Educating Patients About NK Signs and Symptoms

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Effective patient education begins with setting realistic expectations about the cenegermin treatment process, including the 3-week delay between prescription and home delivery, the specialized preparation requirements, and the intensive 6-times-daily dosing schedule for 8 weeks. Lauren McLoughlin, OD, implements a comprehensive preparation protocol including technical training sessions with specialized staff, demonstration materials, and instructional videos to ensure patient success with the complex administration requirements.

Anticipating and preparing patients for common adverse effects significantly improves treatment adherence and reduces anxiety. Patients commonly experience initial stinging upon instillation and may develop eye aching or pain around week 3 or 4 of treatment. When clinicians explain these sensations as normal treatment responses rather than complications, patients maintain treatment adherence when symptoms occur. The vast majority of patients find symptoms tolerable when properly prepared and counseled about their temporary nature.

Visual documentation through serial photography provides powerful patient motivation and education. Demonstrating improvement through baseline, midtreatment, and final photographs helps patients understand their progress and maintains motivation during challenging portions of the treatment course. This objective evidence of healing proves particularly valuable when patients experience discomfort or doubt about treatment efficacy during the intensive 8-week regimen.