COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." Dr.

RICH AND COMPANY TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT VISION HEALTH.

WE DISCUSS THE WARNING SIGNS OF VISION LOSS AND NOT JUST GETTING DIAGNOSED, BUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROGNOSIS AND HOW TO FIND THE CARE AND SERVICES YOU NEED.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, SCHUYLER TURNER SHARES HOW DOCTORS CAN PERSONALIZE TREATMENTS TO CONTROL YOUR PAIN.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

>> CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS.

IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE, EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLDS THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr.

RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: HEALTHY VISION.

FROM WHAT TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR SIGHT TO THE MAJOR CAUSES OF VISION LOSS TO WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR VISION.

IN THE STUDIO TODAY TO HELP US ARE Mr.

DAVID DEFRANCIS, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT AURORA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, Ms.

SUSAN GRAY, BLIND SERVICES COORDINATOR AT AURORA, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE BLIND.

AND Dr.

JUSTIN DEXTER, OPHTHALMOLOGIST AT EYE SURGEONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

DAVE, YOU MEET WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST VISION AND ARE BLIND IN YOUR WORK.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU WANT TO TELL OUR AUDIENCE?

>> WELL, MAY THIS YEAR IS HEALTHY VISION MONTH.

THIS WAS TAPED IN MAY.

BUT EVERY MONTH SHOULD BE HEALTHY VISION MONTH.

AND WHAT WE FIND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YEARLY VISION EXAMS.

>> YEARLY VISION EXAM.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THE EARLIER THAT THEY CAN FIND AN ISSUE OR DISEASE, THE BETTER OFF THE PROGNOSIS IN THE END AND THE BETTER OFF THEIR VISION WILL END UP.

SO THE SOONER THE BETTER.

>> I SEE YOU NODDING OVER THERE, DOC.

TELL.

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION THAT SURROUNDS WHEN DO I NEED AN EYE EXAM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SEE WELL DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY DON'T SEEK CARE.

GOOD VISION STARTS AT BIRTH.

YOUNG CHILDREN ARE USUALLY EXAMINED BY THEIR PEDIATRICIAN, BUT BY THE AGE OF THREE, IT'S REALLY THE BEST TIME TO BRING YOUR CHILD IN FOR AN EXAM WITH EITHER AN OPTOMETRIST OR PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGIST.

IF THERE ARE HEALTHY EYES, THEN CARE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AN EXAM EVERY FEW YEARS IS A GREAT IDEA.

BUT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE AGE OF 50, ANNUAL EYE EXAM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE MOST OF THE DISEASES EASES THAT BLIND YOU CAUSE A PERMANENT DISABILITY IN YOUR VISION, THE PROBABILITY IS MUCH, MUCH HIGHER ONCE YOU REACH THE AGE OF 50.

SO OUR GUIDELINES ARE ANNUAL EXAMS EVERY YEAR STARTING AT THE AGE OF 50.

>> I LOVE YOU SAYING THAT EVERY YEAR.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, TOO, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND, TO CONTINUOUSLY GET THOSE ANNUAL CHECKUPS.

>> EVEN IF YOU ARE BLIND?

>> EVEN IF YOU ARE BLIND.

>> THAT'S A SHOCKER.

WHY IS THAT?

>> ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND I'LL HAND THAT BACK OVER TO Dr.

DEXTER.

>> THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT YOUR EYE CAN DO TO YOU BESIDE OFFER VISION.

THERE IS DISEASES OF THE EYE, THERE IS EYE CANCER THAT COULD BE TERMINAL AND REALLY AFFECT YOU AND THINGS WE CAN STILL DETECT.

AND THERE ARE OTHER DISEASES, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE WELL, LIKE AS A CATARACT DEVELOPS, IT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR A PATIENT, EVEN COSMETICALLY WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO APPEAR TO HAVE A DISEASED EYE AND THINGS WE CAN DO TO KEEP THEIR EYE LOOKING NORMAL, REMAINING HEALTH NECESSITY A WAY THAT YOU WON'T LOSE COSMETIC APPEAL OR EVEN LOSE THE EYE ITSELF BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MANAGE A PROBLEM THAT YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE.

>> YES.

AND EVEN FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND, AGAIN, HAVING YOUR CATARACTS IS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GIVE YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT PERCEPTION AND THAT LITTLE BIT OR THAT LITTLE PIECE OF VISION THAT YOU GET BACK IS A HUGE WIN FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS MOSTLY IN THE DARK MOST OF THE TIME.

AND Dr.

DEXTER DID MY CATARACTS FOR ME.

AND ABOUT A WEEK OUT AFTER THE SECOND IOWAS DONE, I WAS ABLE TO SEE HEADLIGHTS COMING AT ME FROM CARS.

AND IT HAD BEEN 25 YEARS.

>> 25 YEARS.

AND THAT CAME BACK?

>> YES.

>> IT CAME BACK.

>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

IT WAS AWAYSING-- IT WAS AMAZING.

I THINK I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND CRAZY IN THE CAR BECAUSE I WOULD KEEP SAYING THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

IT WAS EXCITING TO HAVE A GIFT OF A LITTLE BIT MORE OF LIGHT.

>> THAT SOUNDS THRILLING AND TOUCHING AT THE SAME TIME.

SO DOC, TELL US WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF VISION LOSS?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT GO WRONG WITH PEOPLE'S EYES?

>> THE THREE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT DISEASES THAT I TREAT AS A COMPREHENSIVE OPHTHALMOLOGIST, THE MOST COMMON ONE IS THE CATARACT.

AND CATARACT IS SOMETHING THAT 100% OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

WE START SEEING THE EFFECTS OF CATARACTS IN THE EARLY 40S WITH THE LOSS OF NEAR VISION AND 50S AND 60S WITH GLARE AT NIGHT TIME, LOSE FINE PRINT.

BUT USUALLY MID 60S TO EARLY 70S IS WHEN IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC ENOUGH THAT YOU COME TO SOMEONE LIKE ME FOR SURGERY, WHERE I WILL REMOVE THE CATARACT, GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO HAVE LESS GLASSES AND SEE BETTER.

AND THE NICE PART ABOUT THAT, ONCE IT HAS BEEN REMOVED, IT WILL NEVER REOCCUR.

CATARACTS ONLY HAVE TO BE REMOVED ONCE AND YOU SEE BETTER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU DON'T DEVELOP A SECONDARY EYE DISEASE.

>> I'M APPROACHING 25, SO... >> JUST LIKE THE REST OF MY PATIENTS.

>> SO AT SOME TIME I'M GOING TO GET CATARACT SURGERY.

IS IT AS EASY AND FAST AS EVERYBODY TELLS ME?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF TREPIDATION AROUND ALL PROCEDURES, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A LASER YOU CAN'T EVEN FEEL TO SOMETHING MORE INVASIVE LIKE CATARACT SURGERY.

I DON'TER THE EYE BECAUSE I'M REMOVING PARTS FROM THE INSIDE AND PLACING A NEW IMPLANTABLE LENS INSIDE.

BUT MOST PATIENTS TELL ME THE WORST PART OF THE WHOLE PROCEDURE IS WHEN I TAKE THE SURGICAL DRESSING OFF, WHICH IS A STICKER STUCK OFF OVER THE FACE.

IT'S LIKE A BAND A BAND-AID COMING OFF.

IT'S NOT TOO BAD.

>> AND YOU SAID YOU CAN HAVE LESS GLASSES.

I'M INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WEARING GLASSES.

I LOSE THEM ALL THE TIME.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> MOST EVERYONE NEEDS SOME KIND OF GLASSES FOR SOMETHING BY THE TIME THEY'RE CATS RACKET AGE FOR READING OR BIFOCALS.

WE HAVE COMPLEX EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN MEASURE THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF YOUR EYE AND THE TECHNOLOGY WE PLACE BACK INTO YOUR EYES.

BASIC INSURANCE COVERED LENSES FOR MANY PEOPLE, I CAN CORRECT YOUR VISION AT DISTANCE WHERE YOU WON'T NEED GLASSES FOR MOST TASKS AND THEN WE HAVE MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED OPTIONS THAT CAN GIVE YOU VISION FOR BOTH UP CLOSE AND FAR AWAY.

WHERE YOU DON'T NEED GLASSES FOR MOST TASKS.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SO SIGN ME UP.

I'M HEADING YOUR WAY.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE OTHER TWO.

YOU SAID THERE WERE THREE MAJOR CAUSES OF VISION LOSS.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER TWO.

>> NUMBER TWOS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF PREVENTIBLE BLINDNESS IN OUR COUNTRY AND IS GLAUCOMA.

>> NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF PREVENTIBLE BLINDNESS.

YOU REALLY WANT TO GET THIS RULED OUT.

>> THAT'S THE SECOND REASON AN EXAM AT 50 IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE GLAUCOMA IS SILENT.

THERE IS NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS FOR THE PATIENT.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA THEY HAVE IT.

AND IT'S SLOWLY PROGRESSIVE.

AND EVERY BIT OF VISION YOU LOSE FROM GLAUCOMA IS PERMANENT.

THERE IS NO REVERSING IT OR BRINGING IT BACK.

>> YOU REALLY HAVE TO CATCH THIS AT THE OUTSET.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO KEEP GOING.

>> SO WHEN WE CATCH IT, WE CAN TREAT IT.

THERE IS A VAST NUMBER OF OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT BUT THEN WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, THE NEWEST AND WE CONSIDER BEST WAYS ARE THINGS LIKE LASERS.

WE USE DROPS AS WELL AND AT THE TIME OF CATARACT SURGERY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO MICROINVASIVE GLAUCOMA SURGERY, WHICH IS A VERY LOW RISK OF GLAUCOMA SURGERY THAT CAN OFFER IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSURE WHICH IS THE MAIN PROBLEM IN GLAUCOMA IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE INSIDE THE EYE.

I CAN PERFORM THAT WITH A FEW EXTRA MINUTES WHILE I'M DOING CATARACT SURGERY TO IMPROVE THE CONTROL OF GLAUCOMA FOR MANY PATIENTS I CAN REDUCE THE NEEDS FOR DROPS AND ELIMINATE DROPS SOMETIMES.

IT'S NOT A CURE FOR GLAUCOMA, IT MAKES THE DISEASE THAT MUCH EASIER TO BEAR WITH LESS BURDEN OF NEEDING DAILY DROP ADMINISTRATION.

I ALSO HAVE OPTIONS FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES THAT HELP MEDICINE FROM INSIDE THE EYE.

THEY LAST CURRENTLY FOR THREE YEARS.

SOME OF THE NEWER GENERATION STUFF COMING WILL BE UP TO FIVE AND WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY WILL GO BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I OFFER TO PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY PATIENTS BECAUSE THE STUDIES ARE SHOWING MORE AND MORE THAT AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT, WITH LOW RISK OFTEN RATIONS LIKE MIGS-- LIKE LOW RISK OPERATIONS LIKE RIGS HELP OVER THE LONG-TERM.

>> ARE YOU SEEING PEOPLE WITH GLAUCOMA AT AURORA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE SEE FOLKS WITH ALL OF THOSE EYE DISEASES, INCLUDING DIABETIC RECEIPT INOPATHY WHICH IS ANOTHER.

AND THEY COME IN AND WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM AND SHOW THEM HOW TO MAXIMIZE THEIR RESIDUAL VISION WITH MAGNIFICATION AND OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES SO THEY CAN DO THEIR DAILY LIVING TASKS.

>> I NOTICE WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I'M GOING SAY WE SEE THIS LATER ON.

SO MUCH OF OUR LANGUAGE IS ORIENTED AROUND VISION.

IT'S AMAZING AND YOU ARE NODDING SUSAN.

>> IT'S FAMILIAR AND COMFORTABLE FOR US.

PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND EMBRACE THAT LANGUAGE.

MANY OF US ARE NEVER OFFENDED BY IT.

MANY OF US SAY SEE YOU LATER.

>> THOSE ARE TWO OF THE THREE.

AND THE LAST ONE, DOC IS?

>> THE LAST ONE IS AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE ONE SURROUNDED WITH THE MOST FEAR BECAUSE AS LONG AS IT HAS EXISTED, WE HAVE HAD NO REAL TREATMENT FOR THE DRY TYPE OF MACULAR DEGENERATION.

>> THE DRY TYPE.

>> THE SECONDARY TYPE IS WET TYPE.

THERE HAVE BEEN INJECTIONS FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN A DOCK-- DOCTOR, FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE DRY TYPE BECAUSE AS A COMPREHENSIVE OPHTHALMOLOGIST, THE VAST MAJORITY OF DRY TYPE PATIENTS WOULD FIND THEIR WAY TO ME AND WET TYPE WOULD FIND THEIR WAY TO A RETINA SPECIALIST.

IT IS A LOSS OF CENTRAL VISION DETERMINED BY GENETICS, THERE ARE RISK FACTORS INCLUDING SMOKING.

POOR GENERAL HEALTH CAN CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S GENETIC AND AGE WHICH WHY IS WE CALL IT AGE RELATED.

THE BRIGHT SPOT ON THE HORIZON HERE IS THAT THERE IS A NEW TREATMENT THAT I STARTED OFFERING IN MY OFFICE CALLED VALEDA.

>> IS THIS THE A DRUG?

>> IT'S A DEVICE THAT EMITS RED LIGHT.

A RED LIGHT THERAPY THAT CAN IMPROVE THE MIGHT CONNEDDIAL MITOCHONDRIAL HEALTH.

>> SO WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?

>> IT'S A POWER HOUSE OF THE CELL.

HELPS CREATE THE ENERGY NEEDED TO SUSTAIN LIFE IN EVERY CELL OF OUR BODY.

THEY HAVE DONE STUDIES NOW FOR YEARS LOOKING AT THE PROGRESSION OF VISION LOSS IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION.

AND PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE THE TREATMENT WITH VALEDA HAD LESS LOSS OVER TIME AND SOME PATIENTS IN THE STUDIES HAD AN IMPROVEMENT IN VISION.

IT WAS A MODEST IMPROVEMENT, IT IS STILL A BIG FINDING BECAUSE UP UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE HAD REALLY NO TREATMENT TO SLOW THE PROGRESS AT ALL.

SO TO SEE THAT NOT ONLY WITH THE WAY WE SAW SUCCESS IN SLOWING PROGRESS AND I AM IMPROVEMENT, IT'S A BRIGHT SPOT FOR PATIENTS WHO COME IN AND WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THEIR CENTRAL VISION.

THEY KNOW WHAT THIS DISEASE CAN DO AND THEY FEEL HOPELESS IF THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO OR HAVE DONE AND NOW I CAN OFFER SOMETHING.

RIGHT NOW MEDICARE IS COVERING IT, WHICH IS GREAT THAT I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I CAN GET INSURANCE TO COVER AND THE OTHER INSURANCES WILL CARRY, TOO, EVENTUALLY.

IT'S A SLOW PROCESS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> SO, DAVE, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO YOU AFTER THEY'RE AFFECTED BY ONE OF THESE DISEASES OF THE EYE , WHAT DO YOU-- WHAT DO YOU DO TO START WITH?

WHAT KIND OF ASSESSMENT TO DO YOU DO?

>> IT STARTS OFF WITH THE REFERRAL FROM Dr.

DEXTER OR ANOTHER OPHTHALMOLOGIST SOING ME WHERE THEY'RE AT VISION WISE.

THEIR ACUITY.

>> AND IS THERE A RANGE OF-- >> OH YEAH.

>> LIKE WHAT IS THE CRITERIA OR LEVELS?

>> VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS ANYBODY WHO WEARS GLASSES IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

COMPARED TO LOW VISION, WHICH WOULD BE VISION THAT CAN'T BE CORRECTED WITH GLASSES, CONTACTS SURGERY OR MEDICINE.

>> SO YOUR VISION IS REALLY LIMITED THEN.

>> RIGHT.

>> USUALLY BETWEEN 20/70 OR 20/200 FOR ACUITY FOR VISUALLY IMPAIR AND THEN YOU WILL LEGALLY BLIND-- >> I'VE ALWAYS HEARD THAT TERM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

>> WITH THE TWO DISEASES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH GLAUCOMA IT WOULD BE LESS THAN A 20-DEGREE PERIPHERAL VISION.

>> SO YOU REALLY GOT VERY NARROW.

>> NORMALLY IT IS 180 BUT WHEN YOU GET LESS THAN 20, IT'S CONSIDERED IN NEW YORK STATE AS LEGALLY BLIND BY WAY OF GLAUCOMA.

>> AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE.

>> THERE IS SOME LIMITATIONS, YES.

>> YOU CAN STILL DRIVE.

>> OH YES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE HIGH 20/40 OR BETTER FOR REGULAR LICENSE BUT FOR RESTRICTED LICENSE, I BELIEVE LIKE 20/70 OR BETTER IN AT LEAST ONE EYE.

AND WITH MACULAR... >> I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEE TO THE SIDE.

I RIDE MY BIKE AND I, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO BE REALLY CAUTIOUS.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

OKAY.

>> AND WITH MACULAR, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

MACULAR YOU LOSE YOUR CENTRAL VISION.

SO GLAW COMA YOU LOSE PERIPHERAL AND MACULAR IS CENTRAL VISION.

SO SO WE INTRODUCE THESE FOLKS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIGHTED MAGNIFIERS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO READ THEIR MAIL AGAIN WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE.

>> LET'S SEE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE NEWEST THINGS OUT THERE.

AND THIS IS CALLED A COOLERTRON.

>> WHAT A COOL NAME.

>> IT'S A GREAT LITTLE DEVICE.

BEFORE, AS YOUR VISION PROGRESSES AS YOU LOSE YOUR VISION, WOULD YOU HAVE TO GO UP IN DIFFERENT MAGNIFICATION SO THERE WOULD BE A COST INVOLVED WITH THAT.

BUT IN THIS ONE, YOU HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND SO YOU DON'T-- BY HITTING A BUTTON, YOU CAN MAKE THINGS LARGER, SMALLER, WHATEVER YOU NEED.

IT ALSO HAS A BUTTON WHERE YOU CAN CHANGE THE CONTRAST SO YOU CAN CHANGE THE COLOR FROM WHITE AND BLACK TO BLACK ON WHITE WHICH SOME FOLKS SEE BETTER.

LASTLY IT HAS A FREEZE OPTION WHERE IF YOU FIND A PHONE NUMBER YOU NEED AND YOU CAN WALK OVER TO THE PHONE, IT WILL STAY ON THERE UNTIL YOU UNFREEZE WHAT IS ON THE SCREEN AND THESE RUN LIKE $87.

BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING.

IT'S PORTABLE.

DARK RESTAURANT, YOU ARE GOING TO READ YOUR OWN MENU.

ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS YOU CAN USE IT WITH.

IT'S AFFORDABLE AND CHANGES LIVES.

KEEPS PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

>> WHAT IS THIS LITTLE... THIS ORANGE DOO DAD HERE.

>> THIS LITTLE DEVICE.

HOW DO FOLKS WHO ARE LEGALLY BLIND OR VISION LOSS OR TOTALLY BLIND, HOW DO THEY KNOW WHEN THEIR COFFEE CUP IS FULL?

THEY PUT THEIR FINGER IN IT.

THAT'S WHEN THEY KNOW.

AND THIS DEVICE CAN HANG ON ANY COFFEE CUP OR JUICE GLASS OR WATER GLASS AND WHEN THE GLASS GETS FULL, IT VIBRATES SO THEY CAN FEEL IT VIBRATE AND THEY KNOW THE CUP IS FULL.

>> AND DON'T KEEP POURING.

>> SO THEY DON'T OVERPOUR.

AND THE LAST DEVICE THAT WE HAVE IS CALLED SCRIPT TALK.

WHICH IS A DEVICE THAT YOU CAN USE, AND RIGHT NOW SUSAN, DO YOU WANT TO TELL US?

>> SURE.

SO AURORA, ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS WORKING TO TRY TO CHANGE LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK STATE SO THAT OUR F.I.D.

LABELS ARE MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND OR HAVE ANY TYPE OF PRINT DISABILITY.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS, I CAN'T SEE MY PRECIPITATION VIAL WHEN I BRING IT HOME AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE DOCTOR TOLD ME HOW TO TALK THE MEDICATION.

>> WHO LISTENS TO DOCTORS.

YOU GO INTO THEIR OFFICE.

THEY TALK TO YOU AND YOU DON'T REMEMBER A BLOODY THING WHEN YOU LEAVE.

>> THIS HANDY DEVICE READS THE BOTTOM OF THE RFID LABEL WHICH HAS A CHIP IN IT OR, IF YOU HAVE A SMART PHONE OUR SMART PHONES CAN BE EQUIPPED TO READ THE LABELS AS WELL SO WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE HANDY, OKAY, HOW MANY DOSES AM I SUPPOSED TO TAKE?

WHO IS MY DOCTOR?

IS THIS REFILLABLE?

ANY CONTRAINDICATIONS ON THIS?

>> THIS LITTLE THING TELLS YOU THAT?

>> TELLS YOU ALL OF THAT.

>> YOU TAKE THAT BOTTLE AND HOLD IT UP TO YOU.

>> SCAN IT.

THIS DEVICE HAS AN EYE THAT SCANS IT OR OUR PHONES HAVE READERS EMBEDDED IN THEM AND WE CAN JUST SCAN THAT LABEL AS WELL.

>> THAT, AND THERE IS SOME LEGISLATION ABOUT THIS?

>> YES, WE JUST PUSHED IT THROUGH.

IT'S IN COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE AND IN THE ASSEMBLY WITH LOTS OF SUPPORT THANKFULLY FROM OUR SENATORS AND ASSEMBLY PEOPLE SUPPORTING IT AND WE ARE WAITING, NOW THAT THE BUDGET IS PASSED, IF THEY WILL BRING THE BILL FORWARD OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> WHAT WILL THE BILL DO IF IT IS PASSED?

>> IT WILL MANDATE THAT PHARMACIES NEED TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR PRESCRIPTIONS.

>> FOR ANYBODY QUALIFIED AS LEGALLY BLIND.

>> WHO OR WHO HAS A PRINT DISABILITY.

IT'S A MINIMAL EXPENSE, TOO.

THESE LABELS ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE.

>> THERE ARE FOLKS DOING IT NOW, AREN'T THERE, SUSAN, A COUPLE OF PLACES?

>> WAL-MART, ANY WAL-MART AND WEGMAN'S AND IN DEWITT PROVIDE SCRIPT TALK.

>> NOW I SEE THE TWO OF YOU ON THIS END OF THE SET ARE WEARING SPECIAL GLASSES DOC, TELL US ABOUT THESE GLASSES.

>> THESE ARE NEW META A.I.

GLASSES AND AND THEY HAVE BUILT-IN CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS AND SPEAKERS.

SO IT CAN DO A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS FOR THE CITED, JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M OUT WITH MY KIDS AND FAMILY, IT WILL TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS... >> WILL IT SHOW YOU A VIDEO SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOUR KID?

>> NOT YET BUT MAYBE COMING SOON.

BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISUAL DISABILITIES, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT FOR ME AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT.

AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PATIENTS ABOUT IT AND I WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY TO FIND THAT I ALREADY HAVE A PATIENT WITH A PAIR.

>> SUSAN, TELL US ABOUT WHAT DO DO YOU WITH THEM?

>> I FLY FREQUENTLY BY MYSELF AND ONCE I'M DUMPED OFF AT THE GATE BY TSA, AND I MAYBE NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM, I CAN NAVIGATE BY HEARING TO WHERE THE RESTROOMS ARE BECAUSE THE DRYERS ARE SPARELY LOUD BUT I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO GO INTO SO I WOULD ASK MY GLASSES, HEY, META LOOK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.

IT WOULD TAKE A PICTURE AND SAY I SEE A MEN'S ROOM TO THE LEFT AND WOMEN'S ROOM TO THE RIGHT.

>> KEY DISTINCTION.

>> BUT IT DOES THINGS LIKE CURRENCY IDENTIFICATION, COLOR IDENTIFICATION.

>> SO YOU HOLD UP BILLS.

>> AN ITEM AND HAVE IT TAKE A PICTURE.

>> IT WILL TELL YOU FIVE BUCKS.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ELSE WILL IT DO?

WILL IT READ PAPERS?

IT READS PAPERS SO IF I WANT IT TO READ A LETTER THAT I'VE GOTTEN IN THE MAIL.

IT WILL SAY HEY META, READ THIS DOCUMENT WORD FOR WORD.

IT WILL DO THAT.

IF I HAVE A RECIPE ON A BOX OR ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT I'M COOKING WITH, HANDS FREE, I DON'T HAVE TO HOLD MY PHONE ANYMORE AND GET IT.

I JUST LOOK DOWN AT THAT PAPER OR BOX AND IT READS ME HOW I NEED TO PREPARE IT.

>> WONDERFUL.

DAVE, LAST WORD TO YOU WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE TO HELP THE BLIND?

>> WELL, BASICALLY WHAT I WANT TO GET ACROSS, ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AND YOU SEE THE DOCTOR, IT'S A VERY VULNERABLE TIME FOR MANY OF OUR SENIORS.

>> IF WE HAD TIME WE WOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

BUT GO AHEAD.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING PAY THEIR BILLS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THEM TO THE STORE.

THEY CAN'T DRIVE ANYMORE.

ALL THESE WORRIES ABOUT ENDING UP IN ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOME CARE AND THAT'S WHEN WE COME INTO THE PICTURE.

THE DOCTORS WILL REFER TO AURORA.

WE'LL MAKE CONTACT WITH A PATIENT, THE PATIENT WILL EITHER COME IN OR I WILL GO TO THE HOME AND WE WILL BRING EQUIPMENT, SHOW THEM EQUIPMENT, HAVE THEM READING AIN'T-POINT NEWSPAPER SIZE PRINT WITH THE PROPER MAGNIFICATION AND LISTENING.

WHAT OTHER PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.

>> YOU HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND WOULD I IMAGINE, SUSAN, YOU ARE TERRIFIED YOU ARE OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

>> YES.

AND WE HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS IN ALL THREE COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE, BOTH IN PERSON AND THEN I ALSO DO A VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP EVERY MONTH WHERE WE ARE THERE.

WE HAVE BEEN THERE, WE ARE AT ALL DIFFERENT DEGREES, ALL HAVE DIFFERENT EYE DISEASES AND WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH IT.

>> HOW WONDERFUL.

LISTEN, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BY COMING HERE TODAY.

AND BEFORE WE WRAP OUR SHOW TODAY.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

TODAY Ms.

SCHUYLER TURNER SHARES HOW DOCTORS CAN PERSONALIZE TREEPTS TO CONTROL-- TREATMENTS TO CONTROL YOUR PAIN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> HI, I'M SCHUYLER TURNER WITH A SCHOOL MED SCHOOL DISCOVERY ABOUT REDUCING POST SURGERY PAIN WITHOUT HEAVY OPIOIDS.

OPIOIDS WERE THE GO-TO, BUT CONTRIBUTED TO TRAGIC ADDICTIONS NOW, SURGEONS PRESCRIBE MULTIMODAL PAIN CONTROL.

INSTEAD OF ONE STRONG DRUG, THEY CAN COMBINE SMALLER DOSES OF OPIOIDS WITH MEDS LIKE ASIT MEN ACETAMINOPHEN, NSAID AND NERVE BLOCKS TARGETING MULTIPLE PAIN PATHWAYS AND THERE IS LESS GROGGINESS, LESS NAUSEA AND FASTER RECOVERY.

I RECENTLY HAD A PATIENT VERY WORRIED ABOUT POST-OP PAIN AND ADDICTION.

SEEING HIS RELIEF WHEN HE UNDERSTOOD OUR MULTIMODAL APPROACH WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST EXPERIENCES OF MED SCHOOL YET.

MODERN SURGERY IS NOT JUST CUTTING AND STITCHING.

IT'S PERSONALIZED SCIENCE-BACKED PAIN CONTROL.

I'M MED STUDENT SCHUYLER TURNER.

>> THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS Mr.

DAVID DEFRANCIS, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT AURORA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

Ms.

SUSAN GRAY, BLIND SERVICES COORDINATOR, ALSO AT AURORA, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE BLIND.

AND Dr.

JUSTIN DEXTER, OPHTHALMOLOGIST AT EYE SURGEONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TO HEAR OUR COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITY FM AND IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE AND PAST SEASONS, VISIT WCNY ONT ORG/"CYCLE OF HEALTH" OR MY NEW WEBSITE Dr.

NECK-UP.ORG.

FOR "CYCLE OF HEALTH," I'M Dr.

NECK UP Dr.

RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN WITH US.

NEXT WEEK, ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." Dr.

RICH AND A PANEL OF EXPERTS DISCUSS CANCER RISK, PREVENTION AND HOW TO ACCESS EARLY DETECTION SERVICES.

THEN, WE JOIN 1330Y CANCER CONNECT IN SYRACUSE.

WHERE PEOPLE POUT A NIGHT OF LAUGHS.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, TIM CHAN EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING YOUR COLONOSCOPY SCREENING COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

>> CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS.

IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE, EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLDS THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.