Lutein and Zeaxanthin May Reduce Risk of Cataract

According to research just published in Molecular Vision, lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of cataract by protecting the eye from oxidative stress; the protective effect was similar to that reported for vitamin E.

The study corroborates findings from research published earlier this year showing that high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were each associated with an approximately 40% reduction in the risk of cataract.

This research further highlights the critical role played by …

Treating Glaucoma Using Ultrasound Generated by the EYEOP1 Device

The EyeOP1 is a new medical device developed by EyeTechCare that uses therapeutic ultrasound to enable non-invasive treatment of refractory glaucoma.  The treatment can be administered on an outpatient basis and is performed under local anaesthaesia.  The patient simply lies down close to the command module and a disposable therapy device is placed on the globe of the eyeball.

An initial pilot study of the device demonstrated efficacy with results presented at ARVO in May 2011 …

Learning Curve in Femtosecond Phaco- Radial Tears in Rhexis

Ophthalmology (May): There is a definite learning curve in femtosecond laser, and most of it has to do with the docking of the machine on the eye and resultant tilt. This can allow for incomplete rhexis with capsular tags (10.5%) which caused radial tears. Complications dropped precipitously after the first 100 cases. Care must be taken during the learning curve to watch for capsular tags and convert them to a curvilinear rhexis. Also, more difficult …

Treating Glaucoma Using Ultrasound Generated by the EYEOP1 Device

The EyeOP1 is a new medical device developed by EyeTechCare that uses therapeutic ultrasound to enable non-invasive treatment of refractory glaucoma.  The treatment can be administered on an outpatient basis and is performed under local anaesthaesia.  The patient simply lies down close to the command module and a disposable therapy device is placed on the globe of the eyeball.

An initial pilot study of the device demonstrated efficacy with results presented at ARVO in May 2011 …

Using CCT To Adjust IOP Doesn’t Work

Ophthalmology: As we know from the OHTS, the central corneal thickness (CCT) has a dramatic effect on IOP measurement and risk of glaucoma, and checking the CCT is essential in managing glaucoma. Some researchers have tried to create nomograms , where one can add or subtract from the IOP measured, in order to get a “true” IOP and thus a better idea of the risk. Wrong. Even with this adjustment, researchers were unable to better …

Is There a Connection Between Glaucoma and Erectile Dysfunction?

Feb. Ophthalmology: Researchers calculated that open angle glaucoma is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) with an odds ratio of 2.85. The glaring weakness is that they did not account for the fact that many patients take beta blocker drops for glaucoma, which can cause ED – I once had a patient who actually had this side effect, and I suspect more have it but don’t make the connection. Maybe we should be asking men about …

Lutein and Zeaxanthin May Reduce Risk of Cataract

According to research just published in Molecular Vision, lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of cataract by protecting the eye from oxidative stress; the protective effect was similar to that reported for vitamin E.

The study corroborates findings from research published earlier this year showing that high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were each associated with an approximately 40% reduction in the risk of cataract.

This research further highlights the critical role played by …

Dropped Nucleus a Complication of Femtosecond Phaco

Ophthalmology (May): Initial experience with femtosecond laser phaco resulted in two cases of dropped nucleus from hydrodissection. The surgeon concludes it is due to the very firm adherence of the capsulorhexis to the underlying lens, probably due to heat generation from the laser. To avoid this dreaded complication, one should hydrodissect  very carefully and slowly, after decompressing the anterior chamber by allowing egress of viscoelastic, and lifting the anterior capsule rim off the lens.

What Are Risks of Cataract Surgery After Corneal Transplants?

Family member has lattice dystrophy in both eyes.  17 years ago both eyes had corneal transplants (albeit not a same time).  2 years ago right eye had another corneal transplant again.  1 month ago left eye cornea transplant again.

Right eye has developed cataracts to the point of cloudy vision.  Left eye has a cataract also, but as the transplant surgery was only 3 weeks or so ago and so that eye is still healing and …

Botox For Filamentary Keratitis

April Archives: Yet another use for the miracle drug! Filamentary keratitis is a very annoying disease where plugs of mucuc get stuck on the cornea and cause light sensitivity, pain and foreign body sensation. It is often found in ptosis, dry eye, SLK and prolonged patching. It can be hard to treat. Researchers had the idea that it is mostly due to a mechanical problem of the lid rubbing against the eye, so they figured …

Corneal Grafts Using DMEK Have Greater Survival Than DSEK Grafts

Ophthalmology: Grafts using the DMEK technique (only transplanting Descemet’s membrane) had a lower graft failure rate (1% vs. 12% at 2 years) than DSEK (which includes a little stroma). At this rate, and with articles showing that eyes can clear up with no graft at all ( see last month’s post here at EyeDocNews), we’ll be grafting nothing but air in no time. Too bad these techniques are so difficult to learn, but I am …

PKP, DSEK or DMEK for Fuch’s Dystrophy?

I have Fuchs’ dystrophy and have had a cataract surgery 6 months ago. So far stable. Here are my questions.

1) What is the expected survival time of DSEK or DMEK grafts? Can DSEK or DMEK be repeated on a patient if the first graft wears away?

2) If everything else fails, can we turn to artificial cornea? How long do they survive?

3) Can full PK be performed if DSEK/DMEK fails?

New Retinal Prosthesis That Works Like a Solar Panel May Restore Sight to Patients With Macular Degeneration

A team from the Stanford University School of Medicine led by Dr. Daniel Palanker has published research in the May 2012 issue of Nature Photonics concerning their development of a new retinal prosthesis that uses what are best described as miniature solar panels to turn light signals into nerve impulses.

The system consists of a small photovoltaic chip (similar to a solar panel) that is surgically implanted beneath the retina, and specially designed goggles equipped with …

Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment Update

In a potential breakthrough, especially for those suffering from retinitis pigmentosa who have lost vision due to degenerated photoreceptors in their retina, scientists from the University College of London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology have managed to transfer immature (or progenitor) rod-photoreceptor cells – cells that are more developed than stem cells, but not quite mature rod cells – from healthy mice into those suffering from deficiencies in photoreceptors (blind mice) and, after a few weeks, …

Silicone Oil or Gas Tamponade to Treat Macular Hole?

I have a macular hole.

Large full thickness, 700 microns, extensive surrounding subretinal fluid, yellow deposits on RPE within hole, mild epiretinal membrane.

My question is would you recommend gas or silicone oil to treat the macular hole?

Contact Lenses Coated With Vitamin E Provide Extended Pain Relief to Laser Eye Surgery Patients

In late January, the American Chemical Society reported in its journal, Langmuir, about a new technique in which researchers were able to substantially extend the release of certain anesthetics into patients’ eyes for pain relief following laser eye surgery by adding vitamin E to the lenses.  The vitamin E acted as a barrier, keeping the anesthetics on the eye, right where they were are needed, for an extended period. The technique extended the release of …

Options for Patient With Damaged Corneas From Radial Keratotomy in 1982

I had 16 cut Radial Keratotomy (RK) surgery in 1982, and now have issues with my sight. My ophthalmologist has recommended refractive lens exchange (RLE), saying I am a +4 and a +6. I have the beginning of a cataract in my left eye, but it is not bad enough to be covered by insurance yet.

Wouldn’t a solution to the corneal defects be to replace the cornea? Having had 4 surgeries (all for esotropia) and the …

Patient With Pain After ReLex FLEX Surgery

I had a ReLEx FLEX patient. Yesterday, after surgery, she felt severe ocular pain. I injected analgesics IM and put contact lens on both eyes. Today, she feels pain also. On slit lamp examination, her cornea shows slight haziness at lenticule removed site. I wonder what makes her pain, and how can I treat her? Thank you.

Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment Update

In a potential breakthrough, especially for those suffering from retinitis pigmentosa who have lost vision due to degenerated photoreceptors in their retina, scientists from the University College of London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology have managed to transfer immature (or progenitor) rod-photoreceptor cells – cells that are more developed than stem cells, but not quite mature rod cells – from healthy mice into those suffering from deficiencies in photoreceptors (blind mice) and, after a few weeks, …

Stem Cells Inc. Gets FDA Authorization to Initiate Clinical Trial to Use Human Neural Stem Cells to Treat Dry AMD

Preclinical results published in the February issue of the international peer-reviewed European Journal of Neuroscience, demonstrated that the company’s human neural stem cells were effective in protecting photoreceptors from degeneration, thus preserving vision in the Royal College of Surgeon’s rat. The number of cone photoreceptors, which are responsible for central vision, remained constant over an extended period, consistent with the sustained visual acuity and light sensitivity observed in the study. In humans, degeneration of the …

New Limbal Transplantation Technique Used To Treat Blindness Caused by Burns

Ocular burns cause blindness by permanently damaging the limbal stem cells found in the eye, which causes loss in corneal transparency. In such cases, stem cells are harvested from the healthy eye and transplanted to the damaged eye. There are currently two techniques.

One is to directly transplant the stem cells to the damaged eye. This technique, known as CLAU (conjunctival limbal autografting), involves removing almost 50 per cent of the limbus (6 mm to 8 …