Introducing Dr. Kate Hamm OD and Dr. Rachel Simpson OD, UMSL Class of 2019. Rachel was honored with the inaugural UMSL Optometry Advocacy Award, and Kate won the Ray Meyers Leadership Award. Congrats to all the 2019 graduates! We did it!
Have you ever been so excited about something that you could barely contain yourself⠀
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Like you’re totally gonna ruin the ending of the movie for your friends excited...⠀
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You can’t possibly hold it in any longer excited...⠀
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That’s me right now! I am super over-the-moon excited about something I’ve got coming soon. If you’re starting (or thinking about starting) a practice then you’re going to want to go ahead and get excited too 🙌🏻⠀
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Let’s just say it’s going to be a game changer for you 🤭 ⠀
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If that’s ☝️ you make sure and click to follow and if you know any docs who are in thinking about opening, in the process of opening or opened in the last year tag them so they don’t miss out!⠀
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You don’t want to miss the big announcement coming soon ♥️ I’m saving you a seat 😉
As the dream of opening my own practice is becoming a reality, I can't stop thinking about all the fun "little touches" that will make my practice unique and create a patient experience apart from others. 🤗
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As many of us strive to deliver a caring and personable experience for our patients, let me ask the optometrists out there... how have you made it MEMORABLE for your patients The little details go A LONG way!!! Here are a few of the things I do to create a more memorable experience:
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⭐️ We welcome our patients by name when they first enter the practice.
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⭐️ I introduce myself with "Hi, I'm Candria Krywko and I'll be taking care of your eyes today" instead of just saying "Hi, I'm Dr. Krywko." (First names goes a long way!)
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⭐️ I dress and/or accessorize with glasses and eyes. From cute dresses with a glasses print to statement evil eye jewelry.
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⭐️ Each of my exam rooms have a theme. (Stay tuned for pics!)
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⭐️ I have a picture of my family in each exam room (including the pugs!). Patients like to know that we're real people outside of the office!
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⭐️ I make it a point to ask my returning patients about something we'd discussed at a previous appointment... like "How was that River Cruise in Europe"
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⭐️ Instead of saying "Your eyes are healthy", I tell them "Everything looks great! No signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts!" They love knowing that I specifically looked for AND ruled out the big gun eye conditions.
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⭐️ I personally discuss the recommendation for glasses with specified lens treatments in the exam room instead of leaving it for the optician.
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⭐️ I always end the exam by giving my patient a business card saying "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out."
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What do you add to your exam to make it more memorable for patients Please share in the comments section! 🤩
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📷 Shutterstock (attained license for image)
To do nothing, and stay in our comfort zone, is actually the greatest mistake of all. According to our own neural networks.😉
Good nutrition is important to keep your eyes healthy and functioning their best throughout your lifetime. Two very important eye nutrients that may reduce your risk for macular degeneration and cataracts have names you may not be familiar with: lutein (LOO-teen) and zeaxanthin (zee-ah-ZAN-thin).
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Lutein and zeaxanthin are two types of carotenoids, which are yellow to red pigments found widely in vegetables and other plants. Though lutein is considered a yellow pigment, in high concentrations it appears orange-red.
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In nature, lutein and zeaxanthin appear to absorb excess light energy to prevent damage to plants from too much sunlight, especially from high-energy light rays called blue light.
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In addition to being found in many green leafy plants and colorful fruits and vegetables, lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high concentrations in the macula of the human eye, giving the macula its yellowish color. In fact, the macula also is called the "macula lutea" (from the Latin macula, meaning "spot," and lutea, meaning "yellow").
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Recent research has discovered a third carotenoid in the macula. Called meso-zeaxanthin, this pigment is not found in food sources and appears to be created in the retina from ingested lutein.
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Lutein and zeaxanthin appear to have important antioxidant functions in the body. Along with other natural antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E, these important pigments guard the body from damaging effects of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can destroy cells and play a role in many diseases.
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It is believed that lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin in the macula block blue light from reaching the underlying structures in the retina, thereby reducing the risk of light-induced oxidative damage that could lead to macular degeneration (AMD).
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There you have it and now you know! 😁
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📖 www.allaboutvision.com/nutrition/lutein.htm
📷 Photo source unknown. Message me to claim and be credited! 🙋🏻♀️
