Dr. Melissa Tawa, an optometrist and fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, recently participated in two glaucoma panels at the Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting on May 4th, 2024. During one panel, she discussed glaucoma case studies while in the other, she reviewed surgical interventions and appropriate patient populations for technologies. Through her discussions, Dr. Tawa shared valuable insights and pearls of wisdom that she learned from the talks.
During the case series on glaucoma, Dr. Tawa emphasized the importance of using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field interpretation in managing glaucoma patients. She also highlighted factors like corneal hysteresis that can impact a patient’s quality of life with the disease. Dr. Tawa discussed how glaucoma medications and procedures can affect a patient’s daily life and shared strategies to alleviate drop burden for patients.
In the glaucoma panel on drug delivery systems, Dr. Tawa focused on new technologies like Durysta and iDose TR that aim to reduce medication needs for glaucoma patients. She also discussed minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) as an alternative to topical medications to improve patient compliance and reduce drop burden. This shift towards alternative methods of controlling intraocular pressure represents a step towards enhancing patient care and improving their quality of life.
Overall, Dr. Tawa’s discussions provided valuable insights into managing glaucoma patients effectively while also improving their quality of life. Her emphasis on using OCT and visual field interpretation as well as strategies to alleviate drop burden are crucial for providing optimal care for these patients.
Furthermore, her discussion on new technologies like Durysta and MIGS highlights how advances in eye care technology can help improve patient outcomes by reducing medication needs and improving compliance rates.
In conclusion, Dr. Melissa Tawa’s participation in two glaucoma panels at the Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting showcases her expertise in managing this complex disease effectively while improving patient outcomes through innovative technology solutions and improved patient care practices.
