VIDEO: Ocubio streamlines access to serum tears for patients with neurotrophic keratitis

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this expert perspective from Hawaiian Eye 2026, Jennifer M. Loh, MD, discusses Ocubio’s role in providing an “easy way” for patients with neurotrophic keratitis or dry eye to receive serum tears needed for treatment.
“While we know serum tears often help many patients with not only neurotrophic keratitis, but also even dry eye, it historically has been difficult to get them,” Loh, of Loh Ophthalmology Associates, told Healio. “Having a great company backing it and being able to call the patients and make it streamlined takes it

Factors may predict persistent opioid use after surgery

Certain social determinants and psychological factors may elevate a person’s risk for new persistent opioid use after surgery, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Enrollment in Medicaid and preoperative use of benzodiazepines — widely prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia and seizures — both correlated with 77% higher odds for new persistent opioid use (NPOU). Individuals with mood disorders and anxiety also exhibited elevated risk.
“We know patients are going to experience postoperative pain,” lead author Yoonjae Lee, DNP, APRN, a doctoral student at Penn Nursing,

VIDEO: Calabrese discusses government ‘pressures’ on medicine

In this Healio video exclusive, Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, chief medical editor of Healio Rheumatology, highlights the latest issue’s cover story describing medical groups’ lobbying efforts amidst an ever-shifting political landscape.
“There is a lot going on in medicine, and a lot of it is not good,” he said. “There are tremendous pressures from the government on care and research and resource allocation, so we’re covering lobbying efforts for all of these diseases.”
Calabrese additionally discusses recent data suggesting that sodium-glucose

Neighborhood factors may lead to increased COPD-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations

Certain neighborhood characteristics, including higher poverty, more uninsured residents, and lower educational attainment, may lead to an increase in COPD-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, according to a new study in the January 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation. COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. It can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution.

Video: Using combined therapy to treat obesity

Research shows that metabolic surgery and GLP-1 medications are both effective therapies for treating obesity. Medications typically result in a 10% loss of body weight in a real-world setting, while surgery can achieve more dramatic results, up to 25% to 30%.

Cardiologist rethinks devices used to prevent stroke in patients with AFib

Approximately 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes an irregular, often too fast, heartbeat. AFib increases the risk of stroke four to five times more than normal because it can cause blood to pool in the atria, or upper chambers of the heart. This allows clots to form, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Police need better coordination on mental health emergencies, study shows

A new study has found that while police officers play a vital role in responding to mental health emergencies, a lack of coordination between agencies is hampering efforts to provide effective care. Police forces across England and Wales continue to respond to a significant number of mental health-related incidents, despite policy efforts to scale back their involvement through initiatives such as the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) policy.

Interoperable data systems can improve cancer care

Cancer centers today are facing growing pressure from stakeholders across the cancer care and research community to meet data-driven expectations. Yet many centers continue to rely on fragmented, siloed data systems that limit their ability to improve care, accelerate discovery and address care gaps.