Presidents Message May 2023

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. We are blessed to have the Asian and Pacific Islander culture contribute to our country's richness and diversity. We celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian Pacific Islanders with activities and festivals all over the United States. Asian Americans will be the nation's largest immigrant group by 2055, surpassing Hispanics. (Pew Research Center). 

My hometown Seattle is the origin of a few of my local Asian American heroes. The first is Governor Gary Locke, the first Asian American governor in the United States. He was the Secretary of Commerce (2009-2013) and the Obama administration's ambassador to China (2011-2014).

Another one of my heroes growing up taking martial arts as a youth was Seattleite.

 Bruce Lee. As well as being a great martial artist was a wise teacher and a movie star. At 18, he moved from Hong Kong to Seattle and attended U of W; he had already appeared in 20 films. 

Lastly, my friend Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is the son of a Japanese mother and African American father. Mayor Harrell was my football teammate and colleague at the University of Washington. We also spent time as board members uniting people of color in Seattle. He has made history in his success as a political leader locally and nationally. I respect him for his consummate cultural regard for Asian and Black people. 

While attending Pacific University, I learned much about the Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures. I spent time in Hawaii and the Fiji Islands during optometry school. Pacific University is truly a melting pot. I developed my Ohana (family) and learned from the aloha spirit the locals showed me as a Hapa Popollo/Haole. Pacific University has the largest luau on the West Coast yearly. The school has a large contingent of Pacific Islanders. It is nicknamed "Little Hawaii."

Asian culture has brought us meticulous medicine, fantastic food, mesmerizing music, and amazing arts that have greatly influenced our culture.

May is a Healthy Vision Month. The NOA promotes healthy vision in our communities and educates patients on the three silent killers: diabetes, high blood pressure, and glaucoma. Comprehensive eye exams are essential to maintain a functional, healthy visual system. As we know, over 270 diseases can be diagnosed through the eye. Maintaining healthy vision is a nutritional regimen of zeaxanthin fruits and vegetables and exercise, looking near and far. Remember the 4:20 rule every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and get outside for 20 minutes four times a day. The sun's effect on our bodies creates a release of dopamine in the retina and an increase of serotonin, somatotropin, and vitamin D. The benefits of getting up, moving, and going outside benefit adults' and youth's health maintenance. Unfortunately, we have created a life dependent on our phones, and most people now spend over seven hours on the phone daily.  

  

May is also Arthritis Awareness Month. According to the Rheumatology Research Foundation, 54.4 million adults suffer from arthritis; by 2040, 78.4 million will have been diagnosed with arthritis.

Arthritis can affect the eye in many ways. It can affect the anterior middle and posterior portion of the eye, is uveitis, and causes episcleritis and scleritis. We, as eyecare professionals, are usually the first doctors to diagnose and treat these conditions. We also see many dry eye conditions, which can originate from autoimmune disorders brought on by arthritis. Eye care professionals must monitor treatments for arthritis because they produce side effects that can disrupt and even blind a patient if not monitored. For example, hydroxychloroquine corticosteroids, Methotrexate all have ocular side effects and need frequent comprehensive exams.

 May is the beginning of spring. We look forward to the sunshine that will rejuvenate us and reunite us in Fort Lauderdale this July.

Dr. Edward "Larry" Jones

President National Optometric Association