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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 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 June 9th, 2011
 Choose sunwear with large or wrap lenses with 98% to 100% UVA/UVB protection for your best defense againts the sun's rays. From a USAToday article: A report by the American Optometric Association states that one in three adults is unaware of the risks of exposure to sunlight without proper protection. And, just 29% of parents make sure their children wear sunwear outdoors.
Another report by Prevent Blindness America states that cumulative exposure to UV rays from the sun can contribute to ”significant and lasting damage to the eye and vision.”
There is no shortage of scientific evidence that excessive UV exposure to the eyes can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, and even sunburn of the eyes.
The article also includes some sound advice for choosing appropriate sunwear. You can read the article here. Have you invested in eye protection for yourself and your family this year?
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