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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

When my mother underwent chemotherapy, we spent a lot of time visiting the phlebotomy lab for blood testing. I was always impressed by how easily the phlebotomist was able to find and puncture a vein to draw blood on the first try. I knew there had to be a method to it, and was astounded by how effortless and painless they made the process. It led me to research a lot about blood tests, from drawing to the actual screening. I've created this site to share what I've learned in the hopes of teaching others. The more you understand, the more control you can have over your own health care.

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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

Experience Less Pain From Cataract Removal With Better Treatment Options

by Francisco Arnold

The gift of sight is among the most wonderful things we enjoy. When sight is damaged or diminished, it can really negatively impact a person's life. Thankfully, with modern surgery and technology, many issues with vision can be corrected. This is true with cataract issues in the eyes. Getting cataracts with age is a common problem, and thankfully removing them is a relatively risk-free outpatient surgery. It's also much more pain-free and infection-free thanks to pain management options.

Easy to Use Eye Drops for Inflammation

Eye tissue is obviously very sensitive, and cutting into the eye or using a laser will cause some inflammation. It used to be that only injections could be used to infuse the eye with need medication, but now there are steroid infused eye drops. These drops are safe to use, and they are applied similarly as regular eye drops would be. A doctor would prescribe your daily dose and how often you'd need to apply the drops. Keeping inflammation down after surgery will prevent blurry vision and potential infections.

Time-Released Medication for Inflammation

Some people hate the idea of putting anything in their eyes. This is why many people opt out of using contact lenses over glasses. For some people, using eye drops is too uncomfortable. Luckily, the FDA has recently approved single-dose cataract surgery steroids. These steroids are great if you don't like taking a lot of pills or like using eye drops. The time-release factor makes it possible for the medication to be released over a much longer period of time, which prevents the eyes from getting inflamed.

Prevent Blood Vessel Buildup with Injections

With any surgery, the body may start to overcompensate when it repairs the affected area. In the eyes, sometimes the buildup of blood vessels is common after a surgery. This can be both painful and cause obstruction to your vision. The good news is, these blood vessels can be injected with medicine that dissolves them, and it will immediately restore any blocked vision and reduce pain. Injections can be uncomfortable, but the discomfort is quick compared to the lasting effects of blood vessel buildup.

It's wonderful to see treatments continue to improve when it comes to sight. It's important to address pain issues with your doctor as soon as you notice them. All of the above treatment options can be adjusted and applied as needed. The sooner your doctor is aware of an issue, the sooner it can be treated effectively.

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