Archive for the ‘Glaucoma’ Category
Quiz: How long does it take you to figure out which one’s the pool chemical and which one’s the glaucoma eyedrop?
08.27.2010
One bottle is for swimming pool chemistry and contains hydrochloric acid.
…The other one is a prescription eyedrop for glaucoma.
But say both of them are on the kitchen counter, and you’ve had a rotten, harried day. Further suppose that you don’t have your reading glasses on and you know it’s time to take your prescription glaucoma eyedrops so that your eye pressure stays under control and doesn’t cause any further damage to your optic nerve. (See http://www.visivite.com/glaucoma.html and http://www.eye-surgeons.net/glaucoma-news.html).
Now take a closer look…
They’re both similarly-shaped bottles. The FDA mandates that beta-blocker eyedrops such as levobunalol must have a yellow bottle cap. Funny…the pool testing bottle also has a yellow cap.
Think you could do the same?
My lovely female patient from this afternoon was embarrassed and flabbergasted that she made this mistake.
But any one of us could have done the same, don’t you agree?
Paul Krawitz, M.D, President
Vitamin Science, Inc.
Harvard finds heavier women protected against certain forms of glaucoma.
08.19.2010While maintaining a healthy body weight is instrumental in preventing the onset of many diseases, a higher body weight may actually protect women from a form of glaucoma. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the most prevalent forms of age-related eye diseases.
A recent study was conducted by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and evaluated 78,777 women and 41,352 men. The study found that women had a 6 percent reduction in their risk for normal tension glaucoma (NTG) for every unit increase in their Body Mass Index (BMI). NTG is a variant of primary open-angle glaucoma in which damage to the optic nerve in the back of the eye occurs with low or normal intraocular pressures.
Researchers speculate that hormonally-controlled factors released from lean tissues may alter the risk of NTG in women. Also, higher estrogen levels in postmenopausal women with a higher BMI might have a positive effect on the estrogen receptors in the optic nerve.
Further research will be needed to substantiate the study’s findings and to clarify the biological mechanisms associated with the study.
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
How can a contact lens help glaucoma treatment?
04.01.2010A vitamin E packed contact lens has the potential of preserving the vision of people being treated for glaucoma. While the contact lens can’t repair damage that has been done, it can prevent any further decline in vision.
Currently, glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops. These drops are 
sometimes required several times a day. Unfortunately, the medicine in the drops is washed out of the eye within minutes which results in reduced effectiveness. The new contact lenses would allow for a slow release of the medication and hold the medicines in place which would allow for the medicine to reach the targeted areas within the eye.
Vitamin E is the mighty component that allows for this slow release of the medication. Not only does the Vitamin E aid in delivering the medication to the eye, it also has the added benefit of protecting the eye from sun damage, since ultra-violet radiation is blocked by Vitamin E.
Research conducted thusfar on the lenses has been limited to animal studies but the results are promising. Researchers are hopeful that the contact lenses will prove to be a safe and effective therapy in humans as well.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
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
