Ophthalmology News
Myopic Eyes Less Likely to Have Diabetic Retinopathy
Eyes with myopia may be less likely to develop diabetic retinopathy (DR). The relationship between refractive error, ocular biometry, and DR therefore was investigated in the Journal of Ophthalmology that showed Myopic refraction and longer Axial Length are associated with a lower risk of DR, particularly vision-threatening retinopathy, without any evidence of a threshold.
Eye test that spots Alzheimer's 20 years before symptoms
It exploits the fact that the light-sensitive cells in the retina at the back of the eye are a direct extension of the brain. Using eye drops which highlight diseased cells, the UCL researchers showed for the first time in a living eye that the amount of damage to cells in the retina directly corresponds with brain cell death. They have also pinpointed the pattern of retinal cell death characteristic of Alzheimer's. So far their diagnosis has been right every time.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Is Associated with Lower Body Adiposity
The disease commonly occurs in women who are overweight. The role of obesity in this disorder is unclear. In some instances, obesity and idiopathic intracranial hypertension may be familial.To characterize the obesity phenotype(s) in 44 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).This study showed that In IIH, fat tends to preferentially accumulate in the lower body relative to other obese women of the same range. Whereas most complications of obesity, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome, are linked to upper body adiposity, IIH may represent a unique condition potentially induced by nonvisceral fat-related mechanisms.
The Association of Smoking and Alcohol Use With Age-related Macular Degeneration in the Oldest Old
A study to estimate the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the association of smoking and alcohol in a population of older women was conducted. After confounder adjustment, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with an elevated risk of incident early AMD (odds ratio [OR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.11). There was an increased risk of early AMD among subjects aged 80 years or older who were smoking compared to those younger than 80 years who were not smoking (OR, 5.49; 95% CI, 1.57 to 19.20; P for interaction = .026).
High-dose vitamin C may boost women's cataract risk
Among nearly 24,600 adult women followed for more than 8 years, those who reported regular or occasional vitamin C supplementation of about 1000 milligrams per serving were about 25 percent more likely than those who did not take supplements to have age-related cataracts removed. Women who took extra vitamin C for 10 years or longer; or in combination with being 65 years and older, or taking hormone replacement or corticosteroid medications had even greater risk, researchers found.
AMD Patients Benefit From Cataract Surgery, Study
A new US study found that cataract surgery is likely to benefit pateints with all stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), from mild to advanced. The multicenter study, which is published in the November issue of Ophthalmology, was the work of Dr Emily Y Chew, Deputy Director, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the National Eye Institute (NEI), in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues. Opthalmology Abstract
Three-Year Follow-up of the Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study
American Journal of Opthalmology Abstract
Tube shunt surgery had a higher success rate compared to trabeculectomy with MMC during the first 3 years of follow-up in the TVT Study. Both procedures were associated with similar IOP reduction and use of supplemental medical therapy at 3 years. While the incidence of postoperative complications was higher following trabeculectomy with MMC relative to tube shunt surgery, most complications were transient and self-limited.
Intravitreal Triamcinolone Better than Observation to Treat Vision Loss Associated With Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
Archives of Opthalmology Abstract
To compare the efficacy and safety of 1-mg and 4-mg doses of preservative-free intravitreal triamcinolone with observation for eyes with vision loss associated with macular edema secondary to perfused central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a study was done showing t odds of achieving the primary outcome were 5.0 times greater in the 1-mg group than the observation group and 5.0 times greater in 4-mg group than the observation group. Although there was no difference identified between the 1-mg and 4-mg groups, the rates of elevated intraocular pressure and cataract were similar for the observation and 1-mg groups, but higher in the 4-mg group.
Anti-VEGF found to improve vision when used for patients with macular edema
In a study conducted by the Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group, treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema (DDME) with bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) was shown to improve vision. Bevacizumab is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) that inhibits abnormal blood vessels. Improvement was detected after one month. .
Assessing the Efficacy of Latanoprost vs Timolol in Controlling Intracocular Pressure
Compared with timolol, treatment with latanoprost results in significantly fewer patients with a high IOP fluctuation. The impact of reducing high IOP fluctuation on progressive glaucomatous damage deserves further investigation in prospective studies.
Study Reiterates Eye Risks Linked to Flomax
Men taking Flomax to treat an enlarged prostate face more than double the risk for serious complications should they need cataract surgery, a new Canadian study has found.
JAMA Full Text
Key Nutrients Lower Risk of Macular Degeneration
The intake of certain key nutrients can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and that risk can be correlated with a nutrient compound score devised by researchers and reported in the May issue of Ophthalmology.
