Blindness Risk Reduced In Extremely Premature Babies By Antioxidant

....A study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) suggests that the antioxidant, rhSOD (recombinant human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase), reduces the risk of developing ROP in extremely low gestational age newborns.....

Video games 'may help treat lazy eye in adults'

 .....Researchers have discovered that a major cause of vision loss is treatable, and the most promising new treatment is playing video games, a new study has claimed.

According to the study, by Dennis Michael Levi of UC Berkeley, it has long been thought that after childhood, it is too late to treat "lazy eye" leading to permanent vision loss (amblyopia), but new research suggests that the visual cortex of the brain has enough "neural plasticity" to respond to treatment for amblyopia even in adulthood........

Long-term effect of overnight orthokeratology on axial length elongation in childhood myopia: a 5-year follow-up study

Long-term effect of overnight orthokeratology on axial length elongation in childhood myopia: a 5-year follow-up study

....The current 5-year follow-up study indicated that OK can suppress axial length elongation in childhood myopia.....

Comments: There were no severe complications...and the children developed less myopia. DM

If you think they might have eye issues, take them to the movies

If you think they might have eye issues, take them to the movies


A visit to a 3D feature film provides young children with a "free eye test", Ireland's leading eye treatment experts have claimed.

Far from damaging the vision of young children, as has been claimed in some controversial reports, Irish optometrists say that 3D films can actually identify a range of hidden visual issues in children such as squints and lazy eye, once parents know what to look for in their children's reactions.

Optometrists now consider 3D technology to be a far more sensitive tool for discovering issues than the traditional eye charts, which have been used for 150 years.

"Binocular vision -- the ability of two eyes to focus on the same spot -- is necessary to perceive depth in a 3D film," says Peter Coleman, chief executive of the Association of Optometrists Ireland. "If they're getting headaches at a 3D film or they can't see the picture properly then it could be a sign of lazy eye. If that's the case you should take them for a proper eye test.".....


Comments: Read more by clicking on the title above. DM

Reduced Risk Of Autism In Offspring When Folic Acid Taken During Early Pregnancy

....The study found that women who each day consumed the recommended amount of folic acid (600 micrograms, or .6 milligrams) during the first month of pregnancy experienced a reduced risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder, specifically when the mother and/or her child had a specific genetic variant (MTHFR 677 C>T) associated with less efficient folate metabolism. The study will be published in the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.....

Traumatic Brain Injury Video

3D in Education Fundamentally Different than 3D in other Venues

3D in Education Fundamentally Different 

than 3D in other Venues

The Panel of Presenters. Len has microphone

 At the recent American Optometric Association’s meeting in Chicago, my friend and colleague, Mr. Len Scrogan, an internationally renowned expert on all things 3D in education, presented to optometrists during a 4 hour session on 3D Vision Syndrome When Our Eyes Fail Us held at McCormick Place right off of lake Michigan. 

Although the day was hot, Len’s presentation was so very cool!

Len's 3D beating heart!

He showed us how students learn about the beating heart in 3D. To do this Len pulled on a white T-shirt and projected the image onto his chest…we literally saw his heart beating! What student would not want to learn more!

Len’s blog, Future Talk 3D is the place to go to learn more. Click on this link immediately!

OD's watching 3D Education

You can also learn more by viewing Len on TedX:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGs3FlygaOg and on MainosMemos http://www.mainosmemos.com/2011/11/len-scrogan-3d-in-classroom.html.

 I am proud to call Len Scrogan friend and colleague. Even if he does tower over me when we make presentations! DM

Drug Information Portal Now Available for Mobile Devices

 

 Drug Information Portal Now Available for Mobile Devices

The NLM Drug Information Portal is now available for mobile devices.
This mobile optimized Web site covers over 32,000 drugs and provides descriptions, drug names, pharmaceutical categories, and structural diagrams. Each record also features information links to nineteen other resources including PubMed, LactMed, and [email protected]. The mobile version of a resource is used when available.

Smart Phones accessing the main Drug Portal site will be taken the mobile site. The Drug Information Portal is a free Web resource from the NLM that provides an informative, user friendly entry-way to current drug information for over 32,000 drugs. Links to sources span the breadth of the NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies. Current information regarding consumer health, clinical trials, AIDS-related drug information, MeSH pharmacological actions, PubMed biomedical literature, and physical properties and structure is easily retrieved by searching on a drug name. A varied selection of focused topics in medicine and drug-related information is also available from displayed subject headings.

Please send comments and suggestions to: [email protected].

Spray Caps for Opthalmic Drugs

 My colleague at Lyons Family Eye Care (Dr. Stephanie Lyons) asked me if I had ever tried the spray caps now available for ophthalmic topical drugs. I haven't tried them....and I wasn't even aware of their existence...so I thought I'd pass along this info. Perhaps you will find using these spray caps useful in your office.

Disposable-Spray-Caps are available from Guldenophthalmics. Click here for more information. DM

The Alfred and Sarah Rosenbloom Center for Vision and Aging

Groundbreaking AOA Program on 3D Technology

Groundbreaking AOA Program on 3D Technology

My friend and colleague. Dr. Len Press, wrote several VisionHelp Blog posts about the recent AOA meeting in Chicago and simulated 3D. They are all awesome! Click below to read them...

Dr. Dan Press, Dr. Len Press and another onlooker view simulated 3D

                 Part 1

             Part 2

             Part 3
            

             Part 4

             Part 5

Film maker: AOA (and this blogger) dispelled myths regarding 3D

Film maker: AOA dispelled myths regarding 3D

The president of the International 3D Society told attendees here at the opening session of Optometry’s Meeting that the American Optometric Association was instrumental in educating film makers and the public about the effects of 3D viewing on the eye....

MainosMemos very own, Dr. Dominick Maino presented information on the diagnosis and treatment of 3D Vision Syndrome at the recent American Optometric Association Optometry's Meeting held at McCormick Place in Chicago. During this international meeting, Dr. Maino spoke on binocular vision, 3D Vision Syndrome and creating a better 3D audience. He is a professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision at the Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois Eye Institute and a member of the professional staff at Lyons Family Eye Care in Chicago..

Medicine Asks Help from Optometry!

Medicine Asks Help from Optometry!

The "3D Vision Syndrome" When Our Eyes Fail Us presenters

At the recent American Optometric Association (AOA) meeting held at McCormick Place in Chicago, I had an opportunity to be part of a presentation on simulated 3D. I discussed how to diagnose and treat those with 3D Vision syndrome (more about that in a later blog). Most of us are familiar with 3D movies, televisions, and video-games. You may even be familiar with how 3D is being used in education. But you are probably not familiar with how medicine is and will be using 3D to improve neuro- and ocular surgery.

Watching how 3D is used in medicine & optometry

Although it hasn’t happened yet, I predict at some point when our medical colleagues realize that not all of them have 3D vision, they will ask optometry to help them save their surgical skills so that improved patient outcomes can be realized. They will ask optometry, because ophthalmology is not trained to do so. They will ask optometry because ophthalmology does not have the experience in this area. And finally, they will ask optometry because we have proven success in using optometric vision therapy to improve the lives of our patients using the latest principles of neuroplasticity.

Dr. Duenas at 3D biomicroscope

I cannot wait for this day to arrive. I will see these fine men and women of medicine at the Illinois Eye Institute or at my private practice (Lyons Family Eye Care). I will diagnosis their functional vision problems. I will successfully treat them with optometric vision therapy….and harmony will reign between all professions! (Well, maybe all except for that last part!)

The eye in 3D

If I am not available to meet their needs one of my fine colleagues in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development will do so. Or colleagues associated with the Optometric Extension Program Foundation will do so. We will not only improve their quality of life, but improve surgical outcomes.

During the AOA meeting Dr. Michael Duenas, formerly of the CDC and now the head AOA guru when it comes to public health, showed the audience how to view the external and internal aspects of the eye in 3D. We saw how surgeons will improve patient outcomes using 3D (of course this improvement will not occur if they have poor binocular vision).

Dr. Dan and Len Press watching 3D eye images

I previous wrote a blog about how insurance companies are mandating that 12 at home only optometric therapy sessions be conducted before we can start in office therapy. This is, of course, nothing more than a delaying tactic used to decrease the likelihood of the insurance companies paying for needed services. I wonder how quickly they will alter this approach once medicine needs optometric services that affect surgeons’ skills, patient care and their fiscal well being?

For other comments on this see the following from my colleague, Dr. Len Press:

Groundbreaking Program on 3D Technology at AOA

ICO Choir Opens the AOA Program at McCormick Place

 The Illinois College of Optometry Choir opened the American Optometric Association Optometry's Meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago earlier this week by singing the Star Spangled Banner in 4 part harmony. Almost 7,000 Doctors of Optometry, their spouses, optometry students, optometric para-professionals and others registered for this annual event. Many of those who had registered were in attendance during the opening ceremonies when the ICO Choir, composed of faculty, students and staff, brought all in attendance to their feet while singing the National Anthem. At the conclusion of the song, many continued standing while recognizing the talents of the ICO singers with an incredible round of applause. (Listen to the choir practice just before the opening ceremonies by clicking here.)

The Illinois College of Optometry is the oldest and largest optometric institution in the world with approximately 25% of all optometrists in the USA ICO alumni. For more than a decade, ICO students have performed at the highest level on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) test. Last year one of ICO's students was recognized as the top scorer in the country on the NBEO.

ICO's faculty, students and staff not only excel academically, in research and clinically; but also exhibit numerous talents in the arts. The 18 member choir demonstrated their musical skills as if they were polished performers of the arts and not skilled health care practitioners.

Although each year the number of singers and participants changes, they always sing the ICO Alma Mater at the end of every ICO graduation ceremony held at Rockerfella Chapel on the University of Chicago campus.I am honored to usually direct this fine group of very talented optometrists. Who knows, if this optometry gig doesn't pan out, perhaps we will consider Broadway! DM

How 3D Games Can ID Vision Problems

How 3D Games Can ID Vision Problems

My friend and colleague, Dr. Jim Sheedy, the Director of the Vision Performance Institute of the Pacific University College of Optometry, was interviewed by NBC during the American Optometric Association (AOA) meeting held here in Chicago at McCormick Place a week ago. The AOA wants all to know that if you experience the 3D's of Viewing 3D Movies, TV or Video-games: Discomfort, Dizziness and Lack of Depth than you need to be aware of the 4th D, call your Doctor of Optometry and schedule a comprehensive eye and vision examination. Dr. Sheedy noted that if you experience problems while watching 3D that there are many ways to help you....including Optometric Vision Therapy.

For more information go to the American Optometric Association website, 3DEyeHealth website or my newest home, Lyons Family Eye Care here in Chicago. You may also consider contacting the Illinois Eye Institute where I serve as a Professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision. You can also pick your free copy of 3D in the Classroom by clicking here. I assisted the AOA in writing this informative booklet.

Always feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions at [email protected] Now watch the movie below, and if you happen to see Dr. Sheedy, tell 'em I said Hi! DM

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.