A Pocket-Sized Revolution in Eye Care

1 May by

A pocket-sized device made with spare parts of phones and computers ordered online for under $200 could hold the future of eye care.

According to a recently published article in NBCNews, the device acts essentially as a retina camera with the ability to take images of the inside of an eye.

A pair of the researchers responsible for this advancement, Dr. Shizuo Mukai and Dr. Bailey Shen, are claiming that this technology can hopefully soon replace eyecare practices of late where patients are subjected to strong eye drops to dilate the eye in order for an ophthalmologist to be able to properly examine the health of the eyes. The new device will cut the eye drops from current practice and simply use infrared light focused on the back of the eye to snap an image of the entire eye without the pupil constricting.

However, before excitement takes hold that this product may soon be on the market, there is still a lot of work to be done. In fact, Dr. Mukai, an ophthalmology professor at Harvard, and Dr. Shen, an ophthalmologist with UIC College of Medicine, are making the prototype available to tech experts and doctors for further testing and design insight. By doing this, the researchers behind this new device hope to gain more sophisticated software to improve the images taken by the retina camera, which will ultimately lead to stronger diagnoses.

The most exciting aspect of this device is the possibilities it brings. For one, the prototype cost only $185, and was constructed from a combination of cellphone parts, LED lights, and pieces from a computer kit. Once a scalable model is created, prospects are high that this device could be mass produced at a low rate, making it more accessible globally as well. Aside from relieving the pain and inconvenience of eyedrops, Dr. Rahul Khurana, the clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, has hopes that this technology can be used in poorer countries where access to healthcare is not as prevalent.

Because the device doesn’t require the eye to be dilated, patients who are unable to have their eyes dilated will be able to be screened for eye health concerns that were not able to be examined before. As Dr. Shen stated in a Harvard Medical School article on the findings, “…As residents seeing patients in the hospital, there are often times when we are not allowed to dilate patients–neurosurgery patients for example.” With its convenient and portable size, Dr. Shen hopes the device can be used to cut down on the amount of time it can take to give an eye exam, especially in hospitals, stating, “…there are times when we find something abnormal in the back of the eye, but it is not practical to wheel the patient all the way over to the outpatient eye clinic just for a photograph.”

By making eyecare more accessible, the possibilities of mastering eye health throughout the world become more attainable. While this prototype is not the first to make a breakthrough on retina camera technology, it does offer a wider spectrum of vision in the lense for clearer and more precise imaging. The development of these discoveries can only grow from here, giving researchers in ophthalmology something very special to look forward to–soon, they hope, with perfect vision.

Filed Under: Hargrave Eye Center, Health, Ocular Health Tagged With: , , , , ,

Could 3-D Retina Transplants Put a Stop to Degenerative Blindness?

28 Feb by

More than two million Americans suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While AMD does not result in total blindness, it is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans age 50 and above, and it causes sufferers to slowly lose central vision and interferes with an individual’s ability to drive, read, write, recognize faces, and more. There is no cure for AMD, although doctors can prescribe treatments in an effort to slow its progression.

AMD is only one of several degenerative eye conditions that lead to vision loss for which there has been no cure since it is caused by the actual decay of structures within the eye. However, this may soon change thanks to a groundbreaking advance in medicine: the development of transplantable 3-D retinas.

A team of researchers at California-based AIVITA Biomedical led by CEO Hans Keirstead, PhD have successfully used human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to develop a 3-D “retinal organoid” made of laminated retinal progenitor cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In preclinical studies, the researchers showed that, when injected into the eye, the organoid was able to form synaptic connections with existing tissue and thus restore vision.

“The cause for hope for transplanting a 3-D retina has never been greater,” Keirstead told Modern Retina. “We have been on a relatively long journey, but are now at a point where we will be walking along a well-articulated path that will lead us to the beginning of our first in-human study.”

Keirstead, who suspects that a clinical research phase for the 3-D retinas may be as soon as two years away, explained that AIVITA’s target population is patients with degenerative disease of the outer retina, like AMD or retinitis pigmentosa. The 3-D retinas can be transplanted in the patient’s eye to replace the diseased or non-functional photoreceptors and RPE and establish new, functional connections with the inner retina and restore lost vision.

Of course, there are still a number of challenges ahead of the researchers, and the retinas are still years away from becoming commercially available for patients. But the possibility that 3-D retinas could be viable for use in patients opens the door for millions of patients, potentially, to get their sight back.

Filed Under: Hargrave Eye Center, Health, Ocular Health Tagged With: , , , , ,

3 Eye Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

6 Jul by

As I often say, your eyesight is one of your most precious resources. It’s imperative to be vigilant about protecting your eyes and getting regular checkups. In between checkups, you still want to keep an eye on your eyes. Today.com published a useful roundup of “5 eye symptoms you should never ignore.” Here are the three of the symptoms that were mentioned and why they’re important to pay attention to.

    1. When You See Floaters Accompanied by Flashes of Light Generally speaking, eye floaters aren’t indicative of anything wrong with your eyes. You know eye floaters when you see them, WebMD describes them as “small moving spots that appear in your field of vision…[that are] especially noticeable when you look at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky.” But if you see floaters while also seeing what appears to be a lightning streak in your peripheral vision, then see your ophthalmologist. It might be that you’re experiencing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which is typically a benign condition. The National Eye Institute says, “Although a vitreous detachment does not threaten sight, once in awhile some of the vitreous fibers pull so hard on the retina that they create a macular hole to or lead to aretinal detachment. Both of these conditions are sight-threatening and should be treated immediately.” The good news is that your eye doctor can diagnose the cause of the problem–and, if necessary, begin early treatment–with a comprehensive dilated eye examination.
    2. When Contact Wearers Have Red, Teary Eyes An eye infection of the cornea known as keratitis can cause redness, pain, inflammation and discharge in the eye. This condition is common with contact wearers who sleep in their contacts–which you should never do, even if they’re labeled extended wear.
    3. When One of Your Pupils Looks Larger Than the Other The condition of having unequal pupils, which is called anisocoria, can be purely physiological or it can be a sign of a neurological issue (i.e. aneurysm, tumor, a brain infection or a sign of a stroke). If the difference in pupil size is something you’ve never noticed before, and you haven’t recently used eye drops which could be causing your pupils to react, then call your doctor.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ocular Health, Tips for eye health Tagged With: , ,

Keratoconus and New Stem Cell Research

15 Mar by

Did you know the cornea is the only living tissue that has no direct or indirect connection to blood vessels to obtain the oxygen and nutrients it needs to remain healthy? Instead, it absorbs oxygen from the outside air (diffused through the tears) and it gains nutrients from the inside using the aqueous humor (fluid that fills the chamber behind it).

According to WebMD, we see through the cornea, which can be described as the clear outer lens or “windshield” of the eye. Normally, the cornea has a dome shape, like a ball. Sometimes, however, the structure of the cornea is just not strong enough to hold this round shape and the cornea bulges outward like a cone. This condition is called keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a progressive non-inflammatory disorder that causes a characteristic thinning and cone-like steepening of the cornea. According to WebMD, it is caused by a decrease in protective antioxidants in the cornea. The cornea cells produce damaging by-products, like exhaust from a car. Normally, antioxidants get rid of them and protect the collagen fibers. If antioxidants levels are low, the collagen weakens and the cornea bulges out.

How is Keratoconus treated?

Treatment usually starts with new eyeglasses. If eyeglasses don’t provide adequate vision, then contact lenses, usually rigid gas permeable contact lenses, may be recommended. With mild cases, new eyeglasses can usually make vision clear again. Eventually, though, it will probably be necessary to use contact lenses or seek other treatments to strengthen the cornea and improve vision.

However, most recently, researchers in Japan and Wales found that human cells reprogrammed to become stem cells were able to form cornea tissue in lab dishes. This was reported on March 9th in the Science and Medicine publication, Nature. The stem cell tissue was used to repair the damaged outer layer of the cornea in rabbits. In a separate study also published March 9 in Nature, researchers in China and the United States coaxed stem cells in the eyes of a dozen babies born with cataracts to regrow clear lenses.

The researchers also studied 37 babies who were born with cataracts. Regular cataract surgery, which involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a plastic one, was done for 25 of the babies. In the remaining 12 babies, doctors made a small incision in the side of the sack containing the lens and extracted the cataract, but didn’t replace the lens. Stem cells in the sack generated a new lens within about three months of surgery.

While both studies are technically proficient and provide new approaches to treating cataracts or corneal injuries, neither will soon be ready for widespread use in the clinic, says Henry Klassen, an ophthalmologist at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

Sources:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-techniques-regrow-lens-cornea-tissue#video 

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28106253

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-health-keratoconus

Filed Under: Corneal Transplantation, Hargrave Eye Center, Health, Ocular Health, Tips for eye health

How to Treat a Poison Victim

28 Jan by

FDWWL3XG5FRB66D.MEDIUMHelping a poisoning victim can be tricky, since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But in every case, it’s vital to find out what the toxin is and seek help.  This blog post includes emergency tips to help prepare for identifying and treating a poisoning victim.

If you need to evaluate a child for poisoning, or if someone refuses to answer questions about what they may have ingested, as in the case of a suicidal person, you can look for these common signs.

The victim may have burns or redness around the mouth or lips, or burns, stains and odors on their body, clothing, or other objects nearby. They may also have paint, powders, or other liquids around the face and nostrils. Likewise, a strong chemical odor, such as gasoline or paint thinner, may be on their breath. Look for any empty medication bottles or scattered pills, or spilled or empty containers for chemical, paint, or household products. The individual may show signs of nausea or begin vomiting, become drowsy or unconscious, experience difficulty breathing, or even respiratory arrest. The victim may also be agitated or restless, or seizing or twitching uncontrollably. Assume that the person is poisoned until proven otherwise, and take action on treating a poisoning victim. If the person has no symptoms, but you suspect poisoning, call your regional poison control center. Provide age, weight, and any information you may have about the poison, such as how much of it was ingested and how long since the person was first exposed to it. If possible, it will help to have the pill bottle or container on hand when you call.

Helping a poisoning victim can be tricky, since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But in every case, it’s vital to find out what the toxin is and seek help.

Step 1: Call your local emergency number to request help.

Step 2: If the poison is emitting fumes or there is a strong chemical odor in the room, move the person into fresh air.

Step 3: Put on gloves, if available, to prevent contamination. Check for any remaining poisonous substance in the victim’s mouth. If you find any, wipe it away. If the poison is spilled on the person’s clothing, remove the clothing.

Step 4: If the victim isn’t breathing, and you have a CPR mask or face shield, and you’re certified CPR, begin rescue breathing.

Step 5: If poison for exposed on bare skin or in the eyes, flush with lukewarm water for 20 minutes or until help arrives.

Step 6: If the toxin is a household product, check the label for advice, or contact your local poison-control hotline. Do not induce vomiting or administer a charcoal slurry unless instructed to do so.

Step 7: If the victim goes to the emergency room, take the pill bottle or package that contained what was ingested. That will help doctors start proper treatment immediately.

Source: Johnson, R. (2012). The ultimate survival manual. San Francisco, CA: Weldon Owen.

Filed Under: Hargrave Eye Center, Health, Ocular Health, Tips for eye health

4 Signs of Graft Rejection

29 Dec by

corneal_transplant Hargrave Eye Center BlogA cornea transplant is most often used to restore vision to a person who has a damaged cornea. A cornea transplant may also relieve pain or other signs and symptoms associated with diseases of the cornea.

In corneal transplant surgery the scarred or damaged cornea is removed and replaced by a human donor cornea called a graft. Corneal transplant surgery also is called penetrating keratoplasty or corneal grafting. Your eye is the recipient eye because it receives the graft. The other person’s cornea is the donor cornea or donor tissue because the cornea is being donated or given to you.

There always is a possibility that the body will reject the graft. This is like an “allergic” reaction of the body against the donor cornea. It can occur any time after the surgery. There is a good chance this can be treated successfully if you act immediately. There are four danger signs you must know, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor.  If any of these occur and last for more than 12 hours, you should call your ophthalmologist – even if it is a weekend or a holiday.

To remember the signs of graft rejection, remember the letters: R S V P:

Redness – For a few weeks after surgery, your eye may be red. If at any time your eye begins to get redder, you should call your ophthalmologist. You easily can check the redness of your eye by looking into a mirror and pulling down the lower lid. Look carefully at the white part of the eye, especially in the area next to the cornea.

Sensitivity to light – Bright lights may seem irritating to your eye after surgery. This, too, slowly should get better. If you notice your eye becoming so sensitive to light that you feel like covering it, you should call your ophthalmologist.

Vision changes – Your vision most likely will improve gradually after your surgery. Make a habit of checking your vision every day. Check it at about the same time and in the same light. Pick an object in your house that has some pattern or detail to it. Look at the object with your operated eye while covering the other eye with your hand. If your vision seems to be getting worse, you should call your ophthalmologist.

Pain – It is normal to have occasional small twinges of pain in your eye. If your eye develops constant pain or dull aching that lasts several hours, call your ophthalmologist.

Make a habit of checking your eye every day. Check your vision at about the same time and in the same lighting each day, perhaps at the same time you do another routine activity, such as brushing your teeth.

Source: Mayo Clinic Website, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center 

Filed Under: Corneal Transplantation, Hargrave Eye Center, Health, Ocular Health

The Role of Bioflavonoids

12 Nov by

hargrave eye center Bioflavonoids are a group of thousands of nutrients found in plant foods.  We actually don’t need to eat bioflavonoids for our bodies or cells to function, but we get a lot of benefits when we do:

These nutrients are not only antioxidants, but are anti-cancer, anti-infectious (i.e., they boost your immunity), anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory. And pretty delicious too: coffee, tea, chocolate (dark, without the sugar and fat), and berries are high in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are also found in red peppers, sweet peppers, citrus fruit, garlic, spinach, and apples.  That’s why “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but its smart to eat more than just apples, because our bodies need more antioxidants than one apple a day provides.

In binding metals, bioflavonoids prevent them from causing oxidation within your body.  You may be thinking, I have metals in my body?  Yes, you do — everyone does.  And having some metal is good for you, just like having some vitamins and some bacteria. Think of iron, for example. But unfortunately, science has shown that most of us come into contact with far too much metal in our environment.

Metals are in our air, our drinking water, our soil, and in our food, even in medications. In fact, some vitamin and fish oil pills have metals, which can stem from their sources or their manufacturing.  Metals also leach into our food supply from the diet of farm animals or from processing meats, as shown in many documentaries concerning the source of animals products in the United States and elsewhere.

Unfortunately, these are just a few ways we can unknowingly come into contact with toxic metals. But there are also a few targeted ways to avoid known sources of ingested metals.  This blog post outlines the top 3:

1. Avoid processed foods. The more your meal is processed, the more machines your food has come into physical contact with.  The more machines your food touches, the more likely that metals from those machines have leached into it.  If you eat unprocessed foods, the chance of it coming into contact with metals in minimal at best. And don’t forget about all those other oxidants that go into processed foods.  If possible, go organic, to avoid herbicides and pesticides that can contain toxins and metals such as arsenic.

2. Avoid air pollution. From cigarette smoke to car exhaust, to other gas fumes, these pollutants contain toxic metals that, once inhaled, may be immensely hard to get out of your body.  Even as you walk around an idling car or a person smoking outside a building, simply increasing your distance can help minimize your contact. Also, be sure to jog or bike away from busy roadways if you can.

3. Avoid toxic metals at home. Beyond lead paint, art supplies can contain mercury; plastics (such as vinyl) that are used to make lunch boxes, toys, and furniture can contain lead and toxins; some costume jewelry and even children’s jewelry can contain toxic metals including lead and cadmium; and dish ware can contain lead.  Test items in your home for lead.  A home test kit is easy to buy. Pay attention to where the things you buy are made and avoid buying products made in countries whose products test positive for lead in your home today.  While you can’t go back in time and mitigate past risk, you can make healthier choices for your family.

Source: Adams, N. (2014). The Power of Oxygen. In Healthy vision: Prevent and reverse eye disease through better nutrition. Lyons Press.

Filed Under: Hargrave Eye Center, Ocular Health, Tips for eye health