ASRS's Retina Health for Life

Uveal melanoma, or ocular melanoma, is the most common eye cancer diagnosed in adults, affecting approximately 2,500 people in the United States each year. Unrelated to skin melanoma, uveal melanomas often have no signs or symptoms, underscoring the importance of regular dilated retina exams for early diagnosis and treatment to safeguard sight. On this episode of ASRS’s Retina Health for Life, Dr. Prithvi Mruthyunjaya of Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University joins Dr. Timothy Murray to discuss treatment advances made possible by retina specialists that are helping more people with the condition preserve their vision.
Resources:
Access a downloadable fact sheet on uveal melanoma here.

Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer that affects infants and young children. In recent years, significant advances have been made in retinoblastoma diagnosis and treatment, helping not only save children's lives but in many cases preserving vision in the eye affected by cancer. On this episode of ASRS’s Retina Health for Life, Dr. Carol Shields of the Wills Eye Hospital joins Dr. Timothy Murray to discuss the causes of the condition, symptoms parents should be aware of and the importance of early, personalized treatment to ensure the best outcomes for children and their families.

Resources:
Access a downloadable fact sheet on retinoblastoma here.

Participating in sports can have a host of benefits, including enhanced physical and mental health. Along with the positive impact of playing sports, there is a risk of physical injury including those that can affect vision.
On this episode of ASRS’s Retina Health for Life, Dr. Timothy Murray is joined by Dr. Harry Flynn and Dr. Landon Rohowetz of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami to discuss the types of retina injuries that athletes often face and the treatments retina specialists can utilize to help preserve their vision.
Resources:
Access the Sports Safety for Retina Health patient guide in English or Spanish here: www.asrs.org/patients/patient-education-materials.

People with diabetes are at risk for developing diabetic eye disease, which can result in vision loss and blindness. And people with early stages of diabetic eye disease may experience few if any symptoms. But losing sight from diabetes is far from a foregone conclusion, especially with regular dilated eye exams, early diagnosis, and treatment advances made possible by retina specialists.

On this episode, Dr. Timothy Murray discusses the importance of diabetic eye disease awareness with two special guests: Dr. Emily Chew, the deputy clinical director at the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Dr. Judy Kim, president of the American Society of Retina Specialists, and National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) Planning Group member.

Resources:

• Access the National Eye Institute's Diabetic Eye Disease Resources at: www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-campaigns-and-resources/diabetic-eye-disease-resources.
• Learn more about the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) and its six program areas at www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-campaigns-and-resources/national-eye-health-education-program
• Access the American Society of Retina Specialists' information on diabetic retinopathy at www.SeeforaLifetime.org/Diabetic Retinopathy and downloadable resources at www.SeeforaLifetime.org/Resources.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a challenging health diagnosis or medical condition? Did you know that lifestyle modifications and positive thinking can help? Dr. Timothy Murray interviews retina specialist Dr. Tara McCannel of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute about simple mindfulness and lifestyle habits we can all adopt to improve our overall health and wellbeing.