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  • Community outreach programs make check-ups more available

    Community outreach programs make check-ups more available

    Free dental exams, preventative tooth care, and more Several outreach programs in Polk County recently offered free dental exams and other tooth services to spread awareness about the need for dental health care.  At the Haines City Dental Clinic, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) offered free comprehensive dental exams to children…

  • Helping make the healthier choice, the easier choice

    Helping make the healthier choice, the easier choice

    About the Building a Healthier Polk initiative Building a Healthier Polk is a group of community partners brought together by Polk Vision who are working towards the goal of reducing the obesity rate in Polk County.  Polk Vision is a broad, community-led partnership of organizations, businesses, government, and individuals. In 2012, Polk Vision’s Quality of…

  • The trouble with trigger finger

    The trouble with trigger finger

    Local surgeon develops alternate solution for a tricky procedure There’s no getting around this fact: you need your hands.  When one or more of your fingers or thumbs doesn’t function properly, it interferes with work and play.  Correcting a condition such as trigger finger once meant a trip to a hospital or surgery center for…

Columns

  • Visual Wellness in the Workplace: A Prescription for Proper Home Office Ergonomics

    Visual Wellness in the Workplace: A Prescription for Proper Home Office Ergonomics

    by Daniel Smith, O.D. In the realm of visual health, the significance of proper workplace ergonomics cannot be overstated. Technological advancement, especially in cloud computing, has led to many industries adopting remote work. Modern professionals spend a significant portion of their waking hours in a home office setting, immersed in the glow of computer screens,…

  • What on Earth Is Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?

    What on Earth Is Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?

    by EDWARD ATTAWAY, O.D.  Ischemic optic neuropathy may seem like a complex term, but it describes a condition that poses a serious risk to vision by decreasing blood flow to the optic nerve. The optic nerve serves as a cable, transmitting visual information from the eyes to the brain. When the circulation of blood, which…

  • Lower Extremity Swelling May Be Linked to Venous Insufficiency

    Lower Extremity Swelling May Be Linked to Venous Insufficiency

    The abnormal buildup of fluid in the body is called edema. Edema is commonly seen in the feet and ankles, because of the effect of gravity, swelling is particularly noticeable in these locations. Common causes of edema are prolonged standing, prolonged sitting, pregnancy, being overweight, and increase in age. Swelling in one of your legs…

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