Eyes

Macular Degeneration? It’s Curable

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S. Story Source There is a silent epidemic of blindness which is gradually sweeping over aging Americans. This common blindness is being caused by macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is now the #1 most common cause of blindness in adults. In fact, one in ten folks over age 60 has already […]

Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated With Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

RESEARCH · September 09, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This prospective cohort study sought to establish a connection between metabolic syndrome and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Over a 10-year period, 2218 individuals >49 years of age with metabolic syndrome were followed for the development of early and late AMD. Early AMD developed in 12% and late AMD […]

Diet and Exercise, From an Ophthalmic Perspective

August 28, 2014 Written by Paul B. Freeman OD, FAAO, FCOVD Much research has been done to address the risk factors associated with specific ophthalmic diseases such as macular degeneration. While there are non-modifiable risk factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and genetic factors, significant modifiable risk factors have also been identified. These include diet […]

Incidence and risk factors for perioperative visual loss after spinal fusion

Sreeharsha V. Nandyala, BA The Spine Journal Volume 14, Issue 9, 1 September 2014, Pages 1866–1872 Abstract Background context Perioperative visual loss (POVL) is a rare but devastating complication that may follow spinal surgeries. The incidence of POVL after spinal fusion is not well characterized during the past decade. Purpose A population-based database was analyzed […]

Adherence to Dietary Guidelines and Incidence of Visual Impairment

ParcticeUpdate.com RESEARCH · August 01, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Using data from the Blue Mountain Eye Study, the authors found that participants who had an initial higher Total Diet Score (reflecting a healthier dietary intake) had a 29% lower incidence of visual impairment at the 10-year follow-up examination, suggesting a benefit of healthy eating in lowering […]

Omega-3 Supplementation Combined With Anti-VEGF Lowers Vitreal Levels of VEGF

PracticeUpdate.com RESEARCH · August 01, 2014 Story Source TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this pilot study, the authors demonstrated that oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly decreased VEGF-A levels in the vitreous of patients with wet AMD who underwent anti-VEGF treatment compared with those who did not have the oral supplement. It remains to be determined […]

Risks Associated With Injection of Facial Fillers

PRACTICEUPDATE.com Niroshan Sivathasan BSc (Hons), MB, BS (Lond), DRCOG, GradDipAesthMed (UK), MRCS (Eng) Ashish C Bhatia MD, FAAD The use of fillers continues to increase around the world, with more applications and use by a wider cohort of practitioners with different experience levels and skill sets. With this increase, it is not surprising that the […]

Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Test for Confirming Dry Eye Disease

June 24, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This prospective, sequential, masked clinical trial enrolled 237 patients to compare the InflammaDry test with clinical assessment (tear break-up time [TBUT], Schirmer tear testing, and corneal staining) for the confirmation of dry eye. InflammaDry had a total positive agreement of 81% (127/157) and negative agreement of 98% (78/80). The authors […]

Computer Use Linked to Dry Eye, Change in Tears

Medscape Medical News Veronica Hackethal, MD June 11, 2014 Using a computer for long hours is linked to dry eye disease and decreased concentrations of Mucin5AC (MUC5AC) in tears, according to a study conducted among Japanese office workers and published online June 5 in JAMA Ophthalmology. This is the first study to link MUC5AC, which belongs to a […]

How to Reverse Cataracts

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S. Story Source There is a growing population of aging patients suffering from cataracts and many are unaware of a simple solution that may reverse this eye disease. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are […]

Western Diet Linked to Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

April 30, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This study analyzed data from the AREDS, specifically evaluating a correlation between diet and the level of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The authors found two predominant patterns of food consumption that they termed “oriental pattern” and “western pattern.” The oriental pattern was associated with lower odds of both early and […]

Irritable Eye Syndrome: Neuroimmune Mechanisms and Benefits of Selected Nutrients

Janos Feher, MD, PhD The Ocular Surface Volume 12, Issue 2 , Pages 134-145, April 2014 Abstract Previous studies showed comorbidity of some ocular, enteral, and affective symptoms comprising irritable eye syndrome. Aims of the present study were to learn more about the pathogenic mechanisms of this syndrome and to evaluate benefits of food supplements […]

Clinical features and long-term prognosis of trochlear headaches

European Journal of Neurology Volume 21, Issue 4, pages 577–585, April 2014 J. H. Smith Background and purpose Trochlear headaches are a recently recognized cause of headache, of which both primary and inflammatory subtypes are recognized. The clinical features, long-term prognosis and optimal treatment strategy have not been well defined. Methods A cohort of 25 […]

Mediterranean Diet Provides No Benefit for Dry Eye Syndrome

PracticeUpdate Research · May 01, 2014 Full Story Journal Reference TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The authors studied the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) and vitamin D levels on dry eye syndrome (DES). In a large cohort of men, following the MeDi was associated with an increased risk of DES and increased severity of the disease. Conversely, […]

Overweight and Obesity Linked to Age-Related Cataract

Research · April 03, 2014 Full Story Journal Reference   TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This meta-analysis of six longitudinal cohort studies revealed that overweight (defined as BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) was significantly associated with the development of posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataracts, while obesity (defined as BMI > 30 kg/m2) was significantly associated with nuclear, cortical, […]

Early Intervention and Treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

March 31, 2014 Journal of internal medicine TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this review article, the authors describe some of the systemic vascular and inflammatory pathways and genetic factors that may underlie the pathology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as well as some of the potential systemic side effects of ocular AMD therapy that clinicians should consider. […]

Smoking Cessation Lowers Risk of Cataract Surgery

JAMA Ophthalmol 2014 Jan 02;[EPub Ahead of Print], BE Lindblad, N Håkansson, A Wolk February 04, 2014 Full Story TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This large, prospective, population-based study from Sweden showed an association between cigarette smoking and cataract extraction (a 42% increased risk), with a significant dose–response relationship. Smoking cessation decreased risk for cataract extraction; heavy smokers also […]

Dietary Supplements With Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Antioxidants for Dry Eye

Clin Ophthalmol 2014 Jan 07;2014(8)169-176, A Olenik Research · January 22, 2014 Full Story Journal Reference http://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=15424 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This follow-up study to earlier clinical trials evaluated the reports of a large cohort of dry-eye patients regarding improvement in symptoms after adding an oral formulation of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants to the use of […]

Beta-Carotene: Any Benefit for Retinitis Pigmentosa?

Brianne N. Hobbs, OD January 06, 2014 Treatment With 9-cis Beta-Carotene-Rich Powder in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Randomized Crossover Trial Rotenstreich Y, Belkin M, Sadetzki S, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013;131:985-992. Study Summary Retinitis pigmentosa is a devastating diagnosis. This condition can leave optometrists and ophthalmologists scrambling as they attempt to explain possible treatment […]

Stop Smoking, Cut Cataract Risk

01.05.2014 by Crystal Phend Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today The cataract risk associated with smoking slowly fell after ceasing tobacco use, although not to the level of a never-smoker, a Swedish population-based study showed. Smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day was associated with 42% higher likelihood of a cataract surgery during 12 years of […]