Displaying items by tag: preventions

A round table discussion held in January 2016 – chaired by Professor John Marshall with a panel of experts representing research, ophthalmology, academia and retail optometry – set out to determine the extent to which blue light is a hazard to the human eye and to establish whether it is implicated in disease such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Discussions included the availability of existing research and the likelihood of future studies being conducted, which will help support the increasing body of evidence that blue light is a concern for eye health. They concluded by suggesting how this potential risk should be discussed in the practice environment.

Article from the magazine "Point de vue"

Macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts play a major role in the United States health care system and global effort directed to the prevention of these conditions now is part of optometry initiatives. To benefit society both from a financial and a productivity perspective, optometrists focus on four areas in clinical practice: protective lenses, nutraceuticals, genetic testing and periodic examinations.

Light is suspected of being a risk factor for major vision-threatening diseases. Yet an equal light exposure can unequally affect people. Multiple intricate factors are responsible for a distinct personal risk profile. The scientific quest in understanding both eye phototoxicity and individual risk profiles can set a turning point towards personalized prevention in the future.

AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness in industrialized countries. It has two forms, atrophic and exudative, and a multifactorial pathogenesis. To cope with the ever-increasing incidence of AMD, retinal specialists resort to three strategies: primary prevention, patient management in clinical practice and prospective medical research aimed at finding new therapies.

In this new digital era, there are new risks for user eyes and new challenges for vision care professionals. Ten experts, optometrists, ophthalmologists and researchers have addressed this broad topic and offer us their experience and thoughts in the form of verbatim comments. This overview has been divided into three main thematic areas: risks and prevention, professional practices, and projections and expectations.

Annual exposure to solar radiation is three times higher in children than adults. Moreover, because of their physiology, children’s eyes are more vulnerable and require special protection against UV rays and blue-violet light. Designed for children as well as adults, the new Crizal® Prevencia® lenses are completely transparent, providing optimal photo-protection from day to day. The use of sunglasses will ensure additional protection in direct sunlight. 

Symptoms of discomfort are common among patients who spend considerable time performing tasks at near viewing distances – such as is common among computer users. 
Although the symptoms can be vague and seem elusive, they can usually be eliminated or reduced by diagnosis and treatment of the work arrangement and the visual system – including proper spectacle correction of presbyopia. 

Article from the magazine "Point de vue"