Articles related to Optometry

A recent study by researchers at SUNY suggests that reading may contribute to myopia progression. The study found that the images formed by our eyes during reading lack the diversity of contrasts and visual motion needed to activate major visual pathways that are important for visual development. Factors such as low light, low contrast, and the lack of self-motion make reading less effective at stimulating these pathways compared to activities like walking. The study’s findings suggest that reducing near work, such as reading, may be an effective strategy to prevent myopia progression.

The article proposes a computational model to account for the complex interaction between stimulus size, duration, and retinal cones-to-retinal ganglion cells ratio. The findings challenge the assumption of a constant critical number of retinal ganglion cells with respect to the enlargement of the critical area of summation with eccentricity in the macula, proposing instead a constant critical total retinal input. The research has implications for understanding perimetric sensitivity and modeling disease, particularly glaucoma.

Dry eye disease (DED), ocular surface disease (OSD), and other cornea and anterior segment diseases can cause patients to experience a diverse range of symptoms. The cornea is the most densely innervated tissue and is therefore an important target for therapeutics and research. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are signaling channels that play roles in signaling physiological processes, and TRP melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) is a cold-sensing receptor found on nerve endings of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. TRPM8 channels sense cooling changes in corneal temperature and are activated by evaporative cooling and hyperosmolarity, leading to stimulation of tear production, which may be why eyes water on cold days and in patients with dry eye. Understanding the interaction between symptoms, ocular healing, and dysfunctions that occur in this process can help optometrists care for their patients more effectively.

The rate and scope of technology adoption in the healthcare process are hotly debated topics. These include the following in the case of refraction:

After completing this CE activity, optometrists who work with cancer patients should be better able to recognize the potential ocular side effects of targeted cancer therapies, monitor patients on these drugs for potential ocular adverse events, consult with specialists as needed, and educate their patients about how these medications may affect their eye health.

When atypical AMD is suspected, additional multimodal imaging and a more detailed medical history are required to establish the correct diagnosis. The medical history, clinical examination, and retinal imaging findings of a 69-year-old White man with a long-standing medical history of schizophrenia, bilateral visual decline, nyctalopia, and blurred vision were sufficient evidence for the doctors to establish a presumed diagnosis of thioridazine retinal toxicity. Although it is a rare diagnosis due to the introduction of newer medications, patients with an underlying psychiatric history and atypical retinal findings on examination may have been or are currently taking the culprit psychotropic medication.