Health Talk

LASIK, CATARACTS & LENS IMPLANTS Michael E. Rom, M.D

Q: I am 60 years old and was recently diagnosed with glaucoma and I hate using eye drops every day. Is there anything I can do?

A: Glaucoma is nicknamed the sneaky thief of sight due to the fact that many patients do not even know that they have the disease until the damage is already done. Some of the symptoms that occur are walking into objects and the wall due to your peripheral vision being lost. Once your vision is lost, it unfortunately cannot be reversed. It is important if you at high risk of glaucoma, i.e. people with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans over the age of 40 and Hispanics over the age of 60, that you are getting regular eye exams so you can catch the disease in its early stages. However, there are many treatment options for those who have glaucoma and are over the age of 60. Since you're 60 years old, you may qualify for refractive lens exchange. This is the same procedure as cataract surgery, except you don't have a cataract. They replace your eye's natural lens with an artificial lens that may allow you to see it all distances, even at close with little or no dependence on glasses. During this procedure they can also do implant a device called MIGS, Or Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, which can significantly reduce your IOP, resulting in the amount of eye drops you have to use on a regular basis.

Michael E. Rom, M.D. Insight Eye Center

Chardon (440) 286-1188 Mentor (440 205-5840 www.insighteyecenter.com

SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY Eric M. Parsons, M.D.

Q: You have written before about stem cells and other biologic treatments in shoulder surgery. Are there any updates? A: Cell-based treatments continue to be a subject of great interest among investigators as we are always striving to improve healing following injuries and surgery. Unfortunately, up to this point the results of the research into such interventions (e.g., “stem cells,” PRP, etc.) have been at best mixed and in most cases have shown no benefit to patients.

And when we consider the cost of these treatments and the potential for any medication or procedure to harm patients we should continue to exercise extreme caution here. In the current issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Schwitzguebel et al. conducted a randomized, doubleblind trial examining the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on rotator cuff healing. This is most rigorous and therefore accurate design of research as it selects patients at random to either receive PRP or not and also shields both the patient and the doctor from knowing whether the patient received the PRP or not. This minimizes the potential for bias because believe it or not just knowing that you or your patient received a particular treatment can affect the way you interpret the response to that treatment. The results of the study demonstrated that PRP injections provided no improvement in the healing of rotator cuff tears as seen on imaging nor did patients feel any improvement in their symptoms when the PRP injections were compared to simple salt water injections. Additionally, the PRP injections were associated with a greater number of adverse events such as pain at the injection site, worsening of the rotator cuff tear, and the development of a frozen shoulder. What this study tells us is that we as providers and patients need to remain wary of any claims that these interventions provide nothing but benefit and until there is more compelling research proving their efficacy they are best to be avoided. To learn more about the treatment of rotator cuff injuries visit ohioshouldercenter.com

Eric M. Parsons, M.D. Ohio Shoulder Center for Arthroscopy Lake Orthopaedic Associates, Inc.

36060 Euclid Ave., Suite 104 Willoughby 440-942-1050 9500 Mentor Ave., Suite 210 Mentor 440-352-1711 www.ohioshouldercenter.com

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Yiannoula Sarris, M.Ed., LPCC

Q: I graduated from college last spring and am living back at home with my parents. I’ve begun to feel hopeless over the summer and don’t believe I’ll ever find a job at this rate. I constantly feel like I’m a failure compared to everyone around me. Is this normal?

A: Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment and monumental milestone. Congratulations on your achievement. Life transitions can be difficult and sometimes affect our emotion and mental health. If you're experiencing loss of hope, feelings of sadness and decreased self-esteem. This may be an appropriate time to consider counseling services. Participation in therapeutic services can increase your ability to cope with and decrease the symptoms you're experiencing. Seeking support in therapeutic space such as individual therapy can help increase your ability to cope effectively during this current life transition and future developmental lifespan transitions. If untreated, these symptoms can increase and further expand. If you or someone you know has noticed that these symptoms are affecting your daily mood and function encourage them to seek support in counseling. These signs should not be ignored and for the well-being of your mental and emotional health. This need to be taken seriously. If you believe your child or someone you know may be exhibiting symptoms of self-harm, please call us to schedule an assessment within 24 hours. I work with a skilled team at PBHS to offer a variety of treatment methods to best suit your unique needs. Our practice utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is an evidence-based treatment method. We will determine the best treatment plan for your son or daughter which may include our adolescent IOP, individual therapy or medication management.

Yiannoula Sarris, M.Ed., LPCC

Premier Behavioral Health Services 8701 Mentor Ave, Mentor 44060 440-266-0770

AUDIOLOGY Dr. Rachael Olinger

Q: I have a hearing loss, will it get any worse?

A: As we age, our ears (along with our whole body) experiences some wear and tear, especially if we do not take care of it properly. It is common to see our ability to hear decrease as we age, especially if we have frequently been exposed to loud sounds throughout our lives (lawn equipment, machinery, loud music, etc) or have risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, and/or kidney disease. Decreased hearing as we age needs to be addressed early and met with proactive measures, amplification. According to the American Acadamy of Audiology, depression, increased risk of falls, and cognitive impairments/ dementia occurred at a higher rate in those with hearing loss than those who do not have hearing loss. Utilizing amplification is one of the most proactive ways to mitigate the increased risks in connection to hearing loss. Now, will your already diagnosed hearing loss get any worse? It is unlikely. We know that initially sensorineural loss can be progressive, however it will eventually plateau. Therefore, we strongly encourage our patients to come see us for an annual audiologic assessment so we can monitor their hearing loss and make appropriate programming changes to their amplification. We believe that staying proactive is better than being reactive with it comes to your hearing health. If you have any questions about your hearing health or what steps you need to take to have your hearing evaluated, give us a call at 440.205.8848. Life Sounds Great!

The Hearing Center Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Avenue Mentor, 44060 440-205-8848