A research conducted at the University's Center for Chemical Genomics points to a chemical that can reverse cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. The molecule (compound 29) belongs to the chemical family of sterols and the research was published in the November 5 edition of Science. It is to be noted that cataracts are one of the leading cause of blindness in the world, affecting several thousands of people. At present cataracts are treated via surgery where a plastic lens is inserted in place of the cataract. Jason Gestwicki, a co-senior author of the study said that the team screened several thousands of molecules and found that only compound 29 showed the best ability to dissolve the cataract-like form. Gestwicki
List at least three resources you should use to determine the visual and academic ability of a student with a visual impairment.
Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, cupping of the optic nerve heads and visual field defects often related to elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma affects 70 million people worldwide, and constitutes the second largest cause of bilateral blindness in the world [1]. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. Both genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. Glaucoma is a complex clinical trait and its inheritance has been shown to follow both Mendelian and non-Mendelian models [2].
Within this essay I will write about elderly patients, undergoing cataract surgery, as a particular vulnerable client group. The local Health Board (2014) define cataracts as the clouding of the lens, occurring as a natural part of the ageing process, preventing light from adequately reaching the retina and therefore having an effect on vision. This can be corrected through the surgical process of Phacoemulsification, through which the clouded portions of the lens are removed and replaced with an artificial implant (Local Health Board, 2014). Whilst it is common for cataracts to develop as a result of old age, they can also occur as the result of injury, inflammation, degenerative disease, or from the prolonged use of medication. It is also possible for children to be born with cataracts.
Psychologists often study the processes of stimuli through sensation and perception, and experimental research is tested for those who fail to perceive certain stimuli. Our perception of the world around us accounts for the method in which we perceive stimuli or fail to perceive it. Change blindness, inattentional blindness, absolute threshold, difference threshold, blind spot, and sensorineural hearing loss are often reasons why we do not recognize stimuli; we become unconscious to it.
Time to time there has been development in new drugs for glaucoma. With these new drugs comes new benefits and risks. Glaucoma being the second leading cause of blindness in the world (after cataract) (1) is expected to affect around 11 million people worldwide by 2020 (1). Most of the affected population are greater than 50 years of age, who are also expected to have other health issues. For a clinician, it becomes extremely important to understand the potential side effects of the medications before prescribing it to the patients. These adverse drug reactions can occur from the drug itself, the preservatives or the vehicle of the drug, and can be ocular or systemic. Unabsorbed topical ocular medication for glaucoma may drain out of the eye through naso-lacrimal duct and can be absorbed by conjunctiva, nasal mucosa, oropharynx, and GI mucosa (occasionally) to rise to sufficient levels in the blood to cause systemic side effect or interact with other drugs. It has been estimated that roughly 80% of an eye drop can pass through the nasal nasolacrimal duct and get absorbed into the nasal mucosa and its microvasculature. Considering that these eye drops are often used in either eyes twice or thrice a day, the systemic implications can be extremely dangerous. (8)(14)
Eye color comes from the amount of melanin, a pigment found in the front part of the iris of the eye (Genetics, 2017). Lack of melanin results in blue eyes, some melanin gives green eyes, and a lot of melanin gives brown eyes. Cataracts are clouding of the lens that prevents light from entering. The cause of cataracts is unknown but there are possible reasons for it such as diabetes, smoking, and a lot of exposure to sunlight. Signs include lack of color intensity, night vision problems, fuzzy, blurry, or filmy vision. The function of the retina is to receive light the lens had focused on, switch the light into neural signals, and then send those signals to the brain for visual recognition. Most of the time eye floaters are from age related
For early diagnosis of disorders presenting marked cortical visual impairment, VEPs were considered crucial diagnostic test since advent of EEG and multiple variants to this protocol have come into existence as described below.
If chemicals, dust or fumes get in contact with the eyes it can cause eye damage and result in blindness. Biological agents are found in the natural environment and are found in many work sectors. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites which some of these agents are harmless whilst others can cause ill health. They may all be invisible so it makes it a lot more difficult to know the risks they present. As a worker, by being exposed to toxins produced by the biological agent or having an allergic reaction to the agent or substances produce like enzymes may cause the person to become infected. (Health And safety Autority, 2015). By using hygiene measures, it will allow the workplace to minimise the amount of biological agents present.
I was not able to be blind for four hours. However, I tried for over two hours in total darkness. Being familiar with my home I thought this voluntary temporary, blindness is the best place. The feeling of overwhelmed wanted to creep in because I needed to take medications and care for Diamond my dog.
Nerium has eliminated the guess work by developing their very own proprietary formula, which has been cosmetically and derma-logically tested, to deliver the stated results. The natural ingredients have been scientifically blended, in a precise balance, to be effective for all skin types. As with all of Nerium’s superior products, the anti-ageing eye serum is free of parabens, sulfates and any other harmful chemicals. Nerium Age-Defying Eye Serum advanced formula automatically penetrates and defends the delicate skin around the eyes against the signs of premature ageing.
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of adult vision loss world-wide that offers a significant diagnostic challenge. The prevalence of DR increases with duration of diabetes [31]. DR is difficult to prevent and treat. Biochemical mechanisms, such as hyperglycemia, are proposed as possible pathogenic factors in DR, while retinal vasodilation and retinal hyperperfusion, related to hypoxia and the release of nitric oxide, may be key initiating factors in early DR developments [32-35]. Hyperperfusion, is associated with impaired vascular autoregulation, which may lead to increased epithelial wall tension and permeability, and subsequent leakage and microaneurysm development [36]. Disturbances are detected in many aspects of ocular circulation
By 2025, it is estimated that 380 million individuals will be diagnosed with diabetes. With that being said, 4 million of them will lose their sight. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in patients ranging from age 20 to age 74. Development and progression of this disease is closely associated with blood pressure, blood glucose, the type and duration of diabetes, and possibly lipids. Although it has been found true that chronic hyperglycemia causes the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy, the mechanism of how the damage is caused is unclear. To further look into the complexity of DR, the disease can be classified as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), which is
A prodrug in order to elicit required pharmacological effect, must be converted enzymatically or chemically to the parent drug in vivo. The prodrug approach was widely used to overcome various problems associated with absorption, tumor targeting, distribution, pharmacokinetics, premature metabolism, occurrence of side effects, and patient compliance46-51. The concept of the prodrug was first applied to steroids in ophthalmology to improve the corneal absorption, aqueous solubility and patient compliance 52. The first prodrug dipivefrin (a prodrug of epinephrine) for ophthalmic use was formally introduced in the late 1970s for enhancing ocular bioavailability of epinephrine 53.
Lens polyol was determined by the method proposed by West and Rapoport (25). Lenses were homogenized with 0.6 N perchloric acid and then centrifuged. for 20 min at 5000r.p.m. The supernatant obtained in above step was neutralized with 2 N KOH and centrifuged again. The supernatant obtained was treated with 0.25 ml of periodic acid (0.03 M) for 10 minutes then freshly prepared 0.25 ml of stannous chloride (0.125 M) and 2.5 ml of chromotropic
According to the World health organization , chronic diseases take the lives of more than 30 million people each year and are defined as an illness that is long in duration, slow in progression and is not passed from person to person. For Australia alone chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability. The Australian department of healths defining factors of chronic disease include, illness that is prolonged in duration, rarely cured completely and disease that does not often resolve spontainiously. (aus gov).