Dry eyes? Here’s what to do about it

October 30, 2019
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Itchy, burning, red or watery eyes? You may suffer from dry eye (medically known as ocular surface disease), an increasingly common condition for patients of all ages.

“Twenty years ago, dry eye used to be, except for a few rare cases, reserved for the ‘over-50’ crowd,” said Dr. Michelle Darnell, owner of Lilac Family Eye Care in Liberty Lake. “Today, we are seeing moderate and severe dry eye in younger and younger patients. I had a 10-year-old once who had such bad dry eye it was affecting his vision.”

So why so many more cases, and so many more young people impacted?

“Most researchers believe that the reason we are seeing dry eye in younger and younger generations is due to the increased amount of screen time that children, and people in general, are seeing today,” Dr. Darnell said, explaining research has shown we blink 1/3 to ¼ the amount of tears when staring at a device.

“Not only does this cause the eye to start to dry out, but it also means all of that unused oil that should have been blinked out sits and congeals in the oil glands on the eyelids,” Dr. Darnell said. “Eventually, that oil will clog up our glands, causing damage and eventually gland death.”

Dr. Darnell said the first recommended treatment is to limit screen time. Understanding some jobs require hours behind a screen, she also commonly works with patients to open up clogged oil glands and stimulate them to produce more oil. This treatment often includes a 10-minute “eye spa” using a heated silicone bead mask, after which she teaches patients how to properly squeeze out old oils, opening up the oil glands in the upper and lower lids. She also recommends high-quality fish oil to stimulate oil production in the eyes. She emphasizes that patients should work with an eye care professional in order to ensure the appropriate techniques, dosages and brands are used.

After all, Dr. Darnell said no two patients are the same, and she takes care to customize treatments to each individual situation.

“Many times, especially in people with mild ocular surface disease, the daily eye spa and quality fish oil are enough to bring relief and get their eyes comfortable,” she said. “In those patients with more advanced dry eye, we may need to get a little more aggressive in our treatment to find long-term relief.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2019 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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Better rest transforms life for Liberty Lake man

October 16, 2020
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Stephen Robinson used to wake up each morning exhausted. Afternoons at work would be a fight to stay awake, and he would fall asleep the moment he sat down at home. He lacked energy to exercise, and his weight suffered because of it.

“I used to sleep for eight hours and get up and feel like it was just a half-hour nap,” the Liberty Lake resident recalled.

Stephen’s wife, Jamara, would tell him about his restless nights.

“I would be asleep, but I would literally stop breathing, and it would wake her up and freak her out,” he said.

Finally, Stephen sought help and received a diagnosis of severe sleep apnea. Today, Stephen Robinson is an Ironman and an active family man, thanks to treatment that has only gotten easier since he began his journey of recovery.

Stephen noticed a “night and day difference” in his rest when he first began using a CPAP machine, and his holistic health improved dramatically. But the machine itself was a cumbersome addition to the travel he did for his job, not to mention the feelings of claustrophobia he endured.

Fortunately for Stephen, his family dentist was also the person guiding him through his sleep apnea journey: Dr. Erin Elliott of Post Falls Family Dental and Sleep Better Northwest.

“As soon as she had a CPAP device aside from the machines, she let me know about it,” he said.

At that time, Dr. Elliott outfitted Stephen with a dental appliance to help him transition off of the machines, and he hasn’t looked back. He said he enjoys the added freedom of talking and drinking water with the appliance in.

More than five years into his journey with the the dental appliance, Stephen recently retired his original appliance and transitioned to a new one, a simple process at Sleep Better Northwest. Even in this process, advances in technology made the experience a breeze. A hand-held video wand captured a complete digital impression of his teeth in order to customize the new appliance — with no more need to “bite down on disgusting molds” as in days gone by, he said. The new appliance was a perfect fit.

Stephen said every step of the way, the Sleep Better Northwest team has been there to answer his questions and provide support. In some cases — such as paying for the appliance — Stephen didn’t even have to be involved. As is common, Stephen’s treatment and appliance were covered by his medical insurance, and the experts at Sleep Better Northwest handled all of the associated billing paperwork.

As a regional pioneer in sleep treatments such as snoring, insomnia and sleep apnea, Sleep Better Northwest’s experienced team has been offering help to patients like Stephen for a decade. Stephen said he has personally benefitted from the care as well as the way Sleep Better Northwest has stayed on the edge of ever-improving technologies, making the great rest he is receiving even more convenient with the passage of time.

Reflecting on his own transformation, he has become a bit of an ambassador for people with stories like his, people wondering whether help is possible and accessible for their sleep-related symptoms.

“Dr. Elliott’s expertise and passion for sleep apnea and sleep apnea prevention is contagious,” he said. “I have referred many people I know to go and see her because of the outstanding care I received from Dr. Elliott and her team.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

Refinished floors given new life

October 2, 2020
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Time and again, Wendy Van Orman of Quality Hardwood Floors sees customers debate whether to try to resurrect an old hardwood floor or pull it out and start over. Time and again, she sees them thrilled with the decision to refinish.

“Solid hardwood flooring can be refinished up to 7-11 times, depending upon the thickness of the wood,” Van Orman said. “What looks old and unrepairable can be given life once again. Typically, hardwood flooring can last many generations, we have refinished turn of the century homes, making them look new again!”

When Dan and Barb Trochta debated replacing their 25-year-old oak floors with a different material, one of the factors weighing heavily on their mind were their dogs (pictured on next page).

“Our floors now look like new, and we were informed that the floors can be refinished a few more times,” they said. “We have big dogs that are tough on the floor finish; therefore, the (craftsman) recommended a fourth coat for additional protection.”

Tyler and Alyssa Bowman considered a similar dilemma when moving into their first home after getting engaged.

“We love our hardwood floors, but they were in need of some major TLC,” they said. “Thank goodness we called Quality Hardwood Floors to help us. They look brand new, and now we are excited to decorate and make the space our own.”

Darby Van Gordon faced an even trickier challenge on the main floor of her home, where she hoped to refinish existing hardwood floors as well as adding new hardwood. Would the old and new be able to coexist without their difference in age looking obvious?

“The quality of the job is five stars,” Van Gordon said. “The transitions between the old and new floors are seamless.”

Quality Hardwood Floors is a family business operated in the Inland Northwest for more than 65 years. The company has received the Best of Spokane Award every year since 2013. From installing and maintaining gymnasium floors through the state, to restoring a century-old floor to its former glory, to new installations with fancy inlaid borders — Quality Hardwood Floors does it all.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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