February is not only Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, it is also Low Vision Awareness Month, so let’s explore some aids that can help you see clearly if you are affected by low vision.

E-readers and Audio Books

Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision, which makes even large print books difficult to read. Electronic readers allow you to customize your font, type size and contrast so you can continue to read those best sellers. If you would rather listen to a book, try a subscription to an audio book website or check out your favorite audio books at the library. 

Voice Commands

Using voice commands on smartphones or smart home systems, you can check the weather, get the news, control your lights or make a phone call. There are also computers, watches, timers, blood pressure cuffs and blood sugar machines that communicate data through sound instead of numbers and images.

Large Buttons and Contrasting Colors

Having low vision can make it difficult to use telephones, thermostats and remote controls. Look for devices with large-sized numbers and buttons and high-contrast colors to help you use these everyday necessities more efficiently.

Magnifiers and Lights

With magnification and brighter lighting, you may still be able to read, sew, complete a crossword puzzle or read a hand-written note. Consider using a magnifier on a stand, hand-held magnifier or reading glasses. You may also find it helpful to replace your light bulbs with higher wattage bulbs and add more lamps in darker areas of your home (source: American Academy of Ophthalmology).

Do not let age-related macular degeneration and low vision limit your independence. Talk to your ophthalmologist for more visual aids and tips to manage low vision. The best way to maintain your eye health and prevent vision loss is to schedule your yearly eye exams. 

Just remember that treating your glaucoma is a team effort, and you are not alone. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a good time to make sure that you are “aware” of the glaucoma support that is available to you.

Visit Your Ophthalmologist Regularly

If you are taking glaucoma medication, your ophthalmologist will want to see you every 3 to 6 months. This can vary according to your specific needs, so ask your eye doctor how often you should schedule your appointments.

Keep a Copy of Your Medical Records

Many patients have no idea that they can request copies of their medical records. Keeping a copy of your records and test results can be educational and informative as you learn more about the specific tests that a glaucoma diagnosis requires. Having access to your records may empower you to ask questions and take an active role in your treatment.

Keep a Log or Journal with Questions

Between eye appointments, you may have questions or concerns. Designate a health notebook so you can document your questions and thoughts and share at your next appointment.

Enlist the Support of Family and Friends

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, do not keep it from your family and friends. Allow them to assist you with care and provide moral support.

Do Not Settle for Less than the Best

Maintaining your vision is important, and if you have a diagnosis of glaucoma, you will be visiting your ophthalmologist more often. Be sure that your relationship with your ophthalmologist is one of mutual respect and openness. If you are not satisfied with your care, it may affect the amount of effort you put forth in the treatment process. You can always get a second opinion or choose a new ophthalmologist. Select the doctor who has a style and approach that fits both your clinical needs and your personality.

Your glaucoma treatment will be successful if you take an active role in your care plan. Educate yourself, rely on family and friends, ask questions and communicate with your doctor regularly. Learning to live with glaucoma is not easy, but it is manageable with the right support and care. 

True or False: Glaucoma is caused by elevated eye pressure.

True. Glaucoma is caused by sensitivity to eye pressure, and the level of sensitivity can vary from person to person.

True or False: Glaucoma is easy to diagnose because it has several distinct warning signs.

False. The most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, has no signs or symptoms in the early stages. By the time visual changes such as limited peripheral vision are noticed, significant permanent optic nerve damage will have already occurred.

True or False: There is no cure for glaucoma.

True. Surgical procedures and medications can help lower intraocular pressure, but this only helps prevent further eye damage. Vision loss caused by glaucoma is irreversible.

True or False: Everyone is at equal risk for developing glaucoma.

False. Age, ethnicity and family history all affect glaucoma risk. Being above the age of 40 (or 35 if you are African American) increases your risk for glaucoma. Your chance of developing the disease also increases if glaucoma runs in your family. Being of African or Hispanic heritage also increases your risk of glaucoma.

True or False: Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to prevent glaucoma.

True. A regular comprehensive eye exam with dilation is the most effective method to detect glaucoma early and prevent damage.

Glaucoma is called “the silent thief of sight” because it can develop slowly and painlessly. Do not take a chance when it comes to your vision. Nothing can replace a comprehensive eye exam, so make an appointment with your ophthalmologist during Glaucoma Awareness Month! 

New gadgets can be fun for those of any age. But research shows that kids are spending significantly more time on digital devices than parents realize. According to a recent study, U.S. teenagers spend an average of nine hours a day looking at digital screens.

Whether it is watching TV, playing video games or using social media, excessive screen time can cause health problems including digital eye strain. Common symptoms of eye strain include:

• Dry eye
• Red, irritated or itchy eyes
• Focusing problems
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Fatigue

Creating family guidelines for screen time is a great way to help kids prioritize their health and vision and enjoy their devices at the same time. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Get your children’s eyes examined every year by a board-certified ophthalmologist. Regular eye exams are the best way to treat conditions like digital eye strain, focusing problems or refractive errors.
2. Limit entertainment screen time to less than one or two hours per day. In addition to causing eye problems, excessive screen time has been linked to obesity, lack of sleep, school problems and behavior issues. Avoid screen time for children under two years of age.
3. Put all devices away at a certain time each night and charge devices in a common area like the living room or kitchen (not in children’s bedrooms).
4. Encourage kids to have unstructured play time, outdoor play and human interaction as well as screen time. Remember the days of board games and playing with cardboard boxes? Those activities facilitate important skills like problem solving, creative thinking and reasoning. Introduce your kids to the kinds of play you used to engage in as a child.
5. Try to watch TV shows as a family so you can talk about themes and values together.
6. Look for apps and games that are educational and replace some of your children’s allotted entertainment screen time with educational screen time (Source: Healthy Children).

A new year is all about fresh beginnings, so this is the perfect time to set healthy family boundaries for electronics. Talk to your ophthalmologist or pediatrician if you need more suggestions on setting guidelines for screen time.

What if there was a way to repair damaged pieces of genetic code and prevent the development of disease? Well, now there is!

CRISPR-Cas9 is a unique technology that allows geneticists and researchers to edit parts of the genetic sequence by removing, adding or altering sections of DNA. The system includes two key molecules: an enzyme called Cas9 and a piece of RNA. Cas9 acts as a pair of scissors that cuts two strands of DNA at a precise location so pieces of DNA can be added or removed. The RNA, called guide RNA, acts as a scaffold and “guides” Cas9 to the correct part of the genome.

Scientists are using CRISPR-Cas9 to study forms of glaucoma that are caused by a genetic mutation. Glaucoma is characterized by elevated inner eye pressure, and it is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. A group of researchers led by the University of Iowa found that repairing a mutation in a protein called myocilin can prevent elevated inner eye pressure. Myocilin is located in the trabecular meshwork, the part of the eye that regulates eye pressure.

The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the mutant myocilin gene in the eyes of mice. This halted the production of the mutant protein, which prevented spikes in intraocular pressure. The results were clear: applying gene therapy to correct the myocilin mutation prevented the development of glaucoma.

Val Sheffield, M.D., Ph.D., is the Carver Chair of Molecular Genetics at the University of Iowa and an investigator with the Wynn Institute for Vision Research at the University. She also serves as senior author of the study. According to Dr. Sheffield, using CRISPR-Cas9 to study myocilin’s effect on glaucoma expression has been groundbreaking. “As scientists we don't want to just discover a diseased gene; we want to understand what the gene does and, in this case, have a better understanding of glaucoma so that it can be more effectively treated,” she said. “No one knows what this gene does, except that its mutant form causes glaucoma.”

Even though this study was only performed on mice and cultured human eye cells, it has tremendous implications. Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma, and the disease affects 2 percent of people over the age of 40 in the U.S. If future CRISPR-Cas9 studies have positive outcomes, we may see this technology used in human studies in the near future (Source: Science Daily).

Your parent’s particular eye disease may affect when and how often he or she can drive, if at all. For example, a parent with cataracts may be able to drive during the day, but not at night. In the case of macular degeneration or glaucoma, however, it may no longer be safe for your parent to operate a vehicle at all.

December 4-8, 2017 is National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. It is important that elderly loved ones remain active in the community and that transportation challenges do not prevent them from participating in meaningful work and recreation. There is no denying that there are physical, mental and sensory changes that accompany aging, and driving is one of the first activities affected by these changes. One of the aims of National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is to create awareness of safe travel options for
all people who wish to work, volunteer and move about the community.

Whether your parent has glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or another eye disease that limits driving, you may feel overwhelmed as a caregiver, especially during the holidays. How can you get everything done and still keep your sanity? In honor of National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, here are some tips to help you coordinate holiday schedules:

1. Print out a weekly activity calendar for your parent. Use different colors to designate various activities. For each activity, include the time you will arrive at your parent’s home to provide transportation.
2. Ask your parent to prioritize events. Depending on the number of events during the holidays, your parent may need to prioritize activities in order of importance. Tell your parent you will try to provide transportation to the most important ones.
3. Ask for help. December is one of the busiest months of the year. Even if you do all the driving during other months, you may need to get assistance as the holidays approach. If you have other siblings in town, request their help to do some of the driving. You can also ask a friend or a neighbor.
4. Call Uber. There are many alternative options like Uber, Lyft or Dial-A-Ride that can take your parent to or from an event or appointment. This may be a last resort, but it’s a good solution if you get in a bind.

A little bit of planning can go a long way when it comes to holiday transportation. As a caregiver, you are giving the gift of time. Make sure to give yourself the same gift by creating breaks in your schedule for rest and recuperation.

There are several factors that contribute to the development of dry eye. Post-menopausal women are more at risk, as well as people who live in major cities with high levels of air pollution.

Cooler conditions and higher elevations can also have a significant impact on dry eye. According to the Environmental Factors and Dry Eye Syndrome study, risk for dry eye is 13 percent higher in areas of higher altitude. This makes sense, as arid weather conditions and wind can rob the eyes of moisture. However, anyone can get dry eye, regardless of latitude or elevation.

Some people can experience seasonal dry eye during fall and winter months. If you find that your eyes feel scratchy, irritated or burning when the weather turns cold, you are certainly not alone. Here are some ways to help prevent winter dry eye from affecting your vision.

1. Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses create a barrier between your eyes and the outdoor elements. If you are going to be outside on a windy day, wear a pair of wraparound sunglasses to keep the wind from blowing directly into your eyes.
2. Use a humidifier. When you turn on your home furnace, the humidity level of the air inside your home drops. Turn on a humidifier during winter months to add moisture back into the air.
3. Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Some people find that eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce symptoms of dry eye. Mackerel, salmon, oysters, sardines, flax seed, walnuts and soybeans are a few foods that contain high amounts of omega-3s. You can also try an omega-3 supplement.
4. Keep artificial tears handy. Rewetting drops or lubricating drops can offer temporary relief when your eyes feel dry and gritty. Lubricating drops may make your vision blurry for a short time, so use thinner drops when reading or doing other activities and use the thicker, more blurring drops before bedtime.
5. Get a comprehensive eye exam. Talk to your eye doctor about your dry eye symptoms at your next eye exam. A thorough exam is the best way to protect your vision, prevent eye disease and treat chronic conditions like dry eye (Source: AAOA).