Category: Michigan Lasik - page 5

According to a new study published in Science Advances, an international team of researchers led by King’s College London and Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam proved there are 50 new genes for eye color. In the most extensive genetic study of its kind to date, the researchers genetically analyzed almost 195,000 people throughout Europe and Asia.

Eye diseases such as pigmentary glaucoma and ocular albinism, where eye pigment levels play a role, will be better understood with the new research. Additionally, researchers discovered eye color in Asians with different shades of brown is genetically similar to eye color in Europeans ranging from dark brown to light blue.

Previous research identified a dozen genes linked to eye color, and scientists thought that eye color variations were controlled by a single gene or two. Typically, the perception was that brown eyes were more common/dominant than blue eyes.

Dr. Pirro Hyski, a co-senior author at King’s College London, said, “The findings are exciting because they bring us a step closer to understanding the genes that cause one of the most striking features of human faces, which has mystified generations throughout our history. This will improve our understanding of many diseases that we know are associated with specific pigmentation levels.”

Dr. Manfred Kayser, a co-senior author at Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, said, “This study delivers the genetic knowledge needed to improve eye color prediction from DNA as already applied in anthropological and forensic studies, but with limited accuracy for the non-brown and non-blue eye colors.”

For all of your eye care needs, contact the experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Colorblind people see the world in muted shades, sometimes completely grey. Most colorblind people cannot see specific colors such as orange, red, purple, blue, green, brown, or a combination of those. Tinted glasses sometimes help but are not solutions for complete color correction or to eliminate blurry vision. Dyed contact lenses are currently in development to treat color blindness but are (so far) harmful and unstable.

Research published in the American Chemical Society (ACS) Publication Nano shows promising results from infusing contact lenses with gold nanoparticles to correct color blindness.

Daily activities such as choosing a ripe banana, selecting matching clothes, stopping at a red light, or plugging in color-coordinated cords can be difficult for color blind people. With tinted glasses precisely the same color as the person’s deficiency, colors can show up more vividly. However, these lenses are bulky and cannot correct vision in terms of sight or depth.

Specially-tinted contact lenses have been recently invented to improve red-green color perception. They are effective in clinical trials; however, they leaked dye, which has led to safety concerns. Gold nanocomposites are non-toxic and have been used for centuries to produce “cranberry glass” due to the way they scatter light.

Ahmed Salih, Haider Butt, and colleagues incorporated gold nanoparticles into contact lenses to improve the red-green contrast safely and effectively. To make them, they mixed gold nanoparticles into a hydrogel polymer, resulting in rose-tinted gels that filtered light within 520 to 580 nm, the wavelengths where red and green overlap.

The most cost-effective contact lenses were those with 40 nm-wide gold nanoparticles. In tests, these did not clump or filter more color than necessary. Additionally, they had water-retention properties that mimicked commercial lenses and were also non-toxic to cells growing in Petri dishes.

Researchers directly compared the new material with two commercially available pairs of tinted glasses and their dyed contact lenses. The gold nanocomposite lenses were more selective in blocking wavelengths than the glasses. Also, they matched the wavelength range of the dyed contact lenses, which suggests the gold nanocomposites would be suitable for people who suffer from red-green color issues without safety concerns.

Clinical trials with human patients are the next steps to assess comfort.

To learn more, read the full journal article by the American Chemical Society.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

A possible link between COVID-19 and endophthalmitis has been suspected for quite some time; now, researchers have established a connection between the two diseases, with a further investigation being conducted.

In only two months, three COVID-19 patients in New York’s Northwell Health Hospital succumbed to extreme vision loss from keratitis. Endophthalmitis resulted, and in one instance, a patient’s eye was removed. This occurrence of keratitis leading to endophthalmitis is exceedingly rare. Typically, cases of endophthalmitis from keratitis are associated with trauma or surgery.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology 2020 virtual conference released the findings. Researchers hope to gain more support from the medical community to conduct eye evaluations when assessing the role of anti-infectious treatments.

All three endophthalmitis patients were in their 60s, reside in the same relative area, and showed signs of the disease within a two-month period, while testing positive for COVID-19. Two were outpatients, and one was an in-patient at the time of diagnosis. One of the outpatients later passed away in a hospital. The culture results all came back from each individual with different organisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Candida parapsilosis.

A 2012 study reported that out of 9,934 eyes, only 27 throughout a 15-year period experienced endophthalmitis stemming from keratitis. Having three patients express symptoms while being diagnosed with COVID-19 is alarming, and suggests an association between the two.

Sonal S. Tuli, MD, said, “The findings do not suggest that COVID-19 causes endophthalmitis but that there is some relationship between the two. It is possible that some aspect of the health of these individuals made them more liable to get infected with COVID-19 as well as a severe infection in their eye, such as poor immune system or nutritional deficiencies. It is also possible that these findings are incidental because of the large numbers of COVID-positive patients presenting to New York hospitals during the peak of the pandemic.”

For further reading, refer to the article from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. To schedule an eye exam, contact the experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

The University College of London revealed their study findings that showed a link between air pollution and a heightened risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD.)

The most polluted areas tested in the study were at least eight percent more likely to report people having AMD. The leading cause of irreversible blindness among people over 50 in high-income countries is AMD. The projected amount of people affected by 2040 is 300 million. Some risk factors include old age, smoking, and genetic composition.

Brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes have been implicated in those who breathe poor air conditions as well. In 2019, a study found air pollution was linked to an elevated glaucoma risk.

Professor Paul Foster, a lead author of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology study, said, “Here we have identified yet another health risk posed by air pollution, strengthening the evidence that improving the air we breathe should be a key public health priority. Our findings suggest that living in an area with polluted air, particularly fine particulate matter, or combustion-related particles that come from road traffic, could contribute to eye disease. Even relatively low exposure to air pollution appears to impact the risk of AMD, suggesting that air pollution is an important modifiable risk factor affecting risk of eye disease for a very large number of people.”

The research was conducted with participants who were asked to report any formal doctor-diagnosed AMD. Structural changes in the thickness and/or numbers of light receptors in the retina were assessed in the participants using retinal imaging.

People in areas with high levels of fine particulate matter pollution were higher on the AMD scale. Even after taking other factors such as underlying health conditions and lifestyle, air pollutants (except coarse particulates) were associated with retinal structure changes. 

Though the study cannot confirm cause, as cautioned by the researchers, their findings align with evidence found worldwide. Ambient air pollution might be a culprit, through oxidative stress or inflammation.

Dr. Sharon Chua, of the UCL Institute of Opthamology, said, “Higher exposure to air pollution was also associated with structural features of AMD. This may indicate that higher levels of air pollution may cause the cells to be more vulnerable to adverse changes and increase the risk of AMD.”

If you have AMD or need a professional ophthalmologic evaluation, contact the office of Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Player Performance is of utmost importance in the sports realm, especially basketball. Superior ball-handling skills are required to shoot, dodge, and move around the court rapidly. For ultimate hand-eye coordination, athletes should have good vision.

Basketball players continuously use their eyes to calculate depth, distance, and rapidly-moving players around them. Lightning-fast risk and reward assessments also come in to play, quite literally, and can win – or cost – them the game.

Poor vision limits hand-eye coordination; the better an athlete can see, the better he or she performs. A basketball player’s eyes are just as important as their hands when it comes to mastering the game. Eyeglasses or goggles easily fall off, limit performance by not allowing peripheral vision, and be a potential hazard. Contact lenses are an option, but also pose issues due to their lightweight nature; they can easily be knocked out of the eye or become displaced, causing blurry vision. Moreover, glasses or contacts are unable to protect the eyes during rain or snowstorms.

LASIK is ideal for athletes or other individuals who move quickly or are frequently in the elements. It’s an ideal choice for people who rely on their vision to successfully maneuver through obstacles, catch or release objects such as basketballs, and adequately calculate distance.

Andre Drummond, a Cleveland Cavalier basketball player, decided to undergo LASIK eye surgery to correct his vision before the shortened 2020-2021 NBA season. He and a list of other notable players who have had LASIK include Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Henry, Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns, and LeBron James, the LA Lakers superstar.

Even amateur athletes or those who enjoy being active can reap the benefits of LASIK. To learn more about improving your vision with LASIK, contact the Rohr Eye & Laser Center professionals today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Lasik (an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis) surgery is a common household name regarding vision improvement. Approved by the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) roughly 20 years ago, it is not for everyone, nor does it fix every vision problem. More than 19 million Lasik procedures have been performed in the United States, and more than 45 FDA approvals have been implemented. Read on to discover some typical questions and answers associated with the surgery.

What is the basic premise of Lasik surgery? Lasik is a two-step procedure. In the first step, a micro-thin circular flap is made on the eye’s surface, known as the cornea. After the few-second process, the surgeon gently lifts the flap to expose where the vision correction treatment will happen. In the second step, a computer-glided excimer laser permanently removes the microscopic pieces of tissue causing vision problems. The flap is laid back in place and protects the reshaped cornea until it heals.

What about the lasers? Lasik does involve the use of precise lasers, which are incredibly important due to the intricate area affected. Lasers can be used safely without damaging the surrounding tissues.

Is it painful? Thanks to numbing and lubricating drops, Lasik surgery is basically painless. Patients sometimes feel pressure from the eyelid holder, used to prevent blinking. Some mild discomfort can result after surgery, which will last roughly five hours.

Are you awake? Yes, people who undergo Lasik are given a sedative to keep them calm. Moreover, if your eyes move, the laser automatically tracks it, shutting off in case of a sneeze or sudden movement.

Is the procedure safe? Lasik is an elective procedure, with more than 7,000 clinical studies conducted and published to support its safety and effectiveness. One of the highest scores out of any elective procedure, Lasik rates at a stunning 96 percent patient satisfaction. One reason for the high satisfaction is due to the fact that many patients have better vision after Lasik than they did with their best glasses before surgery. With more than 40 million procedures performed worldwide, blindness has never resulted in healthy candidates.

What are the side effects? During the healing period, the patient’s eyes might feel dry, light-sensitive, or irritated. Night vision issues such as glare, halos, ghosting, starbursts, and dry eye might occur. These issues typically resolve themselves, and some people might require additional eye drops to reduce inflammation or dry eyes. Less than five percent of the time, in rare cases, further treatment might be necessary to readdress residual vision problems.

For more information regarding Lasik surgery or to schedule an appointment, contact Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine learning technology in addition to a simple eye exam could detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease, according to research presented by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

A progressive disease of the central nervous system, Parkinson’s affects millions of people across the world. Tremors, muscle stiffness, and impaired balance are generally key markers of the disease. Once these symptoms are present, patients are already experiencing significant disease progression. Parkinson’s disease also affects the microscopic blood vessels in the retina. These markers provide an opportunity for AI to inspect images of the eyes for signs of the disease meticulously.

In a study by the University of Florida, researchers enabled an AI machine to analyze photographs of the back of the eye in two patients with Parkinson’s disease and two control participants. The AI was a type of Support Vector Machine (SVM) that has been around since 1989.

The SVM AI was able to classify Parkinson’s disease based on the blood vessels in the retina. Smaller blood vessels showed that changes in brain physiology can be detected in the eye. This novel discovery varies from the more traditional approach of diagnosing Parkinson’s disease.

With an overall goal to catch Parkinson’s disease cases sooner in its progression, researchers believe the new AI technology will help them better understand the disease on the path to finding a cure or slow its progression.

Moreover, other diseases that affect brain structure, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis, could be identified in the future.

To schedule your next eye exam, contact the experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Scientists from Harvard Medical School have successfully restored vision in old mice by “reprogramming” cells to a younger state in which they can fix or replace damaged tissue. This accomplishment is the first to show it might be possible to safely reprogram complex tissues to a previous state. The researchers successfully reversed eye damage from glaucoma in mice; glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Notable retina benefits included nerve regeneration and reversal of vision loss in animals with and without glaucoma.

Further studies will undoubtedly pave the way for tissue reprogramming to be tested on other organs, thereby reversing age-related diseases in humans. Further studies remain to be replicated prior to human experimentation; however, this novel discovery paves the way for reversing age-related human ailments.

The researchers theorized aging results from cells within the body containing the same DNA molecules but drastically varied roles. These cells only read genes specific to their type. The theory suggests that changes can cause cells to read the “wrong” genes and malfunction, which in turn causes the aging process to decline/reverse.

Aging reduces the efficiency of all cells and organs in our bodies; our brains are no exception. Circuit-forming neurons can adapt to change, regenerating in response to injury. This process weakens over time, which has long been known, but how these shifts lead to deterioration is still unknown.

Eye conditions that damage the optic nerve can result in glaucoma. Without healthy optic nerves, blindness can result. Abnormally high eye pressure is usually the cause of significant impairment. One of the leading causes of blindness in people ages 60 and up is glaucoma. The absence of specific warning signs combined with a gradual effect is usually a perfect storm for glaucoma’s presence to be noticed at an advanced stage.

There are many risk factors to consider regarding glaucoma; additionally, preventative measures can be implemented to ensure vision loss is not taking place or worsening.

For more information, read the full article in Nature. Contact the experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today to schedule an eye exam and measure your ocular pressure. Glaucoma recognized early can be slowed or prevented.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to work from home or remotely. As a direct result, the use of computers, tablets, phones, and other electronic devices has risen dramatically. A condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can be caused by excessive screen time. Also known as digital/computer eye strain, this phenomenon occurs when the eyes aim towards a screen for lengthy periods. Even without the pandemic, monitors, screens, smartphones, and the like can contribute to computer eye strain.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) suggests following the 20-20-20 rule: take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away. This strategy will help curb CVS symptoms, which include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain. Factors contributing to CVS are poor lighting, screen glare, improper viewing distances, poor seated posture, uncorrected vision issues, or a combination of these.

A comprehensive ocular exam will diagnose CVS. Treatment options vary; glasses, for example, are a good option for those suffering from CVS. Some lenses now come equipped with unique technology that blocks out blue light, which is thought to be emitted from digital screens. Glasses might need to be prescribed to meet the unique digital demands of computer viewing for individuals who do not otherwise have them. Eye focusing or coordination issues cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Vision therapy, a structured program of visual activities, is prescribed in those cases. The eye exercises train the eyes and brain to work together more effectively by strengthening rapid eye movement, focusing, eye teaming, and reinforcing the eye-brain connection.

Other factors, such as proper body positioning, come in to play when trying to correct CVS. Screens should be lower than eye level and be without glare (reduce lighting in the area to accomplish this or purchase an anti-glare screen.) Chairs should be comfortably padded, and feet are recommended to stay on the floor. Take frequent eye rest breaks (20-20-20 rule) and remember to blink frequently, which keeps the front surface of the eye moist.

To prevent CVS, ensure your glasses or contacts are the proper prescriptions. Minimize your exposure to blue light by purchasing blue-light blocking lenses. Adjust your work area for ultimate comfort, and take multiple breaks throughout the day. Anything that needs to be referenced from the computer screen should be placed as near as possible and at the same height.

For further information, read the original article by The AOA.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

The University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry found that brain stimulation can assist in recovery of vision in people with macular degeneration. A single 20-minute session of non-invasive visual cortex stimulation resulted in improved effects in macular degeneration patients.

Peripheral vision is relied on heavily by people who suffer from macular degeneration, as they often lose central vision. When attempting to crowd or segregate an object from others in close proximity, further difficulties arise.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) interventions reduce mechanisms in the visual cortex that contribute to crowding. This can improve vision in patients with central vision loss, especially when combined with perceptual learning techniques.

Ben Thompson, professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, said, “Perceptual learning can reduce letter crowding for patients with macular degeneration. However, perceptual learning typically requires intensive training, which may be a barrier for patients. Additionally, the learning does not always transfer to non-trained stimuli, that’s why this discovery is so promising, it addresses all of these concerns. Results of this study lay the foundation for future work investigating whether a-tDCS may be useful as a visual rehabilitation tool for individuals with central vision loss who are reliant on peripheral vision.”

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss (more than cataracts and glaucoma combined), affecting more than 10 million Americans. It is considered an incurable eye disease caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. The retina is the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them to the brain via an optic nerve. The macula, the retina’s central portion, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye. It also controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces, colors, and see objects in fine detail.

There are three stages of macular degeneration, with vision loss as the last. Despite there being no cure for macular degeneration, activities such as dieting, exercising, avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light are all ways to decrease the overall risk.

For more information regarding the correlation between macular degeneration and brain stimulation, read the original article. Contact the professionals at Rohr Eye & Laser Center to experience personalized ocular care.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.