Services provided at our office include:
	New Illinois State Law		Professional Eye Examinations
	Contact Lenses		Optical Dispensing
	Laser Vision Correction (Lasik)		Surgery Co-Management
	Eye Infections, Eye Injuries, Dry Eyes		Eye Diseases; Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetes
	Treatment of Computer Vision Syndrome		Low Vision Services
	Sports Vision

New Illinois State law requires comprehensive eye exams for children starting school. Click here for more information.

Parents: Make sure an eye exam is on your child's 'to-do list' for the summer. Click here for more information.

Click here for the Illinois Eye Exam Report.

Teacher's Guide. Click here to find out more information about what every teacher should know about their student's vision.

Our exams are a bit different than others out there. First, our medical assistants take a complete medical case history. Then, they perform diagnostic testing such as visual acuities, color vision testing, glaucoma pressure check, fundus imaging, and other tests depending on your individual needs. These are all necessary for the Doctors to evaluate your visual system and eye health needs. When you finish with the medical assistants you are then off to the doctor. The doctor will first go over all the testing done by the medical assistant to identify your individual needs. The doctor will explain everything that is going on. We here at Gardner Eye Care do a two part exam:

– the first is the vision part which includes contact lens, glasses, and laser vision correction.

– the second part is the eye health part which includes checking for Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetes, Dry eye, Macular Degeneration, and more.

After the testing is over the doctor will go over and explain everything. The doctor will then recommend what he/she feels is the necessary next step. When at Gardner Eye Care feel free to ask any questions you may have, the doctors are always happy to answer them.

Our professionals can help fit you into a pair of lenses that is just right for you. We are experts in fitting contact lenses and can handle the most specialized needs. Whether rigid or soft lenses, we are experienced in handling the most difficult of prescriptions.

If you have allergies, then you know allergies can be particularly annoying to contact lens wearers. In the past many people had to quit wearing their lenses during the allergy season. However, new lens materials and allergy medications have made it possible for these people to eliminate the burning itchy eyes associated with allergies. Prescription medications such as Patanol and Alocril are amazingly effective and safe even in children as young as three. Let us know when you come in for your appointment if you have special allergy needs and we will be happy to help you.

Our optical laboratory has the latest in equipment to not only fabricate your glasses, but to maintain and repair them should they become broken or damaged. We are able to tint, coat, harden and edge spectacle lenses. We are able to provide you with any frame or lens design available. Our highly qualified optician and staff are able to adjust and fit your glasses to you for extended comfort and vision.

Most people with vision correction issues are wanting to know more about LASIK and whether it is right for them. Here is a brief description of the procedure;

A flap is surgically cut in the cornea and gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea into a flatter shape (this is much like a contact lens corrects vision by forming a new shape on the cornea). The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage. The healing process is quick and the discomfort level is quite low.

People will often say that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have improved vision in 24-48 hours. but it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, often continues to improve for some weeks, even months.

LASIK is not for everyone. People's eyes are different so even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it may not be the best course of treatment for you. If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you.

After the procedure, we take great care to monitor your eyes and adjust your medication for the best possible results.

Our office provides many of the surgical services such as Cataract surgery, Laser surgery, Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery. We offer this in conjunction with the hospital and local eye surgeons.

Additionally, we have working arrangements established with other specialized eye care doctors to manage such things are retinal detachments, retinal tears and hemmorhages.

Our office provides emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our office at 708-598-1322 during office hours or our emergency number; 708-598-0557 after hours or on weekends. Our staff will work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. State of the art microscopes allow us to examine the front surface of the eye and facial areas around the eye for infection or injury. After assessing the extent of the injury or infection a treatment plan will be formulated and explained to you. Treatment may include medications and supportive care. Follow-up visits to monitor your recovery will be scheduled as needed.

Dry Eyes: Symptoms include scratchy eyes, burning, mild redness and gritty feeling eyes. Oral medications, reading, computer tasks and dry environments may aggravate marginally dry eyes. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by using dyes to observe tear patterns, evaluation of the amount of tears on the front of the eye and from review of your symptoms. Treatment may include artificial tears; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals.

Cataracts: The natural lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older. When opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be impaired. Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care. When the cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery. Our office co-manages with cataract specialists that are proven experts in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new world of vision.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma gradually destroys the optic nerve tissue in the back of the eye. The greatest danger of glaucoma stems from the fact that the disease is painless and without obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred. The most common cause is from pressure being too high inside the eye, but vascular disease and other diseases can also cause glaucoma. We always monitor for glaucoma during routine eye examinations. Tests include checking the pressure of the eye, screening for peripheral vision defects and analyzing the appearance of the optic nerve. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, we typically prescribe medications that lower the eye pressure. Most forms of glaucoma are successfully treated with eye drops. Laser treatments and eye surgery are secondary treatments that offer alternative ways to treat more advanced glaucoma.

Diabetes: Diabetic patients should have a dilated retinal examination each year. Laser treatments have proven to slow the progression of retinal eye disease for many patients. Diabetes often stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, which ultimately leak and damage the retina. If this condition is discovered early, laser treatment can destroy these vessels. We have the latest instruments used to detect changes in the back of the eye. If we discover advancing diabetic eye disease that can be treated or needs further evaluation, we will refer you for consultation and further testing to a board certified retinal specialist.

If you spend long hours on computers or have any symptoms as listed below, give our office a call or e-mail us for an appointment.

Common Symptoms in CVS

*General eyestrain-sore or tired eyes

*Headaches

*Irritated and/or dry eyes

*General fatigue/drowsiness

*Difficulty shifting focus between near and far objects

*Neck/shoulder/back pain

*Increased light sensitivity

People who have lost eyesight due to injuries or eye disease need special types of products to help them function as independently as possible. We offer a full range of these products through our office. Our paraoptometric staff is trained to demonstrate the use of some of these devices. They range all the way from a simple hand magnifier to a closed circuit TV system.

In addition, we can direct those who have low vision problems to products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform. In some cases we can set up a program for the low vision patient with the National Library of Congress to receive "books on tapes", which is a service for the blind.

As a long-time athlete Dr. Gardner believes strongly that accurate vision is mandatory for sports performance.
Vision has three components that must be addressed in order to assure visual success and reliability. The three components are:
SIGHT - the clarity of the image on an intact healthy retina
MOTOR - Ocular tracking, saccades, accommodation and fusion
INFORMATION PROCESSING - rapid visual perceptual processing.

Vision is a key skill in most sports. All sports are different and required different visual demands. Individuals that participate in sports have unique visual systems. Dr Jack can identify visual problems areas of an individual participating in a sport by using different testing techniques.

Signs/symptoms of visual problems