Slowing the Increase in Myopia
Myopia is the Rodney Dangerfield* of vision conditions. Unlike glaucoma or macular degeneration, myopia isn’t ‘given respect’ because the majority of treatments don’t involve surgery. Most of the time, either eyeglasses or contact lenses do the trick. If a person is fed up with glasses or contact lenses, there’s vision correction surgery (e.g., LASIK). The […]
How Does Your Office Staff Work?
You spent four years getting your bachelor’s degree, another four in medical school, not to mention one to three years in a residency program (depending on your specialty). Next came working for another doctor. You worked hard, saved your pennies, and then you bought your own practice. Now you can just sit back (in between […]
Glaucoma Associated with Stroke Risk
Having glaucoma is no joke. A person has to adhere to a medication regimen just to maintain functional vision, and even then, surgery may still be required. Another reason to take glaucoma seriously is that it is associated with stroke. It sounds unlikely, yet there is evidence linking the two conditions. A study was done […]
Alternative to Reading Glasses
Benjamin Franklin is credited with developing bifocal glasses in 1760. Of course, one wonders if he wore them while he flew his kite on that dark and stormy night or if he ever had trouble finding them when he wanted to read a book or write a letter! Most people are smart enough not to […]
When the Bugs Get in Your Eyes
You don’t have be an OD or MD to know that having something in your eye is annoying. It can also be harmful to your vision. Irritants and bacteria can eat away at the eye, potentially leading to vision loss. With that said, there are times when bugs (microbes) can be beneficial to the eye. […]
Low Vision & Depression
It is no secret that a greater number of people are experiencing low vision from conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. While these conditions don’t lead to sudden vision loss, they do take their toll. In addition to reduction of mobility and difficulty with near work activities (e.g., reading) vision limiting conditions can […]
Solar Eclipse Safety
The United States will experience a solar eclipse on August 21. The eclipse will start at approximately 10:00 am Pacific Daylight Time/1:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. Depending on where you are in the U.S., the eclipse will be either total or partial. The path of totality, where the sun is completely occluded, starts at Salem, […]
Blue Light and Eye Health
It is clear that more and more people are using digital devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers. While these devices can make it easier to work and communicate, not to mention have fun, there is a trade-off to all this convenience. Digital devices can affect eye health. There has been an increase in […]
Corporate vs Independent Optometry
A great thing about optometry is that doctors have different career options. They can work in academia, at a corporate or privately owned practice as an employee, or as an independent practice owner. Since most optometrists work in some type of practice, this blog entry will focus on working as a corporate employee versus being […]
Do These Things for a Successful Practice
Optometry is unique in that it is one of the few medical specialties that offers a fashion statement (frames) in addition to a medical examination. Since there is a physical product to sell, how can you maximize your product and service mix, to keep customers coming back and your practice profitable? Don’t worry, you don’t […]