Treating diabetic retinopathy Treating diabetic retinopathy is a critical aspect of preserving vision and maintaining the overall quality of life […]
Objective: To assess the prevalence, mechanism and status of glaucoma, and to investigate the magnitude of visual impairment from glaucoma and its relating factors in Buddhist priest and novices.
Material and method: Cross-sectional study of 190 patients treated in Glaucoma service, Priest hospital was performed. One hundred thirty seven patients with glaucoma and suspected glaucoma had comprehensive ophthalmic examination included interview on medical and ocular history, visual acuity, applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, optic disc, visual field evaluation, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement (Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography; Stratus OCT).
Results: Glaucoma was diagnosed in 106 (77%) patients (181 eyes); 31 patients (23%) were glaucoma suspects. Open angle glaucoma (OAG) was found in 53 (50%) cases and classified into 36 (33%) primary open angle glaucoma and 17 (16%) normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Five (4.6%) patients had pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, 24 (23%) had primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), 10 (9.4%) had angle-closure glaucoma secondary to other causes (SACG), seven (6.6%) had secondary open angle glaucoma and seven (6.6%) were diagnosed of juvenile glaucoma. Among 31 glaucoma suspects, 18 cases were diagnosed based on disc appearance, eight based on intraocular pressure (IOP), two based on visual field and three cases had primary angle closure (PAC). The prevalence of glaucoma increased with age, with the highest prevalence (33%) in the age range 71 to 80 years. The Glaucoma service of Priest hospital diagnosed glaucoma in 53% of the priest. Rate of glaucoma was higher in priest from rural area than those from Bangkok and urban area. The mean baseline IOP was 26.5 +/- 14.7 mmHg. The mean treated IOP was 14.5 +/- 7.9 mmHg. The average mean deviation (MD) was -14.45 +/- 11.11. OCT showed average RNFL thickness of 70.8 +/- 35.6 microm. Glaucoma medications was received by 72% of the priest, 18% had laser treatment, and 22 % had glaucoma surgery. At diagnosis, two patients were blind according to WHO criteria, 29 (28%) patients were unilaterally blind, and seven (6.5%) had low vision. After treatment, 31 (29%) patients had unilateral blindness and none had bilateral blindness. The main associated diseases were hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Transportation and financial condition were the major barriers in receiving eye care.
Conclusions: OAG comprised 50% of all glaucoma, 23% of PACG, and 16% of all subtypes of secondary glaucoma. The prevalence of glaucoma in priest rose significantly with age. In the treated glaucoma patients, 47% retained good visual outcome. Delayed diagnosis was a major factor for unsatisfactory outcome as 28% of patients had monocular blindness at diagnosis and 53% were previously unaware of their disease.
Such a nice optician. My grandson is only 4 and needs glasses. We were so sad, but he explained the issues, and we will follow up as he suggested.
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Dr. Zurcher has gone above and beyond what any other eye doctor has ever done to figure out what is going on with my eyes. Very happy with American Family Vision.
Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.
Very professional, yet kind and helpful. They do what they can to make the appointment comfortable. I was running a bit late, I made sure ti call. They were able to switch me with a patient who was already there, they treated me with respect, and helped my son have confidence by getting him the eye care he needed that day. Thank you so much! Would recommend to anyone. It's a blessing that they care enough to work with people who have all different types of insurance from work to state coverage.
The staff is friendly. The Doc is very knowledgeable. The office is family friendly and everyone is so patient with the little ones.
Treating diabetic retinopathy Treating diabetic retinopathy is a critical aspect of preserving vision and maintaining the overall quality of life […]
As an optometrist at American Family Vision Clinic in Olympia, one of the most common questions Dr. Levi Zurcher often […]
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