Articles about Eye Health and Disease

Eye News discusses new developments which may be of interest to the general public about eye health and disease. Topics may be derived from medical or non-medical publications. References and links are given where available. It is the intent of Richmond Eye Associates to present these topics as accurately as possible.

Eye News 2005:

• Smoking is Associated with Age Related Macular Degeneration, in a Large British Study

• Falls and Health Status in Elderly Women following First Eye Cataract Surgery

• Reports of Sudden Vision Loss Added to Labeling for Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

• Diabetic Retinopathy found in Undiagnosed and Newly Diagnosed Diabetics

• High Fruit, Vegetable intake may Protect against Cataract in Women

• Fungicide Exposure Linked to Retinal Degeneration

• Cosmic Radiation Exposure may Increase the Risk of Cataracts in Airline Pilots

• Cataract Surgery May Not Increase the Risk of Converting from Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration to Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration

• Smoking is Found to be a Significant Risk Factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration in a Medical Literature Review

• News Release: Diabetic Retinopathy Occurs in 8% of Patients with Pre-diabetes

• Iowa Attorney General Files Suit Against Vision Improvement Technologies ("See Clearly Method")

• The Use of Cholesterol-lowering Medications and Age-related Macular Degeneration

• High Dietary Antioxidant Intake Cuts Risk of Age-Related Macular
  Degeneration

• The Age-Related Eye Disease Study II (AREDS II) to Begin Soon

• Brothers and Sisters of Glaucoma Patients are at High Risk for
  the Disease

Eye News 2004:

• The FDA Approves the Tecnis Lens Implant for the Possible Improvement in Night Vision following Cataract Surgery

• "Eye Jewelry" Implanted in the Netherlands

• Topiramate (Topamax) is Associated with Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma

• CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) is Approved by the FDA for the Treatment of Presbyopia

• Vision Loss Becoming a "Major Health Problem" in the United States

• Lutein Improves Visual Function in Macular Degeneration

• Associations between Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels with the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy

Eye News:  2003:

• Do Motor Vehicle Airbags Increase the Risk of Ocular Injury?

• Wearing Tight Neckties may Increase Risk of Glaucoma

• Racial Differences in Retinopathy from Hypertension

• Acne Drug may Help to Prevent Blindness in Stargardt's Disease

• Migraine Headache is Associated with Peripheral Vision Blind Spot Similar to Glaucoma

• PRK and the Use of Night Vision Goggles

• Quality of Vision after Lasik: Pupil size factors and Magnitude of Laser Correction

• Cataract Surgery in Patients with Age Related Macular Degeneration

• Controlling Nearsightedness in Children through Medications

• Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dietary Consumption and the Risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration

• Elevated Triglyceride Levels Associated with Cataract in Men

• Success Rates of Corneal Transplants based on the Reason for the Transplant

• Quality of Life and Visual Function after Corneal Transplant

• Macular Degeneration is Associated with Elevated Body Mass Index

• Sulfasalazine May Help to Prevent Uveitis Recurrences

• Evaluation of Lasik Complication Internet Web Site Content

• How Reliably to Patients with Chronic Eye Conditions Follow up Annually?

• Amblyopia (lazy eye) is Controlled with Shorter Patching Times

Eye News:  2002

• Alternative Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy

• A Large Study Finds an Association between Hormone Replacement Therapy and Dry Eye Symptoms in Women

• A Smaller Study Finds no Association between Hormone Replacement Therapy and Dry Eye Symptoms in Women

• Cataract Surgery Reduces the Rate of Motor Vehicle Accidents by Older Adults.

• Treatment of Elevated Eye Pressure Alone May Prevent or Delay the Onset of Actual Glaucoma.

• Sleep Apnea Associated with Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

• Retinal Artery Narrowing Associated with the Development of Diabetes.

• Outcomes of Lasik following Flap Complications.

• Patching vs. Eyedrop Therapy to Treat Amblyopia in Children.

• Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities and the Risk of Stroke.

• Are Interventions to Prevent the Progression of Nearsightedness in Children Effective?

• Risk of Stroke of Optic Nerve with Viagra Use.

• The Effect of Frontal Air Bags on Eye Injury Patterns in Automobile Crashes

• Self-management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Quality of Life

• FDA to Seize Illegally Obtained Contact Lenses

• Effect of Smoking on Tear Proteins and Dry Eye Symptoms

• Lens Aging in Relation to Nutritional Determinants and Possible Risk Factors for Age-Related Cataract

Eye News: 2001

• Medicare Initiates Coverage of a New Service in 2002 - Glaucoma Screening Benefit

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation's EyeCare America Glaucoma Project

• Study Questions Sunlight Exposure’s Role in Macular Degeneration.

• Study Shows Effectiveness of a New Treatment for Macular Degeneration.

• AREDS Results: High-Dose Supplementation with Antioxidants and Zinc Found Beneficial for those at High Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

• AREDS Results: No Beneficial Effect Seen with Vitamin Supplementation and Cataract Development

• Dry Eye After Lasik.

• Two Different Treatment Techniques for Treating Ocular Choroidal Melanoma Result in the Same Mortality Rate.

• Cataract Surgery Found Beneficial Even for Those in Their Mid-80's.

• Type of cataract is associated with death risk in blacks.

• Reduced atmospheric oxygen (hypoxia) may lead to refractive changes in eyes treated by Lasik.

• Relationship of sunlight exposure and the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

• Risk of glaucoma in a predominantly black population.

• Improved quality of life with good vision in both, rather than just one, eye.

• Ocular injuries caused by bungee cords.

• Ocular injury from the venom of the Southern Walkingstick.

Eye News: 2000 and Earlier

• Causes of blindness and visual impairment in older Americans.

• Automobile air bag eye injuries in children.

• Risk factors for dry eye syndrome.

• Artificial solar cell silicone retinal implants being evaluated for use in retinitis pigmentosa patients.

• Long-term vitamin use may help to prevent cataract.

• "Prevent Blindness America" reports toy related causes of eye injuries.

• Lutein supplement may help to reduce risk of age-related macular degeneration.

• Does night light use increase the risk of nearsightedness in children?

• Does LASIK increase risk for retinal problems?

• Airbag ocular injuries.

• Ocular injuries caused by airsoft guns.

• Ocular injuries caused by paintballs.

• Laser pointer causes retinal injury with loss of vision.

• Inhaled steroids and glaucoma risk

• Diet and the risk of cataract.

• Levodopa may improve visual loss in ischemic optic neuropathy.

• Viewing snow on television may screen for retinal disorders

• Visual factors influencing the automobile crash risk of older drivers.

• Incidence of diabetic retinopathy is alarmingly high in the general black population.

• Photodynamic therapy offers new hope for cases of age related macular degeneration

• Oral medication may offer new hope for diabetic retinopathy.

• Marijuana smoking vs. cannabinoids as glaucoma therapy.

• Nasal steroid use is associated with rate of cataract extraction.

• Safety of laser pointers- are they a risk to use?

• A possible cause and cure for one type of retinitis pigmentosa.

• Light exposure is found to improve work performance.

• Ocular integrity after refractive surgery procedures.- do some procedures weaken the eye against trauma?

• Shatter Resistance of Spectacle Lenses - current standards of shatter resistance may need to be reevaluated based on the results of this study.

• Age-related Macular Degeneration and Sun Exposure are found Not to be Linked

• Water Balloons launched by Slingshots can cause Vision and Life Threatening Injuries