This Month's Feature:
The Effect of Systemic Medications on our Eyes

It is commonly determined that the use of certain medications can affect the overall health and functioning of our eyes. A few examples of this are:

Prednisone: The development of cataracts is related to the cumulative dose of prednisone; 25% of patients who use 15mg. per day for one year or more will get cataracts that interfere enough with their vision to require surgical removal.

Amiodarone: an anti-arrythmic heart medication that can lead to the development of opacities in the upper layers of the cornea. These opacities appear in nearly 100% of patients treated for more than six months, although fewer than 10% of patients complain of blurred vision. The cornea generally clears within several months of discontinuing the drug.

Plaquenil: used to treat Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is considered toxic to the retina, but the incidence of damage is very low when the conventional doses are used. The maculopathy that is seen as a result of this medication warrants regular screenings of the retina.




Nutrition in Eyecare

One of the key factors in the use of all nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, supplements) is not the amount you take, but their bioavailability, that is, the amount your body absorbs. Since most of us don't get the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals from your diet, supplementing your diet is a good way to get the proper ratios of these nutrients. One eye condition which has been linked to nutritional factors is macular degeneration. It has been scientifically demonstrated that people with diets high in fruits and vegetables (leafy green vegetables) have a lower incidence of macular degeneration. It has been suggested that two antioxidents, known as carotenoids, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin, are needed to maintain macular health.

YOUR EYE-Q

DID YOU KNOW THAT:
There are several high risk factors for chronic dry eye. Among them are:

1. Hormonal changes, related to aging and menopause.
2. Medical conditions such as diabetes
3. Auto-immune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome.

Your Vision

This Month's Topic: Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the chrystalline lens in the eye that can effect one's vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. The lens helps to focus light, or an image, onto the retina. The lens must be clear for the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) to receive a sharp image. If the lens becomes cloudy, or cataractous, the image you see will be blurred. Although most cataracts are related to aging, there are other types. These include traumatic cataract (from an injury), congentital cataract (born with cataract), radiation cataract ( from exposure to radiation), secondary cataract ( from medications). Risk factors for cataract include: certain diseases such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol use, prolonged exposure to sunlight.
In our next issue, we'll discuss symptoms and treatments for cataracts.

Check back soon for our next issue
Thanks for Reading

Dr. Jordan D. Rosen & Staff