INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

  Alcon recently released a new over-the-counter eyedrop, Systane Pro Preservative-Free (PF), formulated with an added hydrating agent to prolong symptom relief. The multi-dose, triple-action solution contains the same ingredient (propylene glycol 0.6%), nano-sized lipids and hydroxypropyl guar as Systane Complete, another OTC artificial tear offered by Alcon. However, the new product’s formula is enhanced by the addition of hyaluronate, which the company says helps improve tear film retention on the ocular surface, provide sustained hydration, restore tear film stability and protect against further irritation of dry eyes, ultimately giving patients longer-lasting relief than that provided by other Systane drops on the market. For more information, go to  alcon.com .

  GLP-1 Drugs Reduce POAG Risk by Over 50% in Obese Patients One recent study published in  Ophthalmology   aimed to determine whether these widely used medications could reduce the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension, particularly in non-diabetic overweight populations Specifically, they noted a 50.4% reduced risk of POAG at the three-year follow-up, and by the five-year follow-up, the reduction increased to 58.5%. Ocular hypertension risks were similarly diminished by 55.9% and 65.8% across the same timelines.  GLP-1RAs have been shown to reduce retinal ganglion cell loss. “The degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and axon loss is characteristic of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and reduction in mechanisms potentiating this process would ultimately reduce glaucoma progression and severity—as confirmed by our results,” the researchers noted.

  A daily average of more than 10,000 paces was shown to have a long-term impact on ocular blood flow that may confer a protective effect against glaucoma. A minimum of 10,000 steps per day has been associated with numerous health benefits, including a reduction in blood pressure, an enhancement in exercise capacity and a decrease in sympathetic nerve activity among individuals with hypertension.  A recent study published in  Journal of Glaucoma  revealed that increasing patients’ daily exercise, particularly to more than 10,000 steps per day, may be a pragmatic approach to improving optic disc blood flow in glaucoma patients. “Our study implies that daily physical activity may have a long-term impact on ocular blood flow” the study researchers wrote in their paper.  Click  here  for the journal source.

  A new study in  American Journal of Ophthalmology  demonstrated a connection between chronic stress and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  The data revealed that AMD patients exhibited significantly higher chronic stress scores as far back as a decade before their diagnosis when compared to controls without AMD. For each unit increase in chronic stress score, the odds of having AMD increased by a factor of 1.11, highlighting a direct correlation between chronic stress and the increased likelihood of developing AMD.  While this study reinforces that smoking cessation is the most important lifestyle modification to lower AMD risk, the researchers point out the connection between smoking and  chronic stress. Smoking has been directly associated with higher stress scores. Nicotine exposure may lead to activation of stress systems, and chronic stress may lead to adoption of poor health behaviors like smoking. Future work could expand on current efforts ...