Envision Newsletter - Wills Eye

esidents and fellows, but to the techs and the
patients, too. At the end of the office visit, helping
explain the doctor’s instructions and making sure
each patient understands his medications and
instructions, are aspects of the job that Meg
welcomes.
“I really enjoy it when I can see it all click with
the patient,” she explained. “It’s important when
the patient begins to understand what the
ophthalmologist orders. e doctor might say,
for example, ‘warm compresses,’ but then I explain
in common-sense terms why warm soaks are so
important for their eyes.”
Meg said that she usually sits in with the patient
during the doctor’s exam, so she can be part of
what is discussed. “Techs help with documentation,
we read the charts and clarify what the doctors
want,” she said. “Some of the treatments we can
offer are life-changing. It’s very uplifting to be part
of that. I like to think that we are a working team,
the technicians with the doctors.”
Dr. Rapuano considers the Allentown native to be
a vital member of his team. “We depend on the
techs to teach the patients certain procedures such
as how to put drops in their eyes correctly,” he said.
“e patient has time to ask any questions and the
techs make sure the patients understand everything
before they leave the office.”
Meg feels that the office staff is a very close-knit
group that has strong feelings for the patients. “We
see people with complicated vision problems who
need to have many, many appointments with the
doctors and we get to know them and their
families,” she said. “When we ask about their
children or how their gardens are, we really mean it
because we know them. We build relationships.”
Don’t Suffer Alone:
Dry Eye Support Group
Coming Soon
For people with dry eye syndrome, every day can feel
like a dusty, allergic day. the eyes burn or itch and
often don’t produce sufficient tears. the pain is
constant and irritation comes with every blink.
“it’s like an itch that won’t go away,” says certified
ophthalmic assistant Carrie larrivee, who will be
facilitating a dry eye support group in the future.
What is dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a fairly common medical
condition. tears are made up of three layers: lipids
(oily), water, and mucus. the oily layer helps prevent
evaporation of water, while the mucus helps spread
tears evenly over the surface of the cornea. if the
tears evaporate too quickly or do not spread, dry eye
symptoms can develop. the most common form of
dry eye is from an inadequate amount of water from
decreased tear production. this is known as
keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS. Problems with
the lipid layer created by oil glands in the eyelids
are also common and often accompany decreased
tear production. these can be caused by eyelid
inflammation, blepharitis.
Who is at risk?
Dry eye syndrome is an unfortunate side effect of
common medications including antihistamines,
blood pressure drugs and antidepressants. exposure
to environmental irritants like smoke or air conditioning
increases one’s risk, as does wearing contact lenses
or having had refractive eye surgery. Dry eye syndrome
affects women more than men, because the
hormonal changes of pregnancy and menopause
are thought to be contributing factors. increasing
age is another risk factor. in some cases, the cause
of dry eye syndrome is unknown.
What can we do?
the Cornea Service at wills is working to establish
a Dry eye Support Group so KCS patients can come
together for emotional support and to exchange
information. it will be a chance to learn which
medications have worked for others and share
thoughts on everything from pain-management
techniques to dietary tips for maintaining water
intake. For this type of chronic condition, doctors
have found that a supportive, discussion group can
be helpful to patients. we are seeking philanthropic
support for this initiative and will keep you updated.
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