Archive for March, 2010
Who gets more eye disease - Women or Men?
03.29.2010While men and women have many health differences, one difference that is probably not widely known is that women are more susceptible to eye disease and other eye conditions than men. Eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are diagnosed in more women than men every year.
Women who are pregnant or post-menopausal are more likely to develop dry eye syndrome due to hormonal changes. In addition, women who are receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may be at a higher risk of developing cataracts. Pregnant women who note changes in their vision such as blurred vision or seeing spots should contact their health care provider immediately because these can be signs of more serious conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or retinal detachment.
The organization Prevent Blindness America has deemed April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Women are encouraged to make their vision health a priority and to get a complete eye exam.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
How can you reduce your risk of developing glaucoma?
03.25.2010People who are at the highest risk of developing glaucoma may benefit from early treatment of ocular hypertension. Ocular hypertension is high pressure within the eye and is a leading risk factor for the development of the most common form of glaucoma. Ocular hypertension is the only risk factor that is adjustable. 
Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and their contemporaries in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Group looked at the safety and effectiveness of earlier vs. later treatment in preventing glaucoma in people who had high intraocular pressure. It was determined that lowering intraocular pressure could delay or prevent the beginning of glaucoma although the best time to start treatment has not been determined.
Individuals who are at a lower risk for developing glaucoma may not really benefit from the early treatment of intraocular pressure and can actually be monitored over less frequent intervals than their high risk counterparts. It was determined that physicians need to consider the patient’s age and overall health when determining if early treatment is the best course of action.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Arnall Patz, the Doctor who discovered the cause of Stevie Wonder’s blindness, is dead
03.23.2010Renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Arnall Patz, has passed away at the age of 89. Dr. Patz’s groundbreaking research led to the discovery that high doses of oxygen administered to premature infants could cause a form of blindness now known as retinopathy of prematurity (R.O.P.).
R.O.P. is what caused legendary singer Stevie Wonder’s blindness. Dr. Patz had to overcome the hostility of many in the medical field to prove that the high doses of oxygen were harming instead of helping the premature infants. The high dose of oxygen leads to overgrowth of blood vessels in the eye which damages the retina permanently.
Dr. Patz is also credited with helping to develop one of the first argon lasers which is now a standard treatment for macular degeneration and other eye disorders. President George W. Bush awarded Dr. Patz the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 for his outstanding contributions in ophthalmology.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
New drug to treat dry Macular Degeneration on FDA’s Fast Track
03.18.2010The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Acucela and Otsuka the Fast Track designation for their new oral medication intended to treat dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Fast Track program is made to speed up the process in developing and approving new drugs that are being created to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and show promise in meeting currently unmet medical needs. Currently, there are no approved therapies to treat dry AMD and about 90 percent of AMD patients suffer from the dry form of the disease.
The two companies involved in the clinical studies are Acucela, Inc which is a clinical-stage biotechnology company and Otsuka which is a pharmaceutical company. The new drug, ACU-4429, works by slowing the eye’s visual cycle for processing light. This decreases the levels of toxic by-products in the eye resulting in potentially halting the advancement of dry AMD. The drug is now beginning Phase 2 clinical trials. *
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Anti-depressant use increases risk of cataracts
03.16.2010Researchers have found a relationship between anti-depressant use and an increased risk of developing cataracts. A recent study found a statistical relationship between a diagnosis of cataracts or cataract surgery and the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Patients taking SSRIs were 15 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cataracts or have cataract surgery.
The study does not prove a cause and effect relationship but instead reveals a link between the use of SSRIs and the development of cataracts. The study did not take into consideration additional risk factors such as smoking. Researchers did emphasize that additional population-based studies are needed to corroborate the findings.
Cataracts are treatable with surgery. The benefits of treating depression, which can be life-threatening, justify their use, even with the increased risk of developing cataracts when taking the SSRIs. If you are currently taking SSRIs, you should discuss any concerns you have regarding your medication with your healthcare professional.
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
