Eye Problems and Diabetes

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Laser Locators

If you have diabetes, regular visits to your ophthalmologist for eye exams are important to avoid eye problems. High blood sugar (glucose) increases the risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74. High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (90-130 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal. Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more serious eye problem with diabetes. The three major eye problems that people with diabetes may develop and should be aware of are cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy

The retina is a group of specialized cells that convert light as it enters though the lens into images. The eye nerve or optic nerve transmits visual information to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the vascular (blood-vessel related) complications related to diabetes. This diabetes eye problem is due to damage of small vessels and is called a “microvascular complication.” Kidney disease and nerve damage due to diabetes are also microvascular complications. Large blood vessel damage (also called macrovascular complications) includes complications like heart disease and stroke.

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Laser for cataract & corneal procedures gets 510(k) clearance

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Laser Locators

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance to the Victus femtosecond laser platform, designed to be used in both cataract and corneal procedures, according to a news release from Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision.

The platform is cleared for creation of a corneal flap for LASIK surgery or other treatment requiring initial lamellar resection of the cornea and anterior capsulotomy during cataract surgery, the release said.

“Cataract surgery, in its traditional form, delivers excellent results, and is arguably one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures performed anywhere in the body. The opportunity to further improve the outcomes of cataract surgery is something I am proud to be a part of,” Steven J. Dell, MD, of Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas, said in the release.

The Victus platform may offer greater precision compared to manual cataract surgery techniques by allowing for more precise, controllable and centered capsulotomy, according to the release.

“The Victus platform represents a major advancement for ophthalmic surgeons that can potentially enhance patient outcomes,” Kristian Hohla, PhD, chief executive officer of Technolas, said in the release. “We look forward to the continued commercialization of the technology around the world, so that ophthalmic surgeons can experience its potential for themselves.”

The platform received CE mark approval in Europe in December and is now available for shipment in the United States. The companies plan to submit additional indications to the FDA.

At Laser Locators we carry the top name surgical and diagnostic ophthalmic equipment manufacturers you can trust, like Acon, Nidek, Lumenis and more for preforming all of your precise ophthalmic procedures. Contact us at www.laserlocators.com or call 1-877-924-2020 and let one of our expert equipment locators help you today.

The sun and cataracts

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Laser Locators

Just like when you have a smear on your sunglasses, having cataracts can feel like the same thing. Ageing is the main reason for the clouding of the eye lens, but excessive UV radiation is another major contributor. The World Health Organization estimates that cataracts account for almost 15 million blind people worldwide. About 20{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974}, or 3 million, of these are most likely caused by UV radiation.

The lens is not solid, instead it is a soft capsule filled with water and protein fiber. The protein fibers are normally crystal clear but can wear out with age. They can become opaque, and UV radiation can also alter the protein prematurely.

Cataract development can be variable amongst individuals regardless of gender or race. The process is generally slow and initially may affect only part of the lens. In some cases it develops from the lens’s rim and grows inside, and in another the lens begins to cloud from the center. In any case, the growing cataract will eventually severely impair vision and frequently lead to blindness.

In the early stages, a cataract is viewed as only a nuisance. But soon extra lighting, different eyeglasses and protection from glare is needed. UV radiation protection should help slow the process.

Once the cataract interferes too much with the daily life, surgery should be considered. Eye surgeons replace millions of cloudy lenses with substitutes every year, and this safe procedure returns better vision to as much as 90{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of patients.