Health Promotion for AMD and the Role of Nutrition

There is an increase in demand for health promotion and preventative medicine playing a vital role in managing chronic illnesses. Many of these conditions stem from a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking, all of which are risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To combat chronic diseases, the root of the conditions may be addressed through the concept of health promotion. Health promotion thoroughly assesses how a population’s environmental, political, socioeconomic, behavioral, and cultural practices influence its health. This concept can be applied in a primary care setting which takes on a broader approach in treating and managing patients. Primary care providers need to be aware of the connections between common chronic illnesses and AMD. All primary care providers and eyecare specialists must be patients’ advocate and help improve their systemic and ocular prognosis

Multimodal Imaging Reveals Bilateral Idiopathic Multiple Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachments: A Case Report

Background: Retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED) is a nonspecific finding that is common in several ocular diseases; however, cases of bilateral idiopathic multiple RPEDs are rare. Less than 50 cases have been reported to date. Bilateral multiple RPEDs are usually idiopathic and benign in nature but can infrequently be associated with various ocular and systemic diseases, including central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The potential role of genetic factors in this condition remains elusive. We present a case where multimodal imaging assisted in revealing the diagnosis as well as discuss the potential implications of some of the genetic findings for this patient. Case report: A 30-year-old male presented with a chief complaint of mild, bilateral central blur of one-year duration. Health history was positive for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Multimodal ophthalmic imaging is useful in ruling out various differential diagnoses in posterior segment care, as well as monitoring for progressive changes such as sensory retinal detachment and choroidal neovascularization. Bilateral idiopathic multiple RPED is a rare condition that may represent an atypical form of CSC. There is currently no preferred treatment, besides observation, as visual prognosis is typically good

The EU Center of Excellence for Exascale in Solid Earth (ChEESE): Implementation, results, and roadmap for the second phase

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The Low Vision Rehabilitative Service, Part One: Understanding Low Vision

Allied health professionals are becoming increasingly adept at identifying persons that are living with low vision. Low vision rehabilitation is among the emerging areas of practice for various allied health care providers. This paper, the first of a two-part feature, provides background information that will help the allied health professional to better understand the person who will be receiving these services. The paper discusses the impact of functional vision loss, and presents a four-phase, interdisciplinary model of low vision services that can be applied to any setting, whether clinical or non-clinical. Finally, this paper describes the potential roles of the various members of the vision rehabilitation team. Part two of this series, to be presented in a subsequent publication, shall focus on methods of assessing low vision, providing clinical services, and establishing an adaptive training and instructional program

The Low Vision Rehabilitation Service. Part Two: Putting The Program Into Practice

Low vision may affect a person\u27s learning, daily functioning, and psychosocial status. Intervention in the form of vision rehabilitation has enabled many people to successfully meet and overcome the challenges posed by low vision. Part one of this two-part feature presented a four-phase, interdisciplinary model of low vision services that can be applied to any setting. This paper (part two) focuses on methods of assessing low vision, providing clinical services, and establishing an adaptive training and instructional program. The collaborative relationship between the patient/client, low vision physician (optometrist or ophthalmologist), and allied health professional (specifically, the occupational therapist) is described

Interdisciplinary Management of Diabetic Eye Disease: A Global Approach to Care

Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of acquired blindness in the United States. Most cases of blindness secondary to diabetes mellitus are preventable. In addition to exercise, proper diet, and aggressive glycemic control, patients with diabetes mellitus should be educated to adhere to established guidelines for an annual dilated retinal evaluation. The ideal model of care for patients with diabetic eye disease is an interdisciplinary, team-oriented approach with the patient as the central member of the healthcare team. The primary purpose of this paper is to present an interdisciplinary approach to management of the ocular complications of diabetes mellitus and to educate clinicians about diabetic eye disease

The importance of vitamin D in systemic and ocular wellness

Vitamin D is good for bones and teeth. It may also have a role in preventing and treating diabetes, certain cancers, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, hip fractures and ocular conditions such as age-related macular degeneration

Eye on Diabetes: A Multidisciplinary Patient Education Intervention.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of usual care to an intervention emphasizing patient education targeted at a multicultural adult patient population with diabetes seeking eye care in an academic health center. METHODS: Ninety patients were randomized to usual care or to the intervention. All patients received a comprehensive eye health and vision examination and completed a demographic survey, a patient satisfaction survey, and a diabetes eye health pretest and posttest administered by a masked examiner at 1 week and 3 months. A multidisciplinary (optometry, pharmacy, endocrinology) patient education curriculum was developed for patients randomized to the intervention. Because the dependent variable was measured at 3 points on a nominal scale, a binary generalized estimating equation was employed. RESULTS: The assessment of patient knowledge at baseline revealed misconceptions about diabetic eye disease. While most patients recognized that people with diabetes should have regularly scheduled eye examinations through dilated pupils (90.0%), most patients incorrectly reported that diabetic eye disease usually has early warning signs (75.6%). While controlling for age, gender, race, education, and HbA1c level, subjects who participated in the intervention were 2 times more likely to score higher on the posttest (chi(2) = 45.51, P \u3e .00). No differences between pretest and posttest scores were found for patients who did not participate in the intervention (chi(2) = 11.67, P \u3e .11). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who participated in the educational intervention demonstrated an increase in knowledge across time. Patients may benefit from education emphasizing the importance of dilated eye examinations in the absence of ocular symptoms

Eye Health and Vision Care for Patients with Diabetes: Comparing Usual Care to a Targeted Intervention in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Need/Background: Diabetic retinopathy is estimated to be the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness in the United States among adults. Severe and moderate vision loss from diabetes is often preventable with timely detection and treatment. Rationale: Many diabetic patients do not understand the importance of annual dilated fundus examinations in the absence of ocular symptoms, nor do they recognize the benefits of early detection of diabetic eye disease. Methodological design: The proposed pilot study compares the efficacy of usual care to an intervention emphasizing patient education targeted at English-speaking adult patients with diabetes seeking eye care in an academic health center. This proposal illustrates the specific aims of the investigators to increase patient knowledge of preventive health strategies for diabetes as they pertain to eye health and vision care, to increase patient satisfaction with eye and vision care, to educate future health care providers in diabetic patient care, and to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of patients with diabetes. Data analysis: The primary outcome measures are patient knowledge of preventive health strategies for diabetes as they pertain to eye health and vision care and patient satisfaction with eye and vision care. A multinomial generalized estimating equation will be used to ascertain group differences. Significance: It is anticipated that the results of the study shall be used to tailor the intervention to meet the needs of the local community and to seek external funding for future research. The ultimate goal of this project is to increase the proportion of persons with diabetes who have dilated fundus examinations at appropriate intervals and to reduce visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy