By Andrew Karp
Friday, March 27, 2020 5:45 PM
Medical doctors have always been part of American political life, from the founding of our nation to the present day. Many physicians have held public office throughout the years on the local, state and national level. A total of 52 physicians have served in the U.S. Senate to date, according to the official Senate website,
Senate.gov. Many others have served in the House of Representatives. Currently, there are 18 doctors serving in the 116th Congress, including four who are Senators. This is significant since doctors, particularly those who become lawmakers, can be influential voices in battles over federal health care legislation, one of the most urgent and contentious topics of debate in this election year. Among the 18 doctors who are presently serving in Congress, two of them are eye doctors.
By Staff
Friday, March 27, 2020 11:38 AM
Hand washing is one of the most important ways to stop the spread of COVID-19, but there are millions of people around the world who lack access to running water. Last week,
Sightsavers put the spotlight on the tippy tap: a device that those without running water can use to safely wash their hands. Head over to
Twitter to learn how it works.
By Staff
Friday, March 27, 2020 10:03 AM
NEW YORK—Vogue Eyewear, from Luxottica, is debuting a capsule collection with new brand ambassador Millie Bobby Brown. Most well known for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things, 16-year-old Brown fronts the collection campaign, which includes 14 styles in both sun and optical. The collection includes avant-garde lens shapes, powerful pops of color, retro-chic metal frames, and more. Select styles feature an oval shaped optical frame available in colors including black and bright blue, and a shield sun style. Each frame also features a specially designed MBB x Vogue Eyewear temple inscription and signature “M” tips for an added boost of personality.
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By Staff
Friday, March 27, 2020 10:00 AM
It’s not enough to diagnose myopia in a young patient. Eyecare professionals (ECPs) also must be able to explain to parents why myopia management is important. That is a challenge, but recent research gives some guidance on what works best and what doesn’t work at all. Through research conducted in August 2019, the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) determined what parents say about myopia, how they respond to ECPs’ explanations about what it is and why it is important to treat it. The research found that parents don’t generally consider eye exams as important as seeing a pediatrician or a dentist. Nor do they respond well to scare tactics or any language that suggests they’re not good parents.
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By Staff
Thursday, March 26, 2020 10:21 AM
Unfortunately, some scammers are capitalizing on the uncertainty, confusion and fear many people are feeling right now. While there is little we personally can do to stop these scammers, it's important for us to know how to
spot some of the most common scams in order to keep ourselves safe. Head over to
Forbes for a look at some of the more common scams emerging related to the Coronavirus, and how you can keep yourself safe from them.
By Staff
Thursday, March 26, 2020 10:00 AM
CNN shared video from an interview with a nurse who worked with patients in the Kirkland, Washington, care facility where 18 patients have died. She described patients’ red eyes as an indicator. In the segment, Chelsey Earnest, RN, said, “It’s something that I witnessed in all of them (the patients). They have, like … allergy eyes. The white part of the eye is not red. It’s more like they have red eye shadow on the outside of their eyes,” Earnest said. Also, the American Academy of Ophthalmology updated important eyecare-specific information related to the novel coronavirus.
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By Staff
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 3:34 PM
NEW YORK—Barton Perreira has teamed up with artist Sage Vaughn to create new cleaning cloths made of recycled PET bottles. The cloths will feature Vaughn’s butterfly designs and are made of 70 percent recycled polyester and 30 percent polyamide. They are also REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) compliant and CRS certified. These new cloths are a part of the company’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that sustainability is integrated into aspects of the business.
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By Staff
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 10:40 AM
It's probably one of the last things many of us want to do right now, but keeping up with your exercise routine while self-isolating is important both for your physical and mental health. Working out from home is a different experience and it presents some new challenges—but it's incredibly doable and can even be fun. This week, the
WHO shared some ideas for keeping active at home on Twitter, as well as some facts about why it's so important to keep those endorphins pumping right now. Head over to
Twitter to read the full thread.
By Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 6:04 PM
NEW YORK—For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic means we’re spending more time at home than we’re probably used to. We all know that this, fundamentally, is an act of love—we’re staying home so that hospitals don’t get overwhelmed, so that we don’t accidentally get our friends, family, and strangers sick, and so healthcare professionals can do their jobs with as little interference as possible. We all know we’re making a sacrifice to do a good thing—but, honestly, that doesn’t really make it any less of a difficult, unhappy situation.
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By Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 11:07 AM
While everything about the current COVID-19 crisis is overwhelming for everyone, parents around the world are facing an additional layer of challenges right now.
Parenting during self-isolation or quarantine can be scary, confusing and difficult, but there are ways to make it more approachable. Hansa Bhargava, MD, a medical editor and WebMD's expert pediatrician, put together a
list of ways to help with parenting during self-isolation—head over to
WebMD to read more.
By Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 10:00 AM
For patients with dry eye disease (DED), treatment options were once confined to artificial tears, warm compresses and the occasional off-label steroid. While some of these help soothe symptoms, they do little to truly manage the disease, especially as it worsens. Today, optometrists can treat these patients with prescription topical and oral anti-inflammatory medications, point-of-care treatments, heating and expression of glands and even advanced options such as amniotic membranes. While these advances are giving our patients a new lease on ocular comfort, optometrists have much more to navigate. Applying the most appropriate treatment still varies widely within optometric practices.
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By Staff
Monday, March 23, 2020 10:23 AM
Already going a little stir crazy? How about taking some
advice from astronauts? After all, there are few people who know more about social distance and self-isolation than those who have spent an extended amount of time literally not on planet Earth. Head over to
Inc. to hear tips from NASA astronaut Anne McClain.