Advances in Ophthalmic Technologies Improve Care; Age-Related Eye Diseases Increasing with Aging Population 6/14/2004
From: Jeff Ezell of AdvaMed, 202-434-7243, jezell@AdvaMed.org WASHINGTON, June 14 -- The constant and rapid development of breakthrough medical technologies to treat age- related eye disorders offers great promise in preventing blindness and limiting the enormous financial and social costs of vision impairment. The number of senior citizens in the United States is growing substantially as baby boomers begin to reach retirement. As the U.S. population ages, the number of Americans with age-related eye disorders will grow substantially. An April 2004 National Institutes of Health study identified the most common eye diseases in Americans age 40 and over. Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy affect an estimated 28.6 million Americans today. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to 43.5 million, an increase of 65 percent.(i) Rapid development of microsurgery and laser surgery techniques has resulted in great advances in the treatment of these four diseases, allowing millions of Americans to keep their sight and maintain normal lifestyles. The National Eye Institute estimates the economic and societal cost of eye and vision impairment at $68 billion annually, but preventing vision loss produces substantial savings of improved quality of life (ii) Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular degeneration occurs when the small central portion of the retina called the macula is damaged. While there is still no cure for this condition, laser therapy now reduces further deterioration of a patient's vision. Two types of laser treatment are used to combat AMD. In traditional laser therapy, high-energy lights are used to destroy actively growing abnormal blood vessels. In photodynamic laser therapy, a light sensitive chemical is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by the eye is abnormal blood vessels in the eye, which are then treated by a laser. Glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that threaten vision loss because of damage to the optic nerve. Damage usually occurs because of blockage of the eye's drainage canals. Advances in laser surgery allow physicians to create or expand tiny openings for eyes to drain fluid properly, relieving pressure that could damage the optic nerve. Cataracts. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye gradually becomes cloudy. Treatment requires removing the diseased lens and replacing it with an implant called an intraocular lens (IOL). Better microsurgery techniques and equipment, improved IOLs, and advanced tools for measuring the eye have revolutionized cataract treatment by reducing the size of incision, potential for damage to the eye, improving visual outcomes, reducing complications, and faster outpatient recovery. Numerous studies show significant improvements in patient quality of life after cataract surgery, including increases in I.Q. and reductions in car crashes. Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Eventually, the damaged blood vessels can leak and cause swelling and damage to the retina. While diabetic retinopathy cannot be cured, it can be treated to minimize the impact on the patient's vision. Laser surgery has been used to seal broken blood vessels and prevent further leakage. AdvaMed is the world's largest association representing manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products, and medical information systems. AdvaMed's more than 1,200 members and subsidiaries manufacture nearly 90 percent of the $75 billion of health care technology products purchased annually in the United States, and more than 50 percent of the $175 billion purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. Nearly 70 percent of our members have fewer than $30 million in sales annually. -- Notes: (i) NIH News, April 12, 2004. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2004/nei-12.htm (ii) National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research. "The Demographics of Eye and Vision Disorders." http://www.eyeresearch.org/naevr/demographics.html |