January 8, 2024 • 20 mins
Clearly KC host Dr. Melissa Barnett OD invites Dr. Araba Otoo OD to talk about pubtometry – a word Dr. Otoo uses to describe the intersection of optometry and public health. Ghana-born Otoo is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry; she started Cherish Eyesight & Vision, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase vision health literacy and educate the public about eye conditions. Partnering with NKCF, Otoo and her global team of animators created short entertaining videos about keratoconus as part of the Vision Tales project.
To watch Cherish Eyesight Vision Tales, visit https://www.youtube.com/@cherisheyesightvision1001 or go to https://www.cherisheyesight.org
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Episode Transcript
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(00:07):
.999Welcome to episode 18 of Clearly KC, a podcast by the National Keratoconus Foundation featuring information about life with keratoconus.
I am your host, Dr.
Melissa Barnett.
And today we are going to discuss Cherish, Eyesight, and Vision and the Vision Tales Project. 5 00:00:26,269.999 --> 00:00:26,739.999 Dr.
Otu founded Cherish, Eyesight, and Vision, a nonprofit that intersects public health and optometry to help address preventable blindness and vision impairment globally.
(00:38):
In 2020, her remarkable contributions were recognized when she received the inaugural Rising Visionary Award from Prevent Blindness.
Welcome to the Clearly Casey podcast. 9 00:00:52,239.999 --> 00:00:52,699.9995 Thank you. 10 00:00:52,699.9995 --> 00:00:53,130 Thank you.
Thank you very much for the invitation. 12 00:00:56,249.999 --> 00:00:57,150 So let's start.
Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and why you chose a career in optometry.
(01:02):
Sure.
I grew up in Ghana, West Africa, and I immigrated to the United States for college.
So right after high school, I moved to the United States.
Now, I always wanted to be a doctor.
And then when I was growing up, I was a malinger.
I faked eye problems.
I did a lot of things with my eyes.
(01:23):
And, I recall that there was a female doctor who had operated on my dad for his pterygium. 22 00:01:29,34.999 --> 00:01:33,625.001 So now in hindsight, I think and feel that is when it started. 23 00:01:33,875.001 --> 00:01:37,365.001 I chose to express my interest as a child by malingering. 24 00:01:37,755.001 --> 00:01:39,635.001 So that's how I feel like it all started. 25 00:01:40,45.001 --> 00:01:51,265.001 When I moved to the United States, I wanted a career in eye care, and I was initially very adamant that it had to be ophthalmology, in part because that is all that I knew.
(01:51):
.001growing up in Ghana, I did not hear much about optometry. 27 00:01:54,635.001 --> 00:02:02,955.001 And also I wanted to do a lot of global health work and felt like if I did ophthalmology, I would not be limited, on what I could do. 28 00:02:03,240.001 --> 00:02:12,110 Should I find myself anywhere else outside the United States? life happened and that seemed unattainable. 29 00:02:12,120.001 --> 00:02:14,320.001 So my mentor, who is Dr. 30 00:02:14,320.001 --> 00:02:18,730 Charlotte Joslyn, I'm not sure if you know her, but she's like big in the contact lens world.
(02:19):
.001She works at UIC Eye and Ear Infirmary and she is, medical necessary contact lens professional. 32 00:02:25,310.001 --> 00:02:25,620.001 Dr. 33 00:02:25,620.001 --> 00:02:27,700.001 Joselyn was my mentor for a very long time. 34 00:02:27,970.001 --> 00:02:31,250.001 And so during my undergrad, I, shadowed her a lot. 35 00:02:31,250.001 --> 00:02:33,700.001 I got a lot of experience under her mentorship.
.002She and her husband intervened when I was trying to decide what to do after my, undergraduate education. 37 00:02:43,215.002 --> 00:02:52,485.002 something that I still remember up to today that resounds is the fact that they said you could still achieve all your career goals with optometry. 38 00:02:53,155.002 --> 00:03:00,365.002 So I went to optometry at the Ohio State College of Optometry and this is actually the alma mater of Dr. 39 00:03:00,365.003 --> 00:03:00,945.003 Jocelyn. 40 00:03:01,95.002 --> 00:03:05,155.002 So the story is longer than I am telling you, but I went to Ohio State because of Dr. 41 00:03:05,155.002 --> 00:03:05,725.002 Jocelyn. 42 00:03:06,45.002 --> 00:03:19,575 Choosing optometry was mostly because I could achieve all my career goals and it didn't have to be ophthalmology and the timing, age, time going on, life going on, I kind of like, okay, we are going to do optometry.
(03:19):
And so that's how that happened. 44 00:03:22,565.001 --> 00:03:23,925.001 That's wonderful. 45 00:03:24,15.001 --> 00:03:27,635.001 And then I understand you obtained a master's of public health. 46 00:03:28,150.001 --> 00:03:29,980.001 From the University of Illinois. 47 00:03:30,410.001 --> 00:03:40,180.001 What did you hope to achieve with your public health training? Before I did the public health program, I had a summer research opportunities program and that was what exposed me to public health.
(03:40):
So once again, this was when I met Dr. 49 00:03:43,260.001 --> 00:03:44,940.001 Jocelyn, who is an OD. 50 00:03:45,230.001 --> 00:03:49,700.001 With a PhD in public health, specifically epidemiology and biostatistics. 51 00:03:50,150.001 --> 00:03:56,895.001 So under her mentorship, that was when I first learned about, how to integrate public health and optometry. 52 00:03:57,195.001 --> 00:04:07,75.62589172 And an example that I have is there was an outbreak of ameba keratitis in Chicago back in 2010, 2011, and she kind of spearheaded the whole thing. 53 00:04:07,315.62589172 --> 00:04:12,805.62589172 So this was just a pure example of how her public health education became very beneficial. 54 00:04:13,425.62589172 --> 00:04:18,65.62589172 To her, as well as her patients, where ache of the amoeba is concerned. 55 00:04:18,255.62589172 --> 00:04:25,225.62589172 So I had that example to let me know that, public health should not be, separate from medical practice. 56 00:04:25,485.62489172 --> 00:04:27,115.62589172 And that integration actually helps us. 57 00:04:27,535.62589172 --> 00:04:28,885.62589172 achieve better outcomes. 58 00:04:29,245.62589172 --> 00:04:32,945.62589172 So when I did my MPH, everything was still eye care. 59 00:04:33,255.62589172 --> 00:04:36,225.62589172 I was able to, learn about public health. 60 00:04:36,615.62589172 --> 00:04:55,555.62689172 that was when I first got exposed to the ERIDS data I analyzed the ERID's data, I was able to look at disparities in eye diseases, I was able to implement a study for my capstone project back in Ghana, and then the study got accepted to academy, even before I started optometry school and other conferences. 61 00:04:55,565.62689172 --> 00:05:06,325.62689172 So, these series of things, it became evident to me how I could use these two different professions to complement each other. 62 00:05:06,635.62689172 --> 00:05:14,575.62689172 So, when I was still trying to navigate, do I do optometry and ophthalmology, it was good to do, public health in the interim. 63 00:05:15,135.62689172 --> 00:05:23,585.62739172 And so that was my mindset going into public health, at this point, I feel like, I'm able to take care of populations, so in public health, we are looking at preventive care. 64 00:05:23,895.62739172 --> 00:05:25,905.62739172 We know that is beneficial in eye care. 65 00:05:25,915.62739172 --> 00:05:30,815.62739172 I would love for patients to go get their eye exam so that we can catch diseases sooner than later. 66 00:05:30,855.62739172 --> 00:05:34,435.62739172 So this is just an example of looking at things through a public health lens. 67 00:05:34,555.62739172 --> 00:05:58,850.62339172 Lecturing, right? Now I feel like it is up to me to educate my colleagues how important public health is in our practice, I recall when I was doing my public health degree, we had so many conversations about diabetes, but the conversation stopped at It gets into the PCP and ticky a bit for me and because I'm an eye person I'm like, okay We have visual implications of this disease. 68 00:05:59,80.62339172 --> 00:06:17,660.62439172 So why are we not talking about the diabetic retinopathy and stopping at Diabetes and get a medication for it, but now that I have that education public health when I'm looking at a patient who has diabetic retinopathy, I'm thinking about does this person live in a food desert, okay? It's not just about, eating healthy. 69 00:06:17,865.62439172 --> 00:06:28,615.62439172 But do they have access to those healthy foods? If they live in a food desert, that's a challenge that we need the public health world to address so that we can get good outcomes from treating the diabetic retinopathy. 70 00:06:29,455.62439172 --> 00:06:39,55.62439172 I feel like I have the advantage of being able to think in a public health lens and realize that the person sitting in my chair has other social determinants. 71 00:06:39,940.62439172 --> 00:06:45,430.62439172 That affects their eye health and not just the mere fact that they have an eye disease or condition. 72 00:06:45,720.62439172 --> 00:06:54,730.62339172 hopefully that answers your question, but, my MPH, I made sure it was all about eyes and having done that before going to optometry school. 73 00:06:55,255.62439172 --> 00:06:59,465.62439172 Has helped me think in the public health lens and not just as a clinician. 74 00:06:59,905.62439172 --> 00:07:01,275.62439172 Hopefully that answers your question. 75 00:07:01,845.62439172 --> 00:07:02,805.62439172 Oh, definitely. 76 00:07:02,805.62439172 --> 00:07:03,765.62439172 That's fascinating. 77 00:07:03,785.62439172 --> 00:07:09,855.62339172 Did you hear that NPR story a few years ago about food deserts? No, I did not. 78 00:07:09,925.62439172 --> 00:07:10,945.62439172 Oh, I would encourage that. 79 00:07:10,965.62339172 --> 00:07:12,975.62339172 It was absolutely amazing. 80 00:07:12,975.62439172 --> 00:07:17,435.62339172 Perhaps it was a local one here in the Sacramento area in Northern California. 81 00:07:18,170.62439172 --> 00:07:26,950.62439172 But it was fascinating about relatively urban places that are food deserts and people just can't get access. 82 00:07:27,30.62439172 --> 00:07:27,400.62439172 Yeah. 83 00:07:27,620.62339172 --> 00:07:30,130.62439172 So it was well done. 84 00:07:30,300.62439172 --> 00:07:30,460.62439172 Yeah. 85 00:07:30,770.62339172 --> 00:07:31,170.62339172 Okay. 86 00:07:31,340.62439172 --> 00:07:39,750.62439172 I think it's a huge problem because again, if our main mode of addressing diabetes is to tell people to eat healthy. 87 00:07:40,75.62439172 --> 00:07:42,305.62439172 then we have to make sure that they have access to these foods. 88 00:07:42,575.62439172 --> 00:07:49,265.62439172 If you are trying to tell them to exercise, then we have to make sure that they have the green space in their neighborhoods to be able to exercise. 89 00:07:49,465.62439172 --> 00:07:58,685.62339172 recognizing that public health is really broad, and it is the public health, that is responsible for these things, like good neighborhoods, healthy neighborhoods. 90 00:07:58,685.72339172 --> 00:08:02,805.62439172 And so we can work together to achieve our mutual goals. 91 00:08:04,225.62439172 --> 00:08:05,905.62439172 That is right on. 92 00:08:05,915.62439172 --> 00:08:17,865.62439172 So tell us about your non profit called Cherish Eyesight and Pubtometry, a word that you use to describe the intersection of public health and optometry. 93 00:08:18,215.62339172 --> 00:08:18,735.62339172 Yes. 94 00:08:18,965.62439172 --> 00:08:25,25.62439172 The non profit came about late 2020 and that was right after the Prevent Blindness inaugural award. 95 00:08:25,425.62439172 --> 00:08:29,475.62439172 And that was because I wanted to be able to implement what I had suggested. 96 00:08:29,495.62439172 --> 00:08:31,905.62339172 So I wrote an essay and I had suggested that. 97 00:08:32,575.62439172 --> 00:08:42,835.62439172 This is one way that we can address the future outlook of vision and eye health, which is a lot of chronic, diseases, which means that a lot of, aging eye diseases. 98 00:08:42,855.62339172 --> 00:08:48,995.62339172 And so how are we going to address it? The nonprofit came about and basically trying to intersect public health and optometry. 99 00:08:49,615.62439172 --> 00:08:54,605.62439172 So we have the projects called the vision sales project and basically,. 100 00:08:55,295.62439172 --> 00:09:03,515.62339172 using entertainment to tell real life implications of eye diseases in ways that the general public will easily understand it. 101 00:09:03,855.62439172 --> 00:09:13,195.62439172 The goal is to make these videos very short, very succinct, so that when somebody watches it or listens to it, at least they are getting one take home message. 102 00:09:13,465.62339172 --> 00:09:15,305.62439172 It is not meant to be overwhelming. 103 00:09:15,335.62439172 --> 00:09:19,345.62439172 It is meant to entertain, but at the same time drive, drive home. 104 00:09:19,715.62439172 --> 00:09:20,735.62439172 a key message. 105 00:09:20,895.62439172 --> 00:09:29,405.62439172 And so it's through Prevent Blindness that I came up with the non profit and then the goal is to improve visual health literacy. 106 00:09:29,695.62339172 --> 00:09:41,45.62239172 Because when I was a student and I started seeing patients, there were so many patients when you ask them, so why haven't you gone to the eye doctor? Most people would say, well, I don't have any symptoms. 107 00:09:41,420.62239172 --> 00:09:42,900.62239172 Or I have never thought about it. 108 00:09:42,950.62239172 --> 00:09:54,340.62239172 Eye care seems to be at the very lowest level of their priorities, but then nobody picks sights as a sense that they would be okay losing. 109 00:09:54,540.62239172 --> 00:09:58,20.62239172 So there's a lot of value for eye sights, but people do very little. 110 00:09:58,245.62239172 --> 00:09:59,615.62239172 when it comes to the eyesight. 111 00:09:59,885.62239172 --> 00:10:02,895.62239172 And when it comes down to it, it's because they do not know about it. 112 00:10:03,205.62239172 --> 00:10:17,635.62239172 And so to me, vision health being a priority, we need to increase that literacy among the public so that hopefully if they know more, they will do better so that we don't find ourselves breaking bad news to people. 113 00:10:18,35.62239172 --> 00:10:20,165.62239172 Especially bad news that could have been prevented. 114 00:10:20,365.62239172 --> 00:10:35,235.62239172 That's how that came about and that's what I want to do with it, just to educate the public and hope that with improved literacy, people will make better decisions, that we can diagnose people early, we can treat them early, and hopefully we have better health outcomes right after that. 115 00:10:35,615.62239172 --> 00:10:36,985.62239172 Hopefully that answers the question. 116 00:10:37,95.62239172 --> 00:10:44,715.62239172 Oh, definitely, and I was watching the videos because I understand that you've partnered with NKCF for the last few years. 117 00:10:44,785.62239172 --> 00:10:46,235.62239172 Yes, thanks to Taylor. 118 00:10:46,235.72239172 --> 00:10:56,765.62239172 And the videos are great and they include different symptoms and risk factors like avoiding eye rubbing and most recently the mental health component of the disease. 119 00:10:57,115.62239172 --> 00:11:01,145.62239172 And I especially like the video explaining different types of contact lenses. 120 00:11:01,185.62239172 --> 00:11:02,895.62239172 That was very clear. 121 00:11:04,110.62239172 --> 00:11:05,530.62239172 And really cute and fun. 122 00:11:05,530.62239172 --> 00:11:14,950.62239172 So I'd encourage all of you, there'll be a link in the podcast so you can watch the videos, but it's really impressive how these are done. 123 00:11:15,270.62239172 --> 00:11:15,570.62239172 Great. 124 00:11:15,640.62239172 --> 00:11:23,800.62239172 I understand that you work with an international group of graphic artists and optometry students who helped develop the script and drawings. 125 00:11:24,680.62239172 --> 00:11:28,280.62239172 Please share the process that you use to create these cartoons. 126 00:11:28,650.62239172 --> 00:11:29,30.62239172 Sure. 127 00:11:29,400.62239172 --> 00:11:32,320.62139172 So I, would write scripts. 128 00:11:32,690.62239172 --> 00:11:35,310.62239172 To highlight real life implications of these eye diseases. 129 00:11:35,870.62339172 --> 00:11:40,920.62339172 And then specifically to the keratoconus ones that you mentioned, I have Dr. 130 00:11:40,930.62339172 --> 00:11:46,30.62339172 Farida Huron, um, who is a recent contactless trained OD. 131 00:11:46,260.62339172 --> 00:11:47,830.62339172 Okay, so she was my classmate. 132 00:11:48,90.62339172 --> 00:11:55,590.62339172 And once we have a contactless video, I'm like, Farida, this is your topic, right? So, Farida will come up with a story because she sees a lot of keratoconus patients. 133 00:11:55,880.62339172 --> 00:11:58,570.62289172 If you think about the mental health one, she wrote the story. 134 00:11:58,620.62289172 --> 00:12:09,220.62289172 And then I go in and edit the story and make it very simple for the animator who has no experience in iCare to be able to bring it to life. 135 00:12:09,590.62289172 --> 00:12:12,780.62289172 it's just a shared Google document so that he can access it. 136 00:12:12,780.62389172 --> 00:12:23,715.62289172 So he resides in Ghana, and that is because animations are very expensive and so that is how I can afford this, or we can afford this and keep it sustainable. 137 00:12:23,995.62289172 --> 00:12:31,325.62189172 And that gives someone a job who may otherwise not have a job, he gets to build his portfolio from the work that he does with us. 138 00:12:31,545.62289172 --> 00:12:33,745.62339172 It's just a mutually beneficial kind of agreement. 139 00:12:34,245.62339172 --> 00:12:35,785.62339172 Anyway, we write the story. 140 00:12:35,825.62339172 --> 00:12:37,415.62439172 I try to make it explicit. 141 00:12:38,195.62339172 --> 00:12:41,715.62439172 And whoever writes the story gets to be the character in the story. 142 00:12:41,965.62439172 --> 00:12:46,5.62439172 That person's Audio voice becomes the voice over in the story. 143 00:12:46,205.62439172 --> 00:12:48,255.62439172 So that's why we have so many different characters. 144 00:12:48,455.62439172 --> 00:13:03,415.62439172 once he creates the animation, he sends it back to us, we review it, and then there's a decent amount of back and forth that goes on to make sure that we are not mis informing the public, making sure that what we want to portray is exactly what is portrayed in the video. 145 00:13:03,715.62439172 --> 00:13:08,375.62439172 and then once we are content with what he has produced, then we put it on, YouTube. 146 00:13:08,805.62539172 --> 00:13:18,225.52639172 And then disseminated on social media, be it, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tik TOK, Tik TOK is not that robust yet but basically it will be. 147 00:13:18,465.52539172 --> 00:13:18,815.52539172 Yes. 148 00:13:19,745.52639172 --> 00:13:26,815.52639172 But basically we put it on YouTube and disseminated over social media and just hope that it gets to the people who need to. 149 00:13:26,975.52639172 --> 00:13:27,875.52639172 Hear about these things. 150 00:13:27,875.52639172 --> 00:13:37,865.52639172 And actually, if I'm not wrong, the Karatakonis ones have received a decent amount of questions, right? There are people who will like the public who will come on and ask questions. 151 00:13:37,915.52639172 --> 00:13:47,355.52639172 And so I think it's doing what it was intended to do, which is to educate the public and hopefully prompt some questions and then, yeah, just educate them. 152 00:13:48,745.52639172 --> 00:13:49,435.52639172 Excellent. 153 00:13:49,475.52639172 --> 00:13:55,215.52639172 And I love all the pictures in the background of NKCF and World Karatakonis Day. 154 00:13:55,275.52639172 --> 00:13:55,555.52639172 Yes. 155 00:13:55,805.52639172 --> 00:13:57,385.52639172 They're so friendly and cute too. 156 00:13:57,445.52639172 --> 00:13:58,455.52639172 Yeah, thank you. 157 00:13:58,485.52639172 --> 00:14:06,805.52639172 And we came up with, um, you mentioned peptometry, which is basically a word that I made up, piecing out public health and optometry together. 158 00:14:07,65.52539172 --> 00:14:10,15.52639172 And so you would see that in some of the videos you'd have. 159 00:14:10,100.62639172 --> 00:14:19,180.52639172 Hashtag Poptometry, hashtag CherishEyesight, creating words that basically don't exist, but we will make them exist kind of thing. 160 00:14:19,560.52639172 --> 00:14:20,510.52639172 Yeah, that's that. 161 00:14:21,440.52639172 --> 00:14:22,380.52639172 Oh, it's great. 162 00:14:22,390.52639172 --> 00:14:31,715.42639172 So if people want to learn more about CherishEyesight or watch the videos you produced for NKCF, where should they go? We have our website, which is CherishEyesight. 163 00:14:31,715.52639172 --> 00:14:31,885.52639172 org. 164 00:14:32,165.52639172 --> 00:14:34,205.52639172 You would find all the information there. 165 00:14:34,515.52639172 --> 00:14:38,125.52539172 Now, if you want to watch the videos, YouTube would be the first place to go to. 166 00:14:38,155.52539172 --> 00:14:39,685.52539172 We have the YouTube channel. 167 00:14:39,685.62539172 --> 00:14:42,695.52639172 As soon as you search CherishEyesight. 168 00:14:42,725.52639172 --> 00:14:45,425.52639172 org, you would find all the videos that we have put out there. 169 00:14:45,715.52539172 --> 00:14:59,540.52639172 And then, aside from that, we are currently working on an app, like a phone app, that people can You can easily get the app, and that app will actually tailor the videos to the individual's interests. 170 00:14:59,770.52639172 --> 00:15:07,135.52639172 So if somebody's interested in Keratoconus, Then all the videos that would be populated once the person goes into the app would be curated. 171 00:15:07,145.52639172 --> 00:15:12,575.52639172 So I look forward to that becoming a thing, but that's one way that we are going to try to disseminate this information. 172 00:15:12,845.52639172 --> 00:15:16,735.52639172 So on the website, YouTube, an app that would be coming out soon. 173 00:15:16,995.52539172 --> 00:15:20,765.52639172 And then all the social media platform, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. 174 00:15:21,40.52639172 --> 00:15:21,520.52639172 Instagram. 175 00:15:21,600.52639172 --> 00:15:25,260.52639172 And then we have an email as well, which is simply cherish eyesight at gmail. 176 00:15:25,260.52639172 --> 00:15:25,680.52639172 com. 177 00:15:26,970.52639172 --> 00:15:28,430.52639172 Fantastic. 178 00:15:29,140.52639172 --> 00:15:35,320.52539172 So not that you have any free time in your life at all, but I understand that you're a practicing doctor. 179 00:15:35,680.52639172 --> 00:15:36,170.52639172 Right. 180 00:15:36,800.52639172 --> 00:15:48,345.52639172 And in your practice, do you see many patients of Keratoconus? Well, I started work in September of this year, so it hasn't been too long, and I am yet to see a keratoconus patient. 181 00:15:48,965.52539172 --> 00:15:57,585.52639172 So I haven't seen, I know, I am yet to see a keratoconus patient, and I did my residency at the VA as well. 182 00:15:57,765.52639172 --> 00:16:08,215.52739172 If you think about the population, I did not see Keratoconus or the VA, so I haven't been able to, preach the gospel on Keratoconus to anyone yet. 183 00:16:08,625.52739172 --> 00:16:18,990.52739172 But yeah if I get somebody, I'll be able to explain to them exactly what the condition is and what resources are available to them for them to be able to get the best vision possible excellent. 184 00:16:19,230.52739172 --> 00:16:22,300.52739172 What type of practice are you in? It's an ODMD practice. 185 00:16:22,310.52739172 --> 00:16:24,70.52739172 So I'm seeing a lot of post ops. 186 00:16:24,330.52739172 --> 00:16:27,860.52739172 So hopefully that explains to you why I haven't seen a lot of keratoconus. 187 00:16:28,740.52739172 --> 00:16:34,380.52589172 I'm seeing a lot of, disease and a lot of post op cataract care and things of that nature. 188 00:16:35,245.52689172 --> 00:16:35,835.52689172 Okay. 189 00:16:36,45.52689172 --> 00:16:36,515.52689172 Yes. 190 00:16:37,255.52689172 --> 00:16:40,625.5268917 Well, you will see lots of people with Keratoconus. 191 00:16:40,625.6268917 --> 00:16:40,885.4268917 I'm sure. 192 00:16:40,885.5268917 --> 00:16:41,295.5268917 Yes. 193 00:16:42,455.5268917 --> 00:16:42,805.5268917 Yes. 194 00:16:42,845.5268917 --> 00:16:44,705.5258917 I will have a different answer next time. 195 00:16:44,808.8602251 --> 00:16:45,518.8602251 Exactly. 196 00:16:45,548.8602251 --> 00:16:46,198.8602251 We'll do it again. 197 00:16:46,198.9602251 --> 00:16:47,368.7602251 Yeah. 198 00:16:47,368.8602251 --> 00:16:47,908.8602251 Definitely. 199 00:16:49,238.8602251 --> 00:17:22,738.8597251 So the last question is, what do you think that we can do to improve access to eye care, both in this country and beyond in the world? well, I think it's a hard question, okay, because when you think about the barriers to care, cost is a huge one, and then depending on where you are, you are talking about the eye care professionals available in those vicinities, and then you talk about transportation to these areas, these are the main barriers. 200 00:17:23,148.8597251 --> 00:17:48,18.8602251 that people face, which is not an easy solution because no one person can solve it, so, bringing up my public health, let's say that you have a public health person who is much involved in policy, that person involved in policy, also interested in eye care, can lead so that we can come up with policies and fight for costs associated with scleral lenses. 201 00:17:48,608.8602251 --> 00:17:54,538.8602251 Costs associated with GP lenses, I feel like we have to delve more into public health. 202 00:17:54,998.8602251 --> 00:18:08,218.8602251 And again, I may be biased, right? And figure out the different tactics that public health uses to address these barriers that I have listed, and some of them could be just taking the care to people. 203 00:18:08,503.8602251 --> 00:18:11,93.8602251 Instead of you waiting for them to come to you for care. 204 00:18:11,663.8602251 --> 00:18:19,263.8592251 And we do a little bit of that as a profession, going to different places to do screening, so that very much addresses access. 205 00:18:19,683.8602251 --> 00:18:23,18.7602251 When I was in optometry school, we would go to schools and do screening. 206 00:18:23,308.8602251 --> 00:18:31,98.8602251 And you would identify a child with amblyopic factors, now, you would write a letter to the parent for them to follow up with an O. 207 00:18:31,98.8602251 --> 00:18:31,538.8602251 D. 208 00:18:31,738.8602251 --> 00:18:34,938.8602251 outside of the school, and then they don't do it. 209 00:18:35,398.8602251 --> 00:18:39,838.8602251 So even though you sent the care to people, now there is the lack of motivation. 210 00:18:40,153.8602251 --> 00:18:41,323.8602251 to actually do it. 211 00:18:41,583.8602251 --> 00:18:45,673.8602251 And some have given reasons like, oh, they don't believe the results from the school screening. 212 00:18:46,703.8602251 --> 00:18:49,293.8602251 But again, if you don't go to the eye doctor, that would never be found out. 213 00:18:49,453.8602251 --> 00:18:55,53.8602251 And then we go back the next year and find the same students with WFA factors, and the problem still persists. 214 00:18:56,3.8602251 --> 00:18:58,783.8602251 What we could do there, once again, is education. 215 00:18:59,63.8602251 --> 00:19:11,503.8602251 If that parent knew the magnitude of what they are dealing with, that if this child does not get the glasses that they need, and indeed becomes amblyopic, get a 20 20 vision in that eye. 216 00:19:12,163.8602251 --> 00:19:15,423.8602251 for the rest of that person's life may not be achievable. 217 00:19:15,643.8602251 --> 00:19:24,733.9582251 I feel like the basic thing that we can address, which is what I'm trying to do and hopefully get buy in from a lot of ODs, is to educate, educate, and educate. 218 00:19:24,933.9592251 --> 00:19:28,133.9582251 And then do our best to take the care to people. 219 00:19:28,333.9582251 --> 00:19:32,923.9592251 And taking the care to people is not enough if you don't educate because they are not going to follow up. 220 00:19:33,313.9592251 --> 00:19:44,493.9582251 So, coming back to the beginning I feel like we should educate because that is a simple thing to do that each OD can do without having to involve the government. 221 00:19:44,803.9592251 --> 00:19:48,33.9592251 But all the other barriers are hard. 222 00:19:48,223.9592251 --> 00:19:53,623.9602251 Not that we cannot address them, they are just barriers that you cannot address as an individual. 223 00:19:55,43.9602251 --> 00:19:55,753.9602251 Exactly. 224 00:19:55,783.9602251 --> 00:19:56,263.9602251 Exactly. 225 00:19:56,263.9602251 --> 00:19:56,453.9602251 Right. 226 00:19:56,453.9602251 --> 00:20:04,623.9602251 I've been fortunate to lecture in many countries around the world and have seen some of these access barriers. 227 00:20:04,853.9602251 --> 00:20:05,183.9602251 Right. 228 00:20:05,183.9602251 --> 00:20:07,713.9602251 And also see them here in this country as well. 229 00:20:07,923.9602251 --> 00:20:08,533.9602251 Certainly. 230 00:20:09,563.9602251 --> 00:20:17,183.9592251 Well, thank you so much for all the work that you're doing and sharing the role of optometry in public health and global health. 231 00:20:17,733.9602251 --> 00:20:21,783.9602251 For all of our listeners, thank you so much for joining us on Clearly KC. 232 00:20:22,183.9592251 --> 00:20:30,253.9602251 Please listen to all the episodes of our podcast on Podbean or your favorite podcast app to subscribe and get future episodes. 233 00:20:30,383.9602251 --> 00:20:31,633.9602251 For now, I am Dr. 234 00:20:31,633.9602251 --> 00:20:32,493.9592251 Melissa Barnett. 235 00:20:33,133.9602251 --> 00:20:35,393.9602251 Please join us next time on Clearly KC.
.999Welcome to episode 18 of Clearly KC, a podcast by the National Keratoconus Foundation featuring information about life with keratoconus.
I am your host, Dr.
Melissa Barnett.
And today we are going to discuss Cherish, Eyesight, and Vision and the Vision Tales Project. 5 00:00:26,269.999 --> 00:00:26,739.999 Dr.
Otu founded Cherish, Eyesight, and Vision, a nonprofit that intersects public health and optometry to help address preventable blindness and vision impairment globally.
(00:38):
In 2020, her remarkable contributions were recognized when she received the inaugural Rising Visionary Award from Prevent Blindness.
Welcome to the Clearly Casey podcast. 9 00:00:52,239.999 --> 00:00:52,699.9995 Thank you. 10 00:00:52,699.9995 --> 00:00:53,130 Thank you.
Thank you very much for the invitation. 12 00:00:56,249.999 --> 00:00:57,150 So let's start.
Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and why you chose a career in optometry.
(01:02):
Sure.
I grew up in Ghana, West Africa, and I immigrated to the United States for college.
So right after high school, I moved to the United States.
Now, I always wanted to be a doctor.
And then when I was growing up, I was a malinger.
I faked eye problems.
I did a lot of things with my eyes.
(01:23):
And, I recall that there was a female doctor who had operated on my dad for his pterygium. 22 00:01:29,34.999 --> 00:01:33,625.001 So now in hindsight, I think and feel that is when it started. 23 00:01:33,875.001 --> 00:01:37,365.001 I chose to express my interest as a child by malingering. 24 00:01:37,755.001 --> 00:01:39,635.001 So that's how I feel like it all started. 25 00:01:40,45.001 --> 00:01:51,265.001 When I moved to the United States, I wanted a career in eye care, and I was initially very adamant that it had to be ophthalmology, in part because that is all that I knew.
(01:51):
.001growing up in Ghana, I did not hear much about optometry. 27 00:01:54,635.001 --> 00:02:02,955.001 And also I wanted to do a lot of global health work and felt like if I did ophthalmology, I would not be limited, on what I could do. 28 00:02:03,240.001 --> 00:02:12,110 Should I find myself anywhere else outside the United States? life happened and that seemed unattainable. 29 00:02:12,120.001 --> 00:02:14,320.001 So my mentor, who is Dr. 30 00:02:14,320.001 --> 00:02:18,730 Charlotte Joslyn, I'm not sure if you know her, but she's like big in the contact lens world.
(02:19):
.001She works at UIC Eye and Ear Infirmary and she is, medical necessary contact lens professional. 32 00:02:25,310.001 --> 00:02:25,620.001 Dr. 33 00:02:25,620.001 --> 00:02:27,700.001 Joselyn was my mentor for a very long time. 34 00:02:27,970.001 --> 00:02:31,250.001 And so during my undergrad, I, shadowed her a lot. 35 00:02:31,250.001 --> 00:02:33,700.001 I got a lot of experience under her mentorship.
.002She and her husband intervened when I was trying to decide what to do after my, undergraduate education. 37 00:02:43,215.002 --> 00:02:52,485.002 something that I still remember up to today that resounds is the fact that they said you could still achieve all your career goals with optometry. 38 00:02:53,155.002 --> 00:03:00,365.002 So I went to optometry at the Ohio State College of Optometry and this is actually the alma mater of Dr. 39 00:03:00,365.003 --> 00:03:00,945.003 Jocelyn. 40 00:03:01,95.002 --> 00:03:05,155.002 So the story is longer than I am telling you, but I went to Ohio State because of Dr. 41 00:03:05,155.002 --> 00:03:05,725.002 Jocelyn. 42 00:03:06,45.002 --> 00:03:19,575 Choosing optometry was mostly because I could achieve all my career goals and it didn't have to be ophthalmology and the timing, age, time going on, life going on, I kind of like, okay, we are going to do optometry.
(03:19):
And so that's how that happened. 44 00:03:22,565.001 --> 00:03:23,925.001 That's wonderful. 45 00:03:24,15.001 --> 00:03:27,635.001 And then I understand you obtained a master's of public health. 46 00:03:28,150.001 --> 00:03:29,980.001 From the University of Illinois. 47 00:03:30,410.001 --> 00:03:40,180.001 What did you hope to achieve with your public health training? Before I did the public health program, I had a summer research opportunities program and that was what exposed me to public health.
(03:40):
So once again, this was when I met Dr. 49 00:03:43,260.001 --> 00:03:44,940.001 Jocelyn, who is an OD. 50 00:03:45,230.001 --> 00:03:49,700.001 With a PhD in public health, specifically epidemiology and biostatistics. 51 00:03:50,150.001 --> 00:03:56,895.001 So under her mentorship, that was when I first learned about, how to integrate public health and optometry. 52 00:03:57,195.001 --> 00:04:07,75.62589172 And an example that I have is there was an outbreak of ameba keratitis in Chicago back in 2010, 2011, and she kind of spearheaded the whole thing. 53 00:04:07,315.62589172 --> 00:04:12,805.62589172 So this was just a pure example of how her public health education became very beneficial. 54 00:04:13,425.62589172 --> 00:04:18,65.62589172 To her, as well as her patients, where ache of the amoeba is concerned. 55 00:04:18,255.62589172 --> 00:04:25,225.62589172 So I had that example to let me know that, public health should not be, separate from medical practice. 56 00:04:25,485.62489172 --> 00:04:27,115.62589172 And that integration actually helps us. 57 00:04:27,535.62589172 --> 00:04:28,885.62589172 achieve better outcomes. 58 00:04:29,245.62589172 --> 00:04:32,945.62589172 So when I did my MPH, everything was still eye care. 59 00:04:33,255.62589172 --> 00:04:36,225.62589172 I was able to, learn about public health. 60 00:04:36,615.62589172 --> 00:04:55,555.62689172 that was when I first got exposed to the ERIDS data I analyzed the ERID's data, I was able to look at disparities in eye diseases, I was able to implement a study for my capstone project back in Ghana, and then the study got accepted to academy, even before I started optometry school and other conferences. 61 00:04:55,565.62689172 --> 00:05:06,325.62689172 So, these series of things, it became evident to me how I could use these two different professions to complement each other. 62 00:05:06,635.62689172 --> 00:05:14,575.62689172 So, when I was still trying to navigate, do I do optometry and ophthalmology, it was good to do, public health in the interim. 63 00:05:15,135.62689172 --> 00:05:23,585.62739172 And so that was my mindset going into public health, at this point, I feel like, I'm able to take care of populations, so in public health, we are looking at preventive care. 64 00:05:23,895.62739172 --> 00:05:25,905.62739172 We know that is beneficial in eye care. 65 00:05:25,915.62739172 --> 00:05:30,815.62739172 I would love for patients to go get their eye exam so that we can catch diseases sooner than later. 66 00:05:30,855.62739172 --> 00:05:34,435.62739172 So this is just an example of looking at things through a public health lens. 67 00:05:34,555.62739172 --> 00:05:58,850.62339172 Lecturing, right? Now I feel like it is up to me to educate my colleagues how important public health is in our practice, I recall when I was doing my public health degree, we had so many conversations about diabetes, but the conversation stopped at It gets into the PCP and ticky a bit for me and because I'm an eye person I'm like, okay We have visual implications of this disease. 68 00:05:59,80.62339172 --> 00:06:17,660.62439172 So why are we not talking about the diabetic retinopathy and stopping at Diabetes and get a medication for it, but now that I have that education public health when I'm looking at a patient who has diabetic retinopathy, I'm thinking about does this person live in a food desert, okay? It's not just about, eating healthy. 69 00:06:17,865.62439172 --> 00:06:28,615.62439172 But do they have access to those healthy foods? If they live in a food desert, that's a challenge that we need the public health world to address so that we can get good outcomes from treating the diabetic retinopathy. 70 00:06:29,455.62439172 --> 00:06:39,55.62439172 I feel like I have the advantage of being able to think in a public health lens and realize that the person sitting in my chair has other social determinants. 71 00:06:39,940.62439172 --> 00:06:45,430.62439172 That affects their eye health and not just the mere fact that they have an eye disease or condition. 72 00:06:45,720.62439172 --> 00:06:54,730.62339172 hopefully that answers your question, but, my MPH, I made sure it was all about eyes and having done that before going to optometry school. 73 00:06:55,255.62439172 --> 00:06:59,465.62439172 Has helped me think in the public health lens and not just as a clinician. 74 00:06:59,905.62439172 --> 00:07:01,275.62439172 Hopefully that answers your question. 75 00:07:01,845.62439172 --> 00:07:02,805.62439172 Oh, definitely. 76 00:07:02,805.62439172 --> 00:07:03,765.62439172 That's fascinating. 77 00:07:03,785.62439172 --> 00:07:09,855.62339172 Did you hear that NPR story a few years ago about food deserts? No, I did not. 78 00:07:09,925.62439172 --> 00:07:10,945.62439172 Oh, I would encourage that. 79 00:07:10,965.62339172 --> 00:07:12,975.62339172 It was absolutely amazing. 80 00:07:12,975.62439172 --> 00:07:17,435.62339172 Perhaps it was a local one here in the Sacramento area in Northern California. 81 00:07:18,170.62439172 --> 00:07:26,950.62439172 But it was fascinating about relatively urban places that are food deserts and people just can't get access. 82 00:07:27,30.62439172 --> 00:07:27,400.62439172 Yeah. 83 00:07:27,620.62339172 --> 00:07:30,130.62439172 So it was well done. 84 00:07:30,300.62439172 --> 00:07:30,460.62439172 Yeah. 85 00:07:30,770.62339172 --> 00:07:31,170.62339172 Okay. 86 00:07:31,340.62439172 --> 00:07:39,750.62439172 I think it's a huge problem because again, if our main mode of addressing diabetes is to tell people to eat healthy. 87 00:07:40,75.62439172 --> 00:07:42,305.62439172 then we have to make sure that they have access to these foods. 88 00:07:42,575.62439172 --> 00:07:49,265.62439172 If you are trying to tell them to exercise, then we have to make sure that they have the green space in their neighborhoods to be able to exercise. 89 00:07:49,465.62439172 --> 00:07:58,685.62339172 recognizing that public health is really broad, and it is the public health, that is responsible for these things, like good neighborhoods, healthy neighborhoods. 90 00:07:58,685.72339172 --> 00:08:02,805.62439172 And so we can work together to achieve our mutual goals. 91 00:08:04,225.62439172 --> 00:08:05,905.62439172 That is right on. 92 00:08:05,915.62439172 --> 00:08:17,865.62439172 So tell us about your non profit called Cherish Eyesight and Pubtometry, a word that you use to describe the intersection of public health and optometry. 93 00:08:18,215.62339172 --> 00:08:18,735.62339172 Yes. 94 00:08:18,965.62439172 --> 00:08:25,25.62439172 The non profit came about late 2020 and that was right after the Prevent Blindness inaugural award. 95 00:08:25,425.62439172 --> 00:08:29,475.62439172 And that was because I wanted to be able to implement what I had suggested. 96 00:08:29,495.62439172 --> 00:08:31,905.62339172 So I wrote an essay and I had suggested that. 97 00:08:32,575.62439172 --> 00:08:42,835.62439172 This is one way that we can address the future outlook of vision and eye health, which is a lot of chronic, diseases, which means that a lot of, aging eye diseases. 98 00:08:42,855.62339172 --> 00:08:48,995.62339172 And so how are we going to address it? The nonprofit came about and basically trying to intersect public health and optometry. 99 00:08:49,615.62439172 --> 00:08:54,605.62439172 So we have the projects called the vision sales project and basically,. 100 00:08:55,295.62439172 --> 00:09:03,515.62339172 using entertainment to tell real life implications of eye diseases in ways that the general public will easily understand it. 101 00:09:03,855.62439172 --> 00:09:13,195.62439172 The goal is to make these videos very short, very succinct, so that when somebody watches it or listens to it, at least they are getting one take home message. 102 00:09:13,465.62339172 --> 00:09:15,305.62439172 It is not meant to be overwhelming. 103 00:09:15,335.62439172 --> 00:09:19,345.62439172 It is meant to entertain, but at the same time drive, drive home. 104 00:09:19,715.62439172 --> 00:09:20,735.62439172 a key message. 105 00:09:20,895.62439172 --> 00:09:29,405.62439172 And so it's through Prevent Blindness that I came up with the non profit and then the goal is to improve visual health literacy. 106 00:09:29,695.62339172 --> 00:09:41,45.62239172 Because when I was a student and I started seeing patients, there were so many patients when you ask them, so why haven't you gone to the eye doctor? Most people would say, well, I don't have any symptoms. 107 00:09:41,420.62239172 --> 00:09:42,900.62239172 Or I have never thought about it. 108 00:09:42,950.62239172 --> 00:09:54,340.62239172 Eye care seems to be at the very lowest level of their priorities, but then nobody picks sights as a sense that they would be okay losing. 109 00:09:54,540.62239172 --> 00:09:58,20.62239172 So there's a lot of value for eye sights, but people do very little. 110 00:09:58,245.62239172 --> 00:09:59,615.62239172 when it comes to the eyesight. 111 00:09:59,885.62239172 --> 00:10:02,895.62239172 And when it comes down to it, it's because they do not know about it. 112 00:10:03,205.62239172 --> 00:10:17,635.62239172 And so to me, vision health being a priority, we need to increase that literacy among the public so that hopefully if they know more, they will do better so that we don't find ourselves breaking bad news to people. 113 00:10:18,35.62239172 --> 00:10:20,165.62239172 Especially bad news that could have been prevented. 114 00:10:20,365.62239172 --> 00:10:35,235.62239172 That's how that came about and that's what I want to do with it, just to educate the public and hope that with improved literacy, people will make better decisions, that we can diagnose people early, we can treat them early, and hopefully we have better health outcomes right after that. 115 00:10:35,615.62239172 --> 00:10:36,985.62239172 Hopefully that answers the question. 116 00:10:37,95.62239172 --> 00:10:44,715.62239172 Oh, definitely, and I was watching the videos because I understand that you've partnered with NKCF for the last few years. 117 00:10:44,785.62239172 --> 00:10:46,235.62239172 Yes, thanks to Taylor. 118 00:10:46,235.72239172 --> 00:10:56,765.62239172 And the videos are great and they include different symptoms and risk factors like avoiding eye rubbing and most recently the mental health component of the disease. 119 00:10:57,115.62239172 --> 00:11:01,145.62239172 And I especially like the video explaining different types of contact lenses. 120 00:11:01,185.62239172 --> 00:11:02,895.62239172 That was very clear. 121 00:11:04,110.62239172 --> 00:11:05,530.62239172 And really cute and fun. 122 00:11:05,530.62239172 --> 00:11:14,950.62239172 So I'd encourage all of you, there'll be a link in the podcast so you can watch the videos, but it's really impressive how these are done. 123 00:11:15,270.62239172 --> 00:11:15,570.62239172 Great. 124 00:11:15,640.62239172 --> 00:11:23,800.62239172 I understand that you work with an international group of graphic artists and optometry students who helped develop the script and drawings. 125 00:11:24,680.62239172 --> 00:11:28,280.62239172 Please share the process that you use to create these cartoons. 126 00:11:28,650.62239172 --> 00:11:29,30.62239172 Sure. 127 00:11:29,400.62239172 --> 00:11:32,320.62139172 So I, would write scripts. 128 00:11:32,690.62239172 --> 00:11:35,310.62239172 To highlight real life implications of these eye diseases. 129 00:11:35,870.62339172 --> 00:11:40,920.62339172 And then specifically to the keratoconus ones that you mentioned, I have Dr. 130 00:11:40,930.62339172 --> 00:11:46,30.62339172 Farida Huron, um, who is a recent contactless trained OD. 131 00:11:46,260.62339172 --> 00:11:47,830.62339172 Okay, so she was my classmate. 132 00:11:48,90.62339172 --> 00:11:55,590.62339172 And once we have a contactless video, I'm like, Farida, this is your topic, right? So, Farida will come up with a story because she sees a lot of keratoconus patients. 133 00:11:55,880.62339172 --> 00:11:58,570.62289172 If you think about the mental health one, she wrote the story. 134 00:11:58,620.62289172 --> 00:12:09,220.62289172 And then I go in and edit the story and make it very simple for the animator who has no experience in iCare to be able to bring it to life. 135 00:12:09,590.62289172 --> 00:12:12,780.62289172 it's just a shared Google document so that he can access it. 136 00:12:12,780.62389172 --> 00:12:23,715.62289172 So he resides in Ghana, and that is because animations are very expensive and so that is how I can afford this, or we can afford this and keep it sustainable. 137 00:12:23,995.62289172 --> 00:12:31,325.62189172 And that gives someone a job who may otherwise not have a job, he gets to build his portfolio from the work that he does with us. 138 00:12:31,545.62289172 --> 00:12:33,745.62339172 It's just a mutually beneficial kind of agreement. 139 00:12:34,245.62339172 --> 00:12:35,785.62339172 Anyway, we write the story. 140 00:12:35,825.62339172 --> 00:12:37,415.62439172 I try to make it explicit. 141 00:12:38,195.62339172 --> 00:12:41,715.62439172 And whoever writes the story gets to be the character in the story. 142 00:12:41,965.62439172 --> 00:12:46,5.62439172 That person's Audio voice becomes the voice over in the story. 143 00:12:46,205.62439172 --> 00:12:48,255.62439172 So that's why we have so many different characters. 144 00:12:48,455.62439172 --> 00:13:03,415.62439172 once he creates the animation, he sends it back to us, we review it, and then there's a decent amount of back and forth that goes on to make sure that we are not mis informing the public, making sure that what we want to portray is exactly what is portrayed in the video. 145 00:13:03,715.62439172 --> 00:13:08,375.62439172 and then once we are content with what he has produced, then we put it on, YouTube. 146 00:13:08,805.62539172 --> 00:13:18,225.52639172 And then disseminated on social media, be it, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tik TOK, Tik TOK is not that robust yet but basically it will be. 147 00:13:18,465.52539172 --> 00:13:18,815.52539172 Yes. 148 00:13:19,745.52639172 --> 00:13:26,815.52639172 But basically we put it on YouTube and disseminated over social media and just hope that it gets to the people who need to. 149 00:13:26,975.52639172 --> 00:13:27,875.52639172 Hear about these things. 150 00:13:27,875.52639172 --> 00:13:37,865.52639172 And actually, if I'm not wrong, the Karatakonis ones have received a decent amount of questions, right? There are people who will like the public who will come on and ask questions. 151 00:13:37,915.52639172 --> 00:13:47,355.52639172 And so I think it's doing what it was intended to do, which is to educate the public and hopefully prompt some questions and then, yeah, just educate them. 152 00:13:48,745.52639172 --> 00:13:49,435.52639172 Excellent. 153 00:13:49,475.52639172 --> 00:13:55,215.52639172 And I love all the pictures in the background of NKCF and World Karatakonis Day. 154 00:13:55,275.52639172 --> 00:13:55,555.52639172 Yes. 155 00:13:55,805.52639172 --> 00:13:57,385.52639172 They're so friendly and cute too. 156 00:13:57,445.52639172 --> 00:13:58,455.52639172 Yeah, thank you. 157 00:13:58,485.52639172 --> 00:14:06,805.52639172 And we came up with, um, you mentioned peptometry, which is basically a word that I made up, piecing out public health and optometry together. 158 00:14:07,65.52539172 --> 00:14:10,15.52639172 And so you would see that in some of the videos you'd have. 159 00:14:10,100.62639172 --> 00:14:19,180.52639172 Hashtag Poptometry, hashtag CherishEyesight, creating words that basically don't exist, but we will make them exist kind of thing. 160 00:14:19,560.52639172 --> 00:14:20,510.52639172 Yeah, that's that. 161 00:14:21,440.52639172 --> 00:14:22,380.52639172 Oh, it's great. 162 00:14:22,390.52639172 --> 00:14:31,715.42639172 So if people want to learn more about CherishEyesight or watch the videos you produced for NKCF, where should they go? We have our website, which is CherishEyesight. 163 00:14:31,715.52639172 --> 00:14:31,885.52639172 org. 164 00:14:32,165.52639172 --> 00:14:34,205.52639172 You would find all the information there. 165 00:14:34,515.52639172 --> 00:14:38,125.52539172 Now, if you want to watch the videos, YouTube would be the first place to go to. 166 00:14:38,155.52539172 --> 00:14:39,685.52539172 We have the YouTube channel. 167 00:14:39,685.62539172 --> 00:14:42,695.52639172 As soon as you search CherishEyesight. 168 00:14:42,725.52639172 --> 00:14:45,425.52639172 org, you would find all the videos that we have put out there. 169 00:14:45,715.52539172 --> 00:14:59,540.52639172 And then, aside from that, we are currently working on an app, like a phone app, that people can You can easily get the app, and that app will actually tailor the videos to the individual's interests. 170 00:14:59,770.52639172 --> 00:15:07,135.52639172 So if somebody's interested in Keratoconus, Then all the videos that would be populated once the person goes into the app would be curated. 171 00:15:07,145.52639172 --> 00:15:12,575.52639172 So I look forward to that becoming a thing, but that's one way that we are going to try to disseminate this information. 172 00:15:12,845.52639172 --> 00:15:16,735.52639172 So on the website, YouTube, an app that would be coming out soon. 173 00:15:16,995.52539172 --> 00:15:20,765.52639172 And then all the social media platform, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. 174 00:15:21,40.52639172 --> 00:15:21,520.52639172 Instagram. 175 00:15:21,600.52639172 --> 00:15:25,260.52639172 And then we have an email as well, which is simply cherish eyesight at gmail. 176 00:15:25,260.52639172 --> 00:15:25,680.52639172 com. 177 00:15:26,970.52639172 --> 00:15:28,430.52639172 Fantastic. 178 00:15:29,140.52639172 --> 00:15:35,320.52539172 So not that you have any free time in your life at all, but I understand that you're a practicing doctor. 179 00:15:35,680.52639172 --> 00:15:36,170.52639172 Right. 180 00:15:36,800.52639172 --> 00:15:48,345.52639172 And in your practice, do you see many patients of Keratoconus? Well, I started work in September of this year, so it hasn't been too long, and I am yet to see a keratoconus patient. 181 00:15:48,965.52539172 --> 00:15:57,585.52639172 So I haven't seen, I know, I am yet to see a keratoconus patient, and I did my residency at the VA as well. 182 00:15:57,765.52639172 --> 00:16:08,215.52739172 If you think about the population, I did not see Keratoconus or the VA, so I haven't been able to, preach the gospel on Keratoconus to anyone yet. 183 00:16:08,625.52739172 --> 00:16:18,990.52739172 But yeah if I get somebody, I'll be able to explain to them exactly what the condition is and what resources are available to them for them to be able to get the best vision possible excellent. 184 00:16:19,230.52739172 --> 00:16:22,300.52739172 What type of practice are you in? It's an ODMD practice. 185 00:16:22,310.52739172 --> 00:16:24,70.52739172 So I'm seeing a lot of post ops. 186 00:16:24,330.52739172 --> 00:16:27,860.52739172 So hopefully that explains to you why I haven't seen a lot of keratoconus. 187 00:16:28,740.52739172 --> 00:16:34,380.52589172 I'm seeing a lot of, disease and a lot of post op cataract care and things of that nature. 188 00:16:35,245.52689172 --> 00:16:35,835.52689172 Okay. 189 00:16:36,45.52689172 --> 00:16:36,515.52689172 Yes. 190 00:16:37,255.52689172 --> 00:16:40,625.5268917 Well, you will see lots of people with Keratoconus. 191 00:16:40,625.6268917 --> 00:16:40,885.4268917 I'm sure. 192 00:16:40,885.5268917 --> 00:16:41,295.5268917 Yes. 193 00:16:42,455.5268917 --> 00:16:42,805.5268917 Yes. 194 00:16:42,845.5268917 --> 00:16:44,705.5258917 I will have a different answer next time. 195 00:16:44,808.8602251 --> 00:16:45,518.8602251 Exactly. 196 00:16:45,548.8602251 --> 00:16:46,198.8602251 We'll do it again. 197 00:16:46,198.9602251 --> 00:16:47,368.7602251 Yeah. 198 00:16:47,368.8602251 --> 00:16:47,908.8602251 Definitely. 199 00:16:49,238.8602251 --> 00:17:22,738.8597251 So the last question is, what do you think that we can do to improve access to eye care, both in this country and beyond in the world? well, I think it's a hard question, okay, because when you think about the barriers to care, cost is a huge one, and then depending on where you are, you are talking about the eye care professionals available in those vicinities, and then you talk about transportation to these areas, these are the main barriers. 200 00:17:23,148.8597251 --> 00:17:48,18.8602251 that people face, which is not an easy solution because no one person can solve it, so, bringing up my public health, let's say that you have a public health person who is much involved in policy, that person involved in policy, also interested in eye care, can lead so that we can come up with policies and fight for costs associated with scleral lenses. 201 00:17:48,608.8602251 --> 00:17:54,538.8602251 Costs associated with GP lenses, I feel like we have to delve more into public health. 202 00:17:54,998.8602251 --> 00:18:08,218.8602251 And again, I may be biased, right? And figure out the different tactics that public health uses to address these barriers that I have listed, and some of them could be just taking the care to people. 203 00:18:08,503.8602251 --> 00:18:11,93.8602251 Instead of you waiting for them to come to you for care. 204 00:18:11,663.8602251 --> 00:18:19,263.8592251 And we do a little bit of that as a profession, going to different places to do screening, so that very much addresses access. 205 00:18:19,683.8602251 --> 00:18:23,18.7602251 When I was in optometry school, we would go to schools and do screening. 206 00:18:23,308.8602251 --> 00:18:31,98.8602251 And you would identify a child with amblyopic factors, now, you would write a letter to the parent for them to follow up with an O. 207 00:18:31,98.8602251 --> 00:18:31,538.8602251 D. 208 00:18:31,738.8602251 --> 00:18:34,938.8602251 outside of the school, and then they don't do it. 209 00:18:35,398.8602251 --> 00:18:39,838.8602251 So even though you sent the care to people, now there is the lack of motivation. 210 00:18:40,153.8602251 --> 00:18:41,323.8602251 to actually do it. 211 00:18:41,583.8602251 --> 00:18:45,673.8602251 And some have given reasons like, oh, they don't believe the results from the school screening. 212 00:18:46,703.8602251 --> 00:18:49,293.8602251 But again, if you don't go to the eye doctor, that would never be found out. 213 00:18:49,453.8602251 --> 00:18:55,53.8602251 And then we go back the next year and find the same students with WFA factors, and the problem still persists. 214 00:18:56,3.8602251 --> 00:18:58,783.8602251 What we could do there, once again, is education. 215 00:18:59,63.8602251 --> 00:19:11,503.8602251 If that parent knew the magnitude of what they are dealing with, that if this child does not get the glasses that they need, and indeed becomes amblyopic, get a 20 20 vision in that eye. 216 00:19:12,163.8602251 --> 00:19:15,423.8602251 for the rest of that person's life may not be achievable. 217 00:19:15,643.8602251 --> 00:19:24,733.9582251 I feel like the basic thing that we can address, which is what I'm trying to do and hopefully get buy in from a lot of ODs, is to educate, educate, and educate. 218 00:19:24,933.9592251 --> 00:19:28,133.9582251 And then do our best to take the care to people. 219 00:19:28,333.9582251 --> 00:19:32,923.9592251 And taking the care to people is not enough if you don't educate because they are not going to follow up. 220 00:19:33,313.9592251 --> 00:19:44,493.9582251 So, coming back to the beginning I feel like we should educate because that is a simple thing to do that each OD can do without having to involve the government. 221 00:19:44,803.9592251 --> 00:19:48,33.9592251 But all the other barriers are hard. 222 00:19:48,223.9592251 --> 00:19:53,623.9602251 Not that we cannot address them, they are just barriers that you cannot address as an individual. 223 00:19:55,43.9602251 --> 00:19:55,753.9602251 Exactly. 224 00:19:55,783.9602251 --> 00:19:56,263.9602251 Exactly. 225 00:19:56,263.9602251 --> 00:19:56,453.9602251 Right. 226 00:19:56,453.9602251 --> 00:20:04,623.9602251 I've been fortunate to lecture in many countries around the world and have seen some of these access barriers. 227 00:20:04,853.9602251 --> 00:20:05,183.9602251 Right. 228 00:20:05,183.9602251 --> 00:20:07,713.9602251 And also see them here in this country as well. 229 00:20:07,923.9602251 --> 00:20:08,533.9602251 Certainly. 230 00:20:09,563.9602251 --> 00:20:17,183.9592251 Well, thank you so much for all the work that you're doing and sharing the role of optometry in public health and global health. 231 00:20:17,733.9602251 --> 00:20:21,783.9602251 For all of our listeners, thank you so much for joining us on Clearly KC. 232 00:20:22,183.9592251 --> 00:20:30,253.9602251 Please listen to all the episodes of our podcast on Podbean or your favorite podcast app to subscribe and get future episodes. 233 00:20:30,383.9602251 --> 00:20:31,633.9602251 For now, I am Dr. 234 00:20:31,633.9602251 --> 00:20:32,493.9592251 Melissa Barnett. 235 00:20:33,133.9602251 --> 00:20:35,393.9602251 Please join us next time on Clearly KC.
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