Monthly Archives: January 2020
Anti-vessel growth drugs, which are often diluted and re-packaged by compounding pharmacies from anti-vessel growth drugs used in gastrointestinal cancer, are injected in the eye to treat advanced and wet macular degeneration. The purpose of the injection is to stop the growth of new blood vessels on the retina, which are thought to be more fragile and can easily bleed, causing vision complications and vision loss. Injection of anti-vessel growth drugs in the eye is not risk free; and presents…..
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of vision impairment in the elderly. Macular degeneration may be may be dry macular degeneration (no bleeding of the vessels), or wet macular degeneration (bleeding from vessels); and causes loss of central vision. In late stage AMD, new blood vessels develop on the retina, which are fragile and can bleed, and can cause separation of retinal layers and a retinal detachment. Scientists recently linked chlamydia pneumonia to AMD, but “remain cautious”;…..
Chlamydia psittaci is a dangerous bird pathogen, which is widespread in animals and humans. Domestic and wild birds are the primary reservoir for chlamydia psittaci (bird chlamydia—psittacosis). Birds can infect cats, dogs, rodents, tortoises, horses, pigs, and other livestock; and the pathogen is then readily transmissible to people. Chlamydia psittaci can mix in co-infected animals, to generate new serovars. Psittacosis was shown in 50% of patients who had contact with birds; and can be acquired from infected animals, outdoor…..
Low-pressure glaucoma is when the patient suffers damage to the optic nerve and loss of peripheral vision, in an eye with normal intraocular pressure. Thyroid disease is a common co-morbid condition in low-pressure glaucoma; and high thyroid is known to cause swelling behind the eye, compression of the optic nerve, and loss of visual field, which appears identical to the damage and visual field loss in glaucoma. Many articles were published over the course of a decade, describing thyroid…..
Retinitis pigmentosa is considered a genetic retinal dystrophy (thinning and degeneration of retinal tissue), which causes a gradual loss of vision and ultimately blindness. Dr. Merchant examined a 35-year-old patient who had been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, and been told by her retinal specialist she would be blind in 5 years. The patient had difficulty seeing in dark or dim light, and had refrained from many activities of daily living, most driving, and all driving at night. The patient’s blood…..
Corneal thinning diseases are considered a genetic disease or a disease of unknown origin. Patients may be blamed for rubbing their eyes, based on the assumption eye rubbing is damaging the collagen structure, and changing the thickness and shape of the cornea. Eye rubbing can cause corneal thinning and contour abnormalities, and is also one method to self-inoculate pathogens into the eye. However, patients rub their eyes to relieve symptoms of itching and irritation. If rubbing one’s eyes causes corneal…..
In 2014, scientists discovered patients with mitral valve prolapse had a significantly higher rate of keratoconus. Mitral valve prolapse and keratoconus were considered “idiopathic” non-inflammatory conditions. The co-morbid finding of mitral-valve prolapse and corneal thinning disease supports a common infectious cause. Chlamydia is known to damage the heart and the mitral valve, has been found in resected mitral valves, and has been “associated” with many eye diseases. Chronic chlamydia infection is one cause of corneal thinning diseases, although not the…..
“Idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy” (ICSR) and “chorioretinitis” refer to inflammation in the middle layers of the retina. “Idiopathic” means the cause is unknown, and the disease is attributed to something unique and unknown about the patient. In ICSR, the patient develops fluid bubbles in the middle layers of the retina, and the bubbles float to the retinal epithelial surface and pop, causing localized loss of vision. As the number of bubbles increase, more vision is lost, and the patient develops…..
Toxoplasmosis is a parasite transmitted from cats to humans. (Some cases of toxoplasmosis can be acquired from eating under-cooked meat.) Wild cats and kittens present the highest risk for transmission of toxoplasmosis; and pregnant women are advised to avoid litter boxes due to the risk toxoplasmosis presents to a fetus. Toxoplasmosis has been implicated in many chronic diseases, including numerous mental health disorders, regressive developmental disorders, brain diseases, seizures, autoimmune diseases, and eye diseases. When toxoplasmosis attacks the retina, the…..
H-pylori attacks epithelium, burrows beneath and attaches to collagen, creates a portal for new pathogens to enter, and is a known cause of stomach ulcers. Stomach disease is a common co-morbid condition in eye disease, and H-pylori can reach the eye from the stomach via the vagus nerve, the immune system, or self-inoculation. In the eye, H-pylori can move from the front of the eye to the anterior chamber, vitreous, and the retina. H-pylori has been “associated” with blepharitis, ocular…..