by:Reuters
People who lead an overall healthy life by exercising, eating right and not smoking, run a significantly lower risk of eye degeneration, a major cause of visual impairment in older adults, says a study.
Exercise and diet each reduced the risk, but both combined, along with a lack of smoking,caused the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to fall by more than 70%, says study author Julie Mares, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “Relatively small things could make a difference,” said Mares.
Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces. For the study, published in Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers reviewed information about diet, exercise and smoking from 1,313 women between the ages of 55 and 74.
The results showed that even 10 hours per week of light exercise, including housework, gardening and walking — or 8 hours of moderate exercise a week, lowered the risk of AMD since diet and exercise lower blood pressure, which can protect the eyes from degeneration
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Macular Degeneration is not the end of sight
Submitted by Ria Patel
Joanne Preece, 84, is suffering from macular degeneration. She exclaimed how amazing it was how we all take our vision for granted, and that how it could all be gone in a moment.
The disability not only took away her sight, it also stole her freedom. She said how she stopped driving because she could see the oncoming traffic which would scare me to death.
Dr. Kathryn A. Colby explained how during the end stage of macular degeneration, the patient looking at someone could see the shoulders and the hair, but not the face.
Due to her disability, Preece's entire view of the world is changing. Now she has a telescope the size of a pea implanted in her eye. A couple of high-powered lenses magnify all that she sees.
The implant is placed right at the junction between the clear part and the white part of the eye. And the implantation is to be made just into a single eye. A tiny incision is to be made in the cornea by the doctors, who then take out the cataract or damaged lens and put the telescopic lens in their place instead.
During the surgery, the patients are given sedation, but they are awake.
Joanne Preece, 84, is suffering from macular degeneration. She exclaimed how amazing it was how we all take our vision for granted, and that how it could all be gone in a moment.
The disability not only took away her sight, it also stole her freedom. She said how she stopped driving because she could see the oncoming traffic which would scare me to death.
Dr. Kathryn A. Colby explained how during the end stage of macular degeneration, the patient looking at someone could see the shoulders and the hair, but not the face.
Due to her disability, Preece's entire view of the world is changing. Now she has a telescope the size of a pea implanted in her eye. A couple of high-powered lenses magnify all that she sees.
The implant is placed right at the junction between the clear part and the white part of the eye. And the implantation is to be made just into a single eye. A tiny incision is to be made in the cornea by the doctors, who then take out the cataract or damaged lens and put the telescopic lens in their place instead.
During the surgery, the patients are given sedation, but they are awake.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Stem Cells Get FDA Nod For Stargardt's Disease
by Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., received FDA approval for starting Phase I/II clinical trial to use stem cells for the treatment of Stargardt’s disease. Stargardt’s disease is an inherited type of macular degeneration affecting individuals at age 10-20. There is no cure.
Similar to other macular diseases, the photoreceptors, and the layer of cells just beneath, call the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), become destroyed due to a genetic defect. Due to the macular involvement, central vision is lost.
Stargardt’s disease is the a common form of “macular degeneration” that afflicts the young. It is estimated to affect about 30,000 people worldwide. It shares in common with ARMD (age related macular degeneration) the loss of photoreceptors secondary to RPE damage and degeneration.
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) claims the ability to generate healthy RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells. The idea is to replace the genetically diseased RPE cells with healthy replacements. In theory, the healthy RPE cells should prevent loss of the photoreceptors, thereby preserving vision.
The phase I/II study will involve 12 patients enrolled into several centers across the United States. The initial experiments will determine if the RPE cells are indeed safe and if they can be tolerated by the human recipients (i.e., does the body reject the new RPE cells?).
What Does This Mean? Stargardt’s disease has no cure, and therefore, are great subjects to consider for this possible treatment. In a way, there is nothing to lose. Stargardt’s patients also have or had vision, that is, they have experience with vision. We know that these patients have fully developed visual pathways.
While this group is very small in comparison to patients with macular degeneration, the significance this holds for a potential, effective treatment can only be left to our imagination. Even a small success in this trial is exciting.
The news of this trial is exciting, but remember further testing (clinical trials III and IV) need to be completed. Also, the techniques for introducing the cells safely underneath the retina need to be accomplished, too.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., received FDA approval for starting Phase I/II clinical trial to use stem cells for the treatment of Stargardt’s disease. Stargardt’s disease is an inherited type of macular degeneration affecting individuals at age 10-20. There is no cure.
Similar to other macular diseases, the photoreceptors, and the layer of cells just beneath, call the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), become destroyed due to a genetic defect. Due to the macular involvement, central vision is lost.
Stargardt’s disease is the a common form of “macular degeneration” that afflicts the young. It is estimated to affect about 30,000 people worldwide. It shares in common with ARMD (age related macular degeneration) the loss of photoreceptors secondary to RPE damage and degeneration.
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) claims the ability to generate healthy RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells. The idea is to replace the genetically diseased RPE cells with healthy replacements. In theory, the healthy RPE cells should prevent loss of the photoreceptors, thereby preserving vision.
The phase I/II study will involve 12 patients enrolled into several centers across the United States. The initial experiments will determine if the RPE cells are indeed safe and if they can be tolerated by the human recipients (i.e., does the body reject the new RPE cells?).
What Does This Mean? Stargardt’s disease has no cure, and therefore, are great subjects to consider for this possible treatment. In a way, there is nothing to lose. Stargardt’s patients also have or had vision, that is, they have experience with vision. We know that these patients have fully developed visual pathways.
While this group is very small in comparison to patients with macular degeneration, the significance this holds for a potential, effective treatment can only be left to our imagination. Even a small success in this trial is exciting.
The news of this trial is exciting, but remember further testing (clinical trials III and IV) need to be completed. Also, the techniques for introducing the cells safely underneath the retina need to be accomplished, too.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Maintaining a 20/20 Visual Acuity
by Ponti Carlo Aranda
On normal conditions, when nurses use the Snellen’s chart to test one’s vision, 20/20 signifies the perfect eyesight. This type of examination is usually performed not only in hospitals but also in educational institutions as students enroll themselves to study in that school.
As long we do not encounter any factors that can perturb our eyes, then our visual acuity will remain that way.
However, as we begin to age, our senses including our vision tend to deteriorate. The clear eye lenses become cloudy and lose its flexibility. The retina located at the back of the eyes also loses its sensitivity to light and leads to glaucoma which is a common condition among the elderly.
How do we maintain healthy eyesight? Here are some fundamental don’ts and do’s concerning about eye care:
DON’TS
* Never stare on any bright objects most especially the sun since they can surely damage your eyesight. With regards to TV screens and computer monitors, try to lower their brightness.
* Do not engage on paper and writing works when there isn’t a sufficient light. Writing and reading can cause so much stress to your eyes. To manage this problem, you can use a soft white light but make sure that it does not produce a glare that gives a reflection directly to your eyes.
* Never stare on TV screens or computer monitors for a long time. Studies have suggested that after 20 minutes of staring at the screen, look away about 20 feet ahead of you for 20 seconds. This is what they call the 20-20-20 rule. This rule can assist you in reducing strains to your eyes. You may also want to blink every 10 seconds to provide lubrication to your eyes. Sometimes, it is a fact that when we are too preoccupied with our work, we tend to forget blinking which makes the strain continuous.
* Of course, smoking should be ceased and avoid second-hand smoke as well. Studies have confirmed that smoking has a link to macular degeneration, cataract as well as damage to the optic nerve. All of these serious conditions can lead to blindness.
* Try to limit your eyes from being exposed to dusty places.
DO’S
* Eat foods rich in vitamin A and other sources that are good for maintaining good eyesight. Examples of these foods are dark leafy greens (broccoli, spinach). Watermelons contain lutein which is very healthy for the eyes. Lastly, eat fishes that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
* Engage in regular exercises and deep breathing sessions. A regular exercise can decrease eye strains by approximately twenty percent. Moreover, deep breathing exercises also have the same effect. These two methods are very helpful to those individuals with glaucoma since this disorder may cause headache and an increase in intraocular pressure.
* Wear sunglasses when on outdoor locations. It is true that wearing sunglasses can make you look dashing but the primary function of these products is to shield your eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
* Make proper hand washing your daily habit. Though it is discouraged to rub our eyes using our hands, there are moments that we tend to forget this advice. That is why it is highly encouraged to maintain the habit of proper hand washing just in case we accidentally rub our eyes. However, let us always practice ourselves to minimize this bad habit.
* Rest your eyes most especially if you do not need to use them. An example of this advice is when talking over the phone. Since you do not need to open your eyes while talking, just close them and within that moment, your eyes are being rested.
* Regularly check your blood sugar. Diabetics are known to experience a high risk of eye disease. A study confirmed that proper management of blood sugar greatly declines the risk of diabetic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. If you are a diabetic, a yearly consultation with your eye specialist is highly suggested.
* If possible, get a yearly eye check-up. Usually, conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration do not give warning signs; hence, visiting an eye specialist is the only way to make sure that you are not experiencing the first stage of these eye disorders.
On normal conditions, when nurses use the Snellen’s chart to test one’s vision, 20/20 signifies the perfect eyesight. This type of examination is usually performed not only in hospitals but also in educational institutions as students enroll themselves to study in that school.
As long we do not encounter any factors that can perturb our eyes, then our visual acuity will remain that way.
However, as we begin to age, our senses including our vision tend to deteriorate. The clear eye lenses become cloudy and lose its flexibility. The retina located at the back of the eyes also loses its sensitivity to light and leads to glaucoma which is a common condition among the elderly.
How do we maintain healthy eyesight? Here are some fundamental don’ts and do’s concerning about eye care:
DON’TS
* Never stare on any bright objects most especially the sun since they can surely damage your eyesight. With regards to TV screens and computer monitors, try to lower their brightness.
* Do not engage on paper and writing works when there isn’t a sufficient light. Writing and reading can cause so much stress to your eyes. To manage this problem, you can use a soft white light but make sure that it does not produce a glare that gives a reflection directly to your eyes.
* Never stare on TV screens or computer monitors for a long time. Studies have suggested that after 20 minutes of staring at the screen, look away about 20 feet ahead of you for 20 seconds. This is what they call the 20-20-20 rule. This rule can assist you in reducing strains to your eyes. You may also want to blink every 10 seconds to provide lubrication to your eyes. Sometimes, it is a fact that when we are too preoccupied with our work, we tend to forget blinking which makes the strain continuous.
* Of course, smoking should be ceased and avoid second-hand smoke as well. Studies have confirmed that smoking has a link to macular degeneration, cataract as well as damage to the optic nerve. All of these serious conditions can lead to blindness.
* Try to limit your eyes from being exposed to dusty places.
DO’S
* Eat foods rich in vitamin A and other sources that are good for maintaining good eyesight. Examples of these foods are dark leafy greens (broccoli, spinach). Watermelons contain lutein which is very healthy for the eyes. Lastly, eat fishes that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
* Engage in regular exercises and deep breathing sessions. A regular exercise can decrease eye strains by approximately twenty percent. Moreover, deep breathing exercises also have the same effect. These two methods are very helpful to those individuals with glaucoma since this disorder may cause headache and an increase in intraocular pressure.
* Wear sunglasses when on outdoor locations. It is true that wearing sunglasses can make you look dashing but the primary function of these products is to shield your eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
* Make proper hand washing your daily habit. Though it is discouraged to rub our eyes using our hands, there are moments that we tend to forget this advice. That is why it is highly encouraged to maintain the habit of proper hand washing just in case we accidentally rub our eyes. However, let us always practice ourselves to minimize this bad habit.
* Rest your eyes most especially if you do not need to use them. An example of this advice is when talking over the phone. Since you do not need to open your eyes while talking, just close them and within that moment, your eyes are being rested.
* Regularly check your blood sugar. Diabetics are known to experience a high risk of eye disease. A study confirmed that proper management of blood sugar greatly declines the risk of diabetic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. If you are a diabetic, a yearly consultation with your eye specialist is highly suggested.
* If possible, get a yearly eye check-up. Usually, conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration do not give warning signs; hence, visiting an eye specialist is the only way to make sure that you are not experiencing the first stage of these eye disorders.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Canon U.S.A.'s Newest Retinal Camera, the Cr-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic, Receives FDA Clearence
By Canon, Inc.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., November 16, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the Canon CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)1.
Integrating the latest in Canon's retinal imaging technology and enhancements in a compact frame, the Canon CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera is the Company's newest and lightest retinal camera to date, weighing only 33 pounds. The CR-2 retinal camera can be easily installed or for added convenience, can be easily transported when needed. The illuminated control panel allows medical staff to easily navigate operations in darkened rooms. Contributing to a lower total-cost-of-ownership, the white LED lamp used in the CR-2 retinal camera uses less power than a xenon tube and lasts approximately twice as long, which can help to reduce energy costs in medical facilities.
"Obtaining FDA clearance of the CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera helps reaffirm our commitment to eye care professionals by instituting superb imaging technology and in turn, contributing to the quality care of their patients." said Tsuneo Imai, senior director and general manager, Medical Systems Division, Canon U.S.A.
The CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera joins Canon's complete line of total digital imaging solutions and workflow management solutions for ophthalmic professionals. The CR-2 retinal camera is available for purchase through authorized Canon dealers.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2010 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Global Brands." Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., November 16, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the Canon CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)1.
Integrating the latest in Canon's retinal imaging technology and enhancements in a compact frame, the Canon CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera is the Company's newest and lightest retinal camera to date, weighing only 33 pounds. The CR-2 retinal camera can be easily installed or for added convenience, can be easily transported when needed. The illuminated control panel allows medical staff to easily navigate operations in darkened rooms. Contributing to a lower total-cost-of-ownership, the white LED lamp used in the CR-2 retinal camera uses less power than a xenon tube and lasts approximately twice as long, which can help to reduce energy costs in medical facilities.
"Obtaining FDA clearance of the CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera helps reaffirm our commitment to eye care professionals by instituting superb imaging technology and in turn, contributing to the quality care of their patients." said Tsuneo Imai, senior director and general manager, Medical Systems Division, Canon U.S.A.
The CR-2 Digital Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera joins Canon's complete line of total digital imaging solutions and workflow management solutions for ophthalmic professionals. The CR-2 retinal camera is available for purchase through authorized Canon dealers.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2010 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Global Brands." Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Ophthalmologists Experience Visual Maladies To Improve Care for Patients
by Dave McKinley & Dooley O'Rourke
BUFFALO, NY - It is said one can learn much by walking a mile in another person's shoes.
Such was the case Thursday night at the Olmsted Center for Sight on Main Street, where a unique exercise was held to help physicians provide better care for their patients.
"Well we came up with this crazy idea actually," said the center's Director of Marketing Linda Wiecek, in describing how two dozen area Ophthalmologists were invited to sit down for dinner, in a fashion which would allow them to share their patients' view of the world --or lack thereof.
Upon their arrival each doctor was asked to choose a festive mardi gras style mask to wear at the event.
However, the eye holes of each mask were outfitted with occluders, to simulate one of the four most common causes of visual impairments.
Upon donning a mask to simulate macular degeneration, Dr. Paul Lee suddenly found that the middle of his field of vision had been impaired.
"Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the country, and often times its irreversible so the earlier you diagnose it the better we can treat you," Dr. Lee told WGRZ-TV.
In contrast, Dr. Melissa Neal selected a mask outfitted to simulate the effects of glaucoma, and set about discovering what it was like for a person with impaired peripheral vision.
"In my former practice, I treated a lot of patients with glaucoma and I kind of have a passion for it," she explained
After socializing, and struggling a bit with their new found disabilities, the doctors sat down for dinner...then the lights were turned out.
They proceeded to dine as many of their patients do -- in the dark.
Some gingerly set about consuming their meals, at times struggling to find their drinking glasses or silverware and put fork-to plate-to mouth.
The whole idea of temporarily disabling their sight was to make them better doctors by seeing through the eyes of their patients.
"It's tougher than I thought," said Dr. Lee. "I kept on bumping into my colleagues ...it's a whole lot different than I really thought it was going to be."
"I'll never truly understand (living with glaucoma) because when things got more difficult I could just take my mask off," Said Dr. Neal. "But it does give me a little bit more sympathy and understanding for my patients and their frustrations," she said.
BUFFALO, NY - It is said one can learn much by walking a mile in another person's shoes.
Such was the case Thursday night at the Olmsted Center for Sight on Main Street, where a unique exercise was held to help physicians provide better care for their patients.
"Well we came up with this crazy idea actually," said the center's Director of Marketing Linda Wiecek, in describing how two dozen area Ophthalmologists were invited to sit down for dinner, in a fashion which would allow them to share their patients' view of the world --or lack thereof.
Upon their arrival each doctor was asked to choose a festive mardi gras style mask to wear at the event.
However, the eye holes of each mask were outfitted with occluders, to simulate one of the four most common causes of visual impairments.
Upon donning a mask to simulate macular degeneration, Dr. Paul Lee suddenly found that the middle of his field of vision had been impaired.
"Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the country, and often times its irreversible so the earlier you diagnose it the better we can treat you," Dr. Lee told WGRZ-TV.
In contrast, Dr. Melissa Neal selected a mask outfitted to simulate the effects of glaucoma, and set about discovering what it was like for a person with impaired peripheral vision.
"In my former practice, I treated a lot of patients with glaucoma and I kind of have a passion for it," she explained
After socializing, and struggling a bit with their new found disabilities, the doctors sat down for dinner...then the lights were turned out.
They proceeded to dine as many of their patients do -- in the dark.
Some gingerly set about consuming their meals, at times struggling to find their drinking glasses or silverware and put fork-to plate-to mouth.
The whole idea of temporarily disabling their sight was to make them better doctors by seeing through the eyes of their patients.
"It's tougher than I thought," said Dr. Lee. "I kept on bumping into my colleagues ...it's a whole lot different than I really thought it was going to be."
"I'll never truly understand (living with glaucoma) because when things got more difficult I could just take my mask off," Said Dr. Neal. "But it does give me a little bit more sympathy and understanding for my patients and their frustrations," she said.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Calvert Research Awarded $245,000 to support futher Development of its Age-Related Macular Degeneration Drug Candidate
By Calvert Research
Calvert Research, LLC announced today that one of the Company’s therapeutic development programs (T1-1081) qualified to receive federal grant funding totaling approximately $245,000 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“The ACT”), which will be used to help advance T1-1081 toward an IND application filing.
The Act created a $1.0 billion federal program to provide grants or tax credits to help support certain “Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Projects” that have been designated by the Department of Health and Human Services using the following criteria: (a) the potential to create a novel therapy to treat unmet medical needs; (b) the potential to reduce long-term health care costs in the U.S., and (c) be among those projects with the greatest potential to create and sustain jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.
T1-1081 is currently undergoing preclinical evaluation as a potentially more effective treatment for the wet form of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is a major cause of significant vision loss in people over age 50 affecting millions worldwide. T1-1081 was specifically designed to affect multiple factors that lead to vision loss by targeting and destroying unwanted blood vessels in the back of the eye that cause this disease, by blocking formation of new blood vessels, and by reducing inflammation that damages retinal cells. T1-1081 also has the potential to treat other serious ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, and the dry form of AMD
“We are very pleased to have been awarded the maximum amount from this competitive grant program, which will be used to help advance T1-1081 toward human clinical studies,” said Dr. Michael A. Recny, President of Calvert Research. “We licensed rights to develop and commercialize T1-1081 from Tulane University in 2009, and it represents a key component of our strategy to assemble a diverse portfolio of novel preclinical stage therapeutic compounds that we can advance quickly and efficiently toward human studies by leveraging our extensive in-house preclinical development expertise together with our preferred network of contract service partners”.
About Calvert Research
Commercial success in building the next generation of therapeutic drugs begins with identifying and acquiring the rights to the best potential drug candidates from top academic institutions and early stage biotechnology companies. Calvert Research has long-established relationships with the leaders in over 160 academic technology transfer departments across North America and thousands of researchers at these institutions to source the best opportunities for investment.
Calvert Research designs a customized, integrated approach for each new drug candidate it acquired by utilizing senior scientists who have world-class experience in the design and submission of IND enabling preclinical development studies to regulatory agencies worldwide. Since 2004, Calvert Research has invested in four preclinical stage therapeutic development programs, and to date has achieved three successful exits from selling or sublicensing rights to commercial partners, demonstrating a proven track record of success.
About Calvert Holdings, Inc.
Formed in 1996, Calvert Holdings, Inc. (http://www.calvertholdings.com) is a privately-held company consisting of a diverse portfolio of companies including Calvert Labs, Calvert Research, Calvert Corporate Funding, and Calvert Creative.
Calvert Holdings is a company of people who are passionately engaged in contributing to the future well being of the planet we live on. By analyzing how emerging discoveries and current trends will affect future global needs, we position resources and apply our skills to meet them.
About Calvert Labs
As a global service provider, Calvert Labs' core offerings include toxicology (acute through chronic & carcinogenicity plus reproductive and developmental), pharmacokinetics & ADME, pharmacology, safety pharmacology, immunotoxicology and immunology.
About Calvert Corporate Funding
Calvert Corporate Funding has emerged from its parent, Calvert Holdings, Inc., to address the needs of small and mid-sized companies seeking an alternative source of capital from traditional banking and lending institutions. Recent economic challenges, financial reform, and bank credit restrictions have created a need for viable options to be made available to business owners and operators.
In addition to its extensive network of non-bank lenders, Calvert Corporate Funding is a direct representative of the Global Finance Group, whose network includes a consortium of seventeen non-bank lenders. This array of investors specializes in lending to credit-worthy business owners/operators using creative financial packages. Due to our extensive banking and asset-based lending experience, we are able to identify the optimum lender/company match.
Calvert Research, LLC announced today that one of the Company’s therapeutic development programs (T1-1081) qualified to receive federal grant funding totaling approximately $245,000 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“The ACT”), which will be used to help advance T1-1081 toward an IND application filing.
The Act created a $1.0 billion federal program to provide grants or tax credits to help support certain “Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Projects” that have been designated by the Department of Health and Human Services using the following criteria: (a) the potential to create a novel therapy to treat unmet medical needs; (b) the potential to reduce long-term health care costs in the U.S., and (c) be among those projects with the greatest potential to create and sustain jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.
T1-1081 is currently undergoing preclinical evaluation as a potentially more effective treatment for the wet form of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is a major cause of significant vision loss in people over age 50 affecting millions worldwide. T1-1081 was specifically designed to affect multiple factors that lead to vision loss by targeting and destroying unwanted blood vessels in the back of the eye that cause this disease, by blocking formation of new blood vessels, and by reducing inflammation that damages retinal cells. T1-1081 also has the potential to treat other serious ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, and the dry form of AMD
“We are very pleased to have been awarded the maximum amount from this competitive grant program, which will be used to help advance T1-1081 toward human clinical studies,” said Dr. Michael A. Recny, President of Calvert Research. “We licensed rights to develop and commercialize T1-1081 from Tulane University in 2009, and it represents a key component of our strategy to assemble a diverse portfolio of novel preclinical stage therapeutic compounds that we can advance quickly and efficiently toward human studies by leveraging our extensive in-house preclinical development expertise together with our preferred network of contract service partners”.
About Calvert Research
Commercial success in building the next generation of therapeutic drugs begins with identifying and acquiring the rights to the best potential drug candidates from top academic institutions and early stage biotechnology companies. Calvert Research has long-established relationships with the leaders in over 160 academic technology transfer departments across North America and thousands of researchers at these institutions to source the best opportunities for investment.
Calvert Research designs a customized, integrated approach for each new drug candidate it acquired by utilizing senior scientists who have world-class experience in the design and submission of IND enabling preclinical development studies to regulatory agencies worldwide. Since 2004, Calvert Research has invested in four preclinical stage therapeutic development programs, and to date has achieved three successful exits from selling or sublicensing rights to commercial partners, demonstrating a proven track record of success.
About Calvert Holdings, Inc.
Formed in 1996, Calvert Holdings, Inc. (http://www.calvertholdings.com) is a privately-held company consisting of a diverse portfolio of companies including Calvert Labs, Calvert Research, Calvert Corporate Funding, and Calvert Creative.
Calvert Holdings is a company of people who are passionately engaged in contributing to the future well being of the planet we live on. By analyzing how emerging discoveries and current trends will affect future global needs, we position resources and apply our skills to meet them.
About Calvert Labs
As a global service provider, Calvert Labs' core offerings include toxicology (acute through chronic & carcinogenicity plus reproductive and developmental), pharmacokinetics & ADME, pharmacology, safety pharmacology, immunotoxicology and immunology.
About Calvert Corporate Funding
Calvert Corporate Funding has emerged from its parent, Calvert Holdings, Inc., to address the needs of small and mid-sized companies seeking an alternative source of capital from traditional banking and lending institutions. Recent economic challenges, financial reform, and bank credit restrictions have created a need for viable options to be made available to business owners and operators.
In addition to its extensive network of non-bank lenders, Calvert Corporate Funding is a direct representative of the Global Finance Group, whose network includes a consortium of seventeen non-bank lenders. This array of investors specializes in lending to credit-worthy business owners/operators using creative financial packages. Due to our extensive banking and asset-based lending experience, we are able to identify the optimum lender/company match.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
American Eye-Q survey shows men and women don't see eye- to-eye on vision health
October 28, 2010
According to the AOA annual American Eye-Q® survey, men and women have different views and habits when it comes to eye and vision health. From seasonal allergies to ultraviolet protection to the best foods for eye health, the survey finds men and women are on different sides of the fence.
“While there is disagreement, the good news is the majority of both men and women understand the importance of maintaining eye and visual health through regular comprehensive eye exams,” said Dori Carlson, O.D., president-elect of the AOA. “But as a wife, it’s not surprising to me that men and women can have differing points of view.”
“Regardless of a patient’s gender, an assessment from an optometrist is a significant part of preventive health care,” said Mark Helgeson, O.D., husband of Dr. Carlson. “Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis may be caught during a comprehensive eye exam.”
Seasonal eye allergies
According to the American Eye-Q® survey, more women (73 percent) than men (67 percent) report suffering from seasonal eye allergies that cause itchy and watery eyes. Surprisingly though, more men (16 percent) than women (9 percent) have missed work because of seasonal eye allergies. Men listed the top two things that allergies interfere with on a daily basis as participating in recreational outdoor activities (37 percent) and sleep (36 percent). Women cited participating in recreational outdoor activities and the ability to think or concentrate (both at 27 percent).
UV protection for the eyes
When it comes to protecting against the sun’s damaging rays, more women (35 percent) than men (28 percent) are concerned with checking for UV protection when purchasing sunglasses. The survey also showed more men (36 percent) than women (27 percent) mistakenly believe name-brand sunglasses are better for your eyes and offer more protection than generic or less expensive sunglasses.
“Overexposure of the eyes to UV rays is serious and can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or, in some cases, skin cancer around the eyelids,” said Dr. Helgeson. “The ladies win in this case; you should always look for sunglasses that offer good protection, blocking 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screening out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.”
Nutrition and eye health
According to the American Eye-Q® survey, the majority of men and women believe carrots are the best food for your eyes. Slightly more men (14 percent) than women (11 percent), however, correctly identified spinach as a better food for promoting eye health.
“In fact, spinach and other dark leafy greens are the healthiest foods for the eyes because they naturally contain large amounts of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that can help protect against diseases like age-related macular degeneration,” said Dr. Carlson.
Computer Vision Syndrome
The AOA defines computer vision syndrome (CVS) as a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use. Regular eye care and changes in behavior can help alleviate CVS.
For every 20 minutes of computer viewing, the AOA recommends looking into the distance for 20 seconds to give your eyes a chance to refocus.
The survey shows more men (59 percent) than women (53 percent) experience vision issues from using tech devices like computers. Women (17 percent) came out ahead of men (13 percent), though, when it comes to taking visual breaks every 20 minutes. The majority of both men and women said they take breaks every 30 to 60 minutes.
Aging eyes
The survey results indicated that 40 is the most common age at which Americans begin noticing changes in their vision. However, the way in which men and women cope with age-related eye problems differ.
Men use brighter lights when performing tasks (36 percent), while women limit their night driving (35 percent). Men and women agree that their biggest concern related to developing serious vision problems is being unable to live independently. For women, the next biggest concern is being unable to read, while for men it was not being able to see their loved ones.
Additional interesting findings
Bad habits are hard to break for both sexes. When asked what is the longest they’d worn daily disposable contact lenses before replacing them, the top response among men was one week (27 percent), while women indicated two months or longer (27 percent).
With the popularity of 3-D televisions on the rise, it’s no surprise more men (35 percent) than women (16 percent) are considering purchasing one in the future.
Comprehensive eye exams
Even though men and women vary in their eye and vision behaviors, the majority of both sexes indicated they have seen an eye doctor within the last two years. Many eye and vision problems don’t have obvious signs or symptoms, so problems can often be undetected.
Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems are important for maintaining good vision and eye health, and when possible, preventing vision loss.
Comprehensive eye exams are designed to:
* Evaluate the functional status of the eyes, taking into account special vision demands and needs
* Assess vision health and related systemic health conditions
* Determine a diagnosis (or diagnoses)
* Formulate a treatment and management plan
* Counsel and educate patients about their visual, ocular and related systemic health care status, including recommendations for treatment, management and future care
Consumers are encouraged to find an optometrist in their area and get more information on eye and vision health by visiting www.aoa.org.
According to the AOA annual American Eye-Q® survey, men and women have different views and habits when it comes to eye and vision health. From seasonal allergies to ultraviolet protection to the best foods for eye health, the survey finds men and women are on different sides of the fence.
“While there is disagreement, the good news is the majority of both men and women understand the importance of maintaining eye and visual health through regular comprehensive eye exams,” said Dori Carlson, O.D., president-elect of the AOA. “But as a wife, it’s not surprising to me that men and women can have differing points of view.”
“Regardless of a patient’s gender, an assessment from an optometrist is a significant part of preventive health care,” said Mark Helgeson, O.D., husband of Dr. Carlson. “Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis may be caught during a comprehensive eye exam.”
Seasonal eye allergies
According to the American Eye-Q® survey, more women (73 percent) than men (67 percent) report suffering from seasonal eye allergies that cause itchy and watery eyes. Surprisingly though, more men (16 percent) than women (9 percent) have missed work because of seasonal eye allergies. Men listed the top two things that allergies interfere with on a daily basis as participating in recreational outdoor activities (37 percent) and sleep (36 percent). Women cited participating in recreational outdoor activities and the ability to think or concentrate (both at 27 percent).
UV protection for the eyes
When it comes to protecting against the sun’s damaging rays, more women (35 percent) than men (28 percent) are concerned with checking for UV protection when purchasing sunglasses. The survey also showed more men (36 percent) than women (27 percent) mistakenly believe name-brand sunglasses are better for your eyes and offer more protection than generic or less expensive sunglasses.
“Overexposure of the eyes to UV rays is serious and can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or, in some cases, skin cancer around the eyelids,” said Dr. Helgeson. “The ladies win in this case; you should always look for sunglasses that offer good protection, blocking 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screening out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.”
Nutrition and eye health
According to the American Eye-Q® survey, the majority of men and women believe carrots are the best food for your eyes. Slightly more men (14 percent) than women (11 percent), however, correctly identified spinach as a better food for promoting eye health.
“In fact, spinach and other dark leafy greens are the healthiest foods for the eyes because they naturally contain large amounts of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that can help protect against diseases like age-related macular degeneration,” said Dr. Carlson.
Computer Vision Syndrome
The AOA defines computer vision syndrome (CVS) as a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use. Regular eye care and changes in behavior can help alleviate CVS.
For every 20 minutes of computer viewing, the AOA recommends looking into the distance for 20 seconds to give your eyes a chance to refocus.
The survey shows more men (59 percent) than women (53 percent) experience vision issues from using tech devices like computers. Women (17 percent) came out ahead of men (13 percent), though, when it comes to taking visual breaks every 20 minutes. The majority of both men and women said they take breaks every 30 to 60 minutes.
Aging eyes
The survey results indicated that 40 is the most common age at which Americans begin noticing changes in their vision. However, the way in which men and women cope with age-related eye problems differ.
Men use brighter lights when performing tasks (36 percent), while women limit their night driving (35 percent). Men and women agree that their biggest concern related to developing serious vision problems is being unable to live independently. For women, the next biggest concern is being unable to read, while for men it was not being able to see their loved ones.
Additional interesting findings
Bad habits are hard to break for both sexes. When asked what is the longest they’d worn daily disposable contact lenses before replacing them, the top response among men was one week (27 percent), while women indicated two months or longer (27 percent).
With the popularity of 3-D televisions on the rise, it’s no surprise more men (35 percent) than women (16 percent) are considering purchasing one in the future.
Comprehensive eye exams
Even though men and women vary in their eye and vision behaviors, the majority of both sexes indicated they have seen an eye doctor within the last two years. Many eye and vision problems don’t have obvious signs or symptoms, so problems can often be undetected.
Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems are important for maintaining good vision and eye health, and when possible, preventing vision loss.
Comprehensive eye exams are designed to:
* Evaluate the functional status of the eyes, taking into account special vision demands and needs
* Assess vision health and related systemic health conditions
* Determine a diagnosis (or diagnoses)
* Formulate a treatment and management plan
* Counsel and educate patients about their visual, ocular and related systemic health care status, including recommendations for treatment, management and future care
Consumers are encouraged to find an optometrist in their area and get more information on eye and vision health by visiting www.aoa.org.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Synexus sets its sights on ophthalmology
SynexusPosted on:25 Oct 10
Synexus is set to take part in a number of global ophthalmology trials following recent investment in clinical research expertise and technology in this area.
Chief Executive, Dr Christophe Berthoux says that ophthalmology offers considerable growth potential for Synexus: “There is significant demand for new ocular drugs, not only for currently untreatable conditions, but also for improved treatments for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and this is set to increase the size of the market, making it attractive to more pharma companies. There have been relatively few new drugs brought to market in this area, for example, between 1995 and 2003, there were no new ocular drugs approved by the FDA, and until recently this area of drug development was dominated by only a few companies. Our recent involvement in this field indicates that this is changing and that more companies will be extending their operations into ophthalmology.”
Clinical trials in ophthalmology have historically suffered from a shortage of ophthalmologists with expertise in drug development, and also from the need for investment in expensive screening and diagnostic equipment. Synexus has a proven track record of investing in state-of-the-art technology in order to deliver clinical trials results and also experience of teaming up with leading specialists who work exclusively on their trials. This approach is already proving popular in the ophthalmology field according to Chief Operating Officer, Jane Restorick: “Our expansion earlier this year, with a significantly increased presence in the CEE, puts Synexus in a very strong position to deliver the right patients for ophthalmology trials. Changes in global population demographics, in particular the increasingly ageing population, necessitate the speeding up of ocular drug development, and the need for a greater number of more effective treatments for eye disorders. The way Synexus operates means that we can respond quickly with investment in equipment and in clinical expertise.”
There are an estimated 45 million blind people and 135 million visually impaired people worldwide. Age-related macular degeneration (40%), glaucoma (13%) and diabetic retinopathy (8%) are the three most common causes of visual impairment and blindness. Clinical trials in the ophthalmology area are vital to speed up progress in dealing with serious eye diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and eye herpes.
Synexus is set to take part in a number of global ophthalmology trials following recent investment in clinical research expertise and technology in this area.
Chief Executive, Dr Christophe Berthoux says that ophthalmology offers considerable growth potential for Synexus: “There is significant demand for new ocular drugs, not only for currently untreatable conditions, but also for improved treatments for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and this is set to increase the size of the market, making it attractive to more pharma companies. There have been relatively few new drugs brought to market in this area, for example, between 1995 and 2003, there were no new ocular drugs approved by the FDA, and until recently this area of drug development was dominated by only a few companies. Our recent involvement in this field indicates that this is changing and that more companies will be extending their operations into ophthalmology.”
Clinical trials in ophthalmology have historically suffered from a shortage of ophthalmologists with expertise in drug development, and also from the need for investment in expensive screening and diagnostic equipment. Synexus has a proven track record of investing in state-of-the-art technology in order to deliver clinical trials results and also experience of teaming up with leading specialists who work exclusively on their trials. This approach is already proving popular in the ophthalmology field according to Chief Operating Officer, Jane Restorick: “Our expansion earlier this year, with a significantly increased presence in the CEE, puts Synexus in a very strong position to deliver the right patients for ophthalmology trials. Changes in global population demographics, in particular the increasingly ageing population, necessitate the speeding up of ocular drug development, and the need for a greater number of more effective treatments for eye disorders. The way Synexus operates means that we can respond quickly with investment in equipment and in clinical expertise.”
There are an estimated 45 million blind people and 135 million visually impaired people worldwide. Age-related macular degeneration (40%), glaucoma (13%) and diabetic retinopathy (8%) are the three most common causes of visual impairment and blindness. Clinical trials in the ophthalmology area are vital to speed up progress in dealing with serious eye diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and eye herpes.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Eyetech Announces Program to Develop Extended-Release Formulation of Macugen
by mincho2008
Eyetech Inc. announced today a program to develop an extended-release formulation of Macugen® (pegaptanib sodium injection) using microparticles technology. Macugen, a selective inhibitor of VEGF-165, is approved for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD). The goal of the Macugen extended-release formulation is to decrease the frequency of dosing from every six weeks to every four to six months. Eyetech is collaborating with SurModics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading drug delivery company, to develop the extended-release version of Macugen under a licensing and development agreement that was signed in 2005. The development program was announced today at the second annual Ophthalmology Innovation Summit in Chicago.
"An extended-release formulation of Macugen could offer several potential advantages to physicians, patients with neovascular AMD and their families, including a more convenient dosing schedule, improved compliance, and a lower risk of complications related to the injection," said Scott W. Cousins, M.D., project leader for the Macugen Microparticles Program and vice-chair of research in the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. "I look forward to advancing the Microparticles development program."
Neovascular AMD is a chronic condition that requires long-tem treatment. Recent studies evaluating the injection frequency and visual outcomes using anti-VEGF therapies have shown that giving the treatments on an 'as needed' basis leads to under-treatment and significantly less vision gains.(i) In addition, recently published and presented clinical studies have investigated anti-VEGF therapy as a potential treatment for patients with other retina diseases, such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). New drug delivery technologies may be of interest to physicians who serve these patient populations.
Mike Atieh, executive chairman of Eyetech Inc., said: "The announcement of the Microparticles program demonstrates our commitment to addressing the needs of the retina community and collaborating to provide safe and effective treatment options for patients suffering from retina disease."
Eyetech Inc. has the worldwide rights to the Macugen Microparticles program.
About Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a chronic, progressive disease of the central portion of the retina called the macula, resulting in the loss of central vision. The most common symptoms are a central blurred or blank spot, distortion of objects or simply blurred vision. Peripheral vision usually remains intact. AMD is classified into two forms: atrophic, referred to as dry AMD, and neovascular or wet AMD.
In neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow and leak into the macula, resulting in loss of vision. Neovascular AMD is the more severe form of the disease and progresses more rapidly than the dry type. Although it accounts for only about 10-15 percent of all macular degeneration cases, neovascular AMD is responsible for 90 percent of blindness caused by the disease.
About Macugen
Macugen, a selective inhibitor of VEGF-165, is indicated in the United States for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD) and is administered in a 0.3-mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection. Macugen is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer, which binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two pathological processes that contribute to the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD.
Eyetech Inc. markets and sells Macugen in the United States and Pfizer Inc. markets and sells Macugen outside of the United States. For full prescribing information about Macugen, please visit http://www.macugen.com/.
Important Safety Information
Macugen is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections or with known hypersensitivity to pegaptanib sodium or any other excipient of this product.
Safety or efficacy of Macugen beyond two years has not been demonstrated.
Intravitreal injections including those with Macugen have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique -- which includes use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent) -- should always be utilized when administering Macugen. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment, should an infection occur.
Increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) have been seen within 30 minutes of injection with Macugen. Therefore, IOP as well as the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.
Rare cases of anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, including angioedema, have been reported in postmarketing experience following the intravitreal administration procedure.
Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in less than 1% of intravitreal injections included endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and iatrogenic traumatic cataract.
Most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated for up to two years were anterior chamber inflammation, blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hypertension, increased IOP, ocular discomfort, punctate keratitis, reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance, vitreous floaters, and vitreous opacities. These events occurred in approximately 10% to 40% of patients.
About Eyetech Inc.
Eyetech Inc. is a unique, independent 100% employee-owned and operated biotechnology company dedicated exclusively to the treatment of sight-threatening diseases of the retina.
Eyetech Inc. announced today a program to develop an extended-release formulation of Macugen® (pegaptanib sodium injection) using microparticles technology. Macugen, a selective inhibitor of VEGF-165, is approved for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD). The goal of the Macugen extended-release formulation is to decrease the frequency of dosing from every six weeks to every four to six months. Eyetech is collaborating with SurModics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading drug delivery company, to develop the extended-release version of Macugen under a licensing and development agreement that was signed in 2005. The development program was announced today at the second annual Ophthalmology Innovation Summit in Chicago.
"An extended-release formulation of Macugen could offer several potential advantages to physicians, patients with neovascular AMD and their families, including a more convenient dosing schedule, improved compliance, and a lower risk of complications related to the injection," said Scott W. Cousins, M.D., project leader for the Macugen Microparticles Program and vice-chair of research in the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. "I look forward to advancing the Microparticles development program."
Neovascular AMD is a chronic condition that requires long-tem treatment. Recent studies evaluating the injection frequency and visual outcomes using anti-VEGF therapies have shown that giving the treatments on an 'as needed' basis leads to under-treatment and significantly less vision gains.(i) In addition, recently published and presented clinical studies have investigated anti-VEGF therapy as a potential treatment for patients with other retina diseases, such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). New drug delivery technologies may be of interest to physicians who serve these patient populations.
Mike Atieh, executive chairman of Eyetech Inc., said: "The announcement of the Microparticles program demonstrates our commitment to addressing the needs of the retina community and collaborating to provide safe and effective treatment options for patients suffering from retina disease."
Eyetech Inc. has the worldwide rights to the Macugen Microparticles program.
About Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a chronic, progressive disease of the central portion of the retina called the macula, resulting in the loss of central vision. The most common symptoms are a central blurred or blank spot, distortion of objects or simply blurred vision. Peripheral vision usually remains intact. AMD is classified into two forms: atrophic, referred to as dry AMD, and neovascular or wet AMD.
In neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow and leak into the macula, resulting in loss of vision. Neovascular AMD is the more severe form of the disease and progresses more rapidly than the dry type. Although it accounts for only about 10-15 percent of all macular degeneration cases, neovascular AMD is responsible for 90 percent of blindness caused by the disease.
About Macugen
Macugen, a selective inhibitor of VEGF-165, is indicated in the United States for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD) and is administered in a 0.3-mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection. Macugen is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer, which binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two pathological processes that contribute to the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD.
Eyetech Inc. markets and sells Macugen in the United States and Pfizer Inc. markets and sells Macugen outside of the United States. For full prescribing information about Macugen, please visit http://www.macugen.com/.
Important Safety Information
Macugen is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections or with known hypersensitivity to pegaptanib sodium or any other excipient of this product.
Safety or efficacy of Macugen beyond two years has not been demonstrated.
Intravitreal injections including those with Macugen have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique -- which includes use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent) -- should always be utilized when administering Macugen. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment, should an infection occur.
Increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) have been seen within 30 minutes of injection with Macugen. Therefore, IOP as well as the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.
Rare cases of anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, including angioedema, have been reported in postmarketing experience following the intravitreal administration procedure.
Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in less than 1% of intravitreal injections included endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and iatrogenic traumatic cataract.
Most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated for up to two years were anterior chamber inflammation, blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hypertension, increased IOP, ocular discomfort, punctate keratitis, reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance, vitreous floaters, and vitreous opacities. These events occurred in approximately 10% to 40% of patients.
About Eyetech Inc.
Eyetech Inc. is a unique, independent 100% employee-owned and operated biotechnology company dedicated exclusively to the treatment of sight-threatening diseases of the retina.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Eye Doctors of Washington, DC Support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By Sarah Bryce
Widely known as specialists in LASIK eye surgery in Washington DC, the Eye Doctors of Washington (EDOW) will be switching gears to support another worthy cause on Friday, October 8th, 2010 at 8:00 am. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in collaboration with the Kane Show and HOT 99.5, the doctors at EDOW will be hosting an event to collect donations and give away prizes to raise awareness for breast cancer. The doctors say they are looking forward to the effect this campaign will have on the community as a whole, as they join together to support the fight against a disease that is estimated to affect more than 200,000 women in 2010.
This October marks the 26th annual celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is a partnership of national public service organizations and medical professionals striving to promote awareness, education, and empowerment of everyone affected by breast cancer. As specialists focusing on providing their patients with LASIK in Washington DC and other effective vision care treatments, the doctors at EDOW say that supporting their community has always been a priority within their practice, which is why they are celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The doctors say their ultimate goal is to improve the lives of their patients, regardless of the cause of their condition, and supporting breast cancer awareness does just that.
Whether performing vision correction procedures or cosmetic enhancements such as Juvederm™ in Washington, DC, the doctors at EDOW say they appreciate the chance to embrace such a worthy cause this October, and believe events like this are extremely important because they make a real difference in the well-being of patients within their community and across the nation.
About EDOW
The Eye Doctors of Washington have been providing high quality eye care for patients in Washington, DC for over 40 years, and was originally founded by a group of professors from the Center for Sight at Georgetown University. They specialize in all types of eye procedures, from routine eye exams, to vision correction procedures and treatment for eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, as well as cosmetic procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic in Washington DC. All of the ophthalmologists at EDOW are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, as well as being fellowship trained in a sub-specialty of eye care. All of the members of EDOW have received scientific and medical awards, serve on a number of advisory boards, and are involved in the advancement of eye care through academic research.
Widely known as specialists in LASIK eye surgery in Washington DC, the Eye Doctors of Washington (EDOW) will be switching gears to support another worthy cause on Friday, October 8th, 2010 at 8:00 am. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in collaboration with the Kane Show and HOT 99.5, the doctors at EDOW will be hosting an event to collect donations and give away prizes to raise awareness for breast cancer. The doctors say they are looking forward to the effect this campaign will have on the community as a whole, as they join together to support the fight against a disease that is estimated to affect more than 200,000 women in 2010.
This October marks the 26th annual celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is a partnership of national public service organizations and medical professionals striving to promote awareness, education, and empowerment of everyone affected by breast cancer. As specialists focusing on providing their patients with LASIK in Washington DC and other effective vision care treatments, the doctors at EDOW say that supporting their community has always been a priority within their practice, which is why they are celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The doctors say their ultimate goal is to improve the lives of their patients, regardless of the cause of their condition, and supporting breast cancer awareness does just that.
Whether performing vision correction procedures or cosmetic enhancements such as Juvederm™ in Washington, DC, the doctors at EDOW say they appreciate the chance to embrace such a worthy cause this October, and believe events like this are extremely important because they make a real difference in the well-being of patients within their community and across the nation.
About EDOW
The Eye Doctors of Washington have been providing high quality eye care for patients in Washington, DC for over 40 years, and was originally founded by a group of professors from the Center for Sight at Georgetown University. They specialize in all types of eye procedures, from routine eye exams, to vision correction procedures and treatment for eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, as well as cosmetic procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic in Washington DC. All of the ophthalmologists at EDOW are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, as well as being fellowship trained in a sub-specialty of eye care. All of the members of EDOW have received scientific and medical awards, serve on a number of advisory boards, and are involved in the advancement of eye care through academic research.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Radio for the Blind on S.C. chopping block
By Carolyn Click
Published: October 03. 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Since she lost her sight four years ago, Margaret Gutman has come to rely on a state-run radio reading program for the blind to provide her with news from the three major South Carolina papers, opinion pieces from local and national commentators, health and gardening news, and the occasional offbeat magazine article.
So when she learned last month that the South Carolina Educational Radio for the Blind, in existence since the 1970s, was set to become another casualty of the state's economic downturn, she was devastated.
“I just think it is cutting out so much of the outside world,” said Gutman, 76, who suffers from wet macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease that causes swift vision loss in the center of a person's field of vision.
Gutman listens “24/7” to the service, she said, often turning on her special receiver late at night when she cannot sleep to hear volunteers read from The State newspaper, The (Charleston) Post and Courier and The Greenville News. Volunteers read local stories, obituaries, op-ed pieces and even the grocery specials — information the sighted skim quickly and take for granted.
Cutting off ‘my outside world'
When you are blind, “You lose your driving privileges ... you lose the ability even to shop, to look at prices on things and to recognize things in grocery stores,” Gutman said Thursday.
“I just feel they are cutting off a big chunk of my life, my outside world to some degree.”
Her husband, retired Air Force Maj. Walter Gutman, already has written to the governor to voice his concern at the loss of the programming — the only service for the blind that focuses on state current events.
James Kirby, commissioner for the S.C. Commission for the Blind, said he understands the pain and frustration of the legally blind South Carolinians who rely on the service, delivered through special receivers tuned to a dedicated sub channel of ETV.
About 5,000 blind residents around the state have the lent receivers in their homes.
But as the agency's budget over the last two years was reduced from $3.9 million to $2.2 million, Kirby said he determined the $120,000 program, run by three staffers with 50 volunteer readers, had to go.
Kirby said he tried to protect the state-funded radio program, along with children's and blind prevention services, even as he worked to make sure there was enough state funding for rehabilitation programs that receive a significant 80-20 federal dollar match.
‘Double whammy'
“When we cut state dollars in those programs, we have a double whammy,” said Kirby, who plans to elicit support in the state Legislature to restore the service.
About four years ago, he noted, Gov. Mark Sanford tried to eliminate the program, an effort that was turned back.
“When we start the budget process in January we are going to seek the restoration of funds,” Kirby said.
That's good news, too, to the 50 volunteers who have contributed a total of 2,700 hours of reading time over the years and believe the program, with its emphasis on volunteers, is about as efficient as any in state government. The local radio programming is supplemented by additional programming.
“In the grand scheme of the state budget this is such a minor amount of money,” said Don Caughman, who has been reading newspaper and magazine articles to his blind listeners for 31 years. “I and other volunteers over the years have given an awful lot of time to give a service that didn't cost the state anything. It's a little bit annoying to me that it gets lumped in with everything else.”
Caughman began volunteering one morning a week before work, then two.
Since his retirement from BellSouth in 2000, he spends three early mornings inside one of the four sound booths at the studio.
“I try to think about people listening as I talk,” Caughman said. “I try to do it with a certain amount of enthusiasm and proper enunciation.”
Don Siebert, a retired University of South Carolina English professor who created a half-hour show “All About Words” for the blind audience, agrees.
“It seems like the defenseless are the first cut,” said Siebert, who like other volunteers had to audition to become a reader. “This isn't the biggest tragedy in the world, obviously, but it is a shame given how little it costs. It's a symptom of this whole climate of cutting, cutting, cutting.”
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more
Published: October 03. 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Since she lost her sight four years ago, Margaret Gutman has come to rely on a state-run radio reading program for the blind to provide her with news from the three major South Carolina papers, opinion pieces from local and national commentators, health and gardening news, and the occasional offbeat magazine article.
So when she learned last month that the South Carolina Educational Radio for the Blind, in existence since the 1970s, was set to become another casualty of the state's economic downturn, she was devastated.
“I just think it is cutting out so much of the outside world,” said Gutman, 76, who suffers from wet macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease that causes swift vision loss in the center of a person's field of vision.
Gutman listens “24/7” to the service, she said, often turning on her special receiver late at night when she cannot sleep to hear volunteers read from The State newspaper, The (Charleston) Post and Courier and The Greenville News. Volunteers read local stories, obituaries, op-ed pieces and even the grocery specials — information the sighted skim quickly and take for granted.
Cutting off ‘my outside world'
When you are blind, “You lose your driving privileges ... you lose the ability even to shop, to look at prices on things and to recognize things in grocery stores,” Gutman said Thursday.
“I just feel they are cutting off a big chunk of my life, my outside world to some degree.”
Her husband, retired Air Force Maj. Walter Gutman, already has written to the governor to voice his concern at the loss of the programming — the only service for the blind that focuses on state current events.
James Kirby, commissioner for the S.C. Commission for the Blind, said he understands the pain and frustration of the legally blind South Carolinians who rely on the service, delivered through special receivers tuned to a dedicated sub channel of ETV.
About 5,000 blind residents around the state have the lent receivers in their homes.
But as the agency's budget over the last two years was reduced from $3.9 million to $2.2 million, Kirby said he determined the $120,000 program, run by three staffers with 50 volunteer readers, had to go.
Kirby said he tried to protect the state-funded radio program, along with children's and blind prevention services, even as he worked to make sure there was enough state funding for rehabilitation programs that receive a significant 80-20 federal dollar match.
‘Double whammy'
“When we cut state dollars in those programs, we have a double whammy,” said Kirby, who plans to elicit support in the state Legislature to restore the service.
About four years ago, he noted, Gov. Mark Sanford tried to eliminate the program, an effort that was turned back.
“When we start the budget process in January we are going to seek the restoration of funds,” Kirby said.
That's good news, too, to the 50 volunteers who have contributed a total of 2,700 hours of reading time over the years and believe the program, with its emphasis on volunteers, is about as efficient as any in state government. The local radio programming is supplemented by additional programming.
“In the grand scheme of the state budget this is such a minor amount of money,” said Don Caughman, who has been reading newspaper and magazine articles to his blind listeners for 31 years. “I and other volunteers over the years have given an awful lot of time to give a service that didn't cost the state anything. It's a little bit annoying to me that it gets lumped in with everything else.”
Caughman began volunteering one morning a week before work, then two.
Since his retirement from BellSouth in 2000, he spends three early mornings inside one of the four sound booths at the studio.
“I try to think about people listening as I talk,” Caughman said. “I try to do it with a certain amount of enthusiasm and proper enunciation.”
Don Siebert, a retired University of South Carolina English professor who created a half-hour show “All About Words” for the blind audience, agrees.
“It seems like the defenseless are the first cut,” said Siebert, who like other volunteers had to audition to become a reader. “This isn't the biggest tragedy in the world, obviously, but it is a shame given how little it costs. It's a symptom of this whole climate of cutting, cutting, cutting.”
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Week Unites Organizations around the World
NEW YORK, Sept. 17 Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which affects more than 10 million older Americans, continues to be the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. The global cost of the disease according to a recent report is estimated at $343 billion, underscoring the need for swift actions to raise awareness of prevention and treatment options.
During this year's AMD Week, which runs from September 18-26,some of the leading eye-care organizations from 25 countries, has issued a call to action to doctors, patients and caregivers through the public awareness campaign "Don't Surrender to AMD."
This is a promising time for patients as preventative measures and effective, timely treatments have the ability to alter the disease tremendously,but macular disease is only as preventable and manageable as people are knowledgeable. Knowing the facts can significantly improve a person's chances of maintaining healthy vision and a better quality of life."
The National Institutes of Health projects the number of AMD diagnoses to double to 20 million by 2020. Losing vision has devastating consequences to an individual's daily life and those affected by the disease often suffer from severe depression and loss of independence.
However, those at-risk and AMD patients can take steps to reduce needless sight loss. AMD can be prevented or slowed down if a person takes action to keep his or her vision healthy. Along with regular eye exams, the first step is a healthy lifestyle (Don't smoke, take exercise, eat healthily and use sunglasses in bright sunlight). Specially formulated vitamins for those affected by the disease may help, and effective clinically-approved treatments are available for the most severe form of AMD.
In addition, low vision rehabilitation and support services can significantly help patients live with the disease and make the most of their remaining vision.
AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage,we have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year.
Through its "Don't Surrender to AMD" campaign,has increased public education efforts - which will span across print, radio, and digital media, including an interactive e-card - to inform the public of preventative measures and treatment options that are available in the fight against AMD.
During this year's AMD Week, which runs from September 18-26,some of the leading eye-care organizations from 25 countries, has issued a call to action to doctors, patients and caregivers through the public awareness campaign "Don't Surrender to AMD."
This is a promising time for patients as preventative measures and effective, timely treatments have the ability to alter the disease tremendously,but macular disease is only as preventable and manageable as people are knowledgeable. Knowing the facts can significantly improve a person's chances of maintaining healthy vision and a better quality of life."
The National Institutes of Health projects the number of AMD diagnoses to double to 20 million by 2020. Losing vision has devastating consequences to an individual's daily life and those affected by the disease often suffer from severe depression and loss of independence.
However, those at-risk and AMD patients can take steps to reduce needless sight loss. AMD can be prevented or slowed down if a person takes action to keep his or her vision healthy. Along with regular eye exams, the first step is a healthy lifestyle (Don't smoke, take exercise, eat healthily and use sunglasses in bright sunlight). Specially formulated vitamins for those affected by the disease may help, and effective clinically-approved treatments are available for the most severe form of AMD.
In addition, low vision rehabilitation and support services can significantly help patients live with the disease and make the most of their remaining vision.
AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage,we have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year.
Through its "Don't Surrender to AMD" campaign,has increased public education efforts - which will span across print, radio, and digital media, including an interactive e-card - to inform the public of preventative measures and treatment options that are available in the fight against AMD.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Don't Surrender To Macular Degeneration
By ARA
Aging gracefully can require you to accept certain changes in your body, from gray or thinning hair to skin that's less firm than it was in your youth. But loss of vision shouldn't be on your short list of changes that are an inevitable part of growing older.
If you're older than 50, you should know about your eye health and what you can do to prevent or slow vision loss. Age-related macular degeneration, commonly known as AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. AMD affects about 10 million people in the U.S., and that number is projected to double by 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health.
"AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage," says Dr. Alan Cruess, Chairman of AMD Alliance International's Scientific Advisory Panel. "We have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year."
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina (think of it as your eye's internal projection screen) responsible for clear central vision. There are two types of AMD - "dry" and "wet." The dry form affects 85 to 90 percent of people with AMD and causes varying degrees of vision loss, characterized by a collection of deposits in the macula called drusen. Far less common, but much more serious, wet AMD causes severe vision loss, as abnormal blood vessels grow and leak blood and fluid into the eye.
If you take certain measures to keep your eyes healthy, you can prevent AMD or slow its progress. AMD Alliance International suggests taking the following three steps to help prevent and manage AMD.
1. Get regular eye exams
Everyone older than 50 should get regular eye exams. Most people believe they receive eye exams as often as they should. However, according to a recent AMD Alliance International study, only 63 percent of those at risk and 56 percent of those at high risk for AMD have their eyes checked annually. Routine exams can help identify AMD and other eye problems in their early stages, when many diseases are more easily treatable.
2. Understand the risk factors for AMD
By knowing the risk factors, you can take steps to reduce the chance of getting AMD. Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD - if you are 50 or older, you're at risk of developing the disease. Having a family member with AMD can also increase your risk.
While you cannot control your age or genes, there are other risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, obesity, and having high blood pressure, that are controllable.
Quitting smoking reduces your risk for AMD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people who smoke are between two and five and a half times more likely to develop AMD than people who do not smoke.
Studies also suggest that AMD is linked to diets high in saturated fat. Reducing saturated fat consumption and eating more fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables - all foods that are rich in vitamins C and E, selenium and carotenoids - may delay the onset or reduce the severity of AMD. Fish rich in omega-3 fats, like salmon, tuna or mackerel, may also slow the progress of AMD when eaten two to three times a week, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
3. Ask questions and know your treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, your ability to ask the right questions and receive accurate information is crucial. Review "Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Professional" at www.amdalliance.org to help guide the conversation at your next eye exam. Be sure you know your exact diagnosis and all available treatment options.
Specially formulated vitamins can reduce the risk of advanced AMD for some patients. Effective, clinically approved treatments are also available for the most severe form of AMD, which may reverse some vision loss. Make sure you ask your doctor about your options and understand what treatment you are receiving.
People living with macular disease should be able to fully participate in choosing their treatment and healthcare options. Know your rights and download the Patient Charter.
Also, if you're diagnosed with AMD, a low vision rehabilitation specialist can help you use your remaining sight to its full potential through special techniques and low vision aids.
Age-related macular degeneration and the loss of vision can be prevented and slowed down. By learning about the disease and making healthy lifestyle choices, many Americans will be able to enjoy healthy vision well into their golden years.
Aging gracefully can require you to accept certain changes in your body, from gray or thinning hair to skin that's less firm than it was in your youth. But loss of vision shouldn't be on your short list of changes that are an inevitable part of growing older.
If you're older than 50, you should know about your eye health and what you can do to prevent or slow vision loss. Age-related macular degeneration, commonly known as AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. AMD affects about 10 million people in the U.S., and that number is projected to double by 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health.
"AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage," says Dr. Alan Cruess, Chairman of AMD Alliance International's Scientific Advisory Panel. "We have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year."
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina (think of it as your eye's internal projection screen) responsible for clear central vision. There are two types of AMD - "dry" and "wet." The dry form affects 85 to 90 percent of people with AMD and causes varying degrees of vision loss, characterized by a collection of deposits in the macula called drusen. Far less common, but much more serious, wet AMD causes severe vision loss, as abnormal blood vessels grow and leak blood and fluid into the eye.
If you take certain measures to keep your eyes healthy, you can prevent AMD or slow its progress. AMD Alliance International suggests taking the following three steps to help prevent and manage AMD.
1. Get regular eye exams
Everyone older than 50 should get regular eye exams. Most people believe they receive eye exams as often as they should. However, according to a recent AMD Alliance International study, only 63 percent of those at risk and 56 percent of those at high risk for AMD have their eyes checked annually. Routine exams can help identify AMD and other eye problems in their early stages, when many diseases are more easily treatable.
2. Understand the risk factors for AMD
By knowing the risk factors, you can take steps to reduce the chance of getting AMD. Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD - if you are 50 or older, you're at risk of developing the disease. Having a family member with AMD can also increase your risk.
While you cannot control your age or genes, there are other risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, obesity, and having high blood pressure, that are controllable.
Quitting smoking reduces your risk for AMD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people who smoke are between two and five and a half times more likely to develop AMD than people who do not smoke.
Studies also suggest that AMD is linked to diets high in saturated fat. Reducing saturated fat consumption and eating more fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables - all foods that are rich in vitamins C and E, selenium and carotenoids - may delay the onset or reduce the severity of AMD. Fish rich in omega-3 fats, like salmon, tuna or mackerel, may also slow the progress of AMD when eaten two to three times a week, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
3. Ask questions and know your treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, your ability to ask the right questions and receive accurate information is crucial. Review "Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Professional" at www.amdalliance.org to help guide the conversation at your next eye exam. Be sure you know your exact diagnosis and all available treatment options.
Specially formulated vitamins can reduce the risk of advanced AMD for some patients. Effective, clinically approved treatments are also available for the most severe form of AMD, which may reverse some vision loss. Make sure you ask your doctor about your options and understand what treatment you are receiving.
People living with macular disease should be able to fully participate in choosing their treatment and healthcare options. Know your rights and download the Patient Charter.
Also, if you're diagnosed with AMD, a low vision rehabilitation specialist can help you use your remaining sight to its full potential through special techniques and low vision aids.
Age-related macular degeneration and the loss of vision can be prevented and slowed down. By learning about the disease and making healthy lifestyle choices, many Americans will be able to enjoy healthy vision well into their golden years.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Summer Eye-Care Tips: How to Protect Your Peepers !
by Lisa Martin on September 3, 2010
With September upon us, it may be hard to remember that we still need to use sun protection. With temperatures still summer-like, you still need to protect yourself, your skin, and even your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.
Often times, eye protection tends gets overlooked while you are lathering on the sunscreen and making sure you are wearing light cool bamboo clothes. Here are a few tips to protect one of the most important organs of your body:
1. Wear your shades! I know you have heard it before, but ultraviolet rays (UV) are really bad for your eyes. These rays can burn your corneas (the surface of your eyes). UV rays can also lead to the development of cataracts (which cause hazy vision) and age related macular degeneration (which is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans). Preventing such long-term damage is easy – buy sunglasses with labels that clearly state that they protect you from 99% – 100% of UVA and UVB light. You may even consider using wraparound sunglasses to stop the UV rays from entering from the sides of the frame! A dark lens does not necessarily offer UV protection; it must also say it does on the label. My doctor has a rack of sunglasses that do just that. I know when buying from them that I am receiving the best sunglasses for my eyes. If you already wear glasses, you can also purchase prescription sunglasses that do the same thing!
2. Wear a hat! A wide-brimmed hat or cap can further protect you from the sun’s harmful rays especially those that hit the eyes from above your sunglasses. Or course, we would recommend one made from bamboo!
3. Stick with your plan! Even if your daily summer routine varies, it is very important to stick with your regular eye care treatment regimen. Your eye doctor will be able to track any changes that are occurring with your eyes (sometimes before you even notice).
4. Wear your swim goggles! If you swim for sport or even for recreation, make sure that you wear goggles to protect your eyes from waterborne bacteria and swimming pool chemicals.
5. Get adequate rest! Summertime never seems long enough. However, instead of packing a million activities into your summer vacation, try getting a little extra sleep. Rest can refresh your eyes and help them work more efficiently.
6. Don’t smoke! Smoking is a known risk factor for macular degeneration. It has also been linked to the development of cataracts and dry eye syndrome. Just add this to the many reasons why you should quit!
7. Lastly, don’t forget the kids! Kids of all ages – from babies to teens – need to wear UV-protective sunglasses and a hat or visor. As with adults, make sure your child’s sunglasses block out 99% – 100% of UV rays.
With September upon us, it may be hard to remember that we still need to use sun protection. With temperatures still summer-like, you still need to protect yourself, your skin, and even your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.
Often times, eye protection tends gets overlooked while you are lathering on the sunscreen and making sure you are wearing light cool bamboo clothes. Here are a few tips to protect one of the most important organs of your body:
1. Wear your shades! I know you have heard it before, but ultraviolet rays (UV) are really bad for your eyes. These rays can burn your corneas (the surface of your eyes). UV rays can also lead to the development of cataracts (which cause hazy vision) and age related macular degeneration (which is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans). Preventing such long-term damage is easy – buy sunglasses with labels that clearly state that they protect you from 99% – 100% of UVA and UVB light. You may even consider using wraparound sunglasses to stop the UV rays from entering from the sides of the frame! A dark lens does not necessarily offer UV protection; it must also say it does on the label. My doctor has a rack of sunglasses that do just that. I know when buying from them that I am receiving the best sunglasses for my eyes. If you already wear glasses, you can also purchase prescription sunglasses that do the same thing!
2. Wear a hat! A wide-brimmed hat or cap can further protect you from the sun’s harmful rays especially those that hit the eyes from above your sunglasses. Or course, we would recommend one made from bamboo!
3. Stick with your plan! Even if your daily summer routine varies, it is very important to stick with your regular eye care treatment regimen. Your eye doctor will be able to track any changes that are occurring with your eyes (sometimes before you even notice).
4. Wear your swim goggles! If you swim for sport or even for recreation, make sure that you wear goggles to protect your eyes from waterborne bacteria and swimming pool chemicals.
5. Get adequate rest! Summertime never seems long enough. However, instead of packing a million activities into your summer vacation, try getting a little extra sleep. Rest can refresh your eyes and help them work more efficiently.
6. Don’t smoke! Smoking is a known risk factor for macular degeneration. It has also been linked to the development of cataracts and dry eye syndrome. Just add this to the many reasons why you should quit!
7. Lastly, don’t forget the kids! Kids of all ages – from babies to teens – need to wear UV-protective sunglasses and a hat or visor. As with adults, make sure your child’s sunglasses block out 99% – 100% of UV rays.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
CNIB offers sight issue support
By Sharen Marteny - Kelowna Capital News
Published: August 27, 2010
The CNIB (formerly known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind) is one of the most under-used resources available to seniors.
In addition to making accessible various products for partially sighted seniors, it provides programs that are free of charge to assist seniors to keep their independence.
Vision impairment often contributes to injuries and may lead to mortality in older people.
Timely intervention can delay the effects of age-related blinding conditions.
In Canada there are 800,000 people who self-identify as being blind or partially sighted.
Yet only 100,000 clients are registered with CNIB. Of those, 17,500 live in British Columbia.
More than 50 per cent of the CNIB clients are 65 years old and over.
It is estimated that in the next 20 years there will be 1.6 million blind or partially sighted people in Canada with the largest percentage being over the age of 80 years, yet Canada is the only G8 country that does not have a vision health plan in place.
Seniors are most prone to four eye diseases—age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. AMD and glaucoma can begin without any symptoms and most seniors do not know they have it.
Cataracts can be removed and vision restored.
To help prevent eye diseases seniors should wear sunglasses with 98 per cent UV protection during both the summer and winter. Eye exams should be done on a yearly basis.
Being blind or partially sighted can lead to depression and isolation.
Seniors who are blind or partially sighted believe that they can no longer participate in life.
The CNIB can show them that this is not true and that enjoyment can be added to their lives.
It offers four key services—orientation and mobility, independent living skills and counselling and vision assessment. All of these services are free of charge.
An instructor will work with each senior individually to ensure the techniques used are what is required.
The orientation and mobility program teaches seniors how to move about the community on their own.
One of the techniques taught to accomplish this is caning.
Through the independent living skills, seniors will be taught how to accomplish the tasks required for daily living which includes getting dressed and cooking meals.
Counselling is offered on a one-to-one and group basis for the seniors and the families to give everyone the opportunity to address their fears, worries and frustrations.
The adjustment to vision loss course is available to support seniors who are in the process of losing their sight.
Vision assessment allows seniors to maximize their capabilities with their current level of vision such as adjusting the placement of a lamp to make reading easier.
Earlier this month, the CNIB held its inaugural Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic in Kelowna to raise funds to be able to continue to provide its services.
The fifth annual Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic was held in Victoria.
The organization’s main purpose is to promote independence.
For more information call 1-800-563-2642.
An assessment will be scheduled through your nearest CNIB office and the programs that you require will be planned.
Published: August 27, 2010
The CNIB (formerly known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind) is one of the most under-used resources available to seniors.
In addition to making accessible various products for partially sighted seniors, it provides programs that are free of charge to assist seniors to keep their independence.
Vision impairment often contributes to injuries and may lead to mortality in older people.
Timely intervention can delay the effects of age-related blinding conditions.
In Canada there are 800,000 people who self-identify as being blind or partially sighted.
Yet only 100,000 clients are registered with CNIB. Of those, 17,500 live in British Columbia.
More than 50 per cent of the CNIB clients are 65 years old and over.
It is estimated that in the next 20 years there will be 1.6 million blind or partially sighted people in Canada with the largest percentage being over the age of 80 years, yet Canada is the only G8 country that does not have a vision health plan in place.
Seniors are most prone to four eye diseases—age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. AMD and glaucoma can begin without any symptoms and most seniors do not know they have it.
Cataracts can be removed and vision restored.
To help prevent eye diseases seniors should wear sunglasses with 98 per cent UV protection during both the summer and winter. Eye exams should be done on a yearly basis.
Being blind or partially sighted can lead to depression and isolation.
Seniors who are blind or partially sighted believe that they can no longer participate in life.
The CNIB can show them that this is not true and that enjoyment can be added to their lives.
It offers four key services—orientation and mobility, independent living skills and counselling and vision assessment. All of these services are free of charge.
An instructor will work with each senior individually to ensure the techniques used are what is required.
The orientation and mobility program teaches seniors how to move about the community on their own.
One of the techniques taught to accomplish this is caning.
Through the independent living skills, seniors will be taught how to accomplish the tasks required for daily living which includes getting dressed and cooking meals.
Counselling is offered on a one-to-one and group basis for the seniors and the families to give everyone the opportunity to address their fears, worries and frustrations.
The adjustment to vision loss course is available to support seniors who are in the process of losing their sight.
Vision assessment allows seniors to maximize their capabilities with their current level of vision such as adjusting the placement of a lamp to make reading easier.
Earlier this month, the CNIB held its inaugural Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic in Kelowna to raise funds to be able to continue to provide its services.
The fifth annual Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic was held in Victoria.
The organization’s main purpose is to promote independence.
For more information call 1-800-563-2642.
An assessment will be scheduled through your nearest CNIB office and the programs that you require will be planned.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Taligen gets $10m cash injection for rare disease programs
| By John Carroll
Taligen Therapeutics has hit another milestone on its journey in search of new therapies for a broad array of inflammatory and immune diseases. The Cambridge, MA-based developer has snagged a $10 million tranche in its $65 million Series B, earmarking much of the money for early clinical stage development work for its lead candidate - TT30.
Taligen set out to prove its drug platform could regulate the "complement system," a pathway in the human immune system. And it has initially zeroed in on rare diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, CEO Abbie Celniker tells FierceBiotech, in part because a small biotech acting alone can mount the kind of tightly-focused clinical trials that can generate significant proof of concept data.
Taligen's strategy, she adds, is to strike partnership deals for ophthalmology-related conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and later, after it achieves the proof of concept stage, plan on collaborative programs for major market diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The CEO says she hopes to announce the developer's first partnership in the next six months.
"This round of funding demonstrates the significant progress we have made over the last several years related to the development of our proprietary tissue targeting platform technology and our lead drug candidate, TT30," said Celniker. Existing investors including Clarus Ventures, Alta Partners, Sanderling Ventures and High Country Venture proffered the new injection of cash. Taligen was founded in 2004 and has a staff of 17 fulltime equivalents. Celniker says the staff will likely top out at about 20.
Taligen Therapeutics has hit another milestone on its journey in search of new therapies for a broad array of inflammatory and immune diseases. The Cambridge, MA-based developer has snagged a $10 million tranche in its $65 million Series B, earmarking much of the money for early clinical stage development work for its lead candidate - TT30.
Taligen set out to prove its drug platform could regulate the "complement system," a pathway in the human immune system. And it has initially zeroed in on rare diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, CEO Abbie Celniker tells FierceBiotech, in part because a small biotech acting alone can mount the kind of tightly-focused clinical trials that can generate significant proof of concept data.
Taligen's strategy, she adds, is to strike partnership deals for ophthalmology-related conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and later, after it achieves the proof of concept stage, plan on collaborative programs for major market diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The CEO says she hopes to announce the developer's first partnership in the next six months.
"This round of funding demonstrates the significant progress we have made over the last several years related to the development of our proprietary tissue targeting platform technology and our lead drug candidate, TT30," said Celniker. Existing investors including Clarus Ventures, Alta Partners, Sanderling Ventures and High Country Venture proffered the new injection of cash. Taligen was founded in 2004 and has a staff of 17 fulltime equivalents. Celniker says the staff will likely top out at about 20.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Moorfields Eye Hospital Researchers detail data on AMD
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.' Researchers in London, the United Kingdom conducted a study "To report the frequency and origins of increased fundus autofluorescence (AF) in age-related macular degeneration using the model of macular translocation. In this retrospective observational case series, postoperative serial fundus AF images from 40 consecutive patients were examined."
"The origin of well-delineated increased AF changes was explored by examining simultaneous spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans and coregistered microperimetry. AF images were taken between a mean of 13 and 36 months. Seven patients were excluded from analysis because of lack of postoperative AF imaging or extensive macular RPE atrophy. Of the remaining patients, 9 had masking pattern of foveal AF, 21 had small, round increased AF lesions in the fovea, and 3 had a near normal pattern of foveal hypo-AF. Parafoveal increased AF was seen in all 33 patients in 1 of 3 patterns: well-delineated homogenous increased AF patches (17), curvilinear increased AF bands (4), and speckled increased AF (12). Simultaneous SD-OCT showed loss of signal from the interface of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cell layer with variable loss of outer nuclear layer thickness. Microperimetry showed subnormal retinal sensitivity in regions with increased AF. Parafoveal increased AF size remained stable for 2 to 5 years of follow-up. SD-OCT and microperimetry changes observed after translocation may be attributed to shortening of the outer segments. A corresponding reduction of visual pigment in the shortened outer segments may lead to an unmasking effect," wrote F.K. Chen and colleagues, Moorfields Eye Hospital (see also Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
The researchers concluded: "Increased AF in some macular diseases may be attributed to unmasking of AF rather than to increased fluorophores within abnormal retina."
Chen and colleagues published the results of their research in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010;51(8):4207-12).
"The origin of well-delineated increased AF changes was explored by examining simultaneous spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans and coregistered microperimetry. AF images were taken between a mean of 13 and 36 months. Seven patients were excluded from analysis because of lack of postoperative AF imaging or extensive macular RPE atrophy. Of the remaining patients, 9 had masking pattern of foveal AF, 21 had small, round increased AF lesions in the fovea, and 3 had a near normal pattern of foveal hypo-AF. Parafoveal increased AF was seen in all 33 patients in 1 of 3 patterns: well-delineated homogenous increased AF patches (17), curvilinear increased AF bands (4), and speckled increased AF (12). Simultaneous SD-OCT showed loss of signal from the interface of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cell layer with variable loss of outer nuclear layer thickness. Microperimetry showed subnormal retinal sensitivity in regions with increased AF. Parafoveal increased AF size remained stable for 2 to 5 years of follow-up. SD-OCT and microperimetry changes observed after translocation may be attributed to shortening of the outer segments. A corresponding reduction of visual pigment in the shortened outer segments may lead to an unmasking effect," wrote F.K. Chen and colleagues, Moorfields Eye Hospital (see also Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
The researchers concluded: "Increased AF in some macular diseases may be attributed to unmasking of AF rather than to increased fluorophores within abnormal retina."
Chen and colleagues published the results of their research in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Increased fundus autofluorescence associated with outer segment shortening in macular translocation model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010;51(8):4207-12).
Monday, August 9, 2010
Lighting your Condo at any age
However, interestingly this housing lifestyle also appeals to the older generations. This includes early retirees, ready to take life a little easier. It also includes the elderly who can no longer manage steps or may not be able to drive.
To help build some bridges between them, in this article I will cover condo lighting as it affects the age groups a little differently. Some of the tips can apply to anyone.
20-SOMETHINGS For many young people, the notion of home lighting is invisible. The “Millennial” generation currently has the great luxury of taking light for granted. Natural, task, ambient, accent lighting—the young may not know or be interested in the differences because they can see fine with any amount of light. They should enjoy and appreciate this! Over the months and years, they could save considerable energy costs if they learn how to consume the amount of light they need, and only that amount.
On the other hand, plenty of young people are near-sighted. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) has increased 66 percent between 1972 and 2004. Currently, 33.1 percent of Americans are nearsighted, irrespective of age.
At this point, condo dwellers become affected because they typically only have windows and natural light along one, or at most two, sides of their home. In one practical example, they may not be able to get away with using only a laptop computer because they will need larger screens to view text accurately. This when space is at a premium!
Tip: if you are nearsighted, check the power settings on your computer. Computer manufacturers often set default settings to balance power conservation and performance. However, if you are using your laptop at home, it makes sense to change this to “high power” so that your screen always will be as bright as possible.
SENIORS The fact of the matter is, older people need much more light than younger ones. Therefore, the natural-lighting limitations of a condo will present more challenges. One exception to this is loft condos where one huge floor-to-ceiling window can fill a home with ambient light. If you are a senior and can navigate steps comfortably, you may want to consider this option.
Farsightedness, or the ability to focus up close, often affects seniors. For the farsighted, desk lamps are preferable to table lamps with open shades because all of the light can be directed to the reading material or other item requiring scrutiny.
Sometimes age-related vision loss can become more severe. Seniors over 60 become more susceptible to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by increasingly blurry vision. The NEI predicts that by 2020, there will be nearly 3 million Americans with AMD compared to 2 million today. This is attributable to the aging of the American population. The same trend also signals future increased demand for condos, which in most ways are much more accessible than other homes.
For additional general tips, I recommend the lighting chapter in Cheryl Mendelson’s book Home Comforts.
Author Resource:- Andy Asbury has a unique team of lofts and condos REALTORs® specializing inMinneapolis condos and lofts offering sound advice to clients. His team shares in-depth information onMinneapolis condos and lofts online at www.MinnesotaLoftsandCondos.com. Andy's team specializes in luxury condominum high rises likethe Carlyle Minneapolis and Grant Park Condominiums.
To help build some bridges between them, in this article I will cover condo lighting as it affects the age groups a little differently. Some of the tips can apply to anyone.
20-SOMETHINGS For many young people, the notion of home lighting is invisible. The “Millennial” generation currently has the great luxury of taking light for granted. Natural, task, ambient, accent lighting—the young may not know or be interested in the differences because they can see fine with any amount of light. They should enjoy and appreciate this! Over the months and years, they could save considerable energy costs if they learn how to consume the amount of light they need, and only that amount.
On the other hand, plenty of young people are near-sighted. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) has increased 66 percent between 1972 and 2004. Currently, 33.1 percent of Americans are nearsighted, irrespective of age.
At this point, condo dwellers become affected because they typically only have windows and natural light along one, or at most two, sides of their home. In one practical example, they may not be able to get away with using only a laptop computer because they will need larger screens to view text accurately. This when space is at a premium!
Tip: if you are nearsighted, check the power settings on your computer. Computer manufacturers often set default settings to balance power conservation and performance. However, if you are using your laptop at home, it makes sense to change this to “high power” so that your screen always will be as bright as possible.
SENIORS The fact of the matter is, older people need much more light than younger ones. Therefore, the natural-lighting limitations of a condo will present more challenges. One exception to this is loft condos where one huge floor-to-ceiling window can fill a home with ambient light. If you are a senior and can navigate steps comfortably, you may want to consider this option.
Farsightedness, or the ability to focus up close, often affects seniors. For the farsighted, desk lamps are preferable to table lamps with open shades because all of the light can be directed to the reading material or other item requiring scrutiny.
Sometimes age-related vision loss can become more severe. Seniors over 60 become more susceptible to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by increasingly blurry vision. The NEI predicts that by 2020, there will be nearly 3 million Americans with AMD compared to 2 million today. This is attributable to the aging of the American population. The same trend also signals future increased demand for condos, which in most ways are much more accessible than other homes.
For additional general tips, I recommend the lighting chapter in Cheryl Mendelson’s book Home Comforts.
Author Resource:- Andy Asbury has a unique team of lofts and condos REALTORs® specializing inMinneapolis condos and lofts offering sound advice to clients. His team shares in-depth information onMinneapolis condos and lofts online at www.MinnesotaLoftsandCondos.com. Andy's team specializes in luxury condominum high rises likethe Carlyle Minneapolis and Grant Park Condominiums.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Resveratrol May Have Anti-Inflammatory Effect
According to research published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism resveratrol, a compound found in the skin of red grapes, appears also to suppress inflammation in humans, a finding that may have implications for both inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
Here are some important diseases that have been linked to inflammation:
Age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which the cells in the retina degenerate, has been linked to inflammation. Research has pointed to abnormalities in the complement cascade that create a pro-inflammatory environment. If you have new distortion or central black spot, you should seek immediate medical attention as this may represent the "wet type" of macular degeneration, for which treatments are available.
Diabetes, a condition in which the body's own insulin is not effective or is present in lower amounts, has been linked to inflammation of the tiny insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with a higher link of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and blindness.
Ischemic heart disease, which can cause heart attack, has been linked to inflammation of the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Inflammation associated with plaque can cause sudden cardiac death.
To perform their study, researchers from Kaleida Health's Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York, gave 10 subjects nutritional supplements containing 40 milligrams of resveratrol. Another then took an identical pill containing no active ingredient. Participants took the pill once a day for six weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the start of the trial as well as weeks one, three and six.
The results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of free radicals. These are unstable molecules which can cause oxidative stress and release proinflammatory factors into the blood stream. Ultimately these molecules are known to damage to the blood vessels and also promote angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels.
Todays research shows that resveratrol can have an effect on inflammation in the body. More research is needed to better understand if this compound can lower the prevalence and incidence
Here are some important diseases that have been linked to inflammation:
Age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which the cells in the retina degenerate, has been linked to inflammation. Research has pointed to abnormalities in the complement cascade that create a pro-inflammatory environment. If you have new distortion or central black spot, you should seek immediate medical attention as this may represent the "wet type" of macular degeneration, for which treatments are available.
Diabetes, a condition in which the body's own insulin is not effective or is present in lower amounts, has been linked to inflammation of the tiny insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with a higher link of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and blindness.
Ischemic heart disease, which can cause heart attack, has been linked to inflammation of the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Inflammation associated with plaque can cause sudden cardiac death.
To perform their study, researchers from Kaleida Health's Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York, gave 10 subjects nutritional supplements containing 40 milligrams of resveratrol. Another then took an identical pill containing no active ingredient. Participants took the pill once a day for six weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the start of the trial as well as weeks one, three and six.
The results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of free radicals. These are unstable molecules which can cause oxidative stress and release proinflammatory factors into the blood stream. Ultimately these molecules are known to damage to the blood vessels and also promote angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels.
Todays research shows that resveratrol can have an effect on inflammation in the body. More research is needed to better understand if this compound can lower the prevalence and incidence
Monday, July 26, 2010
Drive Safely
by Edward J. Huggett, O.D.
I am often asked, "How long is it safe to drive when your vision is deteriorating?" There are three visual factors that are important to consider when it comes to driving. Visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF) and contrast sensitivity (CS). There are others I will not cover here, such as eye movements, useful field of view, depth perception, color vision and eye-hand/foot coordination, etc.
So for driving, let us consider: (1) visual acuity, typically known as the "20/20" or "20/40", etc. measurement and (2) visual field, which is the extent of your field of vision and the size of the area of your vision that has no significant defects such as scotomas
(i.e., areas of your vision that are blocked-out). In the United States, your state will have a very definitive statement as to what these two requirements are. Requirements can be found for your state at the local Department of Motor Vehicles. Not meeting either one of these requirements at any time indicates that you should not drive.
Secondly, I would say that if at anytime you are not feeling safe, then it is time to stop. So, even if your vision is "perfect" and you meet the legal requirements for driving, if you feel like your vision isn't good enough to drive, then don't.
If your vision is deteriorating, then you may need to visit your eye doctor or department of motor vehicles more frequently, sometimes every few months, to determine if you still meet the legal requirements for driving. Typically, eye doctors are the better place to go, as they can determine if your visual field is adequate for driving. Most department of motor vehicles cannot measure that important function of vision.
Changing habits
Certainly, driving under ideal conditions is very different than driving at night, in the rain or snow, or in poor light. Also, glare from headlights or the sun can be a problem. Studies suggest that if drivers are prepared to compensate for aging eyesight by adjusting their driving habits, then deteriorating vision is not necessarily a barrier to safe driving. Changing habits may include:
1. Driving only in daylight or on well-lit roads
2. Driving only in good weather
3. Driving only in the familiar local area
Sunglasses
Generally, the best sunglasses are those that wrap around and protect the eyes from the side as well as the front. A neutral grey tint is usually best, as it doesn't alter the color of traffic signals. But I have found that "blue blockers" or another called "shooters yellow," can increase comfort, contrast sensitivity and ability to see during the day. Polarizing sunglasses can also be helpful. Only through trial and error can you know which color of sunglasses are best for you.
Sunglasses or tinted glasses are never recommended for driving at night. While they may seem to reduce glare from headlights, they also make everything else darker too. At night your eyes need more light, not less.
Final suggestions
Make sure your windshield is clean and scratch-free, both inside and out, at all times. In many cases, even small cracks in your windshield will be a covered benefit for replacement by your auto insurance. Contact your auto insurance company to find out.
Ask your mechanic to check that your headlights are correctly aligned to provide good road illumination, while not causing glare for other road users. Look slightly to the left of oncoming traffic at night to avoid suffering from glare which can take some time to recover from.
Any scratches or smudges on your driving glasses (or sunglasses) will increase glare, so keep them clean! Additionally, AAA has a very nice section on their website at www.aaaseniors.com. This area provides excellent information and an online skills assessment for the mature driver.
Remember, if your vision does not meet a safe legal standard, driving will put the lives of others at risk, and your insurance may be void in the event of an accident. But if you meet the requirements, if you are safe and feel safe, and you have somewhere you want to go, then drive and have fun!
For state vision requirements go to http://www.lowvision.com/vision-requirements-for-driving-in-the-united-states/
I am often asked, "How long is it safe to drive when your vision is deteriorating?" There are three visual factors that are important to consider when it comes to driving. Visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF) and contrast sensitivity (CS). There are others I will not cover here, such as eye movements, useful field of view, depth perception, color vision and eye-hand/foot coordination, etc.
So for driving, let us consider: (1) visual acuity, typically known as the "20/20" or "20/40", etc. measurement and (2) visual field, which is the extent of your field of vision and the size of the area of your vision that has no significant defects such as scotomas
(i.e., areas of your vision that are blocked-out). In the United States, your state will have a very definitive statement as to what these two requirements are. Requirements can be found for your state at the local Department of Motor Vehicles. Not meeting either one of these requirements at any time indicates that you should not drive.
Secondly, I would say that if at anytime you are not feeling safe, then it is time to stop. So, even if your vision is "perfect" and you meet the legal requirements for driving, if you feel like your vision isn't good enough to drive, then don't.
If your vision is deteriorating, then you may need to visit your eye doctor or department of motor vehicles more frequently, sometimes every few months, to determine if you still meet the legal requirements for driving. Typically, eye doctors are the better place to go, as they can determine if your visual field is adequate for driving. Most department of motor vehicles cannot measure that important function of vision.
Changing habits
Certainly, driving under ideal conditions is very different than driving at night, in the rain or snow, or in poor light. Also, glare from headlights or the sun can be a problem. Studies suggest that if drivers are prepared to compensate for aging eyesight by adjusting their driving habits, then deteriorating vision is not necessarily a barrier to safe driving. Changing habits may include:
1. Driving only in daylight or on well-lit roads
2. Driving only in good weather
3. Driving only in the familiar local area
Sunglasses
Generally, the best sunglasses are those that wrap around and protect the eyes from the side as well as the front. A neutral grey tint is usually best, as it doesn't alter the color of traffic signals. But I have found that "blue blockers" or another called "shooters yellow," can increase comfort, contrast sensitivity and ability to see during the day. Polarizing sunglasses can also be helpful. Only through trial and error can you know which color of sunglasses are best for you.
Sunglasses or tinted glasses are never recommended for driving at night. While they may seem to reduce glare from headlights, they also make everything else darker too. At night your eyes need more light, not less.
Final suggestions
Make sure your windshield is clean and scratch-free, both inside and out, at all times. In many cases, even small cracks in your windshield will be a covered benefit for replacement by your auto insurance. Contact your auto insurance company to find out.
Ask your mechanic to check that your headlights are correctly aligned to provide good road illumination, while not causing glare for other road users. Look slightly to the left of oncoming traffic at night to avoid suffering from glare which can take some time to recover from.
Any scratches or smudges on your driving glasses (or sunglasses) will increase glare, so keep them clean! Additionally, AAA has a very nice section on their website at www.aaaseniors.com. This area provides excellent information and an online skills assessment for the mature driver.
Remember, if your vision does not meet a safe legal standard, driving will put the lives of others at risk, and your insurance may be void in the event of an accident. But if you meet the requirements, if you are safe and feel safe, and you have somewhere you want to go, then drive and have fun!
For state vision requirements go to http://www.lowvision.com/vision-requirements-for-driving-in-the-united-states/
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Glenn Beck Tearfully Reveals He May be Going Blind
During his “American Revival” meeting in Salt Lake City over the weekend, Glenn Beck revealed some disturbing news to his audience. He has apparently been diagnosed with macular dystrophy, a degenerative disease that affects the eyes and could lead to blindness. Beck told the crowd that a few weeks back he’d visited the “best doctor he could find, because “I couldn’t focus my eyes” (which may explain why he’s been sporting glasses of late on his show).
The doctor told him he has “macular dystrophy” to which Glenn responded: “Is that that Jerry Lewis thing…I should have given more.” Somewhat less funny is the part where the doctor tells him he could go blind within a year…or not — though Glenn manages to turn it into an amusing anecdote: “You’re a doctor like I’m a doctor, aren’t you?!” .
The doctor told him he has “macular dystrophy” to which Glenn responded: “Is that that Jerry Lewis thing…I should have given more.” Somewhat less funny is the part where the doctor tells him he could go blind within a year…or not — though Glenn manages to turn it into an amusing anecdote: “You’re a doctor like I’m a doctor, aren’t you?!” .
Monday, July 19, 2010
Benefits of Bilberry
Bilberry is the dark and purple fruit of a tall shrub with pointed leaves, which tastes somewhat similar to the American blueberry. The bilberry shrub bears small white and pink flowers which turn into dark purple berries. Bilberry fruit is considered a strong antioxidant and is known to improve blood circulation in body and build strong capillaries. Bilberry extract health supplements are also believed to treat atherosclerosis, cataracts, diabetes(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Diabetes.html), diarrhea, macular degeneration(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Macular-Degeneration.html), night blindness, and retinopathy amongst other diseases. Although bilberry is not believed to be a definite cure for all the claimed diseases, it is still high in demand due to its health-related properties.
Benefits of Using Bilberry
Although bilberry is not an essential component for our body or for the growth and development of our body, it is definitely an important component in disease prevention. The supplement bilberry extract has numerous benefits
1. Strengthens Our Body: Bilberry extract supplements strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and improve blood circulation. Due to its ability to strengthen blood vessels, bilberry extract is considered useful in the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It may also prevent easy bruising and is also known to stabilize collagen fiber, which is present in cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Bilberry extract health supplements can also decrease capillary permeability and fragility, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent the release and synthesis of pro-inflammatory compounds. It is also known to reduce blood glucose levels.
2. Cure Ophthalmologic Disorders: Bilberry extract has a numerous benefits for the eye. Bilberry extract supplements improve microcapillary circulation in the eye, which deteriorates with aging, increases oxygen and blood delivery to the eye, improves the pigmented area of the eyes, and increases the activity of enzyme within the retina of the eye besides treating cataracts and macular degeneration. Bilberry extract can also be used to prevent glaucoma.
3. Cure ulcers and fibro cysts: Bilberry extract health supplements can also be used in the treatment of stomach ulcers and fibro cysts in the breast. However only limited research has been done in this area to confirm bilberry’s benefit and more study is needed.
Bilberry Extract Supplement
For centuries bilberries were eaten as a food in both fresh and dried form. Now, bilberry extract is also available as a health supplement in the form of capsules. Bilberry extract is the most effective form of taking bilberry and a typical dose constitutes 40-80 mg – taken three times per day this will contain 25% anthocyanosides.
As always before taking this or any other supplement consult with your physician.
Benefits of Using Bilberry
Although bilberry is not an essential component for our body or for the growth and development of our body, it is definitely an important component in disease prevention. The supplement bilberry extract has numerous benefits
1. Strengthens Our Body: Bilberry extract supplements strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and improve blood circulation. Due to its ability to strengthen blood vessels, bilberry extract is considered useful in the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It may also prevent easy bruising and is also known to stabilize collagen fiber, which is present in cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Bilberry extract health supplements can also decrease capillary permeability and fragility, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent the release and synthesis of pro-inflammatory compounds. It is also known to reduce blood glucose levels.
2. Cure Ophthalmologic Disorders: Bilberry extract has a numerous benefits for the eye. Bilberry extract supplements improve microcapillary circulation in the eye, which deteriorates with aging, increases oxygen and blood delivery to the eye, improves the pigmented area of the eyes, and increases the activity of enzyme within the retina of the eye besides treating cataracts and macular degeneration. Bilberry extract can also be used to prevent glaucoma.
3. Cure ulcers and fibro cysts: Bilberry extract health supplements can also be used in the treatment of stomach ulcers and fibro cysts in the breast. However only limited research has been done in this area to confirm bilberry’s benefit and more study is needed.
Bilberry Extract Supplement
For centuries bilberries were eaten as a food in both fresh and dried form. Now, bilberry extract is also available as a health supplement in the form of capsules. Bilberry extract is the most effective form of taking bilberry and a typical dose constitutes 40-80 mg – taken three times per day this will contain 25% anthocyanosides.
As always before taking this or any other supplement consult with your physician.
Monday, July 12, 2010
SMOKING and HIGH HDL CHOLESTROL
Smoking and high cholesterol are two modifiable risk factors that can affect the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
A new study shows that AMD occurs infrequently before age 55 but increases beyond that. There exists the ability to diminish the risk factors by eliminating smoking and lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
The study reveals that early AMD may actually occur in mid-life. Researchers studied participants’ eyes for AMD features that in included drusen size, type, and area; increased retinal pigment; retinal pigment epithelial de-pigmentation; pure geographic atrophy and signs of exudative macular degeneration.
What the study noted is that there is a low prevalence of early AMD, particularly among those younger than 55 years and a higher prevalence of early AMD in men. Early AMD was associated with those participants who smoked and had high HDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers cautioned that the results were not definitive and that many factors can come into play in assessing the risk of AMD.*
A new study shows that AMD occurs infrequently before age 55 but increases beyond that. There exists the ability to diminish the risk factors by eliminating smoking and lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
The study reveals that early AMD may actually occur in mid-life. Researchers studied participants’ eyes for AMD features that in included drusen size, type, and area; increased retinal pigment; retinal pigment epithelial de-pigmentation; pure geographic atrophy and signs of exudative macular degeneration.
What the study noted is that there is a low prevalence of early AMD, particularly among those younger than 55 years and a higher prevalence of early AMD in men. Early AMD was associated with those participants who smoked and had high HDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers cautioned that the results were not definitive and that many factors can come into play in assessing the risk of AMD.*
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Protect Your Eyes
By DR. ERIK BERGMAN
July 5, 2010
Good eye care is crucial to protecting something that many of us take for granted: sight.
It's one of the five senses that we don't just use every day - we use it almost every waking second of every day. But many face issues with their eyes ranging from nearsightedness or farsightedness, to contagious conditions such as pink-eye, to more serious problems such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
So what can you do to make sure you don't have a common eye disorder or problem and keep your eyes healthy?
First and foremost, every individual, no matter if he or she has 20/20 vision and has never had an eye problem before, should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam once every two years, if not more often.
The keyword is dilated. The pupil must be dilated for an eye-care professional to get a good view of the back of the eye. One of the top causes of vision loss is diabetic eye disease, and people often don't know they have it until the condition has already affected their sight. The easiest and best way to detect diabetic eye disease, and a range of other issues, is through a dilated exam.
If you're already regularly getting a dilated exam with your ophthalmologist, you've made a great start toward keeping your eyes healthy, but here are some other things you can be doing to protect your sight.
• Find out about your family's eye health history because some eye diseases are hereditary.
• Eat a diet rich in carrots, dark leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and other vegetables.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking can also help manage conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that may affect sight.
• Wear protective eyewear, whether it be sunglasses to protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, which can cause cataracts and macular problems in the retina, or safety glasses when working with tools or machinery.
• If you wear contacts, clean your hands and contacts properly before putting them in or removing them, to reduce your risk of infection. Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a long time reading or at the computer, follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away.
July 5, 2010
Good eye care is crucial to protecting something that many of us take for granted: sight.
It's one of the five senses that we don't just use every day - we use it almost every waking second of every day. But many face issues with their eyes ranging from nearsightedness or farsightedness, to contagious conditions such as pink-eye, to more serious problems such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
So what can you do to make sure you don't have a common eye disorder or problem and keep your eyes healthy?
First and foremost, every individual, no matter if he or she has 20/20 vision and has never had an eye problem before, should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam once every two years, if not more often.
The keyword is dilated. The pupil must be dilated for an eye-care professional to get a good view of the back of the eye. One of the top causes of vision loss is diabetic eye disease, and people often don't know they have it until the condition has already affected their sight. The easiest and best way to detect diabetic eye disease, and a range of other issues, is through a dilated exam.
If you're already regularly getting a dilated exam with your ophthalmologist, you've made a great start toward keeping your eyes healthy, but here are some other things you can be doing to protect your sight.
• Find out about your family's eye health history because some eye diseases are hereditary.
• Eat a diet rich in carrots, dark leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and other vegetables.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking can also help manage conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that may affect sight.
• Wear protective eyewear, whether it be sunglasses to protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, which can cause cataracts and macular problems in the retina, or safety glasses when working with tools or machinery.
• If you wear contacts, clean your hands and contacts properly before putting them in or removing them, to reduce your risk of infection. Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a long time reading or at the computer, follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Link between iron overload and macular degeneration under study
The most common - and under-diagnosed - genetic disease in humans just may be a cause of the worst form of macular degeneration, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
They are pursuing a link between hemochromatosis, which results in iron overload, and the wet form of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people 60 and older. They suspect that too much iron, known to wreak cumulative havoc on the body's organs, hastens normal aging of the eyes.
If they are correct, avoiding the most severe consequences of a disease that robs the central vision could be as simple as donating blood a couple times annually to reduce iron levels, said Dr. Vadivel Ganapathy, chairman of the MCG School of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
A $1.5 million grant from the National Eye Institute is enabling the MCG scientists to define the impact of hemochromatosis on the eye's form and function. Support from MCG's Vision Discovery Institute is enabling screening for its causative genetic mutation in the blood of healthy individuals and those with macular degeneration.
"If this is a predisposing risk for macular degeneration, we have a very useful tool for screening patients," said Dr. Julian Nussbaum, a retinal specialist who chairs the School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology and co-directs MCG's Vision Discovery Institute. "We can give patients information right off the bat that may help them."
While linking iron overload to eye disease may seem odd, they have in common the result of too much of a good thing. The eyes need light to see and the body needs iron to deliver oxygen but the price of both is increased oxidative stress, Ganapathy said. "You need oxygen and you need iron to make this bad molecule," he said of oxygen radicals that can destroy tissue down to the DNA.
Light alone takes a slow toll on the retina, which converts it into electrical impulses sent to the brain via the optic nerve. This is despite multiple built-in safeguards such as filters in the cornea and lens that protect against the most harmful rays, like ultraviolet light, and a yellow pigment that provides extra protection for the most central point of vision. Retinal pigmented epithelial cells, which nourish sight-enabling cells in the retina, help gobble up and dump any resulting tissue trash into the circulation for elimination. Leftovers show up as fatty, yellow deposits called drusen.
Everyone experiences some age-related vision changes and accumulation of harmless levels of drusen, Nussbaum said. But when byproducts start accumulating under the retinal pigment epithelium, the risk increases for the wet form of macular degeneration in which fragile new blood vessels grow underneath the retina, leak and cloud vision. The question is why some people's condition worsens.
"We see it in one patient and it may stay that way for 20 years. We see it in another patient and within five years their vision has functionally started to decrease," said Dr. Emory Patterson, an MCG School of Medicine graduate completing his ophthalmology residency at MCG who is helping with the clinical study. Ganapathy first determined that the eye had the means to tightly regulate iron levels. Most organs don't have their own system rather the small intestine regulates absorption of the iron consumed in foods like beans and tofu.
But Ganapathy found the same genetic mutation that causes hemochromatosis in a back layer of the retina, which comes in contact with the blood. A mutation in this HFE gene impairs a protein that regulates iron absorption. The finding in the mouse eye and human retinal pigmented epithelial cells was published in 2004 in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.
His lab now has animal models for hemochromatosis as well as juvenile hemochromatosis, which is caused by a different genetic defect and produces much earlier symptoms. In the retina of the models, he's finding increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factors, or VEGF, that enable new blood vessel growth. This growth is the hallmark of the wet form of macular degeneration. In fact, anti-VEGF therapies are the most potent treatments available.
"I tell patients that caught early, they have a 92 percent chance of stabilizing their vision with anti-VEGF therapy but they only have about a 38 percent chance of improving their vision," Nussbaum said. "But at least we can treat it. I also remind them there is not a cure. It's similar to cancer therapy: we can put them
into remission but we don't know if it will come back."
Most people absorb about 10 percent of the iron they consume. Symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, loss of sex drive and heart problems indicate excess absorption although many with the condition have no symptoms when diagnosed.
They are pursuing a link between hemochromatosis, which results in iron overload, and the wet form of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people 60 and older. They suspect that too much iron, known to wreak cumulative havoc on the body's organs, hastens normal aging of the eyes.
If they are correct, avoiding the most severe consequences of a disease that robs the central vision could be as simple as donating blood a couple times annually to reduce iron levels, said Dr. Vadivel Ganapathy, chairman of the MCG School of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
A $1.5 million grant from the National Eye Institute is enabling the MCG scientists to define the impact of hemochromatosis on the eye's form and function. Support from MCG's Vision Discovery Institute is enabling screening for its causative genetic mutation in the blood of healthy individuals and those with macular degeneration.
"If this is a predisposing risk for macular degeneration, we have a very useful tool for screening patients," said Dr. Julian Nussbaum, a retinal specialist who chairs the School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology and co-directs MCG's Vision Discovery Institute. "We can give patients information right off the bat that may help them."
While linking iron overload to eye disease may seem odd, they have in common the result of too much of a good thing. The eyes need light to see and the body needs iron to deliver oxygen but the price of both is increased oxidative stress, Ganapathy said. "You need oxygen and you need iron to make this bad molecule," he said of oxygen radicals that can destroy tissue down to the DNA.
Light alone takes a slow toll on the retina, which converts it into electrical impulses sent to the brain via the optic nerve. This is despite multiple built-in safeguards such as filters in the cornea and lens that protect against the most harmful rays, like ultraviolet light, and a yellow pigment that provides extra protection for the most central point of vision. Retinal pigmented epithelial cells, which nourish sight-enabling cells in the retina, help gobble up and dump any resulting tissue trash into the circulation for elimination. Leftovers show up as fatty, yellow deposits called drusen.
Everyone experiences some age-related vision changes and accumulation of harmless levels of drusen, Nussbaum said. But when byproducts start accumulating under the retinal pigment epithelium, the risk increases for the wet form of macular degeneration in which fragile new blood vessels grow underneath the retina, leak and cloud vision. The question is why some people's condition worsens.
"We see it in one patient and it may stay that way for 20 years. We see it in another patient and within five years their vision has functionally started to decrease," said Dr. Emory Patterson, an MCG School of Medicine graduate completing his ophthalmology residency at MCG who is helping with the clinical study. Ganapathy first determined that the eye had the means to tightly regulate iron levels. Most organs don't have their own system rather the small intestine regulates absorption of the iron consumed in foods like beans and tofu.
But Ganapathy found the same genetic mutation that causes hemochromatosis in a back layer of the retina, which comes in contact with the blood. A mutation in this HFE gene impairs a protein that regulates iron absorption. The finding in the mouse eye and human retinal pigmented epithelial cells was published in 2004 in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.
His lab now has animal models for hemochromatosis as well as juvenile hemochromatosis, which is caused by a different genetic defect and produces much earlier symptoms. In the retina of the models, he's finding increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factors, or VEGF, that enable new blood vessel growth. This growth is the hallmark of the wet form of macular degeneration. In fact, anti-VEGF therapies are the most potent treatments available.
"I tell patients that caught early, they have a 92 percent chance of stabilizing their vision with anti-VEGF therapy but they only have about a 38 percent chance of improving their vision," Nussbaum said. "But at least we can treat it. I also remind them there is not a cure. It's similar to cancer therapy: we can put them
into remission but we don't know if it will come back."
Most people absorb about 10 percent of the iron they consume. Symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, loss of sex drive and heart problems indicate excess absorption although many with the condition have no symptoms when diagnosed.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Blind women take first in state Women's Club art competition
By Eric Louie
Contra Costa Times
There are things Virginia Macky and Gloria Smith can't do as they lose their eyesight. The two San Ramon Valley women — considered legally blind from macular degeneration — can't drive, and need help for other tasks around the house.
But that didn't stop the two members of the Danville Women's Club from taking top prizes — one for painting and another for sculpture — in this year's California Federation of Women's Clubs statewide art contest.
"I can't really see what I'm doing, so it's Picaso-esque," said Smith, 84, of San Ramon. A longtime painter of realistic landscapes who also ran an art gallery for a few years in Redondo Beach, she spent four months using a magnifying glass to create her watercolor "My Cat Hates Me" from a magazine photograph. It won first place for advanced water color portrait. "I can't see how much paint is on the brush, which is one of the biggest things."
Macky, 81, of Danville, made a papier-mâché sculpture of her children's former dog Mot. She learned the craft last year in a class at a community center.
"We still do everything," said Macky, who worked off and on for years as a department store buyer. "I don't let (my eyesight) stop me."
Macky was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 1994. The incurable eye disease is the leading cause of blindness for Americans 55 and older, affecting more than 10 million Americans, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
"I can't recognize people from a distance unless I know what they have on," Macky said.
For Smith, the onset of the disease began in 2002. She said her eyesight was not so bad at first, but has gotten worse the past couple years.
"I can't see your face," she said to Macky, sitting across from her at a table during the Danville Women's Club's monthly meeting and lunch. "I can see the shape of your body, but your face is a blur."
To win at the state level, the two first competed in their club's local Mount Diablo district, which includes San Ramon Valley as well as clubs in Lafayette, Brentwood, Stockton and the Tri-Valley. Smith's work was picked for submission to the state from about a dozen, while Macky's was one of about 10, said Anita Carr, a district official. She said the judges — artists who were not in the club — did not know the women were blind.
Neither did the state judges, who picked the winners during the statewide convention last month in Burlingame, said Mary Linn Coleman, with the state federation. Winners got a ribbon and certificate.
"That's interesting," Coleman said upon hearing about the artists' eyesight. "They did an amazing job."
Contra Costa Times
There are things Virginia Macky and Gloria Smith can't do as they lose their eyesight. The two San Ramon Valley women — considered legally blind from macular degeneration — can't drive, and need help for other tasks around the house.
But that didn't stop the two members of the Danville Women's Club from taking top prizes — one for painting and another for sculpture — in this year's California Federation of Women's Clubs statewide art contest.
"I can't really see what I'm doing, so it's Picaso-esque," said Smith, 84, of San Ramon. A longtime painter of realistic landscapes who also ran an art gallery for a few years in Redondo Beach, she spent four months using a magnifying glass to create her watercolor "My Cat Hates Me" from a magazine photograph. It won first place for advanced water color portrait. "I can't see how much paint is on the brush, which is one of the biggest things."
Macky, 81, of Danville, made a papier-mâché sculpture of her children's former dog Mot. She learned the craft last year in a class at a community center.
"We still do everything," said Macky, who worked off and on for years as a department store buyer. "I don't let (my eyesight) stop me."
Macky was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 1994. The incurable eye disease is the leading cause of blindness for Americans 55 and older, affecting more than 10 million Americans, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
"I can't recognize people from a distance unless I know what they have on," Macky said.
For Smith, the onset of the disease began in 2002. She said her eyesight was not so bad at first, but has gotten worse the past couple years.
"I can't see your face," she said to Macky, sitting across from her at a table during the Danville Women's Club's monthly meeting and lunch. "I can see the shape of your body, but your face is a blur."
To win at the state level, the two first competed in their club's local Mount Diablo district, which includes San Ramon Valley as well as clubs in Lafayette, Brentwood, Stockton and the Tri-Valley. Smith's work was picked for submission to the state from about a dozen, while Macky's was one of about 10, said Anita Carr, a district official. She said the judges — artists who were not in the club — did not know the women were blind.
Neither did the state judges, who picked the winners during the statewide convention last month in Burlingame, said Mary Linn Coleman, with the state federation. Winners got a ribbon and certificate.
"That's interesting," Coleman said upon hearing about the artists' eyesight. "They did an amazing job."
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
How Drug Muggers Can Slowly Steal the Life Out of You
By Suzy Cohen
Dear Pharmacist,
I bought your Drug Muggers book and learned that coffee is stealing iron from my body. I’ve had chronic fatigue for years, and now that I’m supplementing with the iron, I’m feeling MUCH better, so thank you! I’m not giving up coffee though. Suzy, would you be willing to share more drug muggers, as a public service, because some people can’t afford to buy your book, but they really need your help. --K.M., Kansas City, Kansas
Answer: Yes, of course and I’ve been sharing this information freely since 1999. The drug mugging effect can explain everything from nagging aches to life-threatening diseases. Replenishing the missing nutrient(s) might be just what the doctor should have ordered! Most people don’t know this but years ago, I asked major publishers to make a book out of this information, but none understood the importance of it, and some felt it would step on pharmaceutical toes. So I spent my own savings to publish “Drug Muggers” and now that book is sold at Amazon.com, NaturalNews.com and my own website, www.DearPharmacist.com where I offer free articles on the topic. For now, here are some very common ‘diseases’ that might be due to to the drug mugging effect:
Depression, osteoporosis or irregular heartbeat- It could be caused by a deficiency of the mineral magnesium. Common drug muggers include female hormones, diuretics, raloxifene, tea/coffee, anti-inflammatories and aspirin.
Bald patches, loss of taste/smell, erectile dysfunction or chronic diarrhea- It might be zinc deficiency. Common drug muggers are anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antacids, ulcer/heartburn meds, diuretics and estrogen drugs used for birth control and menopause.
Leg cramps, muscle spasms, memory loss or fatigue- May be a deficiency of CoQ10 (ubiquinol). This life-sustaining antioxidant gets demolished by hundreds of medications including statin cholesterol drugs, metformin, anti-depressants, beta blockers and diuretics. I’ve posted a “Big List of Drugs that Mug CoQ10” for free at my website.
Cell damage, high homocysteine, cataracts, macular degeneration, liver problems- It could be tied to low glutathione, a powerful antioxidant needed to detoxify poisons in your body. Acetaminophen is a possible drug mugger of glutathione.
Pins and needles nerve pain, depression, fatigue, anemia, weight gain- This could be related to a deficiency of B vitamins. Your stash gets depleted by female hormones (menopause and birth control), antacids, ulcer meds, diuretics, raloxifene, cholestyramine, diabetic drugs, tea/coffee.
If you read this and just said, “Aha!” then get approval from your doctor to supplement, or order “micronutrient” testing. For pennies a day, you can get your life back! If you decide to wait and see if I’m right (and not replenish what the drug mugger is stealing), then expect these so-called side effects to get diagnosed as a new disease. You’ll get on a medication merry-go-round and it’s a hard ride to get off.
Dear Pharmacist,
I bought your Drug Muggers book and learned that coffee is stealing iron from my body. I’ve had chronic fatigue for years, and now that I’m supplementing with the iron, I’m feeling MUCH better, so thank you! I’m not giving up coffee though. Suzy, would you be willing to share more drug muggers, as a public service, because some people can’t afford to buy your book, but they really need your help. --K.M., Kansas City, Kansas
Answer: Yes, of course and I’ve been sharing this information freely since 1999. The drug mugging effect can explain everything from nagging aches to life-threatening diseases. Replenishing the missing nutrient(s) might be just what the doctor should have ordered! Most people don’t know this but years ago, I asked major publishers to make a book out of this information, but none understood the importance of it, and some felt it would step on pharmaceutical toes. So I spent my own savings to publish “Drug Muggers” and now that book is sold at Amazon.com, NaturalNews.com and my own website, www.DearPharmacist.com where I offer free articles on the topic. For now, here are some very common ‘diseases’ that might be due to to the drug mugging effect:
Depression, osteoporosis or irregular heartbeat- It could be caused by a deficiency of the mineral magnesium. Common drug muggers include female hormones, diuretics, raloxifene, tea/coffee, anti-inflammatories and aspirin.
Bald patches, loss of taste/smell, erectile dysfunction or chronic diarrhea- It might be zinc deficiency. Common drug muggers are anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antacids, ulcer/heartburn meds, diuretics and estrogen drugs used for birth control and menopause.
Leg cramps, muscle spasms, memory loss or fatigue- May be a deficiency of CoQ10 (ubiquinol). This life-sustaining antioxidant gets demolished by hundreds of medications including statin cholesterol drugs, metformin, anti-depressants, beta blockers and diuretics. I’ve posted a “Big List of Drugs that Mug CoQ10” for free at my website.
Cell damage, high homocysteine, cataracts, macular degeneration, liver problems- It could be tied to low glutathione, a powerful antioxidant needed to detoxify poisons in your body. Acetaminophen is a possible drug mugger of glutathione.
Pins and needles nerve pain, depression, fatigue, anemia, weight gain- This could be related to a deficiency of B vitamins. Your stash gets depleted by female hormones (menopause and birth control), antacids, ulcer meds, diuretics, raloxifene, cholestyramine, diabetic drugs, tea/coffee.
If you read this and just said, “Aha!” then get approval from your doctor to supplement, or order “micronutrient” testing. For pennies a day, you can get your life back! If you decide to wait and see if I’m right (and not replenish what the drug mugger is stealing), then expect these so-called side effects to get diagnosed as a new disease. You’ll get on a medication merry-go-round and it’s a hard ride to get off.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Smoking Increases The Risk Of Age Related Macular Degeneration
American Chronicle - Hayden Eck
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by problems in the sharp and central vision of a person. It usually affects people who are 60 years and older and is one of the leading causes of vision loss.
Smoking and AMD
Various studies have provided conclusive results that link smoking with an increased risk of suffering from AMD. The chance of suffering from AMD both, atrophic age related macular degeneration and neo-vascular degeneration double in smokers. The studies have also shown that former smokers don´t show the same risk of suffering from this condition; and if compared to people who never smoked, the dice is just about loaded in favour of non smokers. Another finding of the study was that as a smoker you can develop AMD around ten years before non smokers. These studies also draw a link between specific genetic background, heavy smoking, and the risk of AMD. It´s been seen that there is a dramatic increase in the risk factor.
Quit smoking to reduce risk
AMD causes blindness. No two ways about the fact. If you don´t want to lose your vision, it´s important that you do something about your smoking habit. So, what is it that you want to do? Cutting down on your smoking habit is not going to help matters much. You need to cut down completely on cigarettes. It´s not going to be an easy task but you need to quit smoking. If you are having trouble quitting, you can take the help of prescription quit smoking pills like Chantix to help in your efforts to quit smoking.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of AMD
If you think you are facing chronic problems with your vision, its time that you consult your doctor. More so, if you are a smoker! A regular checkup session with your doctor is necessary to know if you are suffering from this condition. AMD is a progressive condition, so you don´t really want to leave it till very late to start off on a treatment plan. Any doctor will tell you that the first thing you must do to help manage your condition is to quit smoking. The doctor can also recommend the intake of various medications along with your quit smoking endeavor. If you have already begun your intake of prescription medications like Chantix, it´s important to make sure that you aren´t going to suffer from any adverse interaction of taking these medications.
Not just another risk factor of smoking
Many smokers might regard AMD as just another health risk of smoking. Also, the fact that it usually manifests itself when you are older, might also contribute to you not giving the due importance to this condition. But, the fact of the matter is that it needs to be treated with due seriousness, because if you don´t, you might start losing your vision. This is going to have a huge impact on the general quality of life. So, why wait for that to happen before you realize the seriousness of the situation.
Hayden Eck - Webmaster of leading online health clinic Chantix-Buy.com, has been providing health newsletters and articles since last three years. He discusses smoking effects with brief description about quit smoking pills
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by problems in the sharp and central vision of a person. It usually affects people who are 60 years and older and is one of the leading causes of vision loss.
Smoking and AMD
Various studies have provided conclusive results that link smoking with an increased risk of suffering from AMD. The chance of suffering from AMD both, atrophic age related macular degeneration and neo-vascular degeneration double in smokers. The studies have also shown that former smokers don´t show the same risk of suffering from this condition; and if compared to people who never smoked, the dice is just about loaded in favour of non smokers. Another finding of the study was that as a smoker you can develop AMD around ten years before non smokers. These studies also draw a link between specific genetic background, heavy smoking, and the risk of AMD. It´s been seen that there is a dramatic increase in the risk factor.
Quit smoking to reduce risk
AMD causes blindness. No two ways about the fact. If you don´t want to lose your vision, it´s important that you do something about your smoking habit. So, what is it that you want to do? Cutting down on your smoking habit is not going to help matters much. You need to cut down completely on cigarettes. It´s not going to be an easy task but you need to quit smoking. If you are having trouble quitting, you can take the help of prescription quit smoking pills like Chantix to help in your efforts to quit smoking.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of AMD
If you think you are facing chronic problems with your vision, its time that you consult your doctor. More so, if you are a smoker! A regular checkup session with your doctor is necessary to know if you are suffering from this condition. AMD is a progressive condition, so you don´t really want to leave it till very late to start off on a treatment plan. Any doctor will tell you that the first thing you must do to help manage your condition is to quit smoking. The doctor can also recommend the intake of various medications along with your quit smoking endeavor. If you have already begun your intake of prescription medications like Chantix, it´s important to make sure that you aren´t going to suffer from any adverse interaction of taking these medications.
Not just another risk factor of smoking
Many smokers might regard AMD as just another health risk of smoking. Also, the fact that it usually manifests itself when you are older, might also contribute to you not giving the due importance to this condition. But, the fact of the matter is that it needs to be treated with due seriousness, because if you don´t, you might start losing your vision. This is going to have a huge impact on the general quality of life. So, why wait for that to happen before you realize the seriousness of the situation.
Hayden Eck - Webmaster of leading online health clinic Chantix-Buy.com, has been providing health newsletters and articles since last three years. He discusses smoking effects with brief description about quit smoking pills
Friday, January 22, 2010
Acucela Enters Fast-Growth Phase As Macular Degeneration Drug Advances to Key Trial
Acucela has the ambitious goal of fundamentally changing the way doctors treat the so-called “dry” form of age-related macular degeneration, which damages the eyesight of an estimated 29 million elderly people worldwide. The company was spun out of the University of Washington in 2002 by Ryo Kubota, an ophthalmologist on the faculty at the time. His dream is to create a once-daily oral pill that can slow down the progressive vision loss that comes with the dry form of macular degeneration, and ultimately to keep these aging patients from going blind.
The company got a big lift in September 2008 when it struck a partnership with Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical to co-develop its lead drug candidate, and this month it took another big step by entering the first clinical trial that will assess what kind of effect its drug will have on the eyesight of between 50 to 100 elderly patients.
“We want to build a great company, and we want to build it to last. Our investors and our partner believes in it,” Kubota says.
Since Acucela doesn’t usually make a lot of news, some background is certainly in order. Acucela is vying to develop the first effective therapy for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration. It’s caused by yellowish buildups and a loss of pigment in the retina as people age. There is no approved treatment for this disease, unlike the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration, which can be treated with Roche’s bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis), which cut off blood flow to leaky vessels behind the eye. The dry form of the disease is generally milder, but the market opportunity is thought to be huge, because as populations around the world age, it is expected to double in incidence over the next two decades.
Acucela’s idea comes in the form of a once-daily pill it calls ACU-4429. The drug is designed to block an enzyme called isomerase. By blocking that enzyme, Acucela hopes to slow down the visual cycle in which Vitamin A is constantly replenished. While people need a constant source of Vitamin A to see, a fast visual cycle can also contribute to the buildup of toxic Vitamin A byproducts in the eye, particularly one called A2E.
Back in May, Acucela presented the first evidence from a clinical trial that said its drug was on track. The initial trial enrolled 36 healthy volunteers at an escalating series of doses, and basically concluded that the drug was safe and well-tolerated.
This month, Acucela is attempting to pass a tougher test. The company started enrolling elderly people with severe cases of the dry form of macular degeneration. The trial, called Envision, will randomly assign patients to get the drug, or a placebo, at a variety of once-daily doses. Patients will be followed up for three months, and researchers will look at how well they can read letters on the eye chart, and a secondary goal that will assess whether the drug is working as intended, by reducing the amount of toxic byproduct buildup in the eye. It’s possible that the trial, as long as it appears safe at escalating doses, could enroll as many as 100 patients, Kubota says. It’s expected to take about one year to complete enrollment, and results should be available by mid-2011, he says.
Although Acucela is entering uncharted territory with a new way of treating this disease, it has competition from Tampa, FL-based Sirion Therapeutics. The competing drug is an oral pill like Acucela’s, made to circulate through the bloodstream, although it is designed to hit a different target than Acucela’s, Kubota says.
While Acucela awaits results from its mid-stage clinical trial, it is working to build up a lot of organizational strength this year, Kubota says. People with expertise in clinical development, preclinical development, and regulatory affairs are being recruited this year. By the end of 2010, Acucela expects to have hired about 60 new people, bringing its staff to about 100, he says. The company hopes to have that organizational horsepower in place by the time it expects to enter the final phase of clinical trials with ACU-4429, for an even more rigorous study that will assess patients’ vision for 18 to 24 months, Kubota says.
Although it’s rare among biotech companies without marketed products, Acucela has been able to operate on a cash-flow positive basis of late, Kubota says. That’s because Otsuka is paying for the company’s R&D expenses, while Acucela has received undisclosed milestone payments for getting this far in development, Kubota says.
“We’re going to be running big clinical trials,” Kubota says. “We think we can change the disease paradigm. Our goal is to cure blindness. It’s a huge ambition.”
For more information go to www.maculardegenerationassociation.org
The company got a big lift in September 2008 when it struck a partnership with Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical to co-develop its lead drug candidate, and this month it took another big step by entering the first clinical trial that will assess what kind of effect its drug will have on the eyesight of between 50 to 100 elderly patients.
“We want to build a great company, and we want to build it to last. Our investors and our partner believes in it,” Kubota says.
Since Acucela doesn’t usually make a lot of news, some background is certainly in order. Acucela is vying to develop the first effective therapy for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration. It’s caused by yellowish buildups and a loss of pigment in the retina as people age. There is no approved treatment for this disease, unlike the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration, which can be treated with Roche’s bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis), which cut off blood flow to leaky vessels behind the eye. The dry form of the disease is generally milder, but the market opportunity is thought to be huge, because as populations around the world age, it is expected to double in incidence over the next two decades.
Acucela’s idea comes in the form of a once-daily pill it calls ACU-4429. The drug is designed to block an enzyme called isomerase. By blocking that enzyme, Acucela hopes to slow down the visual cycle in which Vitamin A is constantly replenished. While people need a constant source of Vitamin A to see, a fast visual cycle can also contribute to the buildup of toxic Vitamin A byproducts in the eye, particularly one called A2E.
Back in May, Acucela presented the first evidence from a clinical trial that said its drug was on track. The initial trial enrolled 36 healthy volunteers at an escalating series of doses, and basically concluded that the drug was safe and well-tolerated.
This month, Acucela is attempting to pass a tougher test. The company started enrolling elderly people with severe cases of the dry form of macular degeneration. The trial, called Envision, will randomly assign patients to get the drug, or a placebo, at a variety of once-daily doses. Patients will be followed up for three months, and researchers will look at how well they can read letters on the eye chart, and a secondary goal that will assess whether the drug is working as intended, by reducing the amount of toxic byproduct buildup in the eye. It’s possible that the trial, as long as it appears safe at escalating doses, could enroll as many as 100 patients, Kubota says. It’s expected to take about one year to complete enrollment, and results should be available by mid-2011, he says.
Although Acucela is entering uncharted territory with a new way of treating this disease, it has competition from Tampa, FL-based Sirion Therapeutics. The competing drug is an oral pill like Acucela’s, made to circulate through the bloodstream, although it is designed to hit a different target than Acucela’s, Kubota says.
While Acucela awaits results from its mid-stage clinical trial, it is working to build up a lot of organizational strength this year, Kubota says. People with expertise in clinical development, preclinical development, and regulatory affairs are being recruited this year. By the end of 2010, Acucela expects to have hired about 60 new people, bringing its staff to about 100, he says. The company hopes to have that organizational horsepower in place by the time it expects to enter the final phase of clinical trials with ACU-4429, for an even more rigorous study that will assess patients’ vision for 18 to 24 months, Kubota says.
Although it’s rare among biotech companies without marketed products, Acucela has been able to operate on a cash-flow positive basis of late, Kubota says. That’s because Otsuka is paying for the company’s R&D expenses, while Acucela has received undisclosed milestone payments for getting this far in development, Kubota says.
“We’re going to be running big clinical trials,” Kubota says. “We think we can change the disease paradigm. Our goal is to cure blindness. It’s a huge ambition.”
For more information go to www.maculardegenerationassociation.org
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Injections, supplements can help limit age-related macular degeneration
Three years ago, Catherine Leisher began noticing words were blurred when she read the newspaper. A trip to the eye doctor yielded diagnosis of a condition she had never heard of: age-related macular degeneration.
“I can see to walk, I can look out the window, and I can write,” said the 83-year-old Swatara Twp. resident who has the disease in both eyes. “But I can’t read — it’s all blurred, and I just loved to read.”
Age-related macular degeneration, which affects some 15 million Americans, leads to damage of the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for central vision and controls the ability to read, drive and recognize people’s faces in detail.
“It’s a major public health issue,” said Dr. Ingrid Scott, professor of ophthalmology and public health sciences at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in people over the age of 50 in the United States and the industrialized world.”
The incidence is expected to increase as baby boomers age, said Dr. Erik Chotiner, an ophthalmologist with Memorial Eye Institute in Lower Paxton Twp. “Statistics say that 1.75 million people have advanced AMD now, but that number is expected to rise to 2.95 million by 2025,” he said.
There are two types of the disease, dry and wet, which both can distort vision. Dry macular degeneration, the most common form, usually progresses gradually. The wet form, which occurs when abnormal or leaking blood vessels grow underneath the retina in the area of the macula, can lead to more rapid loss of central vision.
At first, Leisher, who suffers from the wet form, was frightened that she would eventually become blind. However, new drugs injected directly into the eye offer hope to people who suffer from the wet form of AMD.
The drugs, available since 2004, are called anti-VEGF, which stands for “vascular endothelial growth factor” — a family of proteins shown to be important in causing the growth of abnormal blood vessels that characterizes wet macular degeneration.
“Before these drugs, treatment was more primitive and really only helped stabilize, not improve, vision,” Chotiner said.
The anti-VEGF medications, which are injected into the back of the eye with a small needle, work by decreasing the growth of abnormal, leaky blood vessels.
“It can be uncomfortable, but I’ve never had a patient who wasn’t able to tolerate it,” said Scott, who administers a numbing medication to the eye before giving the shot. “With anti-VEGF drugs, 40 percent of patients have visual improvement, and 95 percent have stabilization of vision.”
“My vision is brighter,” said Leisher, who receives her injections at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “A lot of people I know won’t take the shots because they are afraid of the needle. I hesitated at first, but I think I’d be much worse off if I didn’t do it.”
Another option, called photodynamic therapy, involves injecting a photosensitive drug into a vein in the arm. The dye travels to the blood vessels in the eye and localizes preferentially to the abnormal blood vessels. A cold laser beam is shown into the eye and temporarily reduces blood flow to the abnormal blood vessels. This therapy can slow the rate of vision loss but is much less likely to improve vision like the anti-VEGF medications can, Scott said.
Randee Erb, a 62-year-old New Holland resident diagnosed with wet macular degeneration last spring, has had four anti-VEGF injections and is noticing that her blurred vision is better.
“I dread getting the shots,” said Erb, who has to take the day off work when she gets the injections because they make her eye burn. “But they give me hope that I will be able to see clearly again.”
Every day Erb tests her eyesight by looking at an Amsler grid, a chart of vertical and horizontal lines, which she has taped to her refrigerator. The grid helps patients gauge whether their vision is worsening and they should see their doctor, based on how clear and straight the lines appear. As in Erb’s case the daily exercise can also bring good news. “At first it was all gray; now I’m slowly seeing lines,” she said.
Some patients with AMD might benefit from taking vitamin supplements that can reduce the risk of severe vision loss due to the disease by 25 percent and/or reduce the risk of developing wet AMD by 25 percent, Scott said. Called the AREDS formulation, it includes vitamins A, C, E, zinc and copper.
There are preventative measures that people can take to decrease their chances of developing AMD, doctors said. These include wearing sunglasses, not smoking, cutting down on saturated fats and eating dark green, leafy and orange vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes.
“It’s extremely important to have regular eye exams,” Scott said. “People have often just accepted a decline in vision as part of aging when, in fact, many causes of declining vision can be treated. For example, it’s been shown in clinical trial after clinical trial among patients with wet AMD that the leading predictive factor for a patient’s visual outcome is how early they are diagnosed and treated.”
For more information go to WWW.MACULARDEGENERATIONASSOCIATION.ORG
“I can see to walk, I can look out the window, and I can write,” said the 83-year-old Swatara Twp. resident who has the disease in both eyes. “But I can’t read — it’s all blurred, and I just loved to read.”
Age-related macular degeneration, which affects some 15 million Americans, leads to damage of the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for central vision and controls the ability to read, drive and recognize people’s faces in detail.
“It’s a major public health issue,” said Dr. Ingrid Scott, professor of ophthalmology and public health sciences at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in people over the age of 50 in the United States and the industrialized world.”
The incidence is expected to increase as baby boomers age, said Dr. Erik Chotiner, an ophthalmologist with Memorial Eye Institute in Lower Paxton Twp. “Statistics say that 1.75 million people have advanced AMD now, but that number is expected to rise to 2.95 million by 2025,” he said.
There are two types of the disease, dry and wet, which both can distort vision. Dry macular degeneration, the most common form, usually progresses gradually. The wet form, which occurs when abnormal or leaking blood vessels grow underneath the retina in the area of the macula, can lead to more rapid loss of central vision.
At first, Leisher, who suffers from the wet form, was frightened that she would eventually become blind. However, new drugs injected directly into the eye offer hope to people who suffer from the wet form of AMD.
The drugs, available since 2004, are called anti-VEGF, which stands for “vascular endothelial growth factor” — a family of proteins shown to be important in causing the growth of abnormal blood vessels that characterizes wet macular degeneration.
“Before these drugs, treatment was more primitive and really only helped stabilize, not improve, vision,” Chotiner said.
The anti-VEGF medications, which are injected into the back of the eye with a small needle, work by decreasing the growth of abnormal, leaky blood vessels.
“It can be uncomfortable, but I’ve never had a patient who wasn’t able to tolerate it,” said Scott, who administers a numbing medication to the eye before giving the shot. “With anti-VEGF drugs, 40 percent of patients have visual improvement, and 95 percent have stabilization of vision.”
“My vision is brighter,” said Leisher, who receives her injections at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “A lot of people I know won’t take the shots because they are afraid of the needle. I hesitated at first, but I think I’d be much worse off if I didn’t do it.”
Another option, called photodynamic therapy, involves injecting a photosensitive drug into a vein in the arm. The dye travels to the blood vessels in the eye and localizes preferentially to the abnormal blood vessels. A cold laser beam is shown into the eye and temporarily reduces blood flow to the abnormal blood vessels. This therapy can slow the rate of vision loss but is much less likely to improve vision like the anti-VEGF medications can, Scott said.
Randee Erb, a 62-year-old New Holland resident diagnosed with wet macular degeneration last spring, has had four anti-VEGF injections and is noticing that her blurred vision is better.
“I dread getting the shots,” said Erb, who has to take the day off work when she gets the injections because they make her eye burn. “But they give me hope that I will be able to see clearly again.”
Every day Erb tests her eyesight by looking at an Amsler grid, a chart of vertical and horizontal lines, which she has taped to her refrigerator. The grid helps patients gauge whether their vision is worsening and they should see their doctor, based on how clear and straight the lines appear. As in Erb’s case the daily exercise can also bring good news. “At first it was all gray; now I’m slowly seeing lines,” she said.
Some patients with AMD might benefit from taking vitamin supplements that can reduce the risk of severe vision loss due to the disease by 25 percent and/or reduce the risk of developing wet AMD by 25 percent, Scott said. Called the AREDS formulation, it includes vitamins A, C, E, zinc and copper.
There are preventative measures that people can take to decrease their chances of developing AMD, doctors said. These include wearing sunglasses, not smoking, cutting down on saturated fats and eating dark green, leafy and orange vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes.
“It’s extremely important to have regular eye exams,” Scott said. “People have often just accepted a decline in vision as part of aging when, in fact, many causes of declining vision can be treated. For example, it’s been shown in clinical trial after clinical trial among patients with wet AMD that the leading predictive factor for a patient’s visual outcome is how early they are diagnosed and treated.”
For more information go to WWW.MACULARDEGENERATIONASSOCIATION.ORG
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