Cataract surgery may benefit Alzheimer’s patients


     Cataract Surgery may Benefit Alzheimer’s patients
A group of French researchers presented findings that patients with mild Alzheimer's disease whose vision improved after cataract surgery also showed improvement in cognitive ability, mood, sleep patterns, and other behaviors.
Presenting last week at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Brigitte Girard, M.D., said hers is the first study to specifically assess whether cataract surgery could benefit Alzheimer's patients, although earlier research had shown that poor vision is related to impaired mood and thinking skills in older people and that cataract surgery could improve their quality of life. She enrolled 38 patients (average age: 85 years) who all exhibited mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. All participants had a debilitating cataract in at least one eye and were appropriately treated with standard cataract surgery/IOL implantation. A neuropsychologist assessed the patients for mood and depression, behavior, ability to function independently, and cognitive abilities at 1 month before and 3 months after cataract surgery. Cognitive status, the ability to perceive, understand, and respond appropriately to one's surroundings improved in 25% of patients. Depression was relieved in many of them, and the level of improvement was similar to what commonly occurs after cataract surgery in elderly people who do not have dementia. No changes were found in patients’ level of autonomy.

留言

張貼留言

這個網誌中的熱門文章

Managing multifocal IOL dysphotopsia

圖片
Pseudophakic dysphotopsia  Managing multifocal IOL dysphotopsia by Ellen Stodola EyeWorld Staff Writer  Patients may complain of an arc image, usually in one quadrant, that bothers them. It is usually described after many of the square-edge optic lenses are placed in the bag. The image is depicted by the drawing of the light rays hitting the square edge of the optic. Source: Doug Katsev, MD Dysphotopsias can be a potential problem after surgery, especially with multifocal IOLs O ne issue for patients receiving multifocal IOL implants is the potential for dysphotopsias, which can be bothersome and sometimes affect vision. Richard Tipperman, MD, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia; John Berdahl, MD, Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Audrey Talley Rostov, MD, cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon and partner, Northwest Eye Surgeons, Seattle; and Douglas Katsev, MD, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara, Calif., commented on dysphotopsias and how to address ...
閱讀完整內容

Reducing pre-existing corneal astigmatism

圖片
by Vanessa Caceres EyeWorld Contributing Editor   Refractive editor's corner of the world In this month's inaugural refractive corner, I'd like to give some food for thought on the topic of astigmatism. Astigmatism is one of the most common conditions a cataract and refractive surgeon deals with. It's more common than dry eye and even more common than blepharitis. In fact, more than 70% of the adult population has more than 0.5 D of pre-existing astigmatism. Interestingly, our incidence of correcting pre-existing astigmatism varies by procedure. With laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK, LASEK), we correct any amount of astigmatism 100% of the time. If it's there, it's addressed. Why? To provide patients the best opportunity to see without being dependent on glasses or contacts lenses. That's the mission of today's refractive surgeon. With cataract surgery, however, there is still a transition of traditional surgeons converting to refractiv...
閱讀完整內容

The future of laser-assisted cataract surgery: Clinical results and patient flow

August 2011‧Eye World The future of laser-assisted cataract surgery: Clinical results and patient flow    When a new technology emerges, especially one as advanced and somewhat controversial as femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, surgeons want information. Their most recent source was the ASCRS and EyeWorld-sponsored webinar entitled, "The future of laser-assisted cataract surgery: Clinical results and patient flow."    Alan B. Aker, M.D., Boca Raton Fla., logged on to the webinar with specific questions in mind: Is the femtosecond for cataract laser worth pursuing? Can a business model be developed that will justify the capital outlay necessary to bring one into an already successful cataract practice? How do surgeons present or "sell" this to their patients? "A desire to get answers to these questions is what is driving many of us to participate in these webinars, since there is very little experience with the laser," Dr. Aker said. "...
閱讀完整內容