Category: Eye Conditions

MRI Identifies Optic Neuritis Lesion Location for Better Prognosis

mriResearchers from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Hospital in  Germany have determined that advanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can assist in accurately diagnosing optic nerve health – in particular, optic neuritis and the prognosis for short-term recovery and decision as to the most appropriate therapies.

Optic neuritis is a potentially serious inflammation of the optic nerve, sometimes accompanied by loss or damage to the myelin sheath that surrounds the optic nerve.  It is most often experienced by younger adults, and whose symptoms can include pain, vision changes in perception of color, light/dark perception, and blurriness.  It can come on suddenly and often is of short duration with full recovery in 90% of patients.

Continue reading “MRI Identifies Optic Neuritis Lesion Location for Better Prognosis”

Prevent Smartphone, Tablet and Computer Eye Strain

lady staring at smartphoneVision is the sense most heavily relied on by modern, technological society. Hearing may come in as a close second, but even without a sense of hearing, we could still navigate most electronics. Without our eyes, that becomes a laborious task. But what, exactly, are the screens we look at so much, doing to our eyes?

Blue Light Damages the Retina

Those glowing flat panes, held mere inches from our face, emit a powerful light that can, opticians say, lead to permanent eye damage. Much of the light that comes out of a screen is blue-violet. Studies show that, over time, too much exposure to blue-violet light can injure the retina. Retina damage can lead to macular degeneration, Continue reading “Prevent Smartphone, Tablet and Computer Eye Strain”

Photophobia: When the Eyes Have Extreme Light Sensitivity

photosensitive sunglassesEveryone is sensitive to light to some degree, but light sensitivity, or photophobia is an abnormal intolerance for light. Discomfort can be experienced from light sources such as sunlight and fluorescent or other artificial lights. It may cause the person with light sensitivity to squint or to have to close their eyes. It can cause pain and/or tears. In some cases, this may be accompanied by a headache.

The brighter the light, the greater the discomfort. Generally people Continue reading “Photophobia: When the Eyes Have Extreme Light Sensitivity”

RST-001 Can Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

RetroSense Therapeutics has received Orphan Drug designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead product, RST-001, to treat retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

retro-200RP is a rare eye disease in which light receptors in the eye gradually die off, eventually leading to blindness. RP can be due to any one of over a hundred different gene defects. Currently there is no conventional treatment or cure, but nutritional therapies have been shown to slow the progress of the retinitis pigmentosa.

However, RetroSense is employing Continue reading “RST-001 Can Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)”

Chalazion: Blocked Gland in the Eyelid

eye chalazion 200Most people have heard of styes mainly because they have had one. A chalazion is somewhat similar to a sty, but it is not the same thing. A sty is an acute infection of one of the oil-producing glands of the upper and lower eyelids, called meibomian glands. Each eye has 30-40 meibomian glands.

A chalazion is a clogged meibomian gland. The gland becomes blocked and oil builds up inside it. Eventually, the gland breaks open and leaks excess oil into the surrounding tissue, causing inflammation. While chalazia can hurt like styes do, they are more frequently painless lumps on the upper or lower eyelid. They occur most frequently in persons 30-50 years of age, but children can also get them. Continue reading “Chalazion: Blocked Gland in the Eyelid”

Carotenoids & Co-antioxidants for Macular Degeneration

Supplements 200Patients with early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may benefit from an oral treatment of key nutrients. In a study published in the journal Ophthalmology, a solution of carotenoids with co-antioxidants was shown to both improve vision and slow further degeneration in participants with early AMD.
In the randomized double-masked trial, 433 adults with early AMD who were 55 years of age or older were given either an active solution or a placebo. At the start of the trial, all participants had either early AMD in one eye and late-stage AMD in the other, or early AMD in both eyes. The active oral solution contained Continue reading “Carotenoids & Co-antioxidants for Macular Degeneration”

What is Optic Nerve Atrophy?

EyeOpticNerve200Optic nerve atrophy, also called optic neuropathy, is damage to the optic nerve from any cause.

Some of these causes include: diabetes, glaucoma, certain health problems associated with aging, brain tumors, head trauma, infection, multiple sclerosis, radiation, inflammatory blood vessel diseases, sleep apnea, excessive blood coagulation, high cholesterol, genetic disorders, poisoning, malnutrition, and drug side effects.

The optic nerve is the conduit between the retina of the eye and the visual processing center at the back of the brain. It contains 1.2 million nerve fibers that send sight signals to be processed by the brain. It is sheathed in the fatty nerve casing called myelin. Myelin protects nerves from damage and speeds nerve signals along. When it becomes damaged, nerves are exposed. Then they are very vulnerable to damage, much like an exposed Continue reading “What is Optic Nerve Atrophy?”

Oraya Therapy for Wet AMD Gains Popularity

orayaA one-time treatment for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is gaining popularity in Europe. Oraya Therapy, made by US-based company Oraya Therapeutics, Inc., is being offered at more locations in Europe, including a National Health Service hospital in the UK and several hospitals in Germany.

Oraya Therapy has already been a regular treatment option in hospitals throughout Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, increasingly embraced by patients, doctors, and insurance providers. The one-time treatment is a non-invasive therapy for wet AMD patients meant to maintain or improve vision and decrease frequency of anti-vascular endothelial growth Continue reading “Oraya Therapy for Wet AMD Gains Popularity”

Inflamed Eye Lids: All About Blepharitis

blepharitis-200Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids, and for many this is a chronic condition. It is a common condition that affects both adults and children. There are two kinds of blepharitis – anterior (front) and posterior (back) blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis affects the front of the eye, including the eyelid and eyelashes. It is often associated with a bacterial growth and/or an increase in the activity of the meibomian gland. Posterior blepharitis causes dry eyes and is created by the dysfunction of the meibomian gland. So it generally isn’t caused by a bacterial infection.

In the eyes, the meibomian glands (also called the “tarsal glands”) are a type of Continue reading “Inflamed Eye Lids: All About Blepharitis”

Using the Eyes to Detect Diseases

eye-detect-200The eyes are not just the mirrors of our souls – they also reflect many of our diseases. Because they are the only place in the body where you can easily see blood vessels and even part of the brain via the optic nerve, they can be used to detect a number of diseases.

A large study of 120,000 people by the insurance company, VSP Vision Care, found that 34% of diabetes patients first found out about their disease from an eye exam. High blood pressure Continue reading “Using the Eyes to Detect Diseases”