Smartphone Advances Provide Mobile Eye Exams in Third World Countries

With everyone in the US abuzz about the new iPhone and Apple operating systems, other smartphone advancements are making an even bigger impact worldwide. One of the biggest causes of blindness around the world is due to untreated cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors. Because traditional exam equipment is immobile and very expensive, people in remote rural areas of third world countries rarely receive eye exams or eye care. This is now beginning to change, however, due to advancements with the smartphone and smartphone applications (apps).

A new smartphone app called Peek is revolutionizing the way eye exams are provided in these countries. Using a smartphone and an external clip-on device, Peek can check for cataracts, perform simple vision tests and scan the retina for disease, allowing conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy to be diagnosed.

Minimal training is required to operate Peek as the information is gathered and then sent to experts around the world for diagnosis. In addition, the GPS data the smartphone and app gather is also very helpful because this information allows for follow-ups and helps other health organizations better target mass treatment campaigns.

Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D. offered, “This iPhone application represents a new pathway to bring improved eye care to many people throughout the world. In the United States, I foresee its potential use in emergency room consultations with a physician who is not on site.”

Peek is currently being tested in Kenya, and their team will publish results at the end of their trials in early 2014.

Source: http://singularityhub.com/2013/09/06/will-peeks-mobile-eye-exam-system-take-a-bite-out-of-developing-world-blindness/

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