For people with diabetes, cataract surgery poses serious risks, as a recent British study explains.
Surgery for cataracts involves removing all or part of the lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). Cataract removal is the most frequently performed surgery in people over age 65 and is considered by many doctors to be the most effective surgical procedure in all of medicine. If the eye is normal except for the cataract, surgery will… More...
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish and other foods, in heart disease prevention is well documented. Now new research suggests that eating oily fish can help slow or prevent age-related macular degeneration. Read what the experts have found.
The causes of both non-neovascular (also known as nonexudative, atrophic, or dry) and neovascular (also called exudative or wet) age-related macular degeneration are unknown, although there are known risk factors for both forms of… More...
The eye is a made up of numerous parts that work together to make vision possible. Here is a brief introduction to the anatomy of the eye and an explanation of four common eye diseases that afflict many of us.
How does the eye work? When you look at something, you are able to see it because the surface of the object reflects light rays. These rays pass sequentially through the cornea, the pupil, and the… More...
Scientists look to human stem cells to enable the retina to repair itself.
Several new treatments that may help prevent vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration are under investigation. Besides continuing development of treatments to prevent new blood vessel growth as well as leakage from blood vessels in the eye, researchers are also studying drugs known as angiostatic corticosteroids (such as anecortave acetate, tramcinolone, and flucinolone), sometimes in conjunction with other treatments such… More...
Are you at risk for glaucoma? Hopkins specialists explain this common eye condition and report research that links cornea thickness with severity of the glaucoma.
Glaucoma occurs when the clear liquid in the front of the eye, called the aqueous humor, places enough pressure on the optic nerve to damage it. Often this damage is caused by elevated pressure within the eye, but in some cases normal pressure damages the nerve. … More...
Can interfering with RNA shut down the macular degeneration process?
Imagine that age-related macular degeneration had an off switch. In fact, researchers may have found one for the most severe stage of age-related macular degeneration, by shutting down the genes that control vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This molecule plays an important role in the abnormality known as wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration, in which new blood vessels grow under the retina. … More...
Results from a two-year clinical trial at the University of Sydney in Australia further establish the drug triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid, as a promising treatment for people with diabetic macular edema.
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Johns Hopkins researchers find that some people with poor vision can compensate for their poor eyesight by creating a mental map of their environment.
Taking a brisk walk is tough to do when you can’t see well. Still, some people with limited vision clip along quite well, and researchers at Johns Hopkins are trying to understand why some with poor vision fare better than others and which of their lessons can be passed along. … More...
Fortunately, most abrasions -- painful as they may be -- leave vision intact. But it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as an abrasion occurs.
Although no one knows just how many corneal abrasions occur, abrasions are among the most common of eye injuries. You may not know exactly how an abrasion happened. But you will feel it. Human beings are equipped to react quickly when the eye is threatened. The epithelium, the outermost of… More...
Can certain medications reduce cataract risk? The answer is “yes,” according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin. Cataracts form painlessly. The most common symptom of a cataract is cloudy or blurry vision. Everything becomes dimmer, as if seen through glasses that need cleaning. Most often, both eyes are affected with cataracts, though vision is usually worse in one eye than in the other. More...
Diets High in Simple Carbs May Boost Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Passing on the fries may do more than manage your waistline: Such restraint may also protect your eyes. In a study at Tufts University reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Volume 83, page 880), researchers examined the eyes of 526 women between ages 53 and 73. They also examined 10 years’ worth of data about the women's diets, collected as part of… More...
Johns Hopkins doctors discuss the role that nutrients, such as lutein, beta carotene, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids play in slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration.
That tempting grilled fish and spinach salad may come with a side of eye protection. Last year, the National Eye Institute (NEI) began to enroll 4,000 people with varying levels of age-related macular degeneration in a five-year study that will test whether two nutrients in green leafy vegetables and… More...
Autologous serum eye drops – promising therapy for dry eye
Autologous serum eye drops, which are derived from a person’s own blood, are gaining ground as a potential treatment for severe dry eye disease that doesn’t respond to conventional treatment. Japanese researchers divided a group of 20 people with severe dry eye disease into two subsets. One group of dry eye patients used only preservative-free artificial tears and the second group of dry eye patients… More...
Do your eyes turn red and itchy every spring and summer? It could be allergic conjunctivitis – a treatable, but uncomfortable allergy condition.
Allergic conjunctivitis is a common cause of red, itchy eyes. Although allergies are best known for causing nasal symptoms, they also can be irritating to the eyes. In allergic conjunctivitis, the affected part of the eye is the conjunctiva, the thin, elastic tissue that covers the white of the eye and lines the… More...
Diabetic retinopathy usually has no symptoms, so if you have diabetes it’s important to follow these five steps to reduce your risk of developing retinopathy.... More...
Johns Hopkins reports on new drugs for fighting glaucoma.
Physicians have recently confirmed through large clinical studies that lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is highly beneficial in reducing vision loss in people with glaucoma. Indeed, the lowering of IOP is the only FDA-approved approach for treating glaucoma. However, newer approaches to the treatment of glaucoma are being studied to supplement present therapy in order to reduce the progressive loss of vision in glaucoma even further. … More...
While there’s currently no effective drug therapy to prevent cataracts from forming, cigarette smoking, certain drugs, eye injuries, sunlight, diabetes, and even obesity can increase your risk.
If you’re in your forties or fifties, you probably know someone who has cataracts. That’s because while cataracts can occur at any age (in fact, babies can be born with them), they are most common later in life. About 50% of people age 65 -74 and 70% of… More...
If you’ve just been diagnosed with glaucoma, you undoubtedly want to do everything you can to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. As part of that, you may wonder whether changes in your overall lifestyle, including changes in the amount or type of exercise you get, may help control the disease. More...
Dr. Susan Bressler talks about two new medications for age-related macular degeneration – Avastin and Lucentis.
Q. I’ve heard that new medications to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are available. Are these new medications better than current treatments?
A. Two new medications—Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) -- are now in use to treat macular degeneration. These new macular degeneration treatments are exciting because they offer the opportunity to slow vision loss and may restore vision,… More...
Are you taking herbs or nutritional supplements for your eye health? If so, it’s important to be aware of the potential for side effects. Late last year, a study that included case reports submitted to the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects highlighted several adverse ocular effects linked to the use of certain herbs and nutritional supplements. … More...
Johns Hopkins Professor Susan B. Bressler, M.D. discusses the causes and treatment options of double vision.
Double vision, or diplopia, is not the same as blurry vision. People who have double vision see two distinct clear images of a single object, rather than one blurred image. Seeing double can interfere with even the simplest of activities and make complicated tasks impossible. There are many reasons you might have double vision and treatments are readily available once… More...
Is your vision blurry, especially at night or in very bright light? It could be an early symptom of cataracts.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that interferes with clear vision. Unlike a healthy, transparent lens, which focuses light rays precisely onto the retina, a lens clouded by a cataract loses its ability to focus light rays. The light that reaches the retina is scattered and diffuse, causing blurry vision. The… More...
If you’re feeling pinched by the high cost of your prescription medications, this advice can help.
Despite consumer complaints and government hearings, skyrocketing prescription drug prices show no sign of slowing down. According to an AARP policy report released last spring, the rate of general inflation was 2.3% during the 12-month period of September 2003 to September 2004. But during that same year, drug companies’ prices for the 197 brand-name prescription drugs most commonly used… More...
Macugen works by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye.
Late last year, the FDA approved pegaptanib sodium (Macugen) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (also called exudative or wet AMD).
What makes pegaptanib sodium different from current treatments for age-related macular degeneration, particularly photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne)?
Photodynamic therapy is restricted to certain subsets of people with age-related macular degeneration. And while it can help treat pre-existing abnormal blood vessels, it can’t prevent new vessels from forming. In… More...
Many popular drugs can cause side effects, such as blurred vision, light sensitivity, or excessive tearing. Here are six common culprits.
Vision problems can be an unwanted side effect of many different medications. Most of these drugs will cause only temporary visual disturbances -- such as blurred or double vision, dry eyes, excessive tearing, puffy eyelids, sensitivity to light, seeing a yellow or blue tinge, or a change in eye color -- that disappear with time… More...
Because significant retinopathy may be present at the time of diagnosis in people with type 2 diabetes, an eye examination by an ophthalmologist is advised at that time and annually thereafter.
Researchers estimate that more than 40% of middle-aged and older Americans with diabetes have the potentially vision-threatening eye complication retinopathy—damage to small blood vessels in the eye due to high blood glucose levels. More...
Steps to prevent age-related macular degeneration or slow its progression include dietary supplements, diet, and, possibly, reduced exposure to sunlight. More...
Patients who had used statins (such as Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor) for two years or longer were 40% less likely to develop glaucoma than those who had used the drugs for less time. More...
2008 Diabetes White Paper The 2008 Diabetes White Paper teaches you how to manage your Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and avoid complications, such as foot problems and vision changes. It reviews the latest tools for monitoring your blood glucose and the newest medications for controlling it. Featured highlights for 2008 include: myths and misconceptions about insulin therapy; tests your doctor should be doing to detect diabetes-related nerve damage; the best insulin for people who inject just once a day; exploring your options when diabetes disrupts your sex life; special considerations for diabetics facing heart surgery; and much more. PLUS, get your special discount and FREE Special Report: Dealing with Diabetes through this exclusive web-only offer. Read more or order the INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD EDITION Read more or order the PRINT EDITION
The Johns Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50 A comprehensive home medical encyclopedia that gives you a “crash course” on more than 100 major medical concerns of men and women over 50! Organized in an easy-to-use A to Z format, the Medical Guide provides in-depth explanations of the many chronic health problems associated with aging – high blood pressure, stroke, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, dementia, memory loss, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and gallstones, to name but a few.Read more or order...
Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies This easy-to-use reference book can help you pinpoint the causes of hundreds of disorders, from abdominal pain to skin rash to swollen glands. The book is divided into two distinct sections: symptoms, which includes charts covering a wide range of common symptoms and possible diagnoses, and disorders, which discusses the disorder, its causes, prevention advice, treatment strategies, and other crucial information so you will be able to either treat yourself at home, or know when it's time to call a doctor. Read more or order...
Other Johns Hopkins Reference Books
The Johns Hopkins Consumer Guide to Drugs Contains drug profiles on more than 750 medications–both prescription and over-the-counter, most commonly used by people over 50, all presented in our unique page-at-a-glance format, designed with you in mind, the busy person who wants the most reliable health information available at your fingertips. Your guide also includes an invaluable overview of dietary supplements and how they can interact with certain medications, the dangers of taking your pills with grapefruit juice, and more. Read more...
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