Is AMD on the Rise?

HOT TOPIC

AMD: On the Rise?

In a review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers determined that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects approximately 20 million people in the United States and 196 million people worldwide. After examining previous research on narrative reviews about macular degermation published between 2018 and 2023, the researchers identified a total of 1,072 articles, 58 of which they included in their reviews. They determined that the number of people worldwide affected by AMD will rise to 288 million people by the year 2040.

However, Talia Kaden, MD, an ophthalmologist interviewed by Medical News Today, doesn’t believe AMD is on the rise. “I think we are diagnosing it more. We have better tools for diagnosing, so we can diagnose more often and earlier. Both are positives for patients,” she says. (Read more here.)

My Two Cents

I’m sure I’m missing quite a few AMD diagnoses in my practice. But I’m excited for new technologies, such as dark adaptation testing with Maculogix’s in-office AdaptDx Pro, to become more widely available and allow us to accurately diagnose our patients earlier in their disease state.

OUTSIDE THE LANE

Fruit Juice Consumption Leads to Weight Gain

According to a new study, consumption of 100% fruit juice is associated with weight gain in children and adults.

The research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, analyzed 42 previous studies and found a positive association between drinking 100% fruit juice and higher BMI among kids and adults. Interestingly, the association was strong with just one or more daily glasses of 100% fruit juice. The juice was defined as fruit juices with no added sugar.

The researchers state, “Our findings support public health guidance to limit 100% fruit juice consumption to prevent overweight and obesity.” It is believed that a potential mechanism that links 100% fruit juice to weight gain is the fact that fruit juices are “liquid calories,” which have been shown to result in more significant weight gain when compared with the ingestion of solid calories. They also note that juice contains “little to no fiber compared with the whole fruit form, resulting in low satiety.” Juice won’t make you feel as complete as eating the fruit itself. (Read more here.)

My Two Cents

I’ve spent a fair share of time researching and developing a healthy drink for my patients with dry eye to help them stay hydrated, so this information regarding fruit juice is not surprising to me. Another thing to keep in mind here as we talk about the consumption of sugary drinks and obesity is the increased risk of diabetes and, with it, diabetic eye disease. These liquid calories need to be carefully examined by the consumer, and alternatives should be explored. The amount of sugar, salt, and hidden calories in many drinks is alarming!

CAN YOU RELATE

Although this news item technically qualifies as a “hot topic,” I feel strongly that it needs to be profiled in this week’s newsletter, as it can potentially affect everyone reading it. Patients in Utah could lose the ability to purchase contact lenses directly from their prescribing eye doctor under proposed legislation.

With its ever-vigilant eyes toward our patients and professional health, the American Optometric Association (AOA) believes that House Bill 189 would negatively affect the patient-doctor relationship and create unnecessary obstacles for our patients to obtaining their contact lenses.

According to the AOA, on January 5th, Utah State Rep. Jordan Teuscher introduced the bill, which would amend the state’s contact lens statute to prohibit prescribers (ie, eye doctors) from selling contact lenses to patients and require additional obligations from said prescribers. These obligations include providing the patient with information about other brands or manufacturer options and documentation requirements that specify the patient’s preferences and all information presented during the visit. The AOA points out that the bill “would prevent specialty contact lens wearers from receiving their lenses within Utah if the bill is passed as written.” Additionally, according to economist Andrew Stiver, PhD, 38% of contact lens consumers would be required to find a new way to get their lenses.

This is pure insanity, and it is no surprise that Utah, home of 1-800 Contacts, is leading the way. I’m sure State Rep. Teuscher, who, according to my research, received money from 1-800 Contacts, is proposing this law for the care and welfare of his state’s citizens and not at all because of the financial backing that 1-800 provided him. A deeper dive into Rep. Teuscher’s record also shows a proposed HB 234 in 2022, which was so vehemently opposed by Utah teachers that a petition against it garnered 30,000 signatures and was dropped from the 2022 legislative session. Here’s hoping that this insane bill suffers the same fate.

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The trouble with politicians is that they promise to build bridges and then forget to tell you where they're going to put them.”

— Will Rogers