Breaking News Related to Macular Degeneration, Cataract, Glaucoma, Corneal Disease and Other Eye Conditions » Optic Nerve

iExaminer Enables Fundus and Other Eye Exams Using iPhone

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:25:14 +0000

The iExaminer from Intuitive Medical Technologies is a portable device that adapts the iPhone 4 and 4S to the Welch Allyn PanOptic ophthalmoscope (Models 11810 and 11820), thereby enabling doctors to easily image the retina and optic nerve, as well as perform other visual tests, in any setting outside the office.

The device takes simultaneous video and high resolution photographs, and allows the user to pick the best photos from the imaging session. Those photos, along with clinical data, can be saved, printed and/or emailed.

As per the helpful videos on the company’s website, the iExaminer can be used to administer a full eye exam (e.g., visual acuity, intraocular pressure), or capture only select retinal and other images.

Novel Bionic Eye Uses Gold and Lasers

Dr. Risa Schulman — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:03:34 +0000

Conventionally, bionic eye prototypes use electrodes to stimulate the nerves of patients who have lost vision due to degenerative diseases and thereby restore vision. A new type of bionic eye being developed at Swinburne University of Technology is novel in that it offers a non-contact way of stimulating the nerves using gold and lasers. Nanoparticles of gold are attached to the optic nerves and arrayed to detect different wavelengths. A low-power laser device (fitted into a pair of glasses) can then stimulate the nerves in a very precise way. Gold is used because it is inert.

One of the problems that still needs to be worked out is how to make sure the heat generated from the lasers does not damage or kill the cells. The team at Swinburne is building a thermal sensor to help them understand this problem.

The team’s goal is to develop a prosthesis that will be ideally suited to those with retinitis pigmentosa or macular degeneration.

To read more about the invention, click here.

Risa Schulman, PhD
Expert, Healthy Food and Dietary Supplement Science, Marketing and Regulatory
Tap~Root

What Are The Treatment Options for NAION?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:04:01 +0000

My brother-in-law has been diagnosed with NAION (Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy) in both eyes. The first eye problem resulting in NAION was 18 months ago. 2 weeks ago the unthinkable happened – the second eye is now involved. My research leads me to believe there is no treatment for this condition.

Are there clinical trials currently being conducted for treatment of NAION. If so, where?

Who is considered the authority for this condition?

I would appreciate your help regarding guidance concerning treatment of NAION.

C-reactive Protein Critical in Temporal Arteritis Diagnosis

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:28:30 +0000

Ophthalmology: Temporal arteritis can be a devastating disease, and cause blindness in both eyes very quickly. Prompt diagnosis is critical, and at least a year of steroids is needed, so a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. It would be nice if we could know better who is more likely to have the disease, and thus reduce the need for biopsy. A study confirms that more than ESR, an elevated CRP and platelets (thrombocytosis) are almost invariably linked to the disease. This will allow us to use our judgment better when faced with doubtful cases. For sure, it reinforces the need for getting a CRP instead of just an ESR, which is still frustratingly done in many cases referred to me.

Can You Get NAION From Cialis?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:41:21 +0000

My husband took ONE cialis pill and within 24 hours was losing vision in his only good eye (other eye attacked by histoplasmosis as a child). He was disagnosed with non-arteric ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and had a very involved laser surgery many days after it happend. After the surgery one full quarter of his eye will still not undilate, he had to quit his lifelong career, can’t be outside or have outdoor light coming in the house, etc. This has been devistating and life altering to him. Is there anything that can be done?

Does Interferon Alpha Therapy Have Ocular Side Effects?

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:34:14 +0000

A study published in Ophthalmology reports that interferon alpha therapy, the first-line treatment for hepatitis B and C, and also used to treat cancers such as melanoma and hairy cell leukemia, has been associated with an ischemic retinopathy with cotton wool spots being a common finding.

A report suggests that anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) may also be linked to interferon alpha therapy, and the authors recommend that interferon be stopped if this is found.

Artificial Retinal Implant May Restore Sight to Blind

Dr. Risa Schulman — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:29:02 +0000

For those blind because of retinal impairment, an artificial retinal implant is being developed that may restore sight by relaying information to the optic nerve in place of a damaged retina. The implant consists of a chip with an imager and a network of electrodes, and is powered from the outside by a device placed into a normal pair of glasses.

The implant is being developed as a collaboration between two organizations: CSEM, an independent, private, non-profit, Swiss company dedicated to applied research, and Nano-Retina Inc, an Israeli company with laboratories in Israel and the US.

As explained in CSEM’s recent press release, in a healthy eye, light travels through the eyeball into the retina. The retinal photoreceptors react to the light by converting it into an electrical signal which is transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain thereafter recreates the image that we see.

So long as the nerve connections and the optic nerve are still functioning, the artificial retina will enable the relaying of the visual information to the brain in place of the damaged retinal photoreceptors. The information can then be processed and the transmitted visual data recreated.

The retinal implant is tiny, about the size of a child’s fingernail bed, and would take less than 30 minutes to implant by using a small incision and “gluing” the chip onto the retina under local anesthesia.

Clinical trials are to begin in 2013.

Click here to read the full press release on the CSEM website.

Risa Schulman, PhD
Expert, Healthy Food and Dietary Supplement Science, Marketing and Regulatory
Tap~Root

Is The New Catena Drug a Good Treatment Option for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 06:27:28 +0000

In Jan.2008 my son began to have sudden blurred vision that ended with a weeklong stay in the hospital. He was eventually diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), an inherited disease that has damaged his optic nerve, leaving him blind in both eyes with some peripheral vision. There is no treatment.

He is 20 and in his third year of university and doing well, using assistive software. My question is, will stem cell treatment help him and repair his optic nerve even though it has now been 2 years. Does the length of time he has been blind affect his recovery?

Also, there is a new drug called Catena (from Santhera Pharmaceuticals) that is supposed to help restore vision. With his degree of blindness, only 25% chance of some recovery of vision is possible. Is this treatment worth pursuing?

Can Stem Cells be Used to Treat Optic Nerve Damage?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:41:37 +0000

I am a 38 year old African American Female, and currently under the care of a retina specialist in St. Louis, Missouri. I was involved in an automobile accident on 5/13/2009 which caused me to lose my sight in my left eye. I was the driver and on impact I was struck in my left eye by the sun visor. After having surgery to remove the blood, I was told by my retina specialist that my optic nerve was badly damaged and due to this damage unfortunately I won’t regain my sight. After several follow up visits it was mentioned that with technology advancing there is talk of “stem cell” treatment for optic nerve damage. I would love to see again out of my left eye and was hoping with today’s technology that would be possible. Please advise on any help that could be available to me. Thank you.

What are the Treatment Options for Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:46:41 +0000

My Father has been diagnosed for the second time with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION). The first time was 9 years ago and he lost 95% of his vision in that eye. He was not put on any pills and there was no follow up or therapy. This time even with his history they disregarded his concerns until 8 days into the problem. He is now on prednisone for a month. He is again, about 95% blind in that eye, now as well. Is there any hope that since he is on prednisone that his condition will improve somewhat? Is there anything else that can be done? We are at a loss as to what to do. He has been told nothing will change, and in fact has not been seen by the doctor since he was put on the pills 10 days ago.