With roughly 30 percent of AMD patients suffering from depression, the cost of blindness is anticipated to increase dramatically as our aging population drives up the number of people suffering from age-related vision loss. Not only are there medical costs to consider, but depression also increases disability and mortality rates. For this reason, a new study was conducted to determine the efficacy of combining mental health and low vision treatments. The results were quite intriguing.

When patients are diagnosed with low vision due to AMD, typical treatment involves an assessment of their remaining functional vision and prescriptions for visual aids with instruction on their proper use. Despite being diagnosed with an incurable, life-altering condition, no mental support or counseling is part of the current treatment plan.

Patients are not likely to recognize the symptoms of depression and fail to seek adequate help because they attribute how they feel to aging, struggling with the cost of blindness, and losing their independence. For this reason, researchers from Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Dartmouth Medical School and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine designed The Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial (VITAL).

Conducted at the AAO, VITAL found 188 patients that had been diagnosed with AMD …

As the front line of defense in protecting your patients from vision loss, it’s becoming more important than ever to detect Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) as soon as possible. With an aging population and AMD already the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, beginning treatment at the onset of the disease or soon after will help your patients maintain their vision and quality of life longer. Since patients may not experience early symptoms, you’re their best chance at early eye disease detection.

Family history and pointed lifestyle questions can help highlight patients that may be at risk of developing AMD. If your patient has an immediate blood relative, for example, that has AMD, there’s an increase chance that they might develop the condition as well. Also at greater risk are those who smoke, partake of a high glycemic index diet and those who are overweight or obese. Age of course, is an obvious risk factor. Monitoring patients that match any or all of these categories and noting changes to their eye structure can be tantamount to early eye disease detection.

Another important consideration in eye disease detection is the technology you employ to perform clinical exams. optomap ultra-widefield …

Visual development in children continues from birth to approximately 8 years of age. During this time, their coordination skills and facial structures are also in rapid development, which makes them especially prone to vision damage. Since damage that occurs during this phase of a child’s development can impair their vision for life, it’s critical to inform the parents of your patients about the widening call for eye protection in children.

Research that was done in Australia proved that 10 percent of serious eye injury occurred during sporting activities and 27 percent of those cases resulted in permanent damage. Furthermore, the study showed that 48 percent of all eye injuries in children occurred while at home playing with objects that were easily accessible. With protective eye wear and implementation of simple safety tips, eye injury can be reduced by 90 percent.

To mitigate permanent visual damage, proper eye wear for the chosen sport is critical. An Australian study showed that only 19 percent of children wore protective eye wear while playing sports. While some sports in the United States mandate safety wear to protect eye health, there are many that do not. To protect children’s eyes, look for eye wear that’s …

Current tests for Alzheimer’s disease are invasive and can expose patients to radiation or painful lumbar punctures. However, new studies featuring retinal imaging technology are showing positive results in Alzheimer’s prediction. Surprisingly accurate, these results were obtained with non-invasive techniques and may even be able to predict the disease as much as 15 to 20 years before physical symptoms appear, leaving more options for possible treatments.

Unlike the rest of the eye’s structure, the retina is part of the central nervous system and shares some common traits with the brain. Plaques that form after Alzheimer’s develops appear in the retina long before they accumulate in the brain. By using a specialized dye formulated from tumeric, scientists at Cedars-Sinai were able to fluoresce the plaques and view them with retinal imaging technology.

With this method, 100 percent of Alzheimer’s patients tested positive and 85 percent of those who did not have the disease tested negative. The first phase of this study will be completed later this fall and indications are very positive.

One of the major benefits of predicting Alzheimer’s with retinal imaging is the ability to begin treatment sooner to slow the progression of the disease. The earlier a patient is able to begin the treatment, the more effective it will be. The second …

Although most people are aware that vision may change with age, they may not know which changes are considered normal and which require an exam to determine a course of treatment. As for your patient’s age, it’s important to educate them so they can maintain healthy vision as long as possible.

Patients may develop presbyopia, oftentimes in their forties. When this happens, they will begin to struggle with close-up vision, especially during low light conditions. While this is a natural occurrence as the lens of the eye loses its flexibility, it may frighten some of your patients. Rather than buying inexpensive reading glasses that may not be the right strength for their condition, you should encourage them to visit your office for an eye exam using diagnostic instruments to rule out more serious conditions, at which time, they can be properly fit for corrective lenses that are the right prescription.

Although these conditions can happen at any age, AMD, glaucoma and cataracts are more common as people enter their sixties. Since these eye diseases often require early treatment to mitigate vision loss, it’s essential to inform your patients of possible signs, and encourage them to book an appointment with you as soon as possible.

As always, your …

As an eyecare professional, you’re the front line of defense to help your patients maintain healthy vision. Other than providing comprehensive eye exams and counsel when problems occur, you can also educate your patients on the benefits of eating foods high in nutrients. While patients can also take supplements for vital vitamins and minerals, gaining nutrients from food sources is inherently better for them.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress that contributes to conditions, such as AMD and cataracts. Some particular nutrients that contain these powerful antioxidants include lutein, zeaxanthan, vitamins A, C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene and zinc. The following are some examples you can suggest to your patients:

**Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and kale, contain lutein and zeaxanthan to help protect against environmental damage, such as cigarette smoke, sunlight exposure and air pollution. They can also significantly reduce the development of age-related vision degeneration. **Eating half a cup of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C every day, such as grapefruit, brussels sprouts and strawberries, can act as a powerful source of antioxidants. **Vitamin E is found in wheat germ, nuts and seeds. Most people don’t get enough natural vitamin …

Ultra-widefield retinal imaging devices from Optos can give eyecare professionals a 200° view of the retina. This technology can assist with earlier detection of certain eye diseases, especially for conditions that develop in the periphery of the retina. If these diseases are diagnosed earlier, then treatment can begin sooner to mitigate damage to vision.

Retinal imaging is often used in the case of diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. However, due to the ease of use and efficiency of the optomap® exam, it’s also used to form a baseline from which to compare degenerative changes, or to monitor the efficacy of treatments that have been prescribed. In cases where wet AMD are suspected, a fluorescein angiogram may be performed to determine circulation in the eyes and any abnormal leakage in the vessels, which can cause vision loss.

Results from optomap, using our ultra-widefield retinal imaging devices, are available immediately for review with patients. It’s possible to show the patient areas of concern to help them understand any pathologies that may have been found during the exam. Since dilation is not required to perform an optomap eye exam, patients can resume their normal duties immediately and even drive themselves to and from their appointment.

Contact Optos to learn …

We live in a world where much of our day is spent in front of a screen. From mobile devices to long days spent in front of a computer, blue light exposure is a large contributing factor to the increase in permanent vision damage from long-term cumulative effects.

Blue light is the highest exposure in the visible light spectrum. It can penetrate eye filters all the way to the back of the eye. Since children’s eyes are still developing through their early teens, they’re particularly sensitive to blue light exposure. The cumulative effects of blue light exposure can lead to lesions in the RPE and macular degeneration.

To help your patients protect their eye health, you should inform them to cut back on their exposure if at all possible. Barring that, if they can refrain from using their digital devices for a couple of hours before they sleep each night, melatonin production will increase as well as REM sleep, which can contribute to their overall health.

Second, you should recommend lenses that help filter blue light, especially for children spending several hours every day using digital devices for leisure and homework completion. Unlike blue light filters of the past, these lenses are not bright orange. …

Squinting, sitting too close to the television and holding books close to the face are a few obvious signs that a child is having trouble with their vision. Unfortunately, these signs are not always present if a child has difficulty seeing, so there are some other important red flags to watch out for.

Vision problems in infants under 18 months of age are rare, but babies should still take a vision exam to rule out any issues. While many babies’ eyes may look unfocused up to about four months of age, any sign of recurring wandering eyes or inability to track an object in their field of vision after reaching this stage should be checked by a doctor.

Children 18 months to 4 years old should be monitored closely for potential vision problems as this is the age in which most issues develop. The two most common problems at this stage are drifting, or crossed eyes, and uneven focus. Although the first issue is visible, uneven focus can be difficult for a parent to notice.

If a child is used to having trouble seeing with one eye, they’re often not aware they have a problem and likely will not say anything about it. Commonly known …

The American Diabetes Association met recently and had several presentations on diabetic retinopathy which were covered by Ocular Surgery News. There were several key takeaways in preliminary research results and diagnostics from the event.

During one discussion, results from a phase III study comparing the efficacy of laser treatment against aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) were presented. The main points observed during this study were that randomized participants treated with laser did poorly overall. By studying the effects for all participants, it was shown that patients with the worst levels of HbA1c received no benefit at all from laser therapy, whereas those whose levels were well-maintained did see some benefit. Essentially, the main takeaway is that proper management of diabetes can reduce the need for either of the treatments. Retinopathy was a primary outcome in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). As a secondary portion of the DCCT, the results for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 were separated, and findings unveiled that routine eye exams based solely on condition and age were not beneficial if no retinopathy was discovered upon first examination. Read more about this study’s detailed finding at Helio. Already …