What this site is for
Patient Reach is a patient education website. The guides, articles, and reference material here exist to help you understand your eyes, the conditions that affect them, and the choices you may face when seeking care. Nothing more.
What it is not
The content on this site is not medical advice. Reading these pages does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Patient Reach, its authors, or anyone affiliated with it. We do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, recommend specific providers, or offer second opinions.
Always defer to your own clinician
Your eye care provider knows your medical history, your eyes, and the specifics of your situation. We don't. If anything on this site appears to contradict what your doctor has told you, follow your doctor. If you have questions, bring them to your next appointment — we provide a questions-to-ask guide for exactly that purpose.
Emergencies
If you are experiencing an eye emergency — sudden vision loss, a flash of light followed by floaters, an injury to the eye, severe pain, or chemicals splashed in the eye — call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately. Do not consult this website.
Accuracy and currency
We work hard to keep this site current and to cite authoritative sources (National Eye Institute, American Academy of Ophthalmology, CDC, FDA, peer-reviewed literature) on every condition page. Medicine evolves; sources that were correct when we wrote a page may be superseded. If you spot an error, please let your eye care provider know.
No endorsement of products or providers
Mention of a treatment, brand, supplement, lens type, surgical technique, or clinical procedure on this site is not an endorsement. We do not receive payment to recommend providers and we do not list specific eye care practices for promotion. If a brand or product is named, it is for educational reference only.
External links
Links to outside websites (medical societies, journals, federal health agencies) are provided as references. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, privacy practices, or availability.
Affiliation
Patient Reach is an educational publication. Some pages discuss categories of dietary supplements (for example general dietary considerations, or omega-3 for dry eye) as part of describing how a condition is managed. These mentions are educational and not a recommendation of any specific product or brand. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your eye care provider before starting any supplement, particularly if you take prescription medications.
Questions
If you have questions about this disclaimer or how it applies, talk to your eye care provider.