As an eyecare professional, you’re well aware of how the sun’s UV rays can damage eyes if proper precautions are not taken. And while your patients are probably well-aware of the damaging effects of UV rays on skin, do they know the dangers their eyes face without proper protection?

According to a study conducted earlier this year by The Vision Council, 40 percent of adults in the United States don’t wear sunglasses when outdoors, revealing what’s been described as “a large disconnect between what Americans say they do to protect their eyes versus what they actually do when outside or behind the wheel.”

With that information in mind, it’s a good idea to send a reminder to patients about the dangers of overexposing their eyes to sunlight, not just in the summer but all year long. Those dangers include an increased risk of skin cancers of the eyelid, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Overexposure can also increase the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and benign growths of the conjunctiva (The Skin Cancer Foundation). Finally, it can result in photokeratitis, or sun burn of the cornea, which can be both painful and frightening.

…

Scientists at the United Kingdom’s University of Nottingham made a huge discovery recently, finding a new layer of the cornea. As Daily Mail reported, this is “a breakthrough experts say could ‘rewrite the ophthalmology textbooks,’” and “could help surgeons dramatically improve outcomes for patients undergoing corneal grafts and transplants.”

According to EyeWorld’s weekly email newsletter, the new layer of the cornea has been named “Dua’s layer,” after Harminder Dua, who made the discovery. Dua is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Nottingham. The new layer is located at the back of the cornea, in between the corneal stroma and Descemet’s membrane, and is only about 15 microns thick, which could be the reason “nobody had ever spotted it” (MSN). Despite its thinness, Dua’s layer has shown to be quite tough, with the ability to withstand up to two bars of pressure (Medical News Today).

Dua and his colleagues discovered the new layer of the cornea by injecting air bubbles into eyes donated for research. The air bubbles were injected to separate various layers of the cornea. This allowed the scientists to scan the layers using an electron microscope in order to study the …

A study comparing the UWFFA imaging capabilities of the Optos 200Tx and a recently introduced module-based system confirms that the optomap® provides the widest field of view. Results published in Clinical Ophthalmology demonstrated that both systems provided excellent imaging of the peripheral retina although the Optos optomap covered at least 50% more retinal surface area with a single, non-steered shot and provided a wider view of the retina temporally and nasally, with the comparator system providing greater visualization of the peripheral vasculature of the superior and inferior retina.

Witmer MT, Parlitsis G, Patel S, Kiss S. Comparison of ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography with the Heidelberg Spectralis noncontact ultra-widefield module versus the Optos optomap. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2013; 7: 389-394.

Do you ever feel as though your staff is less inspired about their work or somewhat detached from the practice? If so, you’re not alone. As Ophthalmology Management recently reported, a study conducted by Towers Watson revealed that 65 percent of the global workforce feels “unsupported, detached or disengaged.”

Staff engagement is an extremely important aspect of any medical practice. In response to Watson’s findings, Dana Jacoby, senior consultant with BSM Consulting, says that practitioners who don’t make time for getting staff members more involved and engaged could be making a huge mistake. Employee engagement, or lack thereof, can significantly affect staff retention rates, employee satisfaction and productivity.

So how can you get your staff engaged and keep them engaged? Jacoby offers four strategies for creating an effective staff engagement plan.

Base your plan on a common vision that “reflects a unified purpose and joint values.” Most practices do this in the form of a mission statement. Provide employees with an environment that fosters teamwork while making sure employees find purpose and satisfaction. Recognize your staff regularly for their contributions to the success of the practice or simply to show your appreciation for their hard work and dedication …

As we shared in our 2012 annual report, the global number of visually impaired people is expected to double by 2020. This is in large part due to an increasing number of cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD cases among the aging population.

A study conducted by the American Optometric Association revealed that a large portion of people are unaware of the systemic diseases that can be detected through an eye exam. For example, 62 percent didn’t know diabetes can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam. This is an especially unsettling statistic when you consider the fact that vision problems related to diabetes are the leading causes of blindness.

While a proactive approach to eye health is necessary at any age, it’s especially important for your aging patients. Recently, The Wall Street Journal discussed the issue and agreed that what you can’t see is the biggest concern. Dry eyes and presbyopia were listed as two of the issues that many patients start to notice by the age of 40.

Dr. Rachel Bishop of the National Eye Institute confirmed that it is when patients reach their 50s that eye diseases often start to show up.

“The most common eye …

Every optometrist or ophthalmologist has those patients who rarely miss an exam and are quick to reschedule if they do. Most also have patients that seem to fall off the grid and are hard to get in touch with in order to maintain a healthy regime of eye care exams.

As a recent article in Optometric Management shares, many practices use a “one-size-fits-all” strategy for reaching out to the patients that seem to have lost their way. Once a patient becomes unresponsive, they usually send a postcard and/or call. This, however, is not always the most effective method for getting these patients back into the office. Evan Kestenbaum, co-founder and chief information officer of GPN and co-owner of Optix Eyecare Center in New York, shares several great strategies for encouraging patients to respond and reschedule appointments.

Follow each comprehensive exam with housekeeping – After the exam, place a recall date in your practice management system. Then, use various forms of communication to reach patients to remind them of upcoming appointments to increase the chances that they will return.

Periodically identify lost patients – Set aside some time to periodically look through your practice management system to identify …

Optos firmly believes in detecting and treating vision problems and eye diseases as early as possible. That’s why we develop retinal imaging and diagnostic tools that are comfortable for patients of all ages. It’s also why we feel so strongly about calling attention to events that raise awareness for protecting the vision of our youth like Prevent Blindness America’s Most Beautiful Eyes Contest.

The Most Beautiful Eyes Contest was designed to present “a unique opportunity to remind parents about the importance of making sure our children’s eyes are healthy,” as Prevent Blindness America’s president and CEO Hugh R. Parry says. With the support of sponsors and judges, the contest is working to guide children down the path toward a lifetime of healthy vision.

The contest is currently accepting submission and will continue to do so through July 31, 2013. Parents of children ages zero to 17 are invited to submit a photo of their child’s beautiful eyes on the Prevent Blindness America Facebook page for the chance to win an educational scholarship worth $10,000. The public will be allowed to vote during the month of August, and winners will be selected for each of the fifty states. State …

Examining the periphery with UWF autofluorescence (UWFAF) reveals patterns that suggest a new classification system for AMD and provide evidence of disease progression. A recent paper in Ophthalmology describes UWFAF imaging evaluations of patients with AMD (n=200) and no disease (n=19). The authors report that overall, 69% of eyes had peripheral AF abnormalities (86% with neovascular AMD, 73% with non-neovascular AMD, and 18% in eyes without AMD) and identify a strong correlation between observed AF patterns and the clinical features of the disease. They propose a classification system for AMD based on distinct AF patterns in the periphery and suggest that these patterns may be predictive of disease progression. The Optos 200Tx utilized in the study is the only imaging system available with the capability for UWFAF.

Tan CS, Heussen F, Sadda SR. Peripheral autofluorescence and clinical findings in neovascular and non-neovascularagre-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2013. [Epub ahead of print]

Have you ever noticed that patients sometimes apply a “shopping” strategy to the process of choosing an eyecare practitioner? As odd as it sounds, a survey performed for the Vistakon Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. revealed that “Patients choose your practice or reject it, based on how well the value proposition you offer aligns with their own shopping philosophies,” (Optometric Management).

The survey queried 7,500 visioncare consumers who ranged in age from 18 to 60. Participants were asked to answer 624 questions related to the factors that play into decisions regarding the purchase of glasses or contacts. As the results were tallied, five specific visioncare shopper segments were identified, which are:

Discriminating Health Investors: 19 percent of participants were identified as “discriminating health investors,” or shoppers who want only the very best and are able to pay for it. High-quality products and advanced technology, as well as building a trusted relationship with their practitioner, are of extreme importance.

Skilled Shoppers: Skilled shoppers accounted for another 19 percent of the population of survey participants. These visioncare shoppers seek quality products, care, and service, but also “want to feel like they are getting a good deal.”

…

Good digital communication with patients is key to growing an eyecare practice, according to a recent piece featured on the website of the Review of Optometric Business.

Tommy Lim, OD, of Berryessa Optometry in San Jose, California, asserted that professionals must connect with patients on a new level, using the technology patients already use to stay connected with the world. This “is critical to the survival and growth of a practice,” Lim said. It’s all about embracing today’s digital technology and using it to communicate in a manner that is most consumer-friendly.

In addition to using digital technology to communicate with patients, Dr. Lim shared the importance of establishing a strong, positive presence on the internet to reach potential patients. Vibrant websites can immediately grasp one’s attention, and positive reviews on sites like Yelp and other feedback-driven sites allow potential patients to research your practice.

And the technology you use within your practice can also enhance digital communication with patients, as well as attract new patients. Take Optos’ optomap technology, for example. One of the many benefits practitioners find with our technology is the ability to send patients an email containing their retinal images captured during an exam. …