Articles related to Optometry

Participants should be better able to discuss anti-VEGF therapy outcomes in patients with moderate-severe and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy after taking part in this educational activity with Drs. Susan Bressler, Mark Dunbar, and Ruth Weinstock, and understand the importance of prompt referral and early diagnosis to reduce or even prevent the vision-threatening complications of diabetes.

Studies have shown that up to 74% of patients who stopped wearing contact lenses can be persuaded to resume wearing if their concerns are satisfactorily addressed, despite the fact that studies have shown that up to 50% of contact lens wearers may stop wearing within the first three years. Simply put, these patients require eyecare professionals who are willing to discuss any concerns they may have and ask the appropriate questions.

New tests of visual function are emerging as a result of recent technology advancements. Today, evaluation of patient populations with limited access to healthcare is made possible by diagnostic testing with portable, affordable technologies, which also allows testing outside of a clinical environment or at home. These modifications make it possible to monitor patients more actively, produce more results, and deliver fast information on the effectiveness of ongoing treatment and prospective changes in visual status. Particularly, functional vision traits such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, binocularity, and others can be easily assessed outside of typical clinic consultations.

Among more than 3,000 patients taking hydroxychloroquine, overall cumulative incidence for developing retinopathy were 2.5% and 8.6% at 10 and 15 years respectively. Incidence was strongly dose-related and most cases were mild.

The effectiveness of one’s dry eye disease (DED) clinic depends on staff involvement in both diagnostic testing and patient education for three reasons: (1) It enables ODs to see more DED patients and quickly prescribe the treatment(s) needed to provide symptomatic relief; (2) It emphasizes the significance of diagnosing and adhering to the prescribed DED treatment; (3) And it fosters staff loyalty to a practice because they are actively involved in patient care rather than merely checking off the boxes.

Controversies about contact lenses are ongoing, and the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section leadership is once again thrilled to present a fresh series on this subject in this yearly piece for Contact Lens Spectrum. These debates concern the following topics: On-label vs. off-label myopia management treatments Do we overprescribe scleral lenses? Should all contact lens wearers be fitted with daily disposable lenses?