New Report Lists 34 Eye Medicines in Development for Several Eye Diseases

America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are developing 34 medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect American women. The new report, Medicines in Development for Women, is presented by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in cooperation with Prevent Blindness America and other national health organizations.

In addition to glaucoma and dry eye medicines in development, the report lists 155 medicines in development for diabetes, also a major cause of vision loss for women.

Treatment of age-related eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, costs $51.4 billion annually.

For the full report, please visit www.phrma.org.

For more information on Prevent Blindness, please visit www.pbga.org.

Keep the Holidays Merry by Giving Safe Toys & Gifts to Children

As shoppers begin to purchase toys and gifts for children, they need to mindful of what gift is the safest, especially for younger children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 235,300 toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms across the country.  Most of the injuries were to the head and face and consisted of lacerations, contusions or abrasions.  And, 73 percent of the toy-related injuries reported were to children ages 14 and younger.

We know that families are being more budget conscious this holiday season and we want to make sure the money we do spend is spent wisely. We hope that everyone takes just a moment to really think about the gifts they are buying and make sure they are appropriate for a child’s age and development level.

Prevent Blindness Georgia suggests the following:

• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child.

• Inspect all toys as much as possible before taking them out of the box.  Once opened, go through each part of the toy to make sure there are no small parts that could be choking hazards or sharp edges.

• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off. BB guns and air guns should not even be considered toys. Flying toys caused 9,600 injuries in 2008.

• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles, a baseball with a batting helmet with a face shield).  90 percent of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented by using the appropriate eye protection.

• Educate yourself on what products have been recalled.  Contact the CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or go to www.cpsc.gov.

• Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones.  Closely monitor all activities to make sure smaller children do not have access to toys that are not at their age-appropriate level.

• Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable, with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact.  Dispose of plastic wrapping material immediately on toys as they may have sharp edges.

• Never give toys with small parts to young children.  If a part of a toy can fit inside a toilet paper roll, the toy is considered a choking hazard and is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.

For more information on safe toys and gifts, please visit Prevent Blindness Georgia at www.pbga.org.

Diabetes and Vision

Diabetes is a growing epidemic. Nearly 24 million people in the United States (U.S.) have diabetes, yet one-fourth of them do not know they have it.(1) In addition, 57 million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes, and most are unaware they have the condition. Diabetic retinopathy, a disease that damages blood vessels of the eye in people with diabetes, can occur even during the pre-diabetes stage.

The best method for detecting diabetic retinopathy is a comprehensive eye exam.

A regular eye exam provides healthcare professionals a clear view of the

blood vessels in the eye; and abnormalities in these blood vessels are indicative of many known health conditions, including diabetes.

Early detection can not only save patients’ eyesight but also alert them to the presence of disease before it causes serious damage.

An eyecare exam is more than just a way to get glasses and contacts; it’s an integral part of the healthcare continuum.

Additional Information:

• Diabetic retinopathy can occur up to seven years before diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and up to 21% of people with type 2 diabetes have retinopathy when they are first diagnosed with diabetes. This means an eye exam could lead to an earlier diagnosis for people who do not know they have the disease.
• Early detection and treatment through an annual eye exam can prevent most vision loss related to diabetes.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.
• Individuals with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma and 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts than those without diabetes.
• The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases with the number of years you’ve had diabetes. After 15 years with the disease, almost 80 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have some form of diabetic eye disease.
• In people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy more than doubles their risk of developing heart failure.
• In a 2006 analysis of BRFSS in five states, prevalence of diabetic retinopathy ranged from 2.7% to 4.3%. • 93,000 new cases of blindness each year could have been prevented through timely detection and treatment.

For more information, visit www.pbga.org or click here.

Prevent Blindness Georgia Drive Fore Sight Golf Tournament

Thank you to everyone who attended the PBGA Drive Fore Sight Golf Tournament. Because of your donations, many more prekindergarten children and in-need adults will be able to receive the eye care the need.

We grossed over $110,000, thank you to our sponsors! Click here for photos.

Platinum Sponsor — CIBA VISION

Gold Sponsor — Infosys Technologies

Silver Sponsor — UGL Unnico

Silver Sponsor — Norton, Rubble & Mertz Advertising

Lunch Sponsor — Mediaedge:CIA

Cart Sponsor — Midlands Packaging Corporation

Awards Sponsor — Morrison & Foerster, LLP

Golfer Gift Sponsor — GFK Audits & Surveys

Beverage Cart Sponsor — Creative Displays, LLC

RegistrationSponsor –  The Tech Group

Puttting Green Sponsor — UPS

Hole Sponsors:

Colbert Packaging | Cognizant | Datacore Marketing | Exervio | Fisher Scientific | Hilton Garden Inn | i2 Technologies |  InFocus | IST Management M2 Creative | Piedmont Office Realty Trust | Scana Energy | Sodexo Xceleration | Amware Logistics Services | Review of Optometry/Jobson Mckay Consolidated Graphics

Thank you to our raffle donors and congratulations to our winners!

For more information about PBGA, visit www.pbga.org.

Doctors help war vets cope with eye injuries

*Article from KGO TV, San Francisco, CA*

Soldiers returning from Iraq may be vulnerable to an injury they don’t even realize they have. Now because of a study in the Bay Area, many are receiving detailed exams of their eyes.

While Marine Corporal Jason Poole was spared some of the memories of the explosion that injured him, he was spared none of the force. He was on foot patrol near the Syrian border in Iraq when a roadside bomb blew up.

Eight surgeries later, Jason is deaf in his left ear and blind in his left eye. But on this trip to the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, it’s the right eye doctors are concerned about.

Doctor Glenn Cockerham helped lead a study of bomb blast survivors like Jason. It is a group who, unlike in other wars, now helps make up the largest percentage of vision loss patients.

But these traumatic eye injuries aren’t always visible at first glance, like the more common gunshot wounds of previous wars. Doctors are now discovering detached retinas, ruptured corneas, even tears in the iris. And some damage is hidden well below the surface.

“The optic nerve can be damaged anywhere from brain to the eyeball,” said Dr. Cockerham.

Doctor Greg Goodrich co-authored the study, which has led to stepped up diagnostic care for the most seriously injured vets.

“There is a directive from central office, based on our research, that mandates that all of them have comprehensive eye and vision examinations,” said Dr. Goodrich. “This includes ocular injury, as well as brain injury that affects the visual system.”

The focus on brain injury targets cases like Jason, who says he has trouble reading and focusing since his recovery.

While nobody knows how many vets may have suffered hidden vision problems, one private estimate put the number of at-risk soldiers in the hundreds of thousands.

“We do know that in the trauma center half the patients we are seeing are due to blast events,” said Dr. Goodrich.

In the meantime, Poole is undergoing regular monitoring for the damage to his right eye, and setting his sights on the future.

Dr. Goodrich and Dr. Cockerham have been nominated for an Olin Teague Award for their research into eye injuries. It’s given for work that most improves the lives of injured veterans.

(Copyright ©2009 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

For more information on the eyes and eye surgery, visit www.preventblindndess.org.

Facts about Diabetic Eye Disease

Prevent Blindness America’s “Economic Impact of Vision Problems: The Toll of Major Adult Eye Disorders, Visual Impairment, and Blindness on the U.S. Economy” study shows that diabetic retinopathy costs $490 million annually in direct costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services.

According to the CDC:

• In 2007, 3.3 million adults with diabetes (aged 18 years or older) reported visual impairment, that is, trouble seeing even with their glasses or contact lenses on.

• In 2007, 71.7 percent of adults, aged 18 years and older, with diabetes in 38 states reported receiving a dilated-eye examination within the last year,

• 23.6 million, (7.8 percent), Americans have diabetes, including 5.7 million who have yet to be diagnosed.  Another 57 million have pre-diabetes.

• In 2007, 15.1 percent of U.S. adults with diabetes smoked, 38.2 percent reported being physically inactive, 83.5 percent were overweight or obese, 51.1 percent were obese based on self-reported height and weight, 67.0 percent of U.S. adults with diabetes reported having hypertension, and 62.6 percent reported that their cholesterol was high.

Here are a few ways to protect your eyes:

• Healthy blood glucose levels are like carrots: Both are good for your eyes. Keeping up with blood glucose management lowers the risk of developing eye disease and keeps existing eye disease from getting worse.

• It’s worse under pressure. High blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels in the eye, and can make diabetic eye disease worse. Talk to your doctor about ways to control your blood pressure.

• Cholesterol counts. High cholesterol can also cause damage to blood vessels in the eye. Keep cholesterol down to keep eye disease from developing or worsening.

For more information on diabetic eye disease, visit www.preventblindness.org/diabetes.

 

Number of eye disease cases expected to increase

As the number of Americans with diabetes continues to increase, so does the expected increase in the number of cases of major eye disease including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.

Today, there are more than 23 million Americans, or close to 8 percent, who have diabetes.  Projections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the number will balloon to 48 million by the year 2050.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.

A new study* also predicts a dramatic increase in the number of eye disease cases in Hispanic and African American populations.  The research estimates that Hispanics with diabetes in all age groups will have substantially large increases in diabetes-related eye disease.  African Americans are five times more likely than Caucasians to develop glaucoma.  Rates for African Americans with diabetes with glaucoma are expected to rise the most among those age 50 and older, and the rates of cataracts for those 75 and older is expected to increase more than 600 percent in woman and close to 700 percent in men.

In an effort to educate the public on diabetes and its potential effect on vision, Prevent Blindness Georgia has declared November as Diabetic Eye Disease Month. For free information to patients on diabetic eye disease, risk factors, treatment options and Medicare benefits through our Web site, please visit www.preventblindness.org/diabetes.

 

*The “Projection of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Major Eye Diseases Among People With Diabetes Mellitus” by Jinan B. Saaddine, M.D., M.P.H., et al,

NVI Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament Presented by Viva International Group

Our 14th Annual Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament took place last week. Prevent Blindness Georgia would like to thank all our sponsors for making this year’s golf tournament a very successful event.

National Vision, Inc. - Title Sponsor
Viva International Group – Presenting Sponsor
Marchon Eyewear – Reception Sponsor
Luxottica - Golfer Gift Sponsor
Carl Zeiss Vision – Flag Sponsor
Nouveau Eyewear – Awards Sponsor
Younger Optics – Cart Sponsor
Zimco Optics – Fore Caddy Sponsor
Zyloware – Beverage Cart Sponsor
REM Eyewear – Team Photo Sponsor
FASTSIGNS – Norcross - Signage Sponsor
SOMO OPTICAL – Bag Tag Sponsor
Colliers Corporate Solutions – Closest to Pin Contest
Transitions Optical - Longest Drive Contest
GfK Audits & Surveys – Registration Sponsor
Ernest Communications-Simplify Corporation – Bag Drop Sponsor

Hole Sponsors

Essilor|Vision-Ease Lens | OfficeMax | J. Smith Lanier & Co | The Robin Shepherd Group| Wachovia | Quantum | Safilo USA Inc |Mission Graphics | Seiko Optical |Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia | Rich Printing Inc| Optima Inc | Decision First Technologies | Schnackel Engineers Inc| California Accessories | Chelsea Partners | CooperVision | Harmelin Media

For more pictures, click here and for more information about Prevent Blindness Georgia and our upcoming events, visit www.pbga.org.

CDC launches Web site dedicated to Vision Health

The CDC has launched a new Web site dedicated to vision health!  This is a great resource for updated information and features the “Economic Impact of Vision Problems” report.  The Vision Health Initiative (VHI) promotes vision health and quality of life for all populations, through all life stages, by preventing and controlling eye diseases, eye injury, and vision loss resulting in disability

Please go to: http://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/

To learn more about PBGA, visit www.pbga.org.

Halloween is coming!

Prevent Blindness Georgia wants to make sure everyone enjoys a safe and happy holiday and advises the following:

• Always wear hypoallergenic make-up. Adults should apply the make-up and remove it with cold cream or eye make-up remover instead of soap. Follow product guidelines about applying product directly around the eyes.

• False eyelashes should only be applied and removed according to the manufacturers instructions on the products package.

• Avoid costumes with masks, wigs, floppy hats or eye patches that block vision.  Tie hats and scarves securely so they won’t slip over children’s eyes.

• Avoid costumes that drag on the ground to prevent tripping or falling.  Do not use roller blades or ride a bike, scooter or skateboard while wearing a costume.

• Avoid pointed props such as spears, swords or wands.

• Wear bright, reflective clothing or decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape/patches. Carry a bright flashlight to improve visibility.

• Always accompany children while trick-or-treating.  Only go to houses you are familiar with.

• Carefully examine all trick-or-treat items for signs of tampering before allowing children to eat them.  Inspect any toys or novelty items received by kids age 3 and younger as they may pose a choking hazard.

• Jack-o-lanterns should be placed in areas where trick-or-treaters or Halloween party guests won’t be able to trip over them or have costumes brush up against them.  All tripping hazards should be removed from sidewalks and porches.

Prevent Blindness Georgia also wants to remind the public that it is illegal to purchase cosmetic contact lenses without a prescription.  Because any contact lens is considered a medical device, only an eye care professional can ensure that the lenses are used and cared for properly.  Misuse of lenses can result in bacterial infections, swelling, eye pain, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal scratches, corneal ulceration, and loss of clarity. If left untreated, these conditions can result in permanent eye damage and loss of sight.

For more information on Halloween safety or contact lens safety, please call Prevent Blindness Georgia or visit www.pbga.org