The probability of glaucoma leading to blindness has fallen by half since 1980, according to a study published in Ophthalmology.

 

In the last 34 years, changes to diagnostic criteria, new therapies, innovative tools and improved glaucoma management techniques have helped patients immensely. However, the Mayo Clinic study presented in the article was the first to evaluate the changes in the risks of glaucoma progression over an extended period of time and the incidence of blindness related to this illness.

 

After studying 857 cases of open-angle glaucoma diagnosed between 1965 and 2009 in Minnesota, the researchers found that the risks of going blind after 20 years was 25.8% for patients who were diagnosed between 1965 and 1980, compared to 13.5% for individuals diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.

 

Nonetheless, 15% of patients still end up going blind. “The percentage of people who continue to develop blindness is still too high,” says Dr. Arthur J. Sit, associate professor of ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic. “This is generally due to a late diagnosis and to our incomplete understanding of glaucoma, so it is crucial to continue research into this devastating disease, and all eyecare professionals need to be vigilant in detecting it very early.”

Source:

http://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(13)00808-7/abstract

 

Essilor has entered into an agreement with Coastal Contacts Inc. to acquire Coastal.com, a transaction worth about $430 million.

 

The purchase price of $12.45 per share to be paid by Essilor represents a premium of 43% over the three-month average price for Coastal.com on the TSX ($8.73) and 84% over the six-month average price ($6.78).

 

“Essilor shares Coastal.com’s focus on customers, innovation and growth,” said Roger Hardy, Coastal.com’s founder and CEO. “The combination will enhance Coastal.com’s ability to achieve its goals while realizing a significant all-cash premium for our shareholders. I am confident this transaction is the right decision for Coastal.com, our employees and our shareholders.”

 

The agreement remains to be approved by shareholders and the relevant authorities. It has already been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. Since the sale has not yet been completed, the Board could receive a better offer from another buyer, in which case Essilor would have the right to match the new offer. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.

Source:

http://investors.coastal.com/Press-Room/News-Releases/Press-Release-Details/2014/Essilor-International-Agrees-to-Acquire-Coastalcom-for-430-Million/default.aspx

 

Moderate aerobic exercise helps to preserve the structure and function of damaged retinal nerve cells, and could therefore slow the progression of retinal degenerative diseases.

 

Emory University researchers made this finding after conducting an experiment on mice. They first got mice to run for an hour a day, five days a week, for two weeks. They then exposed the mice to toxic bright light and ran them again for two weeks.

 

The study findings, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, showed that the exercised animals lost half as many photoreceptor cells as those that had not trained.

 

Also, the retinal cells of exercised mice were more responsive to light and had higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a growth- and health-promoting protein.

 

“This is the first report of simple exercise having a direct effect on retinal health and vision,” said Dr. Machelle Pardue, from Emory University. “This research may one day lead to tailored exercise regimens or combination therapies in treatments of blinding diseases.”

Sources:

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/7/2406

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140207114059.htm

 

 

 

Using postmenopausal hormones (PMH) containing estrogen may reduce the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

 

Several researchers in the past have suggested that using PMH can be associated with modestly reduced intraocular pressure, and thus decrease the risk for glaucoma.

 

The study authors examined data for over 150,000 women taking PMH with estrogen, with estrogen plus progesterone or with estrogen plus androgen. They found that 1.9% of women had developed open-angle glaucoma. They subsequently noticed that each additional month a woman used a PMH containing estrogen was associated with a 0.4% reduced relative risk for glaucoma. A similar association was not found in the cases of the other two forms of hormones.

 

“More research is needed to better elucidate the complex relationship between PMH use and glaucoma,” the authors conclude. “Additional work should also further explore whether the risk for POAG is affected only by the use of estrogen alone, or by the use of any PMH class.”

Source:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/271893.php

A recent report from the French Senate claims that it’s time to clarify the role of optometrists and orthoptists in order to improve access to eye care.

 

The report (http://www.senat.fr/rap/r13-318/r13-318_mono.html), written by senators Catherine Génisson and Alain Milon, states that eye care in France is characterized by “splintered competencies and an organization that needs to be clarified.” Criticizing a “particularly complex” distribution of eye care competencies among ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists and opticians, the authors point out that an aging population will put additional pressure on the eye care system, at a time when many professionals are retiring.

 

The two senators were inspired in particular by Canada’s system, in which medical ophthalmology specialists are relatively few in number and highly concentrated on pathological cases and surgery. According to them, the lack of recognition of intermediate professions in France forces ophthalmologists to carry out numerous tasks for which they are overqualified.

 

The authors suggest a review of the competencies attributed to orthoptists and optometrists, which are presently confined to a “grey area,” and adapting their training to current needs. A profession such as optometry could become an intermediate profession, between opticians and ophthalmologists.

Sources:

http://www.acuite.fr/articles.asp?REF=9349

http://opticien-presse.fr/2014020401un-rapport-senatorial-envisage-de-clarifier-le-role-des-optometristes-pour-ameliorer-lacces-aux-soins-ophtalmiques/