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Jeffrey Anshel, OD, FAAO Ocular Nutrition Society Encinitas, CA Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS UC Davis Medical Center Sacramento, CA Sherry J. Bass, OD, FAAO SUNY College of Optometry New [...]

Contact lens wearers who suffer from dry eye have an especially difficult experience. A contact lens is a highly designed and biocompatible medical device, yet it disrupts the normal pre-corneal [...]

Silicone Hydrogels and the Rosacea Patient KS, a 33-year-old female, presented to the University of Iowa with complaints of severe burning and discomfort for the last eight months. Over the [...]

I consider myself a bibliophile. I've had a lifelong love of books and am proud to have passed that love on to both my children. I recently completed Robin Cook's [...]

Ocular allergy is one of the most common ocular surface diseases seen in a primary eyecare practice. Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) often exists concurrently with rhinitis and asthma/and patients with allergic [...]

We've started a series of articles on the ocular effects of systemic disease. The first article in this series is an excellent summary by Dr. Michael Ohlson in which he [...]

In this month's issue, we focus on cataract surgery co-management. It's a topic especially close to my heart because I ran an optometric co-management center for a few years. It [...]

Diabetes is one of the most common systemic diseases in the world. We all see patients with diabetes in our practices on a daily basis. Many of them express an [...]

Spring brings renewal. Green returns to the trees, and flowers grow. For optometrists it means the return of ocular allergy season. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that [...]

Recently, I had a patient return to my office shortly after his yearly exam. This gentleman has advanced glaucoma, and after my initial diagnosis, he has undergone several surgical procedures [...]

My son, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama's film school, does freelance video work. It is a cool way to pay his bills, and a fella has to [...]

Like a lot of folks, I suffer from seasonal allergies. This time of year I am much more bothered by the constant, unrelenting runny nose accompanying my seasonal allergy attacks. [...]

I readily admit I am from another time, before cell phones and laptops. But not video games. I wore Pong out back in the day. Still, I think I have [...]

This issue is our annual allergy issue. I've often joked that in the spring, a young man's thoughts turns to love, while an old optometrist's thoughts turns to ocular allergy. [...]

I get to write a lot with this gig. While I take pride (and responsibility) for everything I've written, October's issue contained an article I'm especially proud of. 'The High [...]

Corporate-affiliated optometrists with Walmart and Sam's Club have formed an association called Energeyes to facilitate networking, collaboration, and education for the benefit of their corporate-affiliated optometric colleagues. The potential number [...]

I spent the first 10 years of my adult life working as an itinerant coal miner, like my father and grandfather before me. It wasn't until a good woman, who [...]

When I wrote about my learning curve with cataract surgery a few months back, I mentioned the need to deal with any ocular surface matters before cataract evaluation. A compromised [...]

In this issue is an excellent article by Dr. Zach McCarty that discusses Meaningful Use and the need for optometrists to comply with the mandatory EHR guidelines by 2014. In [...]

I recently bought a new truck. It's nothing fancy, a bare-bones pickup truck. I looked far and wide, did extensive research, haggled with different dealerships, and narrowed the selection to [...]

The other day I was driving along, enjoying a beautiful, warm Southern winter day, when a plumber whizzed by in his dirty white van. The truck-side advertising showed a dripping [...]

In my years in this profession, I've seen a lot of changes--besides those to my hairline and waistline. I've seen us go from a drugless profession to one in which [...]

Howdy. My name is Ernie. That's how I've introduced myself to my patients, my students, business acquaintances, and total strangers for as long as I can remember. Somewhere else in [...]

The article discusses ways to help practitioners ensure compliance in contact lens wearers. Studies are cited which indicate compliance levels among contact lens wearers. Daily disposable contact lenses are identified as the best mode of wear from a health perspective. Recommendations for handling, care, and proper use of contact lenses are outlined.

The article discusses the therapeutic use of topical corticosteroids for dry eye disease (DED) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It notes that DED has been linked to ocular surface inflammation, causing symptoms of burning sensation and eye irritation. It mentions that topical corticosteroids are affective anti-inflammatory drugs that can control symptoms of moderate and severe dry eye. It also adds that corticosteroids can lessen ocular irritation and corneal fluorescein staining.

The article presents an update on the over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of allergies, specifically on allergic conjunctivitis. Allergy refers to a hypersensitivity response or overreaction of the immune system resulting from an exposure to an allergen. Several factors can be attributed to the increase of allergic conditions such as atopic family or personal history. A brief overview of the types of allergic conjunctivitis is provided.

The article provides insights on choosing effective treatment for chronic dry eyes. It emphasizes the importance of getting a comprehensive medical history, environmental history and medical profile in order to understand the case of a patient. Among the recommended diagnostic tools to determine and treat the severity of chronic dry eyes are the Tear Film Break-Up Time (TFBUT) and Ocular Protection Index (OPI). Also noted is the role of tolerability and relevant research in selecting the best treatment.

Reports on the proper diagnosis and treatment of corneal ulcer. Importance of considering the accuracy of history and clinical appearance of patients in making a specific bacterial diagnosis and laboratory investigation; Comment of Robert Harbin, director of ophthalmology at Harbin Clinic in Rome, Italy, on cultured cornea; Eradication of viable bacteria from the cornea and rapid suppression of the inflammatory response caused by the microorganism.

The article focuses on vital strains in cornea and contact lens practice. The article states that vital dyes such as sodium fluorescein, rose Bengal and lissamine green are important tools in clinical practice, not only for diagnosing and evaluating ocular surface disorders, but also for fitting contact lenses. The primary purpose of fluorescein staining has been to detect epithelial defects and assist in the diagnosis of erosions, corneal abrasions and keratitis. Fluorescein staining is used to evaluate the tear break-up time (TBUT) of the precorneal tear film.

The article focuses on the issue of ocular allergy in the context of contact lenses. Estimates suggest that out of 35 to 36 million contact lens wearers in the United States, 20 to percent to 30 percent suffer from allergic eye diseases and a significant number of contact lens wearing patients are expected to develop them. By carefully examining patients' total contact lens regimen and modifying items as needed, in most instances eye-care practitioners can keep the patients wearing their lenses comfortably.

The article suggests the potential growth opportunity offered by ocular allergy management for an optometric practice, as told by optometrist Ernest L. Bowling at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. The diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis is helped by determining its clinical signs and symptoms. Infection and dry eye are some considerations in making differential diagnosis. Bowling recommends prescribing a medication with known efficacy when it comes to therapy.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article concerning the proposed Board Certification for optometry of the Joint Board Certification Project Team.