Thursday, November 10, 2011

Artificial intelligence joins the fossil hunt - tech - 08 November 2011 - New Scientist

Artificial intelligence joins the fossil hunt - tech - 08 November 2011 - New Scientist

Kenya: Eyesight Clinic Offers Rays of Hope


Mark Agutu
10 November 2011


From a humble beginning 17 years ago, Kwale District Eye Centre has evolved into a clinic that casts rays of hope into the lives of many plagued by blindness.
The centre in Waa has been at the forefront of helping people across the Coast who cannot afford the care offered at private hospitals.
Run as a self-help group and a legal trust, the centre makes minimal charges for its services that range from consultation, diagnostics, corrective surgery and counselling.
Operations are carried out by the centre's own team of surgeons backed by visiting experts from the UK and Germany.
The centre serves some 50 outpatients daily and to date mote than 24,700 operations have been performed and 56,000 people registered.
A further 10,000 people are screened each year in the field.
"Most of the operations are cataract extractions with lens implants," said centre director Helen Roberts.
Behind the success of the centre is its strong community programme which creates awareness of eye disease.
"This is the our main strength, working closely with an in the community conducting outreach clinics for 15 years," said Dr Roberts, an ophthalmologist who leads a team of 45 staff members.
Seventeen of them work in the community programme, 12 in the medical department and 16 in administration and with support staff.

"Funding from Sight Savers enabled us to build up both the skills and infrastructure to offer a very high level of quality comprehensive eye care. This year, their donation funded cataract surgery, medical staff salaries and vehicles," said Dr Roberts.
The centre has also been helped by the Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon, which raised funds for eye surgery for children.
It has also come up with its own fund raising schemes, including the Liaison Eye Go Fishing Competition, sponsored by the Liaison Group.
The annual event, now in its sixth year, is a competition in boating and fishing and other fun water sports. Last year it raised Sh366,520.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Vision and eye problems may increase in high-tech classrooms

By Maryanne Kocis MacLeod
For the Daily Tribune




From 3-D imaging to smart boards and state-of-the-art computer applications, classrooms around the nation are becoming increasingly high-tech. While this technology appears to have a significant, positive effect on learning, exposure also increases the importance of proper vision care.

A survey by the American Optometric Association found that parents are concerned about the effect of all this technology on children. Fifty-three percent of respondents with children 18 or younger believe 3-D viewing is harmful to a child's vision or eye health, and 29 percent of parents feel very concerned that their child may experience permanent damage as a result of prolonged use of computers or hand-held electronic devices.

"Today's classroom technology is extremely visual, making it critical for students to maintain excellent eye health," said Dr. Peter Agnone, a practicing optometrist at Grand Blanc Eyes and a member of the Michigan Optometric Association.

"Binocular vision, focusing abilities, as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness should be checked by an eye doctor yearly."

According to Dr. John Roarty, chief of Ophthalmology at DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, potential classroom technology risks fall into three categories:

Close-up use of computers and iPads.

Technology at a distance, such as the use of SMART Boards and other interactive whiteboards

3-D televisions and films.

That said, close-up computer use presents the same risks for children as adults, Roarty said.

"Certainly, we all experience increased eyestrain as a result of intense, near-focus, whether we are reading a book for a long period of time, or using a computer," said Roarty, who has offices in Clinton Township. "Up-close work that exceeds several hours — including texting, playing a hand-held video game, using a computer or reading a book — all contribute to increased eyestrain."

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Diabetic patient “maintains” good vision & lifestyle


By Cheryl L. Dejewski


If you had to come up with a theme for David Kogelmann's life so far it could be summed up in one word: "maintenance." Kogelmann, 63, of Greendale, is a retired heavy duty maintenance mechanic who rebuilt printing presses for Quad Graphics for 20 years. He is also an auto show buff who meticulously maintains a 1967 Pontiac Firebird and an avid sharpshooter who maintains precision firearms. More recently, however, Kogelmann's focus has broadened to maintaining something even more precious—his vision.

Diagnosed with diabetes in 1995, Kogelmann was diligent in sustaining proper blood sugars levels. His primary care doctor, however, reminded him of the importance of having his eyes checked for any diabetes-related changes to the retina that can go unnoticed at first. As an expert marksman and long-time member of the Schultz Rod & Gun Club on Big Muskego Lake, Kogel-mann knew the importance of finding an eye care specialist who shared his exacting attitude. His research led him to an appointment with Dr. Daniel Ferguson, a highly regarded ophthalmologist who also holds a degree and several patents in engineering.

"Because of Mr. Kogelmann's vigilance in maintaining proper blood sugar levels, he was fortunate enough to still be enjoying good vision in both eyes when he first came to us," notes Ferguson, a partner at Eye Care Specialists who sees patients at offices in Wauwatosa, West Allis, and downtown Milwaukee. "As happens, for most diabetics, however, the longer you have the disease, the more likely it is to take its toll, and by 2010, Mr. Kogelmann's vision began to slip a little." As a result, Ferguson recommended Avastin injection treatment to stave off further diabetes-related damage to Kogelmann's retina.

"At first, I thought, 'you're going to stick a what in my eye'?" Kogelmann exclaims with a laugh. "But, the treatment really wasn't bad at all. I've had cataract surgery too and that was so easy—no pain, just great!" In fact, with regular appointments and Avastin treatments, Kogelmann sports vision good enough to keep up with his hobbies. He proudly reports, "I've been doing more sharp-shooting than ever. When you go to the club, you always have to have two people on the range. I have people calling me all the time to shoot with them." Kogelmann also enjoys spending time up north at his cabin and 120 acres of land in Ladysmith, WI. "I don't hunt much anymore," he states, "but I cook for my son and the guys up there. . . . They call me 'Pot Banger' because I do all the cooking, and I wake them up by banging my pots!"

Kogelmann also has a wake-up call for fellow diabetics to preserve their vision: "See an ophthalmologist regularly and keep your blood sugar under control!"

FREE Booklets & Information
Eye Care Specialists’ doctors are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration. They frequently lecture to the public and fellow physicians and have written their own series of booklets on these conditions. Call 414-321-7035 for FREE copies or to schedule an appointment for a thorough eye screening (usually covered by insurance or Medicare) at their offices on 7th & Wisconsin Avenue, Mayfair Road across from the mall, or 102nd & National. They also offer information at www.eyecarespecialists.net.


Tips for Protecting Against Diabetes-Related Vision Loss
Diabetes is being diagnosed in huge numbers across all ages and races. Saturated fats, simple sugars, super-sized portions, bulging waistlines, and lack of exercise are some of the known culprits. Whatever the causes, the increased incidence of diabetes means a corresponding increase in health problems related to the disease, including the sight-robbing complication of "diabetic retinopathy"—the leading cause of new cases of blindness in America. Eye care specialists are fighting the battle to protect vision through education and the use of lasers and new medication injection treatments. Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group member and medical optometrist Dr. David Scheidt encourages patients to also take non-invasive steps of their own to prevent diabetic vision loss, including:

* Have a blood sugar test every three years after age 45 to screen for diabetes
* Keep blood glucose levels close to normal through diet, medication and exercise
* Keep blood pressure under control
* Don’t smoke
* Keep cholesterol levels low
* Check hemoglobin A1c levels at least every four months and aim for less than 7.0
* Schedule dilated eye exams once a year, or as often as your Eye M.D. suggests