Gailey Eye Clinic

If I have cataract surgery, will I need to wear glasses?
Probably not. The natural lens is removed in cataract surgery and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). Years ago, IOLs gave clear vision either close up or distant but not both. Therefore you had to wear glasses for whichever distance range was not taken care of by the IOLs.

However, modern IOLs give clear vision at all distances. Each one uses different technology to accomplish this. ReZoom® and Tecnis™, offered by Abbott Medical Optics, are multifocal lenses. They have concentric areas built into them that react to light differently and combined, they bend incoming light at the right angles to give you clear near, intermediate, and far vision. The ReSTOR® IOL offered by Alcon, Inc. is also multifocal.

For the most part, these IOLs give good vision near and far but you and your eye doctor can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each one and determine which one would best suit your lifestyle and vision needs. Depending on your particular vision status, you might need eyeglasses.

How can eye surgery help with glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and progressively disable it. That means that image information received by the light-sensitive cells in the retina cannot reach the brain, which means you cannot see those images. In most glaucoma cases, this optic nerve damage is caused by elevated pressure inside the eye. This intraocular pressure (IOP) is created by the fluid that fills our eyes and it pushes outward on the eyeball's periphery. The retina is part of the eye's back wall.

Glaucoma is treated by methods which either decrease fluid production in the eyes or increase fluid drainage. That achieves a proper balance and protects the optic nerve from further damage. Increased fluid drainage can be achieved by eye surgery. In Laser Peripheral Iridotomy, a small hole is created in the iris; in a Trabeculoplasty, the existing fluid channels are opened up a little. If further surgery is needed, a tiny part of the eye can be destroyed that produces fluid. These surgeries are all done with a laser.

If the above procedures do not work well enough, filtering microsurgery can be done. A little drainage hole is made in the white part of the eye (the sclera) that increases drainage.

When would a corneal transplant be needed?
A corneal transplant is surgery to replace the central part of the cornea when scarring or disease has impaired vision in ways that cannot otherwise be treated. Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease where the cornea becomes thinner and bulges forward, causing blurry vision. After other treatments like rigid contact lenses cannot give clear vision, replacement of the cornea becomes necessary.

Any time the cornea is irreparably scarred, a transplant may be the only way of restoring vision. Scarring can arise from an accident or trauma or from an infection such as Herpes. Sometimes there is corneal failure after another surgery and a transplant must be done. The new corneas come from donors and the procedure is painless.

You can do all your research online and then arrange a consultation with each candidate to see how well you get along with them. First do a search for something like "Eye doctor in Peoria Illinois", putting whatever location would suit you best. You will get lots of results and one by one you can look at the websites of each doctor.

• Look at the doctor's bio page, probably called "Meet Dr. XXX" or "About Our Doctors". Make sure he or she is board-certified to practice ophthalmology. Local involvement is always a good thing, showing that the doctor is known and trusted locally. Many doctors do volunteer work or serve professionally in local organizations. Professional memberships show that the doctor is in touch with peers and probably up to date with ideas and techniques. The best eye doctors do a lot of ongoing education, attending seminars and conferences, and perhaps actually teach the seminars or help to organize the conferences.
• Look at the webpage on the doctor's team or staff. There will usually be photos of everyone and some background information. There may also be photos of the building and rooms which give an idea of the office's atmosphere.
• See if the site has any testimonials. It can be very productive to read about other people's experiences with LASIK or other vision correction, or to read about how a person's eye disease was treated.
• Look at the procedure page(s) that relate to your particular eye or vision issues to see if it plays a central part in the doctor’s practice. You would want a doctor with good experience who would not be practicing on your eyes.

Once you have chosen the best prospects, you can feel free to call or email each one to schedule consultations. Typically those are complimentary and give you an opportunity to speak with the doctor, ask some questions, and form an impression of the practice. By the time you have had consultations with three or four eye doctors your decision will probably be clear and easy to make.

Dr. Lockhart is a forward-thinking doctor and has extensive experience in vision correction, treating cataracts, and various eye surgeries. Please see our Testimonials page for the comments of some of our previous patients. We have ten locations for your convenience and will be happy to schedule a consultation for you. Please use our Consultation Form.

Who is a good candidate for LASIK?
You would need to be over the age of 18 so that your eyes have finished developing. There should be no prescription changes for at least a year, so that your vision is stable. You would need to have good general health with no conditions that could interfere with healing. Your corneas (front clear covering) would need to be of a minimum thickness. That is because LASIK works by removing tiny pieces of corneal tissue to reshape the cornea and for your safety there must be enough thickness left after treatment.

Beyond these requirements, there is a gray area where your LASIK surgeon can make a judgment call. For example:

• If you are diabetic, you could be a candidate if you have it under good control
• If you are severely myopic, you might be able to have LASIK or ASA might be a better choice
• If you have presbyopia, an age-related progressive deterioration of near vision, you might be able to have LASIK monovision

Only your LASIK doctor can determine your candidacy after a thorough eye exam, study of your medical history, and various vision tests.

What is Custom LASIK?
Custom LASIK is LASIK done after a Wavefront diagnosis. The early LASIK procedures were based on the same diagnosis as glasses and contact lenses are, and provided only the same degree of correction they provide. With Wavefront technology delivering a far more precise diagnosis of each eye's vision defects, Custom LASIK can give a far more precise treatment. You will then have improved night vision as well as greater acuity of vision.

Does LASIK hurt?
No. We will give you numbing eyedrops before any treatment is begun. Also, our Allegretto excimer laser is programmed to work only on your designated treatment area and only to the depth your treatment plan calls for. The laser does not touch any other tissue. The procedure takes only a few minutes and afterwards we will have you relax in our office for a while, closing your eyes, until your eye doctor determines that it is safe for you to go home.

You will need a ride home and will probably feel like sleeping the rest of the day. When the local anesthetic wears off, you may feel some grittiness and dryness but we will give you moisturizing eyedrops to soothe that and you can use them as often as needed. You will notice vision improvement immediately and by the following day you can return to work.

Will my LASIK results be permanent?
Yes. Having LASIK is like having glasses or contacts built in to your eyes. However, as we age, presbyopia creeps up, giving blurry near vision. When that happens, we will talk with you about ways of correcting it. It happens to everyone after the age of about 40.

If you would like to schedule a personal consultation, please contact our eye care office today. We serve Peoria and Bloomington in Illinois.

The word LASIK was originally an acronym for Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis and in that name you can see that it is a procedure, Keratomileusis, that began before lasers and was later improved by use of a laser.

The man known as the "father of modern refractive surgery", meaning LASIK, was a Spanish eye doctor. His life’s work focused on how the eye focuses and on how to improve vision by changing how the eye’s cornea focuses.

Keratomileusis
Jose Barraquer took the first steps towards LASIK in the 1950s. He was living in Colombia at the time and working on ways to improve people’s vision by modifying the cornea – the clear front covering that is a type of lens and bends incoming light. His first approach was to remove a thin layer of the cornea, freeze it, reshape it on a lathe by shaving off tiny pieces, and then stitch it back in place.

By thus changing the corneal curvature, he improved vision. He named this procedure Keratomileusis, from Greek words meaning "cornea" and "carving". For the "carving", he invented a blade called a microkeratome ("small corneal knife").

"in situ"
With no calculator, and certainly no wavefront technology, he worked out his treatment plans with pen and paper. Later he devised a computer-controlled lathe that was more precise than his hand work. But the main problem was that freezing corneal tissue damaged it. Barraquer was a teacher with students worldwide and later he worked with one of them named Luis Ruiz. Together they devised a way to modify corneal curvature without removing it – modifying it “in situ”, in place. This led to the modern LASIK flap, which is folded back for surgery and then replaced over the treated area.

Laser Assisted
Meanwhile, an Indian-born IBM employee, Rangaswamy Srinivasan, was studying how organic matter responds to ultraviolet light. He worked through the 1960s and 1970s and in the 1980s began using his pulsed excimer laser to etch plastics. Many industries took this up and have given us inkjet printers, for example; but Srinivasan and eye doctors worldwide began using this laser for vision correction.

In 1988 the first PRK procedure (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was done in Germany. For the first time, a laser was used to successfully correct vision. Instead of a corneal flap, surface tissue was removed entirely and allowed to grow back after treatment. PRK is still offered by many LASIK surgeons for those whose corneas are too thin for LASIK. It is also called Advanced Surface Ablation.

In 1995 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the excimer laser for treating myopia of up to -6.00 diopters. In 1997, the FDA approved it for treating astigmatism; and in 1998, the VISX (now AMO) CustomVue LASIK system was approved to treat hyperopia.

Custom LASIK is now the most precise and sophisticated vision correction the world has ever seen. At the Gailey Eye Clinic, we use the Allegretto Wavelight Eye-Q Laser system which gives superb vision correction, far more precise than any correction achieved by glasses or contact lenses. Please contact our LASIK office if you would like to know more about laser vision correction and whether you would be a good candidate for it.

Combining neurology and ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of ophthalmologist who specializes in treating diseases that affect the vision, but stem from the nervous system. Neuro-ophthalmologists are medical doctors who begin their training in either neurology or ophthalmology, and then go on to study extensively in the other field. Gailey Eye Clinic is proud to have several such physicians on our staff.

The optic nerve is most commonly treated with neuro-ophthamology. Additionally, the efferent visual system (eye movement), and pupillary reflexes can be treated. These conditions can be created by strokes, brain tumors, or inflammatory diseases of the eye-socket. They can also be caused by environmental factors, infections, diabetes, and drug overdoses. No matter the cause, the doctors at Gailey Eye Clinic are experienced in diagnosing, and treating these diseases.

Common symptoms of vision problems stemming from neurological damage are similar to other vision disorders. That's why it is imperative to contact Gailey Eye Clinic at the first sign of any vision trouble, particularly if you experience a sudden onset of vision difficulties. Only if detected and treated early on can long term, permanent damage be avoided.

Treatment for these diseases varies and relies entirely on the unique conditions that have caused the problem to begin with. Our physicians are experienced in diagnosing and treating each patient on an individual basis; creating a treatment option that will be most suited to your needs.

If you live in Central Illinois and are experiencing any vision difficulties – particularly if you have suffered a neurological disorder – please contact Gailey Eye Clinic to schedule your eye examination today.

Children's eyes play a pivotal roll in their development. Studies have shown that children with poor vision have a harder time with school, sports, and everyday activities. If left untreated, poor vision in childhood can result in permanent vision loss.

Pediatric ophthalmology is the practice of detecting and treating eye diseases in children. Vision tests are administered to children during routine medical exams and often yearly through their schools. When a potential problem is discovered during these exams, a comprehensive exam preformed by an experienced optometrist, like those at Gailey Eye Clinic, can detect the cause of the problem, and proper treatment can be administered.

There are several common pediatric eye problems. Some, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be corrected with glasses. Others, like drooping eyelid, double vision, and amblyopia may require surgical procedures to correct. In any case, early detection and treatment of eye problems in children will help prevent future damage, and improve your child's ability to participate in regular activities. The optometrists at Gaily Eye Clinic are experienced in pediatric ophthalmology. The comfortable, relaxed atmosphere will put your child at ease, while our patient, caring staff make their visit to the eye doctor as enjoyable as possible.

If you live in Central Illinois, please contact the eye doctors at Gailey Eye Clinic for all of your children's vision care needs. Making sure they see better today will help them avoid serious vision problems in the future.

The leading cause of central vision loss in the United States today is macular degeneration. Primarily affecting people over the age of 50, macular degeneration is an age-related disease that causes blurring of your central vision, impairing your ability to do things that require sharp, central vision like driving, reading, or even recognizing faces. It does not affect peripheral vision.

As you age, the cells in the macula will start to thin; this is called “dry macular degeneration.” Dry macular degeneration eventually leads to a cellular breakdown that deposits waste in the eye, damaging the macula. In some, much rarer instances, weak, easily breakable blood vessels can grow in the back of the eye.

These blood vessels can easily break, causing blood to leak into the eye and blurring central vision; this is called “wet macular degeneration.” Depending on the cause, symptoms can be slow and gradual, or quick and severe. No matter the cause, a regular eye examination at Gailey Eye Clinic can detect macular degeneration before your vision is damaged.

Dry macular degeneration cannot be cured, but options such as contact lenses and glasses can help you cope with vision impairment. Wet macular degeneration can be treated with laser surgery. The eye doctors at Gailey Eye Clinic will best be able to determine what options are suitable for you.

If you believe you may be exhibiting signs of, or want to know more about, macular degeneration and live in Central Illinois, please contact Gailey Eye Clinic to schedule an eye exam for detection and treatment.