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Your Vision

The TVClubHouse: General Discussion ARCHIVES: 2006 Mar. ~ 2006 May: Your Vision users admin

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Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, May 08, 2006 - 8:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported March 8, 2006


Bionic Vision


ST. LOUIS (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- More than 1 million people in the United States are legally blind. Many of them once had vision but tragically lost it. Now a breakthrough device could give them back some of their sight.

1

Some call her the bionic woman. Others call her a medical miracle. But Cheri Robertson has given herself another title...

"I just call myself the robo-chick."

Robertson is blind, but this device allows her to see, not with her eyes but with her brain! Fifteen years ago, she lost both of her eyes in a car accident. She was just 19 years old.

"When I realized yes, I am going to be blind, I thought, I guess I'm going to learn to do things a little differently now," Robertson says. And she did. She traveled to Portugal to become the 16th person in the world to have special electrodes implanted in her brain. With the help of a device, she could see again!

2

"I said, ‘Oh my God, I can see it. I can see it,' and I was just so excited!"

Neurosurgeon Kenneth Smith, M.D., of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, says the procedure is the first to reverse blindness in patients without eyes. "They are really seeing. The brain is getting impulses just like when you and I see."

A camera on the tip of Robertson's glasses sends signals to a computer that's strapped around her waist. The computer then stimulates electrodes in the brain through a cord that attaches to the head. Patients see flashes of light and outlines of objects.

"Whatever I see is just two splashes of light, so I know something is there," Robertson says. She admits support from her mom and the local Lion's Club keeps her spirits high. "If I was all depressed, I couldn't affect anybody's life for the good, and I want to make a difference." Friends, family and doctors say she already has.

3

The surgery is not yet performed in the United States, but Dr. Smith hopes it will be in the next five years. The main safety concern is an infection where the port goes into the head. For the surgery to work, patients must have once had vision.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Rachel Otto
Saint Louis University Medical Center
3525 Caroline Mall
Saint Louis, MO 63104
ottorl@slu.edu
http://www.slu.edu

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 12:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported May 17, 2004


Eye Disorders can Shorten Lifespan


(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with age-related eye problems, such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, may not live as long as those without them, perhaps because the conditions signal declining health, says a new study.

Frederick L. Ferris, III, M.D., of the National Eye Institute, and colleagues say various eye disorders have been reported to be significant predictors of a shorter life span. Cataract, in particular, may be a sign of physiological processes that are associated with aging and death. A cataract involves the lens of the eye becoming cloudy and can cause partial blindness.

In a study of 4,753 people aged 55 to 81, people with macular degeneration, a progressive condition that causes gradual vision loss, had a 41-percent higher risk of death during the 6.5-year follow up than people without signs associated with the disorder.

The research also found people who had cataract surgery had a 55-percent higher risk of death than those with good vision, while those with vision worse than 20/40 in one eye had a 36-percent higher risk.

However, a subgroup of participants was randomly assigned to take zinc, and these patients had a 27-percent lower mortality rate than those not taking zinc. "The beneficial effects of zinc on mortality in this study may be related to an improved immune response, which is known to decrease with aging," the authors write.

While the exact mechanisms are unclear, the study showed the decreased survival rates for people with either cataracts or macular degeneration, suggests that these conditions may reflect systemic rather than only local processes. For instance, advanced AMD was associated with cardiovascular deaths.

The authors conclude, "The improved survival in individuals randomly assigned to receive zinc requires further study."


SOURCE: The Archives of Ophthalmology, 2004:122:716-726

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 12:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported October 14, 2005


Say Good Bye to Cataracts and Glasses


DALLAS (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- A cataract clouds the eye's natural lens, making it hard to see clearly. Now, some patients can get rid of cataracts and their glasses or contacts at the same time. Now a new lens does double duty.

Rosemary Roman looks forward to life without glasses or cataracts. "And, I am so excited, and oh, am going to be so glad to get rid of these. Oh, I really will be."

In a 15-minute procedure, Jeffrey Whitman, M.D., an opthamologist at Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas, will replace the cataract in Roman's eye with a new kind of lens. "We'll make the main opening in the cornea of the eye where we will end up taking the cataract out and putting the lens implant through," he says.

The standard fix is a lens that only allows patients to see far away.

"The ReSTOR lens is a lens that has different zones of focus built into the plastic of the lens. When this lens is placed into the eye, it allows the patient to focus distant, intermediate and close-up," Dr. Whitman tells Ivanhoe. "Once it is unfolded, It has pretty much the consistency of a stick of gum. I think that would be the closest thing. A little pliability to it but not a lot."

Roman says she didn't feel anything during the procedure. Dr. Whitman says rosemary will see the results quickly. "They'll already have better vision the next day, but usually in a couple of weeks, they should be fully healed and off of drops."

Janet Wendland's cataracts were driving her crazy at work with fuzzy and un-clear vision. She had the ReSTOR lens put in both eyes and has seen a big difference. "20/20 in both eyes, so I don't think you can get any better than that," she says.

In clinical trials, 80 percent of patients who got the ReSTOR lens no longer needed glasses.

Dr. Whitman says most insurance plans and Medicare will pay for cataract surgery. Patients should expect to pay about $2,000 extra per eye to have the ReSTOR lens put in.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Key-Whitman Eye Center
2801 Lemmon Ave. Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 220-3937
patientservices@keywhitman.com
http://www.keywhitman.com

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 1:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported November 14, 2005


Lens Implant

Full-Length Doctor's Interview


Mark Sczepanski, M.D., discusses the crystalens, a new method for cataract surgery that allows the muscle in the eye to move, seeing both near and far.

Ivanhoe Broadcast News Transcript with
Mark Sczepanski, M.D., Ophthalmologist,
North Dakota Eye Clinic, Grand Forks, N.D.
TOPIC: Lens Implant Saves Vision



What are some of the problems cataract patients struggle with, even after cataract surgery?

Dr. Sczepanski: Typically modern-day cataract surgery is quite remarkable. The recovery is very fast, and their vision recovers very quickly. Patients don't typically have quite as bad a cataract as 30 years ago. Back then surgery was so brutal; you didn't want to put the patient through it unless their vision was absolutely horrible. With today's modern techniques the patient still has difficulty reading up close, seeing in the intermediate vision, seeing things six feet or seven feet away. Cataract patients still need bifocals or trifocals after surgery, it's still not like natural vision.


What is the new implant you are working on?

Dr. Sczepanski: The crystalens is the first lens approved for giving people the ability to focus at and near the intermediate distance.


How does the crystalens work?

Dr. Sczepanski: There's a muscle inside the eye called a ciliary muscle that typically contracts and changes the shape of the natural lens. A cataract occurs when the natural lens gets cloudy. In cataract surgery we remove the natural lens and put the old style implant in. The old style wouldn't focus, was rigid, stayed in one spot, was great for the distance, but when looking at near things would be blurry. The new implant has hinges on it and is designed specifically for focusing, so it's set in a certain position. Also, when the person wants to see up close, the natural contraction of the muscle makes the lens move and focus simulating the normal lens.


What is unique about the crystalens?

Dr. Sczepanski: The crystalens is the only lens that stimulates natural accommodation and actually moves. Other implants available now or that will be available are called multi-focal implants where they can allow you to see in the distance and up close. However, this occurs only by the optics of the implant it doesn't move.


How does it work inside the eye?

Dr. Sczepanski: There's a capsule created in the eye. We leave the layer of the original lens in place creating a big envelope for the implant to sit inside. The new treatment allows the implant to hold itself in the corner of the envelope while the capsule is still attached to the ciliary muscle naturally. When the muscle contracts, instead of contracting and changing the shape of the natural lens, the implant is inside this capsular bed, focusing or moving on its own.


What sort of results have you seen from using this lens?

Dr. Sczepanski: So far it is phenomenal. I knew by looking at the FDA studies it was going to be an exciting implant, but it has exceeded my expectations. All of the patients are passing the driver's test, reading a newspaper in the morning, reading menus, and doing things you would generally need bifocals for. Most of these are cataract patients who have already lost the ability to see at near naturally because they're over age 45, and when this happens they feel younger, like they are getting their youth back.


So with this new treatment the patient doesn't need glasses at all?

Dr. Sczepanski: So far none of the patients have needed glasses, but that is not a guarantee. I am sure there will be a small percentage of patients who will need reading glasses maybe even all the time, but the vast majority are spending most of the time without reading glasses.


Is this appropriate for most cataract patients?

Dr. Sczepanski: Yes. It's FDA-approved for patients over 50 if they have otherwise healthy eyes and can understand how to do the exercises for the first few months after surgery to help improve the results.


How many doctors are trained to do this treatment?

Dr. Sczepanski: There are about 300 surgeons using it nationwide, some at varying degree. It has only been FDA-approved for about a year and a half and there's a credentialing period, where a doctor slowly takes their first patients to make sure they're doing well before moving onto the next.


How has it been for you as a doctor to watch the progression of the treatment and the success it has had with so many patients?

Dr. Sczepanski: It's been really fun because you feel like you're giving them years back to their life. After age 45 we're not supposed to be able to see up close but with this treatment we are cheating nature.


Are there any concerns or risks involved with the new cataract surgery?

Dr. Sczepanski: Yes there are. I tell the patients there are no guarantees they'll be able to see up near. They still may need reading glasses. I also tell them about the statistics from the FDA studies, and my clinic so far. And while it's not likely, I tell them there is still a possibility for glare and halos at night. I haven't found this to be true, in either statistics because the lens needs to be in perfect position, but I tell them about the chance none-the-less. In the early process there may be a 10 percent chance we'd have to go back into the operating room and reposition the lens. But so far, we haven't had to remove any lens yet.

END OF INTERVIEW

If you would like more information, please contact:

Ross Gonitzke
Administration
North Dakota Eye Clinic
3035 Demers Ave.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
(701) 775-3151

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 1:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported December 9, 2004


Eat Your Greens to Protect Eyes


(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Eating more dark, leafy green vegetables could help protect your eyes from ultraviolet light known to cause cataracts, finds a new study out of Ohio State University in Columbus.

The research supports anecdotal evidence suggesting the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin -- found in abundance in vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens -- guard against the sight-robbing condition.

Investigators tested the ability of the two antioxidants to protect against UV light in a laboratory study involving cells from the lenses of human eyes. Samples were subjected to about the same amount of UV light a person would be exposed to if he or she were getting a mild tan. When lutein and zeaxanthin were added to the samples, UV damage in the cells dropped by about 50 percent to 60 percent.

Researchers also tested the samples with vitamin E, another nutrient believed to offer protection against UV light damage in the eyes. Vitamin E reduced the UV damage by only about 25 percent to 32 percent. What’s more, lutein and zeaxanthin got the job done with significantly lower doses -- about 10-times lower than doses required when using vitamin E.

The investigators note about 20 million people in the United States suffer from cataracts, and around 500,000 new cases are identified each year. While the condition can be treated with surgery, finding ways to delay or prevent the development of the disease could have important implications for public health.

SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition, 2004; 134:3225-3232

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 1:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported May 28, 2004


Smoking Linked to new Diseases


(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In the most comprehensive report in 15 years, United States Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., reveals new dangers of smoking. Among these are links to diseases such as leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia, and cancers of the cervix, kidney, pancreas and stomach.

According to the report, smoking kills about 444,000 people in the United States each year. On average, men who smoke shorten their lives by about 13 years, while women who smoke cut their life expectancy by about 15 years.

Dr. Carmona says, “We’ve known for decades that smoking is bad for your health, but this report shows that it’s even worse than we knew. The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere the blood flows.”

In 1964, the Surgeon General’s Report showed smoking was linked to cancers of the lung and larynx in men and chronic bronchitis in both men and women. Now, Dr. Carmona says there are many more diseases to add to that list.

Diseases including colorectal cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction in men were also associated with smoking, but the evidence was not conclusive enough to establish a direct link.

The report reveals low-tar or low-nicotine cigarettes do not offer health benefits over regular, “full-flavor” cigarettes. Dr. Carmona says there is no such thing as a safe cigarette.

The report also shows quitting smoking has both immediate and long-term benefits. Dr. Carmona says, “Within minutes and hours after smokers inhale that last cigarette, their bodies begin a series of changes that continue for years.”

He concludes, “I’m hoping this new information will help motivate people to quite smoking and convince young people not to start in the first place.”


SOURCE: Surgeon General’s Report, May 27, 2004

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 8:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported September 22, 2003


sng spts



SARASOTA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- When you look into a light, do you see dots, lines or cobwebs? You could have either floaters or flashes -- two common conditions that often affect people over age 40.

1

Carol Tokarczyk finds beauty in tending to her rose garden. “It’s just a hobby of mine," she tells Ivanhoe. "I like to play with my roses and watch them bloom. It gives you real satisfaction.“

But, Tokarczyk nearly lost that ability when she started having vision problems. “I saw lightning-like flashes along the side of my vision,” she tells Ivanhoe.

Tokarczyk was diagnosed with a detached retina -- a serious condition that can lead to blindness. Ophthalmologist Melvin Chen, M.D., of Sarasota Retina Institute, says her case is extreme. In most cases, seeing floaters or flashes is a natural part of the aging process.

“They describe it as either dots or spots or twigs, hairs, lines, veils or just a generalized haziness,” he says.

2

A floater is a small clump of gel that forms in the vitreous -- the jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye. “As the light passes through the pupil into the back of the eye, it will cast a shadow on the retina, and that’s what a floater is,” Dr. Chen says. Flashes are caused by the vitreous gel tugging on the retina. “So, as the vitreous falls, it’ll pull on the retina a little bit and mechanically stimulates the retina, and that’s the light flash.”

3

Dr. Chen says most floaters settle below the line of vision and become less noticeable, while flashes eventually disappear. If you have either, consult your eye doctor.

After treatment, Tokarczyk's flashes disappeared. Once again, a thing of beauty is a joy forever in her rose garden.

4

Floaters and flashes are more common for people who are nearsighted, have undergone cataract surgery or who have suffered an eye injury. Isolated, bright flashes of light -- like lightning bolts -- could be more serious, suggesting a possible retinal tear. Dr. Chen says these should be evaluated as soon as possible. Also, if flashes or floaters are associated with loss of central or peripheral vision, it could suggest retinal detachment, and patients should see their doctor immediately.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Melvin Chen, M.D.
Sarasota Retina Institute
Fax: (941) 927-4450
srqretina@aol.com