Yes, your eyedrops are too large for your eyes. Nanodropper is an eyedrop dispenser that will help you reduce waste and save money on your eyedrops!
The consequences brought about by oversized eyedrops are worth acknowledging, so here is a look at why eyedrop waste is such a big deal…and what Nanodropper is doing to fix it.
Eyedrop waste is probably something you don’t think much about. Just about everyone has to use eyedrops at some point, and for good reason. Whether you use artificial tears to ward off dry eye disease or medicated eyedrops for eye diseases like glaucoma, eyedrops can function like tiny miracle workers for your eyes. What’s more, a lot of non-prescription eyedrops can be used frequently as needed.
Ever wonder when it’s time for your little ones to start seeing the eye doctor?
Introducing your kids to the optometrist at the right time can result in huge benefits to their long-term eye health. Not only is it difficult to determine how your children truly see the world around them otherwise (spending their days squinting at classroom whiteboards or staring at computer screens certainly doesn’t help), but there’s also no way of knowing if dangerous eye diseases might be lurking in the background. Whether genetics are on your child’s side or not, you’re going to want a seasoned professional to take a look through their pupils at some point.
So what is the best age for kids to get start having eye exams? And how often should children go to the optometrist? Let’s break it down.
Onions go great in a lot of things: burgers, salads, chicken pasta…but they don’t mix so well with your eyes.
It’s no secret that slicing onions as you prepare your tasty dinner can evoke tears within seconds. But unless you have a strong connection with your vegetables, most people aren’t overly emotional about their onions; there must be something else going on to cause those lids to well up.
Although drop therapy is a common and effective treatment option for patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension — sometimes the medication itself doesn’t get the job done in one way or the other. Glaucoma drops are used to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye, which stands as the main cause for optic nerve damage. Lowering IOP is often accomplished when medicated drops either stifle the eye’s production of fluids or open up the outflow system, allowing more fluid to drain.
Unlike many other eye diseases, diagnosing glaucoma is not as straightforward as discovering a single red flag inside the eye. The diagnosis of glaucoma, on the other hand, involves assessing the structure and function of the optic nerve and distinguishing damage from natural differences in nerve appearance. Ophthalmologists will analyze multiple different factors of your eye health—such as corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and anatomy of the optic nerve—to reach a solid decision. Testing equipment goes a long way to make this possible.
As new trends catch on and drugs such as marijuana become more accepted in the medical space, it pays to dive deeper and examine the potency of new methods for IOP control. Marijuana in particular has long been known to have a pressure-reducing effect within the eye, but how does it stand compared to traditional glaucoma eyedrops? Is medical marijuana that good for glaucoma? Might it become an acceptable treatment in the future? Let’s take a look at the facts!
Decades of habituation do not make regulatory policy and should be challenged. In a recent editorial in Ophthalmology titled, “Waste No More,” Wiley A. Chambers, MD, challenges existing institutional policies that require topical ophthalmic medications (eyedrops) to be discarded before the expiration date listed on the bottle.
We see Chambers as a fellow champion for reduced medical waste and increased access to medicine for taking a strong and common sense stance.
It’s a common occurrence for doctors to prescribe patients with medications, lifestyle changes, and therapies to be performed at home. For eye doctors, this includes giving specific instructions on eyedrop treatments for patients whose eyesight might be at risk without them. When a patient doesn’t follow the drop instructions correctly and admits this to the doctor, they are considered non-compliant with the treatment. On the other hand, someone who correctly follows their instructions is considered compliant.
Ever look at your eyedrop bottle and wonder how many times you can give it a squeeze before you’ll need another refill?
For experienced eyedrop users, the amount of medication you have left is a big deal. Eye diseases such as glaucoma require you to stick to the prescribed regimen. This means going a few days without a drop can potentially harm the health of your eyes — and ultimately your vision. Seeing as many medicated drops don’t come cheap, it pays to keep tabs on your supply to get the most use out of every bottle.
So how can you measure the number of drops in each eyedrop bottle? Let’s squeeze out the details.
Seema is the Chief Strategy Officer of Kore Power where she leads Strategy and Corporate Development. She previously founded ForeOptics, a management consulting firm specializing in complex transformations; change leadership techniques; and operational turnarounds to help organizations accelerate value capture and unlock business growth and potential. She exhibits deep expertise in designing, streamlining, and managing complex global supply chains and operations.
Chris is the Managing Director of Xcellerant Ventures, and CEO of Yoo & Co Accelerators. He is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, venture capitalist, educator, and developer of new value creation in the Healthcare & Life Sciences industry. Chris has deep knowledge in disruptive technologies and is passionate about seeing great research innovations quickly become fundamental improvements to how we understand health and treat disease.
Katey Letzkus earned her Bachelors in Journalism from Oklahoma State University and is passionate about helping clinics grow and achieve their goals! Through her 14 years of medical sales experience, she has received multiple honors for her work with Plastic Surgeons, Prosthodontists, Oral Surgeons and large med spas to grow their businesses. Her primary goal is to ensure patients with financial hardships receive the eye medications they need while helping businesses save money.
Andrew received his undergraduate degree in Sociology from Temple University in Philadelphia. During his studies, he gained unique insight into various socioeconomic inequities that are affecting our local and global communities. Andrew leverages his diverse work experience to help foster new partnerships and to strengthen existing connections with both patients and eye care professionals.
Brooke received her undergraduate degree in communications and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. Brooke was formerly the Executive Director for a Southwest Florida nonprofit offering teen girls leadership and fitness programming. Using her extensive leadership, management, travel and operations experience, Brooke seeks to continue developing new and effective ways to grow the company. Brooke is also leading the charge to build new nonprofit partnerships and expand our mission.
Alena received her degree in chemistry from Western Washington University, fostering her love for all things science and numbers. She uses her analytical background to dive into the data, finding ways to better develop connections with eyecare providers to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare.
Robbie is an entrepreneur and award-winning journalist with a background in marketing and communications. He has contributed to The New York Times, Florida Weekly, and Mayo Clinic's education shield, and was once co-founder and executive editor of a news company in his hometown of Naples, Fla.
Jenny’s inquisitive mind and entrepreneurial roots led her to co-found Nanodropper. She recently completed her PhD in pharmacology at the University of Washington, and she has scientific research experience at top academic institutions, including her alma mater Brown University, Harvard Medical School, and UW.
Mackenzie is a device design engineer who earned her master’s degree in bioengineering with a focus on technology commercialization from the University of Washington. She is passionate about designing and commercializing solutions to address current healthcare problems, especially to help close health equity gaps.
Elias is a mechanical engineer specializing in design and prototyping. He loves being involved with startups because they challenge him in new and exciting ways. His broad background includes projects with SpaceX, Spacelabs Healthcare, Kestra Medical Technologies, and McKinstry. His passion is within the biomedical industry, making advances in medical devices.
Allisa is a physician-entrepreneur and inventor who received her MD from the Mayo Clinic. With a background in Clean Tech, neuroscience, and harm reduction, she is a thought leader in the field of value-based innovation and the visionary behind Nanodropper. Allisa's patient-centered mindset drives Nanodropper's mission.