In the last month, researchers have taken an exciting step forward in identifying the genes that cause or increase the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
With iris security identification recently in the news, the American Academy of Ophthalmology explained how an eyeball can be substituted for a passkey or a fingerprint.
July is UV Safety Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology -- the Eye M.D. Association -- reminds Americans of the importance of protecting their eyes from the sun's harmful rays by wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats.
In observance of Children's Eye Health and Safety Month in September, the American Academy of Ophthalmology -- the Eye M.D. Association -- recommends screening infants for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments, as well as vision screening for all children starting at approximately three years of age.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology"”the Eye M.D. Association"”and Eye M.D.s across the country are urging Americans to celebrate safely this holiday season.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and its partner the American Glaucoma Society strongly urges everyone to get a complete eye exam, especially if you are in a high risk category.
Both LASIK and PRK eye procedures are safe and effective, according to results of a 10-year study presented at the recent American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2006 Joint Meeting.
Rapidly improving technology is making LASIK safer, as well as widening the scope of its potential benefits, according to A. John Kanellopoulous, MD, who taught an instructional course at the recent American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2006 Joint Meeting.
For those who've reached the age when reading a newspaper means holding it at arm's length or fumbling for reading glasses, wavefront-optimized lens technology may offer a better solution, according to data presented at the recent American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2006 Joint Meeting.
According to a study published today in the journal Ophthalmology, poor vision is costing Medicare more than $2 billion per year in non-eye related maladies and healthcare needs.
March is AMD Awareness Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind people that although AMD is incurable, there are new treatments that can usually recover lost vision and prevent further vision loss from the disease.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Americans older than 50, affecting more than two million people. The American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind people that although AMD is incurable, there are new treatments that can usually recover lost vision and prevent further vision loss from the disease.
April is Sports Eye Safety Month, and Eye MDs at American Academy of Ophthalmology urge athletes to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind patients taking certain drugs that treat prostate enlargement to inform their eye surgeon about these medications before undergoing eye surgery.
Michael W. Brennan, MD, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's international envoy, is headed to Basra, Iraq this week to keep alive a three-year effort to rebuild the medical community there, despite the increasing chaos.
April is Sports Eye Safety Month, and Eye MDs at American Academy of Ophthalmology urge athletes to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons advise residents of Southern California who have been exposed to smoke from wildfires to be aware of the potential hazards to their eyes. Exposure to smoke can cause irritation, with symptoms such as burning sensations, redness, and tearing.
In a research presentation today at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Annual Meeting, Massimo Busin, MD, department head and professor of ophthalmology at the Villa Serena Hospital, Forli, Italy, described a technique that significantly improved results in patients being treated for endothelial disease of the cornea, the transparent covering of the front of the eye that provides much of its optical power. When the cell density in the endothelial layer is reduced below a level compatible with its normal function, the cornea swells and becomes less transparent, and vision is impaired.
A new study being presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2007 Annual Meeting suggests that the laser surgery can help improve and possibly stabilize the vision of patients who have radial keratomy (RK) while preventing previously common side effects from the surgery
Glaucoma has long been considered a disease of the eye. For most of the 20th century, it was equated with elevated intraocular pressure. Yet, over the past two decades, an increasing number of non-pressure-dependent risk factors have been identified, suggesting that glaucoma can be broadly defined as the final common pathway of a number of different disorders that affect the eye. Glaucoma may also be included in a larger group of neurodegenerative disorders that share aspects of nerve cell death, oxidative damage and low-grade inflammation. This group of disorders includes age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
Two studies being presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2007 Annual Meeting suggest that telemedicine may have a significant role to play in the diagnosis of eye diseases, increased patient compliance and patient access to quality care.
Researchers Describe Genetic Factors' Affect on Treatment and a Surgical Technique Developed in China at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
Although reports about the hazards lead presents in toys have attracted attention this holiday season, lead is not the only danger toys can present to children. December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month and the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds parents of the dangers that some toys may pose to children's eyes.
Are cataract rates on the decline? Should glaucoma patients seeking alternative therapies trust what they find online? Are seatbelts still important to protect eyes in auto accidents, now that most cars have airbags? What's the connection between hearing loss and one form of glaucoma? These are among the topics explored in the March 2008 issue of Ophthalmology.
A tiny medical device no larger than an eyelash may significantly reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients and allow some to stop using eye-drop medications, according to year-one clinical trial results for the device. Results of the HYDRUS I clinical trial, which indicate successful control of eye pressure in all study participants, will be presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
New research shows that the use of an audio therapy known as binaural beats can significantly reduce patients’ anxiety during cataract surgery. The 141-patient study, conducted in Thailand, is the first of its kind in cataract surgery, which is one of the most frequently performed procedures worldwide, with more than 3 million performed annually in the United States. The research is being presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
A new study provides the first clear evidence that vision or eye problems are rarely the cause of recurring headaches in children, even if the headaches usually strike while the child is doing schoolwork or other visual tasks. Many parents assume that frequent headaches mean their child needs glasses, so they ask their doctor to refer their child for an eye exam. This study was conducted by pediatric ophthalmologists who wanted to find reliable answers for parents, family doctors and pediatricians facing this common health question. The research is being presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, conducted jointly this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
The first study to compare accident rates for drivers who have advanced glaucoma − an eye disease that affects peripheral vision − with normal-vision drivers, found that the glaucoma group had about twice as many accidents. This study, which was conducted in Japan using a driving simulator, suggests that potential drivers should pass a visual field test to ensure adequate peripheral vision before a license is granted or renewed.
People who have eye diseases that damage their central vision can regain the ability to read quickly and comfortably by using digital tablets, according to a recent study. The research found that people with moderate vision loss could increase their reading speed by 15 words-per-minute, on average. Using a tablet with a back-lit screen resulted in the fastest reading speeds for all study participants, no matter what their level of visual acuity
Many veterans of the United States armed forces who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder also have undiagnosed, chronic vision problems, according to two studies presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
With the holiday season upon us, children are busy making their wish lists and checking them twice. But, parents may need to check them yet again to ensure toy safety. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 250,000 toy-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year. Most of these injuries affect children under age 15, and almost half affect the head or face. In light of these dangers, the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages parents to be EyeSmart about toys this holiday season.
Warm bottles of champagne and improper cork-removal techniques cause serious, potentially blinding eye injuries each year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Champagne bottles contain pressure as high as 90 pounds per square inch – more than the pressure found inside a typical car tire. This pressure can launch a champagne cork at 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle, which is fast enough to shatter glass. Unfortunately, this is also fast enough to permanently damage vision.
A new study finds that certain changes in blood vessels in the eye’s retina can be an early warning that a person is at increased risk for glaucoma, an eye disease that slowly robs people of their peripheral vision. Using diagnostic photos and other data from the Australian Blue Mountains Eye Study, the researchers showed that patients who had abnormally narrow retinal arteries when the study began were also those who were most likely to have glaucoma at its 10-year end point. If confirmed by future research, this finding could give ophthalmologists a new way to identify and treat those who are most vulnerable to vision loss from glaucoma. The study was recently published online by Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology today announced it is participating in the Choosing Wisely® campaign, a national initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation to encourage conversations between patients and their doctors about treatment options and efficient use of health care dollars. The Academy is one of 17 organizations joining Choosing Wisely today – representing more than 350,000 physicians, nurses, pathologists, radiologists and other health care professionals – to release lists of commonly performed tests, procedures and treatments that patients and physicians should discuss.
As the federal government assesses an $85 billion reduction in its 2013 budget, an included 2 percent Medicare cut will hurt beneficiaries who need medical eye care, according to ophthalmologists – medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye disease. In a survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 72 percent of responding member physicians predicted they would be forced to make decisions that will negatively affect the ability of their Medicare patients to receive the highest quality of medical care.
A study recently published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology showed that AMD still causes severe vision loss in approximately 15 percent of Americans 85 and older. This study tracked vision loss in relation to eye disease and treatment response in nearly 5,000 patients over a 20-year period.
A Taiwanese study finds that when children are required to spend recess time outdoors their risk of nearsightedness is reduced. A related Danish study shows a direct correlation between seasonal daylight, eye growth and nearsightedness progression.
Researchers in Taiwan have discovered that people with sleep apnea are far more likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without the sleep condition. The results of this study, which is the first to calculate the risk of the disease among people with the sleep disorder following diagnosis, is published in this month’s edition of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
People with cataract-related vision loss who have had cataract surgery to improve their sight are living longer than those with visual impairment who chose not to have the procedure, according to an Australian cohort study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. After comparing the two groups, the researchers found a 40 percent lower long-term mortality risk in those who had the surgery.
Children born extremely prematurely have up to a 19 times greater risk of retinal detachment later in life than peers born at term, according to a Swedish study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Research presented today, at the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in New Orleans, has found that women who have taken oral contraceptives for three or more years are twice as likely to suffer from glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness which affects nearly 60 million worldwide. The researchers caution gynecologists and ophthalmologists to be aware of the fact that oral contraceptives might play a role in glaucomatous diseases, and inform patients to have their eyes screened for glaucoma if they also have other risk factors.