River blindness is actually a phrase coined by our founder the late Sir John Wilson, when he travelled to West Africa in the 1950s. Its official name is onchocerciasis.River blindness is caused by a parasitical worm,onchocerca volvulus. The worm larvae are spread by the black simulium fly, which breed by the oxygen rich water of fast flowing rivers. The fly transmits the disease when it bites peo
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What is river blindness?
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4322 days ago (Editorial)Eye Care Utilization by Older Adults in Low, Middle, and High Income Countries
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4328 days ago (Editorial)
The risk of visual impairment increases dramatically with age and therefore older adults should have their eyes examined at least every 1 to 2 years. Using a world-wide, population-based dataset, we sought to determine the frequency that older people had their eyes examined. We also examined factors associated with having a recent eye exam. The World Health Surveys were conducted in 70 countries
Light- Powered Bionic Eye Invented To Help Restore Sight
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4328 days ago (Editorial)
A retinal implant - or bionic eye - which is powered by light has been invented by scientists at Stanford University in California. Implants currently used in patients need to be powered by a battery. The new device, described in the journal Nature Photonics, uses a special pair of glasses to beam near infrared light into the eye. This powers the implant and sends the information which could help
Are the eyes the key to a new test for Alzheimer's disease? Are the eyes the key to a new test for Alzheimer's disease
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4328 days ago (Editorial)
Work, led by Lancaster University in partnership with Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has shown that people with Alzheimer's disease have difficulty with one particular type of eye tracking test. As part of the study, 18 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 25 patients with Parkinson's disease, 17 healthy young people and 18 healthy older people were aske
What is a Black Eye? What is a Periorbital Hematoma?
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4329 days ago (Editorial)
A black eye, also known as a periorbital hematoma or a shiner, refers to bruising of the tissue under the skin around the eye. In the majority of cases the injury was not to the eye itself, but rather to the face. The patient may have been struck on the face by a tennis ball, a fist, a door, etc. It is called a "black eye" because the bluish-dark color of the surrounding tissue's bruising, caused
Top Tips for Healthy Eyes
Posted by Praveen (#2) 4329 days ago (Editorial)
Taking care of our eyes is just as important as the rest of our bodies.Get your eyes tested every two years even if you think your vision is fine Talk to your relatives about your family eye health history as some eye conditions have genetic links such as glaucoma or squint. If you wear contact lenses make sure you look after them properly. Protect your eyes when it is
Ocriplasmin Useful for Vitreomacular Adhesions, Macular Holes
Posted by Bharat (#1) 4331 days ago (Editorial)
Significantly more patients who received ocriplasmin experienced resolution of vitreomacular adhesions and closure of macular holes than patients who received placebo, according to results from a study published in the August 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Despite the statistical significance of the results, only a small percentage of patients stand to benefit. Just 13.4% of the
Cataract Rates are on the Rise in Americans Age 40 and Older
Posted by Bharat (#1) 4331 days ago (Editorial)
August 16, 2012 – The incidence of cataracts in the U.S. has risen 19 percent since 2000, impacting nearly 25 million Americans age 40 and older.[i] In fact, more than half of all Americans will develop cataracts by age 80, according to Prevent Blindness America’s Vision Problems in the U.S. report. In response, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart program is educating the public abou