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An Eye Drop Reminder for your Smartphone

 

To help maintain your great vision after LASIK, the use of eye drops is key.  A patient recently shared a smartphone alarm app with us that reminds you to use your eye drops regularly!

LASIK surgery is a high-tech procedure that improves your vision in about 20 minutes.  The laser application itself takes just seconds.   

The Eye Drop Alarm keeps you on track with your medications.

But LASIK is much more than just a quick LASER treatment to the eye. Pre-Operatively, there are multiple exams, measurements, interviews, and calculations.

The Post-Operative period is also important to a successful, stable outcome.   We consider the postoperative period to be ONE YEAR.  

During this year, Dr. Moran highly recommends that patients use a rigorous schedule of artificial tears.  Patients who follow this post-op protocol, do better, heal faster, and have less chance of their vision changing for the worse.

Using eye drops after surgery does a number of things:

  • Prevents Infection
  • Decreases Inflammation
  • Provides Added Moisture
  • Aids in Healing

Remembering to take your drops the first week is easy.

Seeing without glasses or contacts is an amazing change.  Patients are enthusiastic and stay on top of their drop schedule.  As more time passes, patients may not think about their new vision as much.  Although the newness of the better vision wears off,  the need for drops doesn’t!

Studies have shone that your eyes may need supplemental moisture for more than three months after the surgery.  Even though the eyes don’t feel dry, they need the added moisture to maintain quality tear film and to provide the best visual result.  

The Eye Drop Alarm smartphone app is a great way to help you keep up with your drop schedule: 

Eye Drop Alarm

A patient recently showed us an iPhone app he downloaded (iPhone only at this point, sorry Android users.) The app is free for download, well written, easy to use and comprehensive.  

The full description can be found at  http://www.eyedropalarm.com/  The app is free and requires no login or personal information. It has a full database of eye drops, even those used for other eye problems like glaucoma.

Special instructions too!

The features are useful and extensive. As seen in the illustration, this app also indicates if the drops need any special instructions, for example, the FML should be shaken before use.  Using multiple drops requires you to wait five minutes between each different drop so that the eye can absorb each medicine…the app automatically schedules each drop 5 minutes apart!

If you have an iPhone and have to take drops, we highly recommend EyeDropAlarm. You can download the app by scanning this QR code or through iTunes.

Why So Many Drops?

 

DROPS, DROPS, when does it stop?

Eye Drops for Exams

Ocular medication for dilating and glaucoma, assorted types

Patients often ask when they come in to see Dr. Moran for a complete exam, diabetic exam  or cataract recheck,  “Why all these drops?”  Here is the simple explanation.

Scared child at dentist

The eye doctor is easier than the dentist!

Getting a comprehensive eye exam without dilation, is like going to the dentist and not opening your mouth. Sure, he can see your lips and the shape of your jaw but he’s unable to see the health of your teeth.

Dr. Moran can examine the lids, lashes, and cornea (outermost layer of your eye), but to see beyond the surface, you need the drops, drops and more drops.

Depending on your age, diagnosis and health history you may receive more drops than another.  Let’s discuss someone in their 60’s with diabetes or cataracts.

First, you will receive the “yellow drop”- No your eyes will not stay that color. This drop will allow us to check the intraocular pressure of your eye (glaucoma screen). It also acts as a mild numbing agent.

Next, you will receive a Phenylephrine drop. This is the drop which will dilate your pupil and allow Dr. Moran to see into the depths of the eye and examine the retina.

Lastly, comes the Mydriatic drop which paralyzes the iris muscle to keep the eye dilated for the duration of the examination.

That’s the answer to why all the drops. Now when will it STOP?

Usually, dilation lasts from 4-6 hours. It will affect your ability to work close-up and you will be sensitive to light. Blue eyes tend to stay dilated longer. It is not unusual for some patients to remain dilated for more than 6 hours, but dilation is not harmful to the eye.

You can drive if you are comfortable doing so. We recommend dark sunglasses and will provide you with them if you forget to bring yours.

Although being dilated can be an inconvenience, the benefit significantly outweighs the hassle.

Schedule your DILATED eye examination by calling or texting our office at 610-628-2022, we look forward to seeing you.

Contributed by Mandy Bolton, COA