Archive for the ‘Eye Health’ Category
New Study Proves Vision screenings unreliable in kids.
07.14.2010Linear charts are the current method used in vision screenings for adolescent children. This method of screening may be unreliable in diagnosing farsightedness and astigmatism in school-aged children.
Researchers published the results of their findings in the July 2010 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology . Over 2,000 children were assessed in the study. A comprehensive eye exam was given which included using a logMAR chart to measure uncorrected visual acuity. In addition, those in the study were given special drops to assess the lenses of their eyes and the curve of the corneas were measured as well.
The visual acuity score accurately identified children with nearsightedness but there was no reliable cutoff score for farsightedness or astigmatism. These findings meant that children who actually had significant farsightedness and astigmatism would not have been directed to seek treatment.
Authors of the study concluded that more accurate screening methods need to be developed that will reliably detect these visual problems in children and adolescents.*
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
Parents, do your children need sunglasses?
05.27.2010It’s summertime again and much attention is given to the necessity of protecting children’s skin from the damage of harmful UV rays. But parents should be mindful of guarding their children’s eyes from the sun’s rays as well.
May has been designated as UV awareness month and Prevent Blindness America is cautioning parents that children are especially susceptible to harmful ultraviolet A and B damage.
There are a couple of factors for this recommendation:
- Children typically spend more time outdoors
- The lenses of children’s eyes are more transparent than those of adults. This transparency risks retinal exposure to short wavelength light.
Children and adults alike should wear sunglasses that block out 99 - 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. Parents should make sure that the sunglasses fit their child’s face properly and that they block out the sun’s rays from every direction.
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
New Baby Boomer Eyeglasses that Focus Electronically and Automatically!
05.26.2010
Ben Franklin, the inventor of the bifocals and discoverer of electricity in lightning, never put the two together. But a new electronic eyeglass does just that.
This new eyeglass lens is getting ready to hit the market and will quickly become the new standard for adults who need eyeglasses to read. Unlike standard or “no line” bifocals, this new lens will automatically adjust from near vision to distance vision while reducing the distortion that is commonly associated with progressive lenses.
The lens technology pairs an electronic lens with an artificial-intelligence frame which contains an electronic module. The wearer will have three modes to select from: automatic, manual on and manual off.
Eye care professionals see these lenses as a great option for adults searching for a better choice in corrective lenses than the bifocals and progressive lenses which are currently available. Among those pleased with this new technology is Dr. Paul Krawitz, President and CEO of VisiVite.com. “The new electronic focusing lenses will be a great boon to any adult who needs help with reading vision, and could even be especially helpful for people with low vision,” states Dr. Krawitz.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Sleep Apnea Poses Threat to Eye Health
05.25.2010Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is more than just a poor night’s sleep. OSAS can affect a person’s overall health which even includes ocular health.
Patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for many eye abnormalities. Ophthalmologists are taking note of the apparent link between sleep apnea and various eye abnormalities. A few of these eye abnormalities are retinal microaneurysms, impaired retinal blood flow, hypertensive retinopathy and macular edema. A simple dilation of the retina can alert the ophthalmologist to whether a patient should be screened for OSAS.
In addition to the retinal dilation, comprehensive ophthalmologists are encouraged to screen their patients with an Epworth Sleepiness Scale to validate concerns of OSAS. This diagnostic tool allows patients to rate the possibility of dozing off during various activities on a scale of 0 to 3 with 3 being the highest possibility of dozing. A patient scoring 10 or above should be referred for a sleep study.
Ophthalmologists should always be on the lookout for OSAS as a possible contributor in chronic eye disease. Sleep apnea can have an extremely detrimental effect on diabetics. OSAS is linked with a more aggressive retinopathy. It can can aggravate diabetes and magnify the coinciding vascular effects.
It is common for ophthalmologists to see diabetics who have great hemoglobin A1C readings but progressively worsening diabetic retinopathy. This can be caused by the repeated apneic episodes in which the oxygen concentration can fall 30 points or more within a few seconds. This is comparative to being suddenly propelled upon Mt. Everest over 100 times per night.
Patients diagnosed with OSAS are often amazed at the difference in their overall health once they begin treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This effective treatment can bring diabetes and blood pressure under control and reverse some eye conditions.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
