Author:

Courtney Dryer

I’m a North Carolina-based optician, and I’m a 2011 graduate of the Southern College of Optometry. I’m the owner of Autarchic Spec Shop. I consult with new graduate optometrists on start-up practices, and I contribute regularly to Invision Magazine and other industry publications. I was featured in Women in Optometry and named a Rising Star. I was also named one of the ‘most influential women in optical’ by Vision Monday.

The Capabilities of Telehealth in Eyecare

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Telehealth in eyecare is also known as teleophthalmology or teleoptometry, which uses telecommunications technology to provide remote eye care services.

This approach has gained popularity in situations where in-person visits may be difficult, such as during a pandemic or for patients in remote areas without access to a doctor. But what exactly are the capabilities of telehealth? Would a telehealth exam be beneficial to you? Who is and who is not a good candidate?

Sleeping With Contacts: What Are the Risks?

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Contact lens wearers, brace yourself for a potentially painful read. See, your eye doctor will warn you against sleeping with contacts, but nearly one-third of contact lens users have done so.

What happens?

When you wake up, your eyes feel dry, and your lenses must be peeled off your cornea. If you sleep in them just once, you may be okay, but everyone’s affected differently.

Understand this: sleeping with contacts long-term can result in serious complications.

Blue Light: What Do We Actually Know?

Written By Courtney Dryer

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A lot of information on blue light and blue light glasses can be found online, but what do we really know about its effect on the eyes? We know medicine is ever-changing and new study data forces us to change our understanding and conclusions. Blue light is still being studied by researchers. Here’s what we know in now.

The Role of Vitamins in Eye Health

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Have you ever wondered if taking vitamins could improve your eye health? What about your vision?

Or are eye vitamins a hoax, like carrots decrease the risk of needing glasses for poor vision? Here are a few truths about eye vitamins and the effect they can have on vision and the prevention of disease.

What is Optic Neuritis: Signs and Symptoms of This Condition

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Optic neuritis is an ocular sign of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Specifically, optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve. Inflammation is the process in the body where white blood vessels and chemical messengers are sent to an area of the body to initiate the healing process or to attack a foreign body. The optic nerve can become inflamed due to autoimmunity, infection, granulomatous diseases, tumor disorders, and demyelination.

The CNS system sends signals from the brain to the other parts of the body through nerves. Nerves tell the parts of the body what to do. Myelin is an insulation that wraps around the axon part of the nerve to speed nerve activity and signal conduction. Myelin is produced by a type of CNS cell called an oligodendrocyte. Attacks of demyelination can occur in parts of the brain, the spinal cord, and the optic nerve.