Vision If you're like many Americans, coping with the cost of medications can be burdensome, even with help from various health insurance plans.

]]> If you’re age 60 or older and don’t have any sign of cataracts, chances are you will soon. In the United States, 75 percent of people over age 60 have some sign of cataracts. In fact, cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure in the United States with over 1.6 million operations performed annually.

]]> Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula—the central, most critical part of the retina for providing sharp vision. In the United States, AMD is the leading cause of severe and irreversible loss of central vision in people over age 50. More than seven million Americans have some evidence of AMD; close to one million have the advanced form of AMD. The prevalence of severe vision loss from AMD increases with age: Most people with impaired vision from AMD are 60 or older.

]]> Do you sometimes have trouble seeing clearly when you drive – especially at night? In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins provides practical advice to help you see better and drive more safely.

]]> The effectiveness of treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an important issue, but so, too, is their cost. In a study reported in the journal Retina (volume 30, page 212) three widely used therapies for age-related macular degeneration -- pegaptanib (Macugen), ranibizumab (Lucentis) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne) -- were investigated for their treatment outcomes as well as their Medicare-associated costs.

]]> It's estimated that more than four million Americans with diabetes age 40 and over suffer from diabetic retinopathy – a serious condition that can lead to vision loss. What is diabetic retinopathy and how does it affect the eye? Read on for a brief explanation.

]]> Assistive devices for people with low vision have come a long way since the days of clunky magnifying lamps and magnifying glasses. New technologies can help you see better, increase your independence and help you conduct transactions online from the comfort of your home. Here are several devices you might want to try.

]]> If you've just been diagnosed with glaucoma, you’ll want to do everything you can to remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Can exercise help you achieve this goal? While the mainstay of glaucoma therapy remains lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) with medication, laser treatment or surgery, some evidence suggests that a regular exercise program can help support your medical therapy.

]]> Are you thinking about trying an alternative therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? Like anyone with a serious illness, you might be tempted to try something that sounds like a miracle cure. But beware, snake-oil salesmen abound.

]]> Taking a brisk walk is tough to do when you can't see well. Even a short stroll can become a dangerous obstacle course as you swerve to maneuver curbs, check traffic and avoid bumping passersby. Still, some people with limited vision clip along quite well, and researchers at Johns Hopkins are trying to understand why some fare better than others -- and which of their lessons can be passed along.

]]> If you've ever taken any medication for more than a few weeks, you know how difficult it can be to stick to a strict drug regimen. If you have glaucoma, following the prescribed regimen may be an even greater challenge. Not only might you need to use glaucoma eyedrops multiple times each day, but you also need to get them into your eye -- a more complicated task than swallowing a pill.

]]> Cataract surgery involves removing all or part of the lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). The quarter-inch plastic lens implant is typically inserted into the lens capsule behind the iris (posterior chamber intraocular lens). However, when the lens capsule is absent, a different kind of intraocular lens may be inserted in front of the iris (anterior chamber intraocular lens).

]]> Eye pressure that is higher than the normal range is an important risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma – the most common form of glaucoma. Early treatment reduces the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma, according to the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, but should all ocular hypertensives be treated, and if not, is there harm in waiting on treatment for those at lower risk?

]]> If you have ever experienced love at first sight, you know that the heart and the eyes share an intimate connection. Unfortunately, the eyes and the heart are also linked in a less romantic way: through hypertension, or high blood pressure.

]]> During cataract surgery the patient’s lens is removed and a plastic intraocular lens (IOL) implant is inserted. Once inserted, lens implants require no care. As with any device, however, complications can occur. Recently a reader asked us: "After my husband's cataract surgery, he started having trouble sleeping. Could his blue-blocking intraocular lenses be responsible?" Here’s what the research suggests.

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