Study Shows UV-Blocking Contact Lenses Can Protect Eyes From Sun Damage
January 27, 2010 -- A new study reported in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that UV-blocking contact lenses can reduce or eliminate the effects of the sun's harmful UV radiation. According to the article, "Prevention of UV-Induced Damage to the Anterior Segment Using Class I UV Absorbing Hydrogel Contact Lenses", overexposure to UV radiation can lead to harmful changes in the cornea, conjunctiva and lens, including cataracts, the most common cause of visual impairment around the globe. According to the researchers, some estimates say that by the year 2050, there will be 167,000 to 830,000 more cases of cataracts. "Unfortunately, people are generally unaware of when their eyes are at greatest risk for damage from UV exposure," said vision researcher Heather Chandler, PhD, from Ohio State University's College of Optometry. "This research involving UV-absorbing contact lenses can provide another option for protection against the detrimental changes caused by UV."
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Cataract surgery does not appear associated with worsening of age-related macular degeneration
November 9, 2009 -- Age-related macular degeneration does not appear to progress at a higher rate among individuals who have had surgery to treat cataract, contrary to previous reports that treating one cause of vision loss worsens the other, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among Americans age 65 and older, according to background information in the article. Surgery is the most effective and common vision-restoring treatment for cataract. "Because both conditions are strongly age-related, many individuals with cataract also have AMD," the authors write.
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Age page: Senior shouldn't skimp on eye care during tough times
October 22, 2009 -- As the economic crisis continues, some seniors may believe it's reasonable to skip their annual eye exam. But for the older population, it's critically important to keep tabs on the silent stealers of sight -- cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. And you best "keep tabs" by never missing an annual eye exam. By age 65, one-in-three Americans have some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Often there are no warning signs, so most people don't know it, or they assume that poor sight is a natural part of aging. It is not necessarily so! By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual, comprehensive dilated exams, seniors can do so much to preserve their sight.
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Cracking the Cataract Code: New Technology, New Hope
October 15, 2009 -- Replacement of cataractous lens has become the most frequently performed surgery in the world. Yet until recently, not much has been known about the process taking place as a cataract forms, or why cataracts—especially nuclear cataracts—form at different times in different individuals’ eyes. Two approaches have traditionally been used to detect and follow cataract development: subjective lens observation using slit lamp microscopy, and measuring lens transparency or opacity using Scheimpflug technology and retroillumination. Thanks to new technology and a breakthrough in our understanding of cataract formation, two new approaches now look promising.
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Ophthalmic Organizations Issue Advisory on Alpha-blockers Prior To Cataract Surgery
September 26, 2009 -- The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and the AAQ have jointly issued a patient advisory on alpha-blockers, especially on tamsulosin (Flomax; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT). The advisory states that the alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker (tamsulosin), commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is responsible for certain surgical complications. These arise due to intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS).
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Can Fluorescent Lights Cause Cataracts?
August 29, 2009 -- Fluorescent lighting has been the primary type used in businesses, schools and other buildings for decades (plus now in many homes). Can there be a connection between this "cool lighting" and cataract development since their use became so prevalent? Cataracts occur when the eye's lens, normally clear, becomes opaque and thickened, impeding entry of light. This eventually increases, resulting in loss of vision since light cannot reach the retina. Once the lens has been obstructed it is normally removed surgically and replaced by a plastic lens.
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Cataract surgery doubles risk of retinopathy in patients with diabetes, study finds
August 17, 2009 -- According to the results of a recent Australian study, patients with diabetes who are at risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) experience a two-fold increase in the risk of developing DR or experiencing a progression of their retinopathy within one year of phacoemulsification ("phaco") cataract surgery. But the news is not all bad: Phaco cataract surgery causes less progression of DR than older cataract surgery techniques. Subjects in the study were diabetic patients age 65 and older who had cataract surgery at an eye clinic in Sydney, Australia between 2004 and 2006. Assessment of diabetic retinopathy was performed via digital retinal photography prior to cataract surgery and at one, six and 12 months after surgery.
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Study finds no increased risk of macular degeneration progression after cataract surgery
August 10, 2009 -- A concern among people who have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts is whether cataract surgery will increase the progression of their macular disease. There is encouraging news from researchers in Australia, who recently found no statistically significant increased risk of progression of AMD to a more serious stage of the disease after uncomplicated phacoemulsification-style cataract surgery.
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Researchers uncover genetic link to age-related cataracts
August 4, 2009 -- Bing-Cheng Wang, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor of pharmacology and senior staff scientist at MetroHealth Medical Center, and Sudha K. Iyengar, Ph.D. professor of genetic and molecular epidemiology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, have discovered the first gene associated with the formation of age-related cataracts, a leading causes of blindness. Their research is part of a large-scale collaborative investigation involving 10 different laboratories from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The study, entitled "EphA2is associated with age-related cortical cataract in mice and humans," will be published in the July 31 issue of PLoS Genetics.
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Fried Eyes
June 14, 2009 -- Eyes need as much protection as skin from ultra-violet light. Find out why. MANY of us know excessive exposure to ultra-violet (UV) light is hazardous, but only associate harmful effects with skin disorders, most commonly with sunburn, premature aging, and cancer, and perhaps less commonly with sun allergies, systemic erythematosus lupus, and pre-cancerous growths/lesions. Falling somewhere in between the two is the awareness that UV light can cause long-term damage to sight. What is UV light? Natural UV light is a component of sunlight - a combination of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays that’s invisible to the human eye.
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Risks Of Cataract Surgery Complications Hiked By 'Urination Difficulty' Drugs
May 21, 2009 -- A study published in the May 20 issue of JAMA has revealed that tamsulosin medication, used to treat male urination difficulties within two weeks of cataract surgery, may be linked to a heightened risk of serious postoperative ophthalmic adverse events such as retinal detachment or lost lens. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; enlarged prostate) affects nearly 3 of 4 men by the age of 70 years, with symptoms of BPH including urination difficulties. A commonly prescribed medication for BPH is tamsulosin, which accounted for more than $1 billion in sales in 2007, according to background information in the article. Some research has suggested that this drug may increase the risk of complications, such as intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery, a procedure that approximately 5 percent of elderly U.S. residents undergo every year.
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Study reiterates eye risks linked to Flomax
May 19, 2009 -- Men taking Flomax to treat an enlarged prostate face more than double the risk for serious complications should they need cataract surgery, a new Canadian study has found. It's not the first time that Flomax (tamsulosin) has been linked to cataract complications. A study in 2005 found that men taking Flomax or other alpha-blockers before cataract surgery had complications during and immediately after the procedure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for stronger warnings about the drug, and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which makes Flomax, sent warning letters to doctors about the potential problems. In the new study, 7.5 percent of the men who had taken Flomax in the two weeks before cataract surgery had a serious complication, compared with 2.7 percent of those who had not taken the drug, for a 2.3 times greater risk.
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Monovision cataract surgery popular among older patients, study finds
April 15, 2009 -- Monovision cataract surgery is a special type of refractive cataract surgery designed to reduce or eliminate the need for prescription eyewear, including reading glasses, after surgery. In a Japanese study designed to assess the visual performance and patient satisfaction with monovision cataract surgery, researchers in Japan have found that 87 percent of patients between age 60 and 70 and 94 percent of patients over age 70 are satisfied with this type of vision correction.
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Blurred vision: Is it cataract?
April 6, 2009 -- Have you heard someone complaining of foggy vision for a long time? It could be cataract. Cataract is the condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye becomes clouded or opaque, impairing vision and, if untreated, can lead to blindness. Known causes Cataracts develop from a variety of reasons, including long-term exposure to ultraviolet light, exposure to radiation, secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and advanced age, or trauma (possibly much earlier). Genetic factors are often a cause of congenital cataracts and positive family history may also play a role in predisposing someone to cataracts at an earlier age.
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Active adults have lower risk of cataracts
March 25, 2009 -- The incidence of age-related cataracts is significantly lower among active adults, compared to age-matched controls, according to the National Runners' Health Study. The study included over 29,000 men and nearly 12,000 women. All participants were non-smokers, and 80 percent of them were followed for up to seven years. During the 7-year follow-up period of the study, cataracts were reported by 733 men (2.5 percent) and 179 women (1.5 percent). The risk for cataract increased with body mass index (BMI) among the study participants.
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Take care of your eyes and they'll look after you
November 12, 2008 -- Unless you wore glasses as a kid, you've probably been taking your vision for granted most of your life. You read, you play games, you watch movies, you work, you sew, but, maybe when you venture into your 30s, close work seems to be fuzzy. The ophthalmologist you consult prescribes glasses, and life is clear again. That's the simpler side of eye care. There serious conditions and ailments, including macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts, can afflict the aging eye, and glasses are merely crutches or of no value at all.
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Feast for the eyes: Eat your way to better sight
October 20, 2008 -- Baby boomers are aging, and progressive eye diseases are increasing. Macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma — even the comparatively benign dry-eye syndrome and allergy eyes — are all on the rise. And poor nutrition is implicated in many of these most common ailments. The good news is that smart food choices, comprehensive meal planning and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, plant pigments and herbs can help many people avoid vision loss.
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The Sun Is Damaging Your eyes
October 14, 2008 -- The sun is a blessing to all life on this planet earth. It warms the earth to the right temperature and provides the energies needed to run the various ecosystems. The sun provides adequate light to enable clear vision during the day. Human beings are able to see only if light travels from an object to the eye. The light passes through the cornea, lens of the eye and some fluid media in the eye before reaching the retina. The retina is the most important part of the eye because it is the only tissue of the eye that is capable of converting the light energy entering the eye into electrical impulses that the brain can understand. Without the retina we cannot see.
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Through a glass darkly: Cataracts affect nearly half of those 65 to 74
October 4, 2008 -- If you're headed toward age 65, chances are your vision will soon be impaired by cataracts, painless cloudy areas in the lenses of your eyes that block the passage of light to the retinas. Cataracts affect nearly half of individuals age 65 to 74 and about 70 per cent of those older, according to a 2006 Health Issues Around the World study. Although advanced age is usually to blame, cataracts can strike people 40 or younger as a result of over exposure to sunlight, trauma or excess consumption of alcohol. The negative effect of cataracts is best described as similar to looking through dirty glasses all the time.
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It's a Whole New Outlook for Cataract Patients
October 3, 2008 -- Removing them meant stitches in your eye and days spent recuperating. And artificial replacement lenses only came in one power, which meant eyeglasses for most recipients. But those days are over. Cataract surgery has been honed to the point where it's now done on an outpatient basis, and people are back seeing in no time at all with vision often much improved over what they had -- even before their lenses clouded up. "We don't usually have to put a single stitch in the eye," said Dr. Jim Salz, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California and a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "We make an incision that seals itself. Recovery is much quicker and much more painless."
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Longest wait is for eye surgery
August 21, 2008 -- AUSTRALIANS wait longer for eye surgery than for any other specialist operation, and residents in NSW, the ACT and Northern Territory are forced to wait the longest. A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has confirmed waiting lists are growing nationwide for people needing cataracts operations and other eye surgery. There were nearly 63,000 eye operations for Australians on waiting lists in 2006, the report showed.
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Diet can help deter growth of cataracts
August 20, 2008 -- August is Cataract Awareness Month. Cataracts are a common cause of blindness, and may result from exposure to sunlight. If you have vision problems, deteriorating eyesight or you have been diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration, there are vitamins that can help. Zeaxanthin and lutein are found in green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, broccoli, zucchini and peas, as well as in yellow or orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, papaya, peaches and squash.
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Cataracts are preventable, treatable
August 20, 2008 -- Cataracts are among a growing set of health problems that we will see more of because of the aging population. Knowledge is the best weapon to prevent them. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. There are a variety of types of cataracts. Secondary cataracts can form after other eye problems such as glaucoma or as a complication of diabetes, smoking or steroid use. Traumatic cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later. Congenital cataracts are found in babies or sometimes develop in childhood. Cataracts also can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.
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Take 5 on great eyesight
July 12, 2008 -- Everyone wants to have perfect vision, but those born with it experience some loss of vision as they age. While there is no escaping some degeneration over time, a few simple steps can help you optimise your natural vision and ensure that the potentially blinding diseases such as cataract (gradual clouding of the lens of the eye) and glaucoma (elevation of pressure inside the eye) are identified and treated in time. Here’s what you can do to protect your eyes...
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Study finds risk of cataracts from ICL implantation is low
July 10, 2008 -- At the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Kjell Gundersen, MD, PhD, reported the findings of a 5-year study of the risk of cataract after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation surgery. ICL (also called implantable contact lens) implantation is a lens-based refractive surgery usually reserved for the correction of relatively high amounts of myopia or hyperopia. Dr. Gundersen noted that previous studies have found a high incidence of cataracts after ICL surgery, but that these studies did not differentiate between minor lens opacities that did not affect vision and clinically significant cataracts that did.
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UV rays do harm eyes
June 26, 2008 -- Most people know the harmful effects that ultraviolet rays can have on the skin. But many are not aware of the damage that they can cause to the eyes. Possibly the most frightening aspect of UV damage is that it is cumulative, meaning the negative effects may not present themselves until years later. A recent survey, sponsored by Transitions Optical, Inc., revealed that although 82 percent of respondents knew that extended exposure to the sun could cause skin cancer, only 9 percent knew it could damage vision. Additionally, only one in six respondents said they wear sunglasses when they prepare for extended exposure to the sun and only approximately one third said they wear a hat.
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Doctors of Optometry Urge Contact Lens Wearers to Be Vigilant with Lens Hygiene and Compliance in Flood Areas
June 19, 2008 -- As flooding continues to expand across much of the Midwest, the American Optometric Association (AOA) reminds contact lens wearers to closely follow hygiene and compliance instructions issued by their eye doctor. Higher temperatures combined with standing water can mean an increase in the number of cases of eye infections. In particular, the Acanthamoeba parasite and other micro-organisms can contaminate the lens case and infect the cornea. Water contaminated with Acanthamoeba can come from lakes, rivers, and swimming pools. Acanthamoeba infections are rare, but can be dangerous and threaten a person’s vision if not properly detected and treated.
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How to Spot a Cataract Yourself
June 10, 2008 -- When it's hot out the scorching heat can cause eyes problems. Cataracts are one troublesome occurrence that the sun can do to damage and block valuable eyesight. What is a cataract? A cataract is a cloudy buildup over the crystalline lens of the eye.
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An Eye Opening Reality: UV Protection for Eyes Especially Important During Summer Months
ST. LOUIS, May 5, 2008 -- Young people particularly susceptible to harmful UV rays that may affect vision. Ultraviolet (UV) protection is a concern for many Americans, particularly in the spring and summer months, but most people are thinking about their skin, not their eyes. The American Optometric Association (AOA) warns that prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays and short wavelength light (violet and blue light) without proper protection may cause eye conditions that can lead to a variety of vision disorders.
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Women With Cataract Cannot Be Helped by Vitamin E
May 3, 2008 -- A new study has found that women suffering from cataract are not helped by Vitamin E supplements. The new analysis of the Women's Health Study (WHS) has revealed that women, who took Vitamin E supplements, had rates of cataract development comparable to women who did not take such supplements. The team led by Dr. William G. Christen used data from the landmark WHS, including 39,876 professional women aged 45 or older.
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No More Reading Glasses?
April 21, 2008 -- Maybe. New kinds of artificial lenses are offering many seniors an option for improving their vision as part of cataract surgery. Cataracts are a fact of life and a natural part of aging that results in clouding vision. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to vision loss that can impair lifestyle. People with cataracts have more car accidents, are more likely to suffer injuries from falls and tend to withdraw from social activities and other interests. Thus cataract surgery, which restores vision, is one of the most common surgical procedures for older Americans. It’s also one of the most important procedures in terms of maintaining a good quality of life, because it helps you remain active and involved.
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Indo-American discovers clue to cataract
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2008 -- An Indian-American scientist has identified how a specific kind of protein is likely to be behind the formation of cataract. K. Krishna Sharma of Missouri University has found that as this protein becomes inactive, small peptides, made of 10 to 15 amino acids, start forming and accelerate cataract formation. Proteins make up about 50 per cent of the eye lens and 90 per cent of these proteins are crystallins. They maintain the clarity of the lens through an activity known as "chaperoning".
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Climate change increases cataract blindness risk
SYDNEY, April 7, 2008 -- Climate change will increase the risk of people losing their sight through cataracts because of higher levels of ultraviolet rays, an expert said on Monday. "The three main risk factors that lead to cataract blindness are age, smoking and UV exposure, in that order," said Andreas Mueller of the Fred Hollows Foundation. "Climate change will increase UV levels and therefore increase the risk of developing cataracts," the doctor said in a statement to mark World Health Day, which this year has the theme "Protecting health from climate change".
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NI scientists in cataract advance
UK, April 3, 2008 -- The world's leading cause of blindness could soon be reversed, according to Northern Ireland scientists who have developed a new type of nanotechnology. Researchers at the University of Ulster have said the technique will allow scientists to put nano-particles within the eye without breaking the lens. The research was done in conjunction with a team from the University of Texas. About 40% of people over the age of 75 develop a cataract in one or both eyes. In developing countries there are more than 20M people who are blind from cataracts. Until now, there has never been an alternative to surgical removal of cataracts.
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Diet may play role in cataracts
March 3, 2008 -- Muriel Saunders didn’t know a problem was developing in her eyes until she went in for a checkup with her doctor. “I really didn’t realize I was developing cataracts,” Saunders, 73, said. “I have always worn glasses, even when I was a kid. I was diagnosed when I went to Dr. (Michael L.) Soper and was given a test in his office.” Saunders, who teaches at Connors State College, said this occurred one year ago. She was not afraid of having surgery to correct the condition. “I knew people who had the surgery, so I knew it was not a problem,” she said. “He implanted a lens in my left eye, and the vision there is better now that it was years ago.” According to a report in the January issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, women who have higher dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin — compounds found in yellow or dark, leafy vegetables — as well as more vitamin E from food and supplements appear to have a lower risk for developing cataracts.
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'Fullstop-size cure' for cataract
February 20, 2008 -- New technology has significantly reduced the length of the incision needed to remove eye cataracts.
Using the Stellaris machine surgeons need only to make two 1.8mm cuts on either side of the eye. Usually a cut of up to 2.7mm is needed. Experts say a smaller cut means patients have fewer problems focusing afterwards and need less after-care. The device has been trialled in a number of hospitals and is now being sold to NHS trusts for £70,000. Stellaris guides the surgeon as they make required incisions.
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New cataract gene discovered
February 15, 2008 -- Researchers at ETH Zurich and the University Zurich have identified the chromosomal location and exact molecular defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for a childhood cataract. Until now, no human disease could be associated with this gene. The researchers' results will be published in the 'American Journal of Human Genetics'. The international team of researchers was able to identify the location and defect in the coding region of the gene through analysis of genetic material (DNA) from members of a large Swiss family, the majority of whom suffered from autosomal dominant juvenile cataract.
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Vital Signs: Antioxidants may reduce cataract risk in women
February 13, 2008 -- The antioxidants vitamin E and lutein, from both food and supplements, may reduce women's risk for cataracts, researchers report. A study in the January issue of The Archives of Ophthalmology enrolled more than 35,000 women who were followed for an average of 10 years. After statistically adjusting for smoking, alcohol use, body mass index and other variables, the researchers found that the more vitamin E and lutein the women used, the less likely they were to have cataracts. Compared with the one-fifth of women who consumed the least antioxidants, the one-fifth who consumed the most reduced their risk for cataracts by 14 percent with vitamin E and 18 percent with lutein.
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Path-breaking Eye Surgery in Southern India
January 23, 2008 -- A southern Indian eye hospital has performed intraocular lens (IOL) transplant on a four-year-old girl using tissue glue, dispensing with the more traditional sutures. This is claimed as the first of its kind in the world. Fibrin glue, used to secure oozing of blood in delicate surgeries, is a substance made from blood plasma. 'It is normally used in urological and plastic surgeries. Though it is also used in ophthalmic surgeries, it is the first time we adopted the technology in intraocular surgeries,' said Dr Amar Agarwal, who performed the Glue Assisted Sutureless IOL implantation.
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