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Eyeglasses Go High Tech

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Eyeglasses Today Are Art And Technolgy

Hundreds of EyeglassesEye glasses have gone the way of cell phones. Remember that old cell phone that looked (and felt) like a brick? The one with the three foot antenna that was always threatening to poke out someones eye? Well if you are under the age of 30 probably not. But the rest of us have seen cell phone technology advance into the current generations of iphones and android devices.

 

Eye Glasses Like Iphones

Steve Jobs at Apple made the iphone into art combined with the latest technology. Eyeglass frames have undergone a similar revolution, and today’s high tech materials include exotic metals like titanium, rhodium, bubinga wood, and buffalo horn. Many of these materials combine cutting edge fashion with the ultra light weight and durability of modern material science. Some eyeglass frame lines come with sunglass clips that adhere from magnets, making a seamless transition to sunwear. The Silhoutte rimless eyewear frames weigh about the same as a couple of paper clips and are extremley durable, often lasting for years.

Hundreds Of Unique Frames To Choose From 

We provide one of the most unique eyeglass selections in Northern Colorado. Hand chosen for our patients, many of frames are exclusive to our practice. Whether you want form or fashion (or both), we want to help you be the”Apple of someone else’s eyes”.

 

 

 

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Mad Hatter Day

October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Keep An Eye On Your Calender

 

Keep you eyes out for October 6th! Its Mad Hatter Day. Started in 1986 in

Boulder Colorado

it was developed by some bored computer programmers who were supposed to be developing Star Wars Technology. Someone reportedly spilled a Mt. Dew on a keyboard which of course shorted out launching three prototypes towards Iceland. The lead tech had reached for the Dew as it tipped but just missed it. Just short of launching Armageddon, the team was quite mad at him-to which he replied “I thought I had her”. 

A government observer commented on how mad everyone was in spite of the “Had Her” and, well the rest is history. Mad Had Her became Mad Hatter. Our survival is now celebrated as Mad Hatter Day.

Every top hat present will testify to the veracity of this story. If you don’t believe it, go on ahead-you will get to the top of it at some point in the future!

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Eyes Predict Bipolar & Schizophrenia

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Vision Changes To Predict Bipolar Disorder?

Can someone look into your eyes and know your mental state? A study of children with parents who were either bipolar or schizophrenic seems to indicate this may be true.

Special Eye Tests Measure Electrical Changes For Night Vision

The electroretinogram uses a special contact lens on the front of the eye that records the difference in electrical charges from the front and back of the eye. The b-wave measures alterations in this charge by the rod cells responsible for night vision. Eye doctors found this wave was significantly reduced in children having at least one parent effected by either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Eye Doctors  May Check Your Mood And Your Eyes In The Future

Electrical testing of eye function is still used largely in teaching institutions.  This equipment has become much more compact and inexpensive and will most likely be seen in many eye doctor offices in the future. The first step in prevention is knowing who is most susceptible to a disease. Hopefully there will be ways to intervene at that early junction and prevent these disorders from ever manifesting any symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How Long Can You Use Eye Drops?

September 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

To Use or Not To Use (Opened Eye Medications)

Can you keep using those old eye drops and when should you throw them away? It is not the easiest question to answer but there are some guidelines.

Eye drops come in single use containers (small plastic vials with twist off caps) and in multiple dose bottles. The multidose bottles normally contain preservatives to prevent contamination. Frequently dropper tips touch the eyelids or countertops if you are not very careful. That point of contact can contaminate the bottle with bacteria. Preservatives are added to help overcome any inadvertent contamination. Preservative taken over the course of years can damage some of the surface cells on the eyes tissues and contribute to dry eye syndrome and red eyes. Preservative free single use eye drops have been developed to circumvent this problem, but they come with a hefty price tag.

Refrigerators And Eye Drops-Cool Or Not!

Most prescription eye drops are OK to use for 30 days after opening if they are kept refrigerated. Most bacteria are inhibited below 40 °F and above 140 °F. (The listeria bacteria that have been in the Colorado news of late are an exception since they thrive in cooler environments). Not only does refrigeration inhibit bacterial growth but it also helps maintain the stabilty of the drops and prevent them from degrading into other compounds. One study found the glaucoma eye drop Lumigan was much more stable than the well known xalatan drop at room temperatures. For people with glaucoma that spend frequent time traveling, eye doctors may prescribe an eyedrop like Lumigan when refrigeration is unlikely to be available. For about every 20 &deg:F rise in temperature drugs double in their instability. One thing to keep in mind is that refrigeration does not stop bacterial growth, it only slow it down. Prescription eye drops can become contaminated from bacteria inside of foods and refrigerators so it may not be the best choice for drops that are used only on a short term basis- and you should keep that thing clean anyway!

Who Knows What Really Lurks In Older Eye Medications-The Government And They Are Only Guessing!

Most prescription eye drops have a range of concentrations that are effective in killing bacteria. The potency of antibiotics is usually based on complex calculations that may not be accurate. A few drugs like tetracycline actually degrade to products that increase the resistance of bacteria to treatment. Determining shelf life is no easy task so the FDA tends to err a little on the conservative side. Eye institutions like Mooresfield Hospital in the UK frequently prepare unpreserved multiuse drops for special, severe eye infections. They have tested the sterility of these drops over the years and found that non preserved drops are typically safe to use for a week when refrigerated. Most studies indicate that multiuse preserved eye drops are good for 1 month after opening when refrigerated. 

The rule of thumb is a week for non preserved multidose drops that are kept refrigerated and 30 days for preserved multidose drops that are kept refrigerated. A study of cycloporine, the same eye medicine found in restasis for dry eye treatment, also indicated 1 week when refrigerated. The formulation was slightly different, and restasis is approved as a single time use per vial. Some eye doctors allow their patients to use the same vial for 24-48 hours. 

When you have opened eye drop prescriptions it is best to discard them after 30 days. As always, you should ask your prescribing optometrist first before using any eye medications in a manner that has not been through a formal approval and testing process. And clean that refrigerator!

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Eyes Herbs Supplements Questions

September 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Are Eye Supplements Safe?

Almost everyone takes some form of supplements these days. Many things fall under the definition of supplements including herbs, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and a host of other categories. These supplements categories were laid out in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) by congress in 1994. They must be labeled as dietary supplements and ingredients, and not as food or medicine. This act changed supplements from being regulated as food items to a new class. So are they safe?

The Manufacturing Company Is Now Responsible For Eye Supplement Safety Instead Of The FDA

It is the manufactures responsibility to make sure existing supplements are safe and that any assertions made are true and not misleading. There are no requirements for testing or FDA approval for exsiting supplements. While herbal manufacturing companies have liability for any problems that arise from the use of their products, that is something that occurs after the fact. New supplements are required to undergo a review process. The issue underlying this procedure is the lack of a defining list of existing supplements. Since the manufacturer is responsible for determining if the dietary ingredient is new or if it was previously found in food, there is realistically no guarantee of a review for new supplements. The Good Manufacturing Practices Regulations were passed in 2007 to assure the purity, quality, and content of supplements. While it provides a process for record keeping and inspections the mainstay of quality control is dependent on the reports of adverse events or complications arising from the use of a supplement.

Vision Supplements Are Still A Buyer Beware Market

You can check for adverse event reports at Dietary Supplements – Adverse Event Reporting. Being informed about the products you are taking and the reputation of the company is probably the best assurance you can find about their safety and usefulness. Your eye doctor can also be a resource for finding the best brands available.

 

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B&L Recalls Eye Drops

August 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Bausch & Lomb Recalls Eye Drops

Bausch & Lomb recalled lot number 507521 of its Murocel® Methylcellulose Lubricant Ophthalmic Solution, USP 1% eyedrops in July 2011. If you have been using this drop check the recall date and lot number. Only one lot is being recalled:

Lot Number: 507521
UPC Code: 3 24208 28015 7
Expiration Date: 1-31-2012

 

Call Your Eye Doctor If You Have Any Eye Irritation

The preservatives may not work as expected and the drops are being recalled to avoid possible eye infections. If you have eye drops with this lot number you can contact Bausch & Lomb at:

1-800-553-5340

No compliccations from use of this eye drop have been reported, but if you are using this lot and have any eye redness, discomfort, or decreased vision you should call your eye doctor immediatley.

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Fort Collins Optometrist | Find Us On The Map

August 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Fort Collins Optometrist | Find Us On The Map

 

 

Find our Fort Collins Optometry Practice. We are conveniently located across from the Olive Garden and REI.

Call (970) 226-0959 to schedule an appointment

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Contact Lens Cure For Nearsightedness

August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Nearsightedness Controlled With New Contact Lens Technology

On June 30 2011 the Myopia Control With Simultaneous Vision Approach Clinical Study was registered as complete at ClinicalTrials.gov. This double blind study involved 100 children testing a contact lens designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness (myopia). Optometry researchers have been studying the interaction between central deatailed vision and peripheral vision. Eye doctors have found defocusing peripheral vision with specially designed lenses can reduce progression of nearsightedness in animal studies. Now we are awaiting the results of this clinical vision study with children.

Optometry Study On Controlling Myopia In Children With Contact Lenses

Vision researchers at the Hong Kong PolyU School of Optometry were led by optometrist Carly SY Lam in studying the effect of simaltaneous multifocal contact lens wear on the progression of myopia in children. Simaltaneous bifocal contact lenses are currnetly used for contact lens patients over the age of 40 that can no longer focus clearly for near vision. The current generation of multifocal contact lenses correct aging eyes presbyopia by presenting near and distance vision images at the same time, or simultaneously. The brain learns how ot adapt and focus only on the distance required, while ignoring the other image. The images are typically produced by a central zone for one distance and the surrounding part of the lens for the range needed. It sounds complicated but with todays contact lenses about 75% of the over 40 crowd will be successful with this type of contact lens option. Children are even more flexible and readily adapt to unusaul visual conditions.

The lens in this study was referred to as a “Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lens”.-also as a “simultaneous vision bifocal soft contact lenses with myopic defocus to control the progression of myopia”. It is undoubtably very similiar to the type of contact lenses we use today when patients start complaining that their arms are too short.

CIBA Vision Future Bifocal Contact Lens To Prevent Nearsightedness?

Several players appear to be poised to take advantage of this type of technology, CIBA Vision (now Alcon) for contact lenses and Ziess for the eyeglasses version. While the outcome of the trial has not been published yet, there appears to be forward motion in the industry and I believe we can expect a blockbuster product in the near (or nearer) future. WIth nearsightedness effecting close over 1 billion people in the world and growing, the market is enormous. The consequences of myopia go far beyond requiring corrective contact len or eye glass wear. The elongation of the eye from nearsighted changes results in significant blindness and visual problems within the myopic population. Research has been forwarded by the Vision Cooperative Research Centre (Vision CRC) in Australia led by optometrist Brien Holden and the University of Houston under Dr. Earl Smith.

The US National Institue of Health provides the registry and results database of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. The registry can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov. where over 100,000 trials are currently listed in the database. It is important to note that clinical trials do have limitations. There are two major criteria listed:
(1) Trials need to be in conformance with any applicable human subject or ethics review regulations (or equivalent)
(2) Trial need to be in conformance with any applicable regulations of the national (or regional) health authority (or equivalent).


International research publishing standards help keep honesty in the system. Regulations and standards can still vary by country so all clinical trials should be taken as just that, trial findings. That being said, I believe this will prove to be one of the largest changes in optometric care we see in our lifetimes.

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Eye Drops For Macular Degeneration

August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Macular Degeneration Eye Drops On The Horizon

Eye drops instead of injections into the eye may sson become the standard way of treating wet macular degeneration by eye doctors. Squalamine, derived from the livers of certain shark species, is being put on a fast track clinical study. It has been used as an antibiotic in the past, but it also has properties that interfere with the growth of new blood vessels. 

Wet  Macular Degeneration Eye Damage Is Caused By Blood Vessel  Growth

When blood vessels grow rapidly in the choroidal tissue under the retina, the damage to vision can be fast and severe. These blood vessels leak resulting in damage and scarring of the retina. Anti vascular edothlelial growth factors (Anti-VEGF) are substances used to inhibit the expansion of these blood vessels.  Avastin  has become the most common anti-VEGF treatment for wet macula degeneration, and it requires ongoing injections into the eye. Due to the anti-VEGF nature of  Squalamine, it has been tried in the past to restrict the new blood supply to growing tumors. Now it looks like it may be used by eye doctors to help prevent the damage new blood vessel growth creates in macular degeneration. 

Eye Drops Instead Of Injections For Eye Doctors And Patients

With luck, we may see eye drops being used by optometrists to treat macular degeneration before 2012 is over. Because many people have a strong aversion to any type of injection in or around their eyes, these new eye drops may help prevent blindness and save a lot of eyesight with people much more willing to seek treatment from their eye doctor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Macular Degeneration Stem Cell Treatment

July 22, 2011 By 11 Comments

Macular Degeneration Treated With Stem Cells 

Several years ago I received a phone call from a reporter wanting to know more about stem cell treatments for an eye condition where the optic nerve is not fully developed. A young girl from the Fort Collins area was en-route to China for treatment. At the time I was not aware of the procedure. A lot has changed in world of eyecare since then. On July 14, 2011 the first patient in the United States received a stem cell transplant for macular Degeneration. Steven Schwartz, M.D. and Robert Lanza, M.D. Performed the procedure using embryonic stem cells developed by Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

 

This marked the beginning of a clinical trial by eye doctors that will involve 12 people. The first patients received 50,000 retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells are cells that have the capacity to develop into other types of cells and tissues. Stem cells can be from embryonic or adult origins. Embryonic stem cells are removed from developing embryos several days old that were initially grown for in-vitrio fertilization procedures. The embryo is normally destroyed in the process. Dr. Lanza has developed a procedure to remove a single cell and start the stem cell line without resulting in the death of the embryo.

Is Stem Cell Use For The Eyes Safe? 

Like all clinical trials, the eye doctors do not know if the procedure will be safe or effective. It is intended to treat the dry form of macular degeneration. The dry form is responsible for the majority of cases of macular degeneration and results in millions of people suffereing with vision loss and partial blindness. This study will be completed in 2013, and if it is successful further clinical trials will be required before any treatments are approved.

 

Germany and China have had programs with ophthalmosists treating macula degeneration with stem cells. The program in Germany was closed by the government over concerns about stem cell usage. The leading program in China was developed by Beike Biotech, where doctors claim to have treated thousands of cases of different types of diseases with stem cells, including age related macular degeneration. Beike physicians report they do not use embryonic stem cells, but instead rely on adult cell lines derived from umbilical cords or bone marrow.

 

In March of 2011 vision researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center were able to induce adult stem cell lines to turn into retinal pigment epithelial cells. These cells were not robustly healthy but did mimic the functions of the normal retinal pigmented epithelial cells. In the future they hope to produce vital, healthy cells for future eye doctors use in transplantation.

Eye Treatments And Stem Cell Debate 

Adult stem cell treatment have a long and somewhat successful history. Embryonic stem cell lines were not developed until 1998 so they are a relatively new kid on the block. The same group that developed this first stem cell line also transformed skin cell into cells with similar properties in 2007. (James Thomson and Shinya Yamanka). The transformation of normal cells into stem cells will someday probably end the debate over embryonic stem cell uses in treating diseases.

We do not know if the current attempts will be successful and what the possible side effects may show up over time. Transplanting cells does not currently provide a mechanism to encourage them to hook up anf function where they are needed. There are lingering concerns about stem cells (especially embryonic stem cells) developing into the wrong types of tissues or being rejected. The long term potential of stem cell therapy in “regenerative medicine” is enormous. In 2008, a 15 year old girl in Fort Collins, Colorado traveled to China for stem cell treatment of optic nerve hypoplasia. At that time her vision was described as 20/4000. One year later she received her drivers license permit. We can hope the results in treating macular degeneration will be the same.

Filed Under: Eye Diseases, Macular Degeneration Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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