Some long-planned significant changes seemed to pale in comparison with the daily news of the pandemic and its stresses and strains on the health care infrastructure. One of these long-planned changes is to the Evaluation & Management (E&M) coding system that has been in place with very little annual modification since 1995. In fact, the last significant change was in 1997—until now.
After refractive error, dry eye is almost certainly the most common ocular issue you encounter at your practice. Just consider: 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with dry eye disease (DED) and as many as six million symptomatic individuals may go undiagnosed.1 With an ever-expanding roster of exam techniques and treatment options to consider, formulating a plan to manage such a heavy caseload can be a challenge. How is this pervasive problem addressed in optometric offices across the country? We surveyed our readers to get a glimpse.
With the increase in screen time possible during the pandemic, many patients may inquire about the negative effects that the screens of their personal devices may have on their eyes and health. This article will highlight how digital screens affect the visual system and pediatric development, and will offer recommendations you can provide for your patients.
Binocular vision disorders are prevalent in patients at all stages of life—from pediatric to geriatric—and especially in patients with developmental disabilities and a history of traumatic brain injury. They can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life and their ability to perform daily tasks. Given the prevalence and symptomatology, all practitioners, regardless of their clinical settings, should be well adept at binocular vision testing and understand what is considered normal—and what suggests a binocular vision dysfunction.
Amblyopia can be described as a reduction of the best-corrected visual acuity of one or both eyes, caused by conditions that affect normal visual development.1 It is not progressive and does not continue to cause further vision loss after visual maturation. Some may consider it an unavoidable disease process that results in visual difficulties in children, but amblyopia is actually a preventable and manageable condition.
You’ve taken the kids for their checkups and scheduled your parents’ doctor visits. You even went along to make sure they understand what was happening.
Nikki Iravani, OD, is always on the lookout for a great marketing tip.
Nine women ODs were honored during the fourth annual Theia Awards of Excellence from Women In Optometry magazine.