Software helps myopic kids see better

The Straits Times, April 23, 2008By Lee Hui Chieh

TRAINING the eyes of short-sighted children with a special computer program - for just 30 minutes every other day over 10 weeks - improves their vision, a trial here has found.

After training, 31 primary school pupils could read an average of two lines farther down a typical 11-tier eye chart. An improvement of three lines means one can see something from twice as far as before. The level of improvement stayed the same after a year, and is expected to be long term. On average, children in the trial by the Singapore Eye Research Institute saw their myopia worsen at almost half the typical rate for those their age.

Institute director Donald Tan, who led the trial, said: 'We're very excited. The results have exceeded our expectations. If it works on a larger scale, it will have a profound effect on myopia here.'

Myopia, or short-sightedness, occurs often when the eyeball grows too long, leaving the eye unable to see distant objects clearly. More Singaporean children become short-sighted, and at a faster rate, than children elsewhere. About four in five aged 18 here are myopic, double that in the United States. Myopia rises by 80 to 100 degrees a year for those aged six to 10 here, against 50 degrees in US children.

The computer program, called NeuroVision, improves eyesight by training the brain to better distinguish shapes that do not stand out from the background and to 'sharpen' the images seen by the eye. The patient clicks the mouse button when he sees images flashing on the computer screen; images flash by more quickly or become fainter. After treatment, one sees images more clearly because the brain processes them better, even though the physical shape of the eyes and the degree of myopia remain unchanged.

Studies have shown that, for reasons unknown, an eye that is exposed long term to blurred visuals will become even more short-sighted. The program is believed to slow myopia progression in children by doing the opposite - making the eye see more clearly than usual.

Prof Tan said: 'This is a very attractive option as it uses no drugs, no surgery and causes no side effects.' The trial, which involved Primary 2 and 3 pupils from Evergreen Primary School, was conducted from June 2006 to January this year.

Vivienne Lee, 10, who can see more clearly now, said: 'My myopia was worsening so quickly, I was worried I would go blind. Now it's better.' The institute plans to start a larger trial involving 300 to 400 pupils later this year. NeuroVision, first developed for adults with mild myopia, was introduced here in 2004. The children's version was launched here in 2006.

Four variations for other eye problems have also been developed by the same American company.

Eyeing the computers

MDS hosted its first computer tutorial last week as it tries to bring technology closer to its members and make independent living as smooth as possible for the visually-impaired.

Helmed by Exco member Steven Lo, the tutorial group was deliberately kept small so as to provide more hands-on training and sharing. There were two main lessons: to enlarge font sizes on the computer for easier reading; and to use text-to-speech software.

For the text-to-speech software, Steven demonstrated how user friendly NaturalReader was. It reads aloud text from documents in MS Word, Adobe pdf files, e-mail and webpages. It also automatically compresses the audio files into mp3 format, allowing online materials and even e-books to be enjoyed while on the move.

To enlarge the font size, members were taught how to customise settings. Other computer adjustments/tips were also shown, such as system restore, hibernate your computer, re-size mouse pointer, change windows background colour to reduce eye strain, etc.

To help the participants remember all the detailed steps to customise their computer settings, each was given a hardcopy for future reference. They were also encouraged to practice on Steven's computer first before customising their own computers.

Said Steven: "Feedback from the participants was good. They agreed that a computer novice would find a small group size more conducive to learning. Another participant, an IT professional, told us that she also found this tutorial useful and will customise her computer too."

Before the tutorial, there was also a 30-minute sharing session on macular degeneration, with another spontaneous 30 minutes of sharing after the tutorial.

Similar tutorials will be held later this year. Members who are interested can register with MDS secretary Sharon at alleyes@singnet.com.sg.

Robo-4 and Slit2 to team up against Wet AMD

By Dan Roberts

MD Support

"Robo-4" sounds like a movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger, but in this case, it is a link to another potential treatment for wet AMD.

Short for "Roundabout," Robo-4 is a protein receptor found on the surface of blood vessel cells. When it binds with another protein called Slit2, the combination stops blood vessel growth (angiogenesis).

This is a natural "braking" action on the normally beneficial process of healing. Blood vessels carry needed nutrition to unhealthy parts of the body, but their development must be kept under control.

Click here to read the complete MD Support article and here to find out more about this discovery from Utah in the United States.

Lucentis approved in S'pore

Lucentis, the most effective treatment for macular degeneration, has been approved for use in Singapore by the authorities.

While Lucentis has been used here before, its approval by the Health Science Authority (HSA) would allow greater ease by doctors to use it.

MDS adviser Au Eong Kah Guan tells this blog that when a drug is not approved by HSA, it cannot be prescribed freely and permission has to be obtained for EACH patient to use the drug. "We call this "named patient basis". The doctor takes responsibility for using something not approved by HSA," he said.

He added that the drug company also cannot place advertisement about this drug even in scientific journals in Singapore and in theory, doctors should not be talking too much about the drug in the press. Now that it has been approved, doctors can prescribe it more freely without taking special permission for each patient, drug company can advertise and doctors can talk about this drug more freely in the press.