TearLab - Managing Dry Eye Patients Objectively
Dr. David Goldman Interview with Dr. Marguerite McDonald
Dr. David Goldman: Hi, I'm Dr. David Goldman, Refractive Editor for OphthalmologyWeb.com, speaking today with Dr. Marguerite McDonald.
Dr. McDonald is a cornea, cataract, refractive, and anterior segment specialist with Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: My pleasure, David.
Dr. David Goldman: You know, I wanted to talk to you today a little bit about TearLab. You know, what first got you interested in TearLab?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Well, any reliable diagnostic technology that can help doctors diagnose and follow the treatment of dry eye is important to me.
Dr. David Goldman: And how has it changed your practice in terms of management of dry eye patients?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Well, occasionally, I'll tell someone, "You have dry eyes," and because of the disconnect between science and symptoms, sometimes they say, "No, I don't. I don't have dry eyes." You know, "I don't have that many problems with my eyes."
And if you can say, "Well, when I examine you, you have tremendous findings of advanced dry eye. And as a matter of fact, here's your number, and it proves that you have dry eye," the patients like the number, it confirms that the doctor knows what they're talking about, and it encourages them to stay on treatment.
Dr. David Goldman: And what are your--some of your success stories in using it with patients?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Well, first, it's interesting that the patients, while they're waiting for me, will read everything that's in the room, and they'll read the TearLab brochure. And I have walked in the door and had people hold it up and say, "Will you do this test on me?" So, you know, there's no pushback on doing the test, especially because there's no out-of-pocket expense for them. And they want to know that the treatment is working, and it encourages them to stay on the treatment, the discussion is faster, and they have faith in you. And also, you know, it differentiates the practice. This is something new, it's cutting edge, it's noninvasive, and you have it, and you're the first one to have it in the area.
Dr. David Goldman: And do you find it's easy to use?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Extremely easy to use. You can teach a technician to use it in less than five minutes.
Dr. David Goldman: And using the machine, I know you require some type of certification as a laboratory director. Was it difficult to obtain that certification?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: No, it's not difficult to obtain that certification at all. TearLab has contracted out this process to a company called COLA, and they take care of most of the paperwork, and they get it done very efficiently.
Dr. David Goldman: And do you find other advantages as well to having the certification as a laboratory director?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Yes.
Once again, it's another differentiating factor, and the patients see--we have notification that we're certified that's visible to the patients in the waiting room and on some of our materials, and that reassures them that this is a high-quality practice with a certified lab.
Dr. David Goldman: And would you recommend this for other practitioners of ophthalmology?
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Absolutely. It's good medicine and good business to participate in TearLab testing.
Dr. David Goldman: Excellent.
Well, I know we're always looking for better options for--especially for the dry eye patients, and as our patient population is getting older and there are more and more of them, we're going to have to come up with better options to treat them.
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: Absolutely, David.
Dr. David Goldman: Well, thank you so much for speaking with us today.
Dr. Marguerite McDonald: My pleasure.
Dr. David Goldman: For more information, please click on the links below.