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Exercise and Diabetic Retinopathy

By Dr. Kevin -
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 A large study from China looked at how exercise affects diabetic retinopathy (DR) in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers followed patients for three years and used computer-based imaging to measure small blood vessels in the retina. They found that people who did moderate to high-intensity exercise had lower chances of developing or worsening DR . Exercise was linked to healthier, wider small blood vessels , especially in the peripheral retina , which may be an early sign of better eye health. Even after considering age, diabetes duration, blood sugar control and blood pressure, exercise still showed a protective effect. The clearest benefits appeared at 5+ sessions per week and at least 180 minutes per week of activity. Moderate-intensity exercise was enough—high intensity didn’t add much more benefit. Overall, the study suggests that encouraging patients with diabetes to do regular moderate/high-intensity exercise may help reduce DR risk by improving small retinal v...
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Lutein Supplementation and Myopia Management

By Dr. Kevin -
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 A study of 180 children (ages 8–12) in China found that taking a daily 8mg lutein ester supplement for six months helped protect the eye’s choroid—the layer behind the retina that often becomes thinner as myopia worsens. Children who took lutein kept their choroidal thickness stable, even showing a tiny increase, while the placebo group showed noticeable thinning. The protective effect was similar to what short-term ortho-K treatment can do. Lutein is a dietary antioxidant that filters blue light and supports retinal health. Researchers believe it may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the eye and may help improve blood flow in the choroid. The supplement did not change axial length or refractive error during the six months, which may be because the children had mild myopia and because these measures change slowly. The study was limited to one school and didn’t examine lifestyle differences, so more research is needed. Still, the authors conclude that lutein could be...
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Grading Geography Atrophy

By Dr. Kevin -
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  Geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry AMD, causes slow but permanent vision loss. New drugs such as pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol can slow the growth of GA damage, but they do not stop vision from getting worse, and they require frequent eye injections with risks and high cost. Because of this, doctors often struggle to decide when treatment is truly worthwhile. Researchers at Wake Forest University created a prototype decision tool called Atrophy Advisor to help. The tool estimates how long it will take for GA to reach the fovea (the center of vision) by measuring the distance from current lesions to the fovea. It also uses lifespan calculators to estimate how many years of vision a patient might need to preserve. By combining these two factors, it helps doctors judge whether treatment would meaningfully protect vision during a patient’s lifetime. In their study of 50 GA patients (median age 78), lesions moved closer to the fovea at an average rate of 12...
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Cannabis Linked to Increased Risk of Uveitis

By Dr. Kevin -
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  A large study looked at more than 1.1 million cannabis users and compared them with an equal number of people who did not use cannabis. The researchers found that people who use cannabis had a noticeably higher risk of developing uveitis—an inflammatory condition inside the eye that can threaten vision. Overall, cannabis users were about 80% more likely to get uveitis. Some specific and more serious types showed even higher risks, including panuveitis , choroidal degeneration , and retinal vasculitis . The study suggests several reasons why cannabis might trigger inflammation in the eye. Cannabis affects the body’s endocannabinoid system, which normally helps regulate inflammation. THC and CBD may disrupt this balance. Also, smoking cannabis produces chemicals that cause oxidative stress and irritation in tissues, possibly damaging blood vessels in the eye and weakening the blood-retinal barrier. Because of these findings, the authors recommend that eye doctors ask about cann...
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GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Lower AMD Risk, but No Effect on Disease Progression

By Dr. Kevin -
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 A national TriNetX database study published in Ophthalmology Retina found that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of developing both dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to those using other glucose- or lipid-lowering drugs. However, these medications did not influence the rate of conversion from non-neovascular (dry) to neovascular (wet) AMD among patients who already had the condition. Using data from nearly 120 million patients, researchers applied rigorous propensity matching to control for factors like chronic disease and metabolic severity. Over one to three years, GLP-1 drug use was linked to roughly 20–25% lower hazard ratios for developing dry AMD and a consistent reduction in risk for wet AMD across all time points. The authors suggested that the apparent protective effect may result from both biological and healthcare access factors—patients on GLP-1 drugs might have more regular medical care and earlier AMD...
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YAG Laser May Worsen Diabetic Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery

By Dr. Kevin -
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 A large study found that diabetic patients who undergo YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery face higher risks of serious eye problems compared to those who don’t. The procedure, used to clear cloudy vision after cataract surgery, was linked to an increased chance of developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, and neovascular glaucoma. These patients were also more likely to need panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), though not more likely to require vitrectomy surgery. Researchers reviewed records from over 10,000 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy across 69 U.S. healthcare centers. They found YAG-treated patients had about 1.4–2 times higher risk for the complications mentioned. The findings suggest diabetic patients should be monitored closely after YAG, and future studies should examine how disease stage, age, and laser settings affect outcomes.
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Migraine May Triple the Risk of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Study Finds

By Dr. Kevin -
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 A large study found that people who suffer from migraines are almost three times more likely to develop central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), an eye condition that causes fluid buildup under the retina. Researchers analyzed data from over 800,000 adults aged 18–40 and found a CSCR rate of 1.43 per 10,000 in migraine patients, compared with 0.51 per 10,000 in those without migraines. This higher risk was seen across all migraine types and was not affected by common migraine medications. The findings suggest that migraines and CSCR may share similar vascular causes. Both involve changes in blood flow in the choroid (the eye layer supplying the retina). The study proposes that stress, autonomic nervous system imbalance, and abnormal vascular responses could link the two conditions. Migraine attacks might cause temporary choroidal expansion, and in some people, this may lead to chronic dysfunction and CSCR. Clinically, the authors recommend that a migraine history be considered...
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