Diana Shechtman OD FAAO
Although most people have an annual physical or dental exam, often times the annual eye exam is overlooked. Eyesight plays a critical role in our day-to-day lives. The ability to see certainly affects and interferes with the world around us. Good quality vision is taken for granted until it begins to deteriorate. Visual impairment leads to a decrease in our ability to perform activities of daily living, including driving, computer use and reading. 1,2 Visual impairment is one of the most common disabilities, affecting 314 million people worldwide and3 the majority of visually impaired patients are adults over the age of 65. Common eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts contribute to this. 4,5 Current and future research devoted to ocular disease will unquestionably provide better understanding of such diseases, viable treatment options and better visual outcome.
Eye care professional provide high quality eye care through the use of evidence based medicine enabling the advancement of eye care delivery and the development of new treatment options. In addition, eye care professionals provide good vision to their patients. Patients who experience vision loss attributed to eye related diseases are the ones that are at greatest need for proper visual enhancement. Moreover, uncorrected refractive error has been identified as a leading cause of visual impairment. 6
A routine eye exam is comprised of an overall health assessment of the eye and related structures, as well as the evaluation of vision, the visual system and vision processing. Various eye diseases, like age related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma are insidious and hence, a routine eye exam may identify such conditions before problems ensue. Early diagnosis of ocular disease leads to prompt treatment intervention and better prognosis. Patients need to be cognizant of the importance of annual and routine eye exams. Appropriate and routine eye care reduces the impact of various ocular conditions.
One of the main goals of an eye care professional is to ensure the best corrective vision for the patient. In fact, that is what patients expect. 7 According to a recently published on-line survey conducted among 7 distinct countries (US, France, UK, Italy, Japan, Korea and China), it was determined that vision was by far the most crucial element to all patients.7 The NSIGHT (Needs, symptoms, incidence, global, eye health trends) study was conducted among 3,800 patients with visual corrective needs ranging in age from 15 to 65 years.3 The survey evaluated 40 different needs related to eye conditions, comfort, environment, convenience, health vision, personal performance and appearance. The study’s primary goal was to determine the ranking associated with patients needs when it came to choosing eye-related products. Among the 8 classifications in the study, the two most persuasive categories were vision followed by eye health, while personal performance and comfort rank at the lowest range of the spectrum.
Eye care professionals continue to restore and improve their patients’ sight. What they do everyday is fundamental and ultimately it is what is most important to the patient. So see your eye care professional today.
References
1. Haymes SA, Johnston AW, Heyes AD. Relationship between vision impairment and ability to perform activities of daily living. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 2002; 22: 79–173.
2. Lamoureux EL, Hassell JB, Keeffe JE. The determinants of participation in activities of daily living in people with impaired vision. AJO 137: 265-70.
3. Visual impairment and blindness. World Health organization. www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/ last accessed January 17, 2011.
4. Congdon N, O'Colmain B, Klaver CC, Klein R. et al. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology 2004; 122:477-85.
5. Visual impairment and blindness. World Health organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/ Last access Jan 16, 2011.
6. Congdon NG, Friedman DS, Lietman T. Important Causes of Visual Impairment in the World Today. JAMA 2003; 290: 2057-2060.
7. Mack CJ, Merchea MM, Thomas H. A global survey reveals vision needs of highest importance amongst a vision-corrected population. Poster presented at AAO 2010; San Francisco
Showing posts with label blindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blindness. Show all posts
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
Small Steps to Healthy Eyes
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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, 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, 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 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.
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."
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Nearly 18 Million Will Have Macular Degeneration by 2050
Nearly 18 Million Will Have Macular Degeneration by 2050
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Although the rate of age-related macular degeneration is on the increase, newer treatments could help reduce the most serious effects of the disease by about 35%, new estimates suggest.
Latest Eyesight News
In a study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers report that as many as 9.1 million people will have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2010, but that 17.8 million people will have the potentially blinding eye disease by 2050.
"What we found is that due to aging, the number of cases of early and advanced AMD will increase dramatically no matter what," said study author David Rein, a senior research economist from RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "In 2050, we project there will be 1.57 million cases of blindness [caused by AMD] with no treatment. But, with vigorous treatment, that number's just about 1 million."
Results of the study are published in the April issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Age-related macular degeneration is a serious eye disease that causes the breakdown of the macula, which is located in the retina. The macula gives you clear central vision, which is essential for reading and driving, even for just seeing people's faces. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 65, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO).
Risk factors for AMD include advancing age, a family history of the disease, high blood pressure, smoking and obesity, according to the AAO. Though there are treatments that help some people, there is no cure for AMD.
Most of the treatments for AMD are relatively new, only widely available since about 2001, according to Rein. The easiest and cheapest intervention is a special vitamin/mineral combination (vitamins C, E, beta carotene, zinc and copper) that may slow the progression of AMD. This treatment only costs about $100 per year, and when used early in the disease can "reduce vision-threatening disease by 25%," Rein noted.
Other possible treatments include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), which slows the growth of leaking blood vessels in the eyes, laser therapy or photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines the use of medication and laser therapy to reduce blood vessel leakage in the eyes.
Using a statistical model, the researchers estimated that the rate of visual impairment would drop by 2.4% if everyone with AMD were treated with PDT alone, but by 22% if PDT was combined with vitamin treatments. If, in the future, everyone were treated with laser therapy and anti-VEGF, visual impairment and blindness from AMD would decrease by 16.9%, and the final scenario -- early vitamin treatment and laser therapy -- would reduce serious visual problems in AMD by 34.5%.
"Age-related macular degeneration is a major public health problem, and as people are living longer, more people are going to develop some form of macular degeneration," said Dr. Alexander Aizman, a clinical instructor in the department of ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "The scenarios in this study are very plausible."
Aizman said that although there's currently no specific preventive treatment to avoid AMD altogether, the same things that keep your heart and the rest of your body healthy -- maintaining the proper weight, exercising, not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke -- can also help keep your eyes healthy.
"If you have a relative who has been diagnosed with AMD, it's important to know that you're probably at a higher risk of AMD than the general population," said Aizman. "If you're 60 or older, have regular eye checkups with an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist to find out if you have any early changes that suggest AMD."
SOURCES: David Rein, Ph.D., senior research economist, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.; Alexander Aizman, M.D., clinical instructor, department of ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; April 2009, Archives of Ophthalmology
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Although the rate of age-related macular degeneration is on the increase, newer treatments could help reduce the most serious effects of the disease by about 35%, new estimates suggest.
Latest Eyesight News
In a study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers report that as many as 9.1 million people will have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2010, but that 17.8 million people will have the potentially blinding eye disease by 2050.
"What we found is that due to aging, the number of cases of early and advanced AMD will increase dramatically no matter what," said study author David Rein, a senior research economist from RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "In 2050, we project there will be 1.57 million cases of blindness [caused by AMD] with no treatment. But, with vigorous treatment, that number's just about 1 million."
Results of the study are published in the April issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Age-related macular degeneration is a serious eye disease that causes the breakdown of the macula, which is located in the retina. The macula gives you clear central vision, which is essential for reading and driving, even for just seeing people's faces. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 65, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO).
Risk factors for AMD include advancing age, a family history of the disease, high blood pressure, smoking and obesity, according to the AAO. Though there are treatments that help some people, there is no cure for AMD.
Most of the treatments for AMD are relatively new, only widely available since about 2001, according to Rein. The easiest and cheapest intervention is a special vitamin/mineral combination (vitamins C, E, beta carotene, zinc and copper) that may slow the progression of AMD. This treatment only costs about $100 per year, and when used early in the disease can "reduce vision-threatening disease by 25%," Rein noted.
Other possible treatments include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), which slows the growth of leaking blood vessels in the eyes, laser therapy or photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines the use of medication and laser therapy to reduce blood vessel leakage in the eyes.
Using a statistical model, the researchers estimated that the rate of visual impairment would drop by 2.4% if everyone with AMD were treated with PDT alone, but by 22% if PDT was combined with vitamin treatments. If, in the future, everyone were treated with laser therapy and anti-VEGF, visual impairment and blindness from AMD would decrease by 16.9%, and the final scenario -- early vitamin treatment and laser therapy -- would reduce serious visual problems in AMD by 34.5%.
"Age-related macular degeneration is a major public health problem, and as people are living longer, more people are going to develop some form of macular degeneration," said Dr. Alexander Aizman, a clinical instructor in the department of ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "The scenarios in this study are very plausible."
Aizman said that although there's currently no specific preventive treatment to avoid AMD altogether, the same things that keep your heart and the rest of your body healthy -- maintaining the proper weight, exercising, not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke -- can also help keep your eyes healthy.
"If you have a relative who has been diagnosed with AMD, it's important to know that you're probably at a higher risk of AMD than the general population," said Aizman. "If you're 60 or older, have regular eye checkups with an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist to find out if you have any early changes that suggest AMD."
SOURCES: David Rein, Ph.D., senior research economist, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.; Alexander Aizman, M.D., clinical instructor, department of ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; April 2009, Archives of Ophthalmology
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Stem cell treatment for sight loss could be in use by 2012
Stem cell treatment for sight loss could be in use by 2012
Published Date: 13 April 2009
By LYNDSAY MOSS, HEALTH CORRESPONDENT
A STEM cell treatment for the leading cause of sight loss in older people could be in widespread use within six years, according to researchers.
The Edinburgh Science Festival will later this week hear that scientists want to start patient trials of the treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 2012.
The work will be discussed at an event looking at drugs to treat people over 65, whose numbers are growing as better health and new treatments mean people are living for longer.
Researchers at University College London are currently working on a treatment using embryonic stem cells to replace the cells lost in the eyes of people with AMD. The condition comes in two forms – known as dry and wet – but treatment currently only exists for the wet form, and this is expensive.
Professor Peter Coffey, from the Institute of Ophthalmology at UCL, said a quarter of population over 65 had AMD.
"There is a carpet of cells at the back of the eye which support the seeing part of the eye, which is the retina.
"That carpet of cells started to degenerate and die, and as a result the person goes blind because the seeing part of the retina no longer has the support that it needs.
"What we are looking at is whether we can put cells back to regenerate that middle layer."
Laboratory tests have so far been encouraging, and the researchers are working towards producing cells suitable for clinical use.
Once regulatory approval is granted, it is hoped a small trial involving about ten patients will begin in 2011-12.
Published Date: 13 April 2009
By LYNDSAY MOSS, HEALTH CORRESPONDENT
A STEM cell treatment for the leading cause of sight loss in older people could be in widespread use within six years, according to researchers.
The Edinburgh Science Festival will later this week hear that scientists want to start patient trials of the treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 2012.
The work will be discussed at an event looking at drugs to treat people over 65, whose numbers are growing as better health and new treatments mean people are living for longer.
Researchers at University College London are currently working on a treatment using embryonic stem cells to replace the cells lost in the eyes of people with AMD. The condition comes in two forms – known as dry and wet – but treatment currently only exists for the wet form, and this is expensive.
Professor Peter Coffey, from the Institute of Ophthalmology at UCL, said a quarter of population over 65 had AMD.
"There is a carpet of cells at the back of the eye which support the seeing part of the eye, which is the retina.
"That carpet of cells started to degenerate and die, and as a result the person goes blind because the seeing part of the retina no longer has the support that it needs.
"What we are looking at is whether we can put cells back to regenerate that middle layer."
Laboratory tests have so far been encouraging, and the researchers are working towards producing cells suitable for clinical use.
Once regulatory approval is granted, it is hoped a small trial involving about ten patients will begin in 2011-12.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
He's legally blind and a successful hitting coach
He's legally blind and a successful hitting coach
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -Mark Wetzel can't tell you exactly what his wife or children look like.
He can, however, tell you how to hit a 95 mph fastball.
Even one of baseball's greatest hitters, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, has taken the advice of the man known simply as the "blind guy.''
Left legally blind 45 years ago by macular degeneration, the 59-year-old Wetzel has immersed himself in the study of the swing for the last two decades.
His "laboratory,'' as he calls his training facility, is just a few paces from the front door of the home he shares with wife, Judy, on some land on the north edge of Omaha.
Three nights a week and Sunday afternoons, he breaks down the swings of some 50 students, little leaguers to pros who travel a winding road through the woods and turn off on a gravel driveway leading past a fishing pond to the red steel building that houses two batting cages.
Wetzel knows his students' swings, but not their faces.
He prods, encourages, tweaks.
He usually gets results.
Some have compared his logic-defying talent to that of a horse whisperer.
"Guys ask me all the time how he does it. I tell them I have no idea,'' said Matt Macri, who became Wetzel's first pupil to reach the majors when he appeared in 18 games for the Minnesota Twins last year.
Macular degeneration blurs the center of the field of vision, but Wetzel is able to use his peripheral vision to see shapes and outlines. "That's where I live,'' he said.
Wetzel said when he looks straight ahead, he can see two fingers held 2 feet from his face, but the view is cloudy.
Instead of looking directly at the batter he's instructing, he turns his head and watches him out of the corner of his eye.
"I can tell where the knob of the bat is, and I know exactly what your elbow is doing and where your head is going to go next,'' Wetzel said. "I see that outline, and I connect all the dots.
"You take your great running backs and point guards, and they have great peripheral vision. I'm not so sure they don't see the body move in a different way than the average person does. You can almost see the body move before the body goes there.''
Of course, there are those who condescend or doubt that a blind man could really teach hitting.
The folksy, self-deprecating Wetzel brushes it off.
Asked why he teaches hitting, he says, "Well, do you think I should teach catching? I'm only good for two or three knocks to the head a day.''
Wetzel said he took to heart his grandfather's lectures about not allowing blindness to stop him from doing what he wants.
So he yuks it up about the days he drove a truck for the portable-toilet business he once owned. That's right. He drove, but not for the last 15 years. And don't ask whether he had a license.
"I would go to great lengths to never turn left. That meant you had to turn against traffic,'' he said, letting out a big laugh.
He also used to be a hunting guide, but he had to quit that when he couldn't see birds' silhouettes against the sky anymore.
Baseball was his boyhood passion, and it remains so. He makes a living charging $90 for a one-hour lesson.
He is, to be sure, doing what he wants.
He points out that he's had eight of his players drafted the past six years, and some 30 have gone on to Division I college baseball since he started teaching 22 years ago.
"It's a little bit unorthodox because of his vision problems,'' said Gwynn, who became coach at San Diego State after retiring from the Padres in 2001. "He gets right in there, and he totally gets it.''
Wetzel holds once- or twice-a-month gabfests on the phone about the batter's art with Gwynn and former major league hitting coach Merv Rettenmund. Wetzel met both through a friend, Omaha native and former Padres pitching coach Dan Worthen, who's now with the New York Mets.
Wetzel earned Gwynn's respect shortly after they met about 10 years ago. Wetzel was visiting with him in the dugout before a Padres' game in St. Louis, and the conversation turned to Gwynn's swing.
Wetzel pointed out a flaw, something about the way Gwynn was pushing off with his back foot.
A career .338 hitter and winner of eight National League batting titles, Gwynn was stunned.
"Major league hitters have egos, and my first thought was, 'Who is this blind guy to tell me what I'm doing wrong?' " Gwynn recalled.
Gwynn said he thought about what Wetzel said, and discovered Wetzel was right.
"I decided to go to work on it, and I got it fixed,'' he said.
Wetzel first had trouble seeing when he was 11. He was a good ballplayer, but he started misjudging flies in the outfield and striking out.
He was legally blind three years later. His playing days were over.
He worked a variety of jobs as he got older. There were the portable-toilet and hunting-guide businesses, and he trained dogs and operated a kennel.
Baseball came back into his life when his son, Lance, started playing in the 1980s.
Wetzel wanted to help out with Lance's team but was shooed away.
"They wanted to put me on (soda) pop duty, or help the moms line up the snacks for after the games,'' he said.
Despite his blindness, he thought he could teach hitting better than Lance's coaches. He would watch instructional videos by sitting with his nose pressed up against the TV. Within a year or two, fathers started to bring their sons to see the blind guy.
Wetzel has come up with a philosophy that places a premium on the batter's ability to relax. Without prompting, he talks about shifting weight to the front of the feet through incremental chin movements. He touts the "million-dollar inch,'' referring to the front elbow's alignment over the belly button, and the importance of "centering the ball.''
"When I was a player, and even when I was coaching, I never thought anyone could teach hitting unless he had done it himself,'' Rettenmund said. "Mark Wetzel proved me wrong.''
Wetzel's students come from near and far. Macri, who grew up 130 miles away in Des Moines, Iowa, started taking lessons from Wetzel 10 years ago when he was a high school freshman. Macri lives in Chicago in the offseason, but still makes it to Wetzel's "laboratory'' once or twice a winter.
A new student, 9 years old, comes in from Kearney, about 180 miles away.
"I think the good lord,'' Wetzel said, "has given me a gift.''
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -Mark Wetzel can't tell you exactly what his wife or children look like.
He can, however, tell you how to hit a 95 mph fastball.
Even one of baseball's greatest hitters, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, has taken the advice of the man known simply as the "blind guy.''
Left legally blind 45 years ago by macular degeneration, the 59-year-old Wetzel has immersed himself in the study of the swing for the last two decades.
His "laboratory,'' as he calls his training facility, is just a few paces from the front door of the home he shares with wife, Judy, on some land on the north edge of Omaha.
Three nights a week and Sunday afternoons, he breaks down the swings of some 50 students, little leaguers to pros who travel a winding road through the woods and turn off on a gravel driveway leading past a fishing pond to the red steel building that houses two batting cages.
Wetzel knows his students' swings, but not their faces.
He prods, encourages, tweaks.
He usually gets results.
Some have compared his logic-defying talent to that of a horse whisperer.
"Guys ask me all the time how he does it. I tell them I have no idea,'' said Matt Macri, who became Wetzel's first pupil to reach the majors when he appeared in 18 games for the Minnesota Twins last year.
Macular degeneration blurs the center of the field of vision, but Wetzel is able to use his peripheral vision to see shapes and outlines. "That's where I live,'' he said.
Wetzel said when he looks straight ahead, he can see two fingers held 2 feet from his face, but the view is cloudy.
Instead of looking directly at the batter he's instructing, he turns his head and watches him out of the corner of his eye.
"I can tell where the knob of the bat is, and I know exactly what your elbow is doing and where your head is going to go next,'' Wetzel said. "I see that outline, and I connect all the dots.
"You take your great running backs and point guards, and they have great peripheral vision. I'm not so sure they don't see the body move in a different way than the average person does. You can almost see the body move before the body goes there.''
Of course, there are those who condescend or doubt that a blind man could really teach hitting.
The folksy, self-deprecating Wetzel brushes it off.
Asked why he teaches hitting, he says, "Well, do you think I should teach catching? I'm only good for two or three knocks to the head a day.''
Wetzel said he took to heart his grandfather's lectures about not allowing blindness to stop him from doing what he wants.
So he yuks it up about the days he drove a truck for the portable-toilet business he once owned. That's right. He drove, but not for the last 15 years. And don't ask whether he had a license.
"I would go to great lengths to never turn left. That meant you had to turn against traffic,'' he said, letting out a big laugh.
He also used to be a hunting guide, but he had to quit that when he couldn't see birds' silhouettes against the sky anymore.
Baseball was his boyhood passion, and it remains so. He makes a living charging $90 for a one-hour lesson.
He is, to be sure, doing what he wants.
He points out that he's had eight of his players drafted the past six years, and some 30 have gone on to Division I college baseball since he started teaching 22 years ago.
"It's a little bit unorthodox because of his vision problems,'' said Gwynn, who became coach at San Diego State after retiring from the Padres in 2001. "He gets right in there, and he totally gets it.''
Wetzel holds once- or twice-a-month gabfests on the phone about the batter's art with Gwynn and former major league hitting coach Merv Rettenmund. Wetzel met both through a friend, Omaha native and former Padres pitching coach Dan Worthen, who's now with the New York Mets.
Wetzel earned Gwynn's respect shortly after they met about 10 years ago. Wetzel was visiting with him in the dugout before a Padres' game in St. Louis, and the conversation turned to Gwynn's swing.
Wetzel pointed out a flaw, something about the way Gwynn was pushing off with his back foot.
A career .338 hitter and winner of eight National League batting titles, Gwynn was stunned.
"Major league hitters have egos, and my first thought was, 'Who is this blind guy to tell me what I'm doing wrong?' " Gwynn recalled.
Gwynn said he thought about what Wetzel said, and discovered Wetzel was right.
"I decided to go to work on it, and I got it fixed,'' he said.
Wetzel first had trouble seeing when he was 11. He was a good ballplayer, but he started misjudging flies in the outfield and striking out.
He was legally blind three years later. His playing days were over.
He worked a variety of jobs as he got older. There were the portable-toilet and hunting-guide businesses, and he trained dogs and operated a kennel.
Baseball came back into his life when his son, Lance, started playing in the 1980s.
Wetzel wanted to help out with Lance's team but was shooed away.
"They wanted to put me on (soda) pop duty, or help the moms line up the snacks for after the games,'' he said.
Despite his blindness, he thought he could teach hitting better than Lance's coaches. He would watch instructional videos by sitting with his nose pressed up against the TV. Within a year or two, fathers started to bring their sons to see the blind guy.
Wetzel has come up with a philosophy that places a premium on the batter's ability to relax. Without prompting, he talks about shifting weight to the front of the feet through incremental chin movements. He touts the "million-dollar inch,'' referring to the front elbow's alignment over the belly button, and the importance of "centering the ball.''
"When I was a player, and even when I was coaching, I never thought anyone could teach hitting unless he had done it himself,'' Rettenmund said. "Mark Wetzel proved me wrong.''
Wetzel's students come from near and far. Macri, who grew up 130 miles away in Des Moines, Iowa, started taking lessons from Wetzel 10 years ago when he was a high school freshman. Macri lives in Chicago in the offseason, but still makes it to Wetzel's "laboratory'' once or twice a winter.
A new student, 9 years old, comes in from Kearney, about 180 miles away.
"I think the good lord,'' Wetzel said, "has given me a gift.''
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Zebra fish used to study blindness
Zebra fish used to study blindness
Published: April 3, 2009 at 12:14 PM
WEST LAYFAYETTE, Ind., April 3 (UPI) -- Experiments with zebra fish are helping identify genes linked to retinal diseases that cause blindness, a Purdue University scientist said.
"Once we know the genetic network that influences retinal development, we can begin to understand the changes in specific genes that lead to vision loss," Yuk Fai Leung said.
With such information, treatments could be developed to prevent or reverse diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, he said.
Using zebra fish, which are closer to humans in eye development than mice or other animal models, a Purdue team developed a new analysis method for analyzing key genes linked to retinal development.
The method can examine thousands of genes and analyze several experimental changes simultaneously, allowing scientists to understand how one change leads to another in degenerative diseases, Leung said.
Retinal degenerative diseases are some of the leading causes of blindness and low vision in an estimated 3.3 million people age 40 and older in the United States, the National Eye Institute said.
Published: April 3, 2009 at 12:14 PM
WEST LAYFAYETTE, Ind., April 3 (UPI) -- Experiments with zebra fish are helping identify genes linked to retinal diseases that cause blindness, a Purdue University scientist said.
"Once we know the genetic network that influences retinal development, we can begin to understand the changes in specific genes that lead to vision loss," Yuk Fai Leung said.
With such information, treatments could be developed to prevent or reverse diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, he said.
Using zebra fish, which are closer to humans in eye development than mice or other animal models, a Purdue team developed a new analysis method for analyzing key genes linked to retinal development.
The method can examine thousands of genes and analyze several experimental changes simultaneously, allowing scientists to understand how one change leads to another in degenerative diseases, Leung said.
Retinal degenerative diseases are some of the leading causes of blindness and low vision in an estimated 3.3 million people age 40 and older in the United States, the National Eye Institute said.
Monday, March 30, 2009
FDA Panel to Review Sci-Fi Device for AMD
FDA Panel to Review Sci-Fi Device for AMD
By Emily P. Walker, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: March 27, 2009
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Click here to rate this report
GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 27 -- An FDA advisory committee may recommend today that patients with macular degeneration have access to a technology straight out of the 1970s TV show, The Six Million Dollar Man.
On tap for the Ophthalmic Devices Panel is a miniature telescope that is implanted in the eye. On television, it gave Steve Austin super-long-range vision.
But the real-life product up for premarket approval won't play a role in covert government operations -- it's intended to improve the eyesight of elderly people with macular degeneration.
Called the Implantable Miniature Telescope, the device is made by Vision Care Ophthalmic Technologies, which wants to market it for patients who are 65 or older with stable moderate to profound vision impairment caused by bilateral central scotomas associated with end-stage age-related macular degeneration.
The device directs light from the lens onto still-functioning portions of the macula to maintain central sight. It increases vision up to about three meters, helping patients to read and perform other close-up tasks, though doing nothing for their ability to drive.
The device would be implanted in one eye. Because it only improves central vision, implant recipients would rely on the opposite eye for peripheral sight.
The application calls for the device to be implanted by cornea specialists who are trained by Vision Care.
This is the second time the company has sought FDA approval for the device.
The panel voted against recommending approval in 2006, saying there was not enough proof the telescope was effective and too much evidence that it was not safe.
Most concerning to the 2006 panel was higher-than-expected cell loss in the implanted eye.
Since then, the sponsor has submitted longer-term data showing the telescope improves central vision. But the studies also showed that the benefit decreases over time.
Also since the last meeting, there have been an additional seven reports of late-occurring corneal edema. Ten of the 13 total cases of corneal edema were observed two years after surgery.
In addition, more cases of corneal decompensation have turned up in the long-term data.
For the original study, researchers implanted one of two versions of the telescope in 206 patients with incurable central vision disorders and who were over 55 and had a need for cataract surgery.
To be eligible for the trial, patients needed to have "best corrected distance visual acuity" between 20/80 and 20/800, and have adequate peripheral vision in the nonimplanted eye.
The primary endpoint for efficacy was improvement of two lines or greater in either near or distance vision, which was achieved in 86% of patients at follow-up.
But the data indicated that the longer the telescope stays in place, the effectiveness diminishes slightly.
For instance, at 12 months, 90% of patients had two lines of improved vision in either near or distance vision, but at 24 months, that number dropped to 86% (P<0.001 for both).
At 12 months, 73% of patients had improvements in both near and distance vision simultaneously. At two years, that percentage dropped to 67% of patients.
In a four-year follow-up that the company completed at the request of the FDA, just 68% of the patients achieved a two-line or greater gain in either long distance or near vision four years after the surgery.
Eyes with profound vision impairment showed a more significant improvement compared with those with moderate vision impairment, which was sustained throughout the entire study period.
During the study, five eyes lost more than two lines of vision, and eight devices were eventually removed because of patient dissatisfaction.
The panel, which is chaired by Jayne Weiss, M.D., an ophthalmologist from the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, will decide whether the new data provide reasonable assurance of an acceptable long-term risk of corneal decompensation.
The panel will also decide whether the sponsor took into account the improvement in vision after cataract removal without telescope implantation.
By Emily P. Walker, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: March 27, 2009
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Click here to rate this report
GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 27 -- An FDA advisory committee may recommend today that patients with macular degeneration have access to a technology straight out of the 1970s TV show, The Six Million Dollar Man.
On tap for the Ophthalmic Devices Panel is a miniature telescope that is implanted in the eye. On television, it gave Steve Austin super-long-range vision.
But the real-life product up for premarket approval won't play a role in covert government operations -- it's intended to improve the eyesight of elderly people with macular degeneration.
Called the Implantable Miniature Telescope, the device is made by Vision Care Ophthalmic Technologies, which wants to market it for patients who are 65 or older with stable moderate to profound vision impairment caused by bilateral central scotomas associated with end-stage age-related macular degeneration.
The device directs light from the lens onto still-functioning portions of the macula to maintain central sight. It increases vision up to about three meters, helping patients to read and perform other close-up tasks, though doing nothing for their ability to drive.
The device would be implanted in one eye. Because it only improves central vision, implant recipients would rely on the opposite eye for peripheral sight.
The application calls for the device to be implanted by cornea specialists who are trained by Vision Care.
This is the second time the company has sought FDA approval for the device.
The panel voted against recommending approval in 2006, saying there was not enough proof the telescope was effective and too much evidence that it was not safe.
Most concerning to the 2006 panel was higher-than-expected cell loss in the implanted eye.
Since then, the sponsor has submitted longer-term data showing the telescope improves central vision. But the studies also showed that the benefit decreases over time.
Also since the last meeting, there have been an additional seven reports of late-occurring corneal edema. Ten of the 13 total cases of corneal edema were observed two years after surgery.
In addition, more cases of corneal decompensation have turned up in the long-term data.
For the original study, researchers implanted one of two versions of the telescope in 206 patients with incurable central vision disorders and who were over 55 and had a need for cataract surgery.
To be eligible for the trial, patients needed to have "best corrected distance visual acuity" between 20/80 and 20/800, and have adequate peripheral vision in the nonimplanted eye.
The primary endpoint for efficacy was improvement of two lines or greater in either near or distance vision, which was achieved in 86% of patients at follow-up.
But the data indicated that the longer the telescope stays in place, the effectiveness diminishes slightly.
For instance, at 12 months, 90% of patients had two lines of improved vision in either near or distance vision, but at 24 months, that number dropped to 86% (P<0.001 for both).
At 12 months, 73% of patients had improvements in both near and distance vision simultaneously. At two years, that percentage dropped to 67% of patients.
In a four-year follow-up that the company completed at the request of the FDA, just 68% of the patients achieved a two-line or greater gain in either long distance or near vision four years after the surgery.
Eyes with profound vision impairment showed a more significant improvement compared with those with moderate vision impairment, which was sustained throughout the entire study period.
During the study, five eyes lost more than two lines of vision, and eight devices were eventually removed because of patient dissatisfaction.
The panel, which is chaired by Jayne Weiss, M.D., an ophthalmologist from the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, will decide whether the new data provide reasonable assurance of an acceptable long-term risk of corneal decompensation.
The panel will also decide whether the sponsor took into account the improvement in vision after cataract removal without telescope implantation.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Details of age-related blindness may be obtained from 3-D snapshots of eyes
Details of age-related blindness may be obtained from 3-D snapshots of eyes
March 20th, 2009 - 11:27 am ICT by ANI -
Washington, March 20 (ANI): A group of U.S. scientists have created ultra-detailed 3-D images of the eyes of more than 2,000 people from different ethnic groups, 400 of whom have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), hoping that they will pave the way for new diagnostic software that will help get a better look at the abnormalities that cause this condition, and prove useful for developing new treatments.
The team was led by James Fujimoto at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborators Jay Duker of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and Joel Schuman of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
AMD is a condition in which the macula, the region of highest visual acuity in the retina, stops functioning properly. No treatment currently exists for dry AMD, and those available for the wet form can only slow, not stop, vision loss.
The researchers say that publishing the electronic data in 3-D images may make it available to the image processing community to develop computer programs that can quickly and automatically detect the details and severity of the disease.
Fujimoto admits that developing such a program will be difficult because of the sheer quantity of data contained in each data set.
He, however, insists that this data is important because quantitative measurements can be used to track disease progression, and help establish correlations between the severity of vision loss and changes in the architecture of the eye.
A report on the research teams work has been published in the journal Optics Express. (ANI)
March 20th, 2009 - 11:27 am ICT by ANI -
Washington, March 20 (ANI): A group of U.S. scientists have created ultra-detailed 3-D images of the eyes of more than 2,000 people from different ethnic groups, 400 of whom have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), hoping that they will pave the way for new diagnostic software that will help get a better look at the abnormalities that cause this condition, and prove useful for developing new treatments.
The team was led by James Fujimoto at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborators Jay Duker of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and Joel Schuman of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
AMD is a condition in which the macula, the region of highest visual acuity in the retina, stops functioning properly. No treatment currently exists for dry AMD, and those available for the wet form can only slow, not stop, vision loss.
The researchers say that publishing the electronic data in 3-D images may make it available to the image processing community to develop computer programs that can quickly and automatically detect the details and severity of the disease.
Fujimoto admits that developing such a program will be difficult because of the sheer quantity of data contained in each data set.
He, however, insists that this data is important because quantitative measurements can be used to track disease progression, and help establish correlations between the severity of vision loss and changes in the architecture of the eye.
A report on the research teams work has been published in the journal Optics Express. (ANI)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
