My practice does not define me (and I mean this in a good way)

As a small business owner (or perhaps just as a working adult?), I constantly have to work on the balance between my personal life and my business.  If I were so inclined, I’m sure I could find projects and obsessions to keep me working on the business pretty much all hours of the day.

Unfortunately, the more I ponder and work on my practice, the more I associate its success with my own personal success.  As in, my success as a person.

So, as we are faced with a fully reasonable and predictable lull in patient traffic for a period of days or weeks, I find myself fighting the urge to be incredibly upset by this perceived lack of success.  As a person.  Which it obviously is not.  But I have to remind myself of that, because I do spend a lot of time thinking and working on this business.

What’s my point?  I love being an optometrist, and I love to solve complex problems and help people.  But before I’m a doctor, I’m a husband and a father, and my success in that realm trumps any other measure of professional success.

Bottom line #2:  I need a hobby!  Then, even if work is slow, I have other endeavors to keep me occupied and productive.  How’s that for a plan?  Or I could just start blogging incessantly, and my posts would become so frequent, they would just blend into the white noise . . .

Local Allergy Forecast

Check out the above link – very cool!  And for more information regarding eye allergies, read my recent post on the subject.

Related articles

• Allergy Season is Here! (costcoeyeexam.wordpress.com)

LASIK Thoughts ...

Here is a great website for all of the allergy suffers out there.

Easy to use – select your state, choose your city and get the 4 day allergy forecast for your area.

http://www.pollen.com/allergy-weather-forecast.asp

View original post

Review of Costco Eye Drops

Periodically, I like to browse the eye care section here at Costco so I know what products are available to the members.  I assume there may be some variability among different locations, but currently the Thornton Costco stocks four different brands of eye drops.  Following are my thoughts on each brand.

Systane Ultra and Refresh Tears

I have these two listed together because they are in the same class of drops – namely, traditional preserved artificial tears without any added pharmaceutical agents.  My personal preference from a comfort standpoint is Refresh, but everyone’s eyes are different, and some people will prefer Systane.  I believe Systane is a slightly thicker drop.  Either one can safely be used up to four times per day as needed for dry eyes or irritation.  Beyond four times per day usage, preservatives from the drops may start to irritate the eyes. 

Refresh Plus Non-Preserved Tears

These are the same general formulation as Refresh Tears, but without the preservatives.  Refresh Plus is indicated for people whose eyes are very sensitive to preservatives in standard drops, as well as individuals who need to use drops more than four times per day.  Instead of a traditional multi-use bottle, these drops come in separate tear-away vials that each contain about 6-8 drops.  The package calls them “single-use” vials, but in reality they are usually ok for multiple applications within the same day (any unused drops should be discarded at the end of the day because they are not preserved against contamination. Of course, open vials should be stored in sanitary conditions to avoid contamination as well). This is what I used after my LASIK, and they were fantastic.  The Costco pack is definitely the way to go – amazingly economical compared to what you would expect to find at a drugstore, for example.

Visine Advanced Redness Relief

I was actually somewhat sad to see this appear on the shelf in recent months, especially considering that here at Costco it comes in a three pack!  Visine should be using sparingly to not at all, given its potentially detrimental effects with long-term use.  Along with any sort of lubricants included, the active ingredient in Visine is a drug that shrinks blood vessels (hence the redness relief – smaller vessels mean whiter eyes!).  After extended use, your eye’s blood vessels may reach a point where they cannot regulate their size properly, and you end up rather dependent on the drug to keep from having red eyes.  Ok to use once in a blue moon to look your best for a job interview?  Sure.  Good to buy in a 3-pack so you are tempted to use it all the time?  Not so much.  Avoid.

Allergy Season is Here!

allergies (Photo credit: jfl1066)

Although I see patients all year round for allergy-related problems, most people here in Colorado are the most troubled in spring and/or late summer.

Following are some bits of knowledge related to eye allergies and how to manage them. Keep in mind that many of the tips are helpful for other problems that can also create allergy-type responses in the eyes. As always, the following information cannot be considered an adequate replacement for proper eye care by a licensed professional.

1) Allergy symptoms primarily include redness, itching, and scratchiness or a foreign-body sensation (feels like something is in the eye). If you’re not experiencing at least some redness and itching, I would be surprised if your problem is allergic in nature.

2) Many eye allergy symptoms can be reduced or eliminated through conscientious eye washing. This may include cleaning your eyelids and lashes once or twice daily, as well as irrigating your eyes with artificial tears or eyewash. These non-medicated treatments can wash away potential allergens that may irritate your eyes and should be the first line of treatment even if medications will also be used. Cold compresses/washcloths can be very soothing as well and help to decrease inflammation.

3) Although it may be tempting to use an antihistamine pill to treat eye allergies, this may not be the best course of treatment. Not only will you get a higher concentration of medication in the desired location (the eye) with eye drops, but antihistamine pills are notorious for drying you out, including your eyes! If you are experiencing multiple other allergy symptoms – itchy throat, congestion, etc – then by all means go for a pill. Otherwise, consult your optometrist on what drops would be most appropriate to alleviate your eye problems.

4) The most commonly used eye drops for allergies are topical antihistamines (basically Claritin or Zyrtec for your eyes). Various excellent options are available both over-the-counter and by prescription, with prescription drops often working better with less doses. These drops not only help alleviate allergy symptoms, but they can also help prevent them from returning if used diligently.

5) If allergies get out of control and you develop a red, itchy, miserable eye; topical antihistamines may not be enough to get things under control. In this case, definitely see your optometrist, who can prescribe a short-term remedy to bring you back to where the everyday drops can carry the load!

Feel free to comment with any questions you may have regarding eye allergies, or to let us know what has worked well for you!