Top 10 Optometry Times stories for 2018

As we close the books on another year, it’s time to look back at what content you-our readers-found interesting and valuable.

We measure our top stories via click. That means that every time you visit our website to read a story, you’re casting a vote. If you read through to the end, each page counts as a vote.

Five out of 2018’s top 10 stories address the ocular surface in some fashion. This is down slightly from 8 out of the top 10 stories last year; however, ocular surface continues to be a hot topic.

This year’s list is varied….with entries from a story in October (“ODs protest university name change”) to as far back as 2014 (“Vision therapy: A top 10 list”).

Take a look at what you and your colleagues liked to read in 2018.

Take a look at what you and your colleagues liked to read in 2018.

Top stories of 2017

Top stories of 2016

Top stories of 2015

10.4 steps to beating blepharitis

This article makes its first appearance in a top 10 stories list.

Brother ODs Warren and Walt Whitley break down treating blepharitis into achievable steps. This method likely leads to better success for the treating OD and more relief to the suffering patient.

They write: “No matter the cause, the only way we can beat blepharitis is to determine the location as anterior, posterior, or mixed; differentiate among the causative factors, and treat according to the severity of the condition.”

This 2016 article garnered a lot of engagement when it was first published, and clearly it continues to resonate with ODs interested in treating blepharitis.

Find out why…read the story.

9. Why keratometry is important
Dr. Kathy Mastrota’s 2014 story outlining the mechanics of keratometry moved up a slot from 2017 where it took the #10 position. This article was written for technicians and appeard iniTech.

Dr. Mastrota compares automated vs. manual keratometry, discusses the importance of an accurate reading and how to obtain one, and explains how keratoconus affects K readings.

If your techs haven’t read this article yet, now is the time.

8. ODs protest university name change
It’s hard to believe that only three months ago the profession united to protest a philanthropic gift from National Vision to Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry which included rights to rename the school.

Nova students and alumni were joined by other students and ODs around the country, and their efforts bore fruit: Barely a week after the news of the gift broke, Nova and NVI mutually ended their philanthropic agreement.

Catch up on what happened and why.

7. How alcohol consumptions correlates with glaucoma 
A question from Dr. Ben Casella’s patient while she was in the chair prompted Dr. Casella to research the link between alcohol and glaucoma.

He shares what he found, and, more importantly, what he advised his glaucoma patient.

6. Diagnosing and managing patients with narrow angles
The next patient in your chair could have narrow angles. Do you know? How do you know?

Dr. Rachel Grant examines narrow anges from…every angle…and discusses how to identify and manage patients who have them.

Find out more.

5. 10 tips to enhance scleral lens success
Dr. Melissa Barnett has lots of experience fitting scleral contact lenses, and she offers that wisdom to her colleagues.

She serves up 10 clinical pearls to help any practitioner jump-start their scleral lens practice or enhance their current fitting skills.

Enhance your scleral fitting success by checking out these tips.

4. How vaping affects the ocular surface 
Adults may turn to vaping in an effort to help them quit smoking. Younger people may vape instead of smoke cigarettes.

As the vaping community continues to grow, so do questions about how the practice may affect the ocular surface.

In her second entry on the Top 10 of 2018 list, Dr. Kathy Mastrota examines the practice of vaping and what happens to the ocular surface.

Keep yourself and your vaping patients informed.

3. Treat rosacea by treating the cause: demodex 
Several years ago, demodex was the hot clinical topic.

Dr. Milton Hom weighed in on the correlation between demodex and rosacea…and credited Dr. Mark Dunbar for being ahead of his time.

If you aren’t treating your rosacea patients for demodex, find out why you should.

2. Using warm compresses to treat meibomian gland disease 
This 2015 story holds its spot steady; it ranked #2 in last year’s list.

Researchers in Dr. Don Korb’s lab investigated a new method of applying warm compresses in the hopes of combatting meibomian gland disease.

Learn why the Bundle method for a warm compress offers more relief for patients and more results for the treating OD.

Take a look!

1. Vision therapy: A top 10 must-have list 
Talk about a story with a long life and strong history!

Dr. Marc Taub’s popular top 10 vision therapy list article was published in 2014.

In 2015, it appeared in the #8 slot in the top 10 list.

In 2016 and 2017, it moved up a spot to sit at #7.

This year, however, it jumped all the way to #1.

Dr. Taub outlined what vision therapy tools were crucial to helping his patients.

And because that story was so popular, we asked him to continue his list of vision therapy tools. Check that story out HERE.

In addition, Dr. Taub put together a list of his top 10 vision therapy books. Check that out HERE.