Thursday, October 31, 2024

LOW BMI ASSOCIATED WITH GLAUCOMA PROGRESSION

This  study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology concludes:


In this African ancestry cohort, low BMI was associated with increased POAG risk. POAG cases with low BMI were more likely to have larger cup-to-disc ratios, worse visual acuity, and faster functional progression, indicating more severe glaucoma.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

SLIGHT INCREASE IN NAION WITH SEMIGLUTIDE INJECTIONS

 This report on a study demonstrates that there is a slight increase (3% ) in non arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy in patients receiving semiglutide injections.  The increase is slightly higher in males than females. 


Tuesday, October 29, 2024

VITAMIN D AND MACULAR DEGENERATION

 This is a report on a study that suggests that increased vitamin D levels, such as that associated with increased sun exposure, may be correlated with increased risk for macular degeneration.  

Monday, October 28, 2024

SUPPLEMENTS AND MACULAR DEGENERATION

The researchers found that among patients aged 50 and up, supplement use was associated with lower rates of developing or AMD or progressing AMD when compared with age- and sex-matched patients with no history of supplement use. Tumeric is mentioned in the title of this report. 

Thursday, October 03, 2024

Alpha Agonists in Glaucoma Patients may Increase the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

 From Review of Optometry:


Researchers in Taiwan designed a nationwide large study to investigate the association between


Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and different classes of topical glaucoma medications. They determined that using topical alpha-2 adrenergic agonists should be undertaken judiciously, especially in middle-aged and older populations. Their findings also indicated glaucoma may increase the risk of AD regardless of glaucoma subtype.

“Our observations indicating that alpha-2 adrenergic agonists potentially confer an increased risk of developing AD when compared to beta-blockers 

Irrespective of the type of glaucoma, individuals with glaucoma had a significantly higher risk of AD compared with those without glaucoma.

“Eyecare practitioners and neurologists need to be aware of the potentially higher risk of AD development associated with alpha-2 adrenergic agonists compared with beta-blockers among glaucoma patients,” they concluded in their paper for the journal.