Lehigh Valley Center For Sight

Sofia Sees Hope , a nonprofit dedicated to finding treatments and cures for people with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and other inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), has made a $100,000 donation to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to support therapy development and genetic testing. Sofia Sees Hope was founded in 2014 by Laura Manfre and Charles Priebe, whose daughter Sofia has LCA, a rare genetic retinal condition characterized by severe vision impairment or blindness at birth. The nonprofit organization generates awareness, raises funds for research, and provides outreach, support and education to those affected by LCA and other IRDs. “Since we founded Sofia Sees Hope at our kitchen table more than five years ago, our goal has always been two-fold,” says Manfre. “We have always wanted to support research for LCA and inherited retinal diseases, and to save other families the struggle we went through in pursuit of a genetic diagnosis. It took us seven years to secure Sofia’s genetic...

Increased screen time has been proven to cause concern with physical wellbeing in both adults and children. While physical complications are an issue, perhaps the most worrisome effects take place in mental and social blockages. Far less easily proven or identified, many people may be suffering from the mental effects of screen time without even knowing it. Cognition In our “Screen Time and the Body” post, we referenced a study of 4,500 children comparing the time they spend doing activities like sleeping, exercise, and screen time to suggested guidelines. While only 5% of participants met those guidelines, the ones who did had better overall cognition (memory, language, attention, etc.). This study only looked at children ages 8-11; the implications of screens when children are in the pivotal ages (3 years and under) could be more than ever imagined. Young children need stimuli from the real world to develop critical cognitive skills. Several studies link cognitive delay with exce...

Diabetes can cause a wide range of harmful side effects, including eye problems. All forms of diabetic eye disease have the potential to cause severe vision loss and blindness but they can be treated. If you have diabetes there are steps you can take to prevent or delay these conditions and if you are diagnosed, treatments may be effective. If you have diabetes, we can help you maintain your vision for as long as possible. Diabetic retinopathy impacts the blood vessels in the light-sensitive retina that’s in the back of the eye. This is the most common cause of vision loss for diabetics and the top cause of vision impairment and blindness for working-age adults. Chronically high blood sugar because of diabetes is associated with injuring tiny blood vessels in the retina, which leads to diabetic retinopathy. It can also result in blood vessels in the retina to leak or bleed, distorting your vision. At an advanced stage of the disorder, new, abnormal blood vessels develop on the ret...

In this post (and video!) I will share the highlights of a talk I gave recently discussing social media and professionalism, specifically how to protect your patients, your profession, and you. We’re all very familiar with the pitfalls of using social media professionally. We read stories online of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers being fired or disciplined for comments that they’ve made on social media that put patient safety and privacy at risk. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently published an advisory opinion talking about social media and professionalism, in which they gave several recommendations on best practices and how physicians, and particularly, ophthalmologists can use social media, in a way that is professional and protects patient privacy. This is a picture of Austin Chiang, MD.    Dr. Chiang recently started the #VerifyHealthcare campaign in which he encouraged physicians and other healthcare providers to be transparent in their qualif...

The Seattle biotech Acucela is now enrolling participants in its Phase 3 clinical trial for emixustat hydrochloride , an emerging oral drug for slowing vision loss in people with Stargardt disease , an inherited form of a macular degeneration. The progressive retinal condition affects 30,000 people in the US. Approximately 160 participants will be enrolled in this trial at 30 sites in 11 countries. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 10 mg of emixustat or placebo once daily for 24 months. The ratio of people receiving emixustat to placebo is 2:1. You can learn more about the trial by calling 206-805-8310 or sending an e-mail to clinicaltrials@acucela.com . More details about the trial will be listed at www.clinicaltrials.gov shortly. Stargardt disease is caused by the accumulation of toxic byproducts from vitamin A processing in the retina. Known as the visual cycle, vitamin A metabolism enables the retina to respond to light. However, in people with Stargardt diseas...

The French bioelectronics company Pixium Vision has reported that its PRIMA bionic vision system has restored some central vision in patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) participating in a clinical feasibility trial. Led by Dr. Yannick Le Mer, the study took place in the Department of Pr. José Sahel, Hopital des Quinze Vingts and Fondation Ophtalmologique A. De Rothschild, in Paris, France. At six months, a majority of patients, all of whom had no central vision upon trial enrollment, were able to identify complex patterns, numbers, or letters. Their speed and accuracy in identifying the visual information improved with rehabilitation. The system was safe and well-tolerated. The company also reported that visual acuity for patients in the study measured up to 20/460, which is the highest visual acuity published to date for current retinal bionic or prosthetic technologies. The PRIMA system includes a minimally invasive wireless microchip, which is 2×2 ...

It’s no secret that screen time has increased exponentially over the last decade. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that children spend 7 hours a day with electronic media. Not only do they spend a lot of time with screens, but the number of screens they look at or activities they do simultaneously is increasing. The Kaiser Family Foundation found half of students ages 8 to 18 use some form of media (watching TV, scrolling online, etc.) while doing their homework. With the continuously increasing time spent on digital devices, the concern also grows for what impact it may have on health. Physical Impact of Screen Time Research has linked excessive screen time with physical health problems like obesity, disrupted sleep schedules, and nearsightedness. One study found that TV viewing and computer usage was correlated with childhood obesity, despite taking home life and other factors into consideration. Screen time was also associated with a higher risk of metabolic...

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and the perfect time to raise awareness for this disease. Early on there are no symptoms.  In fact, half of the people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. Learn about glaucoma and the steps you can take to reduce your risk of vision loss. There are several types of glaucoma, although the most common type of glaucoma is Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, it begins at the peripheral working inward to weaken the central vision, this could lead to tunnel vision. It can cause irreversible and gradual damage of the optic nerve and vision. You can prevent glaucoma with regular eye exams (with a visual field test) by an eye care professional and also by looking out for these subtle warning signs: Eye Pain Night Halos Tunnel Vision Blurred Vision Eye Swelling and Redness Nausea Sudden Visual Disturbance Severe Headache Are you at risk? Anyone can get glaucoma, but certain groups are at higher risk. These groups include Afri...

As technology continues to invade everyday life, it seems nearly impossible to escape the glow of a digital screen. From signing into the doctor’s office on an iPad to ordering fast food from a kiosk in the restaurant, digital devices are everywhere. Even grade schools and middle schools are beginning to incorporate devices in their curriculums, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for the barrage of media and devices. Jim Gaffigan spoke on this subject for CBS news , saying, “Screens are a part of our lives. They are not going away.” Screen Usage Data Recent Nielsen reports show that Americans spend nearly 11 hours a day consuming media from several digital devices, and the number of devices continues to grow. In the last 20 years, we’ve gone from clunky desktops to sleek, microcomputers that fit in our pockets. Over 80% of US adults have a smartphone, and though the Nielsen report shows just under 2 hours of usage a day consuming media on the phone, it does not include act...

Here are 4 tips on for helping your child get the most out of their eye vitamin every day! Giving eye vitamins to your child every day to improve and protect their eye health is a big commitment. These tips will help them get the most out of them. Give them the full dose.  As a rule of thumb, it’s best to give your child the full recommended dose. It’s tempting to give them half a dose to make the product last longer, but you’re risking them only getting half the guaranteed benefits of the eye vitamin. Children can take EyePromise ® Screen Shield™ Teen with a multi-vitamin.  EyePromise eye vitamins (except AREDS 2 Plus with Multi-Vitamin) are designed to be taken with a multi-vitamin. So, if your child takes a multi-vitamin, don’t worry about them doubling up on nutrients. Children should take them with a meal.  Most vitamins come in two forms: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are then absorbed by the body. Fat-soluble vitamins diss...

Doctors have a rough time dragging their children away from screens, too! They have a few tips on how to find balance.  Dr. Jenny Radesky is the lead author of the most recent revision of the guidelines on media and children from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The mother of two young boys says her household is anything but tech-averse. They have a flatscreen TV, smartphones, and an array of other digital devices strung around their home. How does this doctor with two young children keep them from spending large amounts of their days glued to these screens? It’s hard. As a doctor, she says she may be more prone to distraction than her husband is. “My husband’s really good. His stuff (digital devices) is always just on the kitchen counter and he hardly checks it unless it rings. But if I’m on call, I have my pager on. If something is an emergency, that’s how I can be found.” Research shows that many children learn how to regulate their own screen time by watching their parents...

Have you ever noticed specks or clouds in your field of vision? They are most likely eye floaters. Floaters can look like cobwebs, blobs, dots, or little insects that float around. Eye floaters can be semi-transparent or darker. If you have them, they are more noticeable in certain lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight. You might not notice them at all unless you are looking for them. While floaters might seem to be on the lens, they are actually in the back of the eye. They are tiny clumps of protein in the vitreous fluid. The vitreous fluid is a gelatinous substance located between the iris and retina. This fluid keeps the shape of the back of the eye. An eye doctor can see floaters by shining a light into the eye during an exam . Dilating drops are used to keep the iris open. Floaters have many possible causes. The sudden appearance of floaters can indicate an emergency eye problem. Most of the time, they have an innocuous cause and may not require treatment. If they int...

As the New Year approaches, resolve to improve your vision health. Dr. Marc Grossman and Michael Edson, co-authors of Natural Eye Care 2nd Edition , developed this checklist of New Year resolutions for vision health. Pick one or more resolution. Regardless of your age, you can reduce your risk of developing eye disease. Eye disease such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma are prevalent in seniors. A few simple steps can help preserve the precious gift of sight. Schedule an annual eye exam. Even if you do not wear glasses, eye disease can creep up on you. Glaucoma often goes noticed until permanent damage sets in. Seniors should never skip an exam. Exercise. If you add nothing else to your lifestyle, focus on getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Walking is the most basic, it’s free, and it only requires a pair of sneakers. However, you should also add more vigorous exercise. See our article, “ What’s Your Daily Dose of Exercise .” Don’t smoke. Smokin...