Adam Hochron

As with most surgical advances, new potential procedures in ophthalmology pose their fair share of risks. However, if those risks can be overcome the rewards to patients can make a significant difference in their quality of life.

Medical technology is constantly evolving across fields, and ophthalmology is no exception. A new hypersonic vitrectomy device is currently in development and could be on the market in 2017.

For many patients who are vitamin D deficient, there are oral supplements which can be found over the counter which can help bring their levels into the normal range. That and other steps can help play a role in lessening the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

Whether patients need to move to stronger medications, or find a more effective treatment, doctors need as much information as possible before making a decision on what course to follow.

In just over a year, Praluent has shown benefits in helping patients lower their cholesterol level. Despite the progress, there have also been some challenges.

For many years, there were no good treatments for patients with pulmonary hypertension. That has changed recently, but there is still much more work to be done.

Unlike other conditions, pulmonary hypertension has symptoms that can be hard to identify in order to give the patients the right diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can not only worsen the symptoms, but also make treatment that much harder in the long run.

When a patient is diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria, there are several things doctors can do to help them. The process to get the proper diagnosis can take several weeks, which can complicate the situation for patients.

People can experience bouts of urticaria over the course of their lives, but usually they only last for a matter of days. When the symptoms last six weeks or more, it can be classified as chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Much in the way GPS systems help drivers navigate the roads easier, image guided surgery can help doctors provide better care to their patients in many cases.

As more is learned about thyroid diseases in endocrinology one of the questions looming now is why does the thyroid hormone affect the body the way that it does. There are also questions about whether some health conditions are really tied to the hormone or another part of the anatomy.

Explaining diabetic macular edema to patients can be a challenge in itself. Going further to explain the injection process can take even more care for eye care professionals.

The fight against the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has made huge strides in recent years, but there is still much more work to be done. What role technology will play in that effort has yet to be determined.

In these busy times there can be many things that can get in the way of a healthy relationship on a variety of levels. Identifying these barriers and knowing what to do about them can be very difficult issues to tackle for patients and providers alike.

In the field of neurosurgery it can seem like each new day is the future. Even still there are goals to achieve that may not be reached until many years down the road.

Even though some medications for epilepsy are able to drastically reduce the number of seizures a patient suffers sometimes just one can be damaging enough to a person's quality of life.

While minimally invasive surgery is not a new concept the rapid advances in technology are helping to treat patients with more wide ranging conditions than ever before.

For many, cardiovascular disease can be seen as mostly an issue facing men. However, work has been done to raise the education of women to help ensure their health as well.

There has been plenty of research to show that rehabilitation can help with the cognitive function of patients with multiple sclerosis. A recent study looked at whether advanced imaging can determine whether some patients will respond better to the therapy than others.

In adult patients neuromyelitis optica is considered a rare enough condition. It is even more rare in children making the diagnosis and treatment a longer and more careful process.

At the moment the best way to get a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is through a brain scan. A team in Tennessee is working to improve that with a blood test that could find the condition sooner allowing for treatment to begin faster.

While neurologists may be able to successfully diagnose progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy it may take a more specialized health care professional to effectively treat the condition.

It has been a few years now since Tecfidera was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In that time there has bee continued research which has shown positive results for patients.

As robotic surgery has become more popular in fields like urology and gynecology questions have been raised about who is most likely to undergo these procedures and why that is the case.

There is a known connection between atrial fibrillation and stroke risk. Finding the best way to handle this connection can determine the success of care and the quality of life for patients.

Patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation will often need treatment extending over a long period of time. In many cases ablation can be the best way to manage their symptoms requiring the work of an electrophysiologist.

There have been big steps taken to help combat the opioid abuse epidemic but there is still much more work to be done. Several leading organizations and pharmaceutical companies to help patients with overdose and prevent abuse in the first place.

As conditions like PTSD have been brought to the forefront work has been done to help not only current service members but also veterans who may be dealing with that and other conditions during and after service.

For patients who struggle with positive airway pressure machines there have been developments in recent years to help them treat their sleep apnea and other disorders.

Whether it is obstructive or central sleep apnea or any number of other conditions finding the right treatment method can make a big difference in improving quality of life.