INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

 According to this study ,  1% Atropine administered once per week may be adequate to slow myopia progression.  It suggests that some patients may not respond as well, and that this can be determined within the first 2 months of initiation of treatment.  

This report discussed this study:  "R esearchers wanted to examine the relationship between systemic arterial blood pressure and the rate of change in standard automated perimetry (SAP) in glaucomatous eyes and glaucoma suspects.  "Each 10mm HG lower in 24-hour average mean arterial pressure and systolic BP were linked with -0.17dB/year and -0.14dB/year faster rates of mean deviation loss. Mean deviation loss was also associated with lower mean systolic BP during follow-up. "Glaucomatous eyes with progression at low IOP levels may benefit from 24-hour blood pressure monitoring."

Patients suffering from dry eye may find relief with vitamin D supplementation, according to a review and meta-analysis published recently in   Contact Lens and Anterior Eye . Researchers from China explained in their paper that vitamin D “deficiency exacerbates the ocular inflammatory response in patients with chronic dry eye.  They added that deficient levels of this vitamin may also affect nerve fibers, resulting in worse symptoms of ocular pain or foreign body sensation. Upon analysis, the researchers found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved tear production by Schirmer testing and tear film stability by tear break-up time and reduced lid hyperemia, and OSDI scores. 

A new study appearing in   Ophthalmology Glaucoma   had researchers measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) behavior in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients after induce psychological stress —a simulated job interview followed by mental arithmetic—and controls.  The researchers found that 61.1% of patients undergoing the stress test experienced an IOP increase greater than 4mm Hg. Because of this marked difference, the investigators “believe that repetitive stress stimuli in POAG may compromise IOP control and potentially increase the risk of disease progression.”  On the other side of this trial, some investigations have measured IOP after anti-stress therapies. One of these studies evaluated effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on IOP and stress biomarkers in a randomized trial. After being assigned either to mindfulness meditation group or control group, results indicated mean IOP reductions from 18.8mm Hg to 12mm Hg in the right eye and 19.0mm Hg to ...

 According to this study : "an adverse association between Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) use and glaucoma was observed, with CCB users having, on average, 39% higher odds of glaucoma. Calcium channel blocker use was also associated with thinner mGCIPL and mRNFL thicknesses, providing a structural basis that supports the association with glaucoma. The lack of association of CCB use with IOP suggests that an IOP-independent mechanism of glaucomatous neurodegeneration may be involved. Although a causal relationship has not been established, CCB replacement or withdrawal may be considered should glaucoma progress despite optimal care."

In this study study : "Researchers found that melatonin reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration by more than half." This is exciting news, but the study needs to be confirmed with more controlled studies.  

According to this study : " moderate to vigorous physical activity with higher frequency and longer duration will causally reduce the risk of senile cataracts"