2026-02-02 – Weekly Eye Care News : Small tweaks for easier reading

Last week, the forum buzzed with practical discussions on enhancing patient care and improving practice efficiencies. Members shared small adjustments that make reading easier for patients and strategies for effectively tracking vision improvements. There was also a lively exchange about the benefits of switching to iCare tonometry, and the challenges children face when they lose their place while reading. Other conversations centered around the importance of annual eye exams and the need for continuing education focused on instrument calibration.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Small tweaks that made reading easier
Members shared simple yet effective adjustments that can significantly enhance the reading experience for patients. A great thread for practical tips.
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What’s working to track vision gains
A discussion on the best practices for tracking and documenting patient vision improvements. This is crucial for assessing treatment effectiveness.
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Switching to iCare for tonometry
This thread delves into the pros and cons of using iCare for tonometry, offering insights from those who’ve made the switch.
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Kids losing their place while reading
Explore strategies to help children who struggle with tracking text while reading. A recurring issue with practical solutions discussed.
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Why a yearly eye exam matters
A timely reminder of the importance of annual eye exams, with compelling arguments to share with patients.
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Need CE focused on instrument calibration
Professionals are expressing the need for continuing education that emphasizes the calibration of eye care instruments.
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Pre-op dry eye workflow for LASIK/SMILE
A must-read for those involved in LASIK/SMILE procedures, discussing pre-operative workflows to manage dry eye effectively.
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Best CE to sharpen scleral fits
This thread recommends the best continuing education courses to improve scleral lens fittings, a key skill for many practitioners.
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Matching an iris to a cat
An intriguing topic where members discuss the complexities of matching custom iris designs, likening it humorously to matching a cat’s eyes.
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Streamlining referrals after comprehensive exams
Efficient referral processes are crucial. This discussion focuses on how to streamline them post-exam for better patient outcomes.
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Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions and collective learning. Feel free to jump into these conversations or start your own.

I switched patient handouts and low-vision letters to 16-pt Verdana with 1.4 line spacing and ragged-right margins; patients often say it “stops the words from running together,” like widening the lane lines. For tracking, a quick 1-minute read of the same paragraph each visit gives a clean words-per-minute trend, but if you want more rigor, MNREAD on an iPad is great. iCare has been solid in our clinic too, though I still confirm unexpected highs with GAT.

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I’ve noticed that using a slightly larger font size, like 18-pt Arial, really helps with readability, especially when it comes to those dense instructions we hand out. It’s amazing how something so simple can make a real difference for our patients. Have any of you tried color-coding your handouts?

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