Meibomian Gland

Understanding of dry eye has improved dramatically, and we have come to appreciate that optimizing the ocular surface and ensuring the health of the tear films are easily the most important unmet needs in improving patient care and surgical outcomes. This applies not only to routine cataract surgery, but to LASIK and a variety of other ophthalmic surgeries as well.

There is this really cool “meeting before the meeting” that occurs on the Thursday of ASCRS and AAO week each year. The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit is the brainchild of Emmett Cunningham, a uveitis specialist who now spends his days nurturing startups. Many of the cutting-edge tech, device and pharma companies that surround our practices come together under the OIS tent to present their latest ideas to an audience that includes various and sundry “masters of the universe” types looking for their next blockbuster investment. Frankly, it is a bit pricey, but if you can sneak away on the day before Subspecialty Day, it is a fascinating look into what may be coming to your office.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meibomian gland segmentation may be an early sign of dysfunction, according to a poster presented here at the American Academy of Optometry meeting.

As eye care practitioners, we seek to preserve the vision and ocular health of our patients — we are the gatekeepers who can find eye disease before it progresses. Just as we are vigilant in looking for early stage glaucoma, we must also look for dry eye disease, even in asymptomatic patients.

A representative from the World Health Organization will share findings from the World Vision Report during the plenary session of the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Orlando.

LAS VEGAS – Jason Miller, OD, MBA, said he uses technology to better treat ocular surface disease in his practice and create an experience for the patient.

Eye care professionals know all too well that there have been decades of confusion and complexity surrounding the etiology of dry eye disease. Not only that, but what constitutes dry eye has also been the subject of debate for years. What defines dry eye? How is blepharitis involved? How does aqueous tear deciency, or ATD, relate to meibomian gland dysfunction? Despite our best eorts, our ability to understand the workings of the tear system and how disease affects this system has been limited at best.

Optometry is undergoing a tectonic shift, with online contact lens and eyeglass sales, telemedicine and equity capital group acquisitions all pointing to significant changes ahead. To prepare, we must identify unmet needs and expand our practices to meet them.

Evaporative nighttime stress and poor lid closure can increase dry eye disease symptoms in patients upon awakening, but a method to qualitatively evaluate the completeness of lid closure during sleep and simple ways to treat the problem can decrease symptoms.

A. Skip topical therapy, choose orals