Rates of blindness have fallen by 50% in high-income countries since 1980, and the primary cause has changed from cataract to AMD, according to a study published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

 

In addition, the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors has decreased by 38% and remains the leading cause of moderate and severe vision impairment. The study reports that the prevalence of this type of impairment and blindness in older people was markedly lower in high-income regions than in global populations.

 

Eastern and Central Europe are the only regions in which cataracts remain the most common cause of blindness. Elsewhere, AMD has been the most frequent cause of blindness since 2010. The third most common cause of blindness, even in highly developed countries, was refractive error, followed by glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

 

The investigators also note that the epidemic of diabetes will soon take its toll on vision, with as many as 100 million people being expected to develop diabetic retinopathy.

Source:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822562

 

Attendance at the 2014 Vision Expo East was up 6% over 2013, with the New York event breaking its previous attendance record set in 2012. The definitive figures will be available later in April.

 

“The 2014 event proved once again that eyecare professionals appreciate the very diverse and integrated opportunities available only at Vision Expo,” said Tom Loughran, group vice-president for Reed Exhibitions. “They see the benefit of arriving early to take advantage of the professional development content, and then applying the knowledge they’ve gained to the demonstrations and experiences of the show.”

 

This year, wearable technology occupied a major place in the show, particularly in the Eye² Zone, which was filled with “smart” glasses ready to compete with Google Glass and other innovations.

 

The International Vision Expo & Conference East will be back at the Javits Center in New York City from March 19 to 22, 2015, when visitors and exhibitors will be able to take advantage of a brand new subway station and technological improvements.

Source:

International Vision Expo

 

 

M2L inc. recently launched the first optical-eyewear magazine for Canadian consumers.

 

Distributed in optometrists’ and dispensing opticians’ offices throughout Canada, Tmag will be published twice a year (spring-summer issue and fall-winter issue) and will present seasonal trends. The first issue (spring-summer 2014) has just been delivered.

 

Tmag has pictures of frames, of course, but it also offers eye health advice and provides product information and tips to help consumers pick the right pair of glasses. Being the only magazine designed with consumers in mind, Tmag would fittingly be displayed in waiting rooms. Tmag is also a good starting point for consumers who want to become better informed about value-added products.

 

Each office received three copies of the first issue at no charge, and additional copies are available upon request at publication@M2L.ca or 1.888.990.4422, ext. 237.

 

 

A study has found cases where injections of cosmetic dermal fillers in the face resulted in vision loss.

 

The article published online on March 6, 2014, in JAMA Ophthalmology reported three cases of patients who developed central retinal artery occlusion shortly after having received this type of injection.

 

A man in his thirties noticed field vision loss the day after getting an injection of hyaluronic acid. A woman in her early sixties presented with severe vision loss the same day she had an injection of autologous fat into the forehead. Finally, a woman in her forties suffered total vision loss in her right eye after receiving an injection of bovine collagen and polymethacrylate microspheres into the forehead.

 

The researchers explain that when a high-pressure injection is made in this area of the face, the injected substance can hit the external carotid vessels with such force that it flows backward into the internal carotid and into the eye.

 

“The risk is very, very low, but the risk is not zero,” said the lead author. “I just worry that often risks are minimized, and when something bad happens, it catches everybody by surprise.” She hopes that patients will receive information about the risk, so they can make an informed decision.

Source:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/821639_print

http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1838342

 

 

Brien Holden Vision Institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The Institute’s leaders therefore took the opportunity to reflect on their past accomplishments and lift the veil on their future initiatives.

 

Established in 1973 under the name of Optometric Vision Research Foundation, Brien Holden Vision Institute contributed to some of the most important breakthroughs in the optical industry in the last few decades. At the same time, the Institute generated $30 billion in revenues for the industry, according to its leaders.

 

The most significant advances are the development of the first soft toric lenses in the 1970s and the silicone hydrogel lens invention in the 1980s.

 

But the story doesn’t end there, according to the company’s CEO, professor Brien Holden. “We will continue to progress our work towards the optimal correction of vision, and the early detection and diagnosis of eye disease and general health conditions affecting the eye, through advanced, innovative and affordable product development,” he said at a recent business meeting in China.

 

Upcoming developments include a retinal imaging camera, a cost-effective solution to help in the early, automatic diagnosis of blinding eye disease, and a device called NODe. This device will assess neurological function and dysfunction by assessing and measuring eye movements.

Source:

http://www.brienholdenvision.org/media-centre/latest-news/923-50-years-in-optometry-40-years-of-innovation-professor-brien-holden-reflects.html