.

Pros: Plastic frames tend to be thicker than wire rim frames, and vibrant in their coloring. If you want to make a splash, plastic frames are for you.

Cons: Plastic frames are often heavier than wire frames, so they may require a period of adjustment before they’re completely comfortable.

Making Your Decision

Having trouble making a decision? Come to Champaign Eye Professionals to see our selection of eye glasses in Champaign IL. We’ll help you try on frames and show you our excellent selection of beautiful glasses. Call today to make an appointment for an eye exam.

Common Eye Conditions: Presbyopia 

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Presbyopia may sound serious, but in reality, it’s something that happens to most of us as we age. It’s a fancy term to describe your eyes’ inability to focus close-up as you get older. If you have presbyopia, you may need corrective lenses to see things up close, such as the small print in a book or newspaper. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can tell you more about this eye condition that affects millions of people every year.

What Causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia happens when the lens of your eye becomes less flexible due to age. Usually, symptoms begin appearing around age 40. Small print becomes more difficult to read, and you may have trouble seeing well enough to perform close-up, routine tasks, such as threading a needle. When you’re young, the lens of the eye is softer and more pliable. It’s able to change shape more easily, allowing you to shift focus between objects near and far away. As the lens ages, it loses some of that flexibility. And what was once easy to see, becomes blurred.

What Are the Symptoms of Presbyopia?

Symptoms of presbyopia are similar for everyone. Over time, it becomes more and more difficult to see close-up objects clearly. You may be forced to hold your book or newspaper further away to focus on the print. And you may suffer headaches or eye strain after a session of doing close-up work, such as sewing.

Treatment Options in Illinois

Presbyopia isn’t something to fear. In fact, it’s a very common occurrence. Treatment usually involves eyeglasses that bend the light before it reaches the lens of your eye. Other options may include refractive eye surgery or lens implants.

If you’re struggling with age-related vision changes in Champaign, IL, schedule an appointment today with Champaign Eye Professionals.

COVID-Related Conjunctivitis: What You Should Know

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If you’ve recently been diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19, and you’re experiencing red, itchy, and painful eyes, it’s possible you may have COVID-related conjunctivitis. A call to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, may provide answers.

What Is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation in the conjunctiva of the eye. It’s contagious, so once you have it, you should refrain from touching your face as much as possible. You should also wash your hands frequently in the event you rubbed your eyes without realizing it. This will help prevent other people in your household from catching the infection.

How Does Conjunctivitus Affect the Eyes?

Your conjunctiva is the delicate, clear tissue that covers and protects the whites of your eyes and the insides of your eyelids. Its purpose is to protect your eye from dust and dirt and to keep the front of your eye and the back of your eyelid moist and lubricated. When your conjunctiva becomes inflamed due to a viral infection, your doctor may diagnose pink eye. Pink eye is a common form of conjunctivitis, and it causes the blood vessels in the eye to swell, turning the whites of your eyes pink. This condition is rarely severe and usually clears up on its own within a few days, but it can cause painful itching and sensitivity to light while it lasts.

What Should I Do About COVID-Related Conjunctivitis?

Applying a damp compress to the affected eye may help relieve irritation from conjunctivitis. You should also contact your medical doctor if you think your condition may be related to COVID-19. Your eye doctor may also want to perform a comprehensive eye exam in Champaign, IL, to rule out more serious issues. Call Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule an appointment today.

What Does It Mean to Be Colorblind?

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Someone who is colorblind has difficulty seeing colors as they actually appear. There are different degrees of colorblindness, which means some people who are colorblind see colors better than others with the same disorder. This condition is usually present from birth and is very common. If you have difficulty viewing colors as others see them, your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can test for and diagnose color blindness.

What Causes Colorblindness?

Colorblindness happens as a result of a deficiency in the ways cone cells in your retina function. Your retina contains both rod cells and cone cells. Rod cells distinguish between light and dark, while cone cells detect different colors. Both types of cells must work in unity for you to view the world realistically.

Colorblindness is almost always congenital, passed down from birth through the mother to the infant. This form of colorblindness results from missing cone cells. If one cone cell is missing, you may have trouble viewing the color red, blue, or green. If all cone cells are missing, the world may just exist for you in shades of gray. This condition is often diagnosed during the preschool years, when children are unable to grasp the names and appearance of colors.

Sometimes, this condition develops later in life as the result of drug use, disease, or injury. Usually, this happens because the retina or optic nerve has been damaged.

Is There Treatment for Colorblindness?

Currently, there is no existing treatment for colorblindness. But special eye glasses or contact lenses that replicate the work of cone cells can improve how someone who is colorblind sees different colors.

If you’re experiencing colorblindness in Champaign, IL, talk with your vision specialist today. There may be ways to improve the way you see colors. Champaign Eye Professionals may have solutions if you call to schedule your appointment today.

Common Eye Conditions: Cataracts

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Many changes happen to our bodies as we grow older, and some affect our vision. One common condition that’s often brought about by normal aging is cataracts. If you’re experiencing sudden changes in your vision, a trip to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, is recommended.

What Is a Cataract?

When a cloudy film forms over the lens of your eye, you may be diagnosed with a cataract. Cataracts affect your vision and make it difficult to perform routine tasks, such as driving, reading, or using your computer. If you have a cataract, you’ll want to have it removed so vision can be restored.

How Do I Know If I Have Cataracts?

If you have cataracts, you may not understand why it’s becoming more and more difficult to see clearly, but you’ll definitely know something is changing with your vision. The symptoms of cataracts include:

  • Dim or blurry vision
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Seeing ‘halos’ around bright lights
  • Being bothered by glare

You may have one symptom, or many, depending on how far your cataract has advanced. The good news is that this is a fairly common condition your eye doctor can diagnose and treat.

Are Cataracts Easily Treated?

Usually, simple surgery is required to treat cataracts. Cataract surgery involves having the cloudy lens in your eye removed and replaced with a new artificial lens. This surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you won’t need a hospital stay. You will need to have someone drive you home after your surgery, however. You may also experience mild discomfort for a few days following your procedure, but afterward, you’ll be able to see much better.

To learn more about diagnosis and treatment of cataracts in Champaign, IL, contact Champaign Eye Professionals today.