Tag: IOL

Dual Diagnosis

I promised myself since I am only working part-time I would awaken my internal, sleeping Domestic Goddess. I would do great things! So far all She has done is roll over in her sleep.

Today I finished the cobweb seek and destroy mission. I took my fluffy thing on a stick – and please notice I use all of the professional terminologies! – and wiped down all of the walls and ceilings. The puppygirls followed closely along – sneezing.

I am working up – or in this case down – to shampooing the living room rug. That is going to take a lot of turning the mind and convincing myself to do it.

Well, stranger things HAVE happened; you know. ?

And while I think about shampooing the carpet, it is time for a page! Hopefully, there is something in the email to save me from myself.

Healio listed the five top articles about retinal disease in June. The first one was about intraocular lenses (IOLs) for those of us who have both AMD and cataracts. In Austria, they are implanting lenses that magnify in those who have had cataract surgery. The bottom of the lens sounds like it is more like a bifocal (my interpretation) while the top takes care of far vision for distance. The lenses provide 1.5 magnification at 25 to 30 centimeters ( read 10 to 12 inches) and 3x magnification at 12 cm to 15 cm. I assume that is 5 to 6 inches.

The researcher, Andreas Borkenstein, said that even though the scotomas (blind spots) are still there, the magnification makes it so they obscure less of the image.

They are finding great improvements in best-corrected distance acuity. People with acuity scores of 20/400 corrected to 20/63. Yippee!!!

Borkenstein stated he wants his colleagues to be able to give dual diagnosis patients (AMD and cataracts) hope. Just because a patient has advanced AMD doctors should not tell them cataract surgery is pointless and will do nothing! …Damn right! You tell them, Andreas! ?

In addition to the acuity improvements, contrast sensitivity and color perception also improved. Another yippee!

Now, having used MaxTV lenses, I can tell you, my depth perception can be way off when I use magnification. My low vision specialist warned me about moving and wearing them. Doesn’t work well. I tried to. (So maybe I am from Missouri?)

Anyway, my point is this: nothing was said about depth perception, driving, etc. in the article. I am thinking the neuroplasticity of the brain is such that it just eventually adapts, and you learn how to do all of those things normally. No going to put a cup on a table and missing the table by a foot! Or going to drop cans in a cart and have them rolling all over the floor like I did. Oops. Anyway, not sure if you can drive – or even walk fast – with these IOLs. Need to do more research on that. Also need to see if they have been approved in the USA, Canada, UK, etc.

But that will have to be another page. Bye!?

Written July 10th, 2018

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Highlight: Why should I be concerned about ‘blue light’?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about ‘blue light’.   You’ve probably heard that it is bad for those who do not have AMD and also for those who do.  The question is what is it and what evidence is there that it is bad for us?

Click here for a very extensive article that:

  • explains the visible light spectrum and tells how it affects our eyes.
  • provides references to blue light research.
  • points out that our cornea & lens (refer to the illustration) filter some of the blue light and that the yellowing of the lens in the development of cataracts helps to filter out blue light.  For that reason, when the natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) in cataract surgery, we lose that protection.  Some doctors insert an IOL that is tinted to block blue light.   Some say that if this is done, it cuts down on our ability to adapt to dark conditions which causes some to have poor night vision.
  • explains the terms used to refer to visible light.
  • discusses the difference types of lamps with pros and cons and gives specific descriptions of what’s available.

Click here for another great article about how the violet and blue light of the UV spectrum can worsen AMD.  The article says that the sources of violet/blue light are “sun (main source), computer screen, phone & other mobile device screens, full-spectrum lighting (ie, used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), fluorescent lighting, LED lights, high intensity mercury vapor lamps (for night sports and high-crime areas), and xenon arc lamps.”

Click here for a more technical article that addresses the effects of blue light on sleep and eyestrain.  It also answers the questions:

  • How does blue light affect eye strain and sleep?
  • Should I block all blue light?
  • Are my eyes just sensitive to blue light?
  • What are software solutions and physical blue light filters?

What can we do to block blue light?  Here are some suggestions:

Do you spend a lot of time on the computer and other electronic devices?  

Click here for an article that describes some ways we can be protected from the blue light emitted from them. It also describes the new feature called Night Shift for the iPhone and iPad that filters some of it.  For Windows devices, there is an app Windows f.lux.  Click here to find out how to download and install it.

You can also get screen protectors and ‘computer glasses’.  I talk about them below.

Do you spend a lot of time outside?

You need to wear sunglasses that filter out the blue light from the sun. Click here to go to a post about how to choose sunglasses.

Do you need eyeglasses or contacts?

Even if you have IOLs (the lenses implanted when cataracts are removed) that block blue light, my eye doctor told me that the amount of blue light filtered isn’t that significant so additional blocking is advised.

You can get the lenses coated to filter out blue light.  Kodak Bluelight Reflect is one. Crizal Prevencia is another.  Click here for other products. Talk to your eye doctor or optician about what they offer.

As far as coating for contacts, that’s available also.  This article talks about tinting for cosmetic reasons but there is also a section that talks about adding a UV coating to them. At the time this article was published, they said none of them should replace sunglasses with good UV filtering. To be honest, I don’t yet know if you can have blue light coating on contact lenses.

Do I need special ‘computer glasses’?

If you do not wear eyeglasses or wear them but don’t have a good protective coating on them, you might consider a pair of glasses with protective coatings but no prescription to reduce glare and blue light transmission.  Even if you have IOLs (the lenses implanted when cataracts are removed) that block blue light, my eye doctor told me that the amount of blue light filtered isn’t that significant so additional blocking is advised.

Click here for a good article about what computer glasses are and how they work.

Can I filter blue light from my electronic devices without specially coated eyeglasses, contacts or ‘computer glasses’?

Yes, you can buy screen protectors for your devices.  Click here for a very extensive discussion of them.

Do you need cataract surgery?

Talk to your doctor about the tinted IOLs that can be inserted (refer to first article above or click here).

What kind of indoor lighting do you have?

Again, the first article above gives a great overview of the terms used to refer to visible light & discusses the different types of lamps with examples.

  • Neither Sue nor I get any commissions from any of the products included here.
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