Nancy Groves

Glaucoma was once largely synonymous with elevated IOP, but the definition has altered as doctors have learned more about its causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Some optometrists are very aware of the role of nutrition in systemic and eye health and give it a prominent role in discussions with patients; others may refer to it only peripherally while reviewing a patient history form.

Patients with irregular corneas due to conditions such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or refractive surgery will always challenge the eye-care practitioner (ECP) to create just the right contact lens (CL) design.

The over-40 segment of your patients may represent a lost opportunity if you aren’t offering contact lenses (CLs) to every possible candidate, since presbyopic patients can be fit with CLs with a high rate of success. Encouraging CL wear and making patients aware of their options is in their best interest.

Most children who wear contact lenses do so because they have special needs that have arisen from surgery or an injury. Your challenge is not so much fitting lenses on pediatric patients, but dealing with parents or guardians and convincing them of the long-term benefits, according to Vicky Sheppard, NCLE-AC, FCLSA.

As the technology arms race proceeds, having a Web site no longer constitutes being on the cutting edge for an optometric practice.

Evidence is mounting that ocular perfusion pressure - arterial pressure minus intraocular pressure - is an important risk factor for open-angle glaucoma.

Area "Avatar" and other 3D movies an emerging public health opportunity for optometry as well as box office blockbusters?

As aides to eye-care professionals, paraoptometrics can use their clinical expertise to prevent patients from committing a myriad of contact-lens wearer "crimes," including wearing the same pair of disposable contact lenses for months at a time, rewetting lenses in their mouths, or growing a bacteria colony in their lens cases.

An evolution in glaucoma therapy is underway, shifting from a reliance solely on medication and surgery, to a greater understanding of disease pathology and risk factors in the conversion of ocular hypertension to glaucoma.

Studies have confirmed that good nutrition may have both preventive and therapeutic benefits for the eyes and body, but for ocular health specifically the advantages seem more likely to occur when eating wisely is a lifelong habit rather than a response to a disease.

The connection between pregnancy and the eyes may not be obvious, but several ocular changes, such as dry eyes or declines in IOP, can occur during pregnancy.

Treatment of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases with oral pharmaceutical agents requires an extra degree of attentiveness to the patient's history and their risk of adverse or allergic reactions.

Corneal transplantation is moving away from penetrating keratoplasty toward less invasive endothelial keratoplasty procedures in which only the damaged portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with donor cells.

Co-management relationships with ophthalmologists differ from community to community, but it's often best for the optometrist to take a proactive role in the pre-and postoperative decision-making and care.

For successful diagnosis and management of patients with glaucoma, optometrists must understand the structure-function relationship as the disease progresses and be proficient at performing structural and functional exams using imaging devices that provide reproducible, objective measurements.

Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, and, chances are, some of your patients are among them.

Currently, many individuals are living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and optometrists are likely to have individuals infected with HIV/AIDS present as patients.

The prevalence of carotid artery disease – one of the leading causes of ischemic stroke – increases with advancing age.

The optical industry has been moving toward customization in lens design.

Over the years, normal-tension glaucoma has become a more recognized clinical entity.

Hybrid contact lens technology has existed for more than 30 years, and with each new wave of advances, its indications and market share have expanded.

Treatment of arterial and venous occlusive diseases often involves consultations with and referrals to ophthalmologists and retina specialists.

Keeping up with developments in ophthalmic therapy could be a full-time job in itself, as new products are constantly tested and introduced, reformulated, given expanded indications, or withdrawn from the market.

TearScience Inc. announced on July 11 that its proprietary thermal pulsation system received FDA clearance for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, also known as evaporative dry eye.

Primary care optometrists can take the lead in helping their older patients manage age-related health issues directly and indirectly associated with the eyes and vision.

Biotrue and two other solutions with similar polyhexamethylene biguanide formulations did not alter corneal barrier function as compared with balanced salt solution and phosphate buffered saline controls.

Independent optometrists will increasingly need to differentiate themselves in their market. Forward-thinking eyewear designers offer an array of styles, shapes, colors, and materials that can help set your dispensary apart from the pack.

Treating both the medical and vision complaints of existing patients, in separate visits, is a low-cost strategy that generates significant additional income and meets patients' needs for comprehensive eye care.