New Study Ties Early Menopause to Glaucoma

Women who experience early meno-
pause may be at higher risk for dev-
eloping glaucoma later in life.

A new study from the Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute in Amsterdam shows women who experience early menopause may be at a higher risk of developing glaucoma later in life. The study tracked 3,000 women, and those who went through natural menopause before the age of 45 were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma than women who went through menopause at age 50 or older.

Glaucoma is caused by fluid accumulating in the eye, which then puts pressure on the eye’s optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the US, and has no symptoms or pain when it first develops. Medicine, laser treatment, and conventional surgery are used to treat the disease. Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D. explained, “While these treatments can help prevent future loss of vision, they do not improve sight already lost from the disease which is why it’s so important to schedule eye exams as you age.”

This study’s result signals that female hormones may protect against the disease. Hormone replacement therapy is thought to reduce fluid pressure in the eye, and researchers of the study also note that hormone levels rise during pregnancy causing fluid pressure in the eye to decrease.

“This study shows the potential value of analysis of large amounts of data. Although I have seen patients for over 30 years, this is not a connection that I have considered. At this time, I am not prepared to prescribe hormone therapy for menopausal women with glaucoma,” said Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson M.D.

As glaucoma research continues, it’s still very important to schedule comprehensive eye exams as you age to detect any issues and begin treatment, if needed.

Sources:
http://www.tele-management.ca/2013/08/study-links-early-menopause-to-glaucoma-risk/
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp#a

What to Do at What Age for Your Eyes

August is National Eye Exam month and although each individual’s eyes are different, there are recommended times in your life in which to receive an eye exam. Here’s a summary of what to do at what age for your eye care:

INFANTS: All babies should receive an eye exam soon after birth. It’s also recommended to receive another exam between ages 6 to 12 months.

PRESCHOOL: At age 3, it’s important for children to receive a visual acuity test. The test results can show lazy eye or refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

SCHOOL AGE: Upon entering the 1st grade, another eye exam should be performed. As your child gets older, if any suspected vision issues or problems come up, then another exam should be performed. In this age group, nearsightedness is most common which can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, depending on the child’s age.

TEENAGERS & EARLY 20s: Teenagers with corrective lenses should receive an annual eye exam in order to determine changes in prescription and to detect any other issues. By the time people reach their early 20’s, vision development will typically remain steady. For this age group it’s also important to remember to protect eyes during activities and playing sports.

ADULTS 25 to 40: Vision changes little at this age, so this is the recommended time for LASIK eye surgery. For those without prescription lenses or a family history of eye disease, it’s best to receive at least one complete eye exam in your 20s and two complete exams in your 30s. During pregnancy, women may have vision fluctuations.

ADULTS 40 to 65: This is a time when many eye diseases may begin to emerge. At age 40, a comprehensive eye exam should be scheduled to check for any signs of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and other problems. You should continue to schedule exams every two years or more often based on feedback from your ophthalmologist about any problems your eyes have.

65 AND UP: By age 65, 1 in 3 Americans will have a vision-impairing eye disease such as glaucoma and cataracts. Preventive eye exams should be an important annual appointment to help find any issues or continue treatment of any known problems as your ophthalmologist recommends. Vision may be saved or prolonged if eye disease is detected early on.

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology

Stem Cell Therapy for Macular Degeneration to Be Tested

Researchers in Japan began recruiting patients on August 1 for a pilot study to determine the possibility of using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy to treat wet-type age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye condition for individuals age 50 and older. There are two forms of the disease, dry and wet. The wet form is more severe and is defined by damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), cells located in the back of the eye.

“Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Currently, there is no way to cure the disease, only slow its progression,” explained ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D.

In this study, the damaged RPE is removed and researchers then transplant the iSPC-derived RPE cell sheets into the affected area of the eye. Replacing the RPE cells may repair past damage to the patient’s eye, but the issue is finding and using RPE cells that the patient’s immune system does not reject.

Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D. said, “If this works as hoped without significant negative side effects, it will revolutionize the therapy of wet macular degeneration.”

If your family has a history of macular degeneration or you believe may have macular degeneration, contact your eye doctor and schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Although research continues in macular degeneration, the current treatment is still slowing the disease and the sooner it can be detected, the bigger impact treatment can have.

SOURCES:
http://www.asianscientist.com/health-medicine/stem-cell-therapy-eye-disease-riken-japan-2013/
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp#1

Laser Cataract Surgery Serves Baby Boomers Well

As the baby boomer population begins to age, so too do their eyes. Now in their late 50’s and into their 60’s, many are developing cataracts, a common occurrence which affects 50% of the U.S. population by age 80.

“What we are finding is baby boomers with cataracts are typically still employed, and they want to return to work as quickly as possible,” explained ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D. “Laser cataract surgery provides not only greater precision, but also quick recovery for patients. Many patients comment on how soon they were able to return to life as normal.”

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Symptoms of cataracts may include cloudy or blurry vision, colors seem faded, glare, a halo may appear around lights, poor night vision, double vision, and frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Normal Vision

Vision with Cataract

Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D. offered, “Baby boomers are more interested than prior generations in achieving partial or complete glasses independence after cataract surgery. With the benefits of laser cataract surgery and advances in lens implant technologies, such as toric lenses for astigmatism management and multifocal lenses for reduced need for reading glasses, this outcome is increasingly encountered.”

To determine if you have cataracts, you should contact your eye doctor and schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In addition to cataracts, your eye doctor can check for other age-related issues such as macular degeneration and glaucoma. Early detection and treatment for eye diseases may save your sight.

SOURCE: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp 

Treat Inflamed Eyelids Quickly to Avoid Future Issues

A red, inflamed eyelid could be caused by an infection at the root of the eyelashes – that is a stye. More commonly though, a red, swollen eyelid is caused by an infection of the oil gland in the cartilage plate that reinforces the back of the eyelid. This is called a chalazion. Chalazions are much more common than styes – perhaps 10 times more common.

The initial treatment for a stye or a chalazion is heat for 10 minutes, four times a day, for two days. If the problem is not resolved in two days and especially if it is a chalazion, it needs intense antibiotic treatment to kill the infection quickly.

A stye will disappear on its own if antibiotics are started by day 3, but chalazions will form scar tissue in the cartilage plate within the first five days. Then there will be a lump present on the lid for many months, perhaps even a year or more. Once the scar tissue forms, the only treatment is to cut out the scar tissue. It is far better to treat early if you do not want an ugly lump and a minor office surgery.

If you have a growth or swelling of any kind on your eyelids, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist.