Ophthalmology has been developing rapidly for many decades. To keep you up to date with exciting research and development, we open this column. We plan to place news of ophthalmology weekly. Watch for updates.
What Is New in Ophthalmology in September and October, 2019
New Research in Treating Cataracts
Findings from a big retrospective study support the effectiveness and safety of dropless cataract surgery with transzonular injection of a corticosteroid and fluoroquinolone (Tri-Moxi, Imprimis Pharmaceuticals) for preventing postoperative infection and inflammation, according to Barry Emara, MD.
The research study population consisted of 884 eyes of 501 patients who underwent bilateral (383 patients) or unilateral (118 patients) conventional cataract surgery and 282 eyes of 165 patients who had bilateral (117 patients) or unilateral (48 patients) femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS).
A topical steroid was added after surgery when patients presented with symptomatic inflammation. Dr. Emara reported that additional steroid drops were needed for 72 eyes (8.1%) that had conventional cataract surgery and 34 eyes (11.9%) that had FLACS. In his updated series, additional steroid drops were needed for 82 (7.7%) of 1058 eyes that had traditional cataract surgery and 36 (12.6%) of 329 FLACS cases.
“From the data it appears that eyes undergoing FLACS are more susceptible to inflammation than those having standard cataract surgery, ‘Dr. Emara said. “Based on this info, surgeons may think about pretreating FLACS patients with a topical NSAID or steroid and possibly utilizing a topical NSAID postoperatively to reduce the susceptibility to inflammation.”
Read more: https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/cataract-surgery/surgeons-explore-dropless-cataract-surgery
Misconceptions Related to Children’s Vision
There are a lot of myths and false information out there about kids’s eye health. Here are a few of them:
- Pink eye only happens in young children.
- Antibiotics are necessary to cure your child’s pink eye.
- Sun is bad for your eyes.
- Blue light from screens is damaging children’s vision.
- Vision loss only happens to adults.
- All farsighted children need glasses.
Read more: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/seven-myths-about-childrens-eyes
What Is New in Ophthalmology in August, 2019
American Academy of Ophthalmology Offers Tips on How to Stay Safe Around Fireworks
A yearly report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that fireworks-related eye injuries have actually nearly doubled, from 700 in 2016 to 1,200 in 2017. In general, fireworks triggered almost 13,000 injuries in 2017, up from 11,000 in 2016. What’s behind the increase is unclear, but we do know how to avoid eye injuries. Ophthalmologists– doctors who concentrate on medical and surgical eye care– treat countless patients who suffer a variety of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to harmed corneas, retinas and ruptured eyeballs. Many injuries are brought on by legal fireworks moms and dads purchase for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles. To help in reducing the number of potentially blinding fireworks mishaps this holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is sharing these tips for remaining safe around fireworks.
Read more: aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/reports-of-eye-injuries-from-fireworks-have-double
How to Protect Your Eyes Today to Prevent Vision Loss in the Future
Follow these tips from the nation’s ophthalmologists– physicians focusing on medical and surgical eye care– to assist set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing well.
- Use sunglasses (even when it’s cloudy). Long-lasting exposure to the sun without appropriate defense can increase the risk of eye disease, consisting of cataract, macular degeneration, growths on the eye, and a rare type of eye cancer. Use sunglasses that obstruct 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
- Workout. Routine physical activity can protect you from major eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
- Stop smoking cigarettes. Smoking increases the risk for eye diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Smoking cigarettes likewise raises the risk for heart diseases. which can indirectly influence your eye health. Tobacco smoke, including pre-owned smoke, also gets worse dry eye.
- Protect your eyes at work and at play. Every year, thousands of individuals in the United States get a major work-related eye injury or sports-related eye injury. Wearing protective eyewear can avoid the majority of these injuries. To ensure you have the right type of protective eyeglasses and you’re utilizing it properly, talk with your eyecare professional.
- Understand eye fatigue. If you spend a great deal of time at the computer system or staring at your phone, you might forget to blink– which can weaken your eyes. Try using the 20– 20– 20 guideline throughout the day: Every 20 minutes, look away from the screens and focus about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. Eye tiredness will not damage your vision, however if it continues, it can be a sign something else is incorrect. You may have dry eye, presbyopia, or spectacles with lenses that are not appropriately focused.
- Take proper care of contact lenses. Sleeping, showering and swimming in contact lenses increases your risk for a potentially blinding eye infection. Find out how to correctly care for contact lenses.
- Know your family history. Certain eye diseases can be inherited. If you have a close relative with macular degeneration, you have a 50 percent possibility of establishing this condition. A family history of glaucoma increases your glaucoma risk by four to 9 times. Talk with relative about their eye conditions. It can assist you and your eye doctor evaluate your danger.
Read more: aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/do-these-seven-things-today-to-save-your-sight
