New App Could Offer Convenience for Glaucoma Patients and Caregivers

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The main objective in managing glaucoma is maintaining a safe level of intraocular (inner eye) pressure. Increased intraocular pressure places stress on the optic nerve, which can result in permanent eye damage. One of the standard glaucoma treatments is medicated eye drops, which must be administered at specific intervals every day to lower intraocular pressure. Topical drops can be effective when they are used as directed, but patients often forget to administer their eye drops or they may administer them incorrectly.

Due to the time-intensive nature of this eye disease, researchers have been trying to develop technology that will make managing glaucoma a little easier. The September issue of the Journal of Glaucoma published results of a recent survey that gathered interest among glaucoma patients and their caregivers for an app on their smartphone or tablet called the Glaucoma App.

The Glaucoma App was developed by Wills Eye Glaucoma Research Center and Drexel University. It has many helpful features such as educational videos, eye drop reminders, appointment reminders, medical data storage, a visual field tutorial, and intraocular pressure tracker. Functioning as a “treatment plan hub,” the Glaucoma App gathers all information in a single location for the ease of patients and their caregivers (Source: Eye Doc News).

The developers of the Glaucoma App hope that this new tool will help patients and their caregivers follow eye drop regimens more precisely, remember follow-up appointments and stay up-to-date on glaucoma news. If you are having trouble managing your glaucoma treatment plan, look for the free Glaucoma App in the iTunes store. Your ophthalmologist may also have some helpful tips as well, so schedule a check-up soon.

Building Hip Strength Could Alleviate Runner’s Knee

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Also known as runner’s knee, PFPS is a broad term that describes anterior knee pain stemming from overuse or injury. Physical therapy, stretching, and exercises to strengthen the knee and surrounding muscles are traditional therapies in treating PFPS, but research shows there might be a better way. A study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine found that rehab routines which focus on hip strength appear to provide superior results in relieving runner’s knee.

British and Australian scientists evaluated 14 previous studies of individuals with PFPS. The researchers found that participants whose therapy programs included hip strengthening, endurance and activation exercises had less knee pain and improved joint function over participants whose programs only focused on the quadriceps muscles. Programs that focused on improving hip and glute strength with heavy weights also had favorable results after a one year follow-up.

Runner’s knee tends to be a recurring condition, so ongoing exercise programs which focus on hip strength could be the key to long-term relief, says study author Dylan Morrissey, Ph.D., of the Queen Mary University of London. However, treatment for runner’s knee or any other running injury should not be a one size fits all approach. If you experience ongoing knee troubles, Morrissey recommends seeing a physical therapist or medical professional. “There are lots of other things that can be done to help runner’s knee pain, and we are learning more about them all the time,” he said (Source: Active).

Diabetic Eye Disease is a Worldwide Concern

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If you have diabetes, you are prone to develop diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which the delicate blood vessels of the retina become damaged and start leaking, resulting in distorted vision. It is important to diagnose diabetic retinopathy in the early stages because it can cause retinal scarring, vision impairment and eventually blindness. November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month, a time to increase awareness of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic-related eye complications.

A recent study was published in Diabetes Care by researchers across the globe.The study examined regions of the world over the past 20 years with the highest number of people who were visually impaired by diabetic retinopathy: South Asia, Middle East & North Africa, and West Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the past two decades, blindness and visual impairment because of diabetic retinopathy increased significantly. In 2010, one in every 39 blind people was blind due to diabetic retinopathy, which increased 27 percent since 1990. Of those with moderate or severe vision impairment, one in 52 people had diabetic-related vision loss, a stunning increase of 64 percent since 1990.

The authors of the study compiled a report that included some specific recommendations for how to decrease diabetic retinopathy incidence and prevent vision loss. Some ideas include:

  • Improving control of glucose levels and blood pressure among diabetics
  • Increasing education about diabetic retinopathy and related vision loss
  • Developing cost-effective strategies for screening
  • Prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy through laser treatments, steroid injections and other drugs

If you have diabetes, it is important to have annual comprehensive eye exams for optimum eye health. Your ophthalmologist will perform various tests to evaluate the health of your retina and examine the blood vessels inside your eyes. Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy means early treatment and, best of all, preserved vision (Source: Medical Express).