VisionNews. Artist asks; What does blindness look like?

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VisionNews WINTER 2012 Diabetic retinopathy affects 93 million worldwide Accomplished neuroscientist joins CERA Early treatment leads to better

1 VisionNews WINTER 2012 Diabetic retinopathy affects 93 million worldwide Accomplished neuroscientist joins CERA Early treatment leads to better outcomes for common eye disease Global indicators for blindness prevention PhD student Erica Tandori Artist asks; What does blindness look like?

Participants sought for glaucoma treatment trial The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) is seeking eligible participants for an Australia-wide trial of two different treatments for glaucoma.

2 Participants sought for glaucoma treatment trial The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) is seeking eligible participants for an Australia-wide trial of two different treatments for glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss in Australia, affecting one in 10 people over the age of 80. Clinical Trial Coordinator, Jessica Brennan, said the two year trial will compare the safety, effectiveness, quality of life and cost effectiveness of laser and topical medication (eye drops) treatments. While eye drops are currently considered the standard initial treatment for glaucoma, laser is increasingly being used as an initial therapy in Australia, Ms Brennan said. Drops are effective, but can have some side effects including irritation and redness occurring in the eyes, eyelashes and lids. They can also be costly and are not suitable for everyone. Another major problem with drops is that people can stop taking them because they irritate, but don t realise their glaucoma is worsening in the meantime. The trial is focused on patients over 35 years old who have been diagnosed with glaucoma but not yet treated. Glaucoma is usually first detected by an optometrist, and then a referral made to see an ophthalmologist. The trial needs to recruit 400 patients Australia wide. 200 will be randomised to receive eye drops, and 200 to receive laser. Patients will be seen at six monthly intervals for a period of two years. The Principal Investigator of this National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded project is Associate Professor Ecosse Lamoureux. To participate, or receive more information on this study, please contact Jessica Brennan on (03) or jbrennan@unimelb.edu.au 2 Centre for Eye Research Australia Clinical Trials Coordinator - Jessica Brennan

Diabetic retinopathy affects 93 million; set to become leading cause of blindness worldwide A major new study confirmed that more than a third of people with diabetes, estimated to be 93 million

3 Diabetic retinopathy affects 93 million; set to become leading cause of blindness worldwide A major new study confirmed that more than a third of people with diabetes, estimated to be 93 million people worldwide, will develop some form of diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime, giving it the potential to become the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The study, led by the CERA s Professor Tien Wong, also provides the first global estimate of diabetic retinopathy and confirms the need for effective screening and management of the factors contributing to the condition. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that damages blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye. It commonly affects both eyes and can lead to vision loss if left untreated. The study found that in 2010, an estimated 93 million people worldwide had some form of diabetic retinopathy, and 28 million people are at risk of losing their sight because of the condition. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy varied across ethnic groups, but was highest among African-Americans and lowest among Asians. There was no discernible gender difference. Professor Wong said the study should help guide public health education programs, screening regimens and optimise the clinical management of diabetes. Some of the differences in the rate and severity of diabetic retinopathy can be attributed to socio-economic factors, such as the access to and the level of diabetes care, and possibly genetic susceptibility, he said. The study fills the void in providing a contemporary estimate of the worldwide prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, particularly severe vision-threatening stages of the disease, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. The study was based on a systematic literature review of 35 studies on more than 20,000 participants with diabetes worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy rates increased with diabetes duration, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol. Individuals with diabetes for 20 years or more were more than three times more likely to have diabetic retinopathy, as were people with Type 1 compared to Type 2 diabetes. VisionNews Winter

4 Accomplished neuroscientist joins CERA This year, CERA welcomed stem cell expert, Dr Alice Pébay. Dr Pébay completed her PhD in Neurosciences at the University of Paris where she investigated the roles of inflammatory lipids in the interactions between neurons and glial cells. On arriving in Australia, she joined Australia's first stem cell laboratory at Monash University where she expanded on her PhD studies. In 2007, she joined the University of Melbourne as co-head of the Stem Cell Laboratory. Dr Pébay then joined the O Brien Institute to further pursue her stem cell work. According to Dr Pébay, she was attracted to CERA for its critical mass and numerous scientific achievements. CERA is regarded as one of the world's leading eye institutes and this is evidenced by its publication output and the quality of its scientists, Dr Pébay said. Dr Alice Pébay In her role as Head of CERA s Neuroregeneration Unit, she looks forward to using stem cells to develop various types of cells for the eye. Developing these cells has the potential to facilitate cell replacement and could be beneficial in the screening of new therapies and better understanding of eye diseases, she said. What does blindness look like? Erica Tandori is a talented artist with several post-graduate qualifications in fine art and visual art. She is also legally blind. Erica is currently completing her PhD jointly with CERA and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Her project explores the relationship between eye disease and art, from the perspective of an artist who is legally blind. Working here at CERA is proving to be the most inspirational, rewarding and insightful place for my PhD studies, said Erica. I hope this research project can contribute, in an artistic and innovative way, to an inclusive dialogue between those who are blind and those who are sighted, Erica said. This is a unique combination and an opportunity for my research project, which straddles both the field of ophthalmology and the field of art. Erica is supervised by Professor Jill Keeffe OAM, Head of CERA s Population Health Unit. 4 Centre for Eye Research Australia Samples of Erica s art work

Early treatment leads to better outcome for common eye disease Researchers from CERA have a simple message: If you notice changes to your vision, see your doctor as soon as possible.

5 Early treatment leads to better outcome for common eye disease Researchers from CERA have a simple message: If you notice changes to your vision, see your doctor as soon as possible. The Macular Research team, led by Professor Robyn Guymer, found that people suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who received treatment for the condition within four weeks of their first visual symptoms appearing, had a greater chance of improving their vision compared to those who delayed treatment by eight or more weeks. Neovascular AMD (or wet AMD) is characterised by sudden changes in vision caused by bleeding at the back of the eye. This form of AMD can be treated with anti-vegf antibodies, with vision stabilising or improving in most patients treated. The study looked at 185 patients with neovascular AMD and assessed their vision at the time of diagnosis and at regular intervals up until 6 months post-treatment. A clinician surveyed the patients to establish when their symptoms first started and this was used to determine the treatment delay. This study differs from other similar trials which only examined the delay between diagnosis and treatment, not the delay between first symptoms and treatment. Dr Sanj Wickremasinghe was one of the lead researchers involved in the study. No other study we know of has attempted to obtain this information prospectively, and the majority of patients, upon detailed questioning, could give an answer as to the onset of the symptoms, he said. Our findings suggest that it is imperative to act quickly to minimise treatment delay following initial symptoms suggestive of AMD. In other words, if you notice changes to your vision such as a sudden deterioration in central vision, or colour or object distortion, you should see your GP or optometrist and ask for a specialist referral as soon as possible. VisionNews Winter

8 Eye research needs your help! Please give today. I would like to make a single contribution of: Your donation will support the valuable work of the Centre for Eye Research Australia into the causes, treatment and prevention of eye diseases. Centre for Eye Research Australia Locked Bag 8 East Melbourne VIC 8002 Credit card donations or bequest enquiries can be made by phone or fax: Telephone: Fax: (03) Online donations can be made via our website: remembering eye research in my will

Screening saves sight. The importance of regular testing for diabetic retinopathy

Screening saves sight. The importance of regular testing for diabetic retinopathy Screening saves sight The importance of regular testing for diabetic What is diabetic? The only way of knowing whether you have diabetic is by having an eye examination How can diabetic affect your vision?