All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘AMD’

An Amsler Grid used to detect macular distortion and losses

RTE Nationwide

The RTE One programme Nationwide this evening was visiting the Waterford Institute of Technology, highlighting the research into, and importance of Macular Degeneration, particularly its early detection and treatment. It was an interesting programme, and obviously the team in Waterford are leading specialists, for sure in Ireland, but perhaps worldwide.

The programme can be viewed on the RTE.ie website – there seems to be a limit of the last ten episodes.

One thing I do think is worth a mention- virtually everyone interviewed decided to have their eyes checked because they had noticed that they were having problems – they felt their glasses were not sufficient, or noticed distortion. Recently the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the UK was campaigning to highlight the problem with symptom led eye examinations- they were imploring Optometrists to stress the importance of regular eye tests – ones where there were no symptoms!

Many problems can be detected before symptoms are noticed by the individual, though this may not necessarily be the case in Wet AMD. Anyone concerned about Wet AMD should put an Amsler grid on their fridge or noticeboard and check their vision weekly. An Amsler grid can be downloaded here.

AMD Awareness Week 23 to 29 September 2013

AMD Awareness Week

The 23rd to the 29th September 2013 is AMD awareness week around the world, organised by the AMDAI (Age related Macular Degeneration Alliance International) – you can see why they call themselves AMDAI!

There are going to be a few event to try to raise awareness of this increasingly common problem – the population is ageing as people are living longer.

The Irish Times are going to have their website AMD themed for the week, and there will be various press releases in print,on the TV and Radio to try to increase awareness of this condition. There is a mobile unit offering free AMD testing through the week, but the closest it will be to Cavan is Dublin on the 27th at Tallagh County Library (10am – 2pm).

Like many Optometrists across Ireland, McLeish Optometrists will be offering a free AMD test to those over 50s who might benefit, but this will not be a full eye test- we would recommend anyone with concerns contact us for sure, but regular examinations are paramount to the early detection of AMD.

Call us in Kingscourt (042) 9698841 or in Bailieborough (042) 9694456 or Contact Us here.

Eyebar 000

Eye Bars – the healthier way to enjoy chocolate?

There is a new chocolate bar, available only at the opticians! The Eye Bar is a chocolate bar containing the vitamins and nutrients proven to help prevent or slow down the progression of AMD (Age related Macular Degeneration).

From the distributor’s website-

 

Treat yourself to healthier eyes with EyeBar

EyeBar is a new and unique chocolate bar fortified with vitamins and minerals. EyeBar provides a more pleasing way to take a regular eye health supplement to help maintain healthy vision. 

Made from quality chocolate (65% cocoa solids minimum) and with all the vitamins and minerals your eyes need to stay healthy, plus Lutein and Zeaxanthin, EyeBar is a delicious way to help look after your eyes.

The Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking regular supplements specifically for the eyes may reduce further deterioration in eye health by up to 26%. EyeBar is fortified with vitamins C and E, Zinc and Copper, validated in both the AREDS and AREDS2 studies. 

Each box contains 30 individually wrapped, 12g chocolate bars and one or two bars can be enjoyed daily. If appropriate, one EyeBar and one EyeTab capsule can be taken per day. 

Nutrient 1 Bar 2 Bars % RDA 2 bars
Zinc 12.5 mg 25 mg 250%
Lutein / Zeaxanthin 6 mg 12 mg  
Vitamin C 250 mg 500 mg 625%
Vitamin E 200 IU 400 IU 1333%
Copper 0.8 mg 1.6 mg 160%

Personally I think one per day would suffice, but I’m not a chocoholic. If you are, or know someone that is, who might have early age changes, why not treat them? I guess there would be less calories in the tablets though?

Get them while they last, it will be interesting to see how many sell, compared to how many “disappear”!

Staff – I am watching YOU.

Snoring

Sleep Apnoea

Sleep Apnoea, (or Apnea if you use American English) has recently been linked to poor outcomes for people with Wet AMD- researchers have found that many people who do not respond to IntraVitreal injections of Lucentis (bevacizumab) did have undiagnosed and therefore untreated Sleep Apnoea.

Sleep Apnoea is a potentially serious condition where the individuals throat narrows when sleeping. In some individuals the throat can become completely closed, causing them to be unable to breath. They will struggle to breath when asleep, but the brain then wakens the person, and while it may take a few seconds, they do start to breath again, though there may be a choking sensation until they do start. This can cause a seriously disrupted night for the sufferer and perhaps partner, and sleep apnoea sufferers are often chronically tired, some can fall asleep in the middle of a sentence, or even while driving.

People with sleep apnoea are usually constantly tired, and the reduced Blood Oxygen levels during an episode can cause problems with many body organs, including the brain and the eye. Another recent finding is that people with this condition are 1.67 times more likely to develop Glaucoma than non sufferers.

There are different types of Sleep Apnoea, the most common type is Obstructive, and can be managed by weight loss- if applicable, restricting alcohol intake and stopping using sleeping tablets if used. Sometimes just raising the head more, a different sleeping position, and nasal decongestants can help. Other sufferers can use a special mask which feeds higher than normal pressure air to them- this extra pressure helps keep the airway open. Apnoea can affect both sexes, but is more likely in men, and may tend to run in families, possibly indicating a genetic link.

The link to poorer outcomes in AMD is here, and the link to the increased risk of Glaucoma is here – you may need to register (free) to see the articles.

An eye with late stage exudative AMD

Avastin vs Lucentis

Recently studies have found that there is little difference in the success in treating Wet AMD between Lucentis (Ranibizumab) and Avastin (Bevacizumab). This may allow the heath services to save an awful lot of money, as Lucentis costs £741 per vial compared to £40 for Avastin. This could mean that many more people could be treated.

One of the recent most successful treatments for Exudative (Wet) Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is a drug called Lucentis. This is an Anti VegF drug, which inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in the eye, which is the cause of Wet AMD. Injected directly into the Vitreous – the jelly at the back of the eye, it also causes the new vessels to become less leaky.

Lucentis was conceived because doctors tried Avastin, an anti cancer drug and another Anti VegF, to see if it would help Wet AMD, and found that it worked!

Avastin was “designed” on the basis that a tumour must acquire a blood supply to grow, and if this blood supply could be reduced or prevented, then the tumour would (hopefully) die, or at least it’s growth would be hampered. It has shown much success as an anti cancer drug. Because this “off label” use of a drug to treat another disease is not licenced, it leaves the treating doctor with increased risks of lawsuits should there be a problem- drugs are licenced to treat specific diseases.

Both Lucentis and Avastin were developed by Genentech, a California based company owned by Roche pharmaceutical. Avastin is marketed by Roche, but Lucentis is marketed in the UK and Ireland by Novartis.

Recently studies have found that there is little difference in the success in treating Wet AMD between Lucentis and Avastin. There was a slight suggestion in the increase in risk of serious complications, such as heart attacks in using Avastin, but as the dosage in treating the eye is so much less that when used as a cancer treatment, and there seem to be few worries in the Oncology reports, the study thinks that this may have been an incidental finding because of the relatively small trial size- as ever more research may be required there.

It does seem incredibly unfair that there is such a difference in prices between these two drugs, both manufactured by the same company, both similar in their method of working, but it is not as you might suspect down to company greed. It has been estimated that it can cost up to a $Billion* to get a drug licenced with the FDA in America, so the release of Lucentis required another FDA approval at another $Billion*, and the company has to be able to recoup this investment, before its patent expires. FDA approval only covers USA, so there will be similar costs in achieving European licencing. Some countries are much less regulated than ours- it seems that Doctors in India have been using Avastin to treat AMD for years.

Medical trials cost a lot of money, and most people would agree that they are necessary to ensure drug safety, the cost of Lucentis is the flip side.

The report can be viewed here– you may need to register or log in to view it, but registration is free.

*Forbes

 

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