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

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.

Tonight on ORLive.com at 6PM EST: Surgical Treatment for Nystagmus in Infancy and Childhood

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:13:14 +0000

On Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6 p.m. Eastern join ophthalmologist Richard Hertle on www.ORlive.com as he discusses a procedure to correct a rare eye condition called infantile nystagmus, which causes rapid, uncontrollable eye movements that often blur vision.

While there’s no cure for infantile nystagmus, a surgical procedure designed to slow the “dancing” eye has shown promising results. On average, patients have experienced a 20 percent improvement in their central vision and about a 50 percent improvement in their peripheral vision. Until this procedure was developed in 1999, medical treatments for reducing abnormal eye movement had limited success.

Click here for details on participating in the broadcast tonight.

Microsoft Kinect Used to Power Navigational Aid for Visually Impaired

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 05:28:20 +0000

Two students recently described a system called NAVI (Navigational Aids for the Visually Impaired) designed to improve indoor navigation by the visually impaired using the Microsoft Kinect camera and other technologies.

The Kinect camera is mounted on a helmet. The system processes the information from the Kinect camera to provide auditory navigation instructions. So, for example, if a user walks towards a door the output will be “Door ahead in 3”, “2”, “1”, “pull the door”.”

Click here to view a video demonstrating the technology and a more detailed explanation of how the device works.

Can Microbots Deliver Drugs into the Eye to Treat Macular Degeneration?

Dr. Risa Schulman — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:49:07 +0000

Here’s how it works: A tiny magnetic robot (“microbot”) that holds a drug reservoir is injected into the eye, and then can be manipulated via an electromagnetic system. Since it can stay in the eye for months, it can deposit drugs over time, and in specifically targeted places.

The microbot can also be used to strategically deposit a drug capsule in the eye, and then be removed via a magnetic needle.

Microbots would obviate the need for multiple eye injections for a condition like macular degeneration. With injections, the drugs usually pass through the retina quickly, thus necessitating repeated injections over time.

The “microbot” is being developed at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) in Zurich, Switzerland. So far it has only been tested in pig cadaver eyes, but trials in living animals are planned shortly.

A video showing the robot moving in an eye can be found here.

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

Video Demonstration of the EndoSerter

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:23:01 +0000

Yesterday, we posted about the FDA’s approval of the EndoSerter device for use in corneal transplant surgery. Had been looking for resources on the device to see how it works, and found a video and Flash demonstration on the Ocular Systems’ website.

Click here to view a Flash and video demonstration of the EndoSerter.

Of course, we invite comments from any readers with experience using the device to share their thoughts.

New Device Detects Lazy Eye and Strabismus in Preschoolers

Dr. Risa Schulman — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:18:23 +0000

A new device has been developed to help detect “lazy eye” and strabismus in preschoolers. Opthalmologist David Hunter at the Children’s Hospital in Boston was frustrated with the fact that the condition is often undetected by pediatricians, thereby missing a critical window for successful treatment. He developed the Pediatric Vision Scanner and found it was able to detect over 95% of children with an eye problem.

By making the device hand-held and easy to use, Dr. Hunter hopes to facilitate mandatory screening for all pre-schoolers. The scanner recently received FDA approval for use in clinical trials.

For details of the invention, click here.

For a video of Dr. Hunter describing the development of the Pediatric Vision Scanner, click here.

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

Videos: Planned ICCE, Chalazion Surgery, Intravitreal Injection, and More

Dr. Dominique Walton Brooks — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:32:13 +0000

Just found a channel of ophthalmology videos on YouTube by the organization MedRounds. MedRounds Publications provides medical education materials for people at all levels–from students to patients to physicians.

Some of the most popular videos (based on number of views) are:

Two others I found particularly interesting:

The videos are well-done and you will certainly find some of interest.

The link to the full video list is available here: MedRounds Ophthalmology Video Channel.

iVisit Turns Mobile Camera Phone into Eye for the Blind

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:40:00 +0000

As reported on MedGadget, iVisit, a California company that specializes in video teleconferencing applications, has teamed up with the National Institutes of Health to turn a mobile phone’s camera into an eye for the blind. Using advanced image recognition software to identify what is in front of the phone, the system reads off what it is seeing. Click here to see a video demonstration.

New Device- Capsular Anchor

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:49:25 +0000

I caught this video about a new device which is utterly elegant. It kinda works like a paper clip and it holds the capsule against the scleral wall. The video shows him using it in a case of Marfan’s syndrome where there is lens dislocation. Where the zonules are absent, causing the lens to dislocate, the anchor keeps the capsule firmly against the scleral wall while he completes the phaco.

Video: Playlist on Basic Phacoemulsification Techniques

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:19:40 +0000

Found this playlist of 37 videos on YouTube covering basic phacoemulsification techniques. It was compiled by an international group of ophthalmologists to provided a comprehensive, authoritative and balanced teaching program that covers current surgical techniques (if you are reading this on the homepage, click “Continue Reading” below to view videos).