================================================================= V I S I O N U P D A T E ================================================================= 20 Mar 2004 Issue #30 Promoting Health Through Knowledge Ted Roxan, Editor editor@visionupdate.net ================================================================= IN THIS ISSUE... 1. Feature Article Severe myopia patients can now opt for new iris-supported lens implants 2. Ask the Doctor Talking with the experts 3. News Briefs Shunt Eye 4. Relevant Links Important resources. 5. Preventative Medicine Experts say early treatment key in glaucoma treatment ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Feature Article Severe myopia patients can now opt for new iris-supported lens implants SINGAPORE : People suffering from severe myopia can now look forward to a new iris-supported lens implant to restore their perfect vision. Singapore has one of the highest myopia rates in the world, and doctors estimate some 15 percent of myopics have degrees of 1,000 or higher. Most are not suitable candidates for corrective surgery like Lasik, and that is where the new implant fits in. Dr Lee Hung Ming, Head of Refractive Surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "For people with severe myopia, their cornea might not be thick enough, because Lasik involves the thinning of the cornea so in this group of patients the lens implant surgery would be an alternative to correct myopia." The diameter of the lens implant is less than one centimetre and its thickness is 0.2 millimetres. It is made of a special polymer-based material which is very similar to the one used in cataract lens implants. And according to doctors, it can pretty much be left in the eye permanently. The lens is inserted into the eye and clipped onto the iris at two points. The procedure only takes up to 40 minutes and costs $2,500 per eye, a price which includes the $900 lens implant. So far, five people have received the implant in Singapore. It is suitable for those with thin corneas or those who are suffering high myopia over 1,000 degrees. One must be at least 21 years old, not pregnant and have had stable vision for a year. Trials and clinical evaluations in Europe have seen 70 percent of severely myopic patients achieve a final power of 100 degrees of less. Dr Lee added: "The potential side-effects for this surgery include inflammation of the eye and also infection. The the infection can be serious, but it is very, very rare. Other common side-effects include mild discomfort of the eye and also patients may see halos and glares at night. But this will usually last three to six months." The procedure is reversible unlike Lasik surgery, the lens can be removed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ASK THE DOCTOR SPONSOR The Homemaker`s Journal is an e-mail newsletter published Mon- Fri that poses fun questions to readers about organizing, crafting, gardening, frugal living and other homemaking subjects; readers can respond to the questions and receive the resulting, very informative `tip sheet`. Join the fun!http://www.getswap.com/subscribe.asp?list=2-7 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Ask the Doctor Talking with the experts Question from : Claire Pell What is the treatment for optic disc edema? Dr. Webber: Optic nerve edema requires steroid therapy and tests to determine the cause of the swelling. Question from : Gale Ikola What is a Nerve Fiber Analysis? Dr. Webber: NFA is a test that examines the neural integrity of the Optic Nerve Head, Optic Nerve and surrounding retinal tissue. It is done when there is a suspected case of Glaucoma or other nerve damage as a result of disease or trauma. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3. News Briefs Shunt Eye Its looking brighter for glaucoma sufferers. Current surgical correction requires inserting metal tubes, or shunts, to drain fluid, resulting in up to 6 weeks of recovery and large scars. The Ex-Press Mini Glaucoma Shunt, smaller than a grain of rice, cuts recovery time in half, with little scarring. Learn more at cibavision.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter Courtesy of VisionUpdate ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Relevant Links Important resources. National Eye Institute http://www.nei.nih.gov Eye Net http://myeyenet.com/ Blind Foundation http://www.afb.org Macular Degeneration Foundation http://www.eyesight.org LASIK Institute http://www.lasikinstitute.org NIH http://www.nih.gov ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Preventative Medicine Experts say early treatment key in glaucoma treatment William DeWitt's eyes were bad, and were getting worse. Glaucoma, a disease marked by increased pressure within the eyeball, showed up in both eyes during a physical nearly 15 years ago. From that point on, daily medication was part of his life. A once-a-day dose of prescription eye drops kept the glaucoma at bay, but the medicine didn't do enough to reverse it. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause damage to the optic disc and a gradual loss of vision, says Peter Kansas, an Albany ophthalmologist. The disease is receiving additional attention this month, National Glaucoma Awareness Month. So DeWitt opted for selective laser trabeculoplasty, also called SLT or cold-laser therapy, a new procedure that lowers pressure by photochemically changing pigmented cells behind the eye. Laser surgery to treat glaucoma is nothing new. For decades, doctors relieved the pressure with an argon laser, or ALT. The thermal laser generated heat and stretched open the pores in the eyes so the fluid could drain out. ALT's uses are limited, says Kansas, because it causes changes to the structure of the eye, restricting the number of times it can be used. SLT, on the other hand, can be performed repeatedly (typically on a five-year schedule). This new procedure is not only safer - since it uses a cold laser, rather than heat, and does not cause tissue damage - but faster, says the laser's inventor, Mark Latina, an associate clinical professor at Tuft's University in Massachusetts. While ophthalmologists agree the procedure is a significant development in the treatment of glaucoma, there are risks. Laser surgery is still surgery and can carry some minimal risks, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Some people experience brief irritation or redness to the eye. But, in general, since it's noninvasive, negative side effects are unlikely, says Tom Brunner, head of the foundation. For information, call (800) 826-6693 or on the Web at www.glaucoma.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFIED AD **Discover A New Breakthrough In Compensation** Get your FREE TRIAL Membership NOW! We will have this offer for a very limited time! Get yours NOW! http://www.ezineblaze.com/index.php?73211 aol friends ----------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFIED AD Quick Humor for Quick Minds. Subscribe to Bruce H.G. 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