Complete Eye Care

Showing posts with label Recent advances/findings. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Recent advances/findings. Show all posts

Fish for Sight

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Mackerel

Intake of oily fish once a week may reduce age-related macular degeneration(AMD),a major cause of blindness and poor vision in the elderly,says a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

There are two types of AMD,wet and dry.Of the two,wet AMD is the main cause of vision loss.A team of researchers across seven European countries and co-ordinated by the London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine sought to investigate the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids with wet AMD,comparing people with wet AMD with controls.

In the study,participants were interviewed about their dietary habits including how much fish they ate and what type.Information on the main omega 3 fatty acids( docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ) was obtained by linking dietary data with food composition tables.The findings show that people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50 percent less likely to have AMD.

There was no benefit from consumption of non-oily white fish.There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD.People in the top 25 percent of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70 percent less likely to have wet AMD.

Astrid Fletcher, Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who led the study,said:
"This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet AMD from the consumption of oily fish and is consistent with the results from studies in the US and Australia.Two 3oz servings a week of oily fish, such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, provides about 500 mg of DHA and EPA per day."

The research team is not, however, recommending omega 3 supplements as the study did not investigate whether supplements would have the same benefit as dietary sources.

Prevention of Vision Loss Saves Both Sight and Money

Sunday, April 20, 2008

According to a study published in the journal Ophthalmology, poor vision is costing Medicare more than $2 billion per year in non-eye related maladies and healthcare needs.

As a result, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is calling for Medicare and other medical insurance plans to place a stronger emphasis on providing preventive eye care for all Americans.

With the soaring costs of health care, this study is an important reminder that preventing vision loss saves both sight and money, says H. Dunbar Hoskins, MD, executive vice president for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Free LASIK Surgery for Eye Glass-Wearing Quadriplegics

Contact lenses are a lost option when a person becomes quadriplegic, they have no use of their hands; so dealing with eyeglasses is a persistent aggravation for them.

Now, through the technology of laser eye surgery, and a national program called Focus on Independence, quadriplegic’s life will be a bit easier because it’s been touched by a program to give eyeglass-wearing quadriplegics a little more freedom.

When LASIK was first in general use in the mid-1990s, it was used only to treat low to moderate amounts of nearsightedness.

Now with the help of improved software doctors can treat high degrees of nearsightedness, astigmatism, farsightedness, and almost all sorts of refractive errors for distance .

Focus on Independence, is a program that began in Kansas. After Dr. Daniel Durrie, an ophthalmologist saw how Christopher Reeve (the paralyzed actor who once portrayed Superman) needed to have his wife place his glasses on him so he could present a speech. He recognized that others must have the same difficulty.

Because of the extremely high costs of living as quadriplegic, the plan was to offer the procedure for free.

Warwick University have Developed Revolutionise Eye Diagnostics Gadget

A new Device to make it much easier to diagnose some of the eye diseases which cause blindness is being developed at Warwick University.

This new digital ophthalmoscope can provide both doctors and high street optometrists with a hand-held eye disease diagnosis device equal to the power of bulky hospital-based eye diagnosis cameras.

It will also give optometrists the ability to email detailed eye maps of patients to specialist eye doctors.

The new digital ophthalmoscope was developed from a three-year research partnership bringing together the University of Warwick, ophthalmoscope manufacturer Keeler Optics, City University and University College London.

It uses a combination of specialist lens digital imaging and lighting technology which for the first time allows a high quality digital image to be captured and recorded by an ophthalmoscope.

University of Warwick research Professor Peter Bryanston-Cross has also been able to apply software used to stitch together detailed map images to assemble the captured images from the digital ophthalmoscope.

This provides a map of the eye equal to the field of view and resolution of the large 'Fundus' cameras typically used in hospital settings to examine eyes.

The new digital ophthalmoscope would also be around 10 times cheaper than a Fundus camera.

This technology will be a powerful tool in the hands of specialist eye doctors, but it will also revolutionise eye care on the high street.

Astigmatism and Cataract Patients May Benefit from a New Medicare Rule

People with astigmatism and cataracts may benefit from a new Medicare rule extending coverage for the new type of implantable lenses that treat both the conditions.

Astigmatism, one of the most common vision problems, causes blurry vision due to irregularly shaped cornea. Cataracts cause cloudy vision and are more common as we age.

Cataracts can sometimes be fixed by replacing the damaged natural lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. Intraocular lenses allow ophthalmologists to use one lens to fix both the cataract and astigmatism, improving distance vision and reducing dependence on glasses.

The new rules allow patients to get the specialized implantable lenses with Medicare covering the cost of the cataract surgery and part of the cost of the lens. The patient is billed for the remaining uncovered costs of the lens and surgery. The new rules are similar to existing rules that allow patients to pay a premium for implantable lenses to fix cataracts and presbyopia, a common condition after 40 that makes it hard to focus on nearby items.

Eye Braces Can Correct Your Vision While You Sleep

What if you could change the way you see while you slept and straighten out bad vision with eye braces. So, Should you get laser surgery, contacts or wear glasses?

NBC4's Dr. Bruce Hensel reported that an operation was done with a little florescent dye in the eye so the tear pattern could be seen.

It's just one way doctors can see if NBC producer Tim Williams' special contact lenses or eye braces are in place.

Williams volunteered for a research study on the night-wear corrective lenses, officially known as orthocaratolgogy or CRT lenses.

The hard and thick glass contact lenses are worn to bed each night.

Hensel said like retainers or braces that move your teeth overnight, eye braces reshape your cornea while you sleep, but the changes in your eye aren't permanent.

"Kind of like how LASIK would change the shape of your cornea, just without surgery," said Dr. Robert Joyce, Optometrist.

Dr. Robert Joyce said one night's correction can last up to week. Hensel warned they are not for everyone and can be uncomfortable.

Anti Wrinkle Product Recalled After Tested Positive for a Bacteria

DermaFreeze365 anti-wrinkle products are being recalled in Canada and the United States after testing positive for a bacteria that could cause health problems, including eye, urinary tract and respiratory infections.

The recall involves the following Woodbridge Labs Inc. products:

* DermaFreeze365 Instant Line Relaxing Formula, UPC codes 6-05923-36501-6 and 6-05923-36502-3.
* DermaFreeze365 Neck and Chest product, UPC code 6-05923-36503-0

Certain lots of the product tested positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which can trigger serious infections in the urinary tract, respiratory system, soft tissue, eyes and bones and joints.

The company, based in Van Nuys, Calif., warns that people with suppressed immune systems, including patients hospitalized with cancer or cystic fibrosis, are at particular risk of infection.

If the cream is applied to the eye area, the bacteria could cause an eye infection and possibly lead to blindness. No associated illnesses have been reported to the company.

For more information, consumers can call the company at 818-902-5537.

Novagali eye Treatment for Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) Successful in Phase III Trial

Israeli-French drug development company Novagali SA, which was founded on the basis of research conducted by Prof. Simon Benita of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has successfully completed European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Phase III clinical trials of its eye treatment for Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC)..

This is a rare form of chronic allergic conjunctivitis seen in children and characterized by ocular discomfort, pain, itching and intense photophobia (sensitivity to light), which severely debilitates the patients.

The drug has been classified by the EMEA as an orphan drug. The company said that it would file for European Marketing Authorization by mid-2007.

Novagali has several eye treatments undergoing advanced clinical trials. Its next product will be designed to treat Dry Eye Syndrome.

UV Exposure to the Eye On Early Morning and Late Afternoon is Almost Double

New research from Japan found that from Spring through Fall, Ultraviolet exposure to the eye during early morning and late afternoon was approximately double that of the mid-morning/early afternoon period most often thought of as peak sun exposure time.

Using a specially designed model to measure and record the amount of UV-B rays entering the eye, researchers concluded that eyes are at greater risk to UV exposure at times that many may not be taking proper steps to protect them. (PRNewsFoto/VISTAKON, division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.)

Using a specially designed model to measure and record the amount of UV-B rays entering the eye from sunrise to sunset, researchers at Kanazawa Medical University concluded that eyes are at greater risk to UV exposure at times that many individuals may not be taking proper steps to protect their eyes. Findings from the study were recently presented at the 111th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society in Osaka.

Progesterone can Effectively Treat Dry Eye Syndrome

A topical cream containing 15% progesterone can effectively treat dry eye syndrome, according to a study.

"The data suggest the anti-inflammatory properties of progesterone may be useful for dry eye treatments," said Charles G. Connor, PhD, OD, in a poster presentation here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

Dr. Connor evaluated tear breakup time, Schirmer's test results and IOP and administered the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire to 30 patients to measure the effectiveness of the topical progesterone treatment. He found that tear breakup time significantly improved from 5.96 ± 2.18 seconds at baseline to 8 ± 3.5 seconds after 3 weeks of treatment with the cream. Schirmer's test results also improved after treatment, although not significantly, from 11.9 ± 6.87 mm at baseline to 14.175 ± 8.41 mm.

There was no change in IOP throughout the 3-week treatment period, and the OSDI score reflected symptomatic improvement of 20%, going from 28 to 22, and this was significant at the P = .05 level,Dr. Connor said.

Virtual Eye Surgery Make a Big Difference in the Operating Room

Eye surgery is a very delicate procedure and, as with any surgery, there are risks. Risks related to cataract removal surgery include infection, hemorrhaging, glaucoma, corneal swelling and retinal detachment. A serious infection after surgery can lead to loss of vision.

In the past, ophthalmologists were only able to practice on the eye of an animal or a cadaver or had to wait until they were in surgery with a person to get hands-on experience. Now, with the use of an eye surgery simulator, doctors can practice surgery without touching a real eye.
Another benefit of the simulator is being able to track every movement the doctor makes during surgery, so it tracks if he or she is bumping into parts of the eye that shouldn't be touched.
Another benefit over an eye from an animal or cadaver is the machine tracks progress over time, so superiors can realize when a resident is ready for surgery. The system is also a quicker and more efficient way to learn compared to other practice surgery methods because the set up and take down time is much easier.
Residents can perform 10 or 20 cases in the time it would take to do one or two cadaver eyes.
The simulator also gives trainees a chance to learn new techniques and gain more experience much earlier than those training using other methods.
Residents also report the simulator helps ease their fears about surgeries, which may make it safer for the patient because the doctors feel less anxious about the surgery.

The simulator lets the doctor choose virtual instruments from various sizes that they will use to perform the surgery. The virtual eye also reacts to a stimulus based on depth, angle and number of repetitions. The device allows trainee doctors to encounter complications often observed in real patients, like the patient moving, bubbles in fluid caused by instruments, or the pupil changing size during surgery. The simulator helps doctors gauge depth perception, so they can map out the movements they need to make during surgery. These little instances make a big difference in the operating room.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Thomas F. Mauger, M.D.
Chairman and Director
The Havener Eye Institute
Department of Ophthalmology
The Ohio State University

Macular Degeneration is the Leading Cause of Blindness in Older Americans

In the past, macular degeneration was poorly understood and there were no treatment options. Recently, there have been dramatic improvements in the treatment of the wet type of the disease, which can result in rapid visual loss if left untreated.

Research is also being conducted to help slow down the visual loss associated with advanced dry AMD.

The macula is the center of the retina responsible for sharp vision. It is critical for tasks such as reading and driving.
Aging changes in the macula include deposits underneath the retina, called drusen, and pigment alterations that may result in reduced oxygen and nutrient exchange. As a result, retinal function is impaired and retinal tissue may be lost, in a process called atrophy. These changes constitute dry AMD, which affects 90 percent of patients with the age-related macular degeneration. Generally, dry AMD causes a very slow loss of vision. However, when atrophy is extensive or involves the center of the macula, severe loss of vision may occur.

Although there is no treatment for the slowly progressing dry type of AMD, there are some things you can do to protect your vision. If you smoke, you should try to quit, since smoking doubles your risk for developing the disease and for further loss of vision. A healthy diet that includes green leafy vegetables and low fat intake has been shown to slow down the progression of the condition as well.

A large clinical study, called the AREDS study, showed that supplemental vitamins containing high concentrations of vitamins A, C, E and zinc can slow down the progression of the condition.

Lutein and omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for the retina. A large-scale clinical study sponsored by the National Eye Institute is being conducted to determine whether these vitamins can benefit patients with AMD.

For the wet type of AMD, an exciting new drug was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in June 2006 called Lucentis. For the first time in the history of treating wet AMD, Lucentis offers a 30 percent to 40 percenOften, patients require three treatments initially, and then they are monitored. If leakage recurs, treatment is re-administered.

With all forms of AMD, there are three important guidelines.
First, it is critical to catch the disease early.
Second, it is important to start any treatments as soon as any leakage or bleeding begins to preserve as much vision as possible. This means regular eye exams are vital for anyone over age 55, especially for anyone with a family history of retinal disease.
Third, you should try to reduce your risk factors by watching your diet, avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke exposure and taking vitamin supplements if advised by your ophthalmologist.

Syphilis Related Eye Infections are Rising Fast

Eye specialists have warned of a resurgence in syphilis-related eye infections as cases of the sexually-transmitted disease escalate in gay communities.

Ophthalmologists say they are treating growing numbers of men who present with painful, red eyes or hazy vision caused by syphilis infection.

Homosexual men are most commonly affected, with infectious disease experts predicting the epidemic will spread through gay communities nationwide with time.

Fewer than 10 per cent of people who catch the disease develop symptoms in their eyes, causing redness, pain, light sensitivity and loss of vision.

But in those who do, 25 per cent will have no other symptoms of the syphilis and therefore often have no idea they have the debilitating condition.

Syphilis notifications rose more than 20-fold in inner-Sydney between 1999 and 2003 - from six cases to 162.

Victorian statistics show there were only two notifications of syphilis in 1999, but annual reports had ballooned to 238 by 2006. There were almost 80 cases in the first three months of 2007, showing numbers are rising further.

Contact Lens Solution Withdrawn from UAE Market

A multi-purpose contact lens solution, which has been linked to a blindness-causing parasitic infection, has been withdrawn from the UAE market as part of a worldwide initiative.

Complete MoisturePlus Multi-Purpose contact lens solution, made by Advanced Medical Optics, has been linked to 138 confirmed cases in the United States of Acanthamoeba keratitis, an extremely rare but serious microbial infection.

Abu Dhabi-Health Authority banned the contact lens solution in the emirate on Wednesday. Representatives of the company in the UAE began withdrawing the solution voluntarily in the rest of the country on the same day.

Dr Mohammad Abu Al Khair, acting head of drugs ad medical products department in AD-HA, told Gulf News that they instituted the forced recall for the product "based on recommendations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centres of Disease Control (CDC)".

Nanoceria is a Good Vessel for Delivering Drugs Directly Into the Eye

Sudipta Seal at the University of Central Florida in Orlando was testing cerium oxide nanoparticles, or nanoceria, for use as a catalyst to remove grime from oven walls, when he realised they might have medical applications.

Surprisingly, not only did nanoceria not irritate the eyes of rats and rabbits, in some cases they helped protect cells from light damage (New Scientist, 30 August 2003, p 16). Hence Seal realised that nanoceria might make a good vessel for delivering drugs directly into the eye.

Glaucoma involves an abnormal build-up of fluid inside the eye. Existing eye-drop treatments contain chemicals that don't attach to transport proteins very effectively, so only a small amount gets through the cornea. Now Seal and colleague Sanku Mallik have successfully combined nanoceria with a compound that blocks the hCAII enzyme, which is involved in producing fluid inside the eye (The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, DOI: 10.1021/jp067666l).

Source: NewScientist

Embryonic Stem Cell Can Cure Blindness

Human embryonic stem cell can repair damaged retinas and cure blindness, according to a British study.

They believe the technique is capable of restoring vision in the vast majority of patients with age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among the elderly that afflicts around 14 million people in Europe.

The disease is caused by faulty retinal pigment epithelial cells, which form a supporting carpet under the light-sensitive rods and cones in the retina.

The new procedure will generate replacement retinal pigment epithelial cells from stem cells in the lab, with surgeons then injecting a small patch of new cells, measuring 4 by 6 millimeters, back into the eye.

Surgeons at Moorfields have already restored the vision of a few patients using cells harvested from their own eyes, which were moved to a new site. But this process is complicated and only a small number of cells can be moved, limiting its use.

“If it hasn’t become routine in about 10 years it would mean we haven’t succeeded,” he told reporters. “It has to be something that’s available to large numbers of people.”

CustomVue Monovision Lasik Got Federal Approval

CustomVue Monovision Lasik, the first LASIK device designed for treating one eye to see far away objects and the other eye for close-up vision has got the FDA approval.

Monovision is a corrective technique used to treat people with presbyopia, which is normal age-related loss of the ability to focus on near objects. The intent is for the person to use one eye for distance viewing and one eye for near viewing.

"Unlike traditional LASIK, Monovision LASIK may reduce the need for reading glasses in some people over 40," says Daniel Schultz, M.D., Director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

People considering CustomVue Monovision Lasik should first wear monovision contact lenses for at least a week to determine if they can tolerate having one eye under-corrected. Following monovision surgery, both eyes may not work together as well as they did before in some people, especially in dim light or when performing tasks requiring very sharp vision or fine depth perception. Patients may need to wear glasses or contact lenses for some activities such as night driving or reading small type.

Polylactic Acid (PLA), Cosmetic Eye Enhancer Leads to Disfigurement

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a popular cosmetic eye enhancer which is used to decrease volume loss around the eyes. According to a new study in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, cosmetic eye enhancement with polylactic acid (PLA) leads to disfigurement when not injected properly.

"PLA should not be injected superficially, especially around the eyes," said study author and dermatologist Greg Goodman. "This material does not act as a dermal filler, which would be injected superficially to smooth wrinkles, but needs to be placed deeply below the muscles to be a safer and more effective agent."

Dr. Goodman cautions against its use around the eyes unless completed by a doctor who is experienced in its use.

Update: Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution Causing Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution, manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics, is used for cleaning and storage purposes for soft contact lenses. The solution recently has been found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cause a seven-fold increase in a rare eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, affecting those who use it. The infection is very serious and can lead to blindness or corneal infections in those who are exposed to the bacteria.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this year began receiving numerous complaints about outbreaks of Acanthamoeba keratitis, an infection caused by microscopic parasites that literally infest the human eye.

In evaluating the Acanthamoeba keratitis outbreak, the CDC identified 138 confirmed cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis in the United States, with complete data available for 46 case-patients. Thirty-nine of the 46 case-patients wore soft contact lenses. Among the soft contact lens users 58% reported having used Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) Complete MoisturePlus Multi-Purpose Solution in the month prior to manifestation of symptoms. CDC released a Health Advisory through its Health Alert Network on May 25 of this year, informing contact lens wearers that they should discard all Moisture Plus solution and any lenses or lens cases that came in contact with Moisture Plus lens solution.

If not controlled in time, the infection can permanently blind its victim by scarring or tearing the cornea, which is responsible for about 80 percent of a person's vision. Such victims will need a cornea transplant if they are to ever see clearly again. This is an extremely dangerous infection. If you haven't stopped using Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution then do so immediately. This is the second major eye infection outbreak after Fusarium Keratitis last year.

According to CDC users of MoisturePlus should:

1. stop using the product immediately and contact the company at 1-888-899-9183 or on the web at http://www.amo-inc.com for instructions on what to do with unused solution;
2. discard all soft contact lenses used with AMOCMP;
3. discard all contact lens storage cases used with AMOCMP; and
4. consult their eye care provider about choosing an alternative contact lens solution.

Furthermore, they should visit their eye care provider if they experience any signs of eye infection, including eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, sensation of something in the eye, or excessive tearing.

This is the second major outbreak of rare fungal infection after Fusarium Keratitis which is caused by contact lens solutions. Is it merely a coincidence? I think the safety regulation compliance of factories of contact lens cleaner solution manufacturers like Bausch & Lomb and Advanced Medical Optics are not being properly monitored. Should be regulations be more stringent or the enforcement? I think the enforcement may be at lapse here.

There are several ongoing lawsuits against AMO with some seeking class action status. We will keep you updated.

AMO Will Begin Shipping Contact Lens Solution After Acanthamoeba Keratitis Outbreak

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. said that it plans to begin shipping a new multipurpose contact lens solution in the first half of next month, returning to the market after recalling its Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution in May due to significantly increased risk for severe eye infection - Acanthamoeba Keratitis, which can completely damage the cornea requiring corneal transplant.

AMO said its new product would provide effective disinfection and comfort to users. AMO plans to make the new solution widely available to consumers in the United States by early September.

On May 27, AMO recalled Complete MoisturePlus after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interviewed 46 patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious cornea infection, and found that of the 39 who wore soft contact lenses, 21 used Complete MoisturePlus.

The most recent recall followed AMO's November recall of almost 3 million units of Complete MoisturePlus solution due to sterility problems.

What consumers would like most from AMO is concrete assurances that the current product will be free from the risk of eye infections and exactly what steps they have taken to rectify the problem.

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