Eye Care & Disease

This program demonstrates how to use a direct ophthalmoscope to examine patients' retinas. A detailed examination technique segment is followed by examples of clinical abnormalities to be looked for during a checkup. Juxtaposed with images of ordinary retinal tissue, the examples clearly display the signs of key pathologies. Possible causes of retinal abnormalities are presented, and common errors in interpreting those abnormalities are addressed. (27 minutes)

This program provides a systematic overview of visual fields and their associated defects. After key terms are defined, a dynamic 3-D model of the brain and visual system is employed to illustrate the neuroanatomy of the eyes. A full demonstration of confrontational testing is then followed by a look at both kinetic and static automated field-testing techniques and an introduction to the visual field chart. The program closes by displaying the effects of various neurological lesions on the visual fields. (26 minutes)

Perhaps more disturbing than the global statistics concerning blindness-for example, one child goes blind every minute-is the fact that much of it is easily preventable. This program shows how scientific and technological advances offer new hope for millions suffering from vision loss. Experts such as ophthalmologists David Yorston and Bruce Allan of London's renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital discuss cataracts, trachoma, and vitamin A deficiency, the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Film footage and computer animations of various conditions are shown, along with close-up coverage of the newest generation of laser surgery procedures. (28 minutes)

As this program illustrates, direct access to the eye coupled with technological wizardry has meant that ophthalmology is one of the most rapidly advancing areas of medicine. Both up-to-the-minute techniques and experimental procedures are profiled, such as photodynamic therapy, which inhibits macular degeneration by eroding deposits called drusen. The program shows how microsurgery, particularly the LASIK method, has revolutionized the field. Also detailed are pioneering treatments for cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, and new methods to detect and treat glaucoma. A Deutsche Welle Production. (26 minutes)

A valuable learning tool for medical students, this clinical two-part series is designed to help viewers diagnose a variety of ocular conditions with certainty and confidence. 2-part series, 26-27 minutes each.

People with glaucoma now have a reasonable chance of saving their eyesight-if the disease is detected early enough. This program focuses on information critical to fighting glaucoma, emphasizing the need for regular eye exams and medical support in the management of the degenerative ailment. Exploring the risk factors for glaucoma, including its disproportionate rate among African Americans and its relationship to diabetes and hypertension, the video covers various treatment strategies, including both surgery and the optic application of medicine. Viewers will find the program's detailed graphics helpful in understanding how glaucoma progresses and how it can be stopped. (28 minutes)

Using the expertise of leading ophthalmologists specializing in the most common refractive and non-refractive conditions, this program presents the latest therapies to protect the eyes in the event of potentially blinding diseases. Ivan Schwab, Director of Cornea and External Disease Service at the University of California, Davis, maps out the physiology of the eye and its role in sending images to the brain; Kuldev Singh, Director of the Glaucoma Service at Stanford University School of Medicine, describes the symptoms of glaucoma as well as the different therapies available; and Richard Abbot, clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco, describes macular degeneration and its contributing factors. (28 minutes)

This edition of Science Screen Report explains the complex system of human vision and how that system can deteriorate. Outlining the basic concepts of visual perception, the program describes the functions of the lens, cornea, retina, and optic nerve, and identifies conditions that interfere with eyesight, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Also included are discussions of medical research and corrective procedures that have restored vision. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (16 minutes)

While some eye infections are common and treatable-such as conjunctivitis, or pinkeye-other infections are more serious and, in a matter of hours, can totally destroy a patient's eyesight. This program features case studies involving typical and extreme eye infections, explores ways to prevent and treat related complications, and looks at what's on the horizon related to eye infection research. Topics include the special care needed by seniors and contact lens wearers as well as infections that can result from cataract surgery. Expert commentary comes from Dr. Harry Flynn of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Dr. Eric Donnenfeld, an ophthalmic consultant. (26 minutes)