Where did the summer go?! As much fun as summer days have been, many parents and kids are already in back-to-school mode.   Back-to-school checklists generally include:   school supplies backpack new clothes and shoes  A critical item missing from this checklist is a comprehensive eye exam!  Every child deserves to be set up for success for the new school year, and scheduling your child for a comprehensive eye exam at Dr. Robert Gerowitz, Optometrist PC in Palatine will help them achieve it.     Why Do Children Need Regular Eye Exams?  For s ..read more

In the classic movie, A Christmas Story, all little Ralphie Parker wanted was a BB gun for Christmas. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid,” was the oft-repeated response by adults throughout the film. And for good reason! A study published in the December 2019 issue of Pediatrics found that between 1990-2016, more than 360,000 records of children harmed with BB guns and other “non-powder firearms.” But did you know that even Nerf® guns, a supposedly safer alternative to BB guns, have been shown to cause eye injury in some cases? Though injuries resulting in total blindness are incredibly rare, the ..read more

Does it seem that, no matter how hard they try, your child is constantly below grade level in reading? Do they constantly complain about headaches and tired or sore eyes after spending time doing close-up activities such as writing or working on a computer? They may have hyperopia, also known as farsightedness. If it goes undiagnosed, hyperopia can significantly harm a child’s school performance, make extra-curricular activities more difficult, and generally reduce their quality of life. Want to know more about this common vision problem, how you can recognize it and how you can help your chil ..read more

Cataract surgery is a highly successful procedure that removes cataracts, the cloudy formations on the eye’s lens that impair vision. Now, researchers are discovering that vision loss may be linked to a higher rate of dementia and suggest that restoring clear vision (through cataract surgery, for example) may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Is There a Correlation Between Cataracts and Dementia? More than half of those 80 or older have had at least one cataract. Many people in this age range also have dementia, a decline in cognitive functioning. But is there a connection between these ..read more

Monday, Jun 27, 2022 is National Sunglasses Day, so grab your favorite pair of sunnies and celebrate! Many people think sunglasses are little more than a fashion accessory or a way to minimize glare while driving. But the truth is that wearing sunglasses is vital if you want to safeguard your eye health and vision. Why Sunglasses are Important The number one reason to wear sunglasses is that they prevent ultraviolet (UV) light from entering your eyes. UV light has been shown to age every part of the eye, from the delicate outer eye tissue to the tiny structures within the eye itself. Chronic U ..read more

Working at home is a great way to ditch your commute and enjoy more flexible hours, but there can be an unexpected consequence—digital eye strain. If you’re like many workers, you probably spend most of your day on a computer or other digital device, and likely experience the headache, blurred vision, sore eyes or achy back so common with digital (computer) eye strain. In contrast to being in the office, where workers take coffee breaks and socialize, working solo at home often translates into spending more time on the computer without breaks, and often beyond the typical 9 to 5 schedule. This ..read more

If there’s one aspect of optometry that everyone recognizes, it’s the traditional eye chart, with its rows of big letters on top, which gradually become smaller the farther down you go. This chart is usually known as the Snellen chart. Yet how much do you really know about this eye chart? Are all eye charts the same? How are these eye charts used? And when were they invented? Here’s everything you need to know about eye charts and more! What is an Eye Chart? An eye chart is one of the tools your eye doctor uses to assess your eyesight. Based on how well you can see various letters on the chart ..read more

You wake up in the morning ready to start your day, only to discover that your eyes are bloodshot. That might not be surprising if you stayed up late to finish a project, had too many drinks at a party or spent time in a smoke-filled room. But bloodshot eyes can also signal an underlying eye problem. If your eyes appear red or bloodshot, make an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to determine the cause and to receive effective treatment. Why Do I Have Bloodshot Eyes? When blood rushes to the front of the eye, the tiny red blood vessels on the white of the eye dilate an ..read more

What Is Macular Degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a deterioration of the macula, the key part of the retina responsible for highly detailed vision and central vision. There are two main types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry AMD occurs when small deposits in the macula called drusen gradually damage the light-sensitive retinal nerve cells, leading to vision loss. In wet AMD, fragile new blood vessels grow under the macula. When these blood vessels leak blood or fluid, it damages the macula. Although both types of macular degeneration can result in vision loss, we ..read more

If you’re over the age of 60, there’s a good chance you’ll develop cataracts sometime in the next 20 or so years. While the only effective long-term treatment for cataracts is surgery, it can take years or even decades for a cataract to reach the point where it needs to be surgically removed. In the meantime, your optometrist can monitor its progression, manage your symptoms and ensure you have the best vision possible. Once your cataract makes it difficult for you to function day-to-day, your eye doctor will refer you to an ophthalmologist who will perform eye surgery to replace your eye’s na ..read more