Research Finds New Eye Drops Could Treat Macular Degeneration

New research published in the journal PLos One earlier this month has many sufferers of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) hopeful for the possibility of a new treatment. 

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that gradually destroys the macula, the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision needed for seeing objects clearly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 2 million Americans over the age of 40 have poor vision caused by AMD.

The new findings experimented with a chemical PPADS (short for pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2’,4’-disulfonic acid) to repair AMD-related damage to the eye. Researchers at Tufts University in Massachusetts induced tissue damage and blood vessel growth characteristic of AMD in anesthetized mice and then applied PPADS daily, which resulted in the chemical healing the eye damage. 

The positive implication from this is the fact that a topical application of a drug - for example, in the form of an eye drop - could ultimately be used on humans to treat AMD. Previous research sought to show that certain dietary supplements, such as lutein, were effective in reducing the risk of progressing from dry macular degeneration to wet macular degeneration. This new study has many researchers excited for the possibilities of self-administered treatments. 

Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D. explained, “If confirmed in humans, this chemical, given as an eye drop, could potentially reduce or eliminate the huge cost of and need for monthly injections into the eye to stabilize wet macular degeneration and preserve vision.”

Because this research is the first of its kind to demonstrate a topical application of a drug treating wet macular degeneration, much more research is now due in order to confirm this study’s findings.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/40387-eye-drops-could-treat-age-related-macular-degeneration.html 

Photo Credit: Ross Toro, myhealthnewsdaily.com 

Dangers of Colored Costume Contact Lenses

Those cat eye lenses really might make your costume stand out from the crowd, but don’t let decorative contact lenses play a trick on you this Halloween. Did you know that costume contact lenses require a prescription? Just like your regular contacts, costume lenses are considered to be medical devices and even with perfect vision, a prescription and eye exam is required.  Wearing lenses that aren’t properly fitted for you can scratch the eye and actually cause blood vessels to grow into the cornea. This could also lead to eye infection and potential permanent vision loss. A scary thought, indeed.

Selling non-prescription lenses, like costume lenses found online or in beauty shops, is illegal. Many consumers are unaware that these lenses are not FDA-approved and with advertising claims like “one size fits all” even the most savvy shopper might consider trying out a pair without realizing the importance of a proper prescription.

Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D. offered, “If most people understood the potential for permanent vision loss by infectious keratitis that can occur with non-approved or ill-fitted contacts, very few would be willing to take the risk in using them.”

Whether colored contact lenses are a personal style choice or the finishing touch to the perfect Halloween costume, they should be fitted to your eye and purchased at a retailer that requires a prescription or from an eye care professional.

Source & Photo Credit: http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/glasses-contacts-lasik/colored-lenses.cfm

Wear Protective Eyewear During DIY Projects

October in Texas brings that cooler weather we all love and many begin work on DIY (do-it-yourself) home projects. People don’t realize how often injuries to the eye take place at home while not wearing protective eyewear. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 2.5 million eye injuries occur in the US each year with 50,000 people permanently losing part or all of their vision.

Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D. explained, “In my years taking emergency calls, I have seen many unfortunate and preventable injuries, some of which caused permanent, major loss of sight.  It always seems to be the ‘one time’ you did not wear the protective eye wear that causes these horrible things to happen.”

Many know eyewear is a must while mowing or trimming the lawn, but even the most mundane tasks require eye protection. Splashes from household cleaners, solvents or paints can also cause eye injury. Individuals who believe their own prescription glasses are enough protection are mistaken. In fact, wearing just your prescription glasses may cause further injury. Many safety goggles or glasses fit over regular glasses, and they absolutely should be worn.

Prevent Blindness America advises people wear protective eyewear approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This eyewear will have a “Z-87” logo on the frames. For additional information about eye safety at home, visit preventblindness.org/eye-safety-home.

Source:
http://preventblindness.org/safety-eyewear-can-protect-most-eye-injuries-home

Blood Test Hopes to Improve Treatment for Children with Cataracts

Researchers in the UK have developed a new blood test, which hopes to improve diagnosis and treatment for children born with congenital cataracts.

Diagnosing the presence of a cataract is fairly easy, the hard part is determining the cause of the child’s cataract. There are more than 100 different mutations linked to congenital cataracts and with no family history of cataracts, diagnosis of cause can be very difficult. Determining this cause is important because the child’s cataract may have formed due to another congenital condition such as a metabolic disorder or Down syndrome. In approximately 25 percent of children with cataracts at birth, the condition is due to another genetic cause.

The blood test developed analyzes every known DNA mutation that causes cataracts to help speed up diagnosis of the cause. This leads to better treatment and the ability to inform families of genetic risks for the future.

Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D. offered, “Treatment for children with cataracts is tailored to the child. In mild cases, no removal is necessary, but in many cases, the cataract must be removed in order for the child to develop his or her best possible eyesight. Depending the child’s age and other factors, a lens implant may be placed at the time of surgery to replace the clouded lens.”

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. In the US, only 0.4 percent of children are born with cataracts.

Sources: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24084614
http://www.childrensnational.org/DepartmentsandPrograms/default.aspx?Type=Dept&Id=345&Name=Ophthalmology&SubType=ConditionOrTreatment&SubId=485&subname=Cataract%20and%20other%20lens%20abnormalities

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/

Artificial Corneas Prove Promising for Transplants

A recent Swedish study proves artificial corneas may be a promising alternative to donor corneas. The study involved 10 patients with corneal damage and significant vision loss between the ages of 18 and 75. These individuals were the first in the world to be fitted with biosynthetic tissue as opposed to human donor corneas. Two years following the surgery, the patients had not experienced any serious reactions or complications.

Corneal transplants can be necessary in conditions such as kerotoconus (corneal damage where there is gradual thinning and bulging of the cornea). Disease of the cornea is one of the major causes of blindness worldwide and is often due to trauma or infection. In many parts of the world, there is a shortage of corneal donors causing waiting lists for the surgery.

According to Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D., “A shortage of corneal donors is not typically an issue in the United States due to the excellent eye bank system. We are normally able to secure a donor cornea as necessary. However, globally this is a serious issue and research into synthetic alternatives is very important.”

Initial results from the Swedish study show that biosynthetic corneal implants could offer a solution to the current donor shortage worldwide. However, as the first study of its kind, far more research and much larger numbers of patients is needed to confirm the safe use of biosynthetic corneas.

SOURCE:
http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/top-stories/health/partial-success-of-artificial-corneas-1-984091

Safety: LASIK VS Contact Lenses

When considering LASIK over contact lenses, many patients’ biggest concern is the safety of LASIK. What many do not realize is that patients have a higher risk of losing correctible vision with contact lenses than by undergoing LASIK eye surgery, a one-time surgical procedure. In fact, that risk is perhaps up to 10 times higher.

Many contact lens wearers do not properly take care of their lenses and this is what can cause infection. For example, wearing contacts during sleep, swimming in them, not cleaning them properly, and not replacing them regularly increases the risk of infection and could damage eyesight permanently. However with LASIK, the laser technology being used today is the safest it has ever been.

LASIK provides phenomenal precision and very predictable results. A person with a typical refractive error has a 93% chance of having their vision fully corrected after the LASIK procedure and without requiring additional treatment, contacts, or glasses. For those who still have some refractive error after surgery, the majority can be re-treated to achieve optimal results. In terms of the risk of losing correctible vision as a result of the surgery, the risk is extremely small – only 1 in 1,000 experience significant complications. 

Ophthalmologist Clayton Falknor, M.D. said, “Of all the things that I do surgically, LASIK is the most accurate and the most consistent with the best results. After healing, your eyesight is normally stable for 10-20 years, depending on your age at the time of surgery.”

If you are interested in LASIK, but concerned about the safety, speak with your ophthalmologist about the procedure. At Eye Clinic of Austin, we offer free LASIK consultations to determine candidacy for the procedure. This appointment also provides patients an opportunity to speak with the eye doctor, ask questions, and discuss any concerns.