Degeneration of the macula is the leading cause of legal blindness in people over fifty-five. The macula is used for most acute and detailed vision -- reading, driving, watching television, precise work, and recognising faces. However, this weakening of central vision does not necessarily affect colour and peripheral vision. Macular degeneration generally takes place over a gradual period and at different rates in each eye. Its causes are still unclear, but there exist two main types. 'Dry' degeneration occurs when the macular tissues of the retina thin and disturb pigmentation, and 'wet' includes bleeding and scar tissue. Though macular degeneration is usually age-related, there are forms that affect younger individuals, but the reasons behind those cases are not yet known. This new book provides state-of-the-art research results on this debilitating condition.
The ability to see deeply affects how human beings perceive and interpret the world around them. For most people, eyesight is part of everyday communication, social activities, educational and professional pursuits, the care of others, and the maintenance of personal health, independence, and mobility. Functioning eyes and vision system can reduce an adult's risk of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, social isolation, depression, and other psychological problems. In children, properly maintained eye and vision health contributes to a child's social development, academic achievement, and better health across the lifespan. The public generally recognizes its reliance on sight and fears its loss, but emphasis on eye and vision health, in general, has not been integrated into daily life to the same extent as other health promotion activities, such as teeth brushing; hand washing; physical and mental exercise; and various injury prevention behaviors. A larger population health approach is needed to engage a wide range of stakeholders in coordinated efforts that can sustain the scope of behavior change. The shaping of socioeconomic environments can eventually lead to new social norms that promote eye and vision health. Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow proposes a new population-centered framework to guide action and coordination among various, and sometimes competing, stakeholders in pursuit of improved eye and vision health and health equity in the United States. Building on the momentum of previous public health efforts, this report also introduces a model for action that highlights different levels of prevention activities across a range of stakeholders and provides specific examples of how population health strategies can be translated into cohesive areas for action at federal, state, and local levels.
The topics in this volume explore the etiology, cellular mechanisms, epidemiology, genetics, models and potential therapeutic measures for the blinding diseases of retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. Special focus is highlighted in the areas of Mechanisms of Photoreceptor Degeneration and Cell Death (extremely important because very little is known how or why photoreceptors die in these diseases, despite an abundance of genetic information), Age-Related Macular Degeneration (with several novel approaches to its analysis), Usher Syndrome (the most severe form of retinitis pigmentosa, which includes an early or congenital loss of hearing along with blindness), and Gene Therapy. In addition, the section on Basic Science Related to Retinal Degeneration is particularly strong with several laboratories reporting on new discoveries in the area of outer segment phagocytosis, a key component of photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelial cell interactions in normal and degenerating retinas.
Safeguard your vision with 85 simple, satisfying recipes rich in the nutrients that fight macular degeneration The Bad News: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in adults over the age of fifty. It can wreak havoc on the ability to see faces, read, drive, and move about safely. Millions of people are at risk, and we still don’t have a cure. The Good News: The latest research suggests that healthy lifestyle choices, including a diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and other key nutrients, can delay the onset and progress of AMD. Eat Right for Your Sight provides a delicious way to add the best ingredients for eye health to every meal of the day. Feast your eyes on these appealing recipes: Sweet Pea Guacamole Chicken-Vegetable Noodle Bowls Garlic-Lime Pork Chops Carrot-Ginger Juice . . . and more! Every recipe includes comprehensive nutrition information and has been carefully crafted to act like medicine but not taste like it. Taking care of your eyes has never been easier! With Recipes from Lidia Bastianich, Ina Garten, Jacques Pépin , Alice Waters, Andrew Weil, MD, and other superstars of healthy cooking.
This advanced text, first published in 2006, takes a developmental approach to the presentation of our understanding of how vertebrates construct a retina. Written by experts in the field, each of the seventeen chapters covers a specific step in the process, focusing on the underlying molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms. There is also a special section on emerging technologies, including genomics, zebrafish genetics, and stem cell biology that are starting to yield important insights into retinal development. Primarily aimed at professionals, both biologists and clinicians working with the retina, this book provides a concise view of vertebrate retinal development. Since the retina is 'an approachable part of the brain', this book will also be attractive to all neuroscientists interested in development, as processes required to build this exquisitely organized system are ultimately relevant to all other parts of the central nervous system.
This book provides the ophthalmologist with the most recently available data on the macular dystrophies, a group of many different inherited or sporadic eye conditions linked by a problem with photoreceptors or other structures of the central retina. Internationally recognized experts in the field present the latest evidence and discuss their own personal experiences with regard to each of the principal dystrophies as well as some very rare entities. Topics covered include molecular biology, state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques, and the newest treatment options, including still experimental therapies. Attention is also devoted to a range of issues that continue to be debated. The editors have taken care to ensure that chapters are of a uniformly high standard while not sacrificing the originality of the individual authors. Macular Dystrophies will fully acquaint the reader with both the latest research findings and the current and emerging approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
Rapid or even dramatic progress has been made in the field of AMD over recent years, leading to a constant revision of basic concepts. A wide range of fundus imaging modalities are now available, and this book explains the respective value of each technique. The information provided by OCT is presented logically by comparison with plain films, autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, or indocyanine green angiography. Meticulous biomicroscopic examination of macular changes and the essential value of fluorescein angiography for the detection of anatomical alterations of the macula and for precise evaluation of lesions and their course by indocyanine green angiography have naturally led the author Gabriel Coscas to analyze the new data provided by OCT.
This book will contain the proceedings of the XIV International Symposium on Retinal Degeneration (RD2010), held July 13-17, 2010, in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. The volume will present representative state-of-the-art research in almost all areas of retinal degenerations, ranging from cytopathologic, physiologic, diagnostic and clinical aspects; animal models; mechanisms of cell death; candidate genes, cloning, mapping and other aspects of molecular genetics; and developing potential therapeutic measures such as gene therapy and neuroprotective agents for potential pharmaceutical therapy.
This book is a comprehensive guide for all tissue bank operators to screen, procure and process amniotic membrane for clinical application.The amnion comes close to being the ideal biological membrane or dressing — readily available, inexpensive to procure and process. Its basic science is discussed in detail — anatomy, biological and biomechanical properties.It can be procured from the placenta in normal vaginal deliveries and from Caesarean Sections. Processing is by freeze-drying or by air-drying process with sterilisation using gamma irradiation.The product has low antigenicity, has anti-microbial properties with ability to enhance epithelisation with marked relief of pain. It is useful as a dressing for wounds — flap wounds, burn wounds, injury wounds, diabetic ulcers, leprous ulcers and post-surgery wounds and post-radiation wounds. It is also used as a biological scaffold for cells in tissue engineering. Its ophthalmic applications include treatment of corneal ulcers and conjunctival tumours. Oral uses include gingiva depigmentation and periodontal regeneration.
