сентября 2012

воскресенье, 30 сентября 2012 г.

Menino vows to keep up changes Eyes schools, health, housing, government - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Fresh from his free ride to a second term Tuesday, Mayor ThomasM. Menino yesterday pledged to do a better job organizing his visionof the city's future, identifying several areas that need carefulattention to make Boston a No. 1 destination for businesses,visitors, and residents.

Menino also promised shake-ups in the structure of citygovernment, hinting that he might try to improve the delivery of cityservices with innovations being used in other cities such asPhiladelphia and Indianapolis. A two-day retreat with top officialsis planned for next week.

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суббота, 29 сентября 2012 г.

WHO Reports Lists Risk Factors For Progression In Eye Disease.(World Health Organization ) - Angiogenesis Weekly

2001 OCT 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Age, body mass index (BMI), and glucose control are just some of the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy progression and proliferation in types 1 and 2 diabetes patients, according to World Health Organization (WHO) collaborators.

Diabetic retinopathy, characterized by hemorrhage, microaneurysms, lesion formation, and sometimes new blood vessel overgrowth (proliferative retinopathy) in the retina, can lead to total vision loss in diabetes patients. A follow-up study of almost 3,000 patients with types 1 or 2 diabetes at 10 WHO centers suggests several factors contribute to progressive eye disease in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Originally, investigators enrolled over 4,600 patients with diabetes in the study. More than 500 of those patients were lost to follow-up due to death, according to H. Keen and colleagues, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K. During follow-up 47.7% of patients who did not have retinopathy at study enrollment developed retinopathy, and 9.7% developed proliferative retinopathy, according to Keen and colleagues.

'Incident retinopathy appeared earlier in the known course of diabetes but incidence rates rose more slowly with duration in patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus than in those with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus,' reported Keen and coworkers.

After pooling the data from the several study centers, researchers identified several factors that increased the odds of incident retinopathy, which they listed as 'age, diabetes duration, systolic pressure, plasma cholesterol, BMI, insulin treatment and proteinuria, and fasting glycemia.'

For those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 'age, diabetes duration, insulin treatment, cholesterol, proteinuria, and fasting glycemia' were high-risk factors ('The appearance of retinopathy and progression to proliferative retinopathy: The WHO multinational study of vascular disease in diabetes,' Diabetologia, 2001;44(14):S22-S30).

Although the prevalence of incident retinopathy and proliferative retinopathy varied from center to center, implying observer differences, baseline risk factors for retinopathy remained important throughout the entire study group.

'Improved detection and control of these risk factors should reduce the impact of diabetic retinopathy and its consequences,' Keen and coauthors. said.

The corresponding author for this study is H. Keen, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.

A search at www.NewsRx.net using the search term 'diabetic retinopathy' yielded over 47 articles in 11 specialized reports.

Key points reported in this study include:

* A major WHO study identified incident retinopathy in almost 50% of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients followed for an average of 8.4 years

* Proliferative retinopathy was identified in almost 10% of diabetes patients

* Several controllable factors increase the risk for diabetic retinopathy in patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes

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пятница, 28 сентября 2012 г.

WHO Reports Lists Risk Factors For Progression In Eye Disease.(World Health Organization)(Brief Article) - Diabetes Week

2001 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

'Improved detection and control of these risk factors should reduce the impact of diabetic retinopathy and its consequences,' Keen and coauthors. said.

The corresponding author for this study is H. Keen, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.

A search at www.NewsRx.net using the search term 'diabetic retinopathy' yielded over 47 articles in 11 specialized reports.

Key points reported in this study include:

* A major WHO study identified incident retinopathy in almost 50% of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients followed for an average of 8.4 years

* Proliferative retinopathy was identified in almost 10% of diabetes patients

* Several controllable factors increase the risk for diabetic retinopathy in patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes

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четверг, 27 сентября 2012 г.

AAO, New York to gather vision health data - Ophthalmology Times

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Washington-The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has partnered with the New York State Department of Health to include new questions about visual impairment and access to eye care in its annual 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

The BRFSS, a state-based survey program, was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor state-level prevalence of major behavioral risks associated with morbidity and mortality among adults.

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среда, 26 сентября 2012 г.

JOE'S VISION OPENED EYES - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

BILL PENNINGTON
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
09-29-1996
JOE'S VISION OPENED EYES
By BILL PENNINGTON
Date: 09-29-1996, Sunday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday
Biographical: JOE TORRE

We had a good laugh, most of us did, on Nov. 2, 1995.

Joe Torre was named the new Yankees manager, and he said things
like: 'I'm coming into this with my eyes wide open.'

Oh, how naive. How sad.

The poor man doesn't have a clue. George will chew him up, gnaw on
him until there's nothing left. At the luncheon announcing Joe Torre's
hiring, one question circulated the room: How long do you give him?

No one gave Joe Torre a chance past July. As it happened, George
Steinbrenner did not even wait that long, surreptitiously trying to
convince Buck Showalter to return to the Yankees in a top secret meeting
just days after Torre was introduced as the new manager.

How sad. Poor Joe.

Joe Torre, cigar in mouth, can laugh at all of us now. It is we who
misread this man, who underestimated his ability to adapt, to endure. It
has been 11 months in the Yankees crucible. They have been some of the
longest days of his life, and they have been some of the best.

Steinbrenner may yet fire him in two weeks, two months, or two
years, but the 1996 Yankees season is one tribute to Joe Torre's
unwavering poise. He is a symbol of this long season, the placid, serene
force moving across the days and weeks. He is the duck cruising across
the pond -- propelled, it seems, without effort, all the while churning
with energy beneath the surface.

Because if you think Torre has not longed for this success, you are
wrong. A couple of weeks ago, talking about how he had never played or
managed in the World Series despite 37 years in Major League Baseball,
56-year-old Joe Torre said he would keep coming back to the game 'until
I get it right.'

And this past week, on the day after the Yankees had clinched the
American League East, Torre allowed that he woke up a different man.

'It was the first day all year that I got out of bed without a
concern, without a question on my mind, without thinking that there were
decisions to make, things to settle or figure out,' he said. 'It was an
unbelievable relief.'

So you know he has felt the pressures even if he has masked them in
cigar smoke. In a year when he has had to endure the death of one
brother and the ongoing health problems of another, Torre has also
played shepherd to a diverse roster of young, old, multi-experienced,
and multilingual players -- with all the baseball world, and one
omnipresent owner, watching.

He has had players handed to him he did not seek and lost players
he never wanted to do without. He has observed the media circus from the
center ring, showing the ability to be pleasant and honest without
causing a stir. Best of all, he can, and does, sit in a roomful of
reporters completely silent when silence is the best option.

'He feels things a lot more than he shows,' Yankees third base
coach Willie Randolph said last week. 'He's very emotional. When you sit
next to him on the bench, he jumps and flinches, but then he catches
himself and holds it in.

'I've played for or been around a lot of managers, from Billy
[Martin] and Lou [Piniella] to Dick Howser and Tommy Lasorda to Tony La
Russa, and Joe is remarkable for how steady he can be. I admire him for
how he could keep his personality so stable throughout the whole
season.'

And since he is so undemonstrative in public, there are many things
about him that are little known. And herewith, a short sampler of the
unseen Joe Torre:

Joe Torre, the sentimentalist:

When the Yankees were one inning from clinching their division
title, Torre carefully selected the pitcher he wanted on the mound for
the final out.

'It was very important that it be someone who has gone through the
whole struggle, since spring training,' Torre said. 'I wanted someone
who's been with us the whole way.' He found reliever Jeff Nelson, a
pitcher who bedeviled Torre with his inconsistency through the summer,
but someone Torre continues to embrace as integral to the fold.

Joe Torre, the players' manager:

'It's not enough to look at a guy's stats and say he's not doing
his job,' said Torre. 'I hit .360 in the majors one season and .240 in
another season. And I know I was trying just as hard both times.'

Joe Torre, the humorist:

Asked if he expected to testify at the late October hearing
concerning the validity of the Graeme Lloyd trade, Torre answered: 'I'm
glad you reminded me of that. I'll have my boarding pass to somewhere by
then.'

Joe Torre, the loyal friend:

Asked if he would be upset if embattled general manager Bob Watson
was fired, as most expect, Torre said: 'Bob brought me here. We're a
team. You'd have a tough time telling me he didn't do a good job.'

And finally, Joe Torre, the compassionate:

Reading the congratulatory fax sent to him by Don Mattingly, Torre
said: 'You know it has to be tugging at him to have only gotten a taste
of it last year. I wish he were here.'

It is just about 11 months since Torre was handed the Yankees'
helm, and given the state of the team then, it is just about a miracle
that he is still here, still in the job. You can say that the Yankees
had loads of talent, but it is never the pieces alone that make a unit
powerful. It is how they are used. When the pieces are people -- or to
increase the challenge, multimillionaires pampered since high school --
managing a baseball team is indeed a craft not to be underestimated.

And consider that Torre is the 13th man across 23 seasons to manage
Steinbrenner's Yankees. He is just the fourth to lead George's talented
charges to a division title.

The Yankees are in the playoffs again and Joe Torre is the manager
of this successful team and its happy legion of fans. Those of us in
that room on Nov. 2, 1995, underestimated the resolve, skill, and
restraint of this man.

He said he came into the job with his 'eyes wide open,' and we
laughed. He spent the next 11 months opening our eyes to the Joe Torre
we had never seen.

Keywords: BASEBALL. PROFESSIONAL. COACH

Copyright 1996 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

Vision for eye care - The Sun - Naperville (IL)

With the help of some insurance carriers, local independent eye-care professionals seem to be bucking one trend — consolidation of small enterprises into large conglomerates.

Despite corporate stores that claim to offer fast service and extra product, the independent optometrist continues to thrive — especially those who are well past their medical school years.

"It would certainly be daunting of a young graduate to open his own practice right out of school given the debt many have and, more importantly, having no knowledge of how to run a business," said Dr. Dennis DeLee, 63, who works in Chicago in a practice he bought 11 years ago. "To me, the independents are still very successful and offer things the corporate sector can't."

Two Naperville doctors who are married to each other work in DeLee's office.

DeLee cites advantages that include personalized service, state-of-the-art technology, and medically related services that often characterize the independent service provider — services that he says don't necessarily have to cost more than patients can afford.

Dr. Richard Butz, 54, who operates the Professional Eye Center, 1112 S. Washington St., in Naperville, agrees that diagnostic patient-care services are often superior when using an independent eye care practitioner, and that many insurance plans make service costs "even cheaper than the warehouse doctors charge."

"I bought my own business 21 years ago, although I did work in the corporate setting before that, and I really enjoy the element of having more control," Butz said. "I can make decisions on equipment and my schedule, and I can delve into patient care more deeply.

"I can remember in the corporate setting telling management that I wanted this particular contact lens to treat a patient or some different product, and they'd just say 'no' and not do it."

Funneling clients

Insurance providers like VSP have joined in the effort to help independents be successful. Cheryl Johnson, vice president of provider services, said her company focuses on private practitioners.

"VSP Vision Care is the largest not-for-profit vision benefits company in the United States with 56 million members and a network of 27,000 independent eye care doctors, including 18 doctors in Naperville," Johnson said. "VSP is committed to the success and growth of private practice. Our focus is on promoting the high-quality care our doctors deliver and continuing to increase the number of patients we send to them."

Ray Kinney of Naperville's Minuteman Press said his employees receive independent insurance benefits and that many, including Kinney, believe in the service and reputation of independent doctors.

"I'm a big proponent of service, and I've been going to the same doctor for years," Kinney said. "I feel it's important you have someone who knows your history, and while I wouldn't rule out getting a pair of sunglasses or an extra pair of contacts from a franchise eye care service, I wouldn't ever replace my own private practitioner."

Negotiating rates

Insurance brokers like Naperville's Bill Hayes who works for the Esser Hayes Insurance Group suggest that costs through an insurance program like VSP often can be more reasonable "based on negotiated better rates."

"Some practitioners may charge $100 for an eye exam, and VSP might have negotiated with some doctor or group practice to lower that to $50," Hayes said. "The premiums paid each month by a company to the insurance carrier can more than make up for the money lost in lowered fees."

Hayes' colleague Tom Pruett, who serves as the vice president of employee benefits says that while only five percent of those with a group health plan purchase separate vision insurance, there are others with free programs included.

"Some of the group health insurance companies offer a free vision discount program for eye exams, frames and lenses and contacts, so a majority of our groups have a no-cost vision discount program although they are not as comprehensive," Pruett said.

Dr. Allen Smith, 49, of English Rows Eye Care in Naperville, just opened his own practice 18 months ago and believes managed health care plans like VSP have been essential in helping his practice grow.

"Having an insurance plan like this allows patients to have a place to go and not pay more than they would at a big box retailer," Smith said. "Having a managed care plan is essential, but for me, it's also about living and working in Naperville.

"I've practiced here in the city the past 20 years, and I moved here within the last 12. The quality of people here is what attracts others to my practice, which is essential as well."

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вторник, 25 сентября 2012 г.

LASER OPERATION ABLE TO RESHAPE EYE SURFACE TO CORRECT VISION - Post-Tribune (IN)

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.

Imagine a world where eyeglasses are museum pieces and contact lenses are obsolete. Such a time may not be far off. Government-approved tests of a new operation, in which a laser beam is used to reshape the surface of the eye to correct vision permanently, have been very encouraging, a researcher reported on Wednesday.

So far, 75 patients have undergone the surgery, said Dr. Keith P. Thompson, an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and a scientist at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center.

He said half the patients achieved vision of 20/20 or better, considered perfect. And nine out of 10 improved to 20/40, good enough to pass a driver's test without glasses.

Thompson reported the results of the study to the 10th Annual Science Reporters Conference, sponsored by the American Medical Association.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to see follow-up reports on 500 patients two years after their surgery before approving the procedure for public use. A new phase of the study, designed to meet that requirement, is now beginning at Emory and various sites across the country, and an FDA ruling may come in three years.

Thompson predicted the surgery might be available to the public by the end of the decade.

Other kinds of operations to correct vision have been developed and used over the last 10 years.

But they involve incisions in the cornea, the transparent membrane that covers the eye. And because the cornea does not heal as well as other tissues, it is left structurally weakened, Thompson said.

By contrast, the new procedure consists of using a new, ultraviolet laser to sculpt the surface of the cornea. The cornea is about as thick as a credit card, and only a few thousandths of an inch are etched away, reshaping the surface to put the eye back in focus.

The operation takes about 15 seconds, and the eye heals within six weeks, Thompson said.

No health risks have been associated with the surgery, he said. Some haze develops in the cornea, but it disappears in three to six months, he said. Some patients see halos when they look at lights, but that, too, seems to resolve itself over time.

Age does not appear to be a factor in the success of the surgery, he said.

Many of the patients in the study, after waiting the six months required by the Food and Drug Administration, have chosen to have their second eye operated on, he added.

So far, the procedure is being used only for nearsightedness. About one of every four people in the United States is nearsighted.

The operation costs $1,500 per eye because the new lasers cost about $400,000 each, and the number of patients is so small, Thompson said. But he said he expected the cost to drop significantly once the operation is available to the public.

Thompson said he did not know whether the operation could be repeated to adjust for continually deteriorating vision. But he said most people's eyesight remains relatively stable, with only slight variations over time.

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понедельник, 24 сентября 2012 г.

Rolling the dice on RK: controversy surrounds radial keratotomy, but thousands of Arkansans take the risk. (eye surgery for nearsightedness) (Health Care Update) - Arkansas Business

THE THOUGHT OF CUTTING into a human eye makes anyone but an ophthalmologist cringe. It's a procedure traditionally reserved for ocular disease and trauma -- conditions that leave no choice but surgery. In the absence of infirmity, most people would prefer to keep all sharp objects away from their peepers, thank you very much.

So why is it that thousands of Arkansans have paid $1,000 an eyeball to subject their corneas to radial keratotomy, a relatively new and somewhat risky surgery to correct nearsightedness?

The answer, of course, is freedom.

Freedom from heavy, awkward glasses that rub their noses, fall off during basketball games and fog up in winter. Freedom from annoying, shifting, abrasive contact lenses, which can feel like breakfast cereal in the eyes and occasionally bring grown-ups to their knees when they slide into a tear duct.

The trouble is, RK guarantees no such freedom.

'The main problem is the unpredictability of it,' says Dr. Michael Roberson of the Little Rock Eye Clinic, an ophthalmologist who frequently performs the procedure.

'Nobody has ever obtained 100 percent success with radial keratotomy. You are doing a statistical operation.'

Surgery by the numbers, so to speak.

The root cause of the trouble is nearsightedness. Also called myopia, it's a condition in which incoming light rays are excessively bent or refracted by a misshapen cornea, causing the rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.

Fully 25 percent of the population in Western countries suffers from this condition. Most cope by wearing glasses or contacts.

For those who shun tradition, there is radial keratotomy.

The RK surgeon makes 4-16 radial incisions in the cornea with a diamond blade, with each cut emanating from the rim of the eye to the center without extending over the pupil.

The incisions cause the edges of the cornea to spread and the center to flatten. The flattened cornea moves the focus of incoming light backward -- to the surface of the retina, it is hoped -- theoretically producing focused vision.

But it is rarely that simple.

Statistics Bare Studying

Two studies conducted in the 1980s found that only 76 percent of the eyes that underwent RK surgery achieved visual acuity of 20/40 or better, the level of vision needed to pass a driver's license test in Arkansas.

Patients who have lived with very poor vision might consider 20/40 a miracle. But fully 24 percent of the patients studied didn't fare so well, meaning they would once again be required to wear glasses.

RK patients are sometimes left with vision that fluctuates under different conditions, requiring more than one lens prescription.

For a few weeks after the procedure almost all patients experience a 'starburst' or 'halo effect' when they go from darkness to light. Sometimes the effect can linger.

The operation sometimes over-corrects an eye, sending it into farsightedness, or presbyopia.

And, in rare cases, the surgery can be downright dangerous.

'It is not universally safe,' says Dr. Hamp Roy of Little Rock. 'There have been some eyes that have been lost -- perforated with the diamond knife and infected.'

Roy performs RK surgery, mostly for elderly people who have had cataracts removed and are more nearsighted than they would like to be.

As a result of these problems, many ophthalmologists are careful about whom they approve for the procedure.

The candidates must not be too nearsighted, lest they prove incurable, and their vision can't be better than 20/40, in the event RK actually makes it worse. The successful candidate also must have a realistic attitude. Anyone expecting perfect vision is usually pointed to the eyeglasses department.

The RK procedure begins with a dosage of Valium and anesthetic drops for the eye. A special device restrains the eyelids from blinking, and another device marks black lines on the cornea where the cuts will be made.

The entire surgery can last as little as 10 minutes.

To date, health insurance plans generally have snubbed the surgery, considering it unproven and unnecessary.

Why Take the Chance?

The rap on RK is that it is a procedure done on healthy eyes -- an elective procedure that can't possibly improve vision over the glasses or contacts already available. If patients choose RK surgery, they are taking a chance, however small.

But to some, the chance is definitely worthwhile.

Wendy Bush, a 31-year-old certified public accountant from Sherwood, underwent RK last year.

'I'd do it again in a heartbeat,' she says, recalling how her extreme myopia was transformed to 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/25 in the other. She had worn glasses since age 5.

Bush had to undergo 'enhancements,' however, meaning follow-up visits to improve the results of the original surgery. The first time, in March, her vision was corrected to only 20/40. In August, Dr. R.E Hardberger of Little Rock retraced the incisions, making them slightly deeper.

Fred Vanpool is not so sure of his results.

Vanpool, 30, a Fayetteville computer programmer for Tyson Foods Inc., had the surgery two weeks ago at the clinic of Dr. J.E. McDonald II in Fayetteville.

'One of my eyes sees a little better than the other and it throws me off,' he says. 'I wouldn't have had it done if I thought I would still need to wear glasses.' The effect, he has been told, may be temporary.

There are alternatives to RK.

Through a technique called orthokerateology, optometrists can fit myopic patients with special contact lenses that actually change the shape of the cornea over time.

Dr. Jerry Shue, an optometrist in North Little Rock, says he also has had success with young, highly motivated patients in using biofeedback therapy to help them relax the muscles that focus the eye to the point that near-20/20 vision can be obtained.

This method only works for a limited number of patients, however. Shue says it is particularly good for pilots, who must maintain near-perfect uncorrected vision.

There are a few RK giants in the state -- clinics that advertise heavily and can boast of thousands of procedures. Chief among them are Hardberger-Capps Eye Center in Little Rock, Dr. James R. McNair in Little Rock and Newport, Eye Care-Surgical Associates in North Little Rock and the McFarland Eye Surgery Center in Pine Bluff.

Some of the big-time RK clinics offer free seminars and videotapes for those considering the surgery and vans to ferry the patients back and forth from the clinics.

Dr. Frank Teague of Hot Springs is hoping to join that company. Teague began performing RK in June, but already he is flooding the evening airways with testimonial ads and offering to send videotapes to any tentative viewers.

'We charge $850 an eye,' Teague says. 'I think some people have lowered their prices to be like us.'

But, in all his enthusiasm, Teague has not forgotten the No. 1 rule:

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воскресенье, 23 сентября 2012 г.

At first sight: early screening can save more than your child's vision.(health report) - Sarasota Magazine

according to researchers at Miami's Florida International University, one in every 677 children in America is afflicted with some sort of treatable eye disease, including conditions that can cause blindness.

Strabismus, or 'crossed eyes,' and amblyopia, or 'lazy eye,' both affect as many as 5 percent of all preschool children. Infantile glaucoma occurs in one out of every 10,000 births, and cataracts account for 16 percent of all cases of legal blindness in children under the age of five. Yet only 14 percent of those below the age of six are likely to have had an eye examination, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). And even though one in four school-age children has a vision-related problem, Kentucky is still the only state that requires professional eye exams for all pre-kindergarten students.

'An infant's eyes grow continuously after about seven weeks in the womb,' says Dr. Charles Doering, a vitreoretinal surgeon at Sarasota's Center for Sight. And a lot can go wrong in those critical days before birth.

One of the most ominous developments is retinoblastoma, a cancer caused by fetal retinal cells, called retinoblasts, that grow out of control, forming a tumor that fills much of the eye. About 40 percent of the time, this abnormality is genetic. Scientists have traced it to a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene known as Rb or RB1. About 90 percent of the children who inherit an abnormal Rb gene from a parent develop retinoblastoma in one or both eyes.

'The important thing about retinoblastoma is that children who develop it are at risk for developing secondary cancers of the bone and skin,' says Doering. If cells break away from the original tumor to other parts of the eye, they can create pressure inside the eye that leads to glaucoma. They can also spread to the optic nerve and brain, the lymph nodes, then to internal organs and the bones.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Retinoblastoma is easy to spot by looking into a child's dilated eyes with a bright penlight or an ophthalmoscope. While a normal retina reflects back red, a retinoblastoma tumor will create a white reflection, a condition called leukocoria. The first clue for many parents is a child's photograph where the flash produces one red eye and one white eye.

Unfortunately, by the time a tumor reaches this stage, it may be too late to save the eye. Between 86 to 90 percent of children who are diagnosed with retinoblastoma because of leukocoria survive, but a Cornell University study of nearly 2,000 retinoblastoma patients who had been treated at the hospital found that saving a child's vision requires early detection. Patients with a family history of retinoblastoma who were screened from birth with dilation examinations had a much better chance of retaining their eyesight than nonscreened patients with similar histories.

But in 60 percent of cases, retinoblastoma develops for no known reason. Joey Bergsma of Lake Worth, Fla., was three years old when he died of the disease. 'We're never going to know just how long he had it,' says Bergsma's grandmother, Pam. Although photographs taken of the boy showed obvious signs of leukocoria, his family was unfamiliar with the symptoms. With no history of the disease to alert his doctor, Joey was not diagnosed until after the cancer had spread.

Now Pam Bergsma is pushing for legislation to require an eye dilation exam for all newborns, at all six- to eight-week well-baby exams, and at all six- to nine-month well-baby exams. She knows that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 'red reflex' screening with an ophthalmoscope for all infants within their first two months, but only in a darkened room to maximize pupil dilation. It recommends medical dilation if anything looks askew.

The policy infuriates Bergsma. 'You only have a 30-percent chance of detection in an undilated eye,' she claims. The Retinoblastoma Center at the University of Southern California agrees. According to researchers there, an infant's pupil is so small that the detection of any intraocular condition is rare without pupil dilation.

But many doctors are hesitant to dilate an infant's eyes. 'Personally, I don't do it,' says Sarasota pediatrician Dr. Ted Meyers. If he spots anything unusual in a young patient, he refers them to a pediatric ophthalmologist.

'You can get some fairly significant medical complications [from dilation],' adds Meyers, who has practiced for 21 years. In 2003, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) issued a statement citing hypertension, slow heart rates and behavioral disturbances as potential reactions from dilating agents. It claims that these side effects occur at a higher rate than retinoblastoma tumors, so dilation is not justified.

But opinions vary on just how many cases are seen in this country every year. The American Cancer Society says about 250 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma annually, while the National Institutes of Health puts the number at 400. Other estimates range from 500 a year to one in 10,000. Doering saw more than 300 cases of retinoblastoma in the three years he spent at Cornell before moving to Sarasota last year.

Like all the doctors interviewed for this story, Doering hasn't treated a single case of retinoblastoma here. 'It's something that's more common in demographics with more children,' says Dr. Ronni Chen, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Kantor Eye Institute in Sarasota.

Bergsma counters that all childhood cancers are rare, compared to adult cancer, and that dilating an infant's eyes could ensure the detection of other retinal diseases that can be treated if detected early enough. Retinoblastoma tumors, for example, can be blasted away with a laser if caught in time.

Dr. Ronald Berkman, dean of Florida International University, claims the cost to Florida in direct and indirect costs for a blind child over the course of a lifetime can reach $2 million. 'The cost of the proposed screening is that for two drops of dilating solution and 10 seconds of a nurse's time,' he wrote in a letter to the Florida State Legislature urging passage of a newborn eye-screening bill.

Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy on even minimal red reflex testing, fewer than 22 percent of all preschool children receive any type of vision screening at all. In 80 percent of the patients in the Cornell study, the disease was initially detected by the child's family or friends. Only 8 percent of the cases were discovered by pediatricians and only 10 percent by ophthalmologists.

The AOA reports that in a study of 102 private pediatric practices, doctors had screened just 38 percent of their three-year-old patients. A mere 26 percent of children who failed the American Academy of Pediatrics screening guidelines were subsequently referred for professional eye exams.

That's not good enough for Bergsma, who recounts stories of mothers who have been rebuffed by their pediatricians when they requested a formal exam, including one mother from Miami she met just last April. 'Why, four years after my grandson died, was I at the funeral of a little boy who died of the same thing?' she asks. 'This is just insane.'

суббота, 22 сентября 2012 г.

Annual eye exams beneficial in detecting vision problems related to diabetes - Michigan Chronicle

Michigan Chronicle
10-04-2005
It takes more than covering one eye, and then the other, to make sure your
eye-sight is good--especially for people with diabetes, according to Dr.
Donald G. Puro, an ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan's Kellogg
Eye Center in Ann Arbor.

'It's important for people to see their general medical doctor to be
screened for diabetes,' said Puro, who is also a member of the American
Diabetes Association. 'Too many people have diabetes and don't know it. If
they have diabetes, then they need to see an ophthalmologist, yearly, for
early changes that can occur with their vision.'

Diabetes is responsible for eight percent of legal blindness in the United
States. Each year, 12,000 to 24,000 people in this country lose their site
due to diabetes. The disease is the leading cause of new cases of blindness
in adults ages 20 to 74. Glaucoma, cataract and corneal disease are more
common in people with diabetes and contribute to the high rate of
blindness.

Nearly all patients who have Type 1 diabetes for about 20 years will have
evidence of diabetic retinopathy. And up to 21 percent of people with Type
2 diabetes have retinopathy when they are first diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy--the major cause of blindness in people with
diabetes--is a term used for all the abnormalities of the small blood
vessels of the retina caused by diabetes, such as weakening of blood vessel
walls or leakage from blood vessels.

Retinopathy has two forms: non-proliferative retinopathy and proliferative
retinopathy. Non-proliferative retinopathy is common and usually mild, and
does not generally interfere with vision, unless abnormalities involve the
macula--the area on the retina that gives the sharpest vision. If left
untreated, it can progress to the more serious proliferative retinopathy
where new blood vessels branch out around the retina and can cause bleeding
in the fluid-filled center of the eye or swelling of the retina.

'Hemorrhaging can occur,' Puro said. 'The blood vessels also can incite
something like a scarring reaction in the eye and can pull the retina out
of place. That can lead to a complete loss of vision.

'The outside of the eye may look completely normal, but the stage could be
set for something to happen and the person wouldn't know it. You have to
dilate the pupil and look through the pupil to see the retina to see the
problem.'

The key to preventing diabetes-related eye problems is good control of
blood glucose levels, a healthy diet and good eye care, Puro added.

'Excellent control of blood sugar levels has been shown to slow down
diabetic retinopathy,' he said. 'Studies have proven that. The test is
hemoglobin A1C, which shows how good the control of diabetes has been for
the past three months. Below seven is the goal. But some people can have
levels of 11, 12 or 13 and that's very high risk.'

According to the American Diabetes Association, early detection is
important to reduce cases of blindness due to diabetes. Patient education,
health care team education and affordable eye care can make this possible,
but sometimes that is difficult in the African American community, Puro
said.

African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetes-related
blindness as non-Hispanic whites.

'Many African Americans aren't plugged into the system as well as we would
like,' he said. 'Maybe they don't have health insurance or there are other
socioeconomic issues that prevent them from getting the yearly check of
things.'

Article copyright Michigan Chronicle Publishing Company, Inc.
V.69;

пятница, 21 сентября 2012 г.

GRANT SUPPORTS CHILDREN'S VISION HEALTH PROGRAMS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

MORGANTOWN, W.

Va., Jan. 5 -- West Virginia University issued the following news release:

This The West Virginia University Eye Institute has received more than $40,000 in funding from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation in support of the Institute's crucial children's vision services in the Kanawha Valley region, an area that includes Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln and Putnam counties.

The $41,018 grant award will benefit the WVU Eye Institute's Pediatric Vision Center and Rehabilitation Program. The Center offers treatment and rehabilitation services to Kanawha Valley area babies and children suffering from severe vision disorders, and to newborns diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity, a potentially blinding condition.

In addition, the grant supports the WVU Eye Institute's Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program which provides blind and visually impaired school-aged children with tools to become independent and employable by optimizing visual function both at home and school. CVRP's mission is to provide access to the visual environment for children with incurable vision loss through medical eye care, optical devices, assistive technology, educational recommendations and support to local school systems. Children receive the clinic's services regardless of their family's ability to pay.

'We believe the Eye Institute provides one of the most valuable services in the health care arena,' said Becky Ceperley, TGKVF president and CEO. 'Helping those who are visually impaired prepare for a rich and full life is a priceless gift for those babies and children receiving the specialized treatment from the Institute. The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is proud to be able to support the work of the Eye Institute in some small way.'

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is a public foundation that serves the citizens and charitable agencies of the Kanawha Valley by managing donations and appropriately distributing these funds to various organizations.

For more information about the programs and services of the WVU Eye Institute, see http://www.wvueye.com. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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четверг, 20 сентября 2012 г.

Diabetes Alert Day Is March 27; Joslin Diabetes Center Reminds People With Diabetes to Schedule Annual Eye Exams to Preserve Vision. - AScribe Health News Service

Byline: Joslin Diabetes Center

BOSTON, March 23 (AScribe Newswire) -- Did you know that diabetes is the number one cause of preventable vision loss and blindness? Did you also know that an annual eye exam can lead to early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other eye disease, a frequent complication of diabetes?

On Diabetes Alert Day, March 27 -- a day set aside by the American Diabetes Association to raise public awareness of the rampant incidence of diabetes in our nation -- the care team at the world renowned Joslin Diabetes Center's Beetham Eye Institute reminds the 20.8 million Americans with diabetes to schedule an annual eye exam. Joslin's Beetham Eye Institute clinicians have shown that an annual exam can provide early detection and help prevent or delay 90 percent of cases of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults, resulting in 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common eye disease in people with diabetes, occurs when the small blood vessels in the eye are damaged by high levels of glucose in the blood. Because diabetic retinopathy can progress to advanced stages without the patient knowing it, it is crucial to have annual eye exams to help preserve vision.

Joslin clinicians recommend a three-prong approach to preserving vision:

- Maintain excellent A1C levels. (The A1C is a test that measures average blood glucose levels over the 2 to 3 month period before the test.)

- Keep blood pressure, blood lipids and other health factors in check.

- Have an annual eye exam.

To watch a video on Joslin's Web site about the importance of annual eye exams, visit http://www.joslin.org/754_871.asp .

For more information about eye research and clinical trials at Joslin, visit http://www.joslin.org/755_3819.asp .

ABOUT THE BEETHAM EYE INSTITUTE: Joslin Diabetes Center's Beetham Eye Institute is a world leader in diabetes eye care and in research to identify the causes of diabetic eye disease and to find new therapies to lessen the risks of vision loss. The care team at the Beetham Eye Institute is dedicated to delivering the best and most personalized, compassionate care. For more information about Beetham Eye Institute services, visit http://www.joslin.org/754_871.asp . For an appointment, call (000)-000-0000.

ABOUT DIABETES: The World Health Organization reports that approximately 150 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the number is projected to double by the year 2025. In the United States, diabetes affects an estimated 20.8 million children and adults -- 7 percent of the population. An estimated 14.6 million Americans have been diagnosed, leaving 6.2 million Americans unaware that they have the disease. In addition, 54 million Americans are thought to have pre-diabetes, or elevated blood glucose levels that put them at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If untreated or poorly treated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage and circulation problems that can result in limb amputations.

ABOUT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER: Joslin Diabetes Center, dedicated to conquering diabetes in all of its forms, is the global leader in diabetes research, care and education. Founded in 1898, Joslin is an independent nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Joslin research is a team of more than 300 people at the forefront of discovery aimed at preventing and curing diabetes. Joslin Clinic, affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the nationwide network of Joslin Affiliated Programs, and the hundreds of Joslin educational programs offered each year for clinicians, researchers and patients, enable Joslin to develop, implement and share innovations that immeasurably improve the lives of people with diabetes. As a nonprofit, Joslin benefits from the generosity of donors in advancing its mission. For more information on Joslin, call 1-800-JOSLIN-1 or visit http://www.joslin.org .

- - - -

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Lighthouse International Expands Vision Health Services for All New Yorkers. - Diabetes Week

Responding to the growing number of New Yorkers who will need vision services, Lighthouse International, the 104-year-old trusted leader in vision health, opened VisionMax today, a comprehensive new vision healthcare center for all New Yorkers. VisionMax offers complete vision exams, prescriptions, contact lenses, designer frames and sunglasses as well as prevention and educational information (see also Lighthouse International).

According to Tara A. Cortes, Ph.D., RN, President and CEO of Lighthouse International, 'Vision health and prevention of vision loss are core to the work of the Lighthouse. This new service extends our reach to the many New Yorkers who will need our expertise as baby boomers age and more people have diabetes and other diseases that affect their eyesight.' According to Lighthouse International, about one million people (45 years and older) in the greater New York area will have will have vision loss by 2015. She adds, 'Vision health is more than a pair of eyeglasses. It includes a comprehensive eye exam, the lighting you read and work by, the foods you eat and the exercise you get. VisionMax will help New Yorkers maximize their vision for life.'

We gratefully acknowledge the generous donation of the JEMS Foundation in memory of Shirley Wegman. The donation enabled us to purchase a new state of the art diagnostic tool.

Conveniently located at 111 East 59th Street in midtown Manhattan, VisionMax includes the popular Lighthouse Store offering a wide range of useful products (from talking clocks to CCTVs). VisionMax also offers free seminars on diabetes and other vision-related diseases and vision health information.

VisionMax offers frames from such top designers as: Armani Exchange, Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Dior, and more! Prices are competitive. Through April VisionMax offers a 15% discount on selected items.

VisionMax at Lighthouse International is located at 111 East 59th Street, New York City Hours: Eye exams and eyewear boutique: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. For information and to make an appointment call 212-821-9620. The Lighthouse Store is open: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 212-821-9384.

Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment. It achieves this through clinical and rehabilitation services, education, research and advocacy. For more information about vision health or vision loss and its causes, contact Lighthouse International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.lighthouse.org.

Keywords: Lighthouse International, Diabetes, Disease Prevention and Education, Medical Device, Contact Lens.

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American Optometric Association Supports New Federal Health Report Findings: Vision Screening Methods for Seniors are Lacking. - Biotech Week

A report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicates that vision screenings, using standard methods of assessing visual acuity in older adults, a practice common in the primary care setting, is insufficient for use as a secondary prevention or screening method. The American Optometric Association (AOA) highlights the significance of the report as an important, evidence-based analysis that health care providers and aging Americans should carefully consider (see also American Optometric Association).

'The AHRQ findings support the importance of regular comprehensive eye examinations in older adults and highlight the importance of AOA's clinical care guidelines for older adults that stipulate the need for annual eye examinations in all adults age 61 or older,' said Michael R. Duenas, O.D., associate director of health sciences and policy at the AOA.

In addition, the AHRQ report found that screening for age-related eye diseases, many of which are asymptomatic in their early treatable stages, requires specialized examinations and equipment available through an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

'With the prevalence of adult vision impairment and age-related eye disease in America expected to double by 2030, the AHRQ findings offer a clear and distinct reason for all older adults to have a comprehensive eye examination on a regular basis,' said Randolph E. Brooks, O.D., president of the AOA.

In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least half of all blindness can be prevented through timely diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the CDC together with Prevent Blindness America (PBA) report that the annual economic cost of adult vision loss currently exceeds $51 billion dollars.

In addition, the CDC reports that the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment increases rapidly with age among all racial and ethnic groups. The agency's own data, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicates, however, that the vast majority of adults surveyed (60%) reported that they had 'no reason to have an eye exam.'

'Although aging is unavoidable, vision loss associated with aging is often preventable or treatable through regular eye examinations,' said Dr. Brooks. 'The AHRQ findings published sound an alarm to physicians and other health providers responsible for the health of seniors, to consider a comprehensive eye examination an essential component to necessary care. These eye examinations provide important information that may help uncover systemic disease, such as diabetes, thereby supporting a team approach to care.'

Keywords: American Optometric Association, Eye Disease, Aging.

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среда, 19 сентября 2012 г.

TearScience Announces First U.S.-Based Eye Care Practice, Carolina Vision Center, to Offer LipiFlow[R] Treatment. - Health & Medicine Week

TearScience, Inc., a privately-held medical device company, announced that Fayetteville, North Carolina-based Carolina Vision Center, is the first eye care center in United States to commercially offer the LipiFlow[R] Thermal Pulsation System, a breakthrough treatment for evaporative dry eye disease. TearScience's LipiFlow is designed to address meibomian gland dysfunction, allowing for the treatment of eyelid gland blockages during a non-invasive procedure administered at an eye care office. Opening the blocked eyelid glands allows the glands to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film. TearScience received U.S. FDA clearance for its LipiFlow[R] medical device on June 28, 2011 (see also Eye Diseases).

'I am very pleased with the results since receiving the LipiFlow[R] treatment at Carolina Vision Center,' said Suzanne Hughes, a Raleigh resident and long time dry eye sufferer. 'My eyes are no longer red or itchy. The LipiFlow[R] treatment was painless. It felt like my eyes were being gently massaged with mild heat. I would highly recommend this treatment for those with chronic dry eye.'

Evaporative dry eye is caused by a deficiency in the lipid layer of the eye's natural tear film, resulting from blockages in the lipid-producing meibomian glands located in the eyelids, called meibomian gland dysfunction. A lipid deficiency can lead to evaporation of tears at a faster rate than normal, which can leave eyes feeling dry, irritated, tired and red. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye.

'Carolina Vision Center prides itself on using the most advanced technology to provide excellent patient care,' said Dr. Michael Woodcock, founder at Carolina Vision Center. 'The LipiFlow[R] system provides us with an entirely new way to help a host of very frustrated dry eye patients. I was very impressed with the science behind the LipiFlow[R] and the clinical trial results. I'm delighted that we are the first in the U.S. to offer this advanced treatment.'

TearScience's technology platform is comprised of the LipiView[R] Ocular Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlow[R] Thermal Pulsation System. LipiView[R] allows physicians to visualize the tear film of patients with dry eye disease. LipiFlow[R] applies a precise combination of heat and pulsatile pressure to a patient's eyelids during a 12-minute in-office treatment, which is designed to alleviate meibomian gland blockages. 'We are very proud to work with Carolina Vision Center, one of the most innovative eye care centers on the east coast,' said Jeff O'Hara, vice president of North American sales for TearScience. 'This is a very exciting time for dry eye patients who now have a viable alternative to traditional dry eye treatments.' About TearScience, Inc. Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience[R] has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye's natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. TearScience's integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.TearScience.com. About Carolina Vision Center Carolina Vision Center serves its patients with the most advanced technology, the most skilled physicians and the most knowledgeable and caring staff. Carolina Vision Center specializes in dry eye, cataracts, macular degeneration, LASIK, glaucoma, and premium lenses. Dr. Michael Woodcock, the founder of Carolina Vision Center, has been involved in numerous clinical trials and has been voted on America's Top Ophthalmologist list each year since 2004.

Keywords: TearScience Inc..

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Back-of-the-eye implant may improve vision - Ophthalmology Times

LEXINGTON, KY-An intravitreal fluocinolone implant may be a safe and effective treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME). Results from a pilot study indicated good improvement in visual acuity and resolution of retinal thickening, according to P. Andrew Pearson, MD.

'Laser photocoagulation effectively reduces the risk of vision loss resulting from diabetic macular edema, but it rarely improves vision,' said Dr. Pearson, associate professor of ophthalmology, University of Kentucky, Lexington. He is also director, Ophthalmic Research, Control Delivery Systems, a research company in Watertown, MA, that helped to develop the implant technology.

A public health issue

'Edema that is refractory to laser treatment remains a major public health issue and a source of frustration for patients and physicians. DME is a leading cause of blindness in the population under 65 years of age. There is no cutrently approved pharmacologic treatment,' Dr. Pearson said.

Because of this, he and his colleagues conducted the initial trial to test the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal fluocinolone implants to treat DME.

Some evidence exists, according to Dr. Pearson, that subTenon's injection of steroids has been effective in transiently improving macular edema. The possible mechanisms are that steroids inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor, which contributes to the development of macular edema. They also regulate tight junctions of endothelial cells, which decreases water and solute permeability.

'We hypothesized that intraocular delivery of steroids might decrease growth factors responsible for macular edema and stabilize the tight junctions, thus resulting in a two-pronged attack on the macular edema,' Dr. Pearson said.

Fluocinolone was selected as the treatment because of its low solubility and high potency, which allow the creation of a small intravitreal implant. Fluocinolone is also lipophilic and, therefore, remains in the posterior ocular segment, which may reduce ocular complications. It also breaks down rapidly, once in systemic circulation, which reduces the potential for systemic exposure, according to Dr. Pearson.

Dr. Pearson and colleagues developed an intravitreal implant that releases about 2 jig of the drug daily, which was expected to produce intravitreal concentrations of about 100 ng/ml. Implants containing 0.6 and 6 mg were also developed. All devices are designed to release drug for 3 years.

Five patients, who had DME that did not respond to one or two laser treatments, received the 6-mg device. One patient received a 2-mg implant.

'The implant is placed easily through a 3-mm sclerotomy with local anesthesia,' Dr. Pearson said.

The first patient to receive the implant had severe diffuse macular edema and a small area of neovascularization on the optic nerve; there were large cysts in the fovea. No laser treatment was apparent because of retinal thickening.

'Postoperatively, we observed resolution of the neovascularization and complete resolution of the macular edema,' he said. 'The laser scars were readily apparent because the retinal thickening resolved. Nine months after implantation, the treatment effect persisted.'

In the other patients with the device implanted, similar results were achieved.

The patients' visual acuity also improved by an average of eight letters by 3 months and 14 letters by 6 and 9 months postoperatively. The average visual acuity preoperatively was 20/158 and postoperatively 20/82. In patients who had vision worse than 20/100, vision improved an average of 19 letters.

The complications included mild intravitreal hemorrhaging at the time of implantation that did not affect vision. All patients with the 6-mg device implanted had an increase in IOP that responded to topical treatment. The patient with the 2-mg implant developed a mild increase in IOP that was left untreated. One patient developed a progressive subcapsular cataract.

'The fluocinolone insert may be a promising treatment for DME. It resuits in resolution of retinal thickening and in this small study a dramatic improvement in some patients,' Dr. Pearson said.

'The side effects and complications are of concern, but they may be acceptable considering the severity of the disease. A large four-center study is under way,' he concluded.

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Follow-up study on Vision Health Readiness in the military - Military Medicine

A retrospective study reviewed medical records of military personnel who had participated in a vision readiness study the previous year. The review evaluated (1) the number of personnel who returned for an eye examination (as recommended), (2) the number of dilated eye examinations, (3) the number of optical devices ordered, (4) the number of patients requiring continuing treatment, (5) the types of eye disease in personnel who were classified as nondeployable in the original study, and (6) the relationship between patient vision complaints and the need for spectacles. Analyses revealed 44% of military personnel have never had a comprehensive eye examination. Of these personnel who never had an eye examination, 15% to 26% could improve their vision with spectacles. Finally, even though having an eye examination is important, whether or not the individual has had a comprehensive eye examination should not be a significant criterion for deployment.

Introduction

As the military downsizes and increases the operations tempo, relentless readiness is critical to the success of military operations. With the increase in vision demand on the front line from night vision goggles, lasers, video display terminals, etc., military operations require an active vision readiness program. Even though vision plays an increasingly important role on the modern battlefield, data from vision readiness studies reveal shortcomings in the vision readiness of our forces.

Vision readiness studies reveal a significant problem in deploying personnel. During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, nearly 23% of deploying Army personnel required eye examinations before deployment. In addition, 44% of deploying Army personnel did not have the required optical devices. This shortcoming in visual and optical readiness required the fabrication of over 1,000,000 pair of optical devices to prepare war-fighters for the war.1

Further studies revealed no improvement in the vision readiness of military personnel. In 1992, Major Andrew Erneston conducted a vision readiness study of aircrew members at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. He found 75% had not had a comprehensive eye examination in the previous 2 years, 25% were not optically ready for deployment, 22% did not meet minimum visual acuity standards, and 4% had previously undiagnosed ocular disease.2 Two years later, Major Erneston repeated the vision readiness study at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, expanding it to include all Air Force personnel. He discovered that 54% of personnel had not had a comprehensive eye examination in the previous 2 years, 24% were not optically ready for deployment, 3% did not meet minimum visual acuity standards, and 3% had previously undiagnosed ocular disease.3

The 5503rd U.S. Army Hospital conducted, in the summer of 1996 and 1997, a vision readiness screening at Fort McCoy to assess the vision readiness of Army National Guard and Army Reserve units. Of the 1,947 individuals screened, 545 (28%) failed to achieve 20/20 visual acuity and were given refractions.4 At nearly the same time in 1997, Major Amy Walker conducted a vision readiness study of a deploying fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Of the personnel who wore spectacles, 75% were not optically ready to deploy.5

With the above vision readiness problems, the Tri-Service Vision Conservation and Readiness Program, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, conducted a study of visual acuity, optical, and eye health readiness at 13 Department of Defense sites from September through December 1997. This study investigated if personnel (1) had an eye examination in their medical record, (2) had any visual complaints, (3) were required to wear spectacles, (4) met their visual acuity requirement for deployment, (5) met their optical requirement for deployment, and (6) were eye health ready. Of the 4,825 active duty personnel who were screened, 10.4% were not visually ready for deployment, 25.9% were not optically ready for deployment, 73.8% were not eye health ready. A large number of personnel were not eye health ready because 54.3% did not have an eye examination in their health record.6 All personnel who did not have an eye examination in their medical record were referred for a comprehensive eye examination.

With such a large number failing the eye health readiness portion of the study, a medical record review follow-up study was implemented to evaluate (1) the number of personnel who did come back for an eye examination (as recommended), (2) the number of dilated eye examinations, (3) the number of optical devices ordered, (4) the number of patients requiring continuing treatment, (5) the types of eye disease in personnel who were classified as nondeployable in the original study, and (6) the relationship between patient vision complaints and the need for spectacles.

Methods

In September 1998, 1 year after the initial Vision Health Readiness study, a retrospective review of medical records was conducted at 6 of the 13 initial sites. These six sites were: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay; Georgia. At the above six sites, 1,735 personnel were screened in the initial study. Medical records belonging to 486 of the 1,735 were available for follow-up review.

Table I lists the questions for which the medical records were reviewed. To further analyze the information, the answers to these questions were compared with the results of the initial study.

Results

Of the 486 personnel records reviewed, 413 (84.9%) were men and 73 (15.1%) were women; 427 (87.9%) were enlisted and 59 (12.1%) were officers; and 75 (15.5%) were Army personnel, 294 (60.5%) were Air Force personnel, 108 (22.2%) were Navy personnel, and 9 (1.8%) were Marine Corps personnel. Table II displays the count and percentage for the first four questions.

Of the personnel who did not have an eye examination in their health record in the initial 1997 study (N = 205), 109 (53.1%) received an eye examination the following year. Of the personnel who did not have an eye examination in their health record in the initial 1997 study and received an examination the following year (N = 109), 72 (66.1%) had a dilated fundus examination.

Of the personnel who did not have an eye examination in their health record in the initial 1997 study and received an examination the following year (N = 109), 25 (22.9%) were ordered optical devices. Of the people who did not have an eye examination in their health record in the initial 1997 study and received an examination the following year (N = 109), 15 (13.8%) had eye health conditions noted in their records. Table III displays the eye health conditions.

Analysis of the records reviewed uncovered a number of personnel who had an eye examination after the initial study and subsequently had optical devices ordered. This group had a mixed variety of visual complaints, previous eye examinations, spectacle wear, and/or whether they met visual acuity requirements for the initial vision readiness study (Table IV).

Discussion

Table II reveals that only 56.2% of the personnel had a comprehensive eye examination in their medical record over their military career. The American Optometric Association's standard of care for this age group requires a comprehensive eye examination every 2 to 3 years. Only 32.7% of active duty personnel had a dilated fundus examination even though the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends at least one comprehensive medical eye examination for 100% of this age group. Even though 205 personnel in this study were referred for a comprehensive eye examination, only 53.1% had an examination. Sadly, the active duty population is significantly underserviced in eye care. It should be mandatory for all active duty personnel to have, at minimum, a comprehensive eye examination upon entry into the military.

This study reveals whether personnel at a vision screening do not have vision complaints, do not require spectacles, or meet their visual acuity requirements, and then subsequently have a comprehensive eye examination; 15% to 26% of these personnel could improve their vision with spectacles. This adds emphasis to the fact that all active duty personnel should have a comprehensive eye examination.

Finally, this study reveals that not having a comprehensive eye examination in the medical record should not be a significant criterion for vision readiness deployment. Of the 109 personnel who had their first eye examination after the initial vision screening, 15 (13.7%) had eye health conditions noted in their medical record. None of these diagnoses was a significant reason for not deploying personnel.

Conclusion

A retrospective study of military medical records was conducted at six military sites. This study reviewed medical records of military personnel who had participated in a vision readiness study the previous year. The medical records were reviewed for (1) the number of personnel who, as recommended, came back for a comprehensive eye examination, (2) the number of dilated eye examinations given, (3) the number of optical devices ordered, (4) the number of patients requiring continuing treatment, (5) the types of eye disease in personnel who were classified as nondeployable in the original vision readiness study, and (6) the relationship between patient vision complaints and the need for spectacles. Analyses revealed many military personnel have never had a comprehensive eye examination. At minimum, all active duty personnel should have a comprehensive eye examination upon entry into the military. If these personnel did receive a comprehensive eye examination, 15% to 26% could improve their vision with spectacles. Finally, having a comprehensive eye examination should not be a significant criterion for deployment.

[Reference]

References

1. Pyle JF: Executive Summary, Desert Shield/Storm Oplomelry after Action Reports. Falls Church, VA, Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, 1991.

2. Erneston AG, Murchland MR: Questioning vision readiness in the aviation community of the United States Air Force. Milit Med 1994; 159: 432-4.

3. Erneston AG, Tale TJ, Ricks MR, et al: Vision Readiness in the United States Air Force Revisited. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC, 4th Medical Group, 1995.

4. Weaver JL, McAlister WH: Vision readiness of the reserve forces of the U. S. Army. Milit Med 2001; 166: 64-6.

5. Buckingham RS, Walker AL, Darville JA: Vision readiness at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Milit Med 2000; 165: 512-4.

6. Buckingham RS, Whitwell K, Cornforth L, Lee R: Visual acuity, optical and eye health readiness in the military. Milit Med 2003;168: 194-8.

[Author Affiliation]

Guarantor: Lt Col Robert S. Buckingham, BSC USAF (Ret.)

Contributors: Lt Col Robert S. Buckingham, BSC USAF (Ret.); LTC Don McDuffie, MSC USA; LCDR Kenneth Whitwell, MSC USN; Robyn B. Lee, MS

[Author Affiliation]

Michigan College of Optometry, Ferns State University, 1310 Cramer Circle, Big Rapids, MI 49307.

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Scientists at National Institutes of Health target molecular vision research. - Science Letter

'A previous genome-wide study in Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish pedigrees showed significant linkage of ocular refraction to a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) on 1p34-36.1. We carried out a fine-mapping study of this region in Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish (ASHK) and Old Order Amish (OOA) families to confirm linkage and narrow the candidate region,' scientists in the United States report (see also Molecular Vision Research).

'Families were recruited from ASHK and OOA American communities. The samples included: 402 individuals in 53 OOA families; and 596 members in 68 ASHK families. Families were ascertained to contain multiple myopic individuals. Genotyping of 1,367 SNPs was carried out within a 35cM (similar to 23.9 Mb) candidate QTL region on 1p34-36. Multipoint variance components (VC) and regression-based (REG) linkage analyses were carried out separately in OOA and ASHK groups, and in a combined analysis that included all families. Evidence of linkage of refractive error was found in both OOA (VC LOD=3.45, REG LOD=3.38 at similar to 59 cM) and ASHK families (VC LOD=3.12, REG LOD=4.263 at similar to 66 cM). Combined analyses showed three highly significant linkage peaks, separated by similar to 11 cM (or 10 Mb), within the candidate region. In a fine-mapping linkage study of OOA and ASHK families, we have confirmed linkage of refractive error to a QTL on 1p,' wrote R. Wojciechowski and colleagues, National Institutes of Health.

The researchers concluded: 'The area of linkage has been narrowed down to a gene-rich region at 1p34.2-35.1 containing similar to 124 genes.'

Wojciechowski and colleagues published their study in Molecular Vision (Fine-mapping of candidate region in Amish and Ashkenazi families confirms linkage of refractive error to a QTL on 1p34-p36. Molecular Vision, 2009;15(145-48):1398-1406).

For additional information, contact R. Wojciechowski, NHGRI, Statistics Genetics Sect, Inherited Diseases Research Branch, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Dr., Suite 1200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Molecular Vision is: Molecular Vision, C, O Jeff Boatright, Laboratory B, 5500 Emory Eye Center, 1327 Clifton Rd., N E, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Keywords: United States, Baltimore, Life Sciences, Refractive Errors, Molecular Vision, National Institutes of Health.

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OBITUARY: ARTHUR ROSENBAUM, 69, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES PEDIATRIC EYE SURGEON WHO RESTORED VISION TO THOUSANDS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

LOS ANGELES, June 30 -- The University of California at Los Angeles issued the following press release:

Internationally respected pediatric eye surgeon Dr. Arthur L. Rosenbaum died June 22 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a long illness due to complications from cancer. In his 36 years at UCLA, he treated more than 10,000 children to correct strabismus, or eye misalignment. He was 69.

Rosenbaum had served as the chief of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA since 1980 and as vice chair of ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA since 1990.

His clinical practice specialized in childhood disorders of the eye and in adult strabismus. Affecting up to 4 percent of Americans, strabismus is often caused by a disruption in the brain's control of the eyes, producing double vision, headaches and dizziness. The younger the patient, the higher the risk of permanent vision loss, because the brain's developing visual system can forfeit its ability to coordinate both eyes in sync.

'Arthur was brilliant at analyzing very complicated cases of strabismus and devising innovative surgical strategies to resolve them,' said colleague Dr. Sherwin Isenberg, UCLA's Laraine and David Gerber Professor of Ophthalmology and chief of ophthalmology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 'Colleagues around the country relied on his diagnostic expertise and consulted him on their cases.'

Rosenbaum was one of the first investigators to explore the use of Botox injections to correct eye-muscle misalignment in strabismus. He and his peers later used Botox to paralyze eye nerves in facial spastic disorders. He performed more than 300 eye-muscle correction surgeries a year, pioneering many surgical techniques still applied today.

As his colleagues recall, Rosenbaum had a great passion for strabismus surgery and loved to talk about Duane's syndrome, a congenital condition in which the nerves connecting the eye muscles to the brain activate abnormally or don't form properly. The disease results in complicated patterns of strabismus that often prevent the patient from looking outwards.

'Duane's syndrome intrigued Arthur because it was relatively common, and we operated on it a lot,' said Dr. Joseph Demer, UCLA's Leonard Apt Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology and chief of comprehensive ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

'Art proposed treating the disease by swapping the muscles that move the eye up and down with those that move the eye side to side,' Demer said. 'The result enabled most patients to regain the ability to look toward their ear. It's an innovative approach that I still use today in the operating room.'

Rosenbaum was born on Aug. 20, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo., where his father, Dr. Harry Rosenbaum, was also a well-respected ophthalmologist. His mother, Evelyn, hailed from Camden, Ark.

Rosenbaum earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in 1962 and his medical degree at Washington University in St. Louis in 1966. After a one-year internship at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco, he conducted research as a commissioned officer at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., from 1967 to 1969.

He arrived at UCLA for the first time in 1972 to complete his residency in ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Next came specialty training in two fellowships. The first focused on pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Smith-Kettlewell Institute of Visual Sciences in San Francisco under the mentorship of Dr. Arthur Jampolsky.

The second fellowship expanded his training in the diagnosis and therapy of retinoblastoma and pediatric ophthalmology under Dr. Robert Ellsworth at the Robert M. Ellsworth Ophthalmic Oncology Center in New York and Dr. Marshall Parks at Children's Hospital of Washington, D.

C., now called the National Children's Medical Center.

Rosenbaum joined UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute faculty in 1973. Five years later, he met his future wife, Sandra (Dine) Burick, when he performed strabismus surgery on her son from a previous marriage.

Originally from Cincinnati, Sandra held a master's degree in child development. Rosenbaum's surgical staff members were so impressed by her son's calm in the operating room that they encouraged her to develop a program for Rosenbaum that would counsel Jules Stein Eye Institute pediatric patients and help prepare their parents for surgery. She eventually joined the center's staff to implement the program and also raised funds to pay for eye surgeries for children whose families could not afford treatment.

Sandra described her husband as a romantic man with whom she traveled to most of the countries in the world. An aficionado of theater, yoga and music, he enjoyed nothing more than showing off his elaborate home audio system to their friends by blasting DVDs of James Taylor and the Eagles.

'He loved me dearly and always said that our marriage was his No. 1 priority,' she said. The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year on May 27.

Sadly, the latter years of Rosenbaum's career were marred by repeated harassment by extremists opposed to the use of animals in research. In one June 2007 incident, extremists claimed responsibility for planting a crudely made firebomb under a car outside his home; there was evidence the device was lit but did not ignite. Extremists also made violent threats directed at Rosenbaum and staged protests in his neighborhood.

Rosenbaum refused to allow the harassment to stop him from enjoying life. An avid golfer, he hit a hole-in-one on Oct. 20, 2007, at the Brentwood Country Club, which framed the ball and scorecard for him. He humbly credited the masterful stroke to luck, not skill, yet displayed the frame in his office. It still hangs on the bookshelf across from his desk, where he could see it every day.

In 2008, Rosenbaum was named UCLA's Brindell and Milton Gottlieb Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology. The Gottliebs were close friends of the Rosenbaums. In a rarity for academia, the donors insisted that the endowed professorship be renamed in honor of Dr. Rosenbaum after his retirement or death.

'Arthur Rosenbaum was known for his personal qualities of loyalty, honesty and integrity as much as he was recognized for his academic accomplishments and intellectual achievements,' said Dr. Bartly Mondino, director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute and chair of ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 'Art served as my vice chairman of clinical affairs for 16 years and gave thousands of children the gift of clear vision. He will be deeply missed by his friends, colleagues and patients.'

Affectionately called 'Maestro' in the conference room by colleague Isenberg, Rosenbaum was an enthusiastic teacher with exceptional skill at explaining complex topics in understandable ways to ophthalmic residents and fellows. He also was revered by the grateful parents of his young patients, who often underwent a series of surgeries beginning in infancy to correct their crossed eyes.

While Rosenbaum was honored with numerous awards over the course of his career, 2006 proved a banner year for him. He was presented with both the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Marshall M. Parks Medal from the Children's Eye Foundation.

He published more than 200 articles and co-authored a major textbook on strabismus. He sat on editorial boards for four journals, including the American Medical Association's Archives of Ophthalmology. He was vice president of the International Strabismological Association and president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He served on the latter organization's board or as an officer for nine years.

Rosenbaum's funeral took place in St. Louis on June 27. In addition to his wife, Sandra, Rosenbaum is survived by son Steven Burick; a sister, Jane Sitrin; and nieces Emily Mason and Betsy Rubenstein. His brother Robert Rosenbaum died in 1973.

The Jules Stein Eye Institute will host a public memorial service on campus in July. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Arthur L. Rosenbaum, M.

D., Memorial Fund, c/o Jules Stein Eye Institute, 100 Stein Plaza, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.

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OBITUARY: ARTHUR ROSENBAUM, 69, UCLA PEDIATRIC EYE SURGEON WHO RESTORED VISION TO THOUSANDS.(Obituary) - States News Service

LOS ANGELES -- The following information was released by the University of California Los Angeles:

Dr. Arthur Rosenbaum

'Arthur was brilliant at analyzing very complicated cases of strabismus and devising innovative surgical strategies to resolve them,' said colleague Dr. Sherwin Isenberg, UCLA's Laraine and David Gerber Professor of Ophthalmology and chief of ophthalmology at Harbor--UCLA Medical Center. 'Colleagues around the country relied on his diagnostic expertise and consulted him on their cases.'

Rosenbaum was born on Aug. 20, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo., where his father, Dr. Harry Rosenbaum, was also a well-respected ophthalmologist. His mother, Evelyn, hailed from Camden, Ark.

He arrived at UCLA for the first time in 1972 to complete his residency in ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Next came specialty training in two fellowships. The first focused on pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Smith--Kettlewell Institute of Visual Sciences in San Francisco under the mentorship of Dr. Arthur Jampolsky.

'He loved me dearly and always said that our marriage was his No. 1 priority,' she said. The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year on May 27.

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Parkinson's Group sets sights on eye health - Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME)

CAMDEN -- Healthy vision will be the focus of the meeting of thearea's Parkinson's Disease Support Group noon-1:45 p.m. Tuesday,June 5, on the first floor of the Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill.

Dr. Robert Dreher, a Rockland-based ophthalmologist, will discussnormal, age-related changes in eyesight as well as vision issuescommon among those with Parkinson's disease.

Attendees are asked to bring a lunch. Quarry Hill providesbeverages and desserts.

For information, call Carol Witham at 236-0844.

Student named to leadership program

JONESPORT -- Jonesport-Beals High School nominated Brianna Cironeto participate in the Maine Youth Leadership Program. She is thedaughter of Stephen and Barbara Cirone of Jonesport. She attendedthe program May 17-20 at University of Southern Maine, Gorham.

Library honors memory of benefactor

WASHINGTON -- The Joseph A. Lalli Honor Board was unveiled at atea held recently at Gibbs Library. The board was created tocommemorate Lalli's major donation to the library.

Guest speaker at the tea was local realtor Rick Whelan who workedclosely with Lalli as he built affordable housing and developed landalong Route 17.

Lalli's contribution came in the early years of the library andhelped build the endowment fund that provides ongoing support forlibrary operations.

The board will include the names of other major library donors.The first name to be installed is that of Frances Shroyer, aWashington resident until her death last year.

'Frances Shroyer's donation helped our library complete majorcapital investments,' said Robert Marks, Gibbs Library trustee.'Because of her generosity, the library could install new carpetingand air-conditioning. We are deeply grateful for her support.'

Senior citizens group plans trip to see musical

BUCKSPORT -- Bucksport Senior Citizens will sponsor a trip to theMaine State Music Theater on Thursday, June 21, to see the Broadwaymusical 'A Chorus Line.' The cost is $65 per person and includesbalcony seating for the 2 p.m. show. The trip is open to seniors andfamily members. A deposit of $30 is required by June 5. The balancemust be paid by June 15.

The bus will depart the Senior Center 11 a.m. and a stop will bemade in Winthrop for stretch break. Bring a lunch.

On the return trip, the bus will stop at the Topsham Fair Mallfor dinner, which trip participants must pay on their own.

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Deschamps Eye Care champions vision maintenance - Post-Tribune (IN)

It's amazing how many people who go out to exercise will slip on a brace to protect that bad knee but never think about slipping on a pair of goggles to protect those good eyes. And people who faithfully get their cholesterol and blood pressure tested every year never seem to get around to that glaucoma test.

Dr. Eldi Deschamps, of Deschamps Eye Care in Merrillville, recommends a complete medical eye examination for healthy adults once every two years and more often for senior citizens, diabetics and people with high-risk factors for certain eye problems.

Seniors should be examined for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration on a yearly basis. Toddlers need to be checked for nearsightedness, crossed eyes, "lazy eyes" and other conditions before they start school. Deschamps Eye Care can help preserve your vision through periodic "well-vision" and preventive care programs.

Cataract surgery a specialty

Dr. Deschamps specializes in no-stitch cataract surgery with lens implantation and refractive surgery. The cataract surgery is performed under topical anesthetic. There are no shots, sutures or patches involved. Dr. Deschamps' cataract patients are able to resume all their normal activities one day into the post-operative period, with the exception of no swimming for two weeks.

Most surgical procedures are conducted at the NovaMed Eye Surgery Center located next to the office of Deschamps Eye Care, 8510 Broadway. For your convenience, they also have laser technology at the outpatient surgery center. It is equipped to accommodate a wide range of surgical procedures including treatments for glaucoma, secondary cataracts, and laser vision correction (Lasik and PRK). Reshaping the eye

The surgery center is equipped with several different types of lasers for treating different eye problems.

The excimer laser is used for Lasik and PRK. These procedures reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear. Each procedure reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. To be eligible for Lasik, the eyes must be in good health and vision must be stable. This procedure is an individual choice which requires some investigation on the part of the patient. Deschamps Eye Care offers free refractive evaluations with the surgeon, Dr. Deschamps. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery and to educate the patient on their specific options, risks, and benefits.

Deschamps Eye Care works closely with many area optometrists in regards to Lasik. If interested, call (219) 736-2200 or (800) 824-3695 for more details. Remember that good vision is priceless — protect your's as the precious gift it is.

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Eye Health Vision Center

Страницы

воскресенье, 30 сентября 2012 г.

Menino vows to keep up changes Eyes schools, health, housing, government - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

суббота, 29 сентября 2012 г.

WHO Reports Lists Risk Factors For Progression In Eye Disease.(World Health Organization ) - Angiogenesis Weekly

пятница, 28 сентября 2012 г.

WHO Reports Lists Risk Factors For Progression In Eye Disease.(World Health Organization)(Brief Article) - Diabetes Week

четверг, 27 сентября 2012 г.

AAO, New York to gather vision health data - Ophthalmology Times

среда, 26 сентября 2012 г.

JOE'S VISION OPENED EYES - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

Vision for eye care - The Sun - Naperville (IL)

With the help of some insurance carriers, local independent eye-care professionals seem to be bucking one trend — consolidation of small enterprises into large conglomerates.

вторник, 25 сентября 2012 г.

LASER OPERATION ABLE TO RESHAPE EYE SURFACE TO CORRECT VISION - Post-Tribune (IN)

понедельник, 24 сентября 2012 г.

Rolling the dice on RK: controversy surrounds radial keratotomy, but thousands of Arkansans take the risk. (eye surgery for nearsightedness) (Health Care Update) - Arkansas Business

воскресенье, 23 сентября 2012 г.

At first sight: early screening can save more than your child's vision.(health report) - Sarasota Magazine

суббота, 22 сентября 2012 г.

Annual eye exams beneficial in detecting vision problems related to diabetes - Michigan Chronicle

пятница, 21 сентября 2012 г.

GRANT SUPPORTS CHILDREN'S VISION HEALTH PROGRAMS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

четверг, 20 сентября 2012 г.

Diabetes Alert Day Is March 27; Joslin Diabetes Center Reminds People With Diabetes to Schedule Annual Eye Exams to Preserve Vision. - AScribe Health News Service

Lighthouse International Expands Vision Health Services for All New Yorkers. - Diabetes Week

American Optometric Association Supports New Federal Health Report Findings: Vision Screening Methods for Seniors are Lacking. - Biotech Week

среда, 19 сентября 2012 г.

TearScience Announces First U.S.-Based Eye Care Practice, Carolina Vision Center, to Offer LipiFlow[R] Treatment. - Health & Medicine Week

Back-of-the-eye implant may improve vision - Ophthalmology Times

Follow-up study on Vision Health Readiness in the military - Military Medicine

Scientists at National Institutes of Health target molecular vision research. - Science Letter

OBITUARY: ARTHUR ROSENBAUM, 69, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES PEDIATRIC EYE SURGEON WHO RESTORED VISION TO THOUSANDS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

OBITUARY: ARTHUR ROSENBAUM, 69, UCLA PEDIATRIC EYE SURGEON WHO RESTORED VISION TO THOUSANDS.(Obituary) - States News Service

Parkinson's Group sets sights on eye health - Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME)

Deschamps Eye Care champions vision maintenance - Post-Tribune (IN)

Страницы

воскресенье, 30 сентября 2012 г.

суббота, 29 сентября 2012 г.

пятница, 28 сентября 2012 г.

четверг, 27 сентября 2012 г.

среда, 26 сентября 2012 г.

With the help of some insurance carriers, local independent eye-care professionals seem to be bucking one trend — consolidation of small enterprises into large conglomerates.

вторник, 25 сентября 2012 г.

понедельник, 24 сентября 2012 г.

воскресенье, 23 сентября 2012 г.

суббота, 22 сентября 2012 г.

пятница, 21 сентября 2012 г.

четверг, 20 сентября 2012 г.

среда, 19 сентября 2012 г.

воскресенье, 30 сентября 2012 г.

суббота, 29 сентября 2012 г.

пятница, 28 сентября 2012 г.

четверг, 27 сентября 2012 г.

среда, 26 сентября 2012 г.

вторник, 25 сентября 2012 г.

понедельник, 24 сентября 2012 г.

воскресенье, 23 сентября 2012 г.

суббота, 22 сентября 2012 г.

пятница, 21 сентября 2012 г.

четверг, 20 сентября 2012 г.

среда, 19 сентября 2012 г.