WELCOME TO THE DRY EYE ISSUE
Compiled here are practical tips from a few of the articles that appear in this issue of Optometric Management.
FILM A PATIENT’S BLINK PATTERN TO EDUCATE THEM
It can be confusing for a patient with dry eye symptoms to understand how lack of blinking can affect their vision, writes Dr. Jade Coats. She recommends filming a patient’s blink pattern, so they can witness the partial or incomplete blinking themselves. This can help them understand a full blink is necessary for tear film homeostasis.
Test for dry eye disease
CONSIDER NASAL SPRAY AND SCLERAL LENSES FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS WHO HAVE DED
Contact lens wearers can face unique challenges when dealing with aqueous deficient dry eye. For these patients, Drs. Melissa Barnett and Lisa Hornick recommend the use of dry eye relief nasal spray and scleral contact lenses, which are becoming more common as a DED treatment, as they protect the cornea and can accelerate the healing process.
Complement home and office dry eye care
MONITOR USE OF SYSTEMIC MEDICATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
When seeing a patient with an autoimmune disorder, keep in mind what medication they are taking to treat non-ocular conditions, write Drs. Roya Attar and Mohammad Rafieetary. For instance, corticosteroids are often prescribed to alleviate inflammation and associated effects, but their long-term use can result in significant ocular complications, including cataracts, glaucoma, and central serous retinopathy.
Understanding the signs of autoimmune disease
GRADE THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE MEIBOMIAN GLAND
In her “Dry Eye” column, Dr. Cecelia Koetting lays out the reasons why OD should routinely grade the structure and function of the meibomian glands in patients. A recent study implies that changes to the meibomian glands sometimes precede functional changes in the meibum quality and expressibility, lending importance to evaluating them in clinic.
Grade structure and function…
HOST ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE A “TEAM” ENVIRONMENT
In her latest “Staffing” column, Dr. Patricia Fulmer writes how to create an office environment that fosters loyalty with employees. One option is hosting events that allow team members to get to know each other and their leaders outside the office, such as outdoor activities, meals out, or seeing a play or concert together.
Four ways to help retain staff
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