Did you know that every eye is unique and could be used to identify individuals. This uniqueness of the eye is similar to a fingerprint. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘disease’
Retinal Blood Vessels Are Like Fingerprints
Sunday, May 16th, 2010Optomap® Images Increase Ocular Pathology Detection
Sunday, February 28th, 2010Information in this article has been re-posted from The Eye Doc Blog (www.theeyedocblog.com).
Results from a pilot study conducted by doctors at the New England College of Optometry* were recently presented at Optometry’s Meeting and the American Academy of Optometry. In the study, subjects were examined using the methods of traditional ophthalmoscopy and optomap®assisted ophthalmoscopy, where an ultra-wide field retinal image from the optomap® guides the retinal examination.
Forty subjects underwent undilated imaging with the optomap®. Subjects were then dilated and underwent traditional ophthalmoscopy and optomap®assisted ophthalmoscopy. The traditional exam consisted of BIO and slit lamp biomicrosopy with precorneal lenses. Optomap®assisted ophthalmoscopy was identical to traditional, with the exception that the doctor reviewed optomap® Images before performing their BIO examination. A masked Reader graded the optomap® Images of all subjects. A retinal specialist examined 28 of the 40 subjects and served as the gold standard.
Sensitivity and specificity of the optomap® Image review in detecting retinal lesions were compared to sensitivity and specificity of both traditional and optomap®assisted ophthalmoscopy. The results indicate that using optomap® Images increases pathology detection. Sensitivity of the Reader (image review alone) outperformed traditional ophthalmoscopy by approximately 15%, while sensitivity of optomap®assisted ophthalmoscopy outperformed traditional ophthalmoscopy by approximately 30%. Specificity was comparable across all methods.
“I believe the increased sensitivity is due to the optomap® field of view and in part to the software capabilities. Being able to magnify and zoom-in, adjust the gamma, contrast and brightness as well as using the individual red and green laser separations allows the examiner to really hone in on areas of interest,” said Kristen Brown, OD, FAAO, the Principal Investigator.
Data from a statistically powered study is currently being analyzed, with results expected in 2010.
*Independent clinical study conducted by Kristen Brown, OD, FAAO 1,2, Jeanette Sewell, OD 1,2, Tom Travison, PhD3. 1New England Eye Institute, Boston, MA; 2New England College of Optometry, Boston, MA; 3New England Research Institute, Watertown, MA.
Click here to learn how the Optomap saved this young mother's life.
Eye Disease in Ancient Egypt
Sunday, February 14th, 2010Ancient Egyptian eye makeup may have been more therapeutic than cosmetic.
In the days of the ancient Egyptian empire, the Nile River delta was a place where eye infections were likely commonplace, as sanitation and hygiene practices were not established.
The periodical, Analytical Chemistry, recently published an article regarding the lead-based compounds found in the tombs of ancient Egyptians. Their conclusion is that “lead-based compounds were used during antiquity as both pigments and medicines in the formulation of makeup materials.”
”According to ancient Egyptian manuscripts,” says Analytical Chemistry, ”these were essential remedies for treating eye illness and skin ailments. This conclusion seems amazing because today we focus only on the well-recognized toxicity of lead salts.” Analytical Chemistry goes on to say that, “one may argue that these lead compounds were deliberately manufactured and used in ancient Egyptian formulations to prevent and treat eye illnesses by promoting the action of immune cells.”
In modern times, ocular infections still cause problems for millions of people each year. If you think you might have an infection, walk like an Egyptian to Iowa EyeCare. Iowa EyeCare has a doctor on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, call 319-377-2222.
Contact Iowa EyeCare in Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Robins, Iowa.
Obesity and the Eye
Sunday, January 17th, 2010The visual system is vulnerable to the effects of excessive body weight. Numerous eye conditions are caused by or accelerated as a result of obesity. Maintaining a healthy body weight will reduce your risk of getting these eye conditions and many others:
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Diabetic Retinopathy: Microvascular abnormalities cause blurred vision and can result in severe vision loss or even blindness.
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Permanent central-vision loss.
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Cataracts: Clouding of the ocular lens results in glare and blurred vision.
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Glaucoma: Elevated intraocular pressure can cause peripheral vision loss and may ultimately lead to blindness.
A personal decision to make lifestyle changes is the most important step in fighting obesity. Obesity is often the result of high caloric consumption and low caloric utilization. It is for this reason that the primary treatment for obesity is to change diet and exercise habits. Use the food pyramid provided to help you choose the right foods to eat. The doctors at Iowa EyeCare recommend at lease 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each day. Don’t forget to include aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise in your routine.
Obesity is increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat to the extent that ones health is negatively affected. Excessive body weight is associated with diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and many other systemic conditions. The consequence of obesity is a reduction in life expectancy by almost 7 years and unfortunately new evidence tells us that the prevalence of obesity is rising in both children and adults.
Contact Iowa EyeCare now. We have locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa.
Food Pyramid
