3 D Movie Problems

The Wall Street Journal (5/18, Valentino-DeVries) “Digits” blog reported that, according to the American Optometric Association, an estimated three million to nine million Americans suffer from vision issues which make it difficult or even impossible for them to view 3-D television shows and movies. While some people get eyestrainfrom watching 3-D films, others become dizzy, nauseated, and experience headaches. The AOA suggests that people having difficulty with 3-D films should see their optometrist for evaluation of possible dysfunction in their binocular vision.

Dry Eye...its complicated

I have recently installed a device called a Tear Lab. I have the first unit in Houston and I intend to use it to monitor the success or failure of treatment for dry eye.

Here is a video. Not for the typical patient, but one that will educate you on the complexities of dry eye.

http://www.trbchemedica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=61

Benefits of Being Vegetarian

FROM CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY TODAY — 8/12/2011
MEDICAL STUDIES

Vegetarians may have a reduced risk of developing cataracts, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.[1] Researchers at the University of Oxford in England studied the lifestyle characteristics of 27,670 self-reported nondiabetic participants aged 40 and older by using data from the Hospital Episode Statistics in England and Scottish Morbidity Records.

Participants were asked to fill out dietary surveys between 1993 and 1999, then their medical records between 2008 and 2009 were monitored to see if they developed cataracts. Almost 1,500 had cataracts during the follow-up period. The data showed that vegetarians and vegans were 30 to 40 percent less likely to develop cataracts than high meat eaters.

“There are many good reasons to follow a healthy diet and our study
suggests that lowering your risk of cataract can now be added to these,” lead author Paul Appleby, Senior Statistician, Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford, said in an email to Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. “How far individuals move along the path towards a plant-based diet is a matter of personal choice.”

There was a strong relation between cataract risk and diet group, with a progressive decrease in risk of cataract in high meat eaters – those who ate 100 grams (3.5 or more ounces) daily -- to moderate meat eaters (1.7 to 3.4 ounces), low meat eaters (less than 1.7 ounces), fish eaters (participants who ate fish but not meat), vegetarians, and vegans, with risk ratios of 0.96, 0.85, 0.79, 0.70 and 0.60, respectively.

The study authors point out that eating meat does not necessarily promote cataract formation, rather it is vegetables that may have protective nutrients that lower cataract risk; and vegetarians may practice other healthy lifestyle behaviors that can contribute to a lower risk for cataracts.

“There was no obvious explanation of our findings in terms of specific nutrients. It may be that diet group is simply a better marker of a healthy diet than the intake of any given nutrient,” Mr. Appleby said.

1. Appleby PN, Allen NE, Key TJ. Diet, vegetarianism, and cataract risk. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93(5):1128-35.

• Remura (Ista Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, Calif.) Remura is lowdose bromfenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; it’s currently available in Xibrom ophthalmic solution as a treatment for postoperative inflammation following cataract surgery. (Twice-daily Xibrom will be replaced by the newly approved oncea- day bromfenac product Bromday during the next few months.) Phase III trials of low-dose bromfenac as a treatment for dry eye are under way as of September 2010. Ista plans to conduct four randomized, doublemasked, placebo-controlled studies under a special protocol assessment agreed upon with the Food and Drug Administration; the studies will involve more than 30 sites in the United States. Two concentrations of bromfenac will be tested (both lower than Xibrom’s 0.09% concentration). To meet FDA guidance on drugs for chronic dosing, the company expects to conduct both a six-month and a 12-month safety study. According to the Ista website, the company hopes to report efficacy results by mid-2011.

Latest on Dry Eye

I have always been interested in the treatment of dry eye. Over the years I have tried pretty much everything that has come along. I have tried artificial tears, steroids, Restasis, Azasite, Lacriserts. Lately I have been using some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications topically.

Actually getting excellent results. Hope to continue to help patients feel better with this really common condition.

Review of Ophthalmology > Targeting AMD with a Critical Carotenoid

Review of Ophthalmology > Targeting AMD with a Critical Carotenoid