Archive for the ‘Cataracts’ Category
Mother Alert - Sun damage not only to skin, but eyes, experts warn.
09.01.2010
While the majority of people are aware of skin damage that can result from unprotected exposure to the sun, very few know about the harmful effects that ultraviolet light can have on the eye. Yet experts agree it is critical to protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation using hats and sunglasses.
In the short term, UV light can lead to inflammation of the cornea and/or the conjunctiva. While this inflammation usually subsides, long-term UV exposure can lead to cumulative eye damage that is reflected in a number of conditions.
For example, abnormal growth of the conjunctiva, known as pterygium, may develop causing partial blockage of vision by obstructing the cornea. It is also believed that cataract formation is correlated with UV exposure. More severe eye diseases may develop as well, such as cancer and retina damage in the form of macular degeneration. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to wear sunglasses that effectively protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays.
Consumers are advised to purchase glasses that absorb 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation. Moreover, ultraviolet radiation is not limited to direct sunlight, as reflections from metal, snow, or other surfaces can also inflict eye damage. Sunglasses should be worn at all times in the presence of bright light. *
Brian Krawitz
Staff Writer
Which drugs should you avoid so that you don’t get cataracts?
06.19.2010Cataracts are the leading cause of impaired vision. Cataracts occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. A recent study found that one type of cataract, the cortical cataract, may be more likely to form when a patient has taken certain types of commonly used drugs. These types of drugs are all linked to sun-sensitivity.
Cortical cataracts form in the lens cortex and gradually spread their spokes from the outside of the lens to the center of the lens. This type of cataract is often found in diabetics.
The study, published in the Archives of Ophthhalmology, reveals that “sun-sensitizing” medications such as naproxen, ciprofloxacin, glyburide, amitriptyline and hydrochlorothiazide increased the risk by about 26 percent of a person developing a cortical cataract.
Researchers caution that much more research needs to be conducted to precisely measure drug dosage and duration and sun exposures before any trustworthy conclusions can be established.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Antidepressants Cause Cataracts, Study Finds
06.11.2010Seniors who take selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may be more likely to develop cataracts. Published in this month’s Ophthalmology, the study noted the risk appears to increase by about 15% (about 22,000 cataract cases attributable to antidepressant use in the U.S.), the journal said.
The study, led by Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Canada, assessed data for nearly 19,000 people age 65 or older, all of who also had cardiovascular disease. Their records were compared to about 190,000 controls. The effect was strongest for three SSRIs: Luvox (fluvoxamine, Solvay Pharmaceuticals/Abbott, Abbott Park, Il) increased risk by 39%, Effexor (venlafaxine, Pfizer, New York) by 33%, and Paxil (paroxetine, GlaxoSmithKline, Middlesex, U.K.) by 23%. The apparent increased risk was associated only with current, not past, drug use.
Some antidepressants did not appear to be associated with cataract risk, but this could have been because the number of study participants using these drug types was too small to show effects or because only specific agents in certain medications are related to cataract formation. These questions need further study, the journal noted.
The eye’s lens has serotonin receptors, and animal studies have shown that excess serotonin can make the lens opaque and lead to cataract formation, Dr. Etminan said. Earlier research linked beta blocker medications and oral and inhaled steroids to higher cataract risk, and a recent Swedish study suggests that women’s hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also raise risk, the journal added.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Infants With Cataracts Prove Be Challenging Problem
06.10.2010Intraocular lenses are often used to treat infants who have congenital cataracts. A recent study in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery indicates that the intraocular lenses may not be superior to treatment with contact lenses. In fact, infants who received the intraocular lenses experienced more complications but achieved the same visual acuity as their contact lens counterparts.
Contacts lenses are the standard method of treatment in many cases but they can be challenging to use in infants due to problems inserting them by parents, and problems fitting the steep corneas of infants.
The study showed that 28% of babies who received the intraocular lens compared to 11% of babies who had received contact lenses experienced complications. After one year, babies in each study group had the same visual acuity results. However, it is not known what the long-term benefits of intraocular lenses might be and this warrants further evaluation.
Researchers emphasize the need for practitioners to carefully evaluate each method of treatment before deciding on the best course of action.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Caffeine may be the “fix” in cataract prevention
06.01.2010For those who need their caffeine fix, there’s now another reason to indulge in your favorite caffeinated beverage. A new study shows that caffeine may actually protect the lens of the eye against damage which can lead to the formation of cataracts.
The University of Maryland researchers hypothesize that caffeine acts as an inhibitor for the intraocular generation of reactive oxygen species in the lens and the resulting damage to the eye tissue.
Incubated mice lenses and rats who had caffeine incorporated into their diet were studied by the researchers. The research indicates that caffeine was effective in protecting the lens against damage. Researchers found the results extremely interesting since caffeine is found in so many widely consumed beverages.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
