Longer, Thicker, Darker Eyelashes With Latisse®
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Latisse® is the new prescription medicine for growing longer, thicker eyelashes. Patients are already coming to my office and asking for it. The aesthetician in my office has been using it for a number of weeks and already reports a noticeable difference in her eyelashes.
Latisse® was developed because of a side-effect of a commonly used eyedrop for glaucoma. I can always tell if these patients are using their drops because their lashes are thicker and longer! Allergan decided to reformulate this medicine into a liquid which can be applied to the base of the upper eyelashes. In their clinical trial of 278 patients, 79% of patients noted thicker, longer and darker lashes at week 20 compared to 20% using a placebo. The majority noted improvement after two months.
The eyelashes gradually return to their baseline appearance after discontinuing the medicine.
There is a theoretical side-effect of permanent darkening of the iris (the eye color), though this did not happen in the clinical trial, and is unlikely to occur if the medicine does not enter the eye. There is also the theoretical side-effect of reversible skin darkening, but this did not occur in the trial either.
Did you also know? Allergan, the makers of Latisse®, also make BOTOX® and Juvederm®. I enjoy using all of these products in my practice, and my patients enjoy looking younger, with a natural appearance.
Macular Degeneration and Cataract Surgery
Did you know? For many years it has been controversial whether having cataract surgery could accelerate the development of advanced macular degeneration. Some patients have cataract surgery, and not long after, develop worsening of their macular degeneration. Patients, of course, will often blame the cataract surgery. (I have at least one patient who falls into that category). What confounds this logic, though, is that cataracts occur with aging, as does macular degeneration. Patients may experience macular degeneration worsening with or without having had cataract surgery.
At last a well-designed study has addressed this question. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was conducted between 1992 and 2005 and followed over 8,000 eyes of over 4,000 patients. The study was designed to assess the effect of antioxidants and mineral supplements on macular degeneration. The study assessed the development of advanced macular degeneration and history of cataract surgery at six month intervals during the study.
The results showed that appromately 20% of the eyes underwent cataract surgery during the study. Of the eyes undergoing surgery, 6% developed severe macular degeneration. Of the eyes not undergoing surgery, 7% developed severe macular degeneration. The results of the two groups did not significantly differ statistically.
It can be safely said that modern cataract surgery in unlikely to be related to worsening of macular degeneration.
Did you also know? The AREDS study originally found that their combination of zinc and antioxidants (now found in Ocuvite and others) modestly reduced the risk of progression for eyes with early signs of macular degeneration. The AREDS II study, ongoing now, is investigating the possible roles of omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin. It is also investigating if the dosage of zinc can be reduced and whether beta-carotene can be eliminated (for safety reasons in some patients).
Macular Degeneration and Cataract Surgery
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? For many years it has been controversial whether having cataract surgery could accelerate the development of advanced macular degeneration. Some patients have cataract surgery, and not long after, develop worsening of their macular degeneration. Patients, of course, will often blame the cataract surgery. (I have at least one patient who falls into that category). What confounds this logic, though, is that cataracts occur with aging, as does macular degeneration. Patients may experience macular degeneration worsening with or without having had cataract surgery.
At last a well-designed study has addressed this question. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was conducted between 1992 and 2005 and followed over 8,000 eyes of over 4,000 patients. The study was designed to assess the effect of antioxidants and mineral supplements on macular degeneration. The study assessed the development of advanced macular degeneration and history of cataract surgery at six month intervals during the study.
The results showed that appromately 20% of the eyes underwent cataract surgery during the study. Of the eyes undergoing surgery, 6% developed severe macular degeneration. Of the eyes not undergoing surgery, 7% developed severe macular degeneration. The results of the two groups did not significantly differ statistically.
It can be safely said that modern cataract surgery in unlikely to be related to worsening of macular degeneration.
Did you also know? The AREDS study originally found that their combination of zinc and antioxidants (now found in Ocuvite and others) modestly reduced the risk of progression for eyes with early signs of macular degeneration. The AREDS II study, ongoing now, is investigating the possible roles of omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin. It is also investigating if the dosage of zinc can be reduced and whether beta-carotene can be eliminated (for safety reasons in some patients).
Botox® Competition Soon
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Botox® has been a mainstay in non-surgical facial enhancement for over a decade, and has proven safe and effective. Every year we find more ways to use it (for example, to raise the corners of a downturned mouth, or soften the lines around the mouth). In the next one to seven years, expect to see up to three Botox®-like compounds approved for use in the United States.
The first compound likely to appear is Reloxin®, available now in Europe under the name Dysport, made by the Medicis Corporation. Also in the pipeline are Purtox®, by the Mentor company, and Xeomin®, by the Merz Corporation. It is expected that differences between the compounds will be relatively small. It will be interesting to note whether or not competition will result in a decrease in price.
Did you also know? Ophthalmologists were the first to use Botox both therapeutically and cosmetically. It was first used to weaken the muscles in certain cross-eyed conditions as well as to weaken the muscles in a condition called blepharospasm, where affected patients involuntarily squeeze their eyes shut.
I first used Botox® 15 years ago for patients with blepharospasm. My staff members would ask me to treat their wrinkles with the leftover medicine. Quickly they told my patients, and now it is a large and rewarding part of my practice!
Self-adjusting eyeglasses?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Joshua Silver, a British physicist, aims to make eyeglasses more readily available for poor people around the world. He has developed eyeglasses which can be adjusted by inflating or deflating a fluid filled lens. When the lens is properly adjusted, the adjusting syringe is removed and the glasses are ready to wear.
His glasses have been recently publicized in the Washington Post and on NPR. He states that the glasses cost $19 each now, but he hopes that when production is scaled up the cost will decrease to $1 each.
The glasses are limited in that they do not correct for astigmatism and at this point correct from -6 to +6 diopters. Also, they would not come as bifocals, I imagine.
I wish Mr. Silver all the success. As someone who regularly works in third-world eye clinics, I know that this is something which could be a great benefit to the truly underserved.
I am sure Mr. Silver has investigated and been approached by all types of distribution possibilities. I hope that various for-profit models are seriously looked into, since businesses using very small margins and very high volumes have been used to gain widespread distribution of everything from shampoo to cell-phones in third-world countries.
Also, the country of India has developed a model of private and charity eye care combined with low-cost lens manufacturing to bring cataract surgery to the poor.
Testing Your Color Vision
Did you know? There is an online resource which enables you to test your color vision. The X-Rite company, which manufactures devices which insure color standardization between computer monitors, provides a color test on their website. The test is called the 100-hue test, and involves arranging tiles in order of their hue. It’s rather challenging, are you up to it? (the test requires registration). Find the test here.
Did you also know? Except when suspecting optic nerve disease, ophthalmologists rarely test color vision, and rarely so extensively as with the 100 hue test.
Critical Thinking
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Brian Dunning is the host of one of my favorite podcasts, called Skeptoid.
Since not everyone listens to podcasts, Brian produced a video which encapsulates
what you need to know to think critically. This ability is crucial to evaluating medical
and nutritional claims, as well as claims you hear everyday in the media or on the internet.
My blog frequently features claims for new treatments for eye diseases. These claims must
be evaluated critically. Brian’s video is a good place to begin.
Happy Birthday, Joaquin Rodrigo! (1901-1999)
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Famed Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo was born on this day in 1901. He is best known for his guitar concertos, which helped introduce the guitar into the classical repertory.
Rodrigo was blinded at age 3 from diphtheria, according to his biography. Diphtheria, while exceeding rare today, was common before the diphtheria vaccine was invented. Diphtheria causes a thick membrane to form over the mucous membranes, typically in the airways, which can cause death. It also can cause scarring of the conjunctiva (the membrane over the white part of the eye) and ulceration of the cornea.
Did you also know? Beginning in 1939 (until ?) Rodrigo was the head of the artistic section of ONCE, the Spanish foundation for the blind. ONCE remains today a powerful global force helping the blind integrate into society.
image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Izon® Eyeglasses, by Ophthonix
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? For a number of years, San Diego–based Ophthonix has produced customized eyeglasses as well as an aberrometer/autorefractor to measure the eye’s wavefront characteristics and refraction. It is only recently, however, that a large-scale, well-designed, rigorous, double-masked study has been presented to show the effectiveness of these eyeglasses as well as the process by which they are made.
This paper is available on their website, here. It’s not light reading, but would be of interest to an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician. It’s small print, too, so I recommend downloading the pdf file and using your pdf viewer to enlarge the text.
The study was performed at the prestigious University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, and published in the Review of Optometry, October 2008 (not a peer-reviewed publication).
The study consisted of two phases. The first phase tested 83 subjects with their old glasses, new glasses prescribed by a regular refraction, and glasses made by Ophthonix (wavefront-guided iZon® lenses). Subjects wore each of the new glasses for two weeks, and neither subject nor experimenter knew which lenses were being tested.
A battery of visual function tests was administered. The iZon lenses performed the best on seven of nine parameters, and the difference was statistically significant on four of them.
A second phase consisted of testing 52 subjects. Each was given four sets of lenses: lenses made with a traditional refraction made elsewhere, a traditional refraction made at the Ophthonix lab, glasses made with a refraction from the Ophthonix autorefraction, and glasses made with the Ophthonix autorefraction with wavefront-guidance and their proprietary 3-layer lenses.
The results of the second phase can be summarized by “there is an ordered progression of visual benefits derived from the components of the lenses… the best overall visual performance was gained by coupling Z-view® refraction with a 3-layer lens iZon® lens design.”
It is notable that many of the visual tests in which the iZon® lenses excelled were ones which have real-world consequences, such as low-contrast situations (like driving at night), glare situations (like driving into headlights or playing golf on a sunny day), and tests called the Environmental Visual Acuity Test, which measured how much farther away subjects could read signs they encountered (the iZon® lenses provided a 20% improvement compared to a conventional lens), and the Low-Luminance Acuity Test (viewing dark letters against a dark background– like driving on a dark road at night–the iZon® lenses provided a 20% improvement vs. all other lenses.)
The study is also notable for it provides the first somewhat clear description of just what occurs in the production of iZon® lenses. Rather than correcting for wavefront aberrations, (which custom-Lasik surgery attempts), the iZon® lenses are said to optimize vision in this way:
iZon®Lens Structure (3-Layer)
The wavefront-guided iZon®Lens is a unique design, with a three
layer structure. The mid-layer iZonikTMmaterial is a photo-polymer that
is sandwiched between separate back and front lenses. All three lay-
ers are 1.6 index material. The correction for the iZon®Lens is derived
from all 2nd to 6th order aberrations of the eye as measured by the
Z-View®Aberrometer. The aberrations are analyzed and manipulated
by a proprietary algorithm—the second of two used in the iZon®Lens
process—to determine the best sphere-cylindrical fit for the back
surface. The iZon®Lens is wavefront-guided, as opposed to wave-
front-corrected. Wavefront-guided refers to the use of wavefront tech-
nology to incorporate all 2nd to 6th order aberrations in determining the
best sphere-cylindrical fit, as opposed to wavefront-corrected that
implies correcting individual aberrations. By utilizing a wavefront-
guided approach, the iZon®Lens is optimized and unaffected by gaze
angle shifts that could result with the programming required in a
wavefront-corrected design.
The key point of this paragraph is that “the aberrations are analyzed and manipulated by a proprietary algorithm to determine the best sphere-cylindrical fit for the back surface.”
It’s not clear to me if the front surface of the lens or the thin iZonik ™ layer sandwiched between have refractive properties, but this does indicate that the higher-order aberrations are not being precisely corrected for, but rather are being used to give a better sphere/cylinder correction.
It apparently works (for those 65% of the population who are candidates for the lenses) to provide crisper “high-definition” vision with gains in many visual measurements.
One finding lacking in this study was a subjective evaluation of the lenses by the subjects. Previous studies showed a very large preference for the iZon® lenses vs. conventional lenses.
As a final note, I have had a pair of iZon® glasses for over a year. My impression is that they provide crisp vision, but I don’t have a conventional pair made at the same time to compare them to.
I can say that the autorefraction obtained of my eyes by the Ophthonix Z-View® autorefractor/aberrometer is the most accurate autorefraction I have ever had. It wasn’t necessary to change a thing!
Also of note is that I have a small financial interest in the Ophthonix corporation.
Did you also know? Other companies are using other technologies to customize eyeglass lenses. One company promises “changeable-focus” lenses with no moving parts. Time will tell if this becomes a reality.
Plugging away at glaucoma!
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Researchers are investigating a novel method to deliver medications to the eye. A study sponsored by the QLT Corporation placed medication for glaucoma in a small plug, inserted into the lower punctum of the eye. You have probably noticed these tiny openings in your eyelids which drain tears from the eyes into the nose. By placing a plug in the punctum, the drug within slowly dissipates. Some of the drug travels back upstream through the tears and into the eye. In this case, the drug, Xalatan, lowered the eye pressure for twelve weeks, and nearly as much as when given as an eyedrop. The study was not perfect (lots of patients dropped out) but it certainly tells us that this is a promising area which could lead to use for many ocular conditions.
Did you also know? Many studies have shown that up to half of patients do not take their prescribed eyedrops for glaucoma. A drug-impregnated punctal plug could be a huge benefit for these patients!
(image courtesy Diogo Melo Rocha, creative commons)
Glaucoma: a family affair?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Ophthalmologists routinely inquire about a family history of glaucoma, as it has long been known that glaucoma can run in families (the exact genetics are not known for most glaucomas, though). A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology compared the eye pressures of identical twins and non-identical twins. (Twin studies are a classic way of determining the role of genetics vs. environment). The study determined that genetics explained approximately 2/3 of the variability of eye pressure, while environmental factors explained approximately 1/3. This is a remarkable finding. Choose your parents well!
Did you also know? If you have a family history of vision loss from glaucoma, this study provides more reason to see an ophthalmologist at regular intervals, and remind your ophthalmologist of your family history.
(photo: twin girls: wikimedia commons)
More fishy news
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? A study published in the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that eating oily fish (like salmon) more than once a week may lower the odds of developing severe macular degeneration by 50%, compared to those who eat oily fish less than once per week. The same study showed that those who consumed the most fish reduced their odds by 2/3. This study did not address the use of fish-oil supplements, so do yourself a favor and enjoy the real fish!
Did you also know? These results are similar to a study I mentioned last year, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Happy Birthday, Ray Charles
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Today is the anniversary of the birth of Ray Charles! (Sept. 23, 1930-June 10, 2004) This musical legend lost his vision at around age 5. Unfortunately, sources disagree on the cause of his blindness, and according to a 60-Minutes interview, Charles himself was not sure of the cause. Most sources say he had congenital glaucoma. This is a disease where the drainage system of the eye does not work properly, leading to high eye pressure, optic nerve damage and vision loss. Other sources say he may have had trachoma, which is an infection spread by flies, which can lead to severe scarring across the cornea, the clear window on the front of the eye.
Did you also know? Charles was not discouraged by his blindness. In his 60-Minutes interview, when asked, he states: “Why? About what? When you are blind, I think you probably only lose maybe 1/99th of what life is all about…” In the same interview, producer Quincy Jones recounts:
The only time where he ever appeared to have any kind of handicap was when a beautiful woman was in the room, then he started walking into walls and so forth. …‘Can I help you Mr. Charles?’ Jones says the sympathetic women would say. …He’d get real blind, you know, when the pretty girls were around.”
Jones further states that Charles sound was “darkness converted into light.” How appropriate!
Happy Birthday, Jose Feliciano
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Puerto Rican-born singer Jose Feliciano was born blind from congenital glaucoma. Congenital glaucoma is a rare condition where the drainage system of the eye does not function properly, leading to high pressure in the eye and damage to the optic nerve. When this occurs around birth, the eyes sometimes enlarge leading to an unusual appearance. Even with modern treatment, usually involving surgery and medications, the prognosis for this condition is guarded.
Did you also know? In 1967, Jose Feliciano traveled to England for a concert tour. Authorities would not allow his guide dog into the country (due to rabies laws). Later, he wrote the song, No Dogs Allowed.
Botox: No Sweat!
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? There a many people who are incapacitated by excess sweating. Antiperspirants are of little help, and they avoid social or public situations due to embarrassment. Botox can help! Sweat glands are triggered by nervous impulses carried by the chemical acetylcholine. Botox blocks the release of this chemical, so sweating is reduced! It really works! The injections are nearly painless. The effect usually lasts for six months, but some people respond for 12 to 18 months. The cost is approximately $1000.
Did you also know? The list of indications for Botox continues to grow, both cosmetic and medical. I started injecting Botox twelve years ago for patients with blepharospasm, a condition of severe involuntary spasms around the eyes. My staff and patients asked for cosmetic treatments, and now it is a large and very gratifying part of my practice! I am now treating excess sweating as well and look forward to helping more patients.
Dermal Fillers for Facial Sculpting
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Many patients are familiar with the use of dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Prevelle, to fill nasolabial folds to give a more youthful appearance. That is just the beginning! Before deciding what treatment is best, it is necessary to use a mirror and evaluate the entire face. Even more common than a prominent nasolabial fold is volume loss of the upper cheek. A youthful face is shaped much like a heart, while an aging face tends to have a hollowed look in the mid and upper cheek. Filling this area with volume can work wonders for restoring a youthful appearance. The lips, as well, flatten with age. Adding a touch of volume and definition to the lips can take years off of a woman’s face.
Did you also know? Similarly, Botox is not reserved for the upper face. I frequently use a very small amount of Botox to smooth the skin around the lips and even to raise the corners of a downturned smile!
Prevelle
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? There is a new dermal filler available called Prevelle, made by the Mentor corporation.
Prevelle has a number of advantages. Compared to other dermal fillers, Prevelle is more comfortable, and it is less expensive. It is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in skin, similar to Juvederm Ultra and Restylane. It is designed, however, to last approximately as long as Botox treatments last, which is approximately three to six months.
So far, my patients love it! They report that it is much more comfortable being injected (it contains an anesthetic in the filler), and it is very smooth. Time will tell how long it lasts.
I see it as the ideal introductory filler. Since the cost is about half of the longer lasting fillers, it is not such a large initial investment. If you like the results, you can continue using it, or perhaps opt for a longer lasting filler, if desired. If you don’t like the results (that’s never happened in my practice!) it will wear off. Also, for those patients who think other products are uncomfortable being injected, this product causes much less discomfort.
Did you also know? Mentor also makes Puragen, a thicker product (like Juvederm Ultra Plus) but is not yet available in the United States.
Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? Singer Stevie Wonder was born prematurely, and developed an eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which left him blind. Eyes of pre-term babies do not have fully developed vascular systems. Sometimes the blood vessels will develop abnormally, leading to scarring and possible blindness. This condition was much more common in the 1940s and 50s. Studies eventually showed that high levels of supplemental oxygen was a primary risk factor for this disease. This led to discontinuing its routine use in incubators.
Did you also know? Stevie Wonder is still alive and well. He had his first #1 hit at age 12!
Glaucoma Linked to Low Pressure in Brain?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? A study published in the May 2008 journal Ophthalmology found a fascinating link, which, if verified, could alter how we think of glaucoma. The Mayo Clinic studied the records of all patients who had lumbar punctures (spinal taps) between 1996 and 2007. They identified 28 of these patients as having glaucoma, and compared them to 49 patients who did not.
During a lumbar puncture, the pressure within the spinal column (which connects to the brain) is measured. The spinal pressure in the glaucoma patients averaged 9 mm Hg, and the controls measured 13 mm Hg. Since the average eye pressure is between 10 and 21, (often higher in glaucoma) that means that the pressure gradient between the eye and the brain could be higher in the glaucoma patients. This would damage the optic nerve, which is seen in glaucoma.
Did you also know? The only accepted treatment we have now for glaucoma involves lowering eye pressure, with eyedrops, laser, or surgery.
Are we due for a new class of glaucoma medications?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know? It has been twelve years since there have been any significant additions to our supply of medications for glaucoma. In 1996 Xalatan was introduced, the first of the prostaglandin agents which quickly took over first-line therapy for most glaucoma patients. The prostaglandins simply worked better with fewer side effects than the other medications available.
A new class of medication may be on the horizon. Rho-kinase inhibitors, (ROCK-inhibitors) are molecules which relax smooth muscle, a muscle which is found, among other places, in the drainage system within the eye.
When this drain does not work properly, the pressure within the eye rises, which can lead to damage to the optic nerve within the eye. When this happens, vision can be lost, and we call it glaucoma. Relaxing the mesh-like tissue within this drain can apparently cause pressure to be lowered.
Several pharmaceutical companies are looking into these molecules. Studies in monkeys have shown a larger pressure lowering effect than Xalatan!
Will these studies result in a new class of glaucoma medications? Only time will tell. Ophthalmologists and glaucoma patients could benefit from a new arrow in our quiver!
More information can be found here.
Did you also know? Statin drugs (lipid-lowering agents) such as Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor are also ROCK-inhibitors.
Eye Didn’t Know!
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Measuring Eye Pressure
Did you know? Until 1905 there was no objective way to measure pressure within the eye. In that year, Norwegian ophthalmologist Hjalmar Schiotz invented the first tonometer, which now bears his name, the Schiotz tonometer.
Until this time, doctors estimated pressure within the eye by pushing on the eye through the eyelid, and guessing, much like you might push on a bicycle tire with your thumb and guess the pressure. The Schiotz tonometer actually works in much the same way, it measures the weight necessary to indent the cornea a standard amount.
Knowing the pressure more accurately allows us to better diagnose and treat glaucoma, a disease usually caused by elevated eye pressure damaging the optic nerve.
The Schiotz tonometer is still used in many parts of the world, and when I trained, it was what most doctors used as a portable tonometer.
Did you also know? Dr. Schiotz was also responsible for introducing the concept of sterilizing surgical instruments (by boiling) to Norway.
“You use lasers to remove cataracts, right?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know Blog
Did you know that cataracts are NOT removed with a laser? Ophthalmologists use many types of lasers for dozens of indications, but removing cataracts is not one of them! The state of the art in cataract removal today is called phacoemulsification, which uses a tiny probe to dissolve the cloudy lens and remove it from inside the eye. After the cataract is removed, a soft, rolled-up implant made of silicone or acrylic is inserted through a three millimeter incision, and unfolds in place within the eye. Because the tiny incision heals very quickly, it is unusual to have any restrictions on activities after surgery.
Did you also know? Most modern cataract surgeries take less than 15 minutes, and many doctors only use eyedrops (no needles!) to anesthetize the eye.
Omega-3 Oils for Dry Eye?
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know
Did you know? A new study published in the February 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology showed that applying omega-3 fatty acids to the surface of the eyes of laboratory mice protected them from the effects of dry conditions. Eyedrops containing two compounds, alpha-linoleic acid, and linoleic acid, a mixture of the two, as well as a drop containing neither compound, and no treatment, were compared. The mice receiving the alpha-linoleic acid had less dryness and inflammation compared to the other groups.
Did you also know? Many ophthalmologists recommend taking fish oil or flaxseed oil to improve dry eye, including the dry eye which can sometimes occur after Lasik surgery (though I would like to see more well-designed studies proving their benefit). This, however, is the first study I have seen suggesting that a drop containing the oils may prove beneficial.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Happy Birthday Abe!
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know
Did you know? There is a story about Abraham Lincoln seeing his ghost while looking into a mirror from his bed, shortly after being elected in 1860. By studying numerous photographs and portraits of Lincoln, ophthalmologists have determined that Lincoln had a weakness of a muscle in his left eye (the trochlea), which made the eye unable to look downward in certain positions, including when trying to look into a mirror from a supine position. This would explain his double vision during the incident. Others have ascribed this story to a mirror having two reflecting surfaces, but I find that less convincing.
Did you also know? Physicians say there’s a 50/50 chance that Lincoln had Marfan’s Syndrome, which causes elongation of the hands and jaw during adulthood, due to an excess of human growth hormone. (Marfan’s Syndrome can also can dislocation of the lens within the eye).
photo courtesy wikimedia commons
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
New approach to macular degeneration treatment
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know
Did you know? Researchers at the University of Florida are testing a new compound, Compstatin, for its effectiveness in preventing complications of macular degeneration. This small protein blocks complement, which promotes inflammation in the body. It is believed that complement is involved upstream in the process which eventually leads to abnormal blood vessels forming and bleeding in macular degeneration.
Three volunteers with macular degeneration have had their eyes injected with compstatin, and they are now being monitored for side-effects. I am very interested to know the frequency that these medicines would be needed, as it is not pleasant to have medicine injected into the eye!
Did you also know? The drugs Avastin and Lucentis, both produced by Genentech, have revolutionized treatment of macular degeneration. These compounds, unlike any previous treatment, can cause regression of bleeding in the eye and improvement of vision!
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs
Happy Birthday Louis Braille
Submitted by Eye Didn’t Know
Did you know? Louis Braille (1809–1852), invented the braille system of writing for the blind and visually impaired. Braille became blind at age four when he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father’s awl. This caused inflammation and eventual blindness in the other eye as well, a condition called sympathetic ophthalmia. Braille’s system uses six raised dots to represent letters of the alphabet. Later he extended the system for use in music and mathematics.
Did you also know? The Braille Institute of America is a private, non–profit organization whose mission is “to eliminate blindness and severe sight loss as a barrier to a fulfilling life.”
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
