Alzheimer's AUGUST 14, 2016 2 COMMENTS Keith Black, MD, Department of Neurosurgery of Cedars-Sinai, suggested the hallmark of Alzheimer’s, beta-amyloid plaque changes in the brain, are detected at the late stages of the disease. A new, non invasive, optical imaging being developed may help detect Alzheimer’s 15-20 years prior to diagnosis. “The retina, unlike other structure of the eye, is part of the central nervous system, sharing many characteristics of the brain. A few years ago, we discovered at Cedars-Sinai that the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease occur not only in the brain but also in the retina. By ‘staining’ the plaque with curcumin, a component of the common spice turmeric, we could detect it in the retina even before it began to accumulate in the brain. The device we develop enables us to look through the eye – just as an ophthalmologist looks through the eye to diagnose retinal disease – and see these changes.” Although it’s AMAZING science, an interesting question was raised. What good will it do to know 15-20 years before a formal diagnosis of an incurable disease? The only reason I can think of is preparation… HYPHEMA

Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca AUGUST 14, 2016 2 COMMENTS Stop looking it up on Web MD, you’re not dying. Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca (KCS) is a big expensive word for dry eye disease (DES). This is typically caused by tears evaporating too quickly and/or you’re not producing enough tears. So if you work on computers all day, you have dry eyes. If you work near the air conditioner or heater, you’ll have dry eye. If your so into this blog and you’re not blinking as you read it, YOU HAVE DRY EYE. KCS/DES is the most one of the most common eye disease. Symptoms include but not limited to; blurred vision, photophobia (light sensitivity), discharge, foreign-body sensation, burning, irritation, and excessive tearing. Lucky us, there’s a treatment for that. Although progress from treatment can sometimes feel long, it does pay off. If you’ve visited your local favorite drug store lately, you’ve notice the plethora of eye drops available to you. Unfortunately, there is no magic cure all eye drop that works on everyone. The key is using the right one for you. With the help of an optometrist who’s well verse in treatment for KCS, you’ll be on the path of better comfort and better vision. SO MANY OPTIONS LASIK VS FEMTOSECOND VS PRK