Michele Crouch, COA, CPOA

Business cards from today!! Valuable information!!

I PASSED MY CPOA!!!! Yay!!! Onto the ABO/NCLE! 🤓

In April, I had the amazing opportunity to co-lecture at the OAOP (Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians) with one of the best, Lynn Lawrence. We spoke on common eye diseases with a lecture called ‘No Wonder You Don’t See Well’. It was such an honor and an absolute blast. May it be the first of many lectures! The OAOP just released pics, so I thought I’d say something about it since we all know I love all things eye related!!🤓

To honor this 31st day of October, here is my favorite Halloween costume ever. If you have zero clue, I understand, but the fact we are eyes should not be lost on you. Dr. Ryan Ridges of Retina Vitreous Center was an eye injection of Avastin and we were various eye diseases/issues we saw. My pupil was dilated and I have a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which is harmless, but looks horrible.

2019 and yes, I STILL have this costume, just in case! 😂

Also, props to a doctor who will dress up with his staff!🤓

Y’all, I probably laughed way too hard at this! Happy Tuesday and first day of school for many in Oklahoma!

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Cataract Surgery👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

👀Everyone gets cataracts as long as they live long enough! It’s not a disease, it’s a badge of honor.
👀Cataracts are not harmful, they’re annoying, but choosing to wait on surgery is between you and your doctor, because it doesn’t hurt as long as you’re legal to drive.
👀Choose a surgeon that doesn’t have to sell you a product, but that truly has your best interests at heart.
👀There are 3 types of implants for cataract surgery: a monofocal that insurance covers, a toric lens that can decrease your astigmatism, and a multi-focal lens that can give you more range at distance and near.
👀Not everyone is a good candidate for every lens, so make sure that your surgeon is helping you choose the best for your lifestyle.
👀The all around best lens you can choose is going to be the standard lens that insurance will cover. It gives you the best clarity at a distance and is what is required by the FAA for pilots. The other lenses split light, so you won’t be as clear far away in order to give you some clarity up close. If driving in the evening and at night is something you do, choose the standard lens!
👀If you have glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or any retina related issues, or if you have a family history of any and are being monitored for any of the above, consider the standard lens for your best corrected visual acuity.
👀A cataract is a cloudy lens that has also hardened, so surgery is minimal and replaces that cataract with an implant that is clear.
👀You can get cataracts at any age and for various reasons!
👀There is also a Light Adjusting Lens where your prescription can be changed after surgery, but I would also skip it because it’s a standard lens that also splits light, which makes night driving difficult for many.
👀Regardless of your implant choice, you will have to wear glasses of some kind, whether for distance or near (readers) afterward. You won’t be bound to them like you may have previously been, but the ability to see up close fades the more birthdays we have and nothing can change that!
👀Changing out that lens only removes that cataract, so if you previously had floaters, any diseases or dry eye, that will all remain the same!
👀Surgery can be very life changing, and you’ll notice how blurry things were and how distorted your colors were before.
👀Using Preservative Free Artificial Tears 4-6 times a day in each eye prior to a cataract evaluation helps our machines out a lot - especially in arid climates!

👀Don’t be above a second opinion if you’re not sure. Different surgeons do things differently, and that doesn’t make one right or wrong, but make sure you advocate for yourself. Ask questions - you only have one set of 👀!

👏🏼These👏🏼are👏🏼all👏🏼my👏🏼own👏🏼opinions👏🏼from👏🏼things👏🏼I 👏🏼see👏🏼daily👏🏼and👏🏼questions 👏🏼I👏🏼get👏🏼asked.👏🏼 I am not a doctor and would never offer medical advice, but I am a tech and can offer an opinion and some facts!🤓

I have absolutely NO voice, which makes life incredibly difficult!! I will be back as soon as I’m able to! We have so much to learn!