Archive for 2008 August
Posted by Chris on August 28, 2008.
Patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness are to get access to a sight-saving drug.
The Lucentis drug treats ‘wet’ age-related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the country.
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
AMD is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision making difficult or even impossible to see objects clearly in common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine details. AMD is a painless condition and in some cases, advances so slowly that people hardly even notice the change in their vision. In others, the disease can progress faster and can lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.
AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people aged 60 and over. It occurs in two forms: wet and dry, the dry form being more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition.
(Source: National Eye Institute)
Treatment
The Lucentis drug is already available in Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have said they will fund it.
The drug is administered through injections which are described as a modern wonder in science. Almost 20,000 people per year are diagnosed with wet AMD in England, it is the leading cause of blindness in the UK.
Treatment however, is expensive at £10,000 per eye for a two-year course of injections. As a result, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the body which assesses drugs for the NHS had originally said patients should wait until they went blind in one eye.
The NHS will fund 14 injections, with the cost of any more being met by manufacturer Novartis in a scheme dubbed “dose capping”. It means that the torment faced by elderly people, forced to either spend their life savings on private treatment or go blind, is over.
Cheaper Alternative
Eye surgeon from Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Michael Lavin, has been using the cheaper alternative drug Avastin to treat wet AMD since 2005.
He says as a doctor he is happy to use either drug, describing their effectiveness as “probably equivalent”.
But he adds “As a tax-payer, I want to know why the NHS is going to spend 30 to 50 times as much on a drug when there is a cheaper alternative.”
Further Information
For more information on this story or the condition, please follow these links: -
Tags: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, Avastin, Blindness, Lucentis, National Eye Institute, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NHS, NICE, Sight-Saving Drug
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Posted by Chris on August 28, 2008.
We are becoming more conscious than ever of the damaging effects of the sun on our skin; excessive UV radiation can be life threatening, this is the leading cause of skin cancer, however a new survey has shown that only 7 per cent of the UK population are aware that Ultra Violet Rays can damage the eyes.
The survey, undertaken by Transitions Optical found that 88 per cent of people regard their vision as their most valued sense above hearing, touch, taste and smell. The survey also found that 8 out of 10 people consider the eyes to be the first part of the body they notice when they meet someone.
One in four people who took part in this research admitted they had never had their eyes examined and more than half who wore spectacles or contact lenses said they avoided eye examinations due to the high
costs involved with new eyewear.
It is sensible to protect your eyes against the cumulative effects of long term exposure to UV radiation. Thankfully there are various lens types, such as SelectSpecs own standard lenses, Hi-index and Photochromic lenses (Transitions), which provide up to 99% of UV block without having the dark tint as most people would expect with sunglasses, providing you with the protection needed.
At SelectSpecs.com there is absolutely NO CHARGE for UV treatment as we believe this is essential on all prescription glasses and sunglasses. Don’t forget, when you buy prescription glasses from SelectSpecs.com Standard Prescription Lenses are included with UV Protection and Anti-Reflection Coating absolutely FREE.
Tags: Anti-Reflection Coating, Free at Selectspecs.com, Hi-index, Photochromic lenses, Standard Prescription Lenses, Transitions, Transitions Optical, Ultra Violet Rays, UV Protection, UV Radiation
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Posted by Chris on August 11, 2008.
A new EU legislation passed in the EU Parliament in 2006 will require new EU driving licences to carry details of a driver’s eyesight including their prescription (Rx) details. Coupled with compulsory eye tests, it is hoped that the move will dramatically improve road safety in Europe by reducing the number of accidents caused by drivers with poor vision, which can result in slower reaction times in an emergency. It is expected that the legislation should start to be introduced from January 2011.
President of Euromcontact, Helmer Schweizer (a leading figure in influencing the EU legislation) said that drivers would be required to have their eyes examined every five years for a commercial licence and every ten to fifteen years for private licences.
Regular eye tests are as important as going to the dentist and can actually help with early detection of cataracts, glaucoma and other disorders; in fact, we at SelectSpecs recommend that patients have their eyes tested every 2 years irrespective.
The coded requirement for vision correction on a driver’s licence will mean that anyone stopped by the Police will be identifiable as needing glasses or contact lenses.
Schweizer said, “Politicians do not like introducing unpopular legislation and they will not want to be accused of ‘stealing’ their vulnerable voters’ driving licences. We, in the optical profession, can help them by promoting the positive benefits of screening and better vision. We have all seen the effects of compulsory safety belts, lowering alcohol limits and prohibiting the use of mobile phones. Improving drivers’ vision should be viewed in the same light”.
Aside from the health benefits of having frequent eye exams and potentially fewer road accidents, motorists could also be rewarded with lower insurance premiums as a result.
A recent study in France by ASNAV (Association Nationale de L’Amelioration de la Vue), revealed that 20% of motorists recognised that their vision was inadequate. Betrand Roy of GIFO France said “From this study, and from our numerous screenings, we know that more than 1 million drivers in France would fail the driving test tomorrow because of poor vision and that 8 million would pass, but would benefit from better corrected vision. We believe that 10-12% of accidents could be avoided with the right vision correction”.
Tags: cataracts, EU Driving Licences, Eye Examinations, Eye Test Results, glaucoma, health, Helmer Schweizer, lower insurance premiums, Regular eye tests, Road Traffic Accidents
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Posted by Chris on August 11, 2008.
We would just like to take a moment out of our busy day here at the SelectSpecs offices to wish Team GB the best of luck at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Everyone agrees that Friday’s Opening Ceremony was quite spectacular. It’s hard to imagine how the Chinese managed to choreograph so many performers all at once or 2008 drummers. Somehow I don’t see London being able to achieve the same level of brilliance in 2012, that’s if we even get the facilities built in time. London certainly has a challenge on its hand to keep up with the incredible facilities in Beijing.
Anyway, once again, good luck to all our competitors and lets all hope for a great Olympic Games all around.
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