Retinal Photos May Aid in Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on July 18, 2011 by | 3 Comments

It is often said that the eye is the window to one’s soul, early data suggests that retinal photos may become that window used as an early detector of Alzheimer’s disease. The preliminary results of an Australian pilot study were unveiled in Paris yesterday at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease. Not many details were released however it appears that retinal photographs were used to determine the ratio of the diameter of the retinal arteries to the retinal veins (called the A/V ratio). The investigators then found a positive correlation between the A/V ratio and the amount of beta amyloid deposits in the brain. Beta amyloid deposit or plaques are known to exist in higher concentrations in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

If further study of this correlation confirms the author’s findings then this could lead to an inexpensive and relatively easy way of giving patients and doctors  an early indicator of which patients are more likely to later develop Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Posted in Retina

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Ever Wonder What Happens to Those Glasses You Donate to the Lion’s Club?

Posted on June 23, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Here is an excellent video on a mission trip from VOSH Indiana to Villanueva, Honduras. VOSH stands for Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. The Lion’s Club collects old eye glasses from doctor’s offices all over the US. These glasses are then catalogued and sent on mission trips with optometrists to underserved areas all over the world. This video shows what happens on a VOSH mission trip from the beginning to the end.

I was lucky enough to go on one of these trips to Costa Rica many years ago with VOSH Illinois, an unforgettable experience. I hope to go again soon.

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Posted in video

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Total Eye Care has a YouTube Channel

Posted on June 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Total Eye Care’s YouTube Channel is up check it out and let us know what you think.

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Posted in Eye Care, Sites We like, video

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Importance of Protective Eyewear During the Summer

Posted on June 16, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Here is a video on the importance of protective eyewear during the summer as well as seeking regular eye care throughout the year.

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New iPhone App for the Visually Impaired

Posted on June 13, 2011 by | 2 Comments

EyeNote™ LogoThe US Bureau of Engraving and Printing has developed EyeNote™  a free, new iPhone app to aid the visually impaired or blind in identifying US paper currency. Essentially, the app is designed to allow the user to hold the bill in one hand and the iPhone in the other while scanning the paper currency. After a few seconds the iPhone will tell the user the denomination of the currency in English or Spanish. EyeNote™ can also operate in privacy mode with a different number of beeps signaling the value of the currency.

The app runs independent of a data connection. EyeNote™ can not differentiate between genuine and fake currency.  EyeNote™ works on the following devices

  • iPhone 3G
  • iPhone 3Gs
  • iPhone 4
  • 4th Generation iPod Touch
  • iPad2EyeNote QR Code URL

Scan the QR code to the right with your iPhone to go to the iTunes EyeNote™ page.

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Posted in Low Vision, Sites We like

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Dr. Diana Opens Her New Website for the Chronically Ill

Posted on June 10, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Dr. Diana Driscoll PhotoIt’s been in the works for a couple months now, Dr. Diana’s new website www.PrettyIll.com is now live. Check it out. I think you all will be really impressed by all of the information available there with much more information still to come. The website will feature information, mostly in video format, for patients facing chronic illness such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Postural Orthostatic Hypertension and Dysautonomia to name a few.

The PrettyIll.com website will also be the hub for a number of studies that Dr. Diana is starting. The first of which is Vascular Fundus Changes in Patients With High Probability of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), a study that is being done at Total Eye Care. The second study is Head Circumference Growth in Children with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Who Develop Dysautonomia later in life. There are other future studies planned as well. I hope you check out the new site and leave a comment!

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Posted in Ehlers-Danlos, Sites We like

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Total Eye Care to Conduct CCSVI Study

Posted on May 27, 2011 by | 1 Comment

We are very pleased to announce that Total Eye Care will start its first clinical study next month. The title of the study is Vascular Fundus Changes in Patients With High Probability of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI). Check out the video below for more information. We are recruiting patients with either Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis so please spread the word. The video has a lot of good information on the study so please do check it out.

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Posted in Ehlers-Danlos, Eye Care, press release, Retina

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