StemCell Therapy

An estimated 290 000 South Africans could become blind as a result of untreated cataracts, with government facilities in most provinces unable to meet the demand for eyesight-saving surgery and waiting-lists stretching well over a year

The Right to Sight Trust, the philanthropic arm of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA), has contributed over R50 million in services over the past three years to vision-restoring operations, but has now run out of funds to cover the cost of vital surgical consumables, like intraocular lens (IOL) implants that restore vision.

The Right to Sight Trust chairperson, Dr Bayanda Mbambisa, said on Thursday that, although they have been able to assist in improving access to high quality eye-care for those in need through the Second Sight Project, the organisation will struggle to accomplish its goals of ending preventable blindness in the target year of 2020.

The Right to Sight Trust and the Second Sight project, and its forerunner Eyecare 2000, are OSSAs response to the World Health Organisations (WHO) call for all countries globally to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020.

The Second Sight Project enables cataract sufferers from low-income households who are unable to afford private medical care and have been on a public hospital waiting list for over a year to access sponsored cataract surgery.

Our initiative partners with the private and public sectors in realising the WHOs Vision 2020 ask. In the past three years, we have helped 2 071 people in South Africa. Based on a conservative estimate that one cataract sufferer impacts the lives of six people, over 12 400 individuals have benefited indirectly through this partnership that restores patients independence along with their sight, said Mbambisa.

Yet, as we enter 2020, the target year set by WHO, funds are dwindling. Its devastating that the project is once more struggling to accomplish its mission, she said.

South Africas national cataract surgery rate lags far behind international norms, even for developing countries, with the number of surgeries performed declining since the mid-2000s as government focus and funding shifted towards higher priority medical conditions.

Second Sights partnership approach includes ophthalmologists in private practice, and their anaesthetist colleagues, who donate their time and skills; private hospitals providing theatre time, and funding partners and sponsors that provide IOL lenses and consumables for cataract surgery.

Ophthalmologists who perform pro-bono surgeries are reimbursed for consumables used during the surgeries. In the annual Eye Care Awareness Week in October, medical device companies and other sponsors give ophthalmologists access to IOLs and other consumables.

Mbambisa said that in 2019, five medical device companies and three financial donors partnered on the project, with 85 ophthalmologists performing regular monthly surgeries as well as during Eye Care Awareness Week.

In 2019 alone we helped 646 people regain their sight. Whilst the bulk of the cost for the surgeries are borne by ophthalmologists and hospitals that provide free time and theatre space, there is an urgent need for funding to cover the consumables that are essential to surgery. Funding is the only obstacle that stands between this highly effective partnership model and our ability to provide sight saving surgeries.

Every donation restores the sight and dignity of one patient and filters down to a better quality of life for family members and friends who have been caring for the blind or partially sighted individual with significant positive impact on the economic and social health of families and communities. We urge those in a position to assist financially, to support us in caring for those who have no other means.

To find out how corporates can support the Second Sight Project, contact Cindy Busk, National OSSA Right to Sight Operations Manager at [emailprotected] or 082 600 5970.

Author: ANA Newswire

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Thousands of South Africans could go blind while waiting for cataract treatment - All4Women

Updated January 23, 2020 20:22:47

One in five middle-aged Australians are finding it difficult to read road signs while driving, according to a new survey of the nation's visual health.

The 2020 Vision Index Report survey of 1,000 people, commissioned by Optometry Australia and released today, reveals 19 per cent of respondents aged 35 to 54 admit they struggle with signs behind the wheel.

One in three people surveyed had also never heard of myopia despite a global epidemic that experts say will leave half the world myopic by 2050.

Peter van Wijngaarden, a principal investigator for the Centre for Eye Research Australia, said the findings on driver behaviour had "significant safety implications".

"The vast majority of that sort of difficulty is easily corrected with glasses or an update to existing glasses, so it's something I'd strongly encourage people, that if they are feeling that they're having trouble seeing road signs, that that's a bit of a red flag for going and seeking out an eye check," he said.

Optometrist Sophie Koh from Optometry Australia said the survey's findings backed a view that many people were "in denial" about the state of their vision, or simply avoided conditions that made it most difficult, such as driving at night.

Indeed, 22 per cent of all people surveyed indicated they squinted at night "to see better while driving", while 15 per cent of people admitted to squinting behind the wheel during the day.

Ms Koh said everyone needed regular eye tests, regardless of symptoms.

Two-thirds of parents in the survey said they had taken their children to an optometrist, yet vision experts said it was critical for all children to have their eyes tested before starting school.

"Before they start school we recommend that they get an eye exam with or without symptoms," Ms Koh said.

"A lot of children, for example, are happy with the way they see and don't know they have a vision problem because that's the way they've always seen.

"We know a lot of eye problems are undetected. But most eye diseases 75 to 90 per cent are preventable."

But they need to be caught early. Ms Koh said waiting for symptoms to arrive was leaving it too late.

Associate Professor van Wijngaarden said having children's eyes checked was particularly critical.

"Often it's hard to notice when kids aren't seeing as well as they should and we know there's a critical period in childhood where correcting vision impairment, the need for glasses for instance, is really important for development of the sense of vision," he said.

"We are actually born with quite poor vision and it's visual experience that leads to the development of our eyes and our brain together.

"Good eye checks in childhood are really important to make sure your child's going to develop the best possible vision."

Ms Koh said the rapid rise of myopia made eye testing even more critical for children.

"Ninety to 95 per cent of kids in countries like South Korea and Singapore are now myopic, and it's a direct relation to more indoor activity versus outdoor and sedentary behaviour," she said.

"The message of two hours outside play per day is most important.

"It doesn't matter if you want to read a lot and be on screens, but you need to have a protective balance, which is outdoor [time]."

Associate Professor van Wijngaarden said the myopia epidemic still was not fully understood.

"In part it's environmental risk and in part it's genetic risk," he said.

"There's certainly an evidence base building for the need for outdoor activity, some sunlight exposure and reducing your work-screen time, extended periods of close focusing work."

Australians were also ignorant of the UV-induced eye disease known as pterygium, with three-quarters of survey respondents saying they had never heard of the problem.

Yet one in 100 Australians are affected, and Queensland has the highest prevalence of the condition in the world.

The National Eye Health Survey in 2016 estimated more than 450,000 Australians had some form of vision impairment, and that figure was expected to grow rapidly with the nation's ageing population.

Topics:health-policy,occupational-health-and-safety,travel-health-and-safety,womens-health,mens-health,driver-education,education,road-transport,road,doctors-and-medical-professionals,australia,brisbane-4000,qld

First posted January 23, 2020 06:44:46

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Driver eyesight and myopia awareness key concerns from national vision survey - ABC News

Centuries of domestic breeding have resulted in cats and dogs that come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. If you have a favorite breed, theres a good chance that you like it to some degree because of the way it looks. But what do our pets see when they look back at us?

Lets clear up the most common misconception first. Dogs do not see in black and white. They do, however, see a different color spectrum. This is because their retinasthe light-detecting membranes at the back of the eyesare built differently. Human retinas have three types of light-sensitive cells called cones, each of which is tuned to a single color: red, blue, or green. Dogs have only red and blue cones, which makes their vision similar to that of a person with red-green color blindness.

Like humans, cats have three types of cones, but they still dont see color all that well. This is because cats and dogs have another problem with color vision: Regardless of which cones they have, they dont have very many of them. Instead, their retinas are packed with a different kind of light-sensing cells, called rods, that dont detect color at all. Rods are better suited to seeing in dim light than they are to parsing the hues of rainbow. People have fewer rods than cones, so while we get to see the daytime world in bright color, we are fated to stub our toes searching for the toilet at night.

But all those rods arent the only reason why cats and dogs can see so well in the dark. Youve likely noticed your pets eyes glow bright green at night. This is courtesy of the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer behind the retina. Any light that slips through the retina bounces off this secondary layer for another pass through the animals retina, effectively doubling its sensitivity.

Theres more to vision than color and brightness, however. Compared to people, dogs and cats have limited visual acuity. Dogs have roughly the equivalent of 20/75 vision, meaning they need to be 20 feet away from something to see it as well as a normal person could at 75 feet. And you may be surprised to hear that cats fare even worse! Those sleek and gorgeous eyes seem built for precision, but cats are close to legally blind with vision somewhere around 20/150!

Making matters worse, dogs and cats have trouble adjusting their vision to different distances. This is because their lenses cant adjust shape as readily as ours can. If youre over 40, youre familiar with what happens when your lenses start to become inflexible. It gets harder and harder to focus on anything close to your face. Welcome to life as a dog.

The short of it is that cats and dogs see better at night than we do, but those adaptations come at the cost of clarity. But poor vision doesnt slow them down any. They dont need to drive cars or read the fine print. And what they lack in eyesight, they make up with magnificently superior senses of smell and hearing. Even animals that lose their vision due to degenerative diseases do incredible job of navigating their homes, because their vision was never that great to begin with.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He moved to Charlottesville in 2003, the same year he received his veterinary degree from Cornell University.

Continued here:
The vision thing: What do cats and dogs actually see? - C-VILLE Weekly

Posted: Jan 22, 2020 / 08:24 PM HST / Updated: Jan 22, 2020 / 08:24 PM HST

HONOLULU (KHON2) Lions clubs worldwidewill be performing community service projects as part of theLions In Sightinitiative to raise public awareness of the vital role Lions clubs play in their communities.

As Spring cleaning gets underway, theHawaii Lionsare asking people to look through dresser drawers and closets for used eyeglasses and hearing aids and donate them to theLions Recycle For Sightprogram.

The glasses will be distributed to those in need within developing countries where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.

The glasses will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions, Leos, and other groups. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of approximately one-fourth of the worlds population can be improved through the use of a corrective lens.

Hawaii Lions collect eyeglasses year-round and the Lions members will be out in force receiving your unwanted eyewear at Walmart and other locations throughout the state.

You may also place them in specially markedLions Recycle For Sightcollection boxes.Locations are also posted on the website, visithawaiilions.organd click on Eyeglasses.

In addition to the eyeglasses,hearing aidswill be also collected, cleaned and tested for local distribution.

As part of the 11th Annual State-Wide Lions in Sight project, January 25, 2020, the Lions stationed at Kahala Mall from 10:00 a.m. 2:00 pm. will be offering free vision screening between Macys and The Walking Store.

For more information, contactKelvin Moniz(808) 652-4737 for Kauai Island, and for other islands, contact Alice Kudo456-7278 or emailpback@hawaiiantel.net

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Lions In Sight initiative helps those who struggle to see, hear - KHON2

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and Brownwood Regional Medical Center along with local Ophthalmologists, Dr. Carol Boren and Dr. Larry Wood want to remind you that early detection of Glaucoma requires a comprehensive eye exam and is recommended for those ages 40 and over. Early detection and treatment combined with lifestyle choices can help protect your sight.

Unfortunately, Glaucoma affects about 3 million people in the United States according SafeVisionTexas.org. It is one of the leading causes of vision loss, because there are no symptoms early on. Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it cannot be regained. Sadly, about half of the people with this disease do not know they have it.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Typically, the disease progresses slowly, gradually destroying peripheral vision. Because people are unaware of early peripheral vision loss, a patient can lose most of it before they even know they have glaucoma.

Thats why SafeVisoinTexas.org and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that everyone have acomprehensive eye exam at age 40. This exam provides ophthalmologists physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care an opportunity to carefully examine the eye including the optic nerve for signs of damage and other possible problems that may affect vision. Individuals at greater risk for developing glaucoma include people:

over age 40;

of African, Asian or Hispanic heritage;

who havehigh eye pressuredetected during an eye exam;

who arefarsightedornearsighted;

who have experienced eye trauma or eye injury;

whosecorneasare thin in the center;

or who have health problems such asdiabetes,migraines,high blood pressureor poor blood circulation.

Appropriate treatment for glaucoma depends on the specific type and severity of the disease. Medicatedeye dropsor laser treatments are the most common initial approach. These treatments lower eye pressure to reduce the amount offluid in the eye.

Brownwood Regional Medical Center reminds you, if you are ages 40 or above or have been experiencing eye discomfort, make that appointment now. Early detection of eye diseases may help save your eyesight.

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Early detection of Glaucoma may save your sight - Brownwood Bulletin

Libby Clegg, 29, has represented both Scotland and Great Britain at international sporting events. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics and won gold at the 2016 Paralympic Games. Clearly up for any challenge, the sprinter is now competing in ITVs Dancing On Ice.

But why exactly is the star registered as blind? The sporting star has a deteriorating eye condition known as Stargardts Macular Dystrophy which gives her only slight peripheral vision in her left eye.

Libby has described her eyesight as being like looking at a pixelated computer screen or a scrunched-up firework, when speaking to The Daily mail.

She added: I have some peripheral sight - barely any - and with what little sight I do have I was able to use to use to follow the lines on the track.

Libby wasnt born blind, and started losing her eyesight at the age of 9.

But theres currently no treatment for Stargardt, and eventually, the mother-of-one will lose her entire sight.

She continued: Im at the age where my sight should be stabilising but its still deteriorating.

Things will never go black, but I dont know yet exactly what I will be able to see.

Speaking to The Radio Times about her learning process on the ice rink, Live explained: Its been a learning process.

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On the track I run with a guide runner and were attached all the time, but basically its like learning a different vocabulary to communicate.

Myself and my partner Mark Hanretty use touch and verbal communication.

Im not as bad as I thought I was going to be, but its not as easy as it looks.

Its a lot harder than I thought itd be, its very technical."

Moorfields Eye Hospital, part of the NHS Foundation Trust, says Stargardt disease is a rare inherited condition affecting one in 8,000 to 10,000 people.

It explains: In Stargardts the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macular region of the eye degenerate.

The macular is the area at the back of the eye which is responsible for the fine detailed vision necessary for activities such as watching TV and reading.

Symptoms of the condition include:

Moorfields Eye Hospital says UV blocking sunglasses can offer some protection for remaining vision, but the condition is currently untreatable.

It adds: A number of novel interventions are currently under investigation, including stem cell therapies. Stem cells are a special type of cell which, when put under the right conditions, can develop into many other types of cell including those found in the macular. It is hoped that new cells derived from stem cells can be grown in a laboratory to be transplanted into the eye to replace areas of dead or non-functioning cells. Stem cells can be sourced from a number of places including blood, bone marrow, umbilical cord and fertilized egg cells.

Researchers are involved in Europes first ongoing stem cell trial for Stargardts. More research will need to be undertaken in the future to determine to what extent stem cell therapy might help improve vision for people with Stargardts.

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Libby Clegg health: Dancing On Ice star is registered blind - what is her condition? - Express

Driving with poor eyesight could be a danger to other road users and data from the DVLA shows thousands lose their licence due to eye-related problems. The DVLA data, requested by car insurance prover DirectLine, found 19,644 motorists had their licence revoked between January 2017 and September 2019 for inadequate eyesight.

The data equated to over 7,000 per year or a staggering 134 per week in a devastating blow for sufferers.

The survey of 2,000 had users found 21 percent of motorists had not got their eyes tested over the last two years.

If applied to all licence holders in the UK, almost nine million have not been checked for possible poor vision.

The data revealed Brighton had the highest percentage of motorists who had not had an eye test in the last two years.

READ MORE:DVLA: Driving licences are revoked for this medical reason

A total of 33 percent said they had not had their eyes checked, closely followed by Glasgow and Leeds where 30 percent of those surveyed admitted to not having a test.

It is against the Highway Code to drive with bad eyesight as this could put you and other road users at risk of having a car crash.

Ian McIntosh, CEO of RED Driving School toldExpress.co.uk: Impaired vision may mean drivers are not able to accurately judge stopping distances or identify hazards in sufficient time.

Road signs and signals are key to ensuring road safety is adhered to those with poor eyesight can often end up reading these too late or missing them completely, putting themselves and other drivers in danger.

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Impaired vision can often slow down reaction times, which are imperative for safe driving practices.

Police officers can identify motorists who may not be able to see through simple warning signs such as direction changes and late braking.

Law enforcement can then conduct a simple roadside test to see if motorists have enough vision to legally drive.

This will usually involve reading a number plate from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres or five car lengths.

Failure to pass the test could result in your licence being revoked and could potentially lead to fines.

Driving with bad eyesight could be considered careless or dangerous driving which can see penalties dramatically rise.

In severe cases, motorists could be prosecuted and sent to court where fines could be up to 5,000.

Failing to inform the DVLA of a medical condition which affects their driving ability could also land road users with a 1,000 bill.

Those with bad eyesight may need to wear glasses to ensure they are road legal and can read road signs and identify hazards correctly.

Car insurance providers may refuse to pay out for repair bills in the event of an accident caused by bad eyesight if they believe a road user failed to take precautions.

Nor wearing your glasses could be considered an at-fault claim as you did not do everything in your power to prevent the crash.

Research from GEM Motoring Assist claims poor eyesight can be linked to more than 3,000 fatal or serious accidents each year.

Data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says around 1.8 million motorists use Britains roads below the minimum legal eye standard.

Ian McIntosh adds: If you notice a change in your eyesight, whether that be struggling to read road signs or difficulty driving at night, you should visit your opticians.

Eyesight deteriorates over time and can happen at any age, so its recommended all drivers have an eye test at least every two years.

Any issues with eyesight must be addressed straight away, as not to endanger any other drivers or cause road incidents.

Read more:
DVLA shock: Your driving licence could be revoked for driving with this condition - Express

Researchers have found that the majority of Swedish 70-year-olds could boost their vision either by getting glasses or changing the prescription of their spectacles.

The study, which was published in Acta Ophthalmologica, reported on findings from a survey of 1200 Gothenburg residents.

The participants were asked how they perceived their eyesight and whether they thought their daily life was affected by vision problems.

Around half of participants (560) also had their central vision, peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity examined.

Scientists found that 61.5% of those surveyed could improve their sight either by getting glasses or changing the prescription of their current spectacles.

PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, Lena Havstam Johansson, shared that visual impairment can creep up on patients, making it difficult for them to notice when their eyes are getting worse.

Its a good idea to visit an optician regularly when you get older, even if you dont feel your sight is deteriorating, Ms Havstam Johansson said.

Image credit: Pixabay/Free-Photos

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Six out of 10 Swedish 70-year-olds could improve vision by getting new spectacles - AOP

For the around 300,000 people in Australia who have glaucoma, about half dont even know they have it, Professor MacGregor said.

By the time they go and get their eyes checked, theyve got irreversible damage, because all the treatments we have are to prevent the condition getting worse, they cant resurrect the nerve cells that have died.

Glaucoma is the catch-all term for a group of related diseases of the eye that damage the optic nerve, usually because of high pressure inside the eyeball.

It causes a gradual loss of vision, usually starting with peripheral vision, often so gradually the sufferers arent aware there is a problem until they have lost a significant portion of their sight.

It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is predicted to affect 76 million people by the end of this year.

Paul Neumann was 49 when he was diagnosed with glaucoma about 20 years ago, except no one bothered to tell him.

I went in for a new pair of glasses and the optometrist sent me to an ophthalmologistwho gave me some drops to take, Mr Neumann said.

That was 20 years ago.

Paul Neumann is one of the first wave of what researchers hope will be a 20,000-strong cohort to investigate glaucoma risk.

More recently I asked the opthamologist, 'Do I actually have glaucoma?' and she said, 'Yes, you do'."

Mr Neumann is now taking part in the second phase of the research.

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Professor MacGregor said they wanted 20,000 people either with glaucoma or with a family history of glaucoma to take part, to help them make their test more accurate.

Theres a group of people especially who have a sort of intermediate level of risk, so we can offer them generic testing, but its not accurate enough yet to know exactly what their risk is, it might be lower or higher, he said.

If its higher, then those people need to be going to screening more regularly.

Anyone wishing to take part in the study can find a link at this website or email glaucoma_genetics@qimrberghofer.edu.au.

The research was published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Genetics.

Stuart Layt covers health, science and technology for the Brisbane Times. He was formerly the Queensland political reporter for AAP.

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Now you see it: Test spots risk of eye disease before vision is lost - The Age

All things digital rule, and most people these days are glued to a screen for several hours a day, slowly eroding away their precious eyesight. Whether at home, at the office, or even while travelling, it is almost hard to imagine life without mobile screens, computer screens and the television! For corporate professionals, both their professional and social life often involves staring intently at a screen. For these reasons, a lot of computer users today are developing digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome and experience symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision, says Dr. Mahmood Husein, Head of the Ophthalmic Department, Saifee Hospital. If you spend a lot of time looking at a screen and have started to experience any of these symptoms, the first thing to do is to reduce your screen time. He further shares a few tips to take better care of your eyes:

1Place the screen at least 20 inches away from you. Ideally, the computer screen should be between 20-40 inches away. If it is too close or too distant, it may cause you to sit in an awkward position.

2Ensure that the screen is not too bright. When your screen is very bright, you are exposed to more blue light. This type of light can harm the eyes and affect vision. Instead, ensure that the room is well lit. Reduce the brightness of your screen and add a glare filter if possible. Also, reduce the colour temperature of your display in order to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the monitor.

3Use a separate pair of computer glasses if necessary. Some people who do not need glasses for everyday use may benefit from using glasses specifically prescribed for computer use.

4Take a break and look away from your screen. Follow the 20:20:20 rule to reduce eye strain: every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This change in focus helps relax the eye muscles.

5Keep your eyes refreshed. When you stare at a screen, you tend to blink less, which tires and dries the eyes. This, coupled with the air-conditioning, may result in the eyes becoming very dry. To avoid this, take a break every couple of hours to splash some cold water on the eyes. Remember to blink more often to keep the eyes lubricated. Cooling drops also help. If you still experience any vision troubles, visit an ophthalmologist at the earliest. IANS

Link:
Words of wisdom, for the digital junkies - The Tribune

Early research in animal models and human samples reveals how loss of communication between nerve cells contributes to the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and shows how gene therapy could be used to preserve such connections and protect againstvision loss.

Researchers say their work identifies a new approach for developing MS therapies that target nerve cell communication, rather than myelin loss, and could be applicable to other neurodegenerative disorders.

The study, Targeted Complement Inhibition at Synapses Prevents Microglial Synaptic Engulfment and Synapse Loss in Demyelinating Disease, was published in the journal Immunity.

MS is a neurological disease marked by inflammation and a self-attack of the immune system against a persons brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

This attack damages the protective fatty substance covering nerve fibers (axons), which are necessary for proper transmission of nerve signals called myelin. As the myelin sheath is lost (demyelination), the communication between nerve cells is damaged or even interrupted, and nerve cell death occurs, leading to a range of disease symptoms.

Some MS patients experience a version of the disease called progressive MS, in which symptoms continuously worsen over time while their central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) shrinks (atrophies), and the junctions at which nerve cell terminals meet to communicate with each other, called synapses, are lost.

The majority of MS medications work to inhibit the self-attacking immune responses and inflammatory demyelination, but the neurodegenerative aspects of the disease have been more difficult to stop, particularly for patients with progressive MS.

Most MS research and FDA-approved treatments focus on demyelination and axon death, Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, said in a press release.

Far less is known about what happens to the synaptic connections between neurons, which has proven to be a key aspect of neurodegeneration likely leading to cognitive decline in other diseases such as Alzheimers disease, Schafer said.

Using tissue samples from deceased MS patients, a primate model of MS, and mice models of demyelinating disease, Schafer and colleagues investigated how synapses change during MS.They specifically looked at synapses involved in transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain via the optic nerve.

According to the studys first author, Sebastian Werneburg, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Schafers lab, the visual system is an ideal model for investigating MS because its easy to access for therapeutic intervention, subtle changes can be readily detected, and the visional pathway is affected in almost half of all patients with the disease.

Most MS patients experience vision problems at some point, which result from damage to the optic nerve or from lack of coordination in the eye muscle. These problems can be the first indication of the disease.

Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases, researchers found a profound synaptic loss in patient samples as a consequence of immune cells called microgliaeating nerve cell connections.

Microglia are cells that serve as one of the first and main forms of immune defense in the central nervous system, acting to clear cellular debris and dead neurons via phagocytosis a process by which some cells engulf other cells or particles.

In mice, synapse loss occurred independently of local demyelination and neuronal degeneration, but coincided with a rise in a specific immune factor called C3. C3 is part of the complement system, and is normally not present in the brains of adults. It is produced and activated during demyelinating diseases, but it is not clear why.

As C3 was seen to bind to synapses in models of MS, researchers reasoned this complement protein might be involved with the ongoing destruction of synapses in mice with MS-like disease.

To test this hypothesis, they specifically neutralized C3 at synapses of the visual pathway using gene therapy in mice. The strategy basically worked by delivering genetic material to synapses that provided instructions for the production of a C3 inhibitor.

After injection of the therapy, the inhibitor successfully blocked C3, reduced microglia engulfment, and preserved nerve cell connections, which improved eyesight in mice.

As a result of this inhibition, we saw improved visional function in mice, Werneburg said.

Overall, based on the results, the team believes that C3 probably is sending a signal to microglia telling them to eliminate synapses.

The next step will be to determine how C3 turns active during MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Its possible that therapies targeting different circuits of the brain can be used to protect against synaptic damage in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Schafer said.

Ana is a molecular biologist with a passion for discovery and communication. As a science writer she looks for connecting the public, in particular patient and healthcare communities, with clear and quality information about the latest medical advances. Ana holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where she specialized in genetics, molecular biology, and infectious diseases

Total Posts: 1,053

Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.

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Gene Therapy Recovers Vision in Mice Models of MS, Uncovers How... - Multiple Sclerosis News Today

New research by Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, reveals the molecular process in which synaptic connections in the brain are damaged in multiple sclerosis and how this contributes to neurodegenerative symptoms. The paper, published in Immunity, also shows how gene therapy may be used to preserve neural circuits and protect against vision loss in the disease.

These findings suggest a path for developing therapies that may protect synapses from the damaging effects of MS and could be broadly applicable to other neurodegenerative disorders, according to Dr. Schafer, assistant professor of neurobiology, and Sebastian Werneburg, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Schafer lab.

"Most MS research and FDA-approved treatments focus on demyelination and axon death," said Schafer. "Far less is known about what happens to the synaptic connections between neurons, which has proven to be a key aspect of neurodegeneration likely leading to cognitive decline in other diseases such as Alzheimer's disease."

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease of the central nervous system affecting more than 2 million people worldwide. The disease involves an abnormal response of the body's peripheral immune system against the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, which damages the fatty substance surrounding nerve fibers called myelin. Recurrent episodes of inflammation result in demyelination. As the myelin is stripped away, the nerve fibers are exposed to inflammatory attacks from the immune system and the transmission of nerve signals within the central nervous system are altered or stopped completely. A small subset of MS patients experience chronic progressive neurodegenerative symptoms accompanied by significant synaptic loss and central nervous system atrophy. This version of the disease is called progressive MS.

FDA-approved medications for treating MS have been developed to limit and reduce the number of relapses, which delay progression of the disease and minimize demyelination, but there is no cure for the disease and patients are still left with disability. Current therapies work to inhibit peripheral immune attack of the central nervous system and inflammatory demyelination, but the neurodegenerative aspects of the disease have proven harder to decelerate, particularly for patients with progressive MS.

Vison loss is one of the most common symptoms of MS and is often one of the first that patients notice. Problems with vision result from damage to the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain or from lack of coordination in the eye muscle.

"The retinogeniculate system, which comprises neurons that extend their axons via the optic nerve to the thalamus in the brain, is an ideal model for investigating MS because it's easy to access for therapeutic intervention, subtle changes can be readily detected and the visional pathway is affected in almost half of all patients with the disease," said Dr. Werneburg.

Profound synaptic loss was observed in animal models as microglia engulfed and eliminated presynaptic connections. Microglia are the immune cells of the central nervous system and are emerging as key players in regulating neural circuit structure in health and disease. One of the vast number of functions microglia perform in the brain is similar to the role macrophages perform in the immune system: clearing cellular decay and dead neurons from tissue.

"We found the protein C3 in abundance at synapses," said Werneburg.

C3 is not normally found in adult brain tissue. C3 protein usually only shows up in neural tissue during the developmental stages of the brain when synapses are being pruned. Synaptic pruning eliminates weak or unused synapsis as the brain matures to help efficiency and conserve energy.

In the case of demyelinating disease, it is not known why C3 is being produced and activated. This complement protein binds to synapses, sending the signal to microglia that the otherwise healthy-seeming synapse should be eliminated. This leads microglia to attack synapses.

Schafer, in collaboration with Guangping Gao, PhD, the Penelope Booth Rockwell Professor in Biomedical Research, professor of microbiology & physiological systems, director of the UMMS Horae Gene Therapy Center and Viral Vector Core, and co-director of the Li Weibo Institute of Rare Disease, used a gene therapy approach and adeno-associated virus to deliver Crry, an inhibitor of C3, specifically to synapses in the visual system while leaving the rest of the brain untouched, to see if synapses could be spared and vision preserved. Crry is a natural inhibitor of complement proteins such as C3. These regulators help protect cells or tissue from unwanted attack by the immune system.

After injection of the AAV into the circuit, Crry localized to synapses and successfully preserved them by binding to C3 so microglia couldn't damage them.

"As a result of this inhibition, we saw improved visional function in mice," said Werneburg.

Schafer said the protective effects of the AAV-delivered inhibitor were specific to the visual circuit. "It's possible that therapies targeting different circuits of the brain can be used to protect against synaptic damage in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's."

The next step for Schafer and colleagues will be to determine how the C3 protein is being activated and produced during MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Reference: Werneburg, S., Jung, J., Kunjamma, R. B., Ha, S.-K., Luciano, N. J., Willis, C. M., Gao, G., Biscola, N. P., Havton, L. A., Crocker, S. J., Popko, B., Reich, D. S., & Schafer, D. P. (2020). Targeted Complement Inhibition at Synapses Prevents Microglial Synaptic Engulfment and Synapse Loss in Demyelinating Disease. Immunity, 52(1), 167-182.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2019.12.004

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Link:
Gene Therapy Protects Eyesight in Models of Multiple Sclerosis - Technology Networks

Glaucoma is a serious and lifetime eye disease that can cause permanent vision loss if not controlled before time. The Australian researchers have studied 107 genes that are involved in increasing the risk of eye disease glaucoma and identified a genetic test for those who are at the risk of getting blind.

The researchers are in search of many other genes that cause eye disease. The research conducted by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and FlinUniversity finds that glaucoma-related blindness happens due to optic nerve degeneration and it is the most important cause of blindness in the whole world and researchers predicts that 76 million people will be affected by it in 2020. Possible cure for glaucoma is not found yet and fifty percent of people dont know that they are living with glaucoma.

This research was published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Stuart MacGregor, an associate professor of QIMR Berghofers Statistical Genetics Group explains that with the help of newly identified genes the people with eye disease can be identified with the help of a glaucoma polygenic risk score (PRS).

MacGregor finds that the only way to stop the loss of eyesight from genetic disease glaucoma is the discovery and the treatment of disease before time.

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It can be determined which person has eye disease or who will have in the future and need early treatment by analyzing the DNA taken from blood or saliva. If the people came to know before the time that in the future they will get glaucoma, they can take basic precautions that can prevent them from getting glaucoma.

Professor Jamie Craig, a clinical lead researcher and Academic Head of Ophthalmology at Flinders University, hopes that mass screening will be accessible for glaucoma in the next years.

Professor Craig finds that if the people are given a proper treatment earlier can be prevented from blindness. Many people come to know about glaucoma when visits the optometrist for a normal eye check-up or the loss of vision is felt by them. The early detection of glaucoma is necessary because the lost vision cant be restored even if the treatments are provided. The late detection is the main reason for blindness.

Most of the people are affected with glaucoma in older age but it can occur at any time of age. The researchers want to suggest blood tests to the older people that will help in the detection of glaucoma and will protect them from blindness.

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To identify the more genes the researchers want to sign up twenty thousand people with the record of disease in family or person to connect them with the Genetics of Glaucoma Study

This will benefit the researchers to approach all those people who are at high risk of disease or to those who are at lower risk and can be protected from getting blind by providing them the existing treatments. This study provides new insights for people with weak eyesight who are near to fifty to pay more attention to regularly visit the optometrist. It would protect their eyes and reduce the risk of permanent blindness in later years.

Link:
Early Detection And Prevention Of Blindness Associated With Glaucoma - TheHealthMania

Dr Ezekiel Tallam with patients who have undergone surgery to treat trachoma, on January 14. [Mercy Kahenda, Standard]For a 70-year-old with impaired vision and no one to help him back up when he stumbles, life can be a punishment. Asman Chepochepunjo has been living alone inChemsarel village in Tiaty, Baringo County, after he was abandoned by his family when he became blind.He resorted to traditional herbs, but the condition worsened, making it hard for him to look after his livestock in the rocky locality.On the verge of becoming blind, Mr Chepochepunjo learnt he was suffering from trachoma, a neglected tropical disease in Baringo County.

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Hope in sight for locals as cases of punishing eye disease reduce - Standard Digital

A Mayo woman is raising funds for her niece who is losing her sight from three different eye conditions.

Magdalena Krawiec, originally from Poland, wants to help her goddaughter Zuzia Krawiec to get the best care possible.

Zuzia, four, was born with an eye disease called congenital nystagmus, which can be caused with the eye itself or by a problem with the visual pathway from the eye to the brain.

Around four months after she was born, Zuzia was then diagnosed with hyperopia astigmatism.

The condition affects Zuzias sight so that objects close to her are out of focus.

This along with her mcular hypoplasia, which she was only diagnosed with recently, make it impossible for her to see anything in detail.

Her aunt told Extra.ie: The macular hypoplasia is the worst because theres not much we can do about it.

It affects the vision clarity and because of it she will never be able to see clearly. She can only see as far as one metre and its basically shadows and lights

Were working on her sight so that she will eventually be able to see 10 or 15 metres in front of her but thats going to be over many years.

Zuzia has to take medication and do exercises to help her eyes improve but shes also had to have surgeries.

Shes had one of ten surgeries so far and the family are looking into stem cell treatment, which more people are interested in in recent years.

The family hope to schedule her second operation soon as the masses are really loose behind her eye and they need to tighten those muslces.

This operation will held Zuzias eyeball become more steady and so help her look straight because right now theyre all over the place.

Theyre kind of shaky, Magdalena continued. Thats the problem.

Zuzia is currently in play school but once a week she goes to a special school where she does two hours of different exercises for children with disabilities.

One hour she learns how to use her hands to recognise objects and another hour Zuzia uses an optical enlarger, something her family hopes to buy her so she can see things better.

It will be able to help her see better as it makes pictures at least 50 times larger, Magdalena said.

Zuzia needs constant care, her aunt tells Extra.ie, so that she doesnt hurt herself as she walks around.

Magdalena said: She needs help going to the toilet or going outside, anything where there may be obstacles in her way.

She cant see so she could walk into a wall or something, she could hurt herself.

Zuzia will never have the same sight the average person has, but with the operations she may gain better sight.

Magdalena revealed that she and her family dont know the root of the problem and hope genetic tests will help them get an idea of what is going on.

The genetic tests have to be done through the national health service and can take two to three years, but another huge hit is the cost of the tests.

Its around 2,500, Magdalena said. Its ridiculous because shes young, we need to do it as quick as possible.

The brain is getting used to the eyes not working, so the quicker we get it fixed the better. We want her to actually see something.

Despite her eyesight, Zuzia is a happy child and a big sister to her baby brother.

However, Zuzia has started asking about her brothers sight, wondering: How come he can see and I cant?

Its heartbreaking, Magdalena admitted. Its hard to explain to her that her eyes are sick.

To help her family, Magdalena set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Zuzias operation and her care, which you can donate to here.

Magdalena has also has a collection point in The Breadski Brothers store in Westport to help raise funds.

She really needs specialised care, especially during these early years in her development, to improve her chances of avoiding total blindness and giving her the childhood she deserves.

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Mayo woman raising funds for niece, 4, who is losing her sight from three different eye conditions - Extra.ie

Amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, is a medical condition that adversely affects the eyesight of millions, but if caught early can be cured altogether unfortunately this usually means months of wearing an eye patch. NovaSight claims successful treatment with nothing more than an hour a day in front of its special display.

The condition amounts to when the two eyes arent synced up in their movements. Normally both eyes will focus the detail-oriented fovea part of the retina on whatever object the person is attending to; in those with amblyopia, one eye wont target the fovea correctly and as a result the eyes dont converge properly and vision suffers, and if not treated can lead to serious vision loss.

It can be detected early on in children, and treatment can be as simple as covering the good eye with a patch for most of the day, which forces the other eye to adjust and align itself properly. The problem is, of course, that this is uncomfortable and embarrassing for the kid, and of course only using one eye isnt ideal for playing schoolyard games and other everyday things.

And you look cool doing it!

NovaSights innovation with CureSight is to let this alignment process happen without the eye patch, instead selectively blurring content the child watches so that the affected eye has to do the work while the other takes a rest.

It accomplishes this with the same technology that, ironically, gave many of us double vision back in the early days of 3D: glasses with blue and red lenses.

Blue-red stereoscopy presents two slightly different versions of the same image, one tinted red and one tinted blue. Normally it would be used with slightly different parallax to produce a binocular 3D image thats what many of us saw in theaters or amusement park rides.

In this case, however, one of the two tinted images just has a blurry circle right where the kid is looking. The screen uses a built-in Tobii eye-tracking sensor so it knows where the circle should be; I got to test it out briefly and the circle quickly caught up with my gaze. This makes it so the other eye, affected by the condition but the only one with access to the details of the image, has to be relied on to point where the kid needs it to.

The best part is that there isnt some treatment schema or tests kids can literally just watch YouTube or a movie using the special setup, and theyre getting better, NovaSight claims. And it can be done at home on the kids schedule always a plus.

Graphs from NovaSight website.

The company has already done some limited clinical trials that showed significant improvement over a 12-week period. Whether it can be relied on to completely cure the condition or if it should be paired with other established treatments will come out in further trials the company has planned.

In the meantime, however, its nice to see a technology like 3D displays applied to improving vision rather than promoting bad films. NovaSight has been developing and promoting its tech over the last year; it also has a product that helps diagnose vision problems using a similar application of 3D display tech. You can learn more or request additional info at its website.

See the article here:
Kids with lazy eye can be treated just by letting them watch TV on this special screen - TechCrunch

A surgeon at UPMC Mercy hospital implanted a wireless chip designed to act like a small, artificial retina in the eye of an Ohio woman last week in the first trial of the technology in the United States.

The treatment could offer a novel way to restore the sight of people around the world at risk of going permanently blind, according to UPMC.

The U.S. clinical trial that began this month aims to restore at least partial sight to patients with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, the leading cause of vision loss in people age 50 and over. More than 14 million Americans are losing their ability to see because of it.

We are proud to be the first center in the United States to test this next generation retinal implant that could help treat an incurable disease like AMD, said Dr. Jos-Alain Sahel, director of the UPMC Eye Center, the Eye and Ear Foundation chair of ophthalmology and distinguished professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Researchers hope the same system can be applied to a variety of other causes of vision loss.

Dr. Joseph Martel, the implanting surgeon and the trials principal investigator, described the effort as an incredibly exciting first for us at UPMC. He thanked the patient for participating. She was not identified.

In coming months, four more patients will join her in the trial.

A related trial involving five patients in France was the first human trial of its kind. The trial found that, after a 12-month period, most patients were able to identify sequences of letters and experienced no device-related, serious adverse effects, according to UPMC.

It will likely be at least several years and require multiple clinical trials until such a product obtains the clearances required to make it to the broader market.

Pixium-Animation-02 from pixium on Vimeo.

The system, called PRIMA, was invented by Stanford University ophthalmology professor Daniel Palanker.

First, a surgeon places a 2-by-2-millimeter, 30-micron thick thinner than the average strand of human hair wireless chip beneath the damaged retina. The chip works with augmented reality glasses that have a built-in camera and infrared projector.

The chip acts like an artificial retina, researchers said. Its made of 378 electrodes, which convert infrared light from the classes into electrical signals that the optic nerve carries to the brain.

After getting the implant, patients go through an intensive rehabilitation program that trains their brains to understand and interpret the signals from the implant, with help from any remaining natural vision.

An existing retinal device on the market involves an implant that connects to goggles via a physical wire and has nearly four times fewer electrodes. California-based Second Sight also is researching improving eyesight via an implant attached to the brain.

The PRIMA implant was developed and licensed by Pixium Vision, a spin-off from the Paris Vision Institute at Sorbonne University.

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, [emailprotected] or via Twitter .

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Link:
UPMC, Pitt test out wireless eyeball implant in hopes of restoring lost sight - TribLIVE

DEERING, N.H. (AP) These days, when Nancy Cowan greets her famous falcon named Banner, she offers a bow and utters a little chup as a hello.

Banner, who went through a landmark cataract surgery in 2014, does the same in return. This bird of prey and her falconer have a unique relationship the human saved the falcon from an early demise by insisting that Banners eyesight be corrected, and thanks to animal imprinting, the falcon now sees Cowan as her mate.

low a human procedure to be performed on an animal. Once again, Cowan prevailed.

After the laser cleared up her vision, Banner was seeing the world anew. Thats when she began to view Cowan as Mr. Right.

When falcons get ready to mate they will make a food transfer, Cowan explained.

Thats the males job to bring food to the female, Cowan said. In exchange, the female will offer a piece of food back to the male.

Twice a year, during the mating season for falcons, Banner will excitedly greet Cowan when she delivers a quail and offer a piece back. That was the telltale sign that Banner was in the mood for love, Cowan said.

Cowan is considering whether she could breed Banner, a lanner falcon, with a male gyrfalcon she has at the school. But thats just an idea.

Besides the occasional desire for avian hanky panky, Banners life has mostly returned to normal for a captive bird of prey, except for one thing she isnt used for hunting anymore.

If I can just handle her and have her have a happy life, interact with her as an imprint, thats all I want to do, Cowan said. Im not going to ask her to go into an environment where if she doesnt come back to me shes gonna get killed within a day or two via great horned owl or red tailed hawk. Im not going to ask that.

Visitors still come to the school looking for Banner, who was quite the local celebrity after her story went international, including an article in the London Daily Mail.

It was fantastic, Cowan said. In London, they were very excited. It went all over the world. Shes world-famous.

As a result of Banners celebrity-status and all she has learned from the bird, Cowan is working on a second book, which has the working title Eyesight and Insights, she said.

Boy, they teach you a lot of things that you never would have suspected when you have 11 birds youre dealing with. You really get a different viewpoint of the world than you do normally, Cowan said. So the insights will be there and the eyesight part is going to be about restoring Banners vision. And thats a long story.

Online: https://bit.ly/3a5AbrB

Read more:
With restored sight, Banner the falcon learns to navigate - Thehour.com

Oscillopsia is the sensation that the surrounding environment is constantly in motion when it is, in fact, stationary.

Oscillopsia is usually a symptom of conditions that affect eye movement or the eye's ability to stabilize images, especially during movement.

Keep reading to learn more about oscillopsia, including the common causes and symptoms and how to treat it.

Oscillopsia usually occurs as a result of conditions that affect eye movement or alter how parts of the eye, inner ear, and brain stabilize images and maintain balance.

It often links to types of nystagmus, which is a condition that causes abnormal or involuntary eye movement.

Conditions that affect areas of the brain especially the cerebellum or parts of the ocular motor system are another common cause of oscillopsia.

The ocular motor system is a series of biological processes that keep images stable when the head or eyes are moving. Ocular motor system damage tends to impair vision and make it seem as though the world is always in motion, particular when a person is changing the position of their head or moving.

Some of the most common conditions that experts have associated with oscillopsia include:

Some people are born with conditions that cause oscillopsia, but most people develop it later in life.

The American Psychological Association describe oscillopsia as "the sensation of perceiving oscillating movement of the environment."

According to this definition, most people with oscillopsia experience distorted vision usually the feeling that the world is continuously moving even when it is stationary. This sensation can cause images to:

The visual symptoms of oscillopsia can also cause:

As most cases of oscillopsia arise at least in part from problems stabilizing images, many people experience it most when they are moving.

Symptoms often start during movement and end when movement stops. However, on rare occasions, symptoms can occur while a person is lying or sitting down or standing still. It may also only manifest itself in certain body positions, depending on the individual.

Oscillopsia is often disabling regardless of its frequency or severity because it causes a loss of balance, vision problems, and nausea.

People with oscillopsia may be unable to live alone. Furthermore, they might feel frustrated because it is hard to describe the symptoms or explain how significantly it affects their lives.

Oscillopsia typically develops as a symptom of an underlying condition. Currently, there is no specific or approved way to treat oscillopsia as a condition in itself. The type of treatment, therefore, depends on the underlying cause.

Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary eye movement. If the cause of oscillopsia is nystagmus, treatment options include:

Different types of vision therapy may also help treat conditions that cause erratic or uncontrollable eye movements, such as nystagmus. Vision therapy is generally effective in reducing or even resolving oscillopsia.

Optometric vision therapy (VT) involves doing progressive exercises under the guidance of an optometrist. These exercises help retrain elements of vision and improve visual skills.

For example, they may involve reading lines of text using various tools, such as filters or therapeutic lenses. Alternatively, a person may read the text while standing on a balance board.

Oscillopsia may also respond to various oculomotor-based auditory feedback techniques, which help someone "listen" to their abnormal eye movements and gain more control over them.

There is also some evidence that relaxation practice may help someone learn how to manage the symptoms of oscillopsia more effectively.

Doctors rarely prescribe medication as a treatment for oscillopsia if the cause is a form of nystagmus.

However, a few studies have found that some conditions causing oscillopsia may respond to medications that block types of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is an amino acid that occurs naturally and functions as a chemical messenger in the brain. Examples of these medications include clonazepam (Klonopin) and gabapentin (Neurontin).

In some cases, anticonvulsant and beta-blocker medications may also help treat conditions that cause oscillopsia.

In some cases, the brain may learn how to adapt to oscillopsia over time.

Infants who have congenital conditions that cause oscillopsia may adapt to it during neural development, although their vision may still have other impairments.

However, the brain typically cannot adapt if oscillopsia symptoms fluctuate over time.

Furthermore, in cases involving severe or irreversible damage to the brain and vestibular ocular system, oscillopsia may be permanent.

In cases where oscillopsia symptoms do not respond to treatment for the underlying cause or there is no known cause, very few other treatment options exist.

People with unexplained vision problems of any kind should speak with an eyecare professional as soon as possible.

Anyone who feels as though their surroundings are constantly moving or has unexplained dizziness, balance problems, or vertigo should also see an ophthalmologist or another type of doctor as soon as possible.

Oscillopsia often has an association with conditions that can worsen without effective, early treatment. Ignoring or failing to treat oscillopsia also greatly increases the risk of injury, primarily because of impaired vision and balance.

Oscillopsia is a symptom and not an underlying medical condition. As a result, a specific diagnosis does not exist for it.

However, an ophthalmologist will diagnose the cause of oscillopsia.

To begin this process, they will usually ask questions about the person's oscillopsia, such as:

Once the ophthalmologist has evaluated the symptoms, they will likely take a full medical history and run a series of tests to diagnose the underlying condition responsible. These tests may include:

Common risk factors for developing oscillopsia include:

Many different conditions that affect eyesight or the central nervous system have a link to or can cause oscillopsia, including:

People with oscillopsia usually have trouble seeing clearly, especially during movement, and feel as though their surroundings are moving when they are not.

Oscillopsia is a symptom of several conditions that affect the eye muscles, the inner ear, and parts of the central nervous system, including the brain.

The treatment plan and outlook for each individual vary widely depending on the underlying cause.

In many cases, speaking with an ophthalmologist as soon as possible about any unexplained vision problems reduces the risk of symptoms becoming worse or permanent.

Read this article:
Oscillopsia: Causes, symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today

KEY POINTS

One of the type 2 diabetes symptoms is blurred vision. If you have this condition, you might lose sharpness in your eyesight and may not be able to see the fine details of an object. According to Diabetes UK, around one in three people predisposed to the condition will suffer complications with their eyesight by the time doctors diagnose them with type 2 diabetes.

In the case of blurred vision, it can happen unilaterally (one eye) or bilaterally (both eyes). Doctors point to high blood sugar levels as the culprit of this condition. The high levels of sugar cause the lens inside the eyes to become inflamed or swell.

A Permanent and Serious Damage

If you are experiencing blurred vision, it might indicate you already have this chronic ailment and that it is not being properly managed.Consistent high levels of blood sugar can cause damage to the back of your eye or retina. This is known in medical circles as diabetic retinopathy. diabetes to cause serious eye problem Photo: Skitterphoto_Pixabay

The retina requires a steady supply of blood to function properly. This blood supply is delivered to it using a network of miniature blood vessels. With time, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, characterized by consistently high levels of blood sugar, can cause damage to the blood vessels delivering blood to the retina.This occurs in three major stages, namely, background retinopathy, pre-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy.

Background Retinopathy

This happens when small bulges develop in the tiny blood vessels, causing them to bleed slightly. This does not oftentimes affect your vision.

Pre-Proliferative Retinopathy

In this situation, the blood vessels sustain widespread and more severe changes. This includes the occurrence of considerable bleeding into the eye.

Proliferative Retinopathy

This condition is marked by the scarring of tissue and the development of new blood vessels on the retina. These new blood vessels, however, are weak and can easily bleed, causing more damage and loss of some vision.

The National Health Service, in an advisory, said it often takes many years for diabetic retinopathy to reach that point where your sight is already threatened. If left unchecked and untreated, it can lead to partial or total blindness.

Common Symptoms of Diabetes

Other symptoms of diabetes that people need to be aware of are feeling more tired than normal, itching in the genitals, and with wounds taking a longer time to heal. There is also an urgent need to go to the toilet more often than usual, particularly at night. Some diabetes patients also report losing weight without undergoing a diet or weight loss program.

Link:
Eye Problems That May Indicate You Have Type 2 Diabetes - International Business Times