J A N UA R Y I S G L AU CO M A AWA R E N E S S M O N T H

Does that missed eye drop really matter?Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, but when treated in its early stages, vision loss can be prevented. Studies show that more than half of glaucoma patients struggle to adhere to their treatment schedule and that skipping doses can cause your glaucoma to worsen. OCB glaucoma specialists offer these tips:

Ask for help from health professionals and loved ones.

of which meds to take and when. Talk with your OCB eye doctor or pharmacist about your medications, their impact and possible side effects. Consider taking a loved one with you to your eye appointments, so they can help you follow your treatment plan, and perhaps help you apply your eye drops.

Use memory aids. Forgetting is the most common reason people skip their eye drops. To better remember, try connecting your eye drop schedule to your routine. For example, put your eye drop bottle next to your toothbrush or your pill box. You could also set an alarm on your smartphone.

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O P H T H A L M I C C O N S U L T A N T S O F B O S T O N

I S S U E 6W I N T E R

2016

OCB VISIONS

The Center for Eye Research and Education is a non-pro�t foundation led by OCB physicians that supports projects throughout the world aimed at preserving vision for those in need. To donate, go to: cere-foundation.org

In this Issue: Beat Dry Eye

This Winter

“Even though you may not feel symptoms day to day, it is important to recognize that glaucoma is a chronic condition and taking your eye drops as prescribed is critical to preventing vision loss,” says OCB Glaucoma Specialist Claudia Richter, MD.

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Relieve Dry Eye Winter cold triggers dry eye for many. The following tips may help ease your symptoms:

OCB has dedicated dry eye clinics in each of its nine locations o�ering you the latest treatments for dry eye.

Why have your Eye Surgery at an Ambulatory Surgery Center?

OCB Ophthalmogists Daniel O’Conn r, MD and Joshua Ney, MD in Plymouth.

OCB Ophthalmologist Peter Rapoza, MD and technician Nitza Mendez in Waltham.

OCB’s team of eye care specialists perform surgery at four ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) licensed and accredited by the American Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Conveniently located in Boston, Plymouth, Sandwich and Waltham, you can choose to have your surgery close to home.

ASCs offer many advantages over a traditional hospital setting because they are highly specialized

effectively. When choosing an OCB ASC for your surgery, you are treated by a dedicated, reassuring medical team that has a singular focus, caring for your eyes.

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There’s an App For That!New Technology for Low Vision Aids Low vision does not mean giving up your activities, but it does mean applying new ways of doing them. Devices such as closed-circuit TV (CCTV) magni�ers have traditionally helped those with low vision make the most of their eyesight. But now, with advances in technology such as tablets, smartphones, and apps, there are many more options to assist our low vision patients including:

E-readers. The Kindle®, the iPad® and otherelectronic readers (e-readers) are portable and moreaffordable alternatives to the CCTV. Both allow theuser to adjust the font size and contrast settings ofthe display and have text-to-speech functionality sothey can read aloud to users.

Apps galore. Both Apple- and Android-based smartphones and tablets offer a range of apps and built-in functions to help people with low vision including:

iRead, iLoupe, and Magnify. These are appsthat use your device’s camera and light source to magnify and illuminate text. While theseapps won’t match the power of a CCTV, they are portable, less-expensive alternatives.

the denomination of U.S. paper money by reading aloud or emitting an ascending number ofbeeps or pulsed vibrations for each bill.

Available for Apple and Android phones, these apps providesvoice-guided directions and tells the driver when to turn.

Siri, the voice recognition system on the iPhone, allows users to check theweather, email, or their calendar without having to visually navigate a series of icons. Usersmay also dictate texts or emails. Similar apps are available for an Android phone.

These new advances in consumer technology are not a cure-all for those with low vision, but they can help improve your quality of life allowing you to continue to enjoy reading and stay better connected with friends and family.

Check out our newest locations

www.eyeboston.com

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O C B N E W S

OCB Physicians Receive “Top Doc” Honors

OCB at AAO Conference

W E L C O M I N G N E W P A T I E N T S

Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston #OCBeyeboston

Boston Cambridge Metro West

North Shore Plymouth Sandwich

Waltham Wareham Yarmouth

Does that missed eye drop really matter? (Continued from page 1)

Putting in eye drops can be a challenge and research shows that nearly 30 percent of glaucoma patients are not properly applying their eye drops. There is no need to squeeze the bottle. Wash your hands and gently pull and pinch the lower lid to make a pocket to catch your drops. Once the drops are in, close your eyes and apply pressure to the point where the lids meet the nose for one to two minutes.

What to do if you miss a dose. If you miss a dose take it when you remember, then resume your normal schedule. If this happens consistently, be sure to discuss with your OCB doctor.

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