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Thank you very much for taking the time to sign up for the No Blur! EyeMail Newsletter. The No Blur! EyeMail Newsletter is sent out approximately four times per year. The newsletter will contain the most recent developments in eyecare today, interesting information about your eyes, as well as a fun item. You can view the previous No Blur! EyeMails by clicking the online archive icon above. You can also send any comments or suggestions about the No Blur! EyeMail down in the related links section below.

 
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A Message From Dr. Maller

Welcome to 2008! I just returned from the Global Keratoconus Congress meeting in Las Vegas. This was an international meeting bringing together researchers, physicians, laboratories, lens designers, and diagnostic equipment manufacturers from over 30 countries all focused on Keratoconus as well as the related condition Pellucids Marginal Degeneration. Although in the past, Keratoconus was considered fairly rare, with better diagnostic testing that is currently being used in a very routine manner, Keratoconus is now diagnosed in 1 out of 2000 people - certainly not rare at all. As there is now more awareness among the professionals who provide care for this condition, as well as more and better research into this problem, much of the underlying intracies of this complex and visually debilitating disease are coming to light. Additionally, the treatment options also continue to expand. There are better contact lens options now than have ever been available. Some surgical options are also beginning to show some promise which can make it easier for some other contact lens options, previously doomed to fail, possibly capable of helping these individuals. International meetings like this are a great vehicle to allow the free exchange of ideas, experience, and research, which greatly benefit the general public and of course the individuals who suffer with this condition. Many thanks to the organizers of this meeting.

Dr. Maller

 

Overnight Orthokeratology in Myopic Children

The results of a prospective case study using the Emerald Contact Lens for Overnight Orthokeratology among young near-sighted children have been released. The Emerald Contact lens is yet another laboratory designed "Orthokeratology system" designed for the general application of Orthokeratology to the masses. Twenty children between the ages of 10 and 16 were enrolled in the 6 month study. The results of this study adds to the mounting evidence that Overnight Orthokeratology is safe and effective in children and adolescents. There were no serious adverse events during the course of the study.

 

People Unaware of Glaucoma Risk

A recent international survey was conducted in seven countries - Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of glaucoma risk in people 40 years old and older. Over 4000 people participated in the study - with men and women nearly equally represented. Forty percent of the survey participants had been examined by an eyecare practitioner within the previous year despite the fact that eighty percent feared going blind compared with developing heart disease or dying early. Forty percent were unaware that glaucoma is linked to blindness and less than fifty percent said that they had their eye pressure measured. Clearly, with glaucoma having the potential to cause blindness, better public education is needed to bring greater awareness to this disease. In line with this need, a website has been launched www.AllEyesOnGlaucoma.com to better educate the public. With World Glaucoma Day approaching, this is a timely and very important message to share with everyone you know.

 

Online Contact Lens Buyers Less Compliant

In an recent research study, it was found that individuals who did not purchase their contact lenses from an eye doctor, but from an online site or store are potentially placing themselves at greater risk. In this study, the researchers found certain patterns emerging. Those people that purchased contact lenses at their doctor's office were more likely to follow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations than the people who purchased their contact lenses online, at a wholesale club, or an optical chain outlet. Since the results of the study were made public, the study has been mentioned on more than 150 websites including Marketwire, ScienceDaily.com and SmartMoney.com. Although, contact lenses are safe, poor compliance with proper contact lens regimens, including regular care with the eye doctor, are very important for maintaining safe and healthy contact lens wear.

 

The Cost of Vision Problems

In a relatively recent report by Prevent Blindness America, it was shown that the top four eye problems in the United States, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Refractive Error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia), conservatively cost $51 billion annually. This report looked at the impact of these vision problems on federal and state budgets, personal expenditures, and health-related quality of life. Two different teams of health economists analyzed all of the collected data and concluded that there is a strong need for greater investment in vision problem prevention and research.

 

The FTC Shuts Down Two Contact Lens Retailers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged BeWild, Inc. (and its president Brian Cohen) and Pretty Eyes, LLC (and its owner Christiana McNulty), for violating the FTC's Contact Lens Rule and FTC act by selling non-corrective contact lenses on their websites, www.bewild.com and www.prettyeyes.org, without obtaining consumers' prescriptions or verifying the prescriptions with the prescribers, and failing to keep proper records of prescriptions and verifications. The BeWild website no longer offers contact lenses and has been prohibited from representing that contact lenses can be obtained without a prescription and the PrettyEyes website has been vacated. Although fines have been imposed along with the future restrictions placed on these two companies, it is truly unfortunate that there are individuals such as these that will put the public's health, and possibly their sight at risk, all to make a dollar. The expression "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) when applied to contact lenses not only refers to the general use of the expression referring to the financial aspect of risk, but in addition, their very health could be in jeopardy by unscrupulous individuals.

 

Just For Fun - 3D Logic

Sometimes while on the web, I will come across some item that is just fun. I have incorporated this into the website because everyone should have a little fun occasionally. I have decided to put at least one "fun" thing into each newsletter. I hope that you enjoy it. This particular item is called 3D Logic. This is a puzzle game that requires some three dimensional visualization skills. The instructions are on the page. The concept is very easy and you will be "up and running" in no time. However, as the levels increase so does the difficulty, due to increased complexity. Good Luck! You can find this puzzle at 3D Logic.