Monday, March 10, 2025

DO ANTI-MYOPIA GLASSES WORK TO SLOW MYOPIC PROGRESSION?


Spectacle lenses containing highly aspherical lenslets have been shown to slow myopia progression. Chinese Researchers of this study found that 95% of children who wore anti-myopia glasses experienced myopia progression of less than 2.50D. 

Over five years, HAL spectacles reduced the rate of myopia progression and axial elongation, preventing the equivalent of three years of myopia progression and axial elongation. Long-term wear of highly aspherical lenslets could significantly reduce the incidence of high myopia.

Researchers concluded: “Therefore, long-term wear of highly aspherical lenslets eyeglass lenses could significantly reduce the incidence of high myopia.”

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

NEW ARTIFICIAL TEAR FOR DRY EYE COMES WITH PROMISES

 


Systane Pro PF is the latest addition to Alcon’s Systane product line.

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.

Friday, February 21, 2025

GLP-1 DRUGS (LIKE SEMAGLUTIDE) AND GLAUCOMA

 

GLP-1 Drugs Reduce POAG Risk by Over 50% in Obese Patients


The effects of GLP-1RAs on glaucoma are under investigation, but so far, studies have shown the weight loss drug reduces retinal ganglion cell loss by modulating apoptotic signals and decreasing inflammatory oxidative stress markers like C1q, TNF-α and IL1α. These effects potentially slow the progression and severity of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

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.


Thursday, February 06, 2025

WALKING STEPS AND GLAUCOMA

 


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.

More average daily steps were associated with a denser optic disc VD, suggesting the potential protective effect of physical activity for patients with POAG.


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.

Wednesday, February 05, 2025

CHRONIC STRESS AND MACULAR DEGENERATION

 


This study found that, compared to those without the condition, AMD patients had significantly higher allostatic load scores—a measure of chronic physiological stress that combines systemic biomarkers such as BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and several others.


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 to understand the role of chronic stress in ocular health and disease outcomes, such as AMD progression.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Semaglutide May Be Useful in Reducing Dry Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma

 A recent study published in Ophthalmology demonstrated GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with reduced hazard of nonexudative AMD. Notably, GLP-1 receptor agonists also significantly reduced the risk of exudative AMD and POAG compared to insulin after three years.

“The consistency of these findings across multiple comparisons suggests a potential benefit of GLP-1RAs in mitigating the risk of nonexudative AMD,” the researchers wrote in their paper. “Demonstrating a reduction in risk of POAG without a significant impact on the rate of ocular hypertension could indicate the protective effect is separate from lowering intraocular pressure.”



Monday, January 06, 2025

SEMAGLUTIDE and GLAUCOMA

This report in American Journal of Ophthalmology concluded:


This systematic meta-analysis found that GLP-1 RA use is associated with reduced glaucoma development in retrospective studies. Future, well-designed, long-term studies focusing on GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 inhibitors are needed to validate these findings and evaluate their effects on glaucoma progression and vision loss. The overall interpretation should be cautious.

Friday, January 03, 2025

SEMAGLUTIDE AND NAION

 According to one study, Ozempic may be associated with increased NAION within the first year of use.  Further studies need to be done to determine causality. 

However, newer studies demonstrates no increase risk with semaglutide risk. 



Wednesday, January 01, 2025

ANTERIOR SEGMENT ATLAS

 This article in Review of Optometry has an excellent review with photographs of the most common anterior segment conditions.  

Monday, December 30, 2024

ESR and CRP use in Eyecare

 From Review of Optometry:


"There are many ocular diseases in which inflammation is a key factor, potentially leading to abnormalities in these ancillary tests. The two most common and relevant clinical scenarios are temporal arteritis and uveitis. Elevations in ESR and CRP levels, for example, are often diagnostic for temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica in conjunction with the clinical picture.12

Uveitis, pictured here, is one ocular condition with marked inflammation, which would be indicated upon ESR or CRP testing.

Uveitis, pictured here, is one ocular condition with marked inflammation, which would be indicated upon ESR or CRP testing. Photo: Kyle D. Dohm, OD. Click image to enlarge.

"Uveitis is a manifestation of numerous underlying systemic conditions, many of which would result in elevated ESR and/or CRP values. While uveitis in and of itself is inflammation, regardless of cause, studies have shown that first attacks of uveitis do not often lead to abnormal laboratory values. However, elevated levels of ESR and CRP suggest a systemic process causing uveitis. Further investigation has also attributed elevations in ESR to be due to autoimmune or collagen vascular disease etiologies, whereas abnormal CRP was more associated with trauma and infectious causes.3,13

"When taken together, both ESR and CRP laboratory tests can be helpful in the clinical setting. Understanding the nuances of each test and why they are measured will give the clinician the highest yield in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases with inflammatory components."

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Hypertension and Glaucoma Progression

 In this study:


Lower baseline 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements, as well as low systolic blood pressure during follow-up, were associated significantly with faster rates of glaucomatous visual field loss progression and may be used as a predictor of risk of glaucomatous progression.


.05% Atropine and Myopia Progression

 In this study:


"Over 5 years, the continued 0.05% atropine treatment demonstrated good efficacy for myopia control. Most children needed to restart treatment after atropine cessation at year 3. Restarted treatment with 0.05% atropine achieved similar efficacy as continued treatment. Children should be considered for re-treatment if myopia progresses after treatment cessation."


.05% performed better than .025% and .01%. 






Friday, December 06, 2024

IPL AND DRY EYE

 This study concludes:


"Although IPL probably results in a clinically relevant reduction in symptoms of dry eyes when compared to placebo, in practice IPL would typically be used as an add-on to standard treatment. It is therefore essential with further studies investigating whether this use would give a clinically relevant reduction in symptoms, and what the potential harm of IPL is when treating MGD."