Dr. Osemelu “Ose” Aburime, 34, a glaucoma specialist and surgeon, recently moved to the Memphis area to practice at Eye Specialty Group.
A GOOD EYE
Born in Nigeria, Ose came to the United States with his parents when he was 10-years-old. Always having a passion for soccer, Ose played in high school, recreationally, and on the club level.
He graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine and completed his ophthalmology residency at the Medical College of Georgia – Augusta University. When asked what inspired him to become a glaucoma surgeon he candidly said, “During my residency, I worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital and briefly at a medical prison. Although both of these places were vastly different they had one thing in common…the majority of the patients I saw had glaucoma in some capacity, and they had no idea about the cause.”
He continued, “The majority of these patients didn’t have good health literacy and I found myself having to explain many aspects of the disease process to them. I realized I really enjoyed building relationships with these patients and that I could have an impact on their lives.”
While glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that can cause blindness, can be a scary diagnosis, Ose says, “Glaucoma surgery has been advancing in the past few years and we have new tools to improve patient’s quality of life and save their vision.”
After completing his glaucoma fellowship at Ochsner Hospital in Louisiana, Ose worked in private practice in Atlanta for two years before moving to Memphis. While focusing on his career, his busy schedule left little time to focus on his personal health and fitness, but Ose chose to use his time wisely.
GOING AFTER GOALS
The daily life of a surgeon is understandably hectic and demanding, but Ose learned early on the importance of staying fit and active. “I’ve always been active and can’t remember a time when I wasn’t either playing soccer or just outside running around. Being fit helps keep me physically strong but also mentally sharp, and helps alleviate stress.”
To stay in shape, a typical day for him begins around 6 a.m. with a run around Cordova. He runs about five miles, four to five times a week. He says, “I enjoy running outside in the morning before the hustle and bustle of the day starts. Shelby Farms Park is also a great area where I love to run.”
He’s recently started incorporating more weight and resistance training into his workout routine by going to the gym three times a week. Ose also makes time for stretching and yoga, noting that flexibility is important to prevent injury. Even though his workout routine has changed and varied over the years, he still makes time for his favorite sport.
“I still play soccer today, but just for fun. I usually kick the ball around a bit, and play a pickup game. I try to play on at least one co-ed team if my schedule permits,” Ose says.
MAKING ADVANCES
As Ose continues to settle into the Memphis area and his career, he’s also focusing on achieving a fitness goal. “I have been trying to work myself up to running a six-minute mile or below,” says Ose. “The main challenge is just being consistent enough to build up the endurance and speed needed to do that.” While not everyone can accomplish running a six-minute mile, we have a feeling Ose will accomplish that goal one day soon.
To make an appointment with Dr. Aburime, call 901.685.2200 or visit Eyespecialtygroup.com for more information.
KEEPING YOUR EYES HEALTHY
Follow these helpful tips to keep your eyes as healthy as possible:
- Take the time for regular eye check-ups. Testing your vision is only part of the exam. Different diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis, can be discovered just by looking at your eyes.
- Excess sun exposure can put you at risk for eye cancer, cataracts, sunburn, and more. Choosing to wear sunglasses with UV protection is essential.
- Regularly practice the 20-20-20 rule. According to DataReportal, the average American spends 7 hours and 4 minutes looking at a screen every day, which can cause eye strain, dryness, and even retinal damage. To prevent these and other issues, it’s recommended that for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, a person should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Use artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated.
- If you wear contacts, keep lenses clean and replace them as needed. Take a day to let your eyes breathe, and remove lenses before showering or swimming to prevent infection.
- You know your body best, and if something feels off with your eyes, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
By Angelique Nihen
Photo by Tindall Stephens
