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By dr.andy, on February 9th, 2012
Grants to Bring More Than $6M in Research Funding
According to a news release dated February 8, 2012, a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has renewed several grants with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The efforts of physiology professor Gadiparthi Rao, PhD will bring in more than $6 million in research funding to the UTHSC. The grant renewals are significant not only for the amount, but also for the fact they were received in spite of the current economy.
The funding is expected to allow Dr. Rao to continue groundbreaking research into the role of lipids (fats and related molecules) and cytokines (regulatory proteins) in the body. Specifically, how they affect the vascular system and how such changes relate to retinopathies, or damage to the retina of the eye.
Dr. Rao is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, and he serves on the editorial board of Circulation Research and Arteriosclerosis and Vascular Biology, two prestigious journals of the American Heart Association.
The eye doctors and professional team at LaFollette Eye Clinic are proud of Dr. Rao and his accomplishments. We look forward to the potential advances in understanding, treating, and preventing such vascular conditions as macular degeneration and glaucoma, as well as other retinopathies that affect the eyes and vision of our patients.
Congratulations, Dr. Rao. May your efforts be fruitful.
By dr.andy, on February 6th, 2012
By now you’ve probably heard the rumor that sugary foods and drinks will soon be taxed and regulated like alcohol and cigarettes. While the rumor isn’t true (yet), it stems from a highly publicized article in the journal Nature dated February 2nd. According to a follow up article at Time.com, regulating sugary foods will be a challenge in today’s culture because we have an emotional attachment to sugar. We celebrate birthdays with cake, not salad.
Another problem is sugar’s prevalence in our lives. No one has to look very far before they find more than enough to satisfy their cravings. Just this morning a well-meaning vendor brought two dozen doughnuts for the eye doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic. I looked them over, since they were baked at a local shop whose artisans are long on talent, if not nutrition. They were pretty, but I didn’t touch one. I abstained not because I’m worried about my hips, but because I want to protect my heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and yes, my eyes.
 Colorful fruits and veggies are great for the eyes! The far-reaching damaging effects of excess sugar are no secret, but they are beyond the scope of this post. Fortunately, good nutrition is also no secret, especially as it relates to our eyes and vision. Here’s a good rule of thumb that’s easy to remember: food that’s prettiest to the eyes (i.e., most colorful) is generally better. Remember, though, that it should be natural (as it came from the ground) and not processed (as it came from the box of doughnuts).
Read on to discover seven foods to eat for better vision and eye health:
1. Leafy greens: spinach, chard, kale, and collards. These nutrient packed powerhouses are listed first for a reason. First, they contain the pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which are naturally found in the eyes. They both improve vision and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Second, they provide carotenoids, a provitamin A that is converted to natural vitamin A (retinol) by the body. Vitamin A is also known to reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Third, they contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect retinal cells from UV radiation, again reducing the risk of macular degeneration. Are you noticing a pattern here?
2. Berries: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Berries are high in antioxidants, protecting against macular degeneration and cataracts.
3. Colored fruits and vegetables: this broad category has two parts. Orange-colored fruits and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, cantaloupe, apricots) provide beta-carotene, the most common type of carotenoid that supports retinal health and protects against macular degeneration and cataracts. Other colorful fruits and vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, strawberries, cantaloupe, oranges) contain vitamin C, a key protective antioxidant.
4. Fish: specifically, salmon and sardines. These fish are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of macular degeneration and also have additional benefits for dry eyes and other ocular surface dieases. Many fish are also good sources of another potent antioxidant, vitamin D.
5. Nuts: almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and even peanut butter. These are sources of vitamin E, yet another powerful antioxidant. Wheat germ and avocados are also good sources of vitamin E.
6. Lean meat: lean beef and turkey. Here’s where you’ll get plenty of zinc, which helps your body absorb all those antioxidants you’ve been reading about.
7. Milk: contains riboflavin (a B vitamin) and natural vitamin A (retinol). Riboflavin can help prevent cataracts, and as mentioned before, vitamin A helps prevent macular degeneration.
By dr.andy, on January 13th, 2012
Yesterday’s post featured a video that demonstrated the capabilities of the iOptik contact lens. Specifically, it showed the ability of a lens to simultaneously focus on both extreme distance and near objects. The idea is to use such a lens to allow wearers to view multimedia displays inside their eyewear.
Today’s video features contact lenses used in a slightly different way. It’s no surprise that contacts with embedded circuitry are being developed, and the video shows a few uses already in the works. One type of lens can monitor the eye pressure of people with glaucoma. Another can monitor the blood sugar of people with diabetes. Still others can slowly dispense medicine and even allow wearers to view multimedia displays right before their eyes.
The eye doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic look forward to the day when contact lenses do so much more for the vision and health of our patients. Thanks to the Pittsburgh affiliate of CBS for the video. There’s a commercial, but the video’s worth the wait:
By dr.andy, on January 3rd, 2012
 Clear vision begins with healthy eyes A Google search about eye related New Year’s resolutions turned out to be a bit of a surprise. Searching for “New Year’s resolution” + “new glasses” brought just over 50 million results. And, a search for “New Year’s resolution” + “new contact lenses,” came up with only about 2.5 million results.
However, a search for “New Year’s resolution” + “eye exam” resulted in over 68 million results. This is very encouraging for a number of reasons. While the eye doctors and professional team at LaFollette Eye Clinic recognize the excitement surrounding new glasses and contact lenses, the foundation to clear vision is a yearly comprehensive eye examination. Neither the skill of your optometrist, nor high definition glasses lenses, nor the most comfortable contacts can help if the eyes are damaged by unforseen eye diseases and conditions.
Eye exams for children can allow your optometrist to detect and treat unrecognized prescriptions, focusing weakness, eyestrain, amblyopia (lazy eye), and other medical conditions. Eye exams are also important for adults to maintain clear vision and eye health. Especially at risk are adults who have glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes. Even adults whose family members have these conditions carry a greater risk of eye problems. And, how many adults (and kids for that matter) spend their days looking at a computer or handheld screen? This too can be a source of great eye and visual discomfort.
This year, many thoughtful people are resolving to get an eye exam for themselves and their family members. Not only is a resolution like this beneficial, it’s really easy to keep!
By dr.andy, on November 29th, 2011
Tears of Joy for One Patient After Cataract Surgery
We like to imagine we know why we’re here. The eye doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic abide by a strict code of ethics, we work hard to provide our patients with the latest technology, and we’re careful to uphold our reputation for legendary customer service. We regularly review our mission statement, which is to provide our patients with the highest quality eye care available anywhere.
And yet, sometimes even the most experienced professionals are taken by surprise. Sure, every optometrist has seen his or her share of success stories. But every now and then one comes along that is so profoundly moving it stops us in our tracks and reminds us why we’re really here.
We experienced such a story last week.
Tom Browning, M.D. had performed cataract surgery for several patients and we were assisting with their postoperative care. One of our Certified Paraoptometrics helped a patient to an exam room. The patient’s wife also helped, as the patient was wearing a patch over the eye that had surgery and could only see shadows out of the other eye. The patient’s wife mentioned that he has only been able to see shadows for the past two years, and they were excited to see whether the surgery had changed their lives.
Once the patient was seated, the Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) removed the patch. The patient immediately looked at his wife and exclaimed her name with happiness. He was seeing his wife clearly for the first time in two years! His wife stood to her feet and jumped for joy, with tears streaming down her face. Both husband and wife hugged, cried, and thanked God for the successful cataract surgery and his restored vision.
The patient’s wife explained to her husband that she would no longer have to describe the scene when they took a trip to the lake; he would be able to see it himself. At this, the CPO was overwhelmed; she also began to cry tears of joy with them. She also thanked God for enabling men to change lives, and for being a part of it.
The patient and his wife thanked us repeatedly for all we had done. They claimed this would be the best Thanksgiving they had ever had. They left LaFollette Eye Clinic incredibly happy, and they left a deep impression on the CPO that helped them, as well as on all of us.
It was a wonderful way to begin a season that all too often is disrupted by commercialism and conflict. It was a gentle reminder that behind every pair of eyes is a person, each with his or her own hopes and dreams. It was affirmation that we are doing exactly as we should: performing at our highest level, caring for others, and doing the best job we possibly can, one patient at a time.
And, we’re incredibly thankful for having been reminded of that.
By dr.andy, on November 21st, 2011
Online Glasses Sales May Put Wearers at Risk
 Impact resistance requirements are extremely important for lenses worn so close to the eyes An article in the AOA News reports a 44.8% overall failure rate for glasses ordered online. The most common failures were incorrect prescription and failure to meet minimum impact resistance safety standards. Researchers ordered a total 154 pairs of spectacles from ten of the nation’s most popular online glasses sales websites.
Some interesting findings:
More than one in five pairs of glasses ordered online did not arrive as ordered, with either added or omitted options.
More than one in four (28.6%) pairs of eyeglasses ordered online had the incorrect prescription in one or both lenses.
22.7% of glasses ordered online had one lens or both lenses fail FDA impact resistance requirements.
This failure rate is unprecedented in the eyewear industry. Traditionally, these types of problems with eyewear were rare since eyewear production facilities and vision care practices employed multiple level product inspections and careful verification of eyeglasses before dispensing. However, due to online glasses sales, the failure rate is rapidly rising.
Also, proper eyewear fitting and adjustment by a professional can eliminate numerous additional problems, which is an important topic not addressed by the study.
Fortunately, you can still be assured your eyewear is just as you ordered and exactly as prescribed by your eye doctor. LaFollette Eye Clinic not only has its own production facility to ensure high quality eyewear, but also our multiple point inspection system provides eyewear exactly as ordered.
Add to that our legendary customer service and eyewear guarantee, and you have an experience and eyewear that cannot possibly duplicated online.
By dr.andy, on October 3rd, 2011
 Scenes like this can be confusing to any driver, especially those whose vision is impaired According to a New York Times article, the New York DMV will no longer require an eye test for people renewing their driver’s license. Instead, renewing drivers will “self-certify” their ability to see well enough to operate a motor vehicle. Commercial and new licenses will still require the eye test.
Barbara Fiala, the commissioner for the New york State DMV, claims the move is a response to Governor Cuomo’s call to “identify and change procedures that are outdated, could be streamlined or could be transacted online.” Another reason given was that eliminating the eye test saves the state money.
The eye doctors at LaFollette Eye Clinic respectfully disagree with the decision. We see patients on a daily basis who claim to see well enough to drive, yet are proven incorrect in the exam room. And, most of these patients drive themselves to their eye exam. It should be noted that the state of Tennessee does not require a vision test for license renewals.
What the policy does not address is the obvious and natural decline in vision due to age related factors such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and prescription changes. Passing the eye test at age 16 in no way guarantees vision will remain clear enough to drive safely thirty, twenty, or even five years later.
Cutting government spending is a good idea. But doing so at the risk of public safety is not.
By dr.andy, on September 1st, 2011
Visual hallucinations due to Charles Bonnett Syndrome may be more common than you think
 Are these cows real, or a visual hallucination? According to an article in the August Edition of Review of Optometry, visual hallucinations experienced by people with poor vision may be due to Charles Bonnett Syndrome, or CBS. It occurs when visually impaired people experience complex visual hallucinations. These people are otherwise healthy, with normal mental ability and no evidence of psychiatric problems or brain abnormalities.
The syndrome is named after Swiss philosopher Charles Bonnett, who first recognized it.
Interestingly, even though people who experience CBS have poor vision, the hallucinations can be very vivid and detailed. Images can be quite distinct, allowing the person to identify different animal types or even faces. Strangely, the faces can be very clear, yet unfamiliar to the person experiencing the hallucination. Essentially they can see a very clear image of a stranger.
Research suggests 10% to 40% of visually impaired people can experience CBS, but this number is likely low. Many people don’t want to admit they experience hallucinations for fear of being labeled as suffering from dementia.
The exact reason for these hallucinations remains uncertain. One theory suggests nerves spontaneously generate images when they no longer receive stimulation from vision. Another theory claims the brain is responsible, attempting to “fill in” missing or distorted spots in the vision. While not entirely accurate, it helps to compare CBS to “phantom limb” syndrome, where a person who loses a limb from trauma sometimes states he can still feel the missing limb even though he knows it’s not there.
CBS is more common in elderly women, and the most common eye disease associated with the syndrome is age-related macular degeneration. Other conditions that may cause CBS include cataracts, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal detachments, and diabetic retinopathy.
My own patients have admitted to hallucinations including images of people, animals (cows and elephants), and trees. Sometimes they only realize the images are hallucinations when someone with them reveals it. For example, I had one patient look out her window and say to a friend, “Look how those cows have gathered in that field.” Her friend pointed out that the field was empty. Other times patients realize they are hallucinating, like the patient who told me she saw a beautiful grove of trees in the middle of the highway.
Unfortunately, not much can be done for people experiencing visual hallucinations. The good news is the frequency of the hallucinations tends to decrease with time. This can be comforting to someone suffering from CBS. Also, the best treatment may be to maximize remaining vision and decrease glare. A low vision specialist may be helpful in many cases.
Another good idea is to realize that Charles Bonnett Syndrome exists at all. If you work with or have family or friends suffering from impaired vision, it can be helpful to simply ask if they have experienced visual hallucinations. It may be the first step to getting them the help they need.
By dr.andy, on July 7th, 2011
Non-prescription contacts are causing serious trouble for this unfortunate teenage girl
In a previous post I blogged about contact lenses causing a significant number of ER visits for kids. And while statistics are helpful, sometimes stories about individuals can be more compelling.
Here’s a story about Erica Barnes, a 14 year old from Queens, New York. She bought colored contacts without a prescription, training, or evaluation by an eye doctor. After falling asleep in the lenses she developed a severe eye infection that hospitalized her for two weeks. She now faces the sad choice of either losing vision in the infected eye or going through with a corneal transplant.
The video below makes some significant points. First, she did not seek an eye doctor to obtain her lenses. Had she done this, she would have received a proper exam, evaluation, and training. Second, she developed the infection one day after inserting the lens. It does not take long for serious eye infections to begin and do severe damage. Third, she was told to rinse her contact lenses in tap water, which is very dangerous. Some “vendors” offering non-prescription contacts neither know nor care about proper, healthy contact lens wear.
The video also acknowledges the growing popularity of colored contact lenses due to high profile celebrities using them in videos and on stage. However, these celebrities are not risking their fame, careers, and vision by using store-bought or non-prescription contact lenses. Rest assured: the stars are receiving proper contact lenses and care from their eye doctors.
Selling any contact lenses without a doctor’s prescription is illegal. This includes “plain” colored lenses without power or magnification. It is illegal because contact lenses are medical devices regulated by the FDA, and wearing illegal contact lenses can be very unhealthy and harmful to the eyes. If you want contact lenses, either with power to correct your vision or with color (or both), be sure to seek out a qualified eye doctor to help you. It is simply not worth risking a lifetime of visual problems.
Please watch the video below to see more of Erica’s story:
By dr.andy, on June 20th, 2011
 Contact lens misuse can lead to ER visits The journal Pediatrics, in association with the FDA, released the results of a 2-year study that reviewed causes of ER visits in kids. The study specifically targeted ER visits caused by medical devices, and contact lenses led the list with 23%. The problems reported included abrasions (cuts to the eye), ulcers (corneal infections), and conjunctivitis (commonly referred to as “pink eye”). Sadly, many of these ER visits could have been prevented.
The study showed that many of the problems were caused by the wearer either changing the recommended wear and care regimen (poor hygiene, sleeping in unapproved lenses) or changing the replacement interval (wearing lenses past the replacement date). This type of carelessness has been proven to increase risks of contact lens related complications.
While important for all contact lens wearers, strict wear and care regimens are especially important for kids. Depending on their age or level of responsibility, many times a child will not report problems to their parents as quickly as they should. When problems with contact lenses arise, it is essential to call your eye doctor as quickly as possible to avoid lasting damage to the eyes and vision.
The benefits of contact lens wear far outweigh the risks, especially if proper wear and care are maintained. At LaFollette Eye Clinic we are dedicated to teaching our patients about proper contact lens use, and when we fit children we make sure we educate the parents as well.
Keeping regular yearly appointments with an eye doctor is one way to maintain good eye health with contact lens wear. Another is to be diligent about proper wear and care of the lenses. And should you experience difficulties call as soon as possible for prompt care. By staying careful with contacts, they should provide you and your children years of trouble free, healthy, and safe vision.
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