INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Volume 31, Issue 12 , December 2005, Pages 2395-2404 According to this article, which summarizes a literature review of smoking and the incidence of cataract: "Evidence suggests that smoking has a 3-fold increase on the risk for incident nuclear cataract development. There was also evidence of reversibility of effect."

According to a recent article in Clinical and Experimental Optometry , laughing can reduce binocular rivalry and stimulate the brain to see images with both hemispheres of the brain. This is contrary to the normal binocular rivalry, in which the brain subconsciously switches attention between two competing images. In this study it was demonstrated by the subject looking at an optical illusion, like the Necker Cube, and being told a joke. While laughing the subject noted she was able to see both sides of the cube. "Pettigrew (the study's author) says the effect of laughter on perception makes a good party trick."

American Journal of Ophthalmology Volume 141, Issue 1, Supplement 1 , January 2006, Pages 28-33 According to this study: "patients in this study who were taking IOP-lowering prostaglandin/prostamide medications had a mean adherence rate of 76% on average, suggesting that opportunities remain for improvement of adherence to therapeutic regimens for glaucoma treatment with prostamides and prostaglandins."

American Journal of Ophthalmology Volume 141, Issue 1 , January 2006, Pages 24-30 This article provides detailed information on the Bascom-Palmer Glaucoma Staging System if anyone is interested. If you scroll down in that article you will see some decent charts that summarize the system.

American Journal of Ophthalmology Volume 141, Issue 1 , January 2006, Page 175 This review of the current literature on amblyopia summarized: "Randomized, controlled trials have established atropine penalization as a viable alternative to occlusion therapy, have suggested that less treatment may be better tolerated and as effective as more traditionally used dosages, and have found no compelling evidence that treatment is beneficial clinically for older ( over age 10 ) children with amblyopia."

This from Optometric Physician: Effect of Artificial Tears on Visual Field Testing This study examined the effect of artificial tear administration on perimetry. Patients performed visual field testing. They were then instructed to use artificial tears four times a day in both eyes for one week. After one week, patients had repeat visual field testing. There was significant improvement in reliability parameters CONCLUSION: Artificial tear administration in glaucomatous patients with dry eye seems to improve significantly reliability parameters and visual field indices. SOURCE: Yenice O, Temel A, Orum O. The effect of artificial tear administration on visual field testing in patients with glaucoma and dry eye. Eye 2006; Jan 27 [Epub ahead of print].

According to this article in EyeWorld Magazine , 1000mg of flaxseed oil three times a day may be as effective as 100mg of doxycycline daily for dry eye, and is better tolerated by patients.