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HCM

July 24, 2020
In Patient care

High Country Macula is the only independent practice in New Mexico that features OCT Angiography

High Country Macula is the only independent practice in New Mexico that features OCT Angiography. Although dye-based angiography had been the gold standard diagnostic test for assessing vascular disorders for many years, new OCT technology allows a fast, non-invasive 3D image of blood flow in the Retina in seconds. Investment in the latest technologies is just another example of the HCM commitment to helping our patients optimize their quality of life through compassionate, state-of-the-art Retinal care. Visit highcountrymacula.com to learn more.

July 14, 2020
In Did you know?

Eye disease is more common than you think

Eye disease is more common than you think. Though discouraging, vision impairment does not have to keep you from living a rich and rewarding life. Some famous people who have achieved success while living with chronic eye conditions include Stevie Wonder, whose blindness is a result of premature Retinopathy, and Ella Fitzgerald, who suffered from Diabetic Retinopathy. Famed author Stephen King, and Dame Judi Dench have Age-related Macular Degeneration, and pop singer Brittany Howard of the band Alabama Shakes is blind in one eye as a result of Retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer. Learn about other famous actors, musicians and artists with vision impairment at https://bit.ly/2YAqBZZ .

July 10, 2020
In Uncategorized

July is National UV Safety Month

July is National UV Safety Month. As Summer gets in to full swing and restrictions due to the COVID pandemic are easing, we’re spending more time outdoors. It’s important to remember
that although sun exposure is a great source of vitamin D, moderation is key. UV radiation from the sun is not only the leading cause of skin cancer, it can also cause eye damage including Macular Degeneration, the primary cause of vision loss among seniors. Learn more about Summer UV eye safety at http://bit.ly/2FA12P3
July 7, 2020
In Patient care

Could contact lenses track and treat diabetes?

Could contact lenses track and treat diabetes? New research in animals shows that contact lenses may not only be able to check blood sugar levels, and measure pressure in glaucoma patients, but also deliver drugs directly to the eye for those with diseases related to Diabetic Retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in adults 25-74. These new smart contact lenses contain a chemical that binds with glucose to trigger an electric current that releases a dose of drug to the eye. Although early studies are promising, further research is required to fully understand how glucose in tears compares to blood glucose for drug delivery. Learn more about new methods for drug delivery through a contact lens at https://bit.ly/2BEZTGE

July 4, 2020
In

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! While this years celebration might be a bit different than years past, please remember that if you plan to enjoy fireworks tonight, make sure to wear protective eyewear and keep water on hand to put out duds and misfires. Always think eye safety first – even innocent looking sparklers can cause burns that can permanently damage your vision.

June 30, 2020
In Patient care

Are you ready for the 4th of July?

Are you ready for the 4th of July? Although traditional Independence Day celebrations are likely to look much different this year, we’re still reminded that last year an estimated 11,000 people, many bystanders, were sent to the ER for fireworks related injuries – 10% of which were burns to the eye. Please take precautions to protect your eyes if you plan on enjoying fireworks this 4th.

June 23, 2020
In Did you know?

A protein that normally deposits mineralized calcium in tooth enamel may also be responsible for calcium deposits found in the back of the eye of people with Dry AMD

A protein that normally deposits mineralized calcium in tooth enamel may also be responsible for calcium deposits found in the back of the eye of people with Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). In Dry AMD, deposits of lipids, proteins, and chemicals, called drusen, form under the layer of cells that transport nutrients from the blood vessels below, to the light sensing photoreceptors of the Retina above them. As drusen develop, the cell layer and photoreceptors eventually die, leading to blindness. The photoreceptors cannot grow back, so the blindness is permanent. There is not—as of yet—an approved treatment or cure for Dry AMD. Researchers have, however, discovered a calcium-containing mineral called hydroxyapatite (HAP), which is a key component of tooth enamel and bone, in drusen of people with Dry AMD, but not in people with Wet AMD, or with no AMD at all. Further studies investigating how HAP accumulates in drusen may lead to treatments that block its buildup in the eye, which may prevent the progression of the disease. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2X20B92

June 19, 2020
In Patient care

High Country Macula is adjusting our “flu-like illness” patient protocols to be more in-line with current CDC COVID-19 recommendations

In conjunction with the easing of Coronavirus COVID-19 restrictions, High Country Macula is adjusting our “flu-like illness” patient protocols to be more in-line with current CDC COVID-19 recommendations. We’re easing scheduling restrictions to allow all patients to be seen, allowing one family member or guardian to accompany the patient into our care centers. We’ll enforce social distancing in waiting rooms, and we’ll ask everyone to wear masks (please bring your own mask). The purpose of this update is to ease patient burden, protect our patients and staff, and to streamline the evaluation and management for those people with a flu-like illness. We have posted these new procedures to our website at https://bit.ly/3bCYkWq

For information on COVID-19 please visit the following links:
“We Need to Get the Facts Straight” https://bit.ly/3diqTZw
“What You Should Know” https://bit.ly/2BoVfwc

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