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Archive for the ‘Glaucoma’ Category

Early Detection Needed for Glaucoma

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

By the time you find out you have glaucoma, often called “the silent thief of sight,” saving your vision may be too late. This is because many people do not realize they have it, according to a University of Southwestern medical Center ophthalmologist. Due to this, he recommends increasing the need for early detection.

Glaucoma risks increase in people 40-years-old or older, those who have a family history of glaucoma, or are of Hispanic or African-American decent. Testing through eye dilation every two years is recommended. However, every person should see an ophthalmologist yearly, especially those who may have significant risk factors for glaucoma.

Symptoms of glaucoma include:

Red eyes
Eye pain
Halos
Nausea
Headaches
Vomiting

Symptoms also include vision loss, but it can be so gradual that victims often do not realize the severity until most of their vision is gone. This loss is irreversible and the onset can be very fast.

If you have risk factors, such as age, family history, or genetics, you should see an ophthalmologist to be tested for glaucoma. If you have any of the symptoms of glaucoma, and have ruled out other health issues, contact an experienced ophthalmologist immediately. Once glaucoma steals your vision, you cannot get it back.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with an experienced ophthalmologist to be tested for glaucoma, please find one in your area today through eyes.com.

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Take-Home Glaucoma Test Could Lead to Earlier, More Accurate Diagnosis

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

A new, at-home glaucoma test could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of this group of vision conditions that are collectively among the leading causes of blindness.

Glaucoma diagnosis currently requires a trip to your ophthalmologist for a series of tests designed to measure your intraocular pressure, check for optic nerve damage and map your peripheral vision. But a hand-held device developed at the University of Arizona College of Engineering can be used comfortably at home to test for glaucoma symptoms over an extended period.

The device softly rubs your eyelid to detect intraocular pressure; elevated intraocular pressure is one of the primary causes of optic nerve damage in glaucoma patients. Because eye pressure varies over the course of a day, the device’s ability to take multiple tests may catch instances of glaucoma that would otherwise be missed.

The roughly electric toothbrush-size instrument was designed by Eniko Enikov, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona, in collaboration with Phoenix-based ophthalmologist Dr. Gholan Peyman. Their initial work was funded by the National Science Foundation, and they are presently seeking investors to assist with the product’s final development and eventual commercial availability.

“The innovation with our device is that it’s noninvasive, simpler to use and applies to a variety of situations that are either difficult to address or impossible to test using the current procedures,” Enikov said in a Jan. 3, 2011, article on the University of Arizona College of Engineering website.

If you have questions about glaucoma or glaucoma treatment options, please contact eyes.com to locate an ophthalmologist near you.

Tags: Glaucoma
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Vision Organizations Challenge Federal Glaucoma Report

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) are challenging a federal review stating there is neither a clear link between glaucoma treatment and visual impairment, nor is there sufficient evidence supporting that open-angle glaucoma screenings can affect the condition’s eventual progression.

The review was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and its findings potentially impact Medicare and private insurance coverage for existing glaucoma treatments designed to limit the symptoms of glaucoma and slow its development. “We did not find direct or indirect links between glaucoma screening and visual field loss, visual impairment, optic nerve damage, intraocular pressure and patient-reported outcomes,” the report reads. “… there is limited evidence that screening for (open-angle glaucoma) can reduce intermediate or final health outcomes including visual impairment and optic nerve function.”

Open-angle glaucoma is thought to affect at least 2 million Americans. While there is no cure, there are glaucoma treatment options including eye drops and surgery that have proven effective for many patients.

The AAO and AGS have asked for evidence to be re-examined, citing what the organizations believe are errors in the manner in which data was reviewed and evaluated.

“The AHRQ reviews and recommendations for screening and treatment of glaucoma fail to properly weigh the overall effectiveness of proven methods of patient care, and therefore could have significant negative social impact on the medical community’s ability to control the disease,” said a press release from the AAO.

If you have questions about glaucoma and your glaucoma treatment options, please contact eyes.com to locate an experienced eye doctor near you.

Tags: Glaucoma
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Study Links Myopia with Higher Glaucoma Risk

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

In a recent study, researchers concluded that people with myopia may have twice the likelihood of developing glaucoma, the world’s leading cause of blindness.

Myopia is the condition of being nearsighted, that is, being able to see close objects clearly but having trouble seeing far objects. Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea too curved, making your eye unable to correctly focus light at certain distances. Nearly 1/3 of all U.S. residents are nearsighted.

In the study, researchers in the Netherlands analyzed a collection of studies previously published in Ophthalmology. They kept track of who had myopia and who had glaucoma out of the tens of thousands of people included in the studies, and they found that nearsighted people were around 90% more likely to develop acute angle glaucoma. They also found that those with higher myopia had a higher risk of glaucoma. Though ophthalmologists recommend regular eye exams after age 40, researchers recommended that nearsighted people, no matter what age, should have annual eye exams.

While this study draws alarming conclusions for nearsighted people, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force says it provides too little evidence to change the recommendation for eye exams.

One problem with the study is that it shows only that there may be a relationship between myopia and glaucoma, not that myopia causes glaucoma. The researchers make no claims to understand how a misshapen eyeball could cause damage to the optic nerve which results in blindness. The study also collected data from studies analyzing people of different ages and ethnicities, and it is hard to make generalizations about relationships between conditions over such a broad spectrum of people.

Though this study is not conclusive, it is worthwhile for myopic patients to be aware that they may have a higher risk of glaucoma. If you have myopia and wish to learn more about glaucoma risks and prevention, please contact an experienced ophthalmologist in your area today.

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Researchers See Additional Benefits of Vitamin C

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

The benefits of vitamin C are not just limited to your immune system and the orange juice industry. According to the results of a recently published study, vitamin C is vital for your eyes—and maybe even your brain—to function properly.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University discovered that the retinal cells need relatively high doses of vitamin C. Scientists believe that the antioxidant properties of vitamin C helps preserve the receptors and cells in the retina from premature breakdown.

“Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there’s likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains to a degree we had not realized before,” said Henrique von Gersdorff, Ph.D, a senior scientist at the OHSU Vollum Institute and coauthor of the study, which appeared in the June 29 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

The brain has receptors known as GABA receptors, which are involved in transmissions between brain cells and act as inhibitors to neurons to which they bind. The OHSU research team found that these receptors stopped working properly when vitamin C was removed.

Although the overall function of vitamin C in the brain is not well understood, vitamin C tends to remain in the brain longer than other areas of the body. Researchers believe their findings could impact diseases such as epilepsy and glaucoma, which are the result of nerve cell dysfunction in the retina and brain that occur in part because of improperly working GABA receptors.

“For example, maybe a vitamin C-rich diet could be neuroprotective for the retina—for people who are especially prone to glaucoma,” von Gersdorff said in the Journal of Neuroscience. “This is speculative and there is much to learn. But this research provides some important insights and will lead to the generation of new hypotheses and potential treatment strategies.”

If you would like to learn more about glaucoma treatment options, please contact an eye doctor in your area.

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New Research Points to Genetics as the Cause of Glaucoma

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Glaucoma is a disease that affects more than 16 million people world-wide, causing irreparable blindness in a fourth of those with this condition. The term “glaucoma” encompasses many variations of this condition that involves loss of peripheral, or wide-angle, vision. Doctors know that pressure in the eye causes damage to the optic nerve which in turn causes vision impairment.

However, new research has found that genetic mutation is the underlying cause of glaucoma. A Swedish, Tunisian, and American collaborative study found, in summary, that a gene mutation decreasing the size of people’s eyes leads to increased intraocular pressure and therefore glaucoma.

The researchers first identified this mutation in mice. These mice had smaller eyes than regular mice but the same size lenses. When their pupils dilated, their irises crowded into the corners of their eyes, increasing their intraocular pressure dramatically.

Researchers then studied several Tunisian families who suffered from glaucoma and found the same gene mutation.

Previously, doctors have had no good way to test people for glaucoma, and many times they can’t detect it until patients begin losing vision. This study and others like it provide a more efficient and direct way to screen people for glaucoma. Instead of guessing who will get glaucoma and who won’t, doctors can identify people who carry this “glaucoma gene” which may place them at a higher risk of getting the disease. Hopefully the results of this and other studies can help stop the progression of glaucoma and prevent blindness.

If you suffer from glaucoma of have more questions, please contact an ophthalmologist in your area to schedule an appointment today.

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How Does Age Affect Glaucoma?

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness among Americans. Studies have consistently shown that the older a patient is, the more likely they are to suffer from this debilitating eye disease. However, no good answer has been given as to why it continues to increase in the elderly population.

While there is an exponential increase in glaucoma among older patients, there is no correlating increase of the internal eye pressure that doctors believe is the primary cause of glaucoma. This has led many doctors to re-evaluate what factors might be directly causing glaucoma in the elderly.

Two theories currently dominate:

The outflow of the eye is steadily decreasing as patients age
The optic nerve is becoming more susceptible to pressure fluctuations as patients age

Whatever the case, the onset of glaucoma among the elderly should not be taken lightly. Early detection of glaucoma is the best possible way to prevent vision loss. You should ideally be tested for glaucoma every year once you reach the age of 40.

If it has been too long since you had a proper glaucoma screening, don’t hesitate to contact a local ophthalmologist today and schedule an eye exam. Protecting your vision now will enable you to enjoy it for years to come.

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Developmental Error Leads to Juvenile Cataracts

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

According to research published in the March 25 issue of Science, researchers have shown that RNA granules, which help control the function of messenger RNA (mRNA) can contribute to the development of juvenile cataracts and may also have a causal impact on glaucoma as well.

The discovery was made independently by two teams of researchers working in different fields. One team identified a malfunctioning gene in mice that did not build an essential protein, leading to defects in the eye’s crystalline lens. Mice that did not have the protein developed cataracts, elevated intraocular pressure, and optic nerve damage.

Then the team learned that a second team had also identified the same genetic defect in children suffering from pediatric cataracts. All of the children with this gene also developed glaucoma after cataract lens extraction.

The gene in question performs two relevant roles. First, it is expressed in lens fiber cells and performs important regulation duties in ensuring the normal development of the eye’s clear lens. Second, the gene helps produce stress granules in response to oxidative stress. Normally, these stress granules help protect the cell, but without them, the cells become vulnerable to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damage has been linked with damage to the drainage structures in the eye, which can contribute to glaucoma.

Although researchers note that additional research is required to link the genetic defect with glaucoma, they hope their work will provide an important start for understanding juvenile cataracts and may ultimately help protect children from the condition before surgery is required to remove the clouded lens, which puts them at additional risk for glaucoma.

To learn more about cataracts and glaucoma, please talk to a local ophthalmologist today.

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At-Home Glaucoma Tests: Do They Work?

Friday, March 11th, 2011

You may have heard about at-home glaucoma tests, but, are they FDA-approved, do they actually work, and what can they actually tell you?

FDA approval generally means that a medical treatment has been rigorously evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. To get approval, a treatment or device must present a number of clinical studies to support the assertion that the device in question is both safe to use and an effective treatment. The online glaucoma test offered by Peristat Group is not FDA approved, it is only FDA-cleared. FDA clearance generally constitutes a much less rigorous evaluation of the device, most often to assess whether the device is “substantially equivalent” to a device already in use. For the at-home glaucoma test, the pre-existing technology is a similar test used in doctor’s offices.

Does it work? According to the Peristat Group, the test is 90% accurate when compared to the doctor’s office version. This success rate is not bad when you consider the significant cost savings. The at-home test requires just your computer and internet access, and costs only $29.95 per evaluation (with a possible discount if you purchase a package), much less than the cost of going to the doctor’s office, unless you have some pretty swanky insurance coverage.

But another important question is: what can an online glaucoma test actually tell you? The online test works attempting to measure your visual acuity at all points in your visual field. The test asks you to focus on a white dot at the center of the screen, then presents you with a set of stimuli dots in measured locations at certain contrast settings designed to test the status of your optic nerve. The test results are then reviewed by perimetry specialists and emailed to you. Depending on the results, you may be referred to a follow-up with your ophthalmologist.

The good news about this at-home test is that it can actually identify when you’re experiencing damage to your optic nerve. Glaucoma slowly erodes your vision from the periphery, and many people do not become aware of the vision loss until it is highly advanced. This test can identify vision loss early so you can get treatment.

What this glaucoma test cannot do, though, is detect conditions that may lead to glaucoma before vision loss occurs. This includes elevated intraocular pressure, a narrow angle, or pigmentary dispersion syndrome. Detecting all these conditions requires regular visits to an ophthalmologist who can examine your eyes in person.

Find a local ophthalmologist who can screen you for glaucoma risk.

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This Week is World Glaucoma Week!

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

This week, March 6-12, has been designated World Glaucoma Week. Eye doctors, glaucoma patient support groups, and other eye care groups are raising awareness this week about glaucoma.

This year’s World Glaucoma Week was accompanied by recognition by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York state lawmakers, Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and other New York officials.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that is characterized by excess intraocular pressure, which damages the optic nerve. There are various types of glaucoma, including:

· Open Angle Glaucoma

· Closed Angle Glaucoma

· Secondary Glaucoma

· Pediatric (Congenital) Glaucoma

· Normal Tension Glaucoma

Open angle glaucoma is the most common variety, and usually goes unnoticed until vision loss begins, so regular glaucoma testing is crucial in diagnosing this form of glaucoma. Closed or acute angle glaucoma, however, can be recognized by various glaucoma signs and symptoms, including headaches, nausea, red eyes, and halos around lights.

Talk to your eye doctor to find out if you have one or more risk factors for glaucoma, or contact us to find a qualified eye doctor in your area.

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