World Glaucoma Day Set For March 12, 2009

The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Joins International Observance To Draw Attention To "The Sneak Thief of Sight"
NEW YORK - In an effort to combat one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Organization have set March 12, 2009, as the second annual World Glaucoma Day. The day will be marked by awareness and educational events organized by eye care institutions and local patient support groups on every continent, as listed on www.wgday.net.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and the leading cause in African-Americans. About 50% of persons with glaucoma in the United States are unaware that they have it, while this number can reach 90% in developing countries.

Known as "the sneak thief of sight," glaucoma is characterized by gradual loss of vision resulting from death of the cells in the eye which transmit visual images through the optic nerve to the brain. As the optic nerve becomes increasingly damaged, permanent vision loss occurs and can result in blindness. Early detection is the key to treating and halting the effects of glaucoma.

"Because glaucoma strikes so silently and gradually, it is absolutely crucial to educate people about the value of early detection," said Robert Ritch, MD, professor and chief of glaucoma services at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, co-founder of the World Glaucoma Patient Association, and member of the World Glaucoma Day committee for the World Glaucoma Association. "For a disease that causes permanent blindness, it is truly unacceptable that so many people remain unaware of its impact and consequences."

To emphasize the universal importance of early detection, Dr. Ritch and colleagues plan a glaucoma screening for delegates and staff of the United Nations. NYEE also expects to enlist the support of elected officials to recognize the importance of this health observance.

Persons at high risk for glaucoma should have their eyes examined for the disease at least every two years by an eye care professional. Persons most at risk include those with a family history of glaucoma, African-Americans over the age of 40, people who are very nearsighted or farsighted, and all persons over the age of 60.

In the early stages of glaucoma, there may be no symptoms and vision can appear to be normal until a large amount has been lost. If undetected and untreated, glaucoma will gradually claim all peripheral vision and move on to cause total blindness. With early detection, glaucoma can be treated with eye drops to lower intraocular pressure. Other methods include laser and operative surgery. Treatment can usually halt the disease, but it cannot reverse the damage that has been done. Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes.

About World Glaucoma Association:
The World Glaucoma Association is a global organization dedicated to the overall improvement of glaucoma science and care. Comprised of leading medical experts and institutions throughout the world, the group's overall goal is to optimize the quality of glaucoma research and treatment through increased communication and cooperation among international glaucoma societies, industries, and patient organizations.
About World Glaucoma Patient Association:

The World Glaucoma Patient Association is an umbrella organization which supports glaucoma associations and networks worldwide in their efforts to educate and support their members so that all people with glaucoma can understand and better manage their disease. The WGPA facilitates the establishment of glaucoma support groups in many nations and coordinates communication and cooperation between existing groups, in addition to promoting international awareness of glaucoma as a cause of preventable blindness.

About Robert Ritch, MD, and The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary:
For more than 30 years, Robert Ritch, MD, of The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, has devoted his career to broadening understanding by the medical profession and patients about the nature of glaucoma and innovation in medical, laser, and surgical treatment of the disease. Dr. Ritch holds the Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology and is Surgeon Director and Chief of Glaucoma Services at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York City and Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at The New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.

Founded in 1820, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary is the first specialty hospital in the Western Hemisphere. It is also one of the largest providers of primary through tertiary eye care in the U.S. with more than 19,000 eye surgeries and 125,000 ophthalmology outpatient visits each year.

Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma. Some people are at higher risk than others.
They include:
- African-Americans over age 40;
- Everyone over age 60;
- People with a family history of glaucoma;
- People who are very nearsighted or farsighted.

Among African-Americans, studies show that glaucoma is:
Five times more likely to occur in African-Americans than in Caucasians
About four times more likely to cause blindness
Fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African-Americans between the ages of 45-64 than in Caucasians of the same age group
A comprehensive dilated eye exam can reveal more risk factors, such as high eye pressure, thinness of the cornea, and abnormal optic nerve anatomy. In some people with certain combinations of these high-risk factors, medicines in the form of eye drops reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by about half.
Medicare covers an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma.

What can I do to protect my vision?
Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease. So, if you fall into one of the high-risk groups for the disease, make sure to have your eyes examined through dilated pupils every two years by an eye care professional.

If you are being treated for glaucoma, be sure to take your glaucoma medicine every day. See your eye care professional regularly.
You also can help protect the vision of family members and friends who may be at high risk for glaucoma -- African Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60, and people with a family history of the disease. Encourage them to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Remember: lowering eye pressure in glaucoma's early stages slows progression of the disease and helps save vision.

Introducing Jimmy Choo at Solstice

Jimmy Choo, synonymous with beautiful and sexy shoes, is introducing a new collection of glamorous and sophisticated sunglasses. The iconic appeal of the designs make these sunglasses irresistible with their tactile finishes, bold color combinations and signature Jimmy Choo detailing. The contemporary designs are inspired by the '70's and '80's with heightened sex appeal seen in all Jimmy Choo designs.
Experience the eye-catching collection now at select Solstice Sunglass Boutiques.

Destin

Henry JULLIEN collection Homme
With its new DESTIN collection, Henry JULLIEN has decided to charm the active and modern man.
This metal and plastic model exists in 3 temple finishing touches: carbon, crystal and tortoise, and 5 front colours for a trendy look with black or khaki, or a more classical look with gold.

Évasion

Henry JULLIEN collection 2008
Henry JULLIEN presents EVASION, its new rimless collection in stainless steel.
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www.henry-jullien.com

Rudy Project conquers South Pole with Zyon and Kalybro

Once again Rudy Project has overcome all obstacles and has achieved a truly memorable feat: the conquest of the South Pole.
Zyon Hi-Altitude glasses and Kalybro goggles by Rudy Project were chosen for the expedition that took 14 months to prepare. Starting off from Punta Arenas in Chile, the adventurous journey of 700 miles involved no less than 57 days in inhospitable Antarctica. The aim? A pioneering research project on how polar summer light affects vision, which could be useful in the development of new treatments for numerous vision disorders.
The new Hi-Altitude* lens was designed to provide protection from strong light and to transmit only 6% of light. It was specifically designed for activities at high altitudes, on glaciers and in all situations where reflected light is particularly annoying.
«We faced extreme conditions and our equipment played a crucial role” stated British optometrist and researcher Cameron Hudson, who took part in the expedition. Zyon glasses and the Kalybro goggles were a great help in coping with very tough weather conditions: hours and hours of strong winds, snow, very bright light, but also poor visibility and, of course, very low temperatures. Rudy Project provided us with optic support that performed exceptionally well: excellent ventilation, sharp images and materials of extraordinary quality and efficiency that demonstrated exceptional resistance to polar temperatures. But that’s not all. The special Hi-Altitude lenses protected our eyes from strong light thanks to the triple layers of anti-reflection coating. Extraordinary protection was also ensured by the attention to small details, such as Zyon’s side shields which protected our faces from injury normally caused by the cold, and the exclusive nose protector on the goggles which guaranteed easy breathing.»

Topcon releases new software for its fourier-domain oct/retinal camera

Topcon Medical Systems, Inc. has released Version 2.12 TrueMap Software for its 3D OCT-1000, the first Fourier-domain OCT combined with a color nonmydriatic retinal camera. The new software provides a three-dimensional OCT image of the retina and features PinPoint Registration that allows eyecare physicians to map the exact location of the OCT image with the fundus image. It allows the import of images from other instruments, giving the user the ability to view color fundus, 3D OCT and B Scan images on one screen. The new software version also includes an improved patient search and naming capability; a macro function that automatically registers, aligns and analyzes the results all at capture; a new four-layer retina module; and a new compare function for enhanced visualization of disease progression and comparison between patient visits. Fundus image enhancements and a new OCT AutoMosaic module allow the user to combine up to 16 images and automatically register them for a seamless wide-field view of the retina. All new 3D OCT-1000 software modules and upgrades are free of charge while under service contract.
For more information, go to: www.topconmedical.com/3doct.

Would you consider prescribing contact lenses to an 8-years-old?

In light of the findings from the recent Contact Lenses In Pediatrics (CLIP) Study—sponsored by VISTAKON®, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.—perhaps it’s time to consider it more often.
Researchers from three colleges of optometry concluded that eye care professionals should consider routinely offering contact lenses as a treatment option.
From now on, contact lenses could be a winning option for your younger patients.
To learn more about the CLIP Study at: www.ecp.acuvue.com

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The Triangular Prism
by Professor Leandro Rhein

The rays are shown that pass through the prism in a plane perpendicular to the refracting edge of the prism, and the prism angle is assumed to be 60°, which is often the case. Snell's Law is applied at the two faces crossed by the ray, sin i = n sin r, n sin i' = sin r, which are connected by the relation r + i' = A, the prism angle. Together with the geometry of the prism, this is enough to determine the ray path.When the incident ray approaches the first side at grazing incidence, the angle of refraction inside the prism will be about 42° for n = 1.5. At the second face, the angle of incidence will be about 18° for a 60° prism, and the angle of refraction about 27.6°, making a total deviation of the ray direction of 57.6°. If we consider the ray reversed, then any smaller angle of incidence than 27.6° will result in total reflection at the other face. When the ray passes symmetrically through the prism, so that it is parallel to the base of an isosceles prism, the total deviation of the ray will be stationary with respect to a change in the angle of incidence, and must be a minimum. In this case the deviation is given by 2 sin-1[n sin(A/2)] - A. For a 60° prism with n = 1.5, this is 37.2°.
In the animation, the angle of incidence is varied from the smallest angle that does not produce total reflection at the other face up to 90°, passing through minimum deviation. It can be shown that at minimum deviation, a homocentric bundle of rays (one which radiates from a single point) remains homocentric on refraction through the prism. This is not true away from minimum deviation. Minimum deviation in a prism explains several of the halo phenomena caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere, since the intensity of rays refracted in randomly oriented prisms is a maximum near minimum deviation.

Aniseikonia

Let's talk about this important condition of eye disorder. The Aniseikonia is a binocular condition in which left and right images differ in size or shape. There are two types of aniseikonia – static and dynamic aniseikonia. The first type is the classical aniseikonia, denoting a perceived image size difference with a fixed gaze direction. The second type of aniseikonia is also called induced anisophoria and denotes a perceived image size difference due to unequal prism effects when looking through different parts of the two (anisometropic) spectacle lenses. For clinical purposes, the two types of aniseikonia are often related. The static aniseikonia is typically (but not always) two thirds of the dynamic aniseikonia.
The symptoms more usual are: Headaches; Astenopia (fatigue, burning, tearing, ache, pain, pulling, etc); Photophobia; Reading difficulty; Nausea (more common in female); Motility (diplopia); Nervousness; Vertigo and dizziness; General fatigue; Distorted space perception.
The incidence of aniseikonia is often underestimated, mainly here in Brazil. The most well known patient group at risk is the anisometropes. For management of Aniseikonia, 3 basic steps of aniseikonia management are:
• Objectively measuring the aniseikonia;
• Subjectively verifying that the patient would be helped by prescribing iseikonic lenses;
• Determining a new spectacle prescription to correct for the aniseikonia.
Clinical management of aniseikonia used to be done only by a few specialists (strabismological, orthoptists). The main reasons for this lack of skill and knowledge among professionals are believed to be outdated and insufficient instruction, the lack of simple and accurate instrumentation, and the relatively complicated or time-consuming determination of iseikonic spectacles. On the other hand, the number of aniseikonia patients is substantial and growing, due to the ageing population and the increase in cataract and refractive surgery operations. Another reason, heard sometimes, for not managing aniseikonia, is that iseikonic prescription spectacles can be cosmetically unattractive. Of course, this depends a lot on the amount of aniseikonia to be corrected and the frame size. There might also be a trade-off to undercorrect aniseikonia to keep the spectacles attractive. The trade-off between appearance and correction will depend a lot on the patient and on the severity of the symptoms. Many aniseikonia patients would prefer to trade a reduction in good appearance for more visual comfort. Also, the patient might purchase two pair of spectacles – one for optimum visual comfort for daily routine and one for optimum appearance during social events.
Thanks for Dr. Gerard C. de Wit researcher at Optical Diagnostics in the Netherlands.
Leandro Rhein. Orthoptics Practice