INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

Los Angeles Times UC Irvine ophthalmologists implanted tiny telescopes in two patients suffering from age-related, end-stage   macular degeneration , the university announced this week. Doctors from the university's Gavin Herbert  Eye  Institute in December inserted one of the 4-millimeter telescopes into an 85-year-old Irvine resident's eye and another in a 94-year-old Anaheim resident's eye, according to a UCI statement. The devices restore limited vision by projecting an image onto the undamaged section of the retina, enabling patients to recognize faces, read and perform daily activities. After the implant, the Irvine resident was able to see her son's face for the first time in more than a decade. The institute is one of a few in the country performing the procedure, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in 2010. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of sight loss common among adults older than 50, according to the   Nationa...

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.  2012 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print] Myopia Control with Orthokeratology Contact Lenses in Spain (MCOS): Refractive and Biometric Changes. Santodomingo-Rubido J ,  Villa-Collar C ,  Gilmartin B ,  Gutierrez-Ortega R . Source Menicon Co., Ltd, Iglesia 9, Apartamento 106, Madrid, Majadahonda, 28220, Spain. Abstract PURPOSE: To compare axial length growth between white children with myopia wearing orthokeratology contact lenses (OK) and distance single-vision spectacles (SV) over a 2-year period. METHODS: Subjects 6 to 12 years of age with myopia -0.75 to -4.00DS and astigmatism ≤1.00DC were prospectively allocated OK or SV correction. Measurements of axial length (Zeiss IOLMaster), corneal topography and cycloplegic refraction were taken at 6-month intervals. RESULTS: Thirty-one children were fitted with OK and 30 with SV. Following 24-months, axial length increased significantly over time for both the OK group (0.47...

Below is the abstract from the June 22 edition of Opthalmology Abstract PURPOSE: To determine whether 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) affect the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in persons with hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: Retrospective, longitudinal cohort analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged ≥60 years with hyperlipidemia enrolled in a national United States managed care network between 2001 and 2009. METHODS: Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between statin use and the development of OAG (from no prior OAG diagnosis), progression from a prior diagnosis of glaucoma suspect to a diagnosis of OAG, and need for medical or operative interventions for OAG. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and medical and ocular comorbidities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of the 524 109 individuals wi...

Cornea. 2012 Feb 28. [Epub ahead of print] Colored Cosmetic Contact Lenses: An Unsafe Trend in the Younger Generation. Singh S ,  Satani D ,  Patel A ,  Vhankade R . Abstract PURPOSE: To identify the microbiological profile and evaluate the clinical course and outcomes in patients who developed severe infectious keratitis after colored cosmetic contact lens wear. METHODS: This case series includes 13 patients who developed severe infectious keratitis after colored cosmetic contact lens wear. A detailed history regarding contact lens availability and storage and handling techniques was taken. All patients underwent standard diagnostic microbiological evaluation followed by culture-guided topical antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, 8 were male and 5 were female, with mean age at presentation of 19 ± 3.8 years. All patients were emmetropic, and lenses were worn solely for cosmetic purposes. Seven lenses were dispensed without prescr...

WebMD reported on a Japanese study that showed that: People who ate an average of 9 ounces of fruit a day had half the risk of developing the eye condition over the eight-year period, compared with those who ate less than an ounce a day, the study showed. The odds were about 40% lower for people who ate an average of 3 to 5 ounces of fruit a day, compared with those who ate less than an ounce a day.

This study in  Nature   concludes that coffee increases intraocular pressure in a statistically significant way but not in a clinically significant way for those with ocular hypertension, glaucoma, or suspicion of glaucoma.

New York Times The New York Times reports on a study that found that Avandia and Actos, common diabetes drugs, increase the risk of macular edema.

As blue light-induced damage accumulates over a lifetime, by the time you are in your 40s and 50s, you are at an increased risk for AMD, vision impairment, and decreased visual performance. This article in the   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  explains possible protective measures you can take.  There is a lot of blue light entering the eye from the sky here in Arizona, so wear your sunglasses!