Articles related to VISION/OCULAR HEALTH

In a follow-up to a previous article on HCN, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently updated their website to report that 68 patients across 16 states have been identified with a rare and drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa called VIM-GES-CRPA (Verona integron-mediated metallo-β-lactamase). This strain is particularly concerning as it is difficult to treat with standard antibiotics. As a precaution, the CDC and FDA are recommending that clinicians and patients avoid using EzriCare or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears products until further guidance is issued. Optometrists are advised to stay informed about the situation and to follow the CDC and FDA’s recommendations to ensure the safety of their patients.

AvaGenTM is the first personalized genetic eye test that quantifies the risk of keratoconus and the presence of TGFBI corneal dystrophies based on gene variants. AvaGen provides a valuable tool for early and accurate decision-making that protects patients’ and their families’ vision.

It is critical to understand pupil testing and disorders. The pupil evaluation provides information about the retina, optic nerve, chiasm, optic tract, midbrain, cranial nerves III and V, and the orbit with a single quick, objective test. Furthermore, almost all of the true emergent conditions we see in optometry can be detected by a pupil examination.

Keratoconus is a multifactorial disease that can have serious consequences for a patient’s mental health, quality of life, and finances. In order to provide patients with the most accurate and relevant resources available, providers must educate themselves on the condition and information available to patients via social media and other outlets. More can be done to advance early detection, visual rehabilitation, and the development of patient and provider education resources as more is learned about the precise etiology of keratoconus.

Short appointment times, complex patient cases, stressors in electronic health records, a lack of control, and a poor work-life balance can all have a negative impact on patients’ health and even lead to physicians leaving their practices. Physician burnout reached 63% in 2021, demonstrating how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem. Recognizing the characteristics of zero-burnout practices and translating them into individual professional environments is one potential burnout intervention.

Infection patients reported using more than ten different brands of artificial tears, and some patients used multiple brands. The majority of patients who used artificial tears said they used EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter, preservative-free product packaged in multidose bottles. The outbreak strain was found in opened EzriCare bottles with different lot numbers collected from two states, according to CDC laboratory testing.