by Dan Roberts (Updated November 13, 2005) According to a report in the April 2003 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology (2003;121:478-482.), the bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae may lead to a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The researchers found that people with AMD tend to carry higher levels of antibodies targeted against C. pneumoniae, [Read More]
News
Biocurrent Therapy: A Promising Treatment for Dry AMD
by Dan Roberts with additional material by Wendy Strouse Watt, O.D. Originally Published October 26, 2005 Acuity Medical has successfully completed a proof of concept, double-masked trial of its TheraMac™ device for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The therapy developed from early studies of microcurrent stimulation, with improvements in the science and [Read More]
Descriptions of Low Vision Magnifiers
Device Description Advantages Disadvantages Hand-held magnifier “Sherlock Holmes” type portable magnifying glass. Small and inexpensive. Available in a wide range of powers (1.5X – 8X). Socially-accepted. Leaves only one hand free. Difficult to keep in focus if hand trembles. Clamps with flexible arms are available for attaching to table tops. Illuminated hand-held magnifier Portable lens [Read More]
Photodynamic Therapy
by Dan Roberts Originally posted on MDSupport and updated in September 2005: QLT’s preliminary results found that Visudyne in an occult trial did not achieve its primary endpoint after two years. ———————————– Photodynamic therapy has been shown to be effective in helping to prevent further loss of sight in people who are afflicted by the [Read More]
Eccentric Viewing
by Dan Roberts September 2005 Reviewed by Jennifer Galbraith, O.D. Eccentric viewing is a technique used by people with central vision loss. Also called Preferred Retinal Loci (PRL), it is a method by which the person looks slightly away from the subject in order to view it peripherally with another area of the visual field. [Read More]