Tampa, FL, November 9, 2018 – Laser Locators has taken equipment delivery into their own hands to ensure outstanding quality and customer service.

Transporting laser & surgical ophthalmic equipment is no easy task – it must be done very carefully. Not only does Laser Locators offer pick-up, delivery, and installation services, but the team is now committed to doing it themselves! Each piece of equipment will be handled by team members who work closely with the equipment on a regular basis. Their goal is to provide “white glove service” in order to surpass customer expectations.

“During our sales and delivery process, our goal is to often mirror the manufacturers’ protocol and treat our doctors as if they were buying new.  Having our own trucks being operated by our staffed employees exceeds this goal and further enhances the boutique style purchasing experience Laser Locators has continued to provide within our ever growing organization”, says Joey Colarulo, Vice President of Sales.

Laser Locators’ customized freight truck has the best in air ride suspension technology and is equipped with a custom liftgate, sleeper, and wood floor rear trailer. After a six month process of perfecting the vehicle with Freightliner Trucks, Laser’s new delivery truck is ready to hit the road.

“I believe this is a really big day for Laser Locators, for a lot of reasons,” says CEO Sean O’Donnell in regard to the company’s most recent purchase. “Being able to control the equipment from purchase to delivery gives us much more control over the quality of the product being delivered.”

They have the delivery process down to a science. They take all packaging materials with them after installation, and if there are any old, unwanted products, they can assist in disposal.

Between quality control, cost savings and customer service, this is an enormous progression for Laser Locators.

About Laser Locators:

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Laser Locators is a worldwide leader partnering with ophthalmologists to buy and sell new or refurbished ophthalmic lasers and diagnostic equipment. For more information on the wide array of products available, go to www.laserlocators.com. To schedule a tour of our 12,000 square foot state-of-the-art corporate headquarters, please call 813-855-0343.

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month, reminding us of the importance of your child’s vision. Proper vision affects your child’s happiness. He or she should be able to enjoy childhood activities to the best of his or her ability. Reading, playing sports and even learning to tie a shoe all require hand-eye coordination which can be diminished by poor eye health. During our research, we spoke with published ophthalmologist Jonathan Davidorf, a laser vision correction specialist. Over the years he has seen many cases of eye damage that could have been prevented at an early age. In order to properly care for your child’s eyes, keep these five considerations in mind:

HOW TO SUPPORT EYE DEVELOPMENT
Just like any basic ability, eyesight develops over time. Your child’s vision develops significantly in the first eight months of life. The eyes must learn to focus, work together, and send the brain messages about the world. If these skills aren’t developing correctly, the chances of other developmental issues increase. Ensure that your child’s vision is developing properly by taking the following measures:

From birth to four months old, change the position of your child’s crib in his or her room regularly. Keep a nightlight or dim lamp in the baby’s room and talk to him or her as you move around the room. When the child is five months old, hang a mobile in the crib and allow plenty of exploration on the floor. Playing games like patty-cake also benefit development and hand-eye coordination.

At six months old your baby is ready for a full eye exam, but there is still developmental work to do. When your child is a year old, play hide and seek games like peek-a-boo, roll a ball back and forth for your child to visually track, and begin storytelling to facilitate visualization. When your child turns two, eyesight and hand-eye-foot-body coordination should be fully developed. However, it is essential to continue paying attention to your child’s eye safety.

HOW TO PREVENT EYE-RELATED ACCIDENTS
“Accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year” (preventblindness.org). Most of these injuries can be prevented. Some major causes of common eye injuries include the misuse of toys, accidents from falling, and contact with harmful household products like forks, pens, detergents, and paints. Read toy labels attentively and avoid toys with pointed edges. Most importantly, use safety gates, cabinet locks, and corner cushions to eliminate hazards. Erring on the side of caution can take care of many potential dangers, but children are still at risk for different eye infections.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS OF AN EYE INFECTION
Children touch anything they can get their hands on which means they’re especially vulnerable to eye infections. Red, encrusted, swollen, itchy eyes are usually indicators of a health concern. Since babies and toddlers can’t clearly vocalize their problems, watch out for consistent eye rubbing. These symptoms may be caused by a virus or infection like keratitis or conjunctivitis. If your child seems to have extreme sensitivity to light, it could be due to elevated pressure in the eye. Constant eye-rolling may be related to muscle control, and excessive tears can indicate a blocked tear duct. Pay attention to your child’s eyes and visit the doctor if any of these symptoms arise. In addition to infection, environmental factors can also pose a threat.

HOW TO AVOID OUTSIDE DANGERS
Household products and bacteria aren’t the only factors that can cause eye issues. Many outside elements can damage the eyes too. The sun’s rays can harm children’s eyes as they develop. Choosing a protective pair of sunglasses is crucial. When selecting glasses, choose a pair that filters UVA and UVB rays. The shades themselves should keep colors natural: no hot pink or blue lenses. Make sure the glasses fit your child comfortably, also taking into account his or her active lifestyle. Glasses easily fall off and break, so choose a pair that is suitable for whatever activities your child engages in. Wide-brimmed hats can also provide extra protection by reducing the number of UV rays that reach the eyes.

If your child engages in sporting activities, more protection is needed. “Every 13 minutes, an emergency room treats a sports-related eye injury. And, 43 percent of sports-related eye injuries are to children ages 14 and younger” (preventblindness.org). Ensure your child is wearing a helmet and eye-wear when engaging in sports. Dr. Davidorf highly recommends wearing protective eye equipment during any sporting activity, especially when playing with toys like BB guns.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE EYE EDUCATION
As your child ages and grows more independent, you may have less control over his or her eye health and safety. For this reason, it is important to educate your child about healthy vision and how to care for his or her own eyes. To begin providing your child with a proper understanding of eye health, you can use a variety of online resources that are informative and kid-friendly. Here are a few examples:

• Printables
• Activity Sheets
• Ask A Scientist

Dr. Davidorf’s most urgent tip: “get adamant and get checked while still young, because after seven or eight years old, you can’t make much headway.”

There are many components to consider when protecting your child’s eyes. By staying proactive and aware you can maintain your child’s good eye health. Laser Locators wants to ensure you know the facts when it comes to eye health and safety. Support your child’s eye development, prevent household incidents by child-proofing, recognize symptoms of eye issues, provide protection from the sun and sports, and encourage eye education. Annual eye exams are critical, but so is prevention and protection. Set a positive example by showing your kids that overall eye health and safety are required all year long.

Between September 7th & 9th, ophthalmologists will be gathering in Austin, Texas for the ME Live conference. The conference is designed exclusively for millennial-minded clinicians and will feature concepts of interest to a millennial audience. MillennialEYE Live promotes opportunities for education, interaction, and networking among peers and industry professionals alike—in an environment where innovation is central.

On opening night of ME Live (Friday, September 7), Laser Locators will be hosting a video competition, featuring the top surgical videos submitted from attendees. In order to enter the competition, attendees can submit a surgical video of a complex case, an innovative technique, or a teachable moment in the OR, using this link. The best three videos will be presented live in Austin, Texas in exchange for the following prizes.

Sponsored Laser Locators prizes will include:

• First place: iPad
• Second place: Apple TV
• Third Place: GoPro

Although Laser Locators sponsored the ME Live Video Contest last year, this will be their first time attending the conference. The Laser Locators team is excited to foster connections with new associates while exploring the latest in innovation.

About Laser Locators

Established in 2004, Laser Locators is a global company that buys, sells and services a variety of new or used ophthalmic equipment including surgical and refractive lasers, as well as diagnostic and surgical equipment. We have experienced laser engineers and technicians on staff that refurbish and service equipment at our headquarters or in the field. We warranty, support, and service all of the equipment we sell. Our shipping capabilities are first-rate, and we can ship almost anywhere in the world and have done business in over 100 different countries. We invite anyone to tour our new 12,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility prior to purchase, located in Tampa, FL.

Eye-related diseases are more common than you think- and clear-cut symptoms rarely show, until it’s too late. We’re often told to expect the unexpected, but how can we see the unseen danger? In light of May as Healthy Vision Month, it is crucial to understand the reasons behind the diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness.

Our eyes work hard day-in and day-out, but most people have no idea what is actually going on behind the lens. Eye awareness and care are crucial to keeping high-quality eyesight. Unsurprisingly, when we don’t take proper care of our eyes, they begin to reflect the neglect.

According to a 2017 global study published in The Lancet by The Vision Loss Expert Group (VLEG), 36 million people were blind and 216.6 million were visually impaired in 2015. Vision loss and blindness can result from various eye-diseases, but there are four that remain most prevalent. According to the report, approximately 8.4 million individuals have advanced age-related macular degeneration, 6.9 million have glaucoma, 2.6 million have diabetic retinopathy, and 65.2 million have cataracts. If these statistics and terms make your eyes widen in confusion, you’re not alone. Let’s delve into what each really means.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) occurs when the central layer of the retina, called the macula, deteriorates. The macula controls our ability to read, drive, recognize faces and fine details. AMD only affects the center of your eyes, so your peripheral (or side) vision is unharmed. However, this disease is progressive- it gets worse over time, and it is currently untreatable. It is most often seen in Caucasians over 50 years old and regular smokers.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, which is how the brain gets visual information from your eyes. Most often, glaucoma is caused by increased pressure inside your eye, but there aren’t many symptoms. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and as you age, your risk increases. People of color have an even higher risk of developing this disease, as well as those with existing eye issues like chronic inflammation.

Diabetic Retinopathy, like the name suggests, is due to diabetes or high blood sugar levels. The excess sugar is actually responsible for damaging the blood vessels in the retina. When left untreated, it is one of the most common causes of blindness in the United States. There are varying degrees and types, but symptoms remain the same: seeing dark spots, blurred vision, loss of vision, difficulty seeing at night, and difficulty seeing colors. It is crucial to moderate blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol especially when diabetic.

Cataracts are dense, cloudy areas that develop over time in the lens of the eye. This is the result of proteins clumping together and interfering with the processing of light by the retina. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes and are most common in older people, but sometimes even babies are born with them. Types of cataracts are categorized by where and how they develop. It is estimated that at least half of Americans receive surgery for cataracts by the time they are 80 years old. Risk factors include, but are not limited to exposure to radiation, UV rays, obesity, smoking, and long-term steroid use.

It is predicted that by 2020, the number of individuals with severe vision loss and blindness will increase substantially worldwide. The VLEG report also states that the causes behind 77{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of vision loss and 55{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of blindness can be prevented with surgery and/or glasses. The majority of people fear going blind more than they fear losing a limb or getting cancer (the American Foundation for the Blind), so why is vision loss rising rampantly?

Don’t let a lack of symptoms fool you- see the unseen danger. The only way to screen for early signs of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, is to visit an eye doctor. Take the necessary precautions and be wise when it comes to your eyes. A healthy lifestyle and a yearly eye exam can do a world of difference – let’s open our eyes… after all, they’re worth it.