According to Lighthouse International, several aspects that separate women from men contribute to greater risk factors when it comes to some areas of health. In fact, two-thirds of people in the U.S. who suffer from vision loss are women. This brings to the forefront the importance of women and eye health.

According to Vision Aware, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts are all common diseases that can be exacerbated or caused by the aging process, especially in women. Any or all of these diseases can cause permanent, uncorrectable vision loss if not diagnosed early and treatment started in the onset. Only 9 percent of women realize they are at greater risk for eye disease, and by the time changes in vision are noticed and an exam is done, the damage is usually permanent.

Another factor affecting women and eye health are hormones, according to Vision Aware. Synthetic hormones are used for birth control in earlier years and for control over symptoms of menopause in our later years. While both applications have positive health benefits, they can also affect your vision. Synthetic hormones bring with them the risk of vascular complications such as blood clots and stroke, both …

Caused by excess fluid in the eye, glaucoma results in increased pressure in the eye that may eventually damage the optic nerve, according to The Glaucoma Foundation. Unfortunately, by the time vision loss is noticeable, it is also permanent. A regular comprehensive eye exam incorporating optomap^®, which can help with early disease detection, is critical to prevent vision loss. For patients living with glaucoma and low vision, there is help. A low vision specialist can help you redesign your life so you can be safely independent.

Although there are many forms of glaucoma, the following four, according to The Glaucoma Foundation, are some of the most common:

1. Primary Open-Angle: Generally found in patients over 50, this is the most common form of glaucoma in the U.S. This form is characterized by blind spots that form first in the peripheral vision.

2. Normal Tension: Without the detection of higher-than-usual pressure in the eye, this form is thought to be caused by poor circulation of blood to the optic nerve. Vision damage can occur anywhere in the visual field.

3. Angle-Closure: Affecting nearly half a million Americans, this form of glaucoma affects those of Asian descent and far-sighted …

Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, March is National Nutrition Month®. The theme for 2015 is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” and aims to educate people on the numerous benefits of eating healthy, maintaining physical activity and developing lifestyle habits. While a healthy diet and exercise program can help you lose weight, it is not just beneficial to your waistline. Because your eyes are complex organs that depend on healthy cells and numerous blood vessels, eating for eye health is important for your vision. Be sure to include these three tips when adopting a healthier lifestyle:

1. Increase Antioxidant Intake

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), antioxidants can help reduce the risk of developing a variety of visual impairments. Foods rich in Vitamins C and E work to create and maintain healthy cells, and there is evidence antioxidants such as these can help prevent glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Vitamin C is best found in fruits and vegetables while Vitamin E is found in nuts, sweet potatoes, and fortified cereals.

2. Eat your Greens

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are vital nutrients that protect the eye against blue light and act as antioxidants. The two nutrients, known …

Scott Schachter, OD added optomap to his practice in 2004 after his patients started saying that automatic dilation was keeping them away.  optomap, which is complimentary to dilation, provides him with clinical data for those patients who want an alternative or want to schedule dilation for a different time.

Over the years, optomap has enabled him to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases and to utilize optomap as part of a year-over-year treatment tool. He says, “The more images I see, the more I realize that I might not see them if I wasn’t using this technology.” Patient education and quality of care has helped him maintain a high acceptance rate, even after eight years.

The images provide the doctor with valuable clinical data for quality patient care and patients who have conditions such as diabetes can see the impact of the disease and understand the need for compliance better. Dr. Schachter says, “You can say the words, but without patients seeing what you’re talking about, it’s not the same.”

Practice Information

– Advanced Eyecare and the Eyewear Gallery – Pismo Beach, CA – Single doctor, private practice

Reason for Purchase

– Patient education …

In order for our organs, such as our heart and lungs, to function well and remain healthy, we must take care of them. However, we often neglect our eyes until we have a problem with our vision. In order to protect your and your family’s eyesight, the following basic eye care and health measures were suggested by the Center for Disease Control.

Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

Regularly scheduled comprehensive eye exams are paramount to protecting vision. Eye diseases and problems that damage vision often start before you notice any symptoms. Unfortunately for many, once problems are noticeable, treatment is unable to restore lost eyesight. Be sure to provide the doctor with a complete family history, and stick to the schedule they provide for you and your family members. Ask your doctor if they use optomap® in addition to dilation.

Diet and Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is very important. If you are overweight or obese, you are more susceptible to diabetes, which can lead to diabetic retinopathy, as well as an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Stick to a diet that bolsters eye health and your whole body will benefit.

Protective Eyewear

Whether …

History

A 60 year-old male visited the Retina Institute of Hawaii complaining of poor central vision in the right eye. He began to notice vision loss inferiorly one week prior, which progressed to central vision loss two days prior to exam. The patient was CF with eccentric viewing.

Examination 

Upon a dilated fundus examination, there was a macula-off superior Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment with a superotemporal horse-shoe tear. optomap® plus images were captured to document the retinal detachment and horseshoe tear and assist in explaining the treatment plan to the patient. A pneumatic retinopexy was immediately performed which reattached the macula.

The patient laid in the office in a face-down position for 30 minutes and was instructed to maintain the face-down position overnight. On the second day, his vision was 20/400 and the optomap revealed that the macula was reattached, and much of the subretinal fluid shifted inferiorly. It was likely he alternated between the face-down and head-up position. Laser retinopexy was performed to seal the horseshoe tear found in the superior temporal quadrant (one day after pneumatic). The patient was then asked to maintain head tilted to left, so that the pneumatic retinopexy would continue to …

Optos really appreciates the positive feedback we receive from our clients. Our customers are successful using our ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology and we love sharing their successes.  This customer spotlight will focus on Eberle Eyecare, a private practice in Anchorage, Alaska.

When Dr. Eberle attended the Pacific University College of Optometry, she had used optomap technology and looked forward to offering it to her patients when she opened her practice in 2010. Later, when Dr. Eberle attended the Vision Source Exchange meeting in 2013, she used that opportunity to purchase a Daytona for the benefit of her patients.

Since we had added to the modalities since she had last used optomap, Dr. Eberle took advantage of her membership with Vision Source and traveled to Scotland to learn all the nuances of using Daytona’s autofluorescence (AF) capabilities. Dr. Eberle found the training valuable and remarked, “With AF, I have the ability to isolate the cell where changes start in the disease processes,” Dr. Eberle says. “When we can pick it up earlier, the outcome is much better for the patients.”

Having purchased the Daytona for image clarity, clinical decision-making and as an aid in patient education, Dr. Eberle said she noticed the …

A young woman with a history of depression, drug & alcohol abuse was seen in a Houston clinic after injecting isopropyl alcohol into her left eye. According to the patient, her eye was bothering her and she believed the rubbing alcohol would help. She went to the clinic due to a loss of vision in the eye she injected.

Examination

Visual acuity in 20/20 right eye and hand movement at 2 feet in the left eye. Intraocular pressure was 13/12 by applanation. A dilated retinal exam was performed with findings of retinal infarct, vascular pruning and a few intra-retinal hemorrhages, macular edema, rare vitreous cell and possible operculated hole at 3:00. An optomap was taken and confirmed an operculated hole and air bubble with a small hemorrhage superiorly, near the hole where patient performed the self-injection. The imaged confirmed the diagnosis of retinal toxicity, vascular ischemia, hemi-retinal artery occlusion, macular edema and a retinal hole.

Discussion

The risks, benefits and alternatives of treatment discussed with patient and father. The father consented to laser treatment and a grid laser was performed. The patient was admitted to hospital for a psychiatric evaluation following the laser treatment. Four days post laser …

It is almost time for the BC Doctors of Optometry 2015 Annual Conference and OPTOFAIR. Being held at the Westin Bayshore Hotel from 28 February through 2 March 2015.  The event will feature education and networking opportunities for doctors of optometry, optometric assistants, and opticians. Optos will be in attendance with our ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging technology.

The BC Doctors of Optometry 2015 Annual Conference includes a program for doctors of optometry which provides 28 courses and up to 36 hours of CE credits upon completion. Additionally, 28 hours of COPE credits is included. For optometric assistants and opticians, there are 19 courses and up to 28 hours of CE credits.

Optos would like to encourage you to visit with us during the OPTOFAIR to learn more about our UWF retinal imaging technology and how it can help your practice thrive. Our UWF technology produces a high resolution 200 degree image of the retina in a single capture, and improves patient comfort since dilation is not necessarily required.

The ability to see this far into the periphery with our optomap® technology provides the opportunity to detect potential problems much earlier than exams with traditional equipment can. You …

The third annual Canadian Retina Society Meeting is taking place from 26 February  through 1 March 2015 at the beautiful mountain resort of Whistler, British Columbia. The Canadian Retina Society and the Canadian Ophthalmology Society have teamed up to create a premiere learning experience for Canadian retina specialists, and Optos is proud to be featured at the event.

Optos is proud to be part of this exciting learning opportunity. Our ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology has been clinically proven to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases. Because optomap® delivers a 200 degree view of the retina in a single scan, the high resolution images enable pathologies in the periphery to be documented and analyzed which can provide better treatment options and better patient outcomes. Be sure to stop by to find out what is new with Optos and optomap.