Current Concepts in Ophthalmology
Diabetic Retinopathy and the Primary Care Physician
Volume 13 June 2007 (PDF)
Diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in working age adults in spite of improved medical care of persons with diabetes and its associated disorders. This review highlights the opportunities for primary care physicians to play a key role in the prevention of vision impairment as summarized in Table 1.
Thomas W. Gardner, MD, MS
Jack and Nancy Turner
Professor of Ophthalmology
and
Cellular &
Molecular Physiology
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, PA
Systemic Considerations in Glaucoma Therapy
Volume 12 May 2007 (PDF)
Glaucoma medical therapy has evolved significantly over the past decade and overall has become safer and more effective compared to that used in the past. In Pennsylvania, as in many other states, non-physicians (optometrists) now have prescribing rights for topical glaucoma medications. Since many glaucoma patients may not be under the care of ophthalmologists, primary care physicians need to be aware of the potential side effects and issues of topical glaucoma therapy.
Robert Noecker, MD, MBA
UPMC Eye Center
Pittsburgh, PA
Age Related Macular Degeneration:
Pearls for
Primary Care
Volume 11 April 2007 (PDF)
Why? Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of major public health importance. The incidence and severity of the disease increases with age. The Beaver Dam Eye Study has shown that 31.1% of the population will have either early or late AMD by the age of 75 years and 7.6% will have late AMD develop over the years from 75 to 86.1
Karl R. Olsen,
MD
Retina Vitreous
Consultants
Pittsburgh, PA