Disease Knowledge Centres

• Eye Health and Disorders - Disease Topic Overview

  Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that encompasses the treatments of diseases of the eye and its annexes.

  The eye is the primary organ of vision and it is embryologically an extension of the central nervous system.¹ It shares many common anatomical and physiological properties with the brain; both are protected by bony walls, have firm fibrous coverings and are perfused by fluids of like composition and are under equivalent pressures.¹

  The human eye consists of a sphere made up of three coats; outer, middle and inner coats.¹ All structures of the eye may be affected by diseases; lens, retina, cornea, or optic nerve. Some may affect vision or the appearance of the eye, but many are asymptomatic in the early stages.⁵ This lack of symptoms is a diagnostic problem, particularly in the case of glaucoma. Indeed, it can ruin visual fibers and eventually cause irreversible blindness. Many eye conditions are hereditary, such as refractive errors, strabismus, cataracts or glaucoma.⁶

  Other ocular changes may be related to systemic disorders and affect the eyes; diabetes mellitus, hypertension, infectious diseases, and rheumatic disorders.⁶ Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are the main causes of blindness in the working age population in developed countries.⁴ The increasing number of people with diabetes suggests that DR and DME will continue to be major contributors of visual impairment and blindness for years to come.⁴

  Aging causes many changes in the eye; decrease in visual acuity and tear production, and clouding of the lens.⁵ Worldwide, degenerative eye diseases (age-related maculopathy (ARM), cataract, glaucoma) are the main causes of visual impairment and blindness, contributing to disability in the elderly.² Approximately 15% of people aged 80 and over are currently living with ARM. With a more or less rapid evolution to blindness, this disease due to aging of the population is a major public health problem.³

  1. Galloway N.R. et al. Common eye diseases and their management. Springer edition. Third edition. 2006 : 217 pages.
  2. Delcourt C. et al. Nutrition and age-related eye diseases: the Alienor (Antioxydants, Lipides Essentiels, Nutrition et maladies OculaiRes) Study. Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging. December 2010 ; 14 (10) : 854-61.
  3. Combadière C. et al. CX3CR1-dependent subretinal microglia cell accumulation is associated with cardinal features of age-related macular degeneration. Journal of Clinical Investigation. October 2007 ; 117 (10) : 2920-2928.
  4. Ciulla T.A. et al. Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema: pathophysiology, screening, and novel therapies. Diabetes Care. September 2003 ; 26 (9) : 2653-64.
  5. Beers M.H. et al. The Merck manual of medical information. Merck research laboratories. Second home edition. 2003 : 1275-1319.
  6. Lang G.K. Ophthalmology: a short textbook. Thieme. 2000 : 586 pages.

• Ophthalmics

  

  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of legal blindness among people over the age of 50 in the Western world. It affects the macula, the central part of the retina.

  The two distinct types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are known as the dry and wet forms. Most cases of the disease start with the dry form, which may or may not develop into the wet form.

  Dry age-related macular degeneration, which is also known as atrophic or non-neovascular macular degeneration, is the milder form of the disease, accounting for up to 90% of all cases

  Wet age-related macular degeneration accounts for only 10% of cases, but it is responsible for 90% of the severe vision loss associated with AMD.  The term wet refers to choroidal neovascularization (CNV) across the macula.

  CNV is a degenerative condition that, unidentified and untreated, can cause severe, irreversible central vision loss. It develops secondary to several disorders of the eye including AMD, pathologic myopia, and ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS).

  Chronic eye discomfort, or dry-eye, can be treated to ensure long lasting relief and ease discomfort.

  Ocular allergy is an exaggerated response of ocular tissues to a relatively harmless allergen. The vast majority of ocular allergies affect the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane of the eye; however, use of the term allergic conjunctivitis as a synonym for all ocular allergic diseases is discouraged. There are treatments available to relieve symtoms of a number of ocular allergies.

  Enter the Ophthalmics Knowledge Centre

  What’s in the Ophthalmics Knowledge Centre?

  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration
  • Choroidal neovascularization
  • Clinical development
  • Efficacy
  • Safety
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Administration and light application
  • Patient information
  • References
  • Chronic Eye Discomfort
  • Allergic Irritation
    
  • Allergen Challenge Studies Versus Placebo
  • Studies with Active Controls
    
  • Nasal Effects/Adjuntive or Combined Therapy
  • Quality of Life
  • Safety
  • Product Summary
  • Delaying Progression
  • Lutein
  • The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)
  • Clinical Reports
  • Physician downloads
  • Patient Resources

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  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of legal blindness among people over the age of 50 in the Western world. It affects the macula, the central part of the retina. As the photoreceptors begin to deteriorate, so does the central vision needed for everyday activities such as reading or driving.

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