This week’s blog on Floaters and Flashes has been contributed by Dr Ammar Safar, Medical Director, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon.
Some people describe seeing little objects of different shapes and sizes occasionally floating in front of them. We call these objects ‘Floaters’ because they seem to float in front of you wherever you look. In fact, these are small fibres located in the vitreous, the jelly-like substance which fills the eye, in front of the retina. It is very common to see these floaters from time to time and they are more likely to be found in near-sighted individuals.
The floaters are usually seen only when looking at a light background such as a white computer screen or blue sky or sea. Typically, the floaters do not increase with time and if they do, it is usually a very slow progression over many years. The only effective treatment is removing the vitreous, through surgery. However, the procedure is rarely performed as floaters are very benign and rarely cause any significant vision loss. They are more annoying than anything else.
There is no other treatment such as drops or medication that will get rid of them. If there is a sudden increase in the number of floaters (5-10 or more new ones appearing) or if there are flashes of light associated with them, then a visit to your ophthalmologist is necessary to check your retina and ensure there are no holes or tears in it.
Month: July 2018
Is diabetes causing your vision problems?
This week’s blog on Diabetes Mellitus has been contributed by Dr Igor Kozak, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Specialist in Vitreoretinal Surgery, Medical Retina and Uveitis
Diabetes mellitus is now one of the most common epidemics across continents. While it is a common household term, most people don’t understand what exactly it means to have diabetes. A body with diabetes is unable to properly use the energy from the food ingests, especially carbohydrates, thereby affecting various organs and their functioning.
However, what people know even less about diabetes is that if not treated appropriately, the eyes and visual function can take a severe toll, and diabetes can lead to various vision related diseases.
Diabetic Retinopathy
The initial signs of diabetic retinopathy are small. While modern research is able to detect them, they usually go unnoticed. The retina is the structure at the backside of the eye where the light is processed and the image is transmitted to the brain. Starting as small hemorrhagic spots on the retina, they progress to bigger bleeds, tissue swelling, or retinal contraction. Early control of diabetes can control this.
Macular Edema
The macula is responsible for sharp and detailed vision. The swelling due to diabetes can affect the macula, with decreased visual activity as a result. Further, the photoreceptor cells, that are responsible for converting light to signals, can also be damaged. Modern treatment for Macular Edema include injections to the eye or laser.
Traction Retinal Detachment
Traction retinal detachment occurs due to the contraction of the retina. This leads to dark curtains or blind spots in the field of vision, along with bleeding and formation of holes in the retina. This can be taken care of only through surgery and tenuous post-operative care.
Cataract
Cataract is the clouding of the lens, leading to a decreased quality of vision. Process of cataract is accelerated in diabetics.
As such diabetes represents a threat to human health and vision. It requires constant fight and vigilance as the consequence for its negligence can come at surprisingly high costs. Experts seek solutions for early diagnosis and treatment in fostering collaboration among specialist in various fields including internal medicine, diabetology, endocrinology and others. Early referrals from family medicine and general practitioners are of highest importance. But most of all, patient education and willingness to improve one’s own health should stand out among activities and drives to bring patients for early and regular eye exam.
Moorfields Dubai consultant performs trifocal lens implant procedure and transforms patient’s vision of the world
3 July 2018 (Dubai – United Arab Emirates): A Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai patient – a 59-year old British resident of Dubai – has been able to throw away his three pairs of glasses, after his vision was corrected following an artificial Intraocular lens transplant procedure at the hospital, during which he also underwent cataract removal to prevent any further development of the patient’s early signs of cataract. The day after surgery, the patient was able to see clearly and now has better than 20/20 distance vision in both eyes, with no need for glasses. According to Moorfields, the trifocal lens implant procedure generally delivers better vision results than LASIK correction for patients over the age of 55, who want total freedom from wearing glasses.
The patient, who used three pairs of glasses for different needs (for near vision, computer screens, and distance), initially visited the hospital for a consultation. He was diagnosed with presbyopia (the natural loss of near vision due to age) and with early signs of cataracts (clouding of the lens leading to a decrease in vision) in both eyes.
The Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai Consultant, Dr. Osama Giledi, Consultant Ophthalmologist,Specialist in Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Vision Correction Surgery, explained that LASIK vision correction would not offer the best results, as the patient would still need to use glasses for the intermediate and near distance vision. Dr. Osama recommended natural intraocular lens exchange with artificial implant with three focal points for distance, intermediate, and near vision. In this procedure, the natural lens in the eye (with or without cataract) is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct the patient’s refractive error with a sharper focus, and to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses.
Patient Colin Tennant said: “I had been wearing multiple pairs of glasses for many years and this had become a real frustration in my life. Once I had been examined at Moorfields and diagnosed with presbyopia and early stage cataracts, the option of having the lens implant procedure was clearly the best solution in my case, at my age, with the added benefit of allowing me to throw away my three pairs of glasses. The procedure and initial recovery was done in a day and I was able to see very well, very quickly – without any glasses. Of course, the potential cataract problem was also removed completely, as part of the procedure.”
Dr. Osama added: “We implanted trifocal multifocal implants in both eyes, with very good and fast results; he was able to see well the day after surgery and his distance vision is now better than 20/20 in both eyes, with no complications – he can read and use a computer without glasses. Refractive lens exchange can be an attractive alternative to LASIK laser eye surgery for patients over the age of 55, who want freedom from wearing glasses.”
