INCREASED CARBOHYDRATES INCREASES CATARACT RISK

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2824

Animal studies have demonstrated that increased intake of carbohydrates may increase cataract risk. This study, using humans, suggests a similar outcome. However, more studies need to be done to determine the exact correlation and to enable us to make reliable dietary recommendations to prevent cataract.

EXERCISE LOWERS RISK FOR GLAUCOMA

Eyeworld.

Glaucoma is a disease where high eye pressure causes eventual damage to the optic nerve, which in turn causes a slow, but devastating loss of vision.

According to this study, vigorous physical activity may reduce the risk of glaucoma.

ANTERIOR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT IN 15% OF EYES WITH ICL

Ophthalmology, doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.10.033

The distance between the implant and the crystalline lens was significantly less in older patients and significantly greater in patients with a toric ICL. Thhere was a significantly lower incidence of contact between the lenses in eyes implanted with a toric ICL.

Anterior subcapsular opacification developed in 13.0% of eyes. There was contact between the ICL and the crystalline lens in 15.6% of the eyes and half of these developed anterior subcapsular opacification. The association between anterior subcapsular opacification and contact was significant.

UNTREATED POOR VISION IN ELDERLY CONTRIBUTES TO DEMENTIA

American Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/aje/kwp453

Poor vision was associated with development of dementia; individuals with very good or excellent vision at baseline had a 63% reduced risk of dementia. Participants with poorer vision had a 9.5-fold increased risk of Alzheimer disease and a 5-fold increased risk of mental impairment but no dementia. Untreated poor vision is associated with cognitive decline, particularly Alzheimer disease.

HIGHER INCIDENCE AND PROGRESSION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY HIGHER AMONGST LATINOS

American Journal of Ophthalmology
doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2009.11.014

The 4-year incidence and progression of DR and the incidence of ME and CSME among Latinos are high compared to non-Hispanic whites.

TRAUMATIC ACCIDENTS UNLIKELY TO CAUSE RETINAL HEMORRHAGES

Pediatric Emergency Care:
February 2010 - Volume 26 - Issue 2 - pp 118-120
doi: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e3181cfdb6b

According to this study,

No child suffering from accidental head injury was found to have retinal hemorrhages nor was any found to have experienced child abuse. Therefore, we can be confident to an upper limit of 95% that the chance of retinal hemorrhages occurring as a result of accidental traumatic event alone is at the most 0.028.

Conclusions: Apparent life-threatening events alone are unlikely to cause retinal hemorrhages in children younger than 2 years. Therefore, if retinal hemorrhages are detected, investigation into the possibility of nonaccidental injury is essential.

GLAUCOMA MEDICATION USE REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH

Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128(2):235-240.

After adjustment for potential confounding variables, the use of glaucoma medications was associated with a reduced likelihood of death in this large sample of US adults with glaucoma. Future investigations should explore this association further because these findings may have important clinical implications.

WOMEN AT HIGHER RISK OF GLAUCOMA THAN MEN

Current evidence suggests that older women are at risk for glaucoma and glaucoma blindness. Further interdisciplinary research involving investigators, specialized in glaucoma, women's health and health disparities, will lead to better understanding of gender health disparities in glaucoma and better targeting populations at risk.

TYPE 1 DIABETES AFFECTS RETINA, EVEN IN ABSENCE OF OPHTHALMOSCOPIC SIGNS.

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
doi:10.1167/iovs.09-5041

This study demonstrates loss of RNFL thickness in the peripheral macula in type 1 diabetic patients with no or minimal diabetic retinopathy compared to controls. These results support the concept that diabetes has an early neurodegenerative effect on the retina, which occurs even though the vascular component of diabetic retinopathy is minimal.

BETAXOLOL BETTER THAN TIMOLOL AT VF PROTECTION. IOP REDUCTION NOT THE ONLY CONSIDERATION

Progress in Retinal and Eye Research
Volume 29, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 79-93

This study shows that betaxolol drops are actually better than timolol at preserving visual field, even though timolol lowers pressure better than betaxolol. This demonstrates that IOP reduction is secondary to visual field preservation in glaucoma therapy.

ORAL BETA-BLOCKERS MAY PROTECT AGAINST GLAUCOMA. STATINS DO NOT.

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, doi 10.1167/iovs.09-4821.

According to this study, oral beta-blockers used to treat hypertensive patients may protect against the development of glaucoma. There is no evidence to suggest that oral statins have a preventative role in glaucoma.

SYNCHRONY ACCOMMODATIVE LENS

From Eyeworld Magazine.

This article summarizes the new Synchrony Accommodative Intraocular Implant. It is a double lens that is implanted in the capsular bag. Ciliary body contraction with accompanying zonular tension changes causes changes in the distance between the two lenses, enabling accommodation. 3 Year results on 19 patients show a best corrected visual acuity at distance to be 20/28 and 20/23 at near. These results are comparable to the ReStor IOL. Accommodation seems to improve from year 1 to year 2 post-operatively.

MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS IMPROVE VISUAL FIELD IN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS

European Journal of Ophthalmology, Eur J Ophthalmol 2010; 20: 131 - 135

Fifteen patients with Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG study group) received 300 mg oral magnesium citrate for 1 month, while 15 patients with NTG (control group) received no treatment. In the study group pattern standard deviation improved from 3.6 at baseline to 2.8 at 1 month (p<0.05).>

People get magnesium from their diet, but sometimes magnesium supplements are needed if magnesium levels are too low. Foods that are high in fiber are generally high in magnesium. Dietary sources of magnesium include legumes, whole grains, vegetables (especially broccoli, squash, and green leafy vegetables), seeds, and nuts (especially almonds). Other sources include dairy products, meats, chocolate, and coffee. Water with a high mineral content, or “hard” water, is also a source of magnesium.

Magnesium is used as a laxative for constipation. It is also used as an antacid for acid indigestion. Some people use magnesium for diseases of the heart and blood vessels including chest pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, heart mitral valve prolapse, and heart attack. Magnesium is also used for treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, leg cramps during pregnancy, diabetes, kidney stones, migraine headaches, weak bones (osteoporosis), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), altitude sickness, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, restless leg syndrome, asthma, hayfever, multiple sclerosis, and for preventing hearing loss. Athletes sometimes use magnesium to increase energy and endurance.

In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects. Doses less than 350 mg per day are safe for most adults. Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in the amounts recommended. Don’t take magnesium if you have kidney problems.

Magnesium may decrease the effectiveness of aminoglycoside antibiotics (tobramycin, gentamycin) and fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

TEMPORAL ROSE BENGAL STAINING DIFFERENTIATES SJOGRENS FROM KCS

Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science doi:10.1167/iovs.09-4188

Using non-invasive techniques only, staining of the temporal conjunctiva and severity of dry mouth symptoms proved to be the major factors in distinguishing Sjogren's Syndrome from keratoconjunctivitis sicca when patients have dry eye.