Cataract Risk with Obesity

High Body Mass Index (BMI) with obesity or even being overweight is known to be an increased risk factor for a number of diseases and conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, a range of other cardiovascular diseases and joint and orthopedic problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-<25 kg/m², excess body weight as BMI of 25-<30 kg/m², and obesity as BMI of ≥30 kg/m^2.

Until now, any relationship between BMI and risk of cataract development has been controversial and not completely obvious.

Research on BMI & Cataract Development

 By using Meta Analysis and powerful statistical methods researchers found that being overweight or obese were significantly associated with an increased risk of cataracts, especially those called “posterior subcapsular cataracts” which typically cause the greatest vision decline. This relationship was independent of sex, alcohol intake, diabetes and hypertension.

If you or someone you know is concerned about cataracts and being overweight or even obese based on Body Mass Index (BMI) please share this information with them and ask them to schedule a cataract evaluation at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/MichelsonLaserVision to schedule an appointment.

Alabama Eye & Cataract is located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. who perform Laser Cataract Surgery at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

Cornea Specialists on Eye Safety for July 4th

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center cornea specialists Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. offered important advice on fireworks eye safety for the July 4^th holiday. In general the best way to enjoy the fireworks this July 4^th, is to leave their use and display to professionals trained and prepared to handle pyrotechnic displays. Eye safety is pretty critical with fireworks displays as we know that eye injuries are the second most frequent injury we see from emergency room each July 4^th weekend. Especially for children, the best defense against kids suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let kids play with any fireworks. Do not purchase, use or store fireworks of any type. Attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, but be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous. However, if an eye accident does occur, there are a few things you should know:

• Do Not Rub the Eye.
• Do Not Attempt to Rinse. Out the Eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
• Do Not Apply Pressure to the Eye Itself-but DO protect the eye from further contact with any item, including the person’s hand.
• Do NOT Stop for Medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and ibuprofen can thin the blood, increasing bleeding. Take the person to the emergency room at once.
• Do NOT Apply Ointments or Drops. They may not be sterile and may make the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.

Once you are seen in the emergency room please feel free to have them call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930 as we always have an eye doctor “on call” to provide consultation and continued care for you.

If you or someone you know wishes to learn more about fireworks eye safety, please share this information with them and ask them to schedule an appointment at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205

Early Cataracts May Predict Cancer Risk

For patients who develop cataracts at an early age-under 55-it is important to note that there has been an association between the early onset of cataracts and the potential risk for developing cancer. This is thought to be due to the fact that early onset cataract is linked to insufficient antioxidative activity in one’s metabolism-which is also a known factor for increasing the risk of cancer.

Dr. Michelson and Dr. Hall

Research of Early Onset Cataracts & Cancer

Researchers reporting the journal Cancer Science, looked at the risk of cancer after being diagnosed with early onset cataract. The researchers examined claims from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of patients with early onset cataract, aged 20-55 and also compared it to a group of the same age range without cataracts. By using powerful statistical analysis they found that the overall incidence rate of all cancers was 2.19 times higher in the early onset cataract group as compared to those without cataracts.  Further they were able to analyze where these patients were at greatest risk of developing cancer and found head and neck areas highest, followed by liver cancer and then breast cancer. This study suggests that patients with early onset cataract are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer in subsequent years.

If you or someone you know is concerned about early cataract development or needs a regular eye exam where do a routine cataract screening and exam, please share this information with them and ask them to schedule an appointment at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. who perform Laser Cataract Surgery at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

High Dose Vitamins & Cataracts

Adding vitamins to your daily diet is a common way to make sure that you are meeting the necessary requirements for overall health. In some cases, people choose to take very high doses of vitamins to hopefully avoid some health problems. A question that is often asked is whether taking vitamins is good or bad for your risk of developing cataracts?

Research on High Dose Vitamins & Cataracts

A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology evaluated the risks and benefits of taking high dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low-dose multivitamins with the risk of developing age related cataract. This study looked at any associations of high-dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low dose multivitamins with the risk of age related cataract in a group of 31,120 men who ranged in age from 45–79 years of age. Their results suggest that the use of high dose-but not low dose-single vitamin C or E supplements may increase the risk of age-related cataract. The risk may be even higher among older men, corticosteroid users, and long-term users.

If you or someone you know takes high doses of vitamins or is concerned about their risk of cataracts please schedule an eye exam and cataract evaluation at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. who perform Laser Cataract Surgery at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

Stop Smoking to Avoid Cataracts

It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control that more than 42 million people in the United States are smokers. Cataracts are a major cause of vision loss in seniors and affect more than 24 million Americans over the age of 40. Now we know that there is a marked association between smoking and cataract development.

Research on Smoking & Cataracts

Researchers studying the risk of cataracts among smokers reported in JAMA Ophthalmology found that stopping smoking decreases the risk of cataracts over time. The researchers followed a total of 44,371 men, 45 to 79 years old over a 10 year period and the participants filled out questionnaires on their smoking habits and lifestyles and were then matched with the Swedish National Day-Surgery Register and local records of cataract extraction.

The researchers found that smokers of more than 15 cigarettes a day had a 42% increased risk of cataract surgery compared with men who had never smoked. It also found that men who smoked an average of more than 15 cigarettes a day but had stopped smoking more than 20 years earlier had a 21% increased risk. Thus, they found a positive association between cigarette smoking and cataract surgery in men, with a significant increase of cataracts among smokers compared to those who never smoked. Also, stopping smoking was associated with a statistically significant decrease in risk with increasing time from stopping smoking. Even heavy smokers had some benefit from quitting smoking. Further, a previous study from 2005 detailed the relationship between smoking cessation and cataract risk in women. In this study, they found that after cessation of smoking, cataract risk in women decreased with time. Women who smoked 6 to 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 10 years earlier, and women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 20 years earlier were found to have a relative risk of cataracts not significantly different from women who had never smoked.

Smoking cessation seems to decrease the risk of cataract development and the need for cataract surgery with time, although the risk persists for decades. The higher the intensity of smoking, the longer it takes for the increased risk to decline. These findings emphasize the importance of early smoking cessation and, preferably, the avoidance of smoking altogether.

If you or someone you know is a smoker and is concerned about cataracts please schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. who perform Laser Cataract Surgery at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

Omega 3’s Can Help Dry Eyes

There is general agreement that Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oils reduces mortality from cardiovascular disease including sudden death, cardiac death and myocardial infarction. But, did you know that Omega 3 supplements can also help dry eyes and symptoms of dry eye?

 Research on Dry Eye & Omega 3 Supplements
According to researchers reporting in Clinical Ophthalmology taking dietary supplements that contain a combination of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants can be helpful in the treatment of dry eye symptoms. They looked at the effectiveness and tolerability of dietary supplements containing a combination of Omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants for help for dry eye symptoms and complaints. The researchers wanted to know if the dry eye diet supplements helped scratchy and stinging sensation in the eyes, eye redness, grittiness, painful eyes, tired eyes, grating sensation, and blurry vision. All individual symptoms improved significantly from an average rating of 11.9 to 6.8 after the 12 weeks of treatment indicating that dietary supplementation with a combination of Omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants was an effective treatment for dry eye.

If you or someone you know suffers from symptoms of dry eye or needs help for dry eye symptoms and wants to know more about Omega 3 and antioxidant supplements please schedule an appointment at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Eye Movements May Predict Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is an difficult challenge for patients, caregivers, and physicians. But, we do know that the earlier the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s the better everyone is able to plan and deliver the compassionate and quality care our loved ones deserve. Now, according to researchers reporting in Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science a subtle change in eye movements may provide a useful diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease.

About Eye Movements

In general, eye movements follow a predictable and reproducible pattern during normal reading, with each eye movement ending up at a fixation point, which allows the brain to process the incoming information and to program the next movements. The researchers found that Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) produces eye movement abnormalities and disturbances in reading with those patients with early AD display abnormal fixation patterns. So we now know that evaluation of eye movement behavior during reading might provide a useful tool for a more precise early diagnosis of AD and for monitoring the progress or stability of Alzheimer’s Disease.

If you or someone you know is concerned about Alzheimer’s Disease please schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at UAB Highlands is a leading eye care center in Birmingham located at 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.