Hi, looking back into some of old eye news I have gotten. My inbox is way too full. Gotta clean it out.
Last November Healio ran an article on the HULK experiment. I am ignoring the fact that this study is being done with people with diabetic macular edema and not age-related macular degeneration. Why? Because I get a kick out of the name! We love Marvel comics.
In addition to the association with the big, green guy I also liked two other things about this study. First of all, they developed a microneedle for the trials. I know next to nothing about microneedles as a delivery system but the smaller the needle you use on me, the smaller the ouchy. This is a good thing, especially when it comes to eyeballs.
The other thing is they are delivering the treatment through the suprachoroidal space. The suprachoroidal space is looking like it may become the preferred route for the delivery of all sorts of retinal treatments, including RPE replacement.
In short, advances in the treatment of their condition may lead to advances in the treatment of our condition. Science builds on itself. This is a good thing.
And in today’s Healio they are FINALLY talking about an ‘eye diet’ I can follow. Chocolate! According to Healthline, dark chocolate is chock full of antioxidants. It is crazy nutritious. It lowers blood pressure and helps brain function as well as doing several other wonderful things.
Now, as reported in JAMA Ophthalmology (2018) they have done this experiment comparing the vision of people who have eaten a milk chocolate bar and others who have eaten a dark chocolate bar. (And exactly WHY was I not informed about this study? I would have even been in the control group. After all, it is all about science.?)
The results should have us all running out for dark chocolate. Those who got the dark chocolate bar showed improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity two hours later.
Of course, they are not sure about the duration of the improvement. They are also not sure of the real world influence of the improvement. Healio did not suggest any theories about the mechanism involved. In other words, there is a lot of research that still needs to be done. Want to be a lab rat for this study? The line forms behind me!?
And on that note, I think I will wrap this one up. Curl up with the puppygirls and watch some TV on my iPad. Maybe I can find some Marvel comics movies. Do you like Spidey? He’s probably my favorite. Of course, I might be able to talk my husband into going to see the new Avengers movie over the weekend. That has ALL of the heroes in it. Do you think they have dark chocolate bars at the refreshment stand?
Written April 25th, 2018