This month, we focus on educating patients on the importance of keeping their eyes healthy via a lineup of salubrious tips to share each week

our monthly checklist is designed to provide managers, opticians, and staff with a go-to resource for getting it all done.

On tap this month? This month’s focus is on educating patients on the importance of keeping their eyes healthy. We aim to accomplish this by providing a lineup of healthy sight-focused tips to share with your patients each week this month.

About the authors: Our optical checklist is pulled together by the highly respected ECP team at Complete Family Vision Care Optometry in San Diego—including owner and optometrist Eric M. White, O.D., and staff Ashley Samuels, Julia Buchanan, Gloria Lopez, and Lorie White.

They’ve worked hard to create this optical checklist so you don’t have to. Dig in, tear out, and share it around with your team.

AUGUST 2018

WEEK ONE

TIP: Tell all patients to drink lots of water—this not only improves health overall, but helps keep your eyes hydrated and Meibomian glands functioning properly.

TIP: As simple as it sounds, patients must remember to blink. This allows the Meibomian to secrete the necessary fluid.

TIP: If patients find that their eyes feel gritty, itchy, or red, have them use preservative-free eye drops to prevent the eyes from drying out.

WEEK TWO

TIP: For patients’ yearly comprehensive exams, make sure to stress the importance of dilation or a retinal scan to check the health of the eye.

TIP: Suggest that your patients gather their family’s eye health history—this could provide preventative measures for future eye concerns.

TIP: Advise on the importance of maintaining a healthy weight—diseases such as diabetes can lead to vision loss.

WEEK THREE

TIP: Remind patients to use protective eyewear, especially when required by your workplace—including blue light filters for computer work, safety glasses, and sunglasses, as well as ANSI/OSHA-approved materials when necessary.

TIP: Inform patients of the eye health risks associated with smoking—which can increase the risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.

TIP: Stress the importance of clean hands and cleaning contact lenses properly—this decreases the risk of infection.

WEEK FOUR

TIP: Advise patients on the importance of wearing sunwear to protect their eyes—the sun’s ultraviolet rays, whether on a sunny or cloudy day, can damage eyes. Recommend sunglasses that block out both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

TIP: Make sure patients know to give their eyes some rest, as overuse can lead to eye strain and fatigue.

TIP: Educate on the differences between polarized and tinted lenses—and stress the fact that polarized is the better option for maintaining eye health.