 |
|
Glaucoma procedure now available at Mayo Clinic aims to prevent further eye damage
June 26, 2008JACKSONVILLE - For the first time in Florida, patients with glaucoma have a new treatment option known as the Trabectome. The minimally invasive procedure, which is available at Mayo Clinic and takes about 20 minutes, is designed to decrease pressure within the eye and stabilize the vision.
"The goal of this procedure is to prevent further damage within the eye," says ophthalmologist Rajesh Shetty, M.D. He says that some patients have been able to reduce or eliminate use of daily eye drop medications that regulate intraocular pressure.
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, is a disease that causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve from increasing pressure within the eye. This occurs because the eye produces a clear fluid that does not drain adequately and raises the eye pressure. The first sign of glaucoma is a loss of peripheral vision that is usually not noticed by the patient until it affects the central vision. Unfortunately, vision lost to glaucoma can't be restored so treatment aims to reduce eye pressure to prevent further damage.
Traditionally, ophthalmologists first prescribe eye drops to reduce the eye pressure, and if that doesn't work, they can perform a laser procedure (trabeculoplasty) to the existing internal drainage canal around the base of the cornea. A more invasive treatment is trabeculectomy, a surgical technique to create a new drain for the eye.
The Trabectome procedure uses a small probe that opens the eye's drainage system through a tiny incision in the eye's cornea. "It removes a small portion of the eye's natural drainage system so that it functions better," says Dr. Shetty. He says it should be used when eye drops and laser trabeculoplasty fail to reduce pressure and before trabeculectomy is considered. "I see this as another rung in the ladder of treatment for glaucoma," he says.
So far, more than a dozen patients have had the procedure at Mayo Clinic in Florida, although the technique has been available at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a few years. To date, several thousand procedures have been done nationwide, according to Dr. Shetty.
The procedure requires very little sedation and patients generally recover within a week. "We have been pleased with the results," he says, noting that although lost vision cannot be restored with the procedure, some patients have reported improved vision overall after surgery.
An estimated 4 million Americans are affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma screenings are suggested for anyone over 40 every two to four years. A routine exam can help identify risk for glaucoma and early signs of the disease. Risk factors for glaucoma include: a family history of the disease, African or Hispanic ancestry, diabetes, certain rare eye diseases and having had an eye injury or having used any corticosteroid preparation for a prolonged period.
Mayo Clinic
Traditionally, ophthalmologists first prescribe eye drops to reduce the eye pressure, and if that doesn't work, they can perform a laser procedure (trabeculoplasty) to the existing internal drainage canal around the base of the cornea. A more invasive treatment is trabeculectomy, a surgical technique to create a new drain for the eye.
The Trabectome procedure uses a small probe that opens the eye's drainage system through a tiny incision in the eye's cornea. "It removes a small portion of the eye's natural drainage system so that it functions better," says Dr. Shetty. He says it should be used when eye drops and laser trabeculoplasty fail to reduce pressure and before trabeculectomy is considered. "I see this as another rung in the ladder of treatment for glaucoma," he says.
So far, more than a dozen patients have had the procedure at Mayo Clinic in Florida, although the technique has been available at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a few years. To date, several thousand procedures have been done nationwide, according to Dr. Shetty.
The procedure requires very little sedation and patients generally recover within a week. "We have been pleased with the results," he says, noting that although lost vision cannot be restored with the procedure, some patients have reported improved vision overall after surgery.
An estimated 4 million Americans are affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma screenings are suggested for anyone over 40 every two to four years. A routine exam can help identify risk for glaucoma and early signs of the disease. Risk factors for glaucoma include: a family history of the disease, African or Hispanic ancestry, diabetes, certain rare eye diseases and having had an eye injury or having used any corticosteroid preparation for a prolonged period.
Mayo Clinic
Glaucoma Current Events and Glaucoma News RSS1930s drug slows tumor growth
Drugs sometimes have beneficial side effects. A glaucoma treatment causes luscious eyelashes. A blood pressure drug also aids those with a rare genetic disease.
Cataract surgery helps AMD patients; steroid improves DME; online eye health forum
This month's Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) reports on a national study that finds cataract surgery is likely to benefit patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at all stages of the disease, on a clinical trial showing that the steroid triamcinolone may be effective in advanced diabetic macular edema (DME) patients when standard treatment fails, and on the public's use of two Academy-sponsored online eye health forums.
Treating ROP in tiny preemies; better glaucoma follow-up in urban clinic
Highlights of today's Scientific Program of the 2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) - Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) Joint Meeting include: John T. Flynn, MD, Columbia University School of Medicine, discussing the ever-tougher challenges Eye M.D.s face in caring for the vision of the tiniest premature babies; and a report by Bradford W. Lee, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, on barriers to glaucoma follow-up as perceived by patients in an urban, culturally diverse clinic.
First in New York: Bionic technology aims to give sight to woman blinded beginning at age 13
A 50-year-old New York woman who was diagnosed with a progressive blinding disease at age 13 was implanted with an experimental electronic eye implant that has partially restored her vision.
Toronto researchers discover novel circulation in human eye, new glaucoma treatment target
Researchers at the University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have discovered a previously unidentified form of circulation within the human eye which may provide important new insights into glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
Study predicts 40 percent increase in blindness in Nigeria by 2020
By 2020, 1.4 million Nigerians over age 40 will lose their sight, and the vast majority of the causes are either preventable or treatable, according to the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Study Group.
Unlikely genetic suspect implicated in common brain defect
A genetic search that wound its way from patients to mouse models and back to patients has uncovered an unlikely gene critically involved in a common birth defect which causes mental retardation, motor delays and sometimes autism, providing a new mechanism and potentially improving treatment for the disorder.
A drug-dispensing contact lens
Taking eye drops multiple times a day can be difficult for patients to do, and because of blinking and tearing, as little as 1 to 7 percent of the dose is actually absorbed by the eye.
Clue to normal-tension glaucoma; herpes infection and corneal transplants
The July issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes two studies that may influence clinical treatment of serious eye conditions.
Cell's split personality is a major discovery into neurological diseases
Researchers at the Université de Montreal (UdeM) and the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University have discovered that cells which normally support nerve cell (neuron) survival also play an active and major role in the death of neurons in the eye.
More Glaucoma Current Events and Glaucoma News Articles
 |
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM) Glaucoma: The Essential Treatments and Advances That Could Save Your Sight (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About...) by Gregory K. Harmon (Author), Nancy Intrator (Author), Catherine Wang (Contributor), Kitty Carlisle Hart (Contributor) An insidious disease, glaucoma is often misunderstood and is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Helps to dispel the myths surrounding the disease and inform readers as to the truth about glaucoma. Divided into three accessible sections, the book takes readers through the most common methods of treatment, and explores cutting-edge research and crucial new information on the effects of nutrition, exercise, and herbal medicine on glaucoma. |
 |
A Patient's Guide to Glaucoma by Young H Kwon (Author), John H Fingert (Author), Emily C Greenlee (Author) The Patient's Guide to Glaucoma is a very useful educational resource. The authors have done an excellent job of covering the pertinent aspects of glaucoma from the patient's perspective. It provides more complete explanations of aspects of glaucoma care than any other presently available resource. It will be very helpful to patients who want more information about medications, laser, trabeculectomy, tube-shunt surgery, and many other subjects. John S. Cohen, MD Director, Glaucoma Service Cincinnati Eye Institute, Volunteer Clinical Professor University of Cincinnati Drs. Kwon, Greenlee and Fingert are to be congratulated for creating this outstanding educational program on glaucoma. These materials provide an excellent overview of the disease and its treatment.... |
 |
Glaucoma: Expert Consult Premium Edition - Enhanced Online Features, Print, and DVD, 2-Volume Set by Tarek M. Shaarawy MD MSc (Author), Mark B. Sherwood FRCP FRCOphth (Author), Roger A. Hitchings FRCP FRCOphth (Author), Jonathan G. Crowston MD PhD (Author) Recent dramatic advances in diagnosis, as well as medical and surgical treatment, mean that you can offer your glaucoma patients more timely and effective interventions. This brand-new clinical reference delivers the comprehensive, expert guidance you need to make optimal use of these new approaches.online, in print, and on video on DVD! Get in-depth guidance on all aspects of adult and pediatric glaucoma with one volume devoted to diagnosis and medical treatment, and another that focuses on surgical techniques. Presents world-class expertise through advice from leading specialists across six continents. Captures key diagnostic findings and operative procedures with 1,200 high-quality images and photographs-1,000 in full color-that highlight nuances of glaucoma presentation and... |
 |
Native Remedies Vizu-All Plus for Eye and Capillary Health (50ml) by Native Remedies Vizu-All Plus is a 100% safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of natural health experts. Vizu-All Plus can be used consistently to safely support visual health and encourage circulation to the eyes while promoting overall systemic and immune system health. Vizu-All Plus supports the healthy functioning of the eye, thereby helping to maintain routine visual health both day and night, as well as encouraging blood flow to the optical nerve and surrounding tissues. Vizu-All Plus can make all the difference, without compromising health and without serious side effects. Use Vizu-All Plus to promote visual health and support the eye and surrounding tissues; support strength of blood capillaries in the eye; help lessen common problems associated with night vision and... |
 |
Glaucoma: A Patient's Guide to the Disease by Graham E. Trope (Author) Primary or chronic open angle glaucoma is a painless condition usually associated with high pressure in the eye. It affects approximately four per cent of all people over the age of fifty. Untreated, glaucoma is a major cause of blindness worldwide. The second edition of Glaucoma: A Patient's Guide to the Disease, published in 2001, offered essential information about glaucoma and its treatment, presented in a simple question and answer format to allow patients to participate actively in the decision-making process along the road to successful maintenance of their vision. The third edition adds to and augments the previous edition by introducing important updates on new medical and surgical treatments and information on the latest techniques used to diagnose and follow... |
 |
Becker-Shaffer's Diagnosis and Therapy of the Glaucomas (Becker-Shaffers) by Robert L. Stamper MD (Author), Marc F. Lieberman MD (Author), Michael V. Drake MD (Author) Authored by three prominent specialists in the field, this text provides comprehensive coverage of diagnostic and treatment modalities for optimal glaucoma management. Revised throughout, this new edition presents the latest guidance in clinical examination, randomized trials, medical treatment, laser therapy, and surgical procedures. Hundreds of illustrations-with many classic black and white figures from the previous editions supplemented with new color images-depict the features of glaucomas and step-by-step procedures for their management, while expanded use of highlighted boxes, lists, and summary tables make the material easy to access. Evidence-based and updated information on all aspects of the glaucomas-including physiology, genetics, interventional trials, and new surgical... |
 |
Shields' Textbook of Glaucoma (Allingham, Shields' Textbook of Glaucoma) by R. Rand Allingham (Editor), Karim F Damji (Editor), Sharon Freedman (Editor), Sayoko E Moroi (Editor), George Shafranov (Editor) This popular reference on glaucoma management now offers a more practical and clinically focused textbook for ophthalmologists and residents. Readers find new or extensively updated information on cellular and molecular biology of the eye, molecular genetics and classification of glaucomas, epidemiology and public health, screening and risk assessment, congenital and developmental glaucomas with anomalies, pseudo-exfoliation syndrome, and management of the glaucoma patient and approach to treatment. Key points and "Pearls" are summarized at the end of each chapter. "Doody's Core Titles™ 2009." |
 |
Glaucoma (Essentials in Ophthalmology) by Franz Grehn (Editor), Robert Stamper (Editor) This third "Glaucoma" volume of the "Essentials in Ophthalmology" series, as in the first and the second, provides a picture of recent progress in the field of glaucoma, in both basic clinical research and applied clinical science. Its intention is not to replace textbooks on glaucoma, but to serve as a conceptual bridge between original research and textbook presentation. Topics include: Nonpenetrating Glaucoma Surgery; Detecting Glaucoma Progression by Imagin; Imaging individual ganglion cells in the human retina; Digital Glaucoma Patient Record and Teleconsultation Systems for Glaucoma; New Glaucoma Surgeries; Viscocanalostomy; Glaucoma Epidemiology; and, Genetics and Glaucoma. The editors have set out to provide the reader with diverse and interesting topics reflective of the... |
 |
Mechanisms of the Glaucomas: Disease Processes and Therapeutic Modalities by Joyce Tombran-Tink (Author), Joyce Tombran-Tink (Editor), Colin J. Barnstable (Editor), M. Bruce Shields (Editor) The mechanisms of the various forms of glaucoma were unknown at the outset of the twentieth century. Late in the twentieth century, two nascent areas of research were beginning to provide glimpses of what the twenty-first century held in store for the future of glaucoma: the mechanisms of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and the molecular basis of the glaucomas. In Mechanisms of the Glaucomas: Disease Processes and Therapeutic Modalities, the authors review the most current knowledge available in the field and provide a basis in which researchers can effectively study the glaucomas. The intent of the book is not primarily to describe the clinical appearances of the glaucomas nor how to manage them. Rather, it is to provide basic scientists, who are working in the field of glaucoma, with a... |
 |
Herbal Eyebright Extract - 1 oz. - Liquid by Dr. Christopher Historically it has been used for "brightening" the eyes, cataracts, heavy film, and other eye problems. For best results take internally and as an eyewash. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |