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What’s New in
Ophthalmology?
By Jamie Lober, Staff Writer
tomatic phase so they have a better
chance at maintaining good vision.
“Diabetic retinopathy is becoming
When it comes to new developmore common because diabetes is
ments in ophthalmology, Lexington
becoming more common because
is on the frontlines. “We are starting
obesity is becoming more common,”
a diabetic retinopathy screening
says Higgins. “As people are more
program at UK Healthcare with
prone to diabetes and as people
the idea being that diabetes is the
are living longer, it really becomes
leading cause of blindness in people
more important that they have
under the age of 65 and in order
regular access to eye care.” Ocular
to try to prevent visual loss, it is
diseases and pathologies can often
recommended
be uncovered
that diabetics get
during routine
screening exams
eye exams, and
every year,” says
Higgins notes, “If
Dr. Eric Higgins,
Diabetes is the
you have certain
assistant professor
medical condiof ophthalmolleading cause of
tions like diabetes,
ogy and visual
it is important that
sciences at UK.
blindness in people
you get your eyes
Studies show that
under the age of 65
examined even if
these patients do
you do not need a
not always receive
and in order to try to
new prescription
those screening
prevent visual loss,
for glasses or conexams for a host
tacts, just to make
of reasons, so ophit is recommended
sure that your eyes
thalmologists have
are still healthy.”
decided it is time
that diabetics get
There are
to make it easier.
screening exams
always lots of
“We are putting
technological
cameras in prievery year.”
advances in the
mary care clinics,
field of ophthalso that primary
—Dr. Eric Higgins,
mology and a lot
care physicians or
assistant professor of
of laser technolstaff will be able
ophthalmology and
ogy is utilized.
to take pictures
“Lasers are able to
of the back of the
visual sciences at UK.
penetrate the parts
patients’ eyes and
of the eye, and
those images will
some of the newer devices like optibe interpreted by ophthalmologists
cal coherent tomography have very
at the university and then reports
much changed the way we practice
will be sent back to the primary care
eye care,” says Higgins.
doctor,” says Higgins.
Optical coherent tomography is
Patients could have problems and
a technology that allows doctors to
not know it, so it is important to
take a picture of the back of the eye.
pick issues up early in the asymp-
“In effect it is almost like taking a
biopsy of the back of the eye or the
retina, and it is so precise that you
can actually detect structures on an
almost cellular level,” says Higgins.
Another major breakthrough
is pharmacotherapies for macular
degeneration. “For what is commonly called the wet form of
macular degeneration, there are
medicines that are given as intraocular injections to decrease the
leakiness of the abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye that cause
decreased vision from wet macular
degeneration,” says Higgins. This has
revolutionized the way doctors treat
the condition and has substantially
improved visual outcomes.
There has been research into
why some people see better than
others but it remains inconclusive.
“We talk about common sense
things like eating a balanced diet
high in omega-3s or green leafy
vegetables or vegetables with lots of
color in them because they provide
for different micronutrients that
are needed for the health of your
eyes,” says Higgins. “Not smoking
is a huge healthy habit that also has
visual implications, as smokers are
at a much increased risk of macular
degeneration and other eye conditions.” And don’t forget those sunglasses in the summer.
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PP L A C E
&
7
Preserving your vision requires
some work.