4 New Developments In Eye Care And Vision Testing

As we age, somewhere around the 40-year mark, many adults begin to notice changes in their vision. Specifically, reading, computer work, using smartphones, and seeing at close distances become particularly difficult. Common age-related problems include glaucoma, presbyopia, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts. 

And while compromised vision just seems to be a fact of life. New developments in eye care and advances in technology are happening all the time. So while perfect vision may not necessarily be in the cards, faster diagnoses and new products could lead to improved eye health, keep issues with your vision at bay, and allow for a better prognosis. 

Here’s a quick look at a few new developments in eye health and vision testing.

Lens Implants For Cataracts

A cataract is a cloudy area on the lens of your eye. It’s a condition that develops over time, and the main symptom is blurry vision. Normal cataract surgery involves removing your eye lens and replacing it with a new artificial lens, generally a monofocal. And while the surgery removes the cataract, very often, patients still need corrective lens’ post-surgery. But new developments could change all of that. In 2019, the FDA approved PanOptix, the first and only trifocal lens in the United States. PanOptix was designed to improve near, immediate, and distant vision, ultimately eliminating the need for glasses post-surgery.

DIY Vision Testing

Want to check your vision from the comfort of your own home? Well, there’s an App for that. 

EyeQue’s VisionCheck, is a new device that attaches to your smartphone, and with the aid of an App, you can perform your own refraction test. After you complete a series of tests, the App analyzes the results and gives you an “eye-glass number,” which contains the same information that makes up a standard prescription. That eye-glass number, in turn, can be used to purchase new glasses.

Blue Light Blockers

With so much time spent on your screens, the adverse effects of blue light are increasingly becoming an issue. Not only is blue light throwing your circadian rhythms out of whack and messing with your sleep, just as you would expect, it’s wreaking havoc on your eye health too. While your eyes are pretty efficient at blocking harmful UV rays, they’re not so good at blocking blue light. So, as you stare at your screens, every bit of that blue light is hitting your retina. 

Moreover, research has shown that too much exposure to blue light can damage the retina, leading to changes in eye health similar to macular degeneration. For those who don’t know, The macula is a small area in your retina that’s responsible for your visual acuity. The health of your macula affects your ability to read, recognize faces, and drive, and there are several types of maculopathy, including age-related macular degeneration, cellophane maculopathy, and pigmentary maculopathy. While most maculopathies are age-related or congenital, it may be worth noting that pigmentary maculopathy is thought to be the result of overexposure to the drug Elmiron.  

The good news is that there are now plenty of options for blocking blue light, including inexpensive glasses and screen protectors that are easily attached to your devices. Additionally, tech giants like Dell and Samsung are even incorporating blue light blocking tech into their devices.

OCT Angiography (OCTA)

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is standard operating procedure for eye exams, and it has been for decades. Essentially, this non-invasive procedure uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of the retina. With OCT, ophthalmologists can see each distinct layer of the eye, and the procedure helps diagnose diseases of the retina. However, there’s now a revolutionary new approach called OCT angiography (OCTA). While also considered non-invasive, this procedure allows ophthalmologists to see the blood flowing through the retina, giving them the ability to get remarkably far out in front of macular disease diagnoses.  

Regular Eye Exams

While vision and eye health can feel a bit tricky and like it’s just the luck of the draw, it’s still important to have regular eye exams to stay ahead of changes in your vision. The good news is year over year, new advancements are being made in eye care, and very often, they make things easier and far less invasive. As we mentioned earlier, if you or a loved one has taken the drug Elmiron, we strongly suggested that you have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. If you believe you have suffered vision damage or eye problems, you may be entitled to compensation.
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