Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Image by Clearly Ambiguous

An international team of scientists have published a report that could change the way we look at dry eye syndrome.

There is news from the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, which has spent two years formulating an evidence-based evaluation of meibomian gland structure and function in health and disease.  According to report authors, MGD is an extremely important condition, conceivably underestimated, and very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease.  More than 50 experts from around the globe worked together, mostly using technology to connect across great distances to develop a contemporary understanding of the definition and classification of MGD.

According to the report, researchers now understand that the meibomian gland is a key component in the etiology of dry eye and contributes to the evaporative status of the tear film.

“MGD may well be the leading cause of dry eye disease throughout the world. Although this condition influences the health and well being of millions of people, there has not previously been a global consensus on the definition, classification, diagnosis or therapy of MGD,” explained Dr. David A. Sullivan, PhD, TFOS President.

Image via www.nsf.gov

Do brains and eyes work differently in various parts of the world?

A team of scientists has discovered that the eyes of Chinese and British people move differently.  Recognizing that Chinese people exhibit a specific eye movement that is rare in British people shows that different populations could have different brain mechanisms.  It was thought that a particular eye movement was a mark of brain injuries when the research sample was based on a largely European population.  This study shows that this eye movement was in fact common in 30% of the Chinese people studied.  These findings, published in the journal Experimental Brain Research, will keep physicians from misdiagnosing brain injuries now that it is know that certain eye movements, called saccades, are actually normal in certain populations.

According to Dr. Paul Knox, “There could be a number of explanations for this and further investigation is needed to fully understand why populations differ. It could be that culture – where we grow up, the education, work and social activities we are exposed to – influence these particular biological responses even though our physical make-up is the same…. The other possibility is that there are basic differences in brain structure and function that produce the kind of behaviour we identified. Maps of the brain were developed many years ago and were largely based on European populations. This became the blueprint for brain structure, but there could be differences between various populations.”

Source: Medical News Today

Computer eye strain affects over 90% of frequent computer users.

A study out of Japan shows the benefits of taking the antioxidant astaxanthin if one wishes to alleviate eye strain and related symptoms.

A couple of randomized double blind placebo controlled pilot studies demonstrated the positive effects of astaxanthin supplementation on visual function. In one study, 13 participants who  received 5 mg astaxanthin per day for one month showed a 54% reduction of eye fatigue complaints.

In another study focused on sports vision t depth perception and critical flicker fusion had improved by 46% and 5% respectively when participants took a daily does of 6 mg of astaxanthin. The effect of astaxanthin on visual performance prompted a number of other clinical studies to evaluate the optimum dose and identify the mechanism of action.

An astaxanthin-treated group (including only people who were asthenopia-negative) were able to recover more quickly than a control group after heavy visual stimulus. Later, Iwasaki & Tawara (2006) also confirmed the same tendencies of subjective eye fatigue complaints in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled double-crossover study.

Learn more about the power of astaxanthin.

Fore more research into computer eye strain, visit our website.

Image via nia.nih.gov

You might be able to avoid an unnecessary medical test if you are over 50: an MRI if you have been diagnosed with isolated ocular motor neuropathies.

New research published in The Archives of Ophthalmology describes how magnetic resonance imaging examinations are warranted for those under 50, who have a history of cancer, have more than one cranial nerve affected, or have a pupil-involving palsy of the third cranial nerve.  In the cases those who are older and are free of these other complications, researchers say that doctors can safely monitor these patients without without neuroimaging, at least at the beginning of treatment.

The authors of this paper came to these conclusions after studying 93 patients with acute isolated mononeuropathies and found that in only one case did an MRI help doctors discover lesions that would have changed the patients’ initial treatment plans. Source: Archives of Opthalmology

Isolated ocular motor neuropathies are most commonly a complication of diabetes.  Learn more about natural approaches to avoiding and coping with diabetes at our website.

If you have been concerned about your chances of experiencing dry eye syndrome post cataracts surgery, your fears may be warranted.

A new study finds that people who have had cataracts surgery are more likely to suffer from dry eyes than is usually reported.  An assessment of 143 people who underwent cataracts surgery showed that while only 22.1% of patients received a dry eye diagnosis, more than 30% reported stinging, burning, dryness and foreign body sensation, while 40% reported itching, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and fatigued eyes. Source: OSNSupersite

Learn more about natural strategies to cop with dry eyes at our website.

Also, read about natural ways we have helped people suffering from cataracts.

image via mdt.mt.gov

Glaucoma patients are more likely to have auto accidents than drivers without this sight-compromising condition.

At a talk preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting Eydie Miller-Ellis, MD talked about the roles that eye doctors play in determining whether a glaucoma patient’s ability to drive might be compromised.  She says “Physicians do have a responsibility to protect their patients and to protect the public. The law has some vision requirements and restrictions that are meant to protect its citizens. And so, should we report people who we think are dangerous? Certainly, if they do not meet the law, we absolutely should report them.”

There are options for glaucoma sufferers who are daunted by the thought that they might not be considered able to safely operate a vehicle.  Dr. Miller-Ellis recommends that they look into “senior driving courses and/or occupational therapists who can help with safer elderly driving.”  Source: OSNSuperSite

There are natural ways to fight glaucoma.  Read about how Natural Eye Care’s approaches have helped many clients who have received a glaucoma diagnosis.

Image via ndep.nih.gov

For people who have diabetes, an eye exam may not only reveal signs that the patient has the eye condition diabetic retinopathy.  A doctor may also be able to tell if someone has diabetic neuropathy in other parts of the body.

Research presented at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress shows that a corneal confocal microscope can help doctors determine whether a patient has diabetic neuropathy and the extent of this condition by revealing the shape and function of the nerve fibers of the cornea.  Up until now, it has been necessary to perform nerve conduction tests and take tissue samples to determine whether a person has neuropathy associated with diabetes.  Source: Virtual Medical Centre

Learn more about how to prevent and treat diabetes naturally at our website.

Image via span.state.gov

A recent Associated Press article highlights the video game company Nintendo’s recommendation that kids under 6 should not use their portable 3-D gaming device. The company warns that the 3-D screen could harm young children’s still developing vision.

On the other side of the issue, a spokesman from the American Optometric Association declares that that the device may actually be “a godsend” because it will help identify young children who need vision therapy.  If a child cannot see the 3-D effects, it could indicate that he or she may have amblyopia or some other eye teaming deficiency. Source: Detroit News

Other studies have found that time spent playing video games and/or watching television do not seem to be detrimental to children’s vision.  Still, it is important to note that time in front of a screen does not help children build vital visual skills.  Being outside, looking at distant objects is a great way to help ensure that kids will have healthier vision.

Image via womenshealth.gov

“Take your vitamins” is almost always a good recommendation, but if you have retinitis pigmentosa (RP), you need to be a little choosy about which vitamins you take.

A 1993 study showed that taking 15,000 IU of vitamin A each day was very helpful for RP sufferers.  Taking any more vitamin A than this recommended dose did not appear to be beneficial.

On the other hand, taking vitamin E (the study focused on intake of 400 IU per day) can actually accelerate the course of the disease and cause vision to deteriorate at a faster rate.

For more information on this and other scientific studies related to the treatment and prevention of retinitis pigmentosa, visit our research index.