The Lesser of Two Evils

This week everyone’s been discussing a new study in the JAMA Internal Medicine Journal and its findings that regular aspirin use may increase a risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common eye disease that is prevalent in people over the age of 50 and effects the central part of the retina causing blurry vision and possibly blind spots.

Aspirin, a common pain reliever is also known for being a life-saving drug in the event of a heart attack, which is why most people would take the drug regularly. This link between aspirin and AMD has sparked a controversy because some organizations, like Macular Society, want to warn people who have been prescribed aspirin to continue using it despite these findings. Macular Society, amongst others, says that the risks of not taking the drug are actually much higher than the risk of AMD. 

The study was conducted by researchers at The University of Sydney. There were 2,389 participants, of which 257 took aspirin regularly. After tracking these participants over 15 years, 24.5% were found to have developed AMD. 

As this discussion continues, we can only try and educate people so that they know that 1.)  they should not stop taking their prescribed aspirin, and 2.) they should get a regular eye exam in order to diagnose common eye disease like AMD, glaucoma and cataracts early on in order to minimize the damage done to their sight. 

Sometimes you just have to pick the lesser of two evils. 

Source: Huffington Post

The Sneak Thief of Sight's Newest Risk Factor

A new research study in Australia provides compelling evidence of a new risk factor for glaucoma, more commonly known as the “sneak thief of sight.” Researchers found that people with abnormally narrow retinal arteries are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma down the road.

Digital photograph of narrow retinal arteries (left) compared to normal retinal arteries (right) (Source: http://www.bmj.com/content/329/7457/79)

The findings from the Australian Blue Mountains Eye Study, conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, were published in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

 

Here’s a list of the main risk factors, including its newest, found for glaucoma:

1. Age: Those that are over the age of 40 are more likely to develop glaucoma. The older you are, the greater your risk.
2. Race: African-Americans are more likely to get glaucoma than the rest of the population. They also develop glaucoma at a younger age; on average, about 10 years earlier than any other race.
3. Family History: If you have a parent or sibling who has glaucoma, you are more likely to develop the disease. 
4. Diabetes: People with diabetes have a 40% higher risk of developing glaucoma.
5. Nearsightedness: People who are very nearsighted are at greater risk.
6. Eye Injury or Surgery: Those who have had eye surgery or eye injuries may develop secondary glaucoma.
7. Steroid Medication: Steroids may increase the risk of glaucoma when used for extended periods of time. 
8. Narrow Retinal Arteries: People with abnormally narrow retinal arteries are more likely to develop glaucoma.

Glaucoma doesn’t show any symptoms, but rather slowly steals your vision (hence it being nicknamed “the sneak thief of sight”) and before you know it, you could be completely blind. Knowing the risks and getting regular comprehensive eye exams is extremely important because if glaucoma is detected early, you may be able to save your sight.

Make Your Resolution Count

At the start of every year, we all sit down and think about the ways we can improve our lives for the next year. We make our New Year’s resolutions and vow that that this year will be different. This year, we’ll actually keep our resolutions. 

I’m sure you’ve guessed that the most common New Year’s resolutions are “to lose weight,” “to eat healthier,” “to save money,” “to quit smoking,” and “to spend more time with family and friends.” And you’ve probably also guessed that about 80 percent of people break these promises before the end of the year. 

Well, this year I challenge you to make a resolution that will better your life and even more, I challenge you to keep it. 

Improve your health and your life by making a resolution to get an eye exam this year. It sounds simple, but eye doctors check for much more than just a change in your vision; they can also determine if you have a common eye disease, which many times you would not know until you have already lost your sight.

Glaucoma is one of these common diseases that creeps up behind you and slowly steals your sight, leaving you with, in a sense, tunnel vision. Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of blindness, behind cataracts, which can also be diagnosed during an eye exam.

Stages of glaucoma vision (Source: http://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/glaucoma-surgery.htm)

"As we begin 2013, we hope that everyone’s New Year’s resolution will be to make their eye health a priority and schedule an eye exam,” said Debbie Goss, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas. “Through early detection and treatment, we can help lessen the effects of glaucoma and other eye diseases on vision.”

Since January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, I feel that this resolution seems only fitting. For more information about glaucoma please read our press release.