True Friends

Smoking could lead to permanent loss of your 20 20 vision.

Lutein, an antioxidant, plays a major role in protecting the retina from ultraviolet rays. Tobacco hampers the absorption of lutein. Quitting Smoking not only saves our eyes but also avoids the risk of several other eye related diseases.

Smoking accelerates the development of cataracts. The presence of the free radicals in the body that build up over time from cigarette smoking may lead to formation of cataracts.

The vision can be affected by cataracts, but restoration of vision by removal of the cataract and implantation of an artificial lens is one of the most common surgeries performed today. However, when it comes to going blind and losing our 20 20 vision forever, the real dangers of cigarette smoking is macular degeneration.

People who have advanced ARMD in one eye are at especially high risk of developing advanced ARMD in the other eye. The greatest risk factor is age. Other risk factors include: Smoking, Obesity and Race.

· The risk of macular degeneration is two to three times higher in smokers than in people who have never smoked.

· Quitting smoking has a protective effect but does not eliminate the risk of ARMD altogether.

· Smoking causes vision loss very quickly.

· Smoking increases the risk of cataract.

The macula is located in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The retina instantly converts light, or an image, into electrical impulses. The retina then sends these impulses, or nerve signals, to the brain. The health of the macula is essential for accurate vision.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. One may have difficulty in recognizing faces. One may need more light for reading and performing other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected.

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels start to grow. These abnormal blood vessels leak blood and fluid in the back of the eye which is why the disease is termed as Wet Macular Degeneration. This distorts the scars macula, which harms, blurs and eventually destroys central vision.

Treatment

How is dry AMD treated?

Once dry AMD reaches the advanced stage, no form of treatment can prevent vision loss. However, treatment can delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to the advanced stage, in which vision loss occurs. Preferential Hyper Acuity perimeter is a non invasive, quick and easy to use perimeter that can detect early wet AMD before symptoms are noticeable to patients.

How is wet AMD treated?

Wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye. None of these treatments is a cure for wet AMD. The disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment.

1.      Photodynamic therapy. A drug called verteporfin is injected into your arm. It travels throughout the body, including the new blood vessels in your eye.
Photodynamic therapy is relatively painless. It takes about 20 minutes and can be performed in a doctor's office.
Treatment results often are temporary. You may need to be treated again.

2.      Injections. Wet AMD can now be treated with new drugs that are injected into the eye (anti-VEGF therapy). You will need multiple injections that may be given as often as monthly. 

Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital is in the forefront in the treatment of wet age related macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy and modern anti VEGF drugs. Currently these comprise the most advanced treatment available in the world for this condition.

-          Prof. Dr. S. Natarajan

Get Rid of Anger

Dr S. Natarajan's comments on Medical Buyer

Medical Buyer is a magazine which has a dedicated regular section called “Booster Dose!” which carries valuable opinions and suggestions on various aspects of the magazine.

Dr S. Natarajan's comments is published in Medical Buyer's Booster Dose (May 2011 issue). It is also published on their website. 

Please find link for the same. 

http://www.medicalbuyer.co.in/2007/booster-dose-3300-41.html

 

Dr. S. Natarajan - one of the Mumbai’s Top Docs (Ophthalmology) - India today (May issue)

Dr. S. Natarajan’s name is featured on Page no. 78 of India Today Magazine May issue.

Dr. S. Natarajan is one of the Mumbai’s Top Docs in the field of Ophthalmology.

Inter - Novation Inc presented the inaugural list of Mumbai’s Top Docs. The list was derived on the basis of survey mailed to 6340 consultant doctors across Mumbai in late 2010. Specialty Physicians were asked to list the doctors they felt were the very best in 31 different clinical. Doctors were asked when submitting their nominations to pay attention to training and education, clinical experience, research activities & teaching duties. Dr. S. Natarajan was one of them.

Failure & Success

Waiting Anxiously

Quotable Quote

Patients' Expression of gratitude

Hello Doctor,

My dad, Jerome Aranha, underwent retina attachment surgery at your hospital early April 2011.  We live in New Zealand & were here on a short vacation, when the retina detachment was detected. We went around shopping for the best doctor (of course without a clue) all over the place, and on recommendations from our friends, we landed on the doorstep of your hospital "Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital". Initially, for us, you were one more face in the crowd.  So we just 'went with the flow' so to say, with the treatment.  But with every visit and interaction with you, we realized that you are God's gift to India.  How proud the country is to have such a thorough, committed & God fearing surgeon & specialist.  What I admired about your greatness is that it is peppered with so much humility.  You give all the credit of your expertise to God, which is rightly so, as He deserves all the glory & praise. With such an awesome & 'bestest of the best' (That's You) at the helm, it is but natural, that your staff too are likewise trained.  Your hospital has all the trappings of an international institution.  Never for a moment I felt that I was not overseas.  The service was impeccable.  I interacted with your staff atleast on 15 to 20 occasions & every single time, every person (different all the time) were so professional.  They always delivered on their promises and on time.

All  me & dad are doing these days is distributing your brochures to all the visitors who come to see him. (You may have guessed my dad is a great talker & very popular, so has a lot of friends & well wishers).  The reason: We want everybody in need of eye care to be helped by you. 

It will not be out of place to mention the special people whom I have interacted with either over the phone or at the hospital.  Swapnila, Sneha, Margaret, Sanober, Sheetal, Archana & Santosh. They were all awesome.  Please, please pass on my thanks to each one of them personally, doctor. You will agree with me that this has been possible with the help of your entire team. So a big thank you to all your staff.

Kudos to you, doctor.  Keep up the good work!!

Thanks once again & amp; all the best!!

Melita

THANK YOU JESUS, PRAISE YOU JESUS, ALLELUIA!

MIDYEAR WORKSHOP Thiruvanthapuram 14th to 15th May 2011

MID YEAR WORKSHOP - Thiruvanthapuram 14-15 May 2011

Road Trip – Mahneyuda Restaurant – Jerusalem

Road Trip – Mahneyuda Restaurant – Jerusalem

Please don’t correct me on the spelling of the restaurant which is located in Jerusalem’s outdoor market Mahane Yehuda. The name appears as one word in Hebrew and although the menu is available in English there’s no English spelling of the restaurant’s name anywhere to be found.

Let’s move on to the food or better yet, the experience of Mahneyuda. This is a restaurant with an attitude. But what a great attitude it is!

Under the direction of three chefs, Asaf Granit, Yossi Elad and Uri Navon the restaurant is a hub of food action. Sit downstairs (at the kitchen bar or beverage bar) and you’ll have a bird's eye view into the frantic beat of the kitchen. This gives new meaning to the “open kitchen”. There are other tables downstairs away from the bars where the loud music will help you keep the beat even if you can’t see the kitchen. Sit upstairs and you’ll still enjoy your meal but you’ll be able to have conversation while enjoying your special meal.

Mahneyuda, Jerusalem

The menu changes daily and uses the best of what’s available in the shuk. The menu is divided into 3 sections, by price in Hebrew and by small, starter and main course in English. Make sure you read the side bar of the menu because that’s where the some of the salads, risotto and other specials are found.

The restaurant isn’t kosher but there’s something for everyone on this menu. We started with the “Salmon Tataki” (36 NIS) prepared in a “Nablus Gate” way. Don’t forget, the restaurant is in Jerusalem. The “Nablus Gate” refers to the drizzled tehina on the hardly seared salmon and red tuna. On the side we received a bowl of tempura fried ginger. Delicious.

Our next course was THE most scrumptious creamy polenta topped with perfectly crisp asparagus, mushroom ragu and shaved Parmesan. It was served in an airtight mason jar! This is one of those dishes that when you finish you want to cry because there isn’t any more left in the jar!

Next…a “Summer Pasta” with Jerusalem artichokes, snow peas and spinach in a light lemony olive oil sauce topped with shave Parmesan. Not on the menu was a gorgeous tomato salad for which we used the bread (from Russell’s Bakery in the shuk) to soak up the dressing.

 

Not on the menu tomato salad

Cold Lambrusco was the perfect beverage for what was an oppressively hot day and sitting so close to the kitchen added to the temperature. 

 

This is a must visit restaurant and T in Tel Aviv looks forward to further visits. The menu has so many dishes that I wanted to try but how much I can eat at once? I also suggest dining with a group so you can sample a variety of dishes.

I’d give Manhneyuda a 4.95 out of 5 – the bathroom needs closer attention during rush hour. Keep in mind that reservations MUST be made FAR in advance especially if you want to sit at one of the bars.

Beit Yaacov Street 10, Jerusalem (Machane Yehuda), Tel: 02-533-3442

Open 12:30-16:30 Sunday- Thursday and 18:30 - until the last customer

Fridays 12:00-16:00

Saturday night until the last customer