Birdshot Uveitis Society

Smoking

Recent research has shown that individuals who smoke have a 2.2 times higher odds than those who had never smoked of having ocular inflammation, with all anatomic subtypes of uveitis associated with a positive smoking history.

In the study, a positive smoking history had an odds ratio of 1.7 (P =.002) for anterior uveitis; 2.7 (P = .005) for intermediate uveitis; 3.2 (P = .014) for posterior uveitis; and 3.9 (P < .001) for panuveitis.

The odds ratio for panuveitis and cystoid macular edema (CME) was 8.0; for those without CME, it was 3.1, according to the study.

“A history of smoking is significantly associated with all anatomic subtypes of uveitis and infectious uveitis,” the study authors said.

“The association was greater in patients with intermediate uveitis and panuveitis with CME compared with those without CME. In view of the known risks of smoking, these findings, if replicated, would give an additional reason to recommend smoking cessation in patients with uveitis.”

The retrospective case-control medical record review looked at 564 patients who had ocular inflammation and 564 randomly selected eyeclinic subjects. All patients were seen at the Proctor Medical Group between 2002 and 2009.

The study employed a logistic regression analysis. Ocular inflammationwas the main outcome variable, and smoking was the main predictor variable variable, with adjustments for age, gender, race and median income.

So if you are a smoker and you have birdshot, you know what you should be trying to do!  It’s obvious smoking can’t help.

Ophthalmology. 2010;117(3):585-590.

Vitamin B1

We came across an article about Vitamin B1 and how it might be helpful in treating common cause of blindness.

http://www.india-server.com/news/vitamin-b1-can-be-helpful-in-treating-7032.html

“According to a research team led by an Indian origin scientist, vitamin B1 can be effective in treating common cause of blindness. The scientists claimed that supplementation of a particular type of vitamin B1 known as benfotiamene can significantly treat uveitis, which causes blindness in human eyes. Uveitis is a malady that causes inflammation of the tissue located just below the outer surface of the eyeball. If the disease is not treated properly, it can cause blindness. › Continue reading

Ability Net

If you struggle with your computer because of your visual problems I definitely recommend you visit Ability Net  and follow the links about My computer My way. › Continue reading

Cookery Books

I attended a patient conference for younger people with macular disease today and came away with two great cook books that I want to tell you about.  I am sure anyone interested in self-help and healthy eating will enjoy them. › Continue reading

Steroid induced hump

Here is a question that a new member Vicky asked us to pose to see if anyone has any useful advice for her.  This is what she says:-

“Do any of you suffer from a hump?

Is there anything I can do to help with this?

To anyone else I guess this would sound ridiculous – but I’m hoping you know what I mean.

I find it quite distressing that my face has changed shape and that I now have a hump on the back of my neck, I understand that this is a side effect of the steroid usage but I was wondering if there were any members who have the same thing and have any tips for helping with this?”

Both Rea and I see chiropractors in our efforts to stay straight, improve our posture and reduce aches and pains that these drugs seem to inflict upon us, but we’d be interested to know if members know of other things that can help alleviate this particular problem.

Thanks

Reasonable adjustment for VI at work?

Following on  from Adrian’s article  entitled “Coming out at Work” about  the Disability at Work Act, we came across this piece of research being done by David Griffiths.  He is looking for visually impaired people who are prepared to be interviewed over the telephone and are  interested in helping out with his research on this topic.  If you are, he can be emailed at:-   d.griffith@btinternet.com. › Continue reading

Birdshot and Complementary Therapies

When faced with the news that you have been diagnosed with not only a rare eye disease but one where the prognosis is not good for the future, it is easy to see how you can feel as if your world has been turned upside down.   In some ways it can be looked upon as losing control of what is going on in it.

After being given details of the various medications (and their side effects) which may or may not work, it is almost certain that your emotions and thoughts are going to change – positive one minute and negative the next.  This in turn will have an affect on the physical body especially if one begins to feel helpless in this situation. › Continue reading

Help needed with invitreal injections!

Dave, a registered member of BUS has recently written  to us asking for our members help.   He wants to hear from people who have had experience of invitreal steroid injections as the current steroid treatment he is on isn’t dealing with his inflammation.

Can anyone give him guidance on what to expect and what their experience was of this procedure?

We are happy for you to post comments below or if you want to get in touch with him via birdshot@live.co.uk we will be happy to pass on your experiences to him if you don’t want to do this publicly via the comments section of the website.

Hope someone is able to provide him with info about their first hand experiences of this.

Thanks

Annie and Rea