Eye Pigment, Colonoscopy & Colon Cancer

Retina Layers

What could the need to have a colonoscopy possibly have to do with eye pigment in the Retina and early detection of colon cancer you ask? The Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE) is a pigmented layer of the Retina which can sometimes be thicker than normal at birth-or “hypertrophic”. When found, areas of Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (RPE) Hypertrophy usually do not cause any vision problems or symptoms and are typically found during routine eye examinations. Congenital Retinal Pigment Epithelial Hypertrophy (CHRPE) is usually found before patients reach 30 years of age and although they may enlarge with time they usually do not lead to malignancies like colon cancer. However, there is an association between people with Gardner's Syndrome-Familial Colonic Polyposes-or polyps of the colon, and CHRPE. If your eye doctor has told you that you have Congenital Retinal Pigment Epithelial Hypertrophy-perhaps called “Bear Tracks” or “Pigment Spots” or “Retina Freckles”, it is important to carefully explore and review your family history with a Gastroenterologist who will likely schedule you for a colonoscopy. CHRPE has a “statistically significant” correlation with hereditary colon polyps known as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, or FAP. It may be that the freckles are caused by the same genetic mutation that produces the polyps. A study published in 2010 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology concluded that patients with such freckles should be referred for colonoscopies.

Thus-when we are over 50 years of age, the reasons to have yearly eye exams includes not only detecting cataracts, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration (AMD) and other eye diseases, but regular eye examinations may very well be a reminder to be screened via colonoscopy to help detect early risks and potential indicators of colon cancer.

Laser Cataract Surgery after RK and Retinal Detachment

Question: I've had Radial Keratotomy (RK) surgery and detached Retinas in both eyes.Would it be best if I have Laser Cataract Surgery?

Answer: Cataract Surgery after RK is made more complicated not so much by the need to make any modifications in the Cataract operation itself, but in requiring more detailed measurements and calculations for selecting the proper intraocular lens implant (IOL) power to help you achieve the best possible vision. The fact that you have detached Retinas in both eyes may prompt your Cataract Surgeon to arrange a preoperative consultation with a Retina Surgeon just to be sure that your Retinas are reasonably intact and stable before your cataract Surgery procedure-with or without Laser Cataract Surgery. The use of the Femtosecond laser to perform Laser Cataract Surgery is a new technique that allows the surgeon to direct the laser to perform several of the most technically difficult steps of Cataract Surgery rather than doing them manually. This has some promise of greater precision than manual Cataract Surgery for these steps but does not necessarily provide any greater safety profile for someone who has had RK and detached Retinas. Thus, if you have Cataracts that are starting to impair your vision to where it is impacting your ability to safely and comfortably conduct your daily activities, there is not necessarily any reason to wait to have Laser Cataract Surgery. The results of modern Cataract Surgery today are quite good. Your next step is to find a top Cataract Surgeon who is also a Refractive Surgeon as these combined skill and experience sets will be required for your consultation and measurements which are likely to be a bit more complex than routine Cataract Surgery.


Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com/ is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery of Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of www.aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Macular Degeneration (ARMD) and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ARMD can be very dangerous for the Retina and about 2 million Americans above 40 years of age have some kind of ARMD. Research published in the December 2010 edition of Ophthalmology confirmed that Omega-3 Fatty Acids which are present in eye’s Retina and a diet rich in consumption of these Omega-3 Fatty Acids could go a long way in making preserving eye health and vision and help to prevent any sort of vision damage. This study has found that Omega-3 Fatty Acids help in preventing the Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) found in elderly people.

Ophthalmology: December 2010