There may be a new ray of hope for glaucoma patients striving to preserve their vision. According to a recent study that appears in August’s online issue of BMC Ophthalmology, just ten minutes daily of aerobic exercise may help prevent further vision loss.

Researchers from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Department of Anesthesiology at the "G.Papanikolaou" Regional Hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece, sought to explore the effects of exercise on medicated patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, often resulting in severe vision loss or blindness. It is an irreversible condition that affects roughly 4 million people in the United States, about half of whom are unaware that they have it. Women, persons with diabetes or stroke, and African American men over 40 are at a greater risk.

Although glaucoma is typically seen in the elderly (persons over 60), everyone is at risk. Glaucoma may develop with or without symptoms, and as many as 10 percent of people receiving proper treatment will still experience vision loss. High intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of its many risk factors.

“Since exercise increases systemic fibrinolytic activity (such as dissolving blood clots), one can speculate that exercise decreases intraocular pressure by facilitating (uveoscleral) outflow,” authors of the study wrote.”

Based on this information, researchers gathered data from 145 individuals—100 healthy and 45 with POAG. Prior to testing researchers checked IMP levels using Goldmann’s applanation tonometry, a method of measuring the amount of pressure needed to flatten the cornea.

IMP was measured again hours after receiving medicated eye drops. Participants were then asked to engage in “moderate to sub-maximal” aerobic exercise (on a bicycle) for 10 minutes, after which IOP data was again measured. All participants experienced lower IOP levels, even in the participants who received no medication.

“Regardless of the antiglaucoma medication instilled, they still benefited from the aerobic exercise since they all had a post-exercise reduction of IOP,” the authors wrote in the study. “It is obvious that these patients should be encouraged to perform aerobic exercise.”

Have more questions? Visit Healia's Glaucoma Community.

Older men who use drugs to treat urinary retention may be at higher risk for complications following cataract surgery, according to a new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers reported that men who use tamsulosin hydrochloride are more than twice as likely to develop serious complications following cataract surgery than those who do not take the medication.

Tamsulosin hydrochloride treats urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate by relaxing prostate and bladder smooth muscle tissue, allowing urine to be more easily expelled. But the study found that the medication also relaxes the smooth muscle in the eye’s iris. This can lead to iris detachment and swelling of the eye, causing complications during surgery.

Patients who had taken tamsulosin hydrochloride within two weeks of the date of cataract surgery were at the highest risk for complications. Patients who had taken the drug in the past, but not within 14 days of the operation, were significantly less likely to experience adverse events following surgery.

Nearly three quarters of men have enlarged prostates that effect urination by the time they are 70 years old. Tamsulosin hydrochloride is a commonly prescribed treatment for the condition. However, many older males also develop cataracts for which surgical intervention is recommended. To avoid complications during surgery, the researchers recommend patients tell their doctors about any urinary medications they are currently using.

To talk to other patients with enlarged prostates, contribute to the Healia Prostate Diseases Online Health Community and Support Group. Visit the Healia Cataracts Online Health Community and Support Group to share your cataract story.


_{Photo: Piddy77, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Many of us remember to apply sunscreen while in the sun, but do we remember hats and sunglasses? July is UV Safety Month and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) wants to remind people to protect their eyes as much as they protect their skin.

According to the AAO, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are recommended to protect your eyes from sunlight and harmful UV rays. They suggest that both sunglasses and a hat be worn every time you are outside for a long period, even if the sun is not fully out. Consumers should look for sunglasses that can block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.

It is thought that even just a single day of sun exposure can be harmful to your eyes. Reflected UV light from sand, snow, or roads may burn the eye's surface. And although the surface burns typically disappear within days, they may result in longer term eye complications.

For information about eye diseases or skin cancer, visit Healia Communities. At Healia Communities you can connect with others, share stories, or ask an expert a question.

UV Rays UV safety ultraviolet light

Many adults find themselves with a pink eye infection this time of the year—as seasonal allergens fly in the air causing itchiness and the desire to rub or touch the eyes. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the eyelid and part of the eyeball. The cause of pink eye is typically a bacterial or viral infection or an allergic reaction.

According to the Mayo Clinic, pink eye may make you feel as if you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you just can't remove. The whites of the eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as clearly as you did before. When you wake up in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from discharge from your eyes.

Since pink eye can be highly contagious, it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. For information on how to prevent pink eye, see Healia’s blog: Five Simple Tips for Preventing Pink Eye. You can also visit Healia Communities to Ask an Expert a question or to connect with others about Allergies or Eye Diseases.

pink eye conjunctivitis allergy season

Is a vision test on your “To Do List”? More than 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older have glaucoma (a group of eye diseases which produce increased pressure within the eye) and the best defense against the disease is an annual vision exam. People usually do not notice signs of glaucoma until they have already lost significant vision.

The elevated pressure in glaucoma is caused by a backup of fluid in the eye, which, over time, may damage the optic nerve. At first, people with glaucoma lose their side vision (peripheral vision). And, if the disease is not treated, vision loss may progress to total blindness. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored. People with one or more of the following risk factors for glaucoma should have their eyes examined on a regular basis:

• Over the age of 45
• A family history of glaucoma
• Abnormally high intraocular pressure (IOP)
• African descent
• Diabetes
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Regular, long-term steroid/cortisone use
• Previous eye injury

To test for glaucoma, your doctor will perform a series of quick and painless tests (eye pressure measurements, dilated eye exams, and sometimes visual field testing) to check for any changes in your eye or in your vision. Through early detection, glaucoma can often be controlled with medications, such as eye drops or pills. If glaucoma does not respond to medication, surgery may be recommended.  

glaucoma vision exam optic nerve

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is the most common eye infection in the United States. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear mucous membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball (the sclera) and the inside of the eyelid. The inflammation makes the eye appear red or pink, especially near the corners of the eye and is usually accompanied by mild pain or irritation. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis may include increased tearing, a gritty feeling in the eye, sensitivity to light, swelling, and itching.

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious but you can help prevent the spread of this infection by following these seven simple tips:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often
• Change pillowcases, washcloths, and towels frequently
• Replace eye cosmetics regularly
• Do not share eye drops or cosmetics such as eve pencils and mascara
• Do not share towels, handkerchiefs, washcloths, towels, or pillowcases, with others, including family members
• Handle and clean contact lenses properly
• Keep hands away from the eye

If your child gets conjunctivitis, keep him or her out of school until they have started antibiotic treatment or their symptoms have cleared up. Once one student comes down with conjunctivitis, it is easy to spread it to an entire class.

Visit Healia Communities to Ask an Expert a question about pink eye. You can also share your own experiences with pink eye by connecting with others in the Healia Health Community for Eye Diseases and Injuries.

 

Conjunctivitis pink eye eye health eye infection