UNIVERSITY EYE INSTITUTE AT UH SEES
START OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS EYE CARE CENTER
MS Awareness Week Kicks off Partnership with National Multiple Sclerosis
Society
HOUSTON, March 1, 2006 – The University of Houston, University
Eye Institute and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are partnering
to open a new clinic to evaluate the eyes of patients with multiple
sclerosis and those who are multiple sclerosis suspects.
A recent joint press conference announced the opening of the Multiple
Sclerosis Eye Center for Analysis, Research and Education (MS Eye
CARE).
Located in the University Eye Institute on the UH campus, the
new center is currently the only one of its kind where the MS Society
has affiliated directly with an eye institute. Now a formal affiliate
of the National MS Society, this center is dedicated to the eye
care of adults and children with MS and patients who are MS suspects.
“What differentiates us from other MS centers is our focus
on recognizing and studying the very early visual and eye movement
findings as they relate to MS,” said Jade S. Schiffman, M.D.,
the facility’s medical director. “Early signs of MS
are easily overlooked. A goal of MS Eye CARE is to help health care
professionals recognize the early eye manifestations suggestive
of MS and to serve as a referral center for MS prospects. This is
especially important for eye care professionals, who are often the
first health care professionals to see MS patients, since in almost
half of the cases the initial symptoms often involve the eyes.”
Dr. Schiffman is an associate professor at UH and a member of the
Methodist Neurological Institute in the Texas Medical Center. She
is board certified in both neurology and ophthalmology and has subspecialty
training in neuro-ophthalmology. She has been recognized in the
Best Doctors in America for the past 12 years. The center’s
research director is Laura Frishman, the associate dean for graduate
studies and research for UH’s College of Optometry and an
internationally recognized expert in the visual system. Both work
together with Ph.D.s in physiological optics to blend clinical,
electrophysiological and other new technology to aid in the early
diagnosis of MS.
MS can cause myriad symptoms, including blurred vision, blindness,
eye pain, double vision, dizziness, loss of balance, poor coordination,
slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with
memory and concentration, paralysis and others. Some of these symptoms
initially may be transient, making early diagnosis difficult. MS
Eye CARE has developed protocols that will facilitate early diagnosis
and will provide initial measures of progression of the disease.
“The symptoms of MS mimic a wide range of diseases and can
easily be attributed to something else for a number of years until
they become severe enough to be recognized as being caused by MS,”
she said. “Using the latest diagnostic technology and working
with neurologists, we are able to confirm the diagnosis even when
symptoms may have temporarily resolved. Early diagnosis is extremely
important in the management of MS because progression can be slowed
down by relatively new medications and the patient’s quality
of life enhanced if treatment is initiated early. The ability to
provide a patient suspected to have MS with an alternative diagnosis
is also equally important.”
Additional goals of MS Eye CARE include direct rehabilitation to
patients with disabling visual symptoms and referrals to neighboring
clinics in the University Eye Institute, such as the Center for
Sight Enhancement. MS Eye CARE also works with treating neurologists
at collaborating medical facilities that include the Maxine Messinger
MS Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s
MS group, Texas Children’s Hospital and other outside neurologists
who are caring for MS patients.
“There is a finite window of opportunity in detecting MS,”
said Mark Neagli, president of the National MS Society, Lone Star
Chapter. “Prompt diagnosis is important, because early treatment
has been proven to lessen the destruction caused by MS. This is
a crucial partnership in fighting this disease and setting our sights
on stopping MS in its tracks.”
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s first MS Awareness
Week begins March 13.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
About the National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter
Celebrating more than 50 years in the fight against multiple sclerosis,
the Lone Star Chapter serves more than 17,000 people affected by
multiple sclerosis in 141 Texas counties. The chapter is number
one in the nation financially, geographically and in terms of population
served. While there is no cure yet, FDA-approved medications can
significantly reduce the number of acute attacks and delay the onset
of permanent disabilities. All funds are privately raised and 83
cents of every dollar is used to benefit persons affected by multiple
sclerosis. The Lone Star Chapter has offices in Houston, Dallas,
San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi.
Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved
therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of
life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health
care professional and contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org
or 1-800-FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage MS and about
current research that may one day reveal a cure.
About the UH College of Optometry
For more than 50 years, the University of Houston College of Optometry
(UHCO) has trained optometrists to provide the highest quality vision
and eye care. One of only 17 optometry schools in the United States,
the UHCO offers a variety of degree programs including: Doctor of
Optometry (O.D.), a combined Doctor of Optometry / Doctor of Philosophy
(O.D./Ph.D.), Master of Science (M.S.) and a Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.). Located on the UH campus, the UHCO consists of 50 full-time
faculty, 508 adjunct faculty as well as 76 full-time staff.
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For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom
at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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