Glaucoma

[Ms. Kathy]

Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Also referred to as:
High Eye Pressure

Glaucoma is a disorder associated with pressure in the eye, and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve, with consequent visual loss, initially peripheral, but potentially blinding if relentlessly progressive. Unfortunately, glaucoma is usually a disease in which the patient is entirely asymptomatic (without symptoms) until late in the disease. The disorder we refer to as glaucoma, is not a single disease, but rather a myriad of diseases with one final common insult, injury to the optic nerve.

Glaucoma affects 2 million Americans, and half of those people are unaware they have the disease. Approximately 5 to 10 million Americans have elevated eye pressure, which places them at risk for the development of glaucoma. Eighty thousand Americans are already blind from the disease. African-Americans have a five-fold greater risk of developing glaucoma and, in this population, it is the single most common cause of irreversible blindness.

In recent years, it has been shown that at least one-third of glaucoma patients have eye pressures in the "normal range", which is 10 to 21mm Hg. This information has challenged traditional thought that glaucoma is a disorder of high eye pressure. There are consequently multiple theories regarding the cause of glaucoma. Suffice it to say that besides eye pressure, perfusion (blood flow) of the optic nerve, mechanical factors in and around the optic nerve itself, and biochemical factors also probably play a role. Most ophthalmologists believe that patients with sustained eye pressures in the high 20's or above will eventually develop glaucoma but there is no level of pressure at which glaucoma never occurs. This is one of the most difficult concepts for glaucoma patients to understand, i.e., that glaucoma may not only occur but may progress in the face of a "normal pressure." Glaucoma is much more complex than most patients would like to believe. This very fact is the reason that glaucoma sub-specialist ophthalmologists have an additional one to two years of fellowship training beyond the three to four years of general ophthalmology residency training.

From EyeMD www.eyemdlink.com/Condition.asp?ConditionID=2

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Links to Other sites Concerning Glaucoma:

• Glaucoma Research Foundation: www.glaucoma.org/
• Med-Line Plus: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/glaucoma.html
• Yahoo Health: health.yahoo.com/centers/eye_vision/30
• Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness: wills-glaucoma.org/
• All About Vision.Com: www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma.htm
• Ophtamology Review Journal: www.ophthal.org/ORJ/glaucoma/
• The Merck Manual: www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section8/chapter100/100a.jsp
• Eye Search.Com: www.eyesearch.com/glaucoma.htm
• National Eye Institute: www.nei.nih.gov/
  
• The Glaucoma Foundation: www.glaucomafoundation.org
• Glaucima Vision Channel: visionchannel.net/glaucoma

[Ms. Kathy]

Five Vision Topics Added to NIHSeniorHealth Web Site
Source: www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2005/nia-20.htm

Eye diseases and conditions leading to vision loss increase significantly with age, and the number of people with vision loss is expected to rise as the population grows older. To help older adults learn more about these conditions and vision loss, the NIHSeniorHealth Web site is adding five new topics on vision: glaucoma, cataract, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and low vision. Accurate, up-to-date information about these conditions is only a mouse click away at www.nihseniorhealth.gov.

Glaucoma, cataract, AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and low vision are common in older Americans. While glaucoma can strike anyone, the risk for this eye disease, which can damage the optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness, is much greater for people over age 60. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries done in the U.S. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. AMD, a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older, affects the part of the retina that allows you to see fine detail and blurs the sharp central vision needed for straight-ahead activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. One in every 12 people with diabetes age 40 and older has vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness. People age 65 and older, as well as African Americans and Hispanics over age 45, are at higher risk for low vision, which makes reading the mail, shopping, cooking, watching TV, and other everyday tasks difficult.

“Low vision and blindness can lead to loss of independence and reduced quality of life for older Americans,” says Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Eye Institute (NEI), which developed the content for the vision topics on the Web site. “Older Americans now can turn to NIHSeniorHealth to learn more about prevention, early detection, and treatment of eye diseases. The Web site’s special features, including various large-print type sizes, open-captioned videos, and an audio version, are especially useful to those who already suffer from vision loss.”

One of the fastest growing age groups using the Internet, older Americans increasingly turn to the World Wide Web for health information. In fact, 66 percent of “wired” seniors surf for health and medical information when they go online. NIHSeniorHealth, a joint effort of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), was designed especially with seniors in mind. The site, which is based on the latest research on cognition and aging, features short, easy-to-read segments of information. Additional topics coming soon include problems with taste and smell, stroke, osteoporosis, and falls. The site links to MedlinePlus, NLM’s premier, more detailed site for consumer health information.

The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. The NLM, the world's largest library of the health sciences, creates and sponsors Web-based health information resources for the public and professionals. The NEI conducts and supports research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. All three are components of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

[Ms. Kathy]

(BPRW) African-Americans at High Risk for Glaucoma
- Now is the time to Increase Your Visibility of the Disease-
Source:http://www.blackprwire.com/display-news.asp?ID=1988

(BLACK PR WIRE) Did you know that glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans? It is a serious disease which requires serious attention! If you’re one of those people who do not see the importance of having an eye exam each year, think again! Now is the time to get tested and increase your visibility of the disease!

Well, what is glaucoma, you may ask? It is a disease in which high intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss. Why glaucoma strikes African-Americans at an earlier age—and why the disease develops so much faster in African Americans than in the rest of the population—is not known. According to statistics from the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians, and accounts for 12% of all new cases of blindness among Americans every year.

Researchers and doctors are still not sure why people get glaucoma. But they do know that glaucoma is not caused by too much reading, reading in low light, having a bad diet, wearing contact lenses, or other daily activities.

There are, however, many factors that increase the risk of developing glaucoma. African Americans, and individuals over 40 who have extreme nearsightedness (Myopia) or farsightedness (Hyeropia), high blood pressure, and steroid use, tend to run a higher risk of developing the disease.

There are also a variety of ways that glaucoma can be treated, ranging from eye drops to pills. In fact, researchers have found that eye drops that reduce elevated pressure inside the eye can delay or possibly prevent the onset of glaucoma in African Americans at higher risk for developing the disease. In a study of African Americans who received the eye drops, 8.4 percent developed glaucoma, whereas 16.1 percent of the study participants who did not receive the eye drops developed glaucoma. The study, called the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS), was funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), two components of the Federal government’s National Institutes of Health.

“This is the first study to recruit large numbers of African Americans to examine the benefit of pressure-lowering eye drops to prevent or delay the onset of glaucoma,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI. “The results underscore that African Americans over age 40 should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years to see if they are at higher risk for glaucoma.”

Eye exams are extremely important, so encourage your family and friends to get their eyes tested today. Then, we can all clearly see the many brighter days ahead!

[Ms. Kathy]

Glaucoma alert
www.nj.com/living/ledger/index.ssf?/base/living-0/1136266800312300.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

Many people with glaucoma don't know they have this sight-robbing disease, according to Prevent Blindness America. Glaucoma is known as the "sneak thief of sight" because it slowly destroys vision, often without the patient realizing it.

People with glaucoma usually first notice a loss of peripheral vision. Over time, glaucoma can also damage central vision. Once it's lost, vision cannot be restored, according to Prevent Blindness America.

The group urges everyone to make regular visits to an eye-care professional for complete eye exams.The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns that everyone over age 60 is at risk for developing the disease. Some other risk factors for glaucoma are:


Race: Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 than any other group. The disease is five times more likely to occur in black people than in white people. Black people are four times more likely to go blind from glaucoma.

Family history: Having a parent or sibling with glaucoma.


Diabetes: People with the disease have a 40 percent higher risk.


Nearsightedness.


Eye injury or surgery: Those who have had eye surgery or injuries to their eyes may develop secondary glaucoma.


Steroid medication: When used for extended periods of time, steroids may increase the risk for glaucoma.

To learn more about glaucoma, visit online at www.preventblindness.org/glaucoma. You can also call toll-free at [phone] for free information. Printed materials are available in English and Spanish.

-- Compiled by Meg Nugent

[Ms. Kathy]

Date:27/07/2006 URL: www.thehindu.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072719290400.htm
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

New treatment option for glaucoma

Staff Reporter

Alternative procedure is cost effective, avoids lifelong medication





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The treatment avoids the inconvenience and side effects of lifelong ophthalmic medication
Costing between Rs. 7,500 and 9,000, SLT could be cost-effective in the long run
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CHENNAI : A new treatment option is now available for glaucoma patients in the city.

A private clinic has launched selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which avoids lifelong ophthalmic medication and the risks associated with surgery.

Glaucoma is a disease that can be controlled, but not cured; it is often described as a `sneak thief of vision' owing to its silent intrusion and asymptomatic process of wreaking damage on retinal nerve fibres.

The incidence of glaucoma is between 3 and 4 per cent and primary open angle glaucoma resulting from blockage of the natural draining mechanism of the eye is the most common subtype.

Uma Eye Clinic in Anna Nagar has joined two other eye clinics — in Mumbai and Bangalore — in setting up the SLT facility.

Laser beams


SLT directs laser beams into the retina to lower intra ocular pressure as well as open an alternative pathway for the natural cleansing of the eye by the aqueous humor fluid.

The procedure targets specific cells and leaves surrounding tissue intact.

Since glaucoma-induced vision loss is permanent, the chances of salvaging partial vision are better if diagnosed early.

Though cataract is the leading cause of preventable blindness, glaucoma is a more important disease in terms of the urgency of treatment. While vision loss in advanced cataract due to calcification of the lens can be fully reversed with implantation, glaucoma blindness is permanent.

The spacing out of SLT therapy means that there is a gap of a few years between the patient's first sitting and a second visit to the clinic, Frank William Howes, a pioneer in SLT from Australia told a press conference on Monday.

"The results are better the earlier glaucoma is reported," said Dr. N. V. Arulmozhi Varman who has completed 50 procedures at Uma Eye Clinic.

He recommended regular eye screening for people above 40 years and a detailed examination at least once in two years.

Undergoing an SLT procedure also helps patients on multiple medication therapy to bring down or eliminate altogether the drugs used.

Costing between Rs. 7,500 and 9,000, SLT could be cost effective in the long run as it eliminates dependence on medicines.

The clinic can be reached at 26213670/26263199.









© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu

[Ms. Kathy]

Prevent Blindness in 80,000 People a Year With New Welsh 'Self-Test' to Cure Glaucoma
MIAMI, Jan. 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) (PRIMEZONE) -- The Leading Cause of Preventable-Blindness is Glaucoma.


Dr. Bob Welsh, a Rotarian, a world-renowned eye surgeon and a leading medical missionary sees a chance to prevent up to 80,000 cases of new Glaucoma blindness in blacks per year through administering his new unique patented invention: The new Welsh "Self-Test" for earlier Glaucoma in 10,000 U.S. black churches, with the simple instructions from their Pastors.

Elderly blacks are 9 times more gene-prone to developing totally blinding Glaucoma than other population groups. According to the World Health Organization, more than 5,000,000 mostly elderly blacks in the world today suffer from total incurable Glaucoma-Blindness. They need white canes because they lacked the opportunity to get tested for earlier Glaucoma before it blinded them. This New Welsh "Self-Test" for earlier Glaucoma involves (awkward but accurate) holding one hand over the opposite eye and then using the free hand for "Finger-Wiggling" testing motion nasally in the staring laterally eye to detect reduced or lost "Nose-Side Side-Vision" called a 95% Glaucoma-Diagnostic "Nasal-Step" loss. Nasal steps are either 80% above 180 degrees or below 15%. No insurance pays for Gross-Field Testing for which Glaucoma experts and Glaucoma advisors have almost zero experience.

Blinding Glaucoma is often called the "Sneak-Thief of Sight" because most individuals with advanced blinding Glaucoma are completely unaware that their "Side-Vision" is being-stolen from them until it is too late. Optic-nerve damage due to increased-pressure within the eye builds to a point of no return. This total incurable-blindness in blacks doesn't have to happen and it won't with This New Welsh "Self-Test for mass diagnosis, and such new treatments as eye drops and 4 different types of Lasers.

Dr. Welsh is the author of "The invaluable 4-Page-Pamphlet ("P-4") that describes GLAUCOMA." He's also done 8 books on "Cataract-Surgery" and is the man behind the now-famous biennial Welsh Cataract Congresses which met from 1969 to 1996. He sees as the solution: Pastors at 10,000 black churches who can instruct in this New Welsh "Self-Test" for early Glaucoma.

This New Welsh-"Self-Test" should be conducted by Pastors in 10,000 US black churches. Pastors can scan their 350 elderly blacks in five-minutes after church services or special events. Dr. Welsh's new "Self-Test" for "Nose-Side" Side-Vision "Nasal-Step" loss, Above=80% or Below=15%, is up to 95% accurate at detecting earlier "Blinding-Glaucoma." High-risk blacks with High-Pressure Glaucoma are then referred to an area ophthalmologist for proper eye pressure treatment -- drops and Lasers.

Dr. Welsh said, "I hope to teach 10,000 black ministers in the U.S. Sadly, ageing blacks with 'white-canes' fill Light-Houses for the Blind throughout the Caribbean. Early Glaucoma diagnosis and treatment can be made by working with Pastors at black churches in America." Interested Pastors and black churches may contact Dr. Welsh at www.glaucomaselftest.org to help stop preventable blindness from earlier treatable Glaucoma or call Director Bud Grant at 1-516-327-2236 of the U.S. Congress's new and highly-funded $$$$ Glaucoma-Caucus.

To help prevent blindness, copy this document and send to Pastors of black churches in your area and/or to all 10,000 around the U.S. For info, log onto www.glaucomaselftest.org.

CONTACT: Dr. Robert Welsh, MD-Eye
Phone & Fax: [phone]
www.glaucomaselftest.org
1135 Campo Sano Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33146

Source Link: www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=111572

[Ms. Kathy]

Print this Release

January 09, 2007 10:24 AM Eastern Time
Ending the Journey through Darkness: Innovative Technology Offers New Hope for Treating Blindness due to Retinitis Pigmentosa
Second Sight announces FDA approval to begin clinical trial to test newest generation of electronic retinal implant

SYLMAR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new implantable technology has the potential to bring light back to blind individuals with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to conduct a clinical study of the ArgusTM II Retinal Prosthesis System at centers of excellence across the United States.

The Argus II is the second generation of an electronic retinal implant designed for the treatment of blindness due to RP, a group of inherited eye diseases that affect the retina. RP causes the degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina, which capture and process light helping individuals to see. As these cells degenerate, patients experience progressive vision loss.

“This is a major milestone not only for the company but, more importantly, for RP patients who have little in the way of hope and treatment options,” said Robert Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Second Sight, and a leader in the field of retinal prostheses for over 15 years. "We have put together an outstanding group of clinical investigators and study sites around the country, and worldwide, to assess this device, and we are looking forward to getting started in the United States."

The Argus II implant consists of an array of electrodes that are attached to the retina and used in conjunction with an external camera and video processing system to provide a rudimentary form of sight to implanted subjects. An IDE trial of the first generation implant (Argus™ 16), which has 16 electrodes, is ongoing at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California. The Argus 16 was implanted in six RP subjects between 2002 and 2004 and has enabled them to detect when lights are on or off, describe an object’s motion, count discrete items, as well as locate and differentiate basic objects in an environment. Five of these subjects are now using their Argus 16 retinal prostheses at home.

The next generation Argus II retinal stimulator is designed with 60 independently controllable electrodes, which should provide implanted subjects with higher resolution images. Second Sight remains the only manufacturer with an actively powered permanently implantable retinal prosthesis under clinical study in the United States, and the technology represents the highest electrode count for such a device anywhere in the world.

"This advanced artificial retina technology holds promise for providing even better detailed vision than the original device," says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. "The opportunity for restoring some functional vision is a very exciting prospect for people who are blind or have substantial vision loss."

The study will be conducted in subjects who:

Have a confirmed history of RP with remaining visual acuity of bare light perception or worse in both eyes with functional ganglion cells.
Have a history of former useful vision.
Are fifty years or older.
Reside within two hours of surface transport from the investigational site.
Are able to verbally communicate in English.
The study will require each subject to be followed for at least three years with visits to the implanting center up to two times per week. Enrollment of subjects in the Argus II trial will begin at centers of excellence across the United States in early 2007.

Subjects with optic nerve disease, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, ocular trauma, or a history of retinal detachment are not suitable candidates for this study. Subjects must also be physically able to undergo general anesthesia. If you know of a suitable candidate, or if you are a physician with further questions, please contact [e-mail] or 818-833-5027.

(Editor’s note: Supporting graphics and/or interviews with physicians familiar with Second Sight technology are available upon request.)

About Second Sight

Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc., located in Sylmar, Calif., is a privately held company founded in 1998 by Alfred Mann and others with the goal of creating a retinal prosthesis to provide sight to patients blinded from outer retinal degenerations, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Through dedication and innovation, Second Sight’s mission is to develop, manufacture and market implantable visual prosthetics to enable blind individuals to overcome their disability and achieve greater independence. The company has received extensive U.S. federal support in developing this new technology and is grateful for the forward thinking of the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute and the Office of Science at the Department of Energy in supporting significant aspects of this work.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Second Sight Medical Products wishes to caution the reader that actual results may differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may be adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated with new product development and commercialization, clinical trials, regulatory approvals, reimbursement, and other factors. Second Sight is a registered trademark and Argus is a trademark of Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

Contacts
Second Sight
Brian Mech, 818-833-5026
[e-mail]

Source Link: home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070109005796&newsLang=en

[Ms. Kathy]

Glaucoma detection important
By John Wood, OD


January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and the American Optometric Association urges everyone to get a comprehensive eye exam.

Glaucoma is a class of diseases of the optic nerve where cells die resulting in a gradual and permanent loss of vision. The most common form is painless and has no symptoms. A person could have glaucoma while reading this and not be aware of it.

It is estimated that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world with more than 4 million Americans affected by the disease, but only half know they have it. Early discovery, diagnosis and treatment are extremely important to prevent blindness.

With a rapidly aging Baby Boom generation, these numbers are expected to double in the next decade. The average age of diagnosis is the early 50s.

Those most at risk are AfricanAmericans older than 40, Hispanics (especially with diabetic family history), people with a family history of glaucoma, anybody older than 60, people with diabetes and other adverse health conditions, those who have experienced a serious eye injury and those who are severely nearsighted, especially Asians.

Glaucoma is a treatable disease and vision loss can be minimized. Those who are potentially at risk must take the first step and get an eye exam. The first line of treatment typically consists of eye drops to lower the pressure inside the eye.

Many patients have "normal" or "low tension" glaucoma, so complete testing, which includes peripheral vision, and not just monitoring the pressure is important.

Sadly, most people don't notice symptoms until they have already lost significant vision, and this loss is irreversible. Glaucoma is a chronic condition and must be monitored for life.

If more than two years have passed since the last eye exam, it is appropriate to be evaluated.

Dr. John Wood practices at Moorpark Optometric Eyecare Inc., 525-F Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark.
Source Link:http://www.moorparkacorn.com/news/2007/0119/Health_and_Wellness/034.html

[Ms. Kathy]

Glaucoma patients at significantly higher risk for falls, motor vehicle accidents
Source Link:http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-articles-7061.html

Glaucoma :: Glaucoma patients at significantly higher risk for falls, motor vehicle accidents
Persons affected by glaucoma are over three times more likely to have been involved in falls and motor vehicle accidents than persons of the same age without the condition, say researchers from Dalhousie University in Canada.

Their findings are published in the March 2007 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

The study involved 48 patients 50 years of age or older with glaucoma and 47 age-matched persons without the eye disease. Glaucoma patients were almost three times as likely to have experienced one or more falls in the previous year and over six times as likely to have been involved in one or more motor vehicle accidents in the previous five years. They were also more likely to have been at-fault for motor vehicle accidents in which they were involved. The strongest risk factor for these motor vehicle accidents was impaired useful field of view.

This research shows higher levels of falls and motor vehicle accidents than found in previous studies. These results have a potential useful application in patient education, licensing of drivers, and intervention programs.

"Based on these results, the research group has started a larger prospective study to better understand why patients with glaucoma may be more likely to have falls and motor vehicle accidents," said researcher Sharon A. Haymes, PhD, of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciencesat Dalhousie University. "We need to find ways to help them minimize their risk."

Glaucoma is a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to permanent da mage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and affects 1 in 200 people aged 50 and younger and 1 in 10 over the age of 80.

There are currently no known ways to prevent glaucoma. However, studies show that early detection and treatment of the disease, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease. The National Eye Institute recommends that persons who are at high risk for the disease (African-Americans over 40; persons over 60; and people with a family history of glaucoma) have their eyes examined and pupils dilated every two years by an eye care professional.

(Last updated on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, and first posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007)

[Ms. Kathy]

Overflow pipe for my eye that's saved me from blindness
Last updated at 12:11pm on 17th April 2007



Talented: A tiny valve gives Andrew independence
Source Link:The Daily Mail (UK) www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/myoperation.html?




More than half a million people in Britain have glaucoma - a build-up of fluid in the eye. It is usually treated with eye drops, or sometimes surgery to unblock the tubes.
But Andrew Coleman, 21, a singer/songwriter from Liverpool, had a new treatment where a tiny 'drain' was stitched into his eyeball. He tells CAROL DAVIS his story, while his surgeon explains the procedure.


THE PATIENT Most people develop glaucoma as they get older, but I was born with it. My parents were told that this could lead to blindness if it wasn't treated.

As the fluid in the eye is replenished, it's meant to drain away through a 'sieve'. But the sieve in my eye hadn't properly formed. And as this fluid builds up, it causes pressure which can damage the optic nerve.

Although my condition was congenital it effects were the same as for older sufferers.


More....

The war hero who faces selling his home for the drugs to save his sight

When I was six months old, doctors also found a cataract - a clouding over of the lens - in my right eye, which further limits my vision and could also make me blind in one eye.

I had eye checks every couple of months and whenever the pressure rose, doctors would clear the sieve.

The scar tissue grew, which meant more operations. I have had between eight and 10 operations and was always in pain afterwards.

My condition had a huge impact on my life. I went to a school for the blind, so I didn't know any of the children who lived near my home. When one boy did knock to ask if I'd like to play football, it transformed my life. He became my best friend.

When I was ten, one doctor told me I'd better start learning Braille because I'd be blind soon. He was wrong. I now have about 10 per cent of normal vision. I don't wear glasses — they don't really help.

I have to take care crossing roads and I often bump into people. But I have lots of peripheral vision and can detect colour and movement.

I love my independence.

I'd been warned to avoid a bump to my head or eyes because it could damage my eye drainage system. Then thugs attacked me on a latenight bus in December 2006 - one swung his elbow hard into my left eye.

It caused the pressure in my left eye to built up to dangerous levels. I saw a specialist who gave me steroids to reduce the swelling and inflammation and drugs to reduce the pressure.

I saw my consultant surgeon the following week who explained the medication was only a short-term solution due to the side-effects, which can make you feel rough.

My best option was to have an Ahmed glaucoma valve installed to control the pressure permanently.

I had the hour-and-a-half operation in January. When I raised my lid, I could see the small white patch of donor skin Mr Wishart had used to strengthen my eyeball - my mum couldn't bear to look at it.

Two months after the operation, the valve is still embedding itself into my eye but is already doing its work to reduce pressure.

Knowing it's there gives me confidence.

Mr Wishart said having it in my eye should control the pressure long term and reduce the chances of my going blind.

The stitches that hold the donor patch over my new valve are still dissolving but I feel great.

THE SURGEON

Mr Peter Wishart is consultant ophthalmic surgeon at St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He says:

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Britain today. It affects two in 100 people, aged over 40.

It is caused by increased pressure in the eye, which causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to blindness.

For good vision, the eye needs fluid. This is produced within the eyeball and helps it to maintain its shape and function.

In most people this fluid drains away naturally, through a kind of sieve - the trabecular meshwork. Glaucoma usually occurs in older people as the trabecular meshwork becomes blocked as we age.

Everyone over 50 should see an optician every year for a pressure check.

Andrew was born with congenital glaucoma: the drainage system in his eye failed to form properly in the womb.

Left untreated, both forms of glaucoma can cause blindness.

The blood vessels leading to the optic nerve are progressively strangled and then the optic nerve cells eventually die.

A blow to the eyes can cause serious damage. After Andrew was attacked, the pressure in his eye was very high.

We tried reducing it with Diamox, a drug that inhibits the substances needed to create fluid in the eye. But pressure built up as soon as Andrew stopped taking the medication.

I suggested fitting an Ahmed valve, a device invented by an eye surgeon in the U.S., to control the pressure in his eye more accurately.

The insertion is more involved than some operations and carries higher risks, so we tend to use it at a late stage when other procedures have failed.

The Ahmed valve works so that fluid drains only when pressure is high. The valve is made up of a thin silicone tube connected to a tiny dish, which is attached to the top of the eye. This dish acts as a reservoir to collect the fluid in the eye.

When pressure in the eye starts to build, it forces fluid up the tube to collect in the reservoir. The fluid is then fed from there into the blood vessels, and works in exactly the same way as the eye's own drainage system.

I prefer to use general anaesthetic.

We make the incision at the top of the eyeball, under the lid. Under an operating microscope, we pull back the thin outer skin or conjunctiva which covers the eyeball.

First, we sew the dish onto the wall of the eye using holes already in the plate. Once it is in position, we take a needle and puncture the eye by pushing the needle through the sclera and into the eyeball.

We then take the tube, like the plastic insulation on a piece of electrical wiring, and insert it into the hole.

This tube runs from inside the eye to the wall, and along the surface of the reservoir — a piece of donor sclera is then placed over the tube to protect it. The outer skin of the eye is then stitched back.

Andrew's eyes are in pretty good shape and the optic nerves in both eyes are strong.

Hopefully the tube will keep the pressure controlled, so that we can look forward to seeing his career blossom on the stage for years to come.

The operation costs £2,500.

[Ms. Kathy]

Glaucoma


OSN SuperSite Breaking News 4/28/2007
Source Link: OSN SuperSite www.osnsupersite.com/view.asp?rID=21672

Surgery preferable to medical therapy for most of world's glaucoma patients, clinician says
SAN DIEGO — For the majority of patients around the world, particularly those in developing countries, glaucoma surgery is the only viable therapeutic option, according to a presenter here.


Tarek Shaarawy
Tarek Shaarawy, MD, from the University of Geneva, acknowledged that his position "might sound extremist" to many of those in the audience at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery's Glaucoma Day.

Yet, compared to medical therapies, surgery offers several advantages, he said. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and the second leading cause of blindness. While "no holy grail has been found after years of research," clinicians are charged with preventing progression, Dr. Shaarawy noted.

Among its advantages, surgery is proven to reduce IOP, eliminates compliance challenges seen with medical therapy, reduces diurnal fluctuations in IOP and is economically more accessible to most patients, Dr. Shaarawy said.

Regarding the reduction of IOP, "low IOP is more likely to be achieved with surgery when compared with medications or lasers," he said.

"You're essentially resetting the biological clock of the eye altogether to a different standard," he added.

Surgery is also more economical, according to Dr. Shaarawy. Worldwide, the average cost per day for glaucoma medications is US$1, while 50% of the world's population earns less than US$2 per day. This point is underscored by the fact that 90% of the world's glaucoma population lives in developing countries, he said.

"These patients are ten times more likely to go blind than those in industrialized countries," Dr. Shaarawy said.

In countries such as Africa, the mortality rate of the visually impaired is roughly four times that of the sighted, he added.

Dr. Shaarawy said one major drawback of glaucoma surgery, as compared to medical therapy, is the incidence of localized complications that can result. The challenge for surgeons is to stay abreast of new, improved surgical techniques that will enable them to continually improve their outcomes and reduce complications, he noted.


American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2007

[Ms. Kathy]

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Eye Exam Guards Against Glaucoma
Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2007 :: infoZine Staff
Observe Healthy Vision Month in May

Washington, D.C. - infoZine - More than four million Americans have glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and destroys eyesight. However, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware they have it. Are you one of them? You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a dilated eye exam. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma comes with no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In an effort to encourage Americans to make vision a health priority, the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), observes Healthy Vision Month each May. This year's observance highlights the importance for early detection of glaucoma.

Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI, said, "NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years."

Those at higher risk for developing glaucoma include:

• African Americans over age 40
  
• Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
  [ *]People with a family history of the disease.
  

With a dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve and other vision problems, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to monitor patients and treat glaucoma as early as possible.

"A dilated eye examination is essential to protecting the vision of those at higher risk for glaucoma," noted Anne L. Coleman, M.D., Ph.D., Frances and Ray Stark Professor of Ophthalmology at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute and chair of the glaucoma subcommittee for NEI's National Eye Health Education Program. "If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as medication, conventional surgery, or laser surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve can tell you that."

Healthy Vision Month is an annual observance designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for those at risk of developing eye and vision problems. This year, NEI is encouraging individuals to get an eye exam and to spread the word about glaucoma to family and friends by using NEI's e-cards and brochures.

Related Link
Glaucoma - www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma

Article link: www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/22612/

[Ms. Kathy]

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Eye Exam Guards Against Glaucoma
Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2007 :: infoZine Staff
Observe Healthy Vision Month in May

Washington, D.C. - infoZine - More than four million Americans have glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and destroys eyesight. However, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware they have it. Are you one of them? You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a dilated eye exam. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma comes with no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In an effort to encourage Americans to make vision a health priority, the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), observes Healthy Vision Month each May. This year's observance highlights the importance for early detection of glaucoma.

Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI, said, "NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years."

Those at higher risk for developing glaucoma include:

• African Americans over age 40
  
• Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
  [ *]People with a family history of the disease.
  

With a dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve and other vision problems, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to monitor patients and treat glaucoma as early as possible.

"A dilated eye examination is essential to protecting the vision of those at higher risk for glaucoma," noted Anne L. Coleman, M.D., Ph.D., Frances and Ray Stark Professor of Ophthalmology at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute and chair of the glaucoma subcommittee for NEI's National Eye Health Education Program. "If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as medication, conventional surgery, or laser surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve can tell you that."

Healthy Vision Month is an annual observance designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for those at risk of developing eye and vision problems. This year, NEI is encouraging individuals to get an eye exam and to spread the word about glaucoma to family and friends by using NEI's e-cards and brochures.

Related Link
Glaucoma - www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma

Article link: www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/22612/

[Ms. Kathy]

Source Link: WYFF4.com Health News Story - WYFF Greenville www.wyff4.com/health/13263355/detail.html
Virtual Eye Surgery

POSTED: 8:17 am EDT May 5, 2007
UPDATED: 8:21 am EDT May 5, 2007

BACKGROUND: More than half of us will have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of them by age 80. A cataract seriously affects vision by clouding the lens in the eye. The lens of the eye is made of mostly water and protein and, in a normal eye, the protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. Cataracts are caused when some of the protein clumps together and starts to cloud the lens and is usually related to getting older. Aside from aging, cataracts can develop due to other causes. Secondary cataracts can form after surgery performed for other eye problems such as glaucoma. They can also arise in people who have other health problems such as diabetes. Traumatic cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later. Some are also born with cataracts, called congenital cataracts, and may be so small that they do not affect vision. Finally, exposure to some types of radiation can also cause cataracts to form in the eye.


RISKS OF EYE SURGERY: Eye surgery is a very delicate procedure and, as with any surgery, there are risks. Risks related to cataract removal surgery include infection, hemorrhaging, glaucoma, corneal swelling and retinal detachment. A serious infection after surgery can lead to loss of vision.


HOW THE SIMULATOR CAN HELP: In the past, ophthalmologists were only able to practice on the eye of an animal or a cadaver or had to wait until they were in surgery with a person to get hands-on experience. Now, with the use of an eye surgery simulator, doctors can practice surgery without touching a real eye. Another benefit of the simulator is being able to track every movement the doctor makes during surgery, so it tracks if he or she is bumping into parts of the eye that shouldn't be touched. Another benefit over an eye from an animal or cadaver is the machine tracks progress over time, so superiors can realize when a resident is ready for surgery. The system is also a quicker and more efficient way to learn compared to other practice surgery methods because the set up and take down time is much easier. Residents can perform 10 or 20 cases in the time it would take to do one or two cadaver eyes. The simulator also gives trainees a chance to learn new techniques and gain more experience much earlier than those training using other methods. Residents also report the simulator helps ease their fears about surgeries, which may make it safer for the patient because the doctors feel less anxious about the surgery.


ALMOST THE REAL THING: The simulator lets the doctor choose virtual instruments from various sizes that they will use to perform the surgery. The virtual eye also reacts to a stimulus based on depth, angle and number of repetitions. The device allows trainee doctors to encounter complications often observed in real patients, like the patient moving, bubbles in fluid caused by instruments, or the pupil changing size during surgery. The simulator helps doctors gauge depth perception, so they can map out the movements they need to make during surgery. These little instances make a big difference in the operating room.


FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Thomas F. Mauger, M.D.
Chairman and Director
The Havener Eye Institute
Department of Ophthalmology
The Ohio State University

[Ms. Kathy]

Please consult your physician before using any information you find in this health article. Only your doctor can determine if the information you find in this article is right for you.

Keep Vision in Your Future: Guard Against Glaucoma
National Institute of Health
Source Link: Healthy Life Info.com--Keep Vision in Your Future: Guard Against Glaucoma www.healthylifeinfo.com/healthlib/article_printer_friendly.asp?file=eyes2007.html

More than four million Americans have glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and destroys eyesight. However, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware they have it. Are you one of them? You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a dilated eye exam. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma comes with no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In an effort to encourage Americans to make vision a health priority, the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), observes Healthy Vision Month each May. This year’s observance highlights the importance for early detection of glaucoma.

Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI, said, “NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years.”

Those at higher risk for developing glaucoma include:

• African Americans over age 40
  
• Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
  
• People with a family history of the disease.

With a dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve and other vision problems, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to monitor patients and treat glaucoma as early as possible.

“A dilated eye examination is essential to protecting the vision of those at higher risk for glaucoma,” noted Anne L. Coleman, M.D., Ph.D., Frances and Ray Stark Professor of Ophthalmology at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute and chair of the glaucoma subcommittee for NEI’s National Eye Health Education Program. “If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as medication, conventional surgery, or laser surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve can tell you that.”

Healthy Vision Month is an annual observance designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for those at risk of developing eye and vision problems. This year, NEI is encouraging individuals to get an eye exam and to spread the word about glaucoma to family and friends by using NEI’s e-cards and brochures. For further information and links to help you find an eye care professional in your area, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma.