Take a lead role in the care of patients who have glaucoma

In this month’s “O.D. to O.D.” (p.2), Dr. April Jasper discusses how by living your practice’s purpose, you can create value that inspires both your team and your patients. If living your practice’s purpose includes greater involvement in medical optometry, we invite you to spend time with this month’s “Practicing Medical Optometry” (PMO) section, which provides practical information on managing patients who have glaucoma.

THREE SOLID REASONS FOR GLAUCOMA MANAGEMENT

The PMO section starts with “Glaucoma 2020: A Call to Arms” (p.17), and asks, why should glaucoma be on your radar? Author Brett G. Bence, O.D., F.A.A.O., offers three reasons: First, optometrists practice in over 10,000 communities that serve 99% of the U.S. population. In addition to this access, O.D.s provide about 70% of all primary eye care exams. Finally, the medical management of glaucoma is an “integral component” of optometry school curriculum, as well as many residencies and CE programs.

Some might assume it is complex to get started in diagnosing glaucoma. Yet today, “an array of diagnostic tools, when used in concert, can facilitate the diagnosis,” writes Andrew Rixon, O.D., F.A.A.O., in “Catch the Silent Thief” (p.20). Dr. Rixon presents a variety of diagnostic devices and includes clinical pearls for each.

John J. O’Donnell, Jr., O.D., F.A.A.O., explains the objective of treating glaucoma is “to maintain and preserve usable vision” over the patient’s lifetime. To offer this high level of care, it’s important to provide a treatment regimen that addresses the many reasons for non-compliance with IOP-lowering drops, writes Dr. O’Donnell.

When treating glaucoma, optometrists can be challenged by a number of management issues, including scheduling and proper coding. Joshua M. Clermont, O.D., F.A.A.O., tackles both issues in “Master Glaucoma Services” (p.30). For example, to help facilitate a smoother clinic flow, especially with patients who require more time than expected, Dr. Clermont suggests an “upside-down pyramid” where fewer patients are scheduled later in the day.

In addition to the PMO, “Glaucoma” columnist Dr. Austin Lifferth discusses how to treat patients who have both glaucoma and dry eye disease (p.44). A combination approach to both “helps improve patient adherence and glaucoma prognosis for years to come,” he writes. OM