Sosne, Gabriel
Michigan Chronicle
03-29-2005
They say you can tell a lot by looking in a person's eyes, and in the early
detection of health problems, it is absolutely true. Regular and thorough
eye exams are important for maintaining healthy vision, but they also can
help protect you from life-threatening diseases.
Certain changes in the eyes are early indicators of illnesses such as
rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, heart
disease, diabetes and even some sexually transmitted diseases, such as
syphilis. Clearly, regular professional exams are critical throughout all
stages of life.
March is Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month, National Eye Donor Month
and Save Your Vision Month, but anytime is a good time to talk about
healthy vision.
Some of the most prevalent eye diseases in adults include glaucoma,
cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and corneal disease.
People, particularly seniors, are relatively well informed about macular
degeneration, but have less knowledge about the other diseases, some of
which show no symptoms until some vision loss or blindness occurs.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without
warning. In many cases, abnormal pressure from fluid buildup in the eye
damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting images to
the brain. The most common type of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma, which
can lead to loss of peripheral vision and even total blindness.
African Americans are more prone to glaucoma and need to be tested for the
disease, especially after age 40, and particularly if they suffer from
uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and/or have a family history of
the disease. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatments and
surgery.
Cataract is one of the most treatable causes of blindness. It occurs when
the eye's lens becomes opaque, obscuring vision. Cataracts cannot always be
seen externally, which reinforces the need for regular eye exams. The
disease is most commonly found among the elderly. The most routine
treatment is cataract surgery (phacoemulsification), a process in which the
cataract is basically vacuumed away.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.
Young or elderly, anyone with diabetes is at risk. The disease weakens the
small blood vessels in the retina and damage can be present before actual
loss of vision occurs. It is critical for anyone who is diabetic to be
checked annually for this disease.
There are many other aspects to vision health. Continued research into
causes, treatment and cures is critical. Right now I am involved in
research to develop a medicine for healing wounds and inflammation of the
cornea. As a researcher, I want people to be aware that adequate government
funding is essential for the National Institutes of Health and other
similar groups that help pay for public research.
Prevention is, of course, still the best medicine. Here are some tips on
healthy vision for you and your family:
Maintain a healthy diet
Avoid use of tobacco
Protect your eyes from direct exposure to the sun
Wear safety eye gear when engaged in sports
Be aware of any family history for eye diseases
Control blood pressure and diabetes
Monitor changes in your child's vision and report them to the physician
Get regular eye exams.
If you would like to make an appointment to see a Kresge Eye Institute
physician for an exam or treatment, call (313) 577-8900.
Gabriel Sosne, M.D., is a general ophthalmologist and basic researcher at
the Detroit Medical Center's Kresge Eye Institute. He is an assistant
professor of ophthalmology and assistant professor of anatomy and cell
biology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Article copyright Michigan Chronicle Publishing Company, Inc.
V.68;
Michigan Chronicle
03-29-2005
They say you can tell a lot by looking in a person's eyes, and in the early
detection of health problems, it is absolutely true. Regular and thorough
eye exams are important for maintaining healthy vision, but they also can
help protect you from life-threatening diseases.
Certain changes in the eyes are early indicators of illnesses such as
rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, heart
disease, diabetes and even some sexually transmitted diseases, such as
syphilis. Clearly, regular professional exams are critical throughout all
stages of life.
March is Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month, National Eye Donor Month
and Save Your Vision Month, but anytime is a good time to talk about
healthy vision.
Some of the most prevalent eye diseases in adults include glaucoma,
cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and corneal disease.
People, particularly seniors, are relatively well informed about macular
degeneration, but have less knowledge about the other diseases, some of
which show no symptoms until some vision loss or blindness occurs.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without
warning. In many cases, abnormal pressure from fluid buildup in the eye
damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting images to
the brain. The most common type of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma, which
can lead to loss of peripheral vision and even total blindness.
African Americans are more prone to glaucoma and need to be tested for the
disease, especially after age 40, and particularly if they suffer from
uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and/or have a family history of
the disease. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatments and
surgery.
Cataract is one of the most treatable causes of blindness. It occurs when
the eye's lens becomes opaque, obscuring vision. Cataracts cannot always be
seen externally, which reinforces the need for regular eye exams. The
disease is most commonly found among the elderly. The most routine
treatment is cataract surgery (phacoemulsification), a process in which the
cataract is basically vacuumed away.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.
Young or elderly, anyone with diabetes is at risk. The disease weakens the
small blood vessels in the retina and damage can be present before actual
loss of vision occurs. It is critical for anyone who is diabetic to be
checked annually for this disease.
There are many other aspects to vision health. Continued research into
causes, treatment and cures is critical. Right now I am involved in
research to develop a medicine for healing wounds and inflammation of the
cornea. As a researcher, I want people to be aware that adequate government
funding is essential for the National Institutes of Health and other
similar groups that help pay for public research.
Prevention is, of course, still the best medicine. Here are some tips on
healthy vision for you and your family:
Maintain a healthy diet
Avoid use of tobacco
Protect your eyes from direct exposure to the sun
Wear safety eye gear when engaged in sports
Be aware of any family history for eye diseases
Control blood pressure and diabetes
Monitor changes in your child's vision and report them to the physician
Get regular eye exams.
If you would like to make an appointment to see a Kresge Eye Institute
physician for an exam or treatment, call (313) 577-8900.
Gabriel Sosne, M.D., is a general ophthalmologist and basic researcher at
the Detroit Medical Center's Kresge Eye Institute. He is an assistant
professor of ophthalmology and assistant professor of anatomy and cell
biology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Article copyright Michigan Chronicle Publishing Company, Inc.
V.68;
