During Low Vision Awareness Month we all have the opportunity to raise awareness about visual impairment and rehabilitation for those who are living with low vision.

What is Low Vision?

Low vision is the term used to describe significant visual impairment that can’t be corrected fully with glasses, contact lenses, medication, or eye surgery, it includes:

Loss of best-corrected visual acuity to worse than 20/70 in the better eye.Significant visual field loss. Tunnel vision (lack of vision in the periphery) and blind spots are examples of visual field loss.Legal blindness. In the United States, legal blindness typically is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse (in the better eye, with the best possible vision correction in place) or a field of view (visual field) that is constricted to 20 degrees or less.

Disability statistics from the 2014 American Community Survey show that 2.3 percent of individuals ages 16 and over have a visual disability or low vision.

The following are the definitions of visual acuity, according to the World Health Organization. These ratings are for vision in the better eye with the best possible prescription corrective lens:

20/30 to 20/60: Mild vision loss, but near-normal vision20/70 to 20/160: …

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults over age 50 and it affects about 2.1 million people in the US. Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing vision loss. AMD is a degenerative disease that happens when part of the retina called the macula, is damaged. The macula is the part of the eye that delivers sharp, central vision needed to see objects straight ahead. Over time, the loss of central vision can interfere with everyday activities, such as the ability to drive, read, and see faces clearly.

During AMD Awareness Month in February, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding people that even though there is not currently a cure for AMD, there are a number of things you can do to slow its effects and prevent blindness, early detection being a critical first step. Treatments for macular degeneration depend on whether the disease is in its early-stage, dry form or in the more advanced, wet form that can lead to serious vision loss.

What is AMD?– AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of blindness in those 50 and older.  Aging can cause the macula to slowly degenerate and reduce central …

Approximately 120,000 Americans have gone blind from glaucoma, accounting for 9-12% of all cases of blindness. January has been named National Glaucoma Awareness Month as an important time to spread knowledge of the sight-stealing disease. Typically starting in the periphery, glaucoma has no onset symptoms and once vision has been lost, it will not return.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that progress gradually, stealing sight, without showing symptoms. The word ‘glaucoma’ is actually an umbrella term for a group of eye diseases that damage the delicate fibers that run from your eye to your optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries information about the images your eye sees to your brain. Damage is often the result of high fluid pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages but is most prevalent in middle-aged adults and the elderly. While there is no cure, surgery or medication can slow its effects and help to prevent further vision loss.

Types of GlaucomaThere are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) or pressure inside the …

As 2019 has come to a close and 2020, also known as “the year of the eye” is upon us, it is important to focus on new habits that promote good health. At Optos, we stand by the idea that eye health, including regular comprehensive eye exams, including optomap, should always be at the top of your list.

Eye health is very commonly left off the list of resolutions made. Many resolutions encompass things such as eating habits, exercise and other surface health conditions, where eye health is often overlooked.

The first step to preserving eye health is scheduling a comprehensive eye exam that can assist in detecting any changes in vision and overall health. A commitment to a yearly eye exam can aid in the strides to prevent illness rather than treat it as it appears. Many adults with no eye-related symptoms will often forgo an annual eye exam, while many ocular diseases are asymptomatic in early stages.  Early detection of these diseases can have a significant impact on courses of treatment and the probability of positive outcomes. Your eyes are windows to the live action of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues throughout your body. Abnormalities …

Remember Eye Safety this Holiday Season

With the holidays upon us, it’s important to note the extra care we need to take to make sure the toys and gifts our children receive are safe and age-appropriate.  For this reason, Prevent Blindness America has declared December “Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month”.

Look at every toy before you buy it. Is the toy durable? Can it stand the wear and tear of everyday use without breaking, cracking or coming apart? Does it shoot objects or have sharp edges? Toys that fail these tests should be reconsidered.

Tips for gifts your child receives:

Read all warnings and instructions on the box.Ask yourself if the toy is right for your child’s ability and age.Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges.Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.Look for the letters “ASTM.” This designation means the product meets the national safety standards set by ASTM International.Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.

Winterize your Eyes

Aside from the holidays, there are certain winter precautions to take involving eye protection and safety.  Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays is just as important in …

Dr. Rachael Wruble, OD knew that when she went out on her own to practice that she wanted to bring in Optos ultra-widefield (UWF™) imaging for her patients. Wruble was already familiar with the cutting-edge technology and valued that it could capture 82% of the retina in a single, high-resolution image in less than ½ second. She embraces the concept that the eye is a part of a puzzle and is interconnected with the entire body, providing important information on systemic health, therefore proving her need to invest in a technology that supports a truly comprehensive eye exam.

With the use of optomap in her practice, Wruble explains how she sees subtle pathology and other retinal nuances that she had not seen on patients that she had been examining for years. According to Dr. Wruble, while the ease-of-use of optomap may expedite workflow in her practice, the real value of that rescued time lies in enhancing the comprehensive exam and further educating her patients.

Wruble shares a story of a recent patient who came in for a new glasses prescription. The patient complained of blurry vision but refused dilation because she had received a dilated exam 10 months …

As we roll into the holiday season, sharing meals with family and friends is at the top of the list for many.  Thanksgiving meals aren’t typically known for their health benefits, however, a few conscious choices could offer up healthy options that benefit both eye and overall health.  All the holiday greens, yellows, reds, and oranges on your Thanksgiving table contain eye-healthy ingredients galore.  This is excellent news for those of us who always end up with eyes bigger than our stomachs this time of the year! We are here to celebrate and share with you some of the most popular Thanksgiving dishes and how they correspond in benefiting your eye health.

Dishes containing food such as carrots, sweet potatoes, cherries, apricots, kale or pumpkin are all rich in the nutrient beta-carotene.  Beta-carotene is converted to retinol that is essential for vision.  It is a carotenoid and antioxidant that promotes night vision and overall good eyesight.  Most are familiar with this nutrient in carrots, but in the event you aren’t a carrot lover, there try one of the other options to get your fix.

Spinach, green bean casserole, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts along with other leafy greens are …

Each year, November 14th is recognized as World Diabetes Day. IDF and the World Health Organization created World Diabetes Day in 2011 in response to escalating health issues surrounding diabetes and diabetic eye diseases.

Diabetic eye disease describes a group of eye conditions that include diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, diabetic macular edema and cataracts. DR is often reported as the most common form of diabetic eye disease. It is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), afflicting one third of all people with the disease, and it is the leading cause of blindness among the working population in the world. Over 40% of patients diagnosed with diabetes eventually develop some level of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Regular vision care is an important part of diabetes management.. DR affects the tiny blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eyes. In the less severe form of DR, blood vessels swell and leak small amounts of blood and fluid into the eye. Vision may be unaffected, giving no clue to the presence of disease. Untreated, this mild form of DR can progress leading to macular ischemia, in which capillaries in the macula close and cause blurred vision. More …

The spooooookiest day of the year is upon us!  Halloween is a holiday built for all ages but, particularly children.  While enjoying a holiday encompassed with costumes, trick-or-treating and parties, it is important to also remember eye safety.  Every year there are hundreds of costume-related and other completely avoidable eye injuries are treated in emergency rooms throughout the United States.

The AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) has named October Halloween Safety Month, aiming to increase safety precautions surrounding fall activities and Halloween trick or treating. There are several simple steps everyone can take that will help keep Halloween safe, fun and still spooky for all.

The best place to start is with Halloween costume safety. Avoid costume features that either fully or partially block the vision such as masks, eye patches, wigs, floppy hats, or droopy headpieces. Also try to avoid sharp or pointed costume props such as wands, swords and sticks that may harm other children’s eyes. Finally, avoid costumes that are excessive in length and drag on the ground in order to prevent tripping and falling.

Additional Halloween Safety Tips to follow:

Trick-or-treat during the day to ensure proper lighting and to ensure better navigation …

12 October 2019

Optos plc, the leading medical retinal imaging company, part of Nikon Corporation, is pleased to announce the launch of Silverstone at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, CA.

Silverstone is the first of its kind, combining world-leading ultra-widefield retinal imaging with integrated, image-guided, swept source OCT.  Silverstone produces a 200° single capture optomap^® image with guided OCT allowing advanced OCT imaging anywhere across the retina, from posterior pole to far periphery.  This provides unparalleled UWF guided multimodal imaging in support of detection, investigation and monitoring of retinal disease.

Silverstone provides greater imaging functionality and expands the Company’s product portfolio for ophthalmic markets.  It combines colour, autofluorescence (AF), fluorescein (FA) and Indocyanine Green (ICG) angiography with Swept Source OCT imaging capabilities.  A comprehensive exam that includes an ultra-widefield optomap^® image has been shown in clinical studies to enhance pathology detection and disease management, as well as to improve clinic flow.  Now by integrating swept source OCT, Silverstone further facilitates examination of the retina from vitreous through the choroidal-scleral interface and helps guide treatment decisions.

David M. Brown, MD from Retina Consultants of Houston in Houston, TX, remarked, “Silverstone is very exciting.  It’s definitely the …