Find a Location

Failing Vision Can Be Misdiagnosed as Brain Decline

by

A new study by the University of South Australia suggests millions of elderly people with vision problems like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are being misdiagnosed with cognitive decline.

What Are Cataracts and Macular Degeneration?

Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are common causes of vision loss but do not affect cognitive function. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye lens and are the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 55. Over half of Americans will develop a cataract by age 75.

AMD affects five percent of Americans aged 65 and older. Although it does not cause blindness, it affects the ability to drive, read, cook and do everyday tasks.

Poor Vision or Cognitive Impairment?

Brain tests that use vision-dependent tasks could be giving false results in up to 25 percent of patients over 50 who have AMD or cataracts. Researchers from the University of South Australia studied 24 participants with normal vision and asked them to complete two cognitive exams. One exam included vision-dependent activities, and the other used verbal-based metrics.

When the participants used glasses to simulate AMD, they received much lower scores on brain tests involving reaction time tasks compared to when they were not wearing the glasses. The research team noted no difference with verbal fluency tests when participants used the simulation glasses.

“A mistaken score in cognitive tests could have devastating ramifications, leading to unnecessary changes to a person’s living, working, financial or social circumstances,” University of South Australia PhD candidate Anne Macnamara told Medical Xpress. “For example, if a mistaken score contributed to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, it could trigger psychological problems including depression and anxiety.”

Unfortunately, vision problems are often missed in clinical and research environments. The research team estimates experts underestimate visual impairments in half of all older adults. This statistic will increase as the population ages, so it is crucial that researchers examine vision when analyzing cognitive function in older people.

Prioritize Annual Comprehensive Eye Exams.

A yearly comprehensive eye exam looks at your vision and your eye health. Your ophthalmologist will evaluate you for the following:

  • Focusing problems
  • Refractive errors
  • Eye diseases like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts

Are you looking for a board-certified ophthalmologist in your area? Our eye centers are located nationwide, and our caring staff is equipped to meet your vision needs. Call today to make an appointment.

Blindness and Vision Loss Rates May Double in 30 Years

by

Blindness and vision impairment affects an estimated 338 million people worldwide. According to a new pre-print study accepted by The Lancet, the number may reach 900 million people by the year 2050.

Vision loss is a global problem. According to recent research led by Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology at Anglia Ruskin University:

  • 8 million people have a mild vision impairment
  • 1 million people have a major vision impairment
  • 3 million people are blind

Bourne said although blindness among people age 50 and older has reduced by almost 30 percent in the past 30 years, the number of people who are blind has increased by 50 percent because of population growth.

“It is encouraging that age-adjusted prevalence of blindness has reduced over the past three decades, yet due to population growth, progress is not keeping pace with needs,” said Bourne. “We face enormous challenges in avoiding vision impairment as the global population grows and ages” (Medical Xpress).

What Causes Vision Impairment?

Three common causes of vision impairment are cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among people older than 55. In the U.S., cataracts affect about 20.5 million people. Cataract-related vision loss can be reversed through cataract surgery, an incredibly safe and simple procedure.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and is caused by optic nerve damage. Vision loss due to glaucoma is irreversible, so it is imperative to have routine glaucoma screenings. Even though there is no cure for glaucoma, there are many effective therapies and treatments.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects about five percent of Americans 65 years of age or older. AMD affects central vision, which is necessary for activities like reading and driving. Early detection of AMD is crucial to slowing vision loss. There are two types of AMD: wet AMD and dry AMD. There is no cure for dry AMD but vitamin supplements can slow the progression. There are several therapies for wet AMD, and again, these don’t cure the disease but they can slow AMD’s progression.

Find a Local Ophthalmologist

The best way to preserve your vision and prevent vision impairment is to schedule annual comprehensive eye exams for the entire family. Eye exams offer more than just an evaluation of your vision. They offer a window into your overall health.

Our board-certified ophthalmologists are accepting new patients and are dedicated to your eye health. At a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will make sure your prescription is current and screen you for degenerative eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

If you are not under the care of a board-certified physician, you can access a list of doctors in your area and find an ophthalmologist near you.

Gene Therapy Could Be a New Macular Degeneration Treatment

by

New macular degeneration treatments may emerge after a recent study links the wet and dry version of the disease in an unexpected way.

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and vision loss in the world and of vision impairment in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts the number of Americans with macular degeneration will double from 48 million to 88 million in the next 30 years.

AMD destroys the sharp, central vision, which is necessary for seeing objects clearly and doing activities like reading and driving. There are two types of AMD. Wet AMD is treatable. Dry AMD has not had many treatment options, although its progression may be slowed by supplementation with antioxidants.

Gene Therapy Reverses AMD in Mice

A new study reveals important findings after a research team from the University of Virginia School of Medicine successfully treated age-related macular degeneration in mice.

Brad Gelfand, of University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Vision Science, discovered the absence of an enzyme called “Dicer” could initiate both forms of macular degeneration. Dicer levels reduce with age, and the loss of Dicer causes an overgrowth of blood vessels in the retina.

Using gene therapy, Gelfand and his team restored Dicer in the mice and found it reversed AMD. Gelfand’s research suggests restoring normal levels of Dicer could treat both wet and dry macular degeneration. However, further testing will determine the effectiveness and safety of this new macular degeneration treatment.

“It’s not as if this is the final answer to the problem, but it’s certainly a big step along the way; it certainly solidifies the idea that wet and dry AMD share a lot of mechanisms,” said Gelfand.

If Dicer proves effective in clinical trials, it will be the first significant treatment for dry AMD. It would also offer a simpler and less painful treatment for wet AMD. Current wet AMD treatment involves frequent eye injections. Gene therapy may require only a single treatment.

Call Your Ophthalmologist

AMD is a progressive disease that often does not have any symptoms in the early stages. You can prevent AMD by making annual appointments for a comprehensive eye exam. Eye exams are more than just an evaluation of your vision. They offer a window into your overall health. Call an ophthalmologist today to schedule your annual eye exam.