LASIK Eye Surgery

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Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? Are you wondering if there’s something better? You may be a candidate for a laser vision correction procedure called LASIK. Here at Arbor Centers for EyeCare, we take a human approach to medicine and treating our patients.


What is LASIK?

LASIK is a vision correction procedure that fixes refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. After LASIK, most people rarely, if ever, need to use visual aids like glasses or contact lenses.

It can provide visual freedom even if you’ve worn glasses or contact lenses your entire life.

To learn more about LASIK or other refractive surgery options, call today at 312-239-2020 and schedule a free consultation.

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Are you a good candidate for LASIK? Take our self-test and find out!

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How Does LASIK Work?

LASIK is a procedure that permanently reshapes your cornea with a laser to correct your refractive errors. At Arbor Centers for EyeCare, we use the Alcon EX500 with Contoura topography-guided excimer laser.

It is a topography-guided laser which means it scans your cornea before it reshapes it. For the flap creation, we use the Intralase femtosecond laser.

The scan creates a roadmap of your cornea for the reshaping laser to follow.

The map increases the chances of your procedure being successful. It ensures that your LASIK procedure is safer and more effective because it is custom to your individual cornea.

Your surgeon begins by making a small incision in the epithelium or outer layer of your cornea. Then they peel the epithelium back to create a flap.

They create this flap so they can have clear access to the cornea beneath the epithelium. After accessing the cornea, they can reshape it.

But before they reshape your cornea, they create a topographical map of it.

After your cornea gets reshaped, your surgeon reattaches the corneal flap. The whole process takes about 20 minutes per eye.

Within a month, LASIK allows you to have near-perfect sight in both your eyes. Thanks to the short recovery period associated with LASIK, you’ll be back to your normal activities before you know it!

Why Do I Need LASIK?

If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts all the time, permanent vision correction may be the answer you’re searching for. LASIK is the most popular vision correction procedure available.

All the benefits of getting LASIK stem from one fact. After LASIK, it’s likely you will no longer need glasses or contacts.

Imagine what life would be like without these visual aids. You can travel without contacts and glasses.

No more fear of losing or breaking them while playing sports or doing other activities. No need to pay for contacts, cleaners, cases, or glasses anymore.

Patients who undergo LASIK save an average of $500 a year. The procedure often pays for itself in eyecare savings alone in three to five years.

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Do I Qualify For LASIK?

LASIK has some specific requirements you must meet to undergo the procedure. Common factors that go into LASIK candidacy include being at least 18 years old, not being pregnant or nursing, and having healthy eyes.

These are only some of the many factors that your ophthalmologist at Arbor Centers for EyeCare will consider during your LASIK consultation.

Prescription Stability

Your prescription can’t change for at least a year before LASIK. It also can’t change after the procedure.

Eye stability is essential because your corneas can’t change shape after LASIK. If your prescription changes, your vision won’t be stable, even after having LASIK.

Getting older throughout your twenties and being pregnant both cause hormone fluctuations that change your corneas. That is why you can’t be pregnant while getting LASIK or recovering from the procedure.

The FDA age requirement for LASIK is 18. But most eye doctors want you to be in your mid to late twenties to undergo LASIK.

By then, your eyes are no longer changing. If your eyes change after LASIK, you could be undoing the corrections the procedure made.

Be in Good Health

Another requisite for LASIK is your general health. Like all medical procedures, there is a healing process afterward.

Your body must be able to heal itself for the procedure to be a success. Certain diseases, especially autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, can affect your body’s ability to heal.

Have Healthy Eyes

Your eyes must be healthy and free of other eye conditions if you are to undergo LASIK. Glaucoma, presbyopia, or other eye conditions will make it harder to be a good LASIK candidate.

Cornea Thickness

Your corneas must be a certain thickness for you to undergo LASIK. It can be dangerous to have LASIK if your corneas are too thin.

If you do not qualify for LASIK for any reason, there are LASIK alternatives that may be better suited to you.

Locations

Homewood

2640 West 183rd St
Homewood, IL 60430

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Orland Park

9731 West 165th St, Ste 31
Orland Park, IL 60467

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Evergreen Park

2850 West 95th St, Ste 401
Evergreen Park, IL 60805

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Merrionette Park

11600 South Kedzie Ave
Ste C and H
Merrionette Park, IL 60803

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Hyde Park

1525 E. 53rd Street
Suite 1002
Chicago, IL 60615

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EyeSouth Partners Surgery Center

6311 West 95th Street
Oak Lawn, IL 60453

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(866) 798-6633