Today, Thursday, October 9, the industry is invited to support Optometry Giving Sight and its annual fundraising campaign known as the World Sight Day Challenge (WSD). Now in its 7^th year, the World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error – the need for an eye exam and glasses. The campaign has set a fundraising target of $1 million in 2014.

 

Participation can be a fundraising pledge, or a monthly or annual donation, before the end of World Sight Day, today, October 9.

 

Share your activities via social media and the #givingsight hashtag.

 

 

Taking daily supplements of selenium or vitamin E appears to have no significant effect on the development of age-related cataracts in men, according to an American study.

 

Past research, particularly studies involving animals, suggests that nutrients can prevent the onset of cataracts or slow their progression. Vitamin E and selenium are of particular interest.

 

The researchers followed a total of 11,267 participants. Over a period of 5.6 years of treatment and follow-up, 389 cases of cataracts developed. There were 185 cases of cataracts in the selenium group and 204 in the group that didn’t take selenium, and there were 197 cases of cataracts in the vitamin E group and 192 in the group without vitamin E. Similar findings were seen in statistics on cataract surgery.

 

“These randomized trial data from a large cohort of apparently healthy men indicate that long-term daily supplemental use of vitamin E has no material impact on cataract incidence,” concluded the authors of the paper published in JAMA. “The data also exclude any large beneficial effect on cataract for long-term supplemental use of selenium, with or without vitamin E, although a smaller but potentially important beneficial effect could not be ruled out.”

Source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140918162309.htm

 

A Spanish study identified certain foods that could ease the symptoms of glaucoma. However, stronger remedies are needed to completely cure the disease.

 

Researchers from the University of Valencia analyzed data from more than 20 previous studies. They found that certain studies showed the benefits of a moderate consumption of red wine or dark chocolate, green tea, fruit and vegetables (particularly green vegetables, peaches, oranges and carrots), as well as liver, in reducing pressure in the eye.

 

Most of these ingredients are rich in antioxidants. Two of the studies analyzed found that a high intake of retinol, abundant in liver, milk, cheese or butter, or Vitamin B1, found in bread and potatoes, reduced the risk of developing glaucoma by half. Some studies found that coffee protected against retinal degeneration, while others suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fats slowed down the progression of glaucoma.

 

For Karen Sparrow, from the Great Britain Association of Optometrists, these findings are positive, but must be treated with caution, given the relatively small sample on which they are based. “All of the diet tips in the survey could go some way to reducing the eye pressure, but can also be viewed as tips to maintain good general health overall, including the eyes.”

 

Like many scientists, she believes that gene therapy could cure glaucoma in the long run… likely more effectively than chocolate, though no doubt providing less pleasure!

Source:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2746164/How-chocolate-red-wine-plate-liver-help-glaucoma-bay.html

 

Over 33,000 visitors made their way around the halls of the latest Silmo, held September 26 through 29 in Paris.

 

More than half of the visitors (56%) came from abroad, despite the ill-timed Air France strike, which had an impact on travel for some. Once arrived, they got a look at the new products from 900 exhibitors, of which over 150 were new to Silmo.

 

In an interview with ClipInfo.ca, Silmo president Philippe Lafont stressed the importance of events like Silmo in a challenging economic climate. “They allow opticians to get an overall picture of the market, by seeing over 1,000 brands in a single location,” he said. “However, Silmo is more than just a sales venue; it’s a stimulating place for professionals to gather and exchange ideas with other members of a profession that is generally relatively isolated.”

 

Furthermore, Silmo and Mido have announced a new partnership. Starting in March 2015, at the Silmo and Mido trade shows, the two organizations will release the results of quarterly barometer surveys to measure the economic performance of the European optical industry, jointly requested of the GfK Insitute. “There is little statistical data available on the industry, and it’s a gap we intend to fill,” said Philippe Lafont.

 

 

 

The French newspaper Les Echos recently disclosed details about a draft bill intended to allow opticians-optometrists to prescribe glasses.

 

In France, ophthalmologists are responsible for conducting eye tests and prescribing glasses and contact lenses. Justified by the reduction in the number of ophthalmologists by 2020, at a time when eye disorders will increase by at least 15%, the draft bill plans to “allocate certain acts, such as prescribing corrective glasses or contact lenses, to specially trained opticians.”

 

The text states that 2,000 opticians-optometrists are already trained and waiting to fully exercise their powers. The French Ministry of Economy and Finance estimates that health insurance savings will total $142 million (100 million euros) and that insureds or supplementary health insurance organizations (Ocam) will see savings of $370 million (260 million euros).

 

The National Union of French Ophthalmologists (Snof), which called on its members to go on strike September 30, issued a biting response through its president, Dr. Jean-Bernard Rottier. “The measures to demedicalize the sale of glasses are a threat to the eye health of the French people. A visit to an ophthalmologist is the only way to detect asymptomatic diseases, which sometimes have irreversible consequences: glaucoma, brain tumour… As doctors, we’re responsible for making sure that patients receive the best care possible to preserve their eye health. And when it’s threatened, we’ll fight for them!”

Watch for more information as it comes available…

Sources:

http://opticien-presse.fr/2014101101-le-gouvernement-prevoit-de-deleguer-la-prescription-de-lunettes-aux-opticiens-optometristes/

http://opticien-presse.fr/2014091602-projet-de-loi-croissance-et-optometrie-les-ophtalmologistes-atterres-appellent-a-la-greve/