
As some of you may know first hand, either as a patient or as a provider, the battle against dry eyes is a never ending war. Fortunately, there are many products available to treat dry eyes and many more will become available. One of my absolute favorites are punctal plugs. How it works: we have 4 tear ducts called the punctum located in the inside corner of each eye (2 in each eye, swipe left to the last photo to see a diagram). These puncta are openings in our eyelids which function to drain tears out of our eyes through a canal connecting our eyes to our nose. This is why when you cry, you get a sniffly nose and feel fluid go down your throat. The purpose of a punctal plug is to plug up the tear duct, thus preventing tears from exiting the eye and allowing the tears to be retained on the eye longer. This provides increased and consistent moisture to the surface of the eye. I almost always never use punctal plugs as monotherapy for dry eyes but their addition significantly improves symptoms. They are also extremely useful for improving post surgical outcomes such as LASIK/PRK as well as for treating corneal conditions such as ulcers, ABMD, etc. Swipe left to see how a punctal plug, specifically an EaglePlug, physically sits in the punctum. Diagram illustration of the puncta credited to the Mayo Clinic.
#optometry #eyedocs #eyedoc #eyedoctor #optometrist #optometrylife #ophthalmologist #ophthalmology #optometrystudent #optometrystudents #optometryschool #eyecare #eyehealth #healthcare #visioncare #medicine #igdaily #odlife #punctum #alliedhealth #healthcareprovider #healthcareprofessional #cataract #cataracts
#dry #dryeyes #life #eye #eyes
Can you imagine⁉️ 🧐 Now think about this ladies... if you were allowed to use only one piece of make-up for the rest of your life, what would it be❓ Answer in the comments below‼️
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P.S. DM me today to find out what we recommend for our patients looking to reduce their dependence on mascara, false lashes and lash extensions! 😍
👁🗨Make up can be the culprit to dry or irritated eyes. Mascara, eyeliner pencil, and loose powder can easily get in the tears and along the eye lid margin causing discomfort and time after time leading to chronic dry eye. 👁🗨I recommend a felt tip eye liner opposed to a pencil because the pigment stays on the eyelid better and doesn’t get into your eyes as the day goes on. 👁🗨Remember to never use eyeliner on your water line. Makeup can be irritating, but it does not always have to be if you are using the right products. 👁🗨The second photo is an example of eyeliner pencil and how the pigment doesn’t stay put through out the day. 👁🗨{link to eyeliner is on the blog at drkeylee.com}
Happy Monday! May your morning coffee be hot and your work commitments go smoothly. Don't forget to rest your eyes and blink frequently throughout the day! ☕️
Check out this weeks episode where Dr. Catriona Barrett gives us some insight into the world of academics and teaching in optometry. She also offers some great advice on balancing your life in optometry school.
Last night was a much needed break from the nonstop studying for boards. For most of us here, this is our last eyeball. I’m happy we all came together and enjoyed it one last time. Like every eyeball before, it was nothing short of amazing.
Yesterday's post was courtesy of our favorite kind of patient, Dogs! This is Jake and the fundus was from the same breed of black lab. We are starting a new series where we will be exploring the normal retinal variations among the animal kingdom! Shout out to @adventures_ineyecare for almost getting yesterdays post right!

We’ve made it to our seventh week and still going strong! Meet @katelynjomcd from @universityofhouston!
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Hello everyone, I’m Katelyn McDevitt! I am currently a third year student at University of Houston College of Optometry. Choosing Optometry was easy as I wanted my patients to leave happier than they walked in, and my own eye doctor had made such a big impact in my own life. The more I learn about Optometry, the more I realize how much I absolutely love this profession. Everyone going into healthcare does it because they want to help patients and provide them with a high quality of life, but with Optometry I am able to do this AND I will be able to combine my love of business and fashion in my future private practice. This profession is so small and supportive of each other and I cannot wait to be apart of it.
I’ve enjoyed my time as a student by being involved in a variety of organizations like the Student Optometric Practice Management Association (@uhco.sopma). My favorite experiences have come from traveling to conferences where I am able to meet students from other schools, learning about the advancing technology in Optometry, and meeting amazing ODs all across the nation.
My dream is to go back to the Midwest to practice following Optometry school. I love specialty contact lenses, but want to practice full scope Optometry with all the different specialties, so I am continuing to grow in my strengths throughout Optometry school!
#featureOD #leadersinoptometry
Young OD of Texas Leader Dr.Anith Pillai discussing his key to success with 200 students!
Paige Poppe is an incredible local artist and illustrator here in #Scottsdale Arizona. 🌵🎨 I have her #EyeoftheDessert art proudly displayed in one of my exam rooms and I simply love the joy her artwork brings me and my patients. With bright colors and the way she combines eyes and botanicals, what's not to love!! 🌵👁☀️Check her out here: @paigepoppe
Amor es...comprarle unos lentes a tu valentine para que mire mejor!😝
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Love is...surprise your valentine with cool glasses from Montebello Optometry!
DrZamora #MontebelloOptometry
www.montebello-optometry.com
323.888.9111
Ámate a ti mismo, no seas tan crítico con todo lo que dices y lo que haces. Eres perfecto tal y como eres.
#doctorazamora #valentinesweek
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Love yourself. Don't be so critical of everything you say and do. You're perfect just the way you are.
#doctorzamora
📷 | @ohdannyoh
Happy Saturday!☀️ Today's a great day to sit down, look at your calendar and map out your next eye exam. Start the new year out right by making a plan for your eyes! 👀❤️👓
What a busy 2019 it’s been so far! There have been so many big career decisions I’ve had to make in just the first couple of months, this is shaping out to be one of my best years yet!
Next week I’ll be heading over to @upike_kyco to meet with the @kycoppc members and hosting my interactive ‘Your Optometric Journey’ presentation, in which the audience will be making career decisions together and jumping back and forth through different slides as they see the rewards and consequences of each action they make, trying out the different possibilities, and finally reaching one of the special endings.
Thank you to @heyitsvernon and @vspvisioncare for sponsoring this event! We’re going to have a great time next week!
#kycoppc #youroptometricjourney

47 year-old African-American male 4 months status post penetrating keratoplasty (full thickness corneal transplant) presents to clinic with extreme light sensitivity and pain. Patient has a history of poor compliance with eye drops and keeping follow-ups. Examination reveals a failing corneal graft: bulbar injection, cells and flare in the AC, neovascularization, and microcystic edema seen here. Microcystic edema is swelling of the corneal epithelium and presents as small areas of negative staining. At first glance, they may look like SPK/PEE type of staining but at closer inspection, the edema can be observed. This patient was started on aggressive topical steroids and given a medrol dose pack (oral steroids) to try to save the graft. Most likely, this patient will need a new transplant. The four signs of corneal graft rejection can be memorized by the mnemonic RSVP: Redness, Sensitivity to light, Vision loss, and Pain. Educate the patient on these four signs and if they notice any, to return back to clinic STAT.
#optometry #eyedocs #eyedoc #eyedoctor #optometrist #optometrylife #ophthalmologist #ophthalmology #optometrystudent #optometrystudents #optometryschool #eyecare #eyehealth #healthcare #visioncare #medicine #corneatransplant #rejection #optolife #alliedhealth #healthcareprovider #healthcareprofessional #cataract #cataracts
#cornea #cornealtransplant #life #eye #eyes
Wakey wakey with a strong coffee... it’s fri-nally FRIDAY!!! Open those beautiful eyes and start fluttering your lashes because today is going to be amazing!
Speaking of lashes, did you know that lash extensions are bad for your lashes in the long term Yes I know they look beautiful, but they won’t be nearly as beautiful when you decide you’re tired of them. Trust me on this one!! With repeat fills, your lashes will eventually thin and even break. 😢 And don’t think you’re safe if you’ve never had an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to the glue... not only do manufacturers sometimes change their formulas, you can develop a hypersensitivity over time.
Moral of the story, find a safe alternative to eyelash extensions. Be it fake lashes for special occasions, a REALLY good mascara, or a lash growth serum to promote your own lash growth.
DM me today to find out what we recommend for our patients... and it’s not Latisse!
Do you know someone with low vision 👁 Ask them if they’ve heard of low vision rehabilitation... it could change their life in a way they never knew possible. 🙏🏼 This Valentines, share this post and refer loved ones struggling with their vision to the #nationaleyeinstitute 👓. Help them gain their independence back by sharing this resource.❤️
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www.nei.nih.gov/
Can you read the chart all the way to the bottom If not, might be time to get your 👀 checked. But for now, Happy Valentine’s Day! 🌹😍💋😘❤️
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📷 @cutlerandgross
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

This 75 year-old white male presents to clinic with a chief complaint of “I need new glasses”. -____- This patient has a history of dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in both eyes. Uncorrected vision was hand motion and did not improve on refraction. DFE shows a large central subretinal hemorrhage. What had happen was his dry AMD had coverted to the wet form. This occurs when there is extensive retinal atrophy, which in turn initiates new blood vessels to grow in the adjacent choroidal tissue (choroidal neovascularization or CNVM). If the barrier between the retina and choroid breaks, these blood vessels start to leak into the macula and causes subretinal bleeding as seen here. Because of how extensive the bleed is, prognosis is not good. This patient was referred to a retinal specialist for treatment to save whatever vision he has left. Treatment includes Anti-VEGF injections or lasers. To prevent such significant bleeds, it is CRITICAL to provide the patient with thorough education and hold them accountable for their home monitoring daily (e.g. Amsler grid, Foresee home). At notice of first change, they need to follow up with a provider right away.
#optometry #eyedocs #eyedoc #eyedoctor #optometrist #optometrylife #ophthalmologist #ophthalmology #optometrystudent #optometrystudents #optometryschool #eyecare #eyehealth #healthcare #visioncare #medicine #armd #odlife #optolife #alliedhealth #healthcareprovider #healthcareprofessional #cataract #cataracts
#maculardegeneration #amd #life #eye #eyes
Happy Valentine’s Day!! May there be someone special in your life that fogs up your glasses! 😍👓❤️
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📷 Nicole Martinez
Hello and welcome to the all new @Dr.Krywko IG page! Stay tuned for eyeglass fashion 👓, eye care tips, inspiration and cheesy humor. I’ve got all kinds of fun posts coming your way! 👀Cheers! ❌⭕️❌⭕️
Your kisses always make me blush. 😍 Always and forever. Happy Valentines Day! 💏
#valentines #iloveyou
Miss the Mountain View on Midway, Utah. It was fun riding on the slopes and swim in the crater. I tried not to sleep in class by drinking tea and Coca Cola after some exercise. Not sleeping in class is hard for intermittent exophorias like me.
Happy Valentine’s Day! A couple of years ago, I found this on my very own patient. Of course, it was not on Valentine’s Day. It was fun for me to see, not so fun for the patient. He only complained of mild Vision change. He has inflammation of the iris, we called it uveitis or iritis. It happens to some people who has certain rheumatoid arthritis, auto-immune conditions or can happen by chance. Aside from giving him prescription steroid eye drops to reduce the inflammation, I also prescribed medications to break the ties up knots in his iris, before they get worse and stick on his lens behind the iris and affect his vision more. The side effect of this iritis is halos around lights, blurred vision, dull headache, high eye pressure, red eyes and irritated eyes. He got better. But it comes back sometimes. Glad I was there to help. #eye❤️ #valentinesday2018
Tonight was the annual WUCO Family Feud! Here are some of the OD 2021 teams ♥️
1. The Boys in the Back (+ ADORABLE babies) who came in first place! (Yes, they do indeed always sit in the back)
2. Disney ODs
3. Worthy Four Dots (they’re diplopic aka seeing double!)
Excellent vision is a vital component of a good golfer’s game! The #OSUopt SocialEyes group led by Drs. Cayti McDaniel & Nicky Lai had fun unwinding and fine-tuning their golf skills last night at Top Golf! #optometrystudents #optometrystudent #latergram

🔊Reason #76 to get your eyes examined, even if you feel like you can see fine: rule out life-threatening conditions.
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. ♦️10-year-old sweet little girl came in with her mom for a routine eye exam. The first photo is the back of the right eye with evidence of papilledema (swelling of the optic disc). You can scroll to see what the left nerve looked like (normal), as well as a diagram labeling some of the structures we analyze when looking at the back of the eye. .
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. ♦️The optic nerve is what connects the eye directly to the brain, thus you can appreciate the magnitude of seriousness of the appearance of a swollen optic disc. True papilledema is a life threatening finding. It indicates that something is applying pressure the the back of the eye, causing it to swell. Symptoms of papilledema can include double vision, headaches on that side, blurred vision, and colorful aura visual effects among others. .
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♦️However, there is one other finding that mimics the appearance of papilledema, and that is what is known as optic disc drusen. Optic disc drusen appears very similar but is completely benign and normal. Nevertheless, further testing is warranted to rule out the most serious of etiologies. .
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#neuro #neurology #science #brain #opticnerve #retina #pediatrics #drusen #OCT #dryeyes #LASIK #optometrystudents #optometry #ophthalmology #medicine #healthcare #retinopathy #astigmatism #vision #lenses #PRK #keratoconus #futuredoctor #optometrist #eyedoc #studentdoctor #newgrad #womeninmedicine

Midterm week is in full swing! I'm down two exams with five to go, but I have to tell you about the most serendipitous encounter that I had today. I was dog-tired after having an exam this morning, along with optics and clinical labs in the afternoon.
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I began my ten minute walk home, with my head directed down to the sidewalk, already dreading the work I would have to put in tonight. I was about 25 yards off of campus when I saw a woman driving toward me. She slowed her car to a walking pace, rolled down the window, and said, "Hey doc, keep your head up." I said thank you and she drove away.
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Now I'm not a doctor yet, but I was in clinical attire and it was a fair assumption on her part. But her comment really lifted me up. It gave me a moment to reflect and appreciate where God has taken me from and where He's taking me to. Life is crazy, wonderfully, stressful and difficult, but like the lady-stranger said, keep your head up!
#optometry #optometryschool #optometrystudent #optometrystudents #oat #albuquerque to #memphis #ophthalmologists #ophthalmology #ophthalmictechnician #navajo #nativestudent #nativehealth #nativesinhighereducation #healthprofessions #applyingtoodschool #applyingtooptometryschool

As a resident, sometimes I get to work directly with a corneal specialist and so, I see some badass eyeballs. Today, I saw this bionic eye on a 72 year-old white male. No, just kidding. This is a corneal prosthetic, specifically a Boston Keratoprosthesis or KPro for short. These KPro’s are used as a last resort surgical option for patients who have failed multiple corneal grafts (transplants). Common reasons for multiple graft failure include prone to donor rejection and inflammatory conditions such as Stevens-Johnson’s Syndrome. The design of these KPros are basically titanium plates sandwiching corneal tissue. The patient then sees through a clear pupil. Management of these KPros is a life-time affair. This means the patient will be on a topical steroid, antibiotic and use a bandage contact lens indefinitely and will have frequent follow-ups with their corneal specialist. KPros may also increase intraocular pressure so a glaucoma specialist is also needed on the co-management team. The inconvenience of frequent follow-ups are a small price to pay for this patient, as his vision was improved from hand motion to 20/40 status post surgery ☺️. #optometry #eyedocs #eyedoc #eyedoctor #optometrist #optometrylife #ophthalmologist #ophthalmology #optometrystudent #optometrystudents #optometryschool #eyecare #eyehealth #healthcare #visioncare #medicine #prostethics #odlife #optolife #alliedhealth #healthcareprovider #healthcareprofessional #cataract #cataracts
#cornealtransplant #cornea #life #eye #eyes
AMD Awareness Month part 2👇 -
Last week we posted a retinal photo of dry AMD. This post will explore the optical coherence tomography (OCT) of that eye. You can see the different layers of the retina and the presence of drusen and geographic atrophy. Normally this tissue is smooth but here the lumps (C) indicate drusen. Drusen are deposits in the bruchs membrane and consist of extracellular matrix and inflammatory components. Geographic atrophy can also be seen by the area of back scatter (B) caused by a break in the RPE. -
This is taken from www.eyerounds.org, an excellent resource to aid your learning. Check them out @eyerounds

I don’t post eye stuff all that often but yesterday I had my first patient, not only as a doctor but ever, with a Retinal Detachment. He is a 66yo WM who on Sunday rubbed his eyes and felt that there was a dark spot in his lower right vision. .
He didn’t report any flashing lights or increased floaters in his vision and the detachment wasn’t caught on initial Optomap Widefield photography. .
It’s likely that this didn’t occur due to the eye rubbing but no matter what precipitated it, weak retinal due to Posterior Vitreous Detachment, prior hole from trauma or thinning, etc., this is a true ocular emergency.
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As I explained to the patient what was going on and showed him pictures, I could see his fear welling in his eyes. I assured him that everything would be ok and sent him off to the best surgeon I know but couldn’t help but feel nervous as he walked out the door. .
I look forward to having my nerves resolved when I get into clinic this morning. I’ll keep you guys posted.
#theresafirstforeverything #optometry #retinaldetachment