1:00 PM
Keshav Bhat
A neat video on Fox that describes problems an eye exams detects in children...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
news no parent wants to hear!
Optometrist finds no evidence computer use by children leads to myopia.
Canada's Canwest News reports that the Internet abounds with articles allegedly written by eye-care professionals stating that many ophthalmologists believe increased computer use by children puts them at risk for early development of nearsightedness, or myopia.
In fact, these same articles draw little or no difference between myopia, in which far vision is permanently diminished and must be corrected with lenses or laser surgery, and a temporary condition called computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Optometrist Eric DesGroseilliers, O.D., of the Ottawa Optometric Clinic, pointed out that, in over 12 years of practice, during which he has examined the eyes of four to five children a day, he has been unable to attribute any increases in myopia to computer use. Instead, he believes any recent increase in myopia diagnoses is likely because parents are better educated about eye health, and children receive professional eye care earlier. CVS, however, is a temporary discomfort caused by prolonged computer use. Eye strain, headaches, temporary blurred vision, and other complaints make up the symptoms of CVS, but in general they are not considered that serious.
Canada's Canwest News reports that the Internet abounds with articles allegedly written by eye-care professionals stating that many ophthalmologists believe increased computer use by children puts them at risk for early development of nearsightedness, or myopia.
In fact, these same articles draw little or no difference between myopia, in which far vision is permanently diminished and must be corrected with lenses or laser surgery, and a temporary condition called computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Optometrist Eric DesGroseilliers, O.D., of the Ottawa Optometric Clinic, pointed out that, in over 12 years of practice, during which he has examined the eyes of four to five children a day, he has been unable to attribute any increases in myopia to computer use. Instead, he believes any recent increase in myopia diagnoses is likely because parents are better educated about eye health, and children receive professional eye care earlier. CVS, however, is a temporary discomfort caused by prolonged computer use. Eye strain, headaches, temporary blurred vision, and other complaints make up the symptoms of CVS, but in general they are not considered that serious.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Medford (OR) Mail Tribune profiles Karen Barlow, a legally blind, independent businesswoman who teaches computer skills to the visually impaired in the Rogue Valley. Barlow's business, Barlow's Computer Training, has contracts with several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics.
The Mail Tribune adds, Barlow is one of 50 vendors demonstrating adaptive technologies and other aids to employment at this week's "'Options for Success' conference.
Sponsored by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the seminar's theme is "attitudes for success." Advocacy, referral, work-incentive programs and inspirational speeches fill the sessions, which began Tuesday morning.
The goal is to improve the self-esteem and promotional skills of disabled persons eager to join the workforce, said Kristi Hyman of OVRS.
The Mail Tribune adds, Barlow is one of 50 vendors demonstrating adaptive technologies and other aids to employment at this week's "'Options for Success' conference.
Sponsored by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the seminar's theme is "attitudes for success." Advocacy, referral, work-incentive programs and inspirational speeches fill the sessions, which began Tuesday morning.
The goal is to improve the self-esteem and promotional skills of disabled persons eager to join the workforce, said Kristi Hyman of OVRS.
Monday, October 20, 2008
26 percent of Americans have not seen eye-care specialist within past two years.
HealthDay reported that, according to a survey of 1,001 Americans age 18 and older commissioned by the American Optometric Association (AOA), 26 percent of Americans have not visited an eye doctor or eye-care specialist within the past two years, suggesting that many people aren't paying enough attention to their eye health.
AOA expert James Kirchner, O.D., recommended a comprehensive eye exam for adults at least every two years. He emphasized that eye exams are even more important for people who already use corrective lenses,who might just assume they just need a different lens prescription, when they really have a more serious problem. With eye diseases and disorders, as with most health issues, early detection and treatment are often the keys to avoiding permanent problems. For example, the survey showed that 62 percent of respondents didn't know that signs of diabetes may be detected by an eye doctor, while 71 percent didn't know that a comprehensive eye exam can detect hypertension, brain tumors (75 percent), cancer (78 percent), cardiovascular disease (80 percent), and multiple sclerosis (90 percent).
AOA expert James Kirchner, O.D., recommended a comprehensive eye exam for adults at least every two years. He emphasized that eye exams are even more important for people who already use corrective lenses,who might just assume they just need a different lens prescription, when they really have a more serious problem. With eye diseases and disorders, as with most health issues, early detection and treatment are often the keys to avoiding permanent problems. For example, the survey showed that 62 percent of respondents didn't know that signs of diabetes may be detected by an eye doctor, while 71 percent didn't know that a comprehensive eye exam can detect hypertension, brain tumors (75 percent), cancer (78 percent), cardiovascular disease (80 percent), and multiple sclerosis (90 percent).
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Painkiller May Prevent Diabetes-Related Retinal Damage
The painkiller pentazocine may help prevent diabetes-related retinal damage that leads to vision loss, according to Medical College of Georgia researchers.
"The effects of this drug on retinal health are phenomenal," Dr. Sylvia Smith, a retinal cell biologist and co-director of the Vision Discovery Institute at MCG's School of Medicine, said in a college news release.
For the study, she compared the retinas of diabetic mice treated with pentazocine and those that didn't receive the drug and found dramatic differences. The findings suggest that the drug and related compounds that bind with the sigma receptor in the eye may help treat the two leading causes of vision loss -- diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
The study was published in the September issue of the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
"The effects of this drug on retinal health are phenomenal," Dr. Sylvia Smith, a retinal cell biologist and co-director of the Vision Discovery Institute at MCG's School of Medicine, said in a college news release.
For the study, she compared the retinas of diabetic mice treated with pentazocine and those that didn't receive the drug and found dramatic differences. The findings suggest that the drug and related compounds that bind with the sigma receptor in the eye may help treat the two leading causes of vision loss -- diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
The study was published in the September issue of the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Visual impairment may be more common in people with diabetes
UPI reports that, according to a study published in the Archives ofOphthalmology, visual impairment appears to be more common in people withdiabetes than in those without the disease. Researchers from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention analyzed data from the National Health andNutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004, which included 1,237 adultswith diabetes...and 11,767 adults without the disease. The investigators foundthat people with diabetes were more likely to have uncorrectable visionimpairment than those withoutdiabetes.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Low anti oxidants and blue light exposure may lead to AMD
Med Page Today reported, Some cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may arise from a combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants and exposure to blue light from the sun, according to research in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers studied 4,753 participants older than 65, who all provided blood samples, underwent fundus photography, and answered a dietary questionnaire. Sun exposure was estimated from participants' self-reported information about work, outdoor activities, use of hats, and eyewear (including contact lenses, glasses, and sunglasses). Complete data were available for 101 participants with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, 2,182 participants with early-stage age-related macular degeneration, and 2,117 controls.
Medscape added that the researchers concluded that there was no association between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD or early AMD. In participants in the lowest quartile of antioxidant level (vitamin C, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and dietary zinc), there were significant associations between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD. Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) was approximately 1.4 for one SD unit increase in blue light exposure, but these ORs for blue light were higher with combined low antioxidant levels, especially vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E (OR, 3.7; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.6 - 8.9), which were also associated with early stages of AMD.
The U.K.'s Telegraph notes that AMD, in which the central part of the retina of the eye gradually thins, leaves one in 10 sufferers blind. Lead researcher Astrid Fletcher, Ph.D., of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, In the absence of cost-effective screening methods to identify people in the population with early AMD, we suggest that recommendations on (eye) protection and diet target the general population, especially middle-aged people
Medscape added that the researchers concluded that there was no association between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD or early AMD. In participants in the lowest quartile of antioxidant level (vitamin C, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and dietary zinc), there were significant associations between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD. Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) was approximately 1.4 for one SD unit increase in blue light exposure, but these ORs for blue light were higher with combined low antioxidant levels, especially vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E (OR, 3.7; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.6 - 8.9), which were also associated with early stages of AMD.
The U.K.'s Telegraph notes that AMD, in which the central part of the retina of the eye gradually thins, leaves one in 10 sufferers blind. Lead researcher Astrid Fletcher, Ph.D., of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, In the absence of cost-effective screening methods to identify people in the population with early AMD, we suggest that recommendations on (eye) protection and diet target the general population, especially middle-aged people
Thursday, October 09, 2008
High Priority, Low Coverage
When asked what conditions would most affect their day-to-day living, a majority of Americans rated loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Paying for vision coverage though has been another story with only 17% of employees offering any kind of vision insurance.
A new report by The Vision Council, Vision Care: Focusing on the Workplace Benefit, examines consumer and business perspectives on vision care and trends in vision care coverage. According to the report, two-thirds of Americans say they would be more willing to get an eye exam if they had some coverage, yet only 17 percent of employers report offering vision insurance. Vision benefits lag behind health and dental benefits, with as many as 44 percent of employers offering dental coverage.
"We know that in today's tough economy everyone is taking another look at their finances," said Ed Greene, chief executive officer for The Vision Council. "As the second most prevalent health condition in the country, vision disorders affect individuals and businesses, making vision coverage an important benefit for both groups."
Vision health is highly valued by most Americans according to the National Eye Institute. When asked what conditions would most affect their day-to-day living, a majority of Americans rated loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
"Regular eye examinations are an important part of helping Americans maintain their health," said ophthalmologist Elaine G. Hathaway, M.D. "In addition to detecting vision problems and asymptomatic eye disorders, routine eye exams by an eye care professional can detect major health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes," she added.
With 11 million Americans living with an uncorrected vision problem, a number expected to rise as the population ages, the expense to businesses can also be severe. According to the report, the annual financial burden of major adult vision disorders exceeds $35 billion to the U.S. economy, including an estimated $8 billion in lost productivity.
"Uncorrected vision problems are very costly to employers, and it is important for them to recognize that vision health coverage not only maintains a healthy workforce, but has a positive impact on their bottom line," said Greene. For example, studies show that employers gain as much as $7 for every $1 spent on vision coverage.
As with many other benefits, employers are increasingly forced to pass along some of the cost of providing health insurance to employees. Offering vision coverage can help employers enhance their benefits package at a relatively low cost. Such coverage typically costs one-tenth that of medical benefits, and is often utilized more by employees than medical plans.
A new report by The Vision Council, Vision Care: Focusing on the Workplace Benefit, examines consumer and business perspectives on vision care and trends in vision care coverage. According to the report, two-thirds of Americans say they would be more willing to get an eye exam if they had some coverage, yet only 17 percent of employers report offering vision insurance. Vision benefits lag behind health and dental benefits, with as many as 44 percent of employers offering dental coverage.
"We know that in today's tough economy everyone is taking another look at their finances," said Ed Greene, chief executive officer for The Vision Council. "As the second most prevalent health condition in the country, vision disorders affect individuals and businesses, making vision coverage an important benefit for both groups."
Vision health is highly valued by most Americans according to the National Eye Institute. When asked what conditions would most affect their day-to-day living, a majority of Americans rated loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
"Regular eye examinations are an important part of helping Americans maintain their health," said ophthalmologist Elaine G. Hathaway, M.D. "In addition to detecting vision problems and asymptomatic eye disorders, routine eye exams by an eye care professional can detect major health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes," she added.
With 11 million Americans living with an uncorrected vision problem, a number expected to rise as the population ages, the expense to businesses can also be severe. According to the report, the annual financial burden of major adult vision disorders exceeds $35 billion to the U.S. economy, including an estimated $8 billion in lost productivity.
"Uncorrected vision problems are very costly to employers, and it is important for them to recognize that vision health coverage not only maintains a healthy workforce, but has a positive impact on their bottom line," said Greene. For example, studies show that employers gain as much as $7 for every $1 spent on vision coverage.
As with many other benefits, employers are increasingly forced to pass along some of the cost of providing health insurance to employees. Offering vision coverage can help employers enhance their benefits package at a relatively low cost. Such coverage typically costs one-tenth that of medical benefits, and is often utilized more by employees than medical plans.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Crazy fashion accessory
First it was tattoos, then it was body piercing, but the latest fashion craze looks so painful it's literally eye-watering.
A Dutch designer has come up with a bizarre fashion accessory – eye jewelery that hangs from wire attached to a contact lens.
Eric Klarenbeek has created the eye jewellery that includes items like crystals or flowers.
It hangs beneath the eye, and is fastened to the lens by medical wire. It makes the wearer look as if they are crying.
I feel sad for the models who have to wear these....
A Dutch designer has come up with a bizarre fashion accessory – eye jewelery that hangs from wire attached to a contact lens.
Eric Klarenbeek has created the eye jewellery that includes items like crystals or flowers.
It hangs beneath the eye, and is fastened to the lens by medical wire. It makes the wearer look as if they are crying.
I feel sad for the models who have to wear these....
Friday, October 03, 2008
Researchers to study depression in AMD patients
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It gradually destroys sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. In some cases, the disease advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, it progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes
Medical News Today reports that researchers at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University were recently awarded a $3.7 million grant from The National Eye Institute to study depression in patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.
During the trial, called the Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial, researchers will test a combined treatment to prevent depression and disability associated with AMD. They will also test the efficacy of a low vision rehabilitation and psychological intervention program designed to treat/prevent depression in patients diagnosed with the disease by helping them maintain their independence and participation in enjoyable activities.
Medical News Today reports that researchers at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University were recently awarded a $3.7 million grant from The National Eye Institute to study depression in patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.
During the trial, called the Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial, researchers will test a combined treatment to prevent depression and disability associated with AMD. They will also test the efficacy of a low vision rehabilitation and psychological intervention program designed to treat/prevent depression in patients diagnosed with the disease by helping them maintain their independence and participation in enjoyable activities.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Apples Benefits for Health & Vision
In a food column in New Hampshire's Telegraph, dietitian Lynda Murray, R.D., writes about the positive effects eating apples may have on overall health.
For example, through the quercetin found in their skin, apples have the unique ability to inhibit the production and release of histamine and other allergic or inflammatory agents. ... Eating an apple a day has been shown to reduce allergic symptoms 46 percent. In addition, the fruit's high flavonoid content...may help protect arteries from harmful plaque buildup. This helps keep cholesterol from oxidizing, and prevents platelets from clumping. Murray recommends that readers eat a diet rich in apples to run a lower incidence of heart disease and stroke. People diagnosed with elevated C-reactive protein and homocysteine probably also face a greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). So, even though an apple isn't the richest source of lutein, combining three or more servings of fruit per day over a period of 12 to 18 years reduces the risk of developing AMD by 30 percent, compared to eating only 1-1/2 servings per day or less, Murray contends.
While there, take note of recipes for Apple Sauce and Apple Crisp
For example, through the quercetin found in their skin, apples have the unique ability to inhibit the production and release of histamine and other allergic or inflammatory agents. ... Eating an apple a day has been shown to reduce allergic symptoms 46 percent. In addition, the fruit's high flavonoid content...may help protect arteries from harmful plaque buildup. This helps keep cholesterol from oxidizing, and prevents platelets from clumping. Murray recommends that readers eat a diet rich in apples to run a lower incidence of heart disease and stroke. People diagnosed with elevated C-reactive protein and homocysteine probably also face a greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). So, even though an apple isn't the richest source of lutein, combining three or more servings of fruit per day over a period of 12 to 18 years reduces the risk of developing AMD by 30 percent, compared to eating only 1-1/2 servings per day or less, Murray contends.
While there, take note of recipes for Apple Sauce and Apple Crisp
