At Eye Eco we are dedicated to finding solutions that provide relief from dry eyes, and we’re not the only ones.

Dry eyes affect more than 40 million Americans, but less than 5% of people have been properly diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease. Dry Eye Disorder can cause many health issues including obscured vision, dry skin, and even blindness. It can be caused by many things – including time looking at screens. For most of us that activity isn’t going away anytime soon.

At Eye Eco, we believe the best thing that can be done to keep eyes healthy and comfortable is regular visits to an eye care professional.

Because dry eye can have several causes, figuring out the cause is an important step in finding the best treatment option. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists do incredible work to make sure we can clearly and comfortably see everything in our lives.

Envision Eyecare receives the Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award

From left to right: Suzanne Paulson of Eye Eco, Dr. Larry Golson

We want to highlight some of the doctors who are as committed as we are to helping dry eye patients find relief. That is why we are starting a new campaign to acknowledge doctors by presenting them with Eye Eco‘s Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award.

Envision Eyecare in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of our first recipients of the award. Here’s what Dr. Larry Golson had to say about receiving the award and about treating patients with dry eye.

What were your thoughts when Envision Eyecare received the Eye Eco Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award?
We were really excited to get the award. We devote a good deal of our resources into treating dry eye. The Envision Eyecare team is trained on the condition as well as the many different treatments available. Then, after a comprehensive eye health evaluation, we design treatment plans for our patients individual needs. Finally, we spend adequate time educating out patients on his/her treatment plans and the products we are prescribing. We find our patients “buy in” and are more likely to be compliant when they understand their condition and why they’d benefit from the treatment. We have dry eye products on display in our reception area so patients are aware of the level of care we provide in this area. Our doctors research new technologies and then invest in the ones which will have the most benefit to our community of patients. We were surprised and honored when we received Eye Eco‘s Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award, as we are grateful to receive recognition for our care in this area.

Please tell us a little about Envision Eyecare:
Envision Eyecare opened in 2008 with two employees in Asheville, North Carolina. We understand the difference between eye care which is executed as a transaction, versus personalized eye care. Therefore, the focus is on personal eye care because we believe in living life to the fullest through the best eyesight and health. We take the time to educate our patients to ensure they leave with an in depth understanding about their eyes and the condition of their eyes. The Envision Eyecare Experience is provided in a beautiful space with well trained team members so our patients can gain a sense of what sets us apart from conventional eye care.

Do you have a story you can share about how your practice helped a patient(s) find relief from dry eyes? Please share.
We had a patient who had been suffering for years from debilitating dry eye. She was a local acupuncturist who had rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, which she was treating holistically with acupuncture. Since she wasn’t getting her dry eye symptoms under control, she was willing to try anything to get relief from her dry eyes.

After trying several treatment modalities, a huge improvement was derived from the Lid Pro and Meibo Pro devices in conjunction with lid scrubs, artificial tears, and warm compress goggles. We were able to get her dry eye symptoms under control for the first time in over a decade. At one point, she actually texted me personally and said, “This is the best my eyes have felt, ever!”

What advice or tip do you have about treating patients with dry eye?
Many of our patients have become accustomed to having dry eye and don’t realize there’s an issue. Every person’s dry eye symptoms are different and there are many causes. It could be environmental, medication use, associated with a systemic condition or due to lifestyle habits. For instance, do they get enough sleep; do they drink enough water? Could the problem stem from too much caffeine or alcohol intake. Ask how often and for how long are they using devices on a daily basis. Look at their medications and consider medical conditions. Also age and gender demographics plays a role in who’s at risk for dry eye syndrome. Good dry eye care starts with asking enough questions and asking the right questions. Then really take time to develop a customized plan for the individual. Some patients just want to do the minimum and other patients will want to try everything. Compliance is key to success, so make sure the patient understands how important it is to follow the prescribed treatment plan.

Lastly, invest in products to help your patients, both retail and treatment devices. If you have the retail products on-hand (instead of sending them to the pharmacy) there is a higher chance of compliance using the highest quality products. It’s also convenient for the patient and adds to the practice’s revenue. Show them how to use the products and make sure they leave with a firm understanding on how to achieve relief. It’s amazing how grateful these patients become once relief is achieved.

What advice do you have for someone who is experiencing dry eye?
So many patients think their eyes are normal and don’t realize they are suffering from dry eye. It’s not until a doctor asks the right questions or has the right clinical assessment for the diagnosis to be made. Find a practice that takes the time to sit down with the patient to get the right info. So often the exam is rushed, which doesn’t allow time to assess the condition and adequately explain a treatment plan.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about Envision Eyecare, this award, or dry eye and treatment?
Dry eye treatment is a dynamic field and advances in treatment protocols are constantly being developed. It’s easy for eye doctors to get in a place in their head where they think, ‘I am so tired of hearing about this.’ Could I possible sit through another dry eye lecture or article? It is important to look at dry eye treatment with a ‘beginner’s mind.’ Look at it as though it’s something you’ve never seen before. Educate yourself on the new products and technologies. It is an opportunity to help a huge patient population and differentiate yourself from the competition.