October 4, 2012 Page 5 Ophthalmologist on Mission to Prevent Childhood Blindness Worldwide By Cristian Vasquez large and hard to treat,” Dr. Isenberg said. and why we came up with povidone iodine form so that pharmacies in more rural areas Throughout his career, pediatric “With the drops I developed, we proved with eye drops for newborn babies. We started can just mix it with solution and apply the ophthalmologist Dr. Sherwin Isenberg has studies in the Philippines and in India that it the major studies at Harbor-UCLA Medical medication before they need to go to major encountered many instances of childhood is as effective as antibiotics, if not more. But Center and then we took that data and studied medical centers. It usually takes people in blindness both in the United State and around just as important, it is available and it is cheap. this in Kenya. Now I am looking at other these countries days to get to medical centers, the world. However, the prevalence of the Prevention is worth more than treatment or developing countries trying to address the which allows the infections to grow,” Dr. condition in underdeveloped countries around curing. For newborn babies, I developed a different causes of blindness. The latter just Isenberg said. “There is a whole series of the globe not only made Dr. Isenberg question different eye drop to put in their eye. When dealt with infection issues.” research steps and what I have described who was addressing the issue but also pushed a baby is born in the United States and in PI is effective against all bacteria, viruses was the first step in the prevention of him to do something about it himself. most Western countries, a drop is placed and fungi in vitro. In addition, the solution blindness series that was for the newborns “I decided early in my career to get in the eyes to prevent infection. When the causes almost no allergic reactions and it has with conjunctivitis. That was published in the involved with this and to see what can be baby comes out of the birth canal, they are become widely available worldwide either New England Journal of Medicine in 1995. done to reduce blindness in the world,” Dr. exposed to bacteria. A lot of organisms can through local providers or through the World After that, because the journal is so widely Isenberg said. “There is much more blindness get into the eyes and cause an infection.” Health Organization. The solution can be easily read, it began being used in many countries outside the United States, but we do also Preventing blindness has been at the prepared from existing powders or solutions around the world.” have children suffering from blindness in center of Dr. Isenberg’s research and efforts. and on average is very affordable (10 cents Conducting research and developing the the United States. I am doing the research Information by the World Health Organization to the US dollar for a 5ml bottle in Kenya). eye drops was not an easy task. However, to find out two things. Number one, what indicates that almost half a million children Dr. Isenberg indicates that main causes of the commitment by Dr. Isenberg and his are the major causes of blindness? Some of go blind every year. Furthermore, 90 percent treatable blindness in developing countries colleagues is relentless and they hope to that has been done by other people. Number of all pediatric blindness occurs in developing are eye infections. The difference with eye accomplish more in preventing childhood two, it’s about addressing the causes to try countries. As lead investigator at the Los infections when compared to infections in other blindness worldwide. to reduce the blindness.” Angeles Biomedical Research Institute parts of the body is that when infections go “Obtaining support was difficult because Dr. Isenberg has conducted several studies at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA away in other parts of the body, the person the eye drop that I am developing is so that have demonstrated that povidone iodine BioMed), Dr. Isenberg has been instrumental will develop a small scar without any major cheap that no pharmaceutical company is (PI) is an effective solution in preventing in reducing the number of children who go consequences. An infection on the surface of interested--it is way too cheap for them,” Dr. and treating several eye conditions including blind worldwide every year. Dr. Isenberg an eye also results in a scar and that scar Isenberg said. “I spoke to some of them and congenital conjunctivitis, which is said worked with investigators in the United will block a person’s vision. To date, it was they were not interested. Also, most of the to blind an estimated 10,000 babies each States, India and in the Philippines to test the reported that thousands of children have United States Research Foundations will not year worldwide, and bacterial and fungal effectiveness of the PI ophthalmic solution benefited from the PI ophthalmic solution, fund research outside of the United States, keratitis--corneal infections that have been on patients. Dr. Isenberg and his fellow especially in developing countries. Dr. Isenberg but I was able to find some resources even the cause of blindness for almost 400,000 investigators discovered PI to be a safe and is currently working on a study to test the though there are very few resources to fund children worldwide. Providing access to the inexpensive alternative in parts of the world effectiveness of the PI solution on a disease these types of studies.” medication is crucial to preventing blindness where antibiotics are not readily available known as trachoma, which can be spread Dr. Isenberg concluded, “We have to among children and is an important element and rather expensive. through contact with eye discharge from the overcome them obstacles. For some of my of Dr. Isenberg’s efforts. “If you are going to develop something infected person (on towels, handkerchiefs, research, I have had foundations sponsor us “In developing countries they have to send that is to be used in a developing country, it fingers, etc.) and through transmission by and some individuals have donated to sponsor children to major medical centers and days has to be cheap. If not, then nobody is going eye-seeking flies. us. They realize there are people outside the later when they arrive, the infection is very to use it,” Dr. Isenberg said. “That is how “The treatment is also available in powder United States that need our help.” • Leuzinger High ballcarrier Travionne Pope runs for big yardage during last Friday’s Mayor’s Cup football rivalry against Hawthorne. The Olympians rallied to defeat the Cougars 34-20. The Olympians host Palos Verdes in their Bay League opener Friday at 7 p.m.
Lawndale 10.04.12
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