What's
Hot in Eye Care?
Click
on the bookmarks/links in the table below to link to your article of interest.
Why Does the Military
Insist on PRK over LASIK?
The reason why they frown upon LASIK is mainly
because of flap complications. The flap cut on the cornea can be
unintentionally disrupted several years after the initial surgery. This
could occur with a blunt trauma such as a finger poke, fist, pen, or tree branch
to the eye. In the case of pilots, there is a fear that the flap may
become disrupted upon ejection from the cockpit of an aircraft at several
hundred miles/hour. With PRK, since there is no flap, there are never any
flap complications to worry about. The Military may also believe that
there is a higher chance of aberrations with LASIK than PRK.
(Optcomlist - Oct.15/02)
Proclear
Compatibles - Get Comfortable
A Recent Cooper Vision
Advertisement: All day
comfort, all month long - Cooper Vision's Proclear Compatibles monthly
replacement lenses remain moist and comfortable, even after 12 hours of
wear. Unlike ordinary lenses, Proclear Compatibles attract and bind water,
forming a shield of water around the lens to provide relief to the 50% of
wearers experiencing discomfort and dryness.
("Contact Lens Today"
email list - Jul.7/02)
Find
Out If Your Diet is Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
'Eye on Nutrition' is a new online dietary
assessment tool, developed by the AOA and the Vitamin Nutrition Information
Service. It features a quiz that reveals your behavior patterns,
eye-health history and dietary habits. The program evaluates the responses
and it provides personalized tips on how you can improve your behavior and diet
to protect your eyes from developing cataracts and age-related macular
degeneration.
The American Optometric Association website (www.aoa.org)
has the 'Eye On Nutrition' quiz, and some great articles on nutrition and eye
health. Once you click on the link to their website, mouse-over the 'Eye
Conditions and Concerns' along the top menu bar and then pull down to, and click
on, the 'Vision and Nutrition' option. There is the link to the quiz, and
links to find out more about 'Antioxidants - Age-Related Eye Disease', 'Lutein
and Zeaxanthin Eye-Friendly Nutrients', 'Nutrition and Age-Related Macular
Degeneration', and 'Nutrition and Cataracts'.
("Contact Lens Today"
email list - Jul.7/02)
Hair
Care Before Eye Care?
Last year, Americans spent more than $4.5 billion on hair care and $3.3 billion
on oral hygiene, compared to only $900 million on eye care, according to AC
Nielsen. And, a recent national survey, conducted by RoperASW, found that:
- Less than half of Americans have their eyes checked annually.
- Only 15% of Americans believe that they're very knowledgeable about maintaining good eye health.
- Some 90% of those polled have never spoken to their eye care professional about all of the available vision correction options.
- And 75% were unfamiliar with the benefits of gas permeable contact lenses.
By
2030, Ranks Of Blind to Double - As Americans live longer, the incidence of eye
disease will vastly increase.
The following article reveals the increasing occurrence of various eye
diseases as the population ages.
http://www.revoptom.com/index.asp?page=2_544.htm
(Review of Optometry -
Apr.15/02)
Glaucoma
is No. 1 Cause of Blindness Among U.S. Hispanics
The first comprehensive study of vision loss among U.S. Hispanics, to be
published in the April issue of Ophthalmology, found that open-angle glaucoma
was the leading cause of blindness. Researchers studied a random sample of 4,774
Hispanic residents of southern Arizona, of Mexican descent, age 40 and over. The
same study also found a significant rate of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy
among this population.
("Contact Lens Today"
email list - Apr.7/02)
U.S.
Army Gives Thumbs Up to Laser Eye Surgery
Walter Reed Army Medical Center is launching its Warfighter Refractive Eye
Surgery Program as part of a nationwide push to allow soldiers to have laser eye
surgery, according to an April 1 article in The Washington Post. Previously,
anyone who'd undergone this surgery could have been disqualified from active
duty. However, a Department of Defense medical panel recently concluded that
laser eye surgery doesn't adversely affect the structure of the eye. In fact,
says the panel, the laser eye surgery could improve a soldier's performance by
eliminating the hazards associated with eyeglasses and contact lenses in combat
situations.
("Contact Lens Today"
email list - Apr.7/02)
Antioxidants
and Zinc Can Help Reduce Damage from Macular Degeneration
The Age-Related Eye Disease
Study (AREDS) Research Group reported in October's Archives of Ophthalmology, on
pages 1417 to 1436, that people over age 55 should have a dilated eye
examination to assess the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Patients who have at least one large drusen, extensive intermediate drusen,
noncentral geographic atrophy in one or both eyes, and no contraindications like
smoking, should consider using antioxidant supplements and zinc. The results
were not highly significant for vision, but I'm taking my vitamins just in case.
("Contact Lens Today" email list - Nov.11/01)
Women Taking Hormone
Replacements May Be Susceptible To Dry Eye
Women who use hormone replacement therapy after menopause may be at risk for dry
eye syndrome, according to study published in a recent issue of The Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA). The JAMA report notes that the findings
are preliminary and further research exploring the effects of estrogen is
necessary.
("Contact Lens Today" email list -
Nov.11/01)
Understanding Ultraviolet Light
The summer sun may be fun, but its ultraviolet (UV)
waves can damage your eyes. This damage can accumulate over time and cause
some serious eye problems. The following is a brief summary of the hazards
of UV exposure, and how you can avoid them.
The Dangers:
1. increased risk of developing cataracts (a clouding or opacification of
the lens inside your eye)
2. increased risk of developing macular degeneration (a retinal disease
that is a leading cause of blindness)
3. risk of photokeratitis or "snow blindness"; you can
also develop it from intense reflection off of water, sand and pavement
4. risk of skin cancer around the eyes, eyelids, and the rest of your
body
5. risk of pinguecula (a degenerative growth of tissue on the white part
of your eye - the conjunctiva)
6. risk of pterygia (a "callous-like" overgrowth of blood
vessels and fibrous tissue that starts as a pinguecula, growing on the
conjunctiva, but then continues to grow onto the cornea - this condition can
damage vision, cause discomfort, and may require surgery to remove)
How you can protect yourself:
- anytime you are outside, even if it is cloudy, wear sunglasses that
have a 100% UV Protection coating
- wear contact lenses with UV-blocking polymers, as well as sunglasses over top,
to protect those areas of the eyes not covered by the contact lenses
- wear a brimmed hat
- be especially careful when outside between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm,
the time interval when UV radiation is at its most intense
(Optometric Management, July 2001)
Study Finds High Rate of Diabetes-Related Eye Disease in
Mexican-Americans
A research study published in the July 2001 issue of Diabetes Care, a journal of
the American Diabetes Association, found that in the Mexican-American population
over 40 years old, the rate of diabetes is 20% - almost twice the rate for
non-Hispanic whites. And 15% of those with diabetes did not know that they
had diabetes before taking part in the study. Of the 15% of newly
diagnosed people, 23% had early to moderate diabetic retinopathy (related eye
disease) and another 9% had advanced diabetic retinopathy and were in danger of
losing vision.
Some diabetes facts:
- Diabetes increases the risk of blindness 25 times over the general population
- the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely complications will occur
- the earlier diabetes is detected and treated, the less likely complications
will occur
- the start of diabetes in newly diagnosed patients was most likely 4-7 years
earlier
- 16 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, the most common cause of
blindness, kidney failure, and amputations in adults
- about 1/3 of people with diabetes do not know they have it
- Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of diabetes in the U.S. occurs most
often in people who are overweight, inactive, over the age of 40, and have a
family history of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results when muscle, fat, and
liver cells do not use insulin properly
- Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as juvenile onset diabetes or
insulin-dependent diabetes) accounts for approximately 10% of diabetics, and
usually occurs in children, or adults under the age of 30. Type 1 develops
when the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the
pancreas
- diabetes is more common in minorities; African Americans, Hispanic/Latino
Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are
especially at risk.
The take home message from this article
is: if you haven't had
a physical exam within the past year and/or you are over the age of 40, go get
yourself examined.
(AOA News, 8/13/01)
Nearsightedness Is More Common Among
Highly Educated
Nearsightedness is more common among highly educated people and
those considered on an academic fast track, according to researchers at the
National University of Singapore, as reported by Reuters. The researchers said
this may be because educational level and academic achievement could be closely
related to reading and other activities performed at a close distance.
("Contact Lens Today" email list - July 29/01)
USA Today Article Slams LASIK
Check out this article on LASIK. It gives a very real account of
complications from corrective laser eye surgery. It reveals all those
things that the laser centers don't tell you.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/healthscience/health/2001-06-28-lasik.htm
STUDY: Canned Tuna Reduces
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
A new study by the Harvard School of Public Health shows a link between canned
tuna consumption and reduced AMD. In a study of more than 70,000 men and
women, those who ate canned tuna more than once a week had a 40% lower risk of
AMD than those who ate it less than once a month, according to the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. While not conclusive, this study adds to
the long list of health benefits scientists believe are provided by the omega-3s
found in canned tuna.
(Review of Optometry Online - May, 2001)
Leading Causes of Blindness Worldwide
The World Health Organization website (http://www.who.int/en/)
reports that the leading causes of preventable blindness and visual disability worldwide are:
1. Cataracts
2. Trachoma
3. Glaucoma
All 3 of the above account for approximately 70% of world blindness. In developed countries, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable
blindness, followed by injury, degeneration (age
related macular degeneration) and congenital/hereditary disorders.
Soft Contact Lens for Patients with
Astigmatism
CIBA's survey of practitioners indicates 67
percent believe toric soft contact lens demand is increasing with 35 percent
having fitting success 91 to 100 percent of the time and 42 percent having
success 81 to 90 percent of the time. All too often our patients think they
cannot wear contact lenses if they have astigmatism, or they have tried and
failed before new, better lenses were available.
("Contact Lens Today" email list - 06/03/01)
Parents To Blame For Poor Eyesight
Parents who need corrective lenses are likely to have children
who also will need corrective lenses, according to a study of 500 pairs of twins
at St. Thomas hospital in London. The study reported that 85 percent of
nearsightedness and 50 percent of astigmatism are caused by heredity.
("Contact Lens Today" email list - 05/27/01)
Aerobic Exercise May Fend Off Glaucoma
The Glaucoma Foundation has come with an important new reason to
head for the gym for aerobic exercise: it can help lower your eye
pressure, a significant risk factor associated with glaucoma, the devastating
eye disease that is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United
States.
(Review of Optometry On-Line - 04/09/01)
Smoking Is Risk For Macular Degeneration
Tobacco smoking is the principal known preventable risk factor
associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study in
the April 2001 issue of Ophthalmology. Ex-smokers and current smokers were both
found to be more susceptible than non-smokers, with current smokers being more
likely to have wet AMD than dry AMD.
("Contact Lens Today" email list - 04/16/01)
Losing Abdominal Fat May Reduce Cataract Risk
In Men
Men who lose weight and, particularly, lose abdominal fat may
reduce their risk of developing cataracts, according to a Harvard University
study reported in London's Daily Mail. The study results link body mass and
waist-to-hip ratio to the incidence of cataracts in men, the report says. The report also said the taller men in the study were
more likely than the shorter men to develop cataracts as they aged.
Wesley-Jessen Approves UV Contact Lenses
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has recently given pre-market approval to Wesley-Jessen
Corporation for a process to add UV protection to their Gentle Touch Contact
Lenses for Extended Wear. The FDA has also approved a change in the
indications for the lenses, including utilizing the sentence, "Gentle Touch
UV (netrafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lenses help to protect against the
transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye".
(AOA News - 11/06/00)
CIBA Vision Launches Freshlook® ColorBlends®
Toric lenses
This month, CIBA released its newest lens, Freshlook®
ColorBlends® Toric disposable lenses. With the success of the
spherical ColorBlends® lenses, they expect many patients with small astigmatism
currently wearing contact lenses, or even glasses, to switch to this new option
for full-time or occasional use.
(AOA News - 01/22/01)
Tennis Star
Tells Reporter She's Going To Try CLs
After losing to her compatriot for the first time, tennis professional
Mary Pierce said she had been having difficulty seeing the ball under the floodlights, according to a recent Reuters article. She also said
she planned to visit her eye doctor to see if she could "get some contact lenses."
Vitamin
Use Is Shown to Prevent Cataracts
"According to a study published in the current issue of the Archives of
Ophthalmology, long-term use of vitamins E and C can help prevent
cataracts. The study was conducted on 3,089 patients ranging in age from
43 to 86 at the University of Wisconsin. Researchers found that people who
take supplements containing these two vitamins for more than 10 years had a 60%
lower risk of cataracts than non-users of the vitamins."
("Contact Lens Today" email list)
