New Light Therapy
Preserves Vision
A new procedure to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is now considered the preferred means of slowing the progression of the disease.
According to Sanjay Sharma, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Department Head at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the light-sensitive medication called verteporfin is injected into the vein of an arm. The drug then circulates through the body to the eyes. When a laser is shone into the eyes, the drug is activated and destroys the abnormal blood vessels that cause the loss of central vision in AMD.
The treatment is now covered by most health insurance plans.
Nicholson Warns of
Prescription Scam
VA is warning veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update VA prescription information.
“Some unscrupulous scammers have targeted America’s veterans, especially our older veterans,” said VA Secretary R. James Nicholson. “VA does not call veterans in order to obtain personal financial information over the phone.”
The latest scam, currently centered in the Midwest, involves calls from individuals identifying themselves as the “Patient Care Group.” They claim that VA has recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the veteran’s credit card number.
“VA has not changed its processes for dispensing prescription medicines,” said Nicholson. “And we’ve definitely not changed our long-standing commitment to protect the personal information of our veterans.”
Blinded veterans with questions about VA services should contact the nearest VA medical center. |
