The Latest Advances in Eye Care
Vision care and eye disease prevention and management are always advancing. Dr. Pinkerton keeps up with the latest optometric developments in order to address all your questions and concerns and provide you with the best care possible. Follow Insight Eyecare on Twitter, read or subscribe to our blog, and like us on Facebook to stay abreast of the latest research and breaking news regarding ocular and overall health.
In addition, every month or so here on our website Insight Eyecare will spotlight one or more research studies or news stories that impact patients here in East Texas.
If you are researching a health topic online, trustworthy starting points geared to patients include MedlinePlus, WebMD, MedicineNet and All About Vision. For medical journal publications and research studies on a particular topic, search by keyword at PubMed.
For citations and research studies on the efficacy of vision therapy, see Research & White Papers compiled by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and Dr. Mini Randhawa’s Vision Therapy site.
This Month’s Featured News
Cholesterol-lowering eye drops may join a ‘growing army of treatments’ for eye disease.
Summary: New research points to the possibility that vision loss caused by macular degeneration could be prevented with cholesterol-lowering eye drops or other medications that may prevent the buildup of lipids beneath the retina. Human and animal studies have shown that older white blood cells, called macrophages, struggle to expel cholesterol. Further investigation is needed. Read more.
Removing cataracts leads to fewer hip fractures.
Summary: Older people who have eye surgery to remove cataracts and improve their vision also significantly reduce their risk of breaking a hip in a fall, with the sickest among them and those in their early 80s experiencing nearly 30 percent fewer hip fractures in the first year, a large study reports. Hip fractures, which become more common with age, are serious injuries for elderly people, with complications that can be life-threatening.The study adds to findings from earlier papers indicating that the benefits of cataract surgery may significantly enhance the quality of life for the elderly, improving sleep, enabling them to be more engaged and mentally alert, and curbing depression. Read more.
Vitamin D intake and smoking can significantly influence the course of macular degeneration.
Summary: A study of identical twins finds diet and smoking can significantly influence the course of macular degeneration. By examining identical twins who share the same genes but whose disease was at different stages, researchers were able to identify environmental and behavioral factors that may affect the severity of the disease. Significant findings: Twins whose macular degeneration was at the early stages tended to consume more vitamin D from food sources such as fish or milk than their twin. In addition, the twin who was the heavier smoker tended to have the more severe case. Read more.
