SWF doctor presents research at retina conference
At the 11th EURETINA Congress to be held on May 26-29 in London, Retina Health Center Director Dr. Alexander Eaton will present the results of work he is doing with researchers from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the University of Southern California to identify genetic markers that could be used to predict a patient’s predisposition to steroid-induced glaucoma.
Steroid medications are one of the most commonly used eye medications. They are used to control inflammation following eye surgery for a number of ocular conditions, as well as for various general medical conditions such as in the treatment of cancer or rheumatologic disorders such as arthritis. One of the complications from the use of all types of steroids is the development of glaucoma.
“Currently, patients on ocular steroid treatment or high-dose oral therapy must be closely monitored to decrease the risk of steroid-induced glaucoma going undetected. In general, the higher the dose or potency the higher the risk,” says Dr. Eaton. “Armed with new information on a patient’s genetic predisposition to steroid-induced glaucoma, we should be able to further reduce this risk and better manage treatment options for patients.”
Retina Health Center was established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties since 1993. Dr. Eaton and Dr. Hussein Wafapoor of Retina Health Center are principal investigators for the Macular Degeneration Research Center, founded by Dr. Eaton, which has conducted numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 337-3337 in Fort Myers or 793-5200 in Naples, or visit www.retinahealthcenter.com.