Yes, ‘tis the season of itchy, red, tearing and swollen eyes; sometimes associated with itchy nose and sneezing. Allergy season is here. Ocular allergies are caused chiefly by pollen or animal dander that travel into the tear film. Seasonal and pet allergies can also affect the eyes. Seasonal conjunctivitis is caused by different allergens, depending on the month of year and geographic location. April-May allergies are usually caused by trees, June and July by grasses and August –September allergies by ragweed.

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Scientists at the UCLA Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease in Los Angeles, California conducted a study of 1,575 people with an average age of 67. The study, led by Dr. Zaldy Tan, measured the level of omega -3 fatty acids in red blood cells over three months. The study subjects also underwent an MRI of the brain and the researchers measured brain volume.

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Age Related Macular Degeneration is a progressive disease of the macula, the eye’s central part of vision, which usually occurs in elderly people and can result in blindness if untreated. In this European Eye Study conducted at the Queen’s University in the United Kingdom, almost 4700 participants over 65 years of age were divided into 4 groups, ranging from those who never take aspirin to those who take aspirin every day. About 1/3 of the participants who developed wet macular degeneration were daily aspirin consumers compared to 16% without macular degeneration who took daily aspirin. The authors concluded that frequent aspirin use was associated with early and late macular degeneration and the frequency increased with increasing aspirin consumption.

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Amniotic Membrane Transplants are the newest wave in ocular surgery. Cryopreserved amniotic membrane is used to restore ocular tissue with minimal scarring and inflammation. The donor tissue is screened for HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, West Nile virus and is sterile and contains no micro-organisms. This tissue is used for patients who have pterygium, chemical and thermal burns, persistent epithelial defects, recurrent corneal erosions, and other corneal problems. I have used amniotic membranes in surgery and found it to speed would healing, decrease post surgical pain and prevent scarring. Hopefully the reader will never need this, but it is available for severely damaged eyes as well as for cosmetic improvement.This procedure is FDA approved in the United States.

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Xeomin (incobotulinum Toxin A) is the newest of the Botox like drugs to become FDA approved. Xeomin is manufactured by Merz pharmaceuticals and is the third botulinum toxin available in the US to treat cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and glabeller lines. It joins Botox (onabotulinum toxin A, Allergan) and Dysport (abobotulinum toxin A, Medicis). These neurotoxins also have many “off-label” uses including migraine treatment, forehead lines, “crows feet” as well as for decreasing sweating. Xeomin is marketed as a “purer” botulinum toxin and seems to have a faster onset of action than Botox. It is also supplied similarly to Botox, available in both 50 and 100 unit vials.

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Lately there has been a lot of discussion about “laser cataract surgery”. Cataract surgery is typically performed with an ultrasonic unit called “phacoemulsification:. With this technique, which is the standard around the world, sound waves break up the cataract into little pieces that can be aspirated from the eye. After the cataract, or “cloudy lens”, is removed, an intraocular lens is inserted in the eye so the patient can see.

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Since 1985, G. Richard Cohen, MD, our medical director and head LASIK surgeon, has been providing residents of Fort Lauderdale and other South Florida communities with the very best in eye care. We specialize in LASIK, custom LASIK, IntraLase®, intraocular lens implants, and other vision correction procedures.

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Hello World, this is my first blog. I would like to tell you about a new treatment for keratoconus. It is called INTACS. INTACS are FDA approved to treat keratoconus and prevent its progression. The INTACS surgery is performed in a physicians office and takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, antibiotic eye drops are used and the patient usually notices an improvement in vision in a few days. Contact lenses and glasses may now be more easily worn.

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