Vista Center Health Library
The Health Library at Vista Center is dedicated to providing accessible health information and resources to help people with vision loss understand their conditions and keep abreast of new treatments and research findings. We also provide custom information about health and vision loss in a downloadable word document format upon request.
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2024 Diabetic Eye Disease Pac
What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin effectively to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause damage in many parts of the body. Diabetes can damage the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. It damages small blood […]
2024 Cataracts & Cataract Surgery Pac
What are cataracs? Inside our eyes, we have a natural lens. The lens bends (refracts) light rays that come into the eye to help us see. The lens should be clear but can become more opaque with time. Picture of a person with cataracts. A cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. Proteins […]
2024 Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Pac
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a problem with your retina, the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. It happens when the centermost part of the retina, called the macula, is damaged. With AMD you lose your central vision. You cannot see fine details, whether you are looking at something […]
2024 Glaucoma Pac
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends visual information from your eye to your brain and is vital for good vision. Damage to the optic nerve is often related to high pressure in your eye, but glaucoma can happen even with normal eye […]
360-Degree trabeculotomy beats 180-degree approach
Key Takeaways Increased pressure in the eye can be caused by a blockage in the trabecular meshwork, part of your eye’s drainage system. A standard surgery for glaucoma is a procedure called a trabeculotomy, which uses an incision to create a small hole in the wall of the eye. The incision allows fluid to escape the eye in […]
Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) for glaucoma has benefit over cataract surgery alone in early trial data
Key Takeaways Cyclophotocoagulation refers to glaucoma laser surgeries that target the glands in the eye that produce fluid (aqueous). The goal is to reduce the formation of aqueous and thus lower intraocular pressure. The analogy is turning down the faucet in a sink to decrease the amount of water flowing in. CPC can be divided into […]
Qlaris raises $24 million for development of IOP-lowering therapy
Key Takeaways High intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor for glaucoma and lowering IOP is the primary treatment. Episcleral venous pressure (EVP), the pressure of the blood vessels in the sclera, or ‘whites’ of the eye, is a main determinant of IOP; yet there are no approved drugs that target EVP. Qlaris Bio has raised […]
Sustained-release bimatoprost implant shows safety, efficacy in early study
Key Takeaways Bimatoprost is used as an eye drop to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension (a condition which causes increased pressure in the eye). It lowers pressure in the eye by increasing the flow of natural eye fluids out of the eye. A sustained-release bimatoprost drug delivery platform shows promise in the treatment of ocular […]
Self-reported glaucoma medication adherence does not reflect electronic health record data
Key Takeaways Glaucoma patients tend to overestimate their level of adherence to medical therapy, according to a study comparing self-reported medication adherence scores with electronic health record, or EHR, system data, which show how often medications are refilled. The study, which was presented in a poster at the 2024 Association for Research in Vision and […]
Medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder associated with increased risk of developing glaucoma
Key Takeaways Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) therapies including atomoxetine, methylphenidate, and amphetamines are some of the most prescribed medications in North America. These drugs are contraindicated in patients with a history of angle closure glaucoma (ACG), a type of glaucoma characterized by blockage of the drainage angle, but their effect on open angle glaucoma […]
Disclaimer: Reports are excerpted/edited unless otherwise noted. Medical definitions are provided via Google/medical dictionaries. This project is done as a courtesy to the blind and visually impaired community. We do not recommend any particular treatment. Our Material might not represent all that is available on the subject. This information might not apply specifically to your own condition. Our material is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Our material should be used to formulate questions for discussion with your physician. We hope that the information you find at The Health Library will be useful in communicating with your health professionals. If you have any questions about your unique medical condition, we strongly advise that you see your physician.
The Health Library at Vista Center is maintained by Miriam Kaplan, PhD, Editor-in-Chief and Coordinator, and Dawn Wilcox BSN RN, Associate Editor. The Health Library at Vista Center is an affiliate of the Stanford Hospital Health Library.