As you may notice from the new photos on the website, I am a proud Nonno (Grandpa)! My wife and I, parents to five sons, are so excited to welcome another boy to our family. It is such a wonderful and exhilarating time in our lives!

This newsletter continues my path and mission to bring awareness regarding eye care, in addition to new products and procedures. According to WomensEyeHealth.org, "It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of middle-aged and older Americans feel some symptoms of dry eye; that means over 20 million people." It is very likely that either you or someone you know suffers with dry eyes. This months topic will educate you on the factors, symptoms, as well as new technology used to help monitor those who suffer from this terrible disorder.

As many of you know, dry eyes are a very significant problem in our society, that affects thousands of people. There are many circumstances that influence the production and evaporation of tears.

• Factors that decrease the production of tears:
• Age (as we age, we produce less tears)
• Inflammation Medical problems, such as: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or other collagen vascular disorders
• Certain medications, such as: anti-histamines, diuretics, anti-depressives, and beta-blockers (for high blood pressure)
• Hormones (post menopausal women are greatly affected because of the lack of estrogen their bodies produce).
• Evaporative elements, such as increased cold and wind, along with decreased humidity can also cause dry eye. Other influences that affect dry eye sufferers include: pollutant environments, strong gases, dust, and dirt.

Burning, tearing, and irritation are common dry eye symptoms. Most people are unaware that tearing is a symptom of dry eyes, because it seems contrary to logic. The dominant lacrimal gland (the lacrimal gland produces the majority of our tears) recognizes when there is not an adequate amount of tear production. When our eye senses that insufficiency, a signal is sent to our small accessory glands, which begins to produce additional tears. These accessory glands are either turned on or off, depending on which signal they get. When the "on switch" is activated, the accessory glands produce tears. However, many times the tears are too much for the drainage system to handle, leaving the tears overflow onto our cheeks.

The psychological and emotional toll dry eyes have on our daily lives is enormous. It is an extremely frustrating and annoying problem, as it continually hinders you from performing your daily activities. It causes you to frequently dry your teary eyes and experience irritation. As annoying as these symptoms are, the lack of effective treatment options for the dry eye sufferer is even more exasperating. Some of my patients are successful in treating their dry eyes with diet, plugs, and experimenting with different drops (such as Oasis and Viva-Drops) and other medications. There are other patients who are not so fortunate. It is equally difficult to me, to see the disappointment when they receive little or no improvement in their condition, even after diligently following the traditional treatment options we currently have to offer.

As a physician, I have made it a priority to search for the latest technology, in dry eye solutions, allowing me to alleviate these symptoms for my patients. The good news is I am looking into a new machine, called the The TearLab Osmolarity System. This is an objective and quantitative test for diagnosing and managing dry eyes in patients. The machine is able to measure the osmolarity (quality and amount) of the tears we produce. More importantly, this also allows the doctor and patient to have an objective number to follow to see how well the patient's treatment plan is working. I used a machine similar to this some years ago and found it to be very useful. The test takes a few minutes, and it's performed right here in my office. I will be evaluating this machine in the very near future. Through my office, newsletter, and website I will update you with my findings, as well as solutions.

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As you may have noticed, I’ve decided to begin writing about eye care news in my monthly newsletters. I feel that I can be of further service by keeping you informed, not only about new products and procedures, but also regarding the laws and other health care news that will be shaping yours or a loved one’s life, both now and in the future.

It is very likely that either you or someone you know suffers with. The good news is that there is a new device on the horizon that will measure the severity of dry eyes. It measures the osmolarity of the tear film, or basically, measures the amount of tears that are being produced. This will give us an objective number we can follow, that lets us know how a patient’s dry eye treatment plan is working.

Even more positive news for dry eyes, there is a new drop called Emustil ® which is being investigated. So far, it has been shown to be very effective for dry eye sufferers. Hopefully, it will be approved to be sold to the general public in the very near future.

As stated in my previous newsletter, the Medicare deductible for 2012 has been lowered to $140, compared to $166 in 2011. The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $99.90 in 2012.

Another resolution that has been decided this week that has received very little notice is that under the new Obama Care, workplace health plans will have to cover all forms of contraception, including birth control pills and other sterilization procedures or employers will face severe penalties. This new regulation will be devastating to Catholic and other religious institutions whose beliefs oppose this ruling from the government. The implications will be far reaching, with religious institutions and employers having to decide if they should obey the law and go against their beliefs or pay the fines and risk financial loss. Contraception is the single most prescribed medicine for females between the ages of 18-44, and 9 out of 10 insurers and employers already cover it. This can only imply that the government simply wants to intrude into the private lives of its American citizens.

Another example of the government attempting to take even more control over our lives!

My 2012 new year's resolution is to continue giving back to my community by sharing my research, education, training, and experience along with politics pertaining to health and eye care. My aspiration is to offer useful knowledge and value, and to provide the best possible vision to my patients.

Medicare has lowered the deductible from $162 to $140. This allows those with Medicare to use it in other areas. Most of us are very conscious of every dollar we spend, especially those on a fixed income. Although $22 doesn't seem like much, to some it might make the difference if they can afford an eye exam or not. I applaud Medicare for lowering their deductible and hope that many patients use this savings and make health care a priority this year.

On the political horizon, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in June 2012, to determine if Obama Care is constitutionally legal, in regards to mandating all Americans to buy health insurance. Everyone is waiting anxiously for the court's decision. This will be the first time the government will be dictating that you must buy a product. As a physician, I wonder how this result will impact my patients, as well as the rest of Americans.

In the Eye World, the use of the Femtosecond Laser is being implemented to assist physicians in cataract surgery. This laser helps reduce astigmatism during the cataract surgery process. Most of my patients have refractive errors including: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. This new implementation will help patients, especially those with astigmatism, the freedom of seeing better after their cataract surgery.

The introduction of a telescopic implant to help patients with macular degeneration has also arrived. Patients in the end stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience blind spots in their central (straight ahead) vision. This form of AMD impairs patients from everyday activities, such as reading, watching television, and even seeing faces. The telescopic implant has demonstrated to improve the central vision, so patients can again see straight ahead objects that are very important, such as the faces of loved ones. This new technology has gone through decades of research and development, and is a possibility to those who may have thought they lost their sight forever.

The new advances in cataract surgery, along with the break-through telescopic implant are just a few of the exciting new changes that I will be evaluating and determining if the value and outcome is best for my patients. As always, I strive to keep my patients, their family, and friends educated and informed of any and all new ideas, devices, and medicine in ophthalmology that can help improve their vision and also their lifestyles.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . In addition, please look forward to the next article in the "Dr. Bello's Education & Knowledge" series.

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As a father of 5 boys, my wife and I have come though many challenges concerning life making decisions. This is nothing foreign to some of you, as other parents with children. During the period when our kids were young, we, as parents, were the authoritative adults who dictated how, when, where and why certain things were done.

Now that our children are older and have moved far away, (2 of mine are in California, 1 in Texas, 1 in England, and 1 in China) my wife and I are no longer in command, as it should be. Rather, we are being commanded, not only by our children, but also by technology.

More and more, it seems that keeping up with new technology (Smartphone, Skype, Texting, etc) is a necessity, if we want to stay connected to our children and other loved ones, especially when the grandkids arrive (our first is due in February 2012. Another boy!! What else!). Unfortunately, we need to learn to adapt to these new toys. I found this out the hard way, after my old phone broke down and I finally took the leap onto the information highway and purchased an iPhone.

At my Medical Practice, it is also vitally important that I communicate with my patients. To accomplish this, I must use the same tools that our younger generation uses, which is the latest in information technology. Download our APP for the Smartphone (available on the iPhone and Android), check out our QR Scanning Codes, or “like us” on Facebook, to be informed about the latest advancements in ophthalmology, and to stay up to date on our new and exciting products and promotions. It is very rewarding, knowing I can make a difference each day, in the lives of my patients. I believe that education and participation in their eye care are essential steps towards making my patients’ lives happy and functional.