SATURDAY, MAY 19.1990—THE CAROLIN/kTlMES-9
eff Implant Improves
rtificial Eyes
peborah Simpkins
.^University News Service
iil recenUy. when people lost
(tiey received a plastic
artificial eye-shell,
rt with an t ...
,ae often not happy with the
■lie result caused by a lack of
Movement After three years of
jjl, two ophthalmologists
[„„nd that a "coral" implant is
'effective in creating normal
lovements for an artificial eye
|jss likely to be rejected by the
.5 Federal Food and Drug
jisiration recenUy approved a
like implant, known as
uyapatite, for general use
studies performed at Duke
,,sity Eye Center by Jonathan
I M.D., Ph.D., an oculo-
specialist, and at several
centers. The research was
jjed in cooperation with his
me Arthur Perry, M.D., in
liegO’ f , ■ ■ , . •
te beauty of this implant is it
tes part of the normal tissue,
,’t get infected and it becomes
jteJ to the surrounding
js," said Dutton, who has used
mplant on approximately 45
Its, So far only about 200
in the country have
ted the implant because many
talmologists have not yet
led the special techniques
red for the procedure,
ten an eye must be removed
jse of disease (such as end-
glaucoma), cancer or eye
la, the loss of volume causes
lyelids to sink in and the orbit
Jowly shrink, reducing the
at’s ability to wear an artificial
An implant is necessary to
ice that lost volume,
fraditionally. a plastic and
eionally a glass or a hollow
ball have been used, but they
erode tissue, displace to one
down or out even to the point
ishing the artificial eye out.
The biggest complaint from
mis is that they have problems
die movement of the artificial
' Dutton said, adding that
-ions attempts to correct all the
ilems associated with these type
lams have proved ineffective,
loral, however, is not prone to
[problems. "Hydroxyapatite is
E of calcium carbonate, which
the inorganic chemical
nework of bone," he said.
Erefore, it is not treated like a
lign substance by the body,
ause it has pores, blood vessels
issue are able to grow into it,
we are able to connect the
‘smnscles to it."
Dutton uses donor sclera, the
white tissue found on the outside of
an eye ball, to cover the
hydroxyapatite — much like one
wraps a baseball with leather. He
then creates "windows," or holes,
to allow blood vessels access to the
coral's pores. The hydroxyapatite is
implanted into the orbit, and the
muscles are sewn directly onto the
sclera covering.
The patient wears an artificial
eye while the conjunctiva, the
membrane that covers sclera, heals
and blood vessels grow into the
implant. After six months the body,
through its blood vessels and tissue,
has accepted the implant as its own. '
(A bone scan confirms that the
implant has a complete and
functioning blood supply.)
Although the implant is
effectively in place at this point,
Dutton takes the reconstruction one
step further. He drills a small hole
in the front center of the implant
and placer a peg there. Then an
ocularist (one who makes artificial
eyes) makes a matching depression
to fit the peg. He incorporates that
depression in a custom-built
artificial eye that, when inserted,
will move as the implant moves
and because the implant was
successfully attached to the
muscles, the artificial eye’s
movement will be coordinated with
the movement of the natural eye.
The ocularist takes great care in
his handiwork. He hand paints each
artificial eye and uses red silk
threads to simulate blood vessels in
the sclera.
"When the procedure is finished,
the patient will have an artificial
eye that looks and moves almost
exactly like the natural eye,"
Dutton said.
Before the FDA approved
hydroxyapatite for use in the eye, it
had been approved only for use in
jaw reconstruction.
MB
OIMTHFo Cj-AlMIb
BY VIRGINIA TRUAX
ONE LAST FLING - On your
last cookout of the season, why not
grill an extra steak to be frozen and
reheated later in the microwave.
For one frozen steak, reheat five
minutes at 30 percent power (or
defrost on some models), then 50
percent (medium) for five more
minutes.
OUT OF GAS — Make your
home-baked beans less gassy by
adding two tablespoons of b^ing
soda to the presoak water.
OGDEN, ARK. — Floodwaters from the Red River poured
through and over levees forcing the evacuation of residents in
Southwest Arkansas. Millions
reported. (UPI Photo)
of dollars in damage have been
Rural Obstetrical Care Incentive Program
Funding Urged By Family Physicians
The North Carolina Academy of
Family Physicians held its 42nd
Annual Scientific Assembly in
Greensboro April 25-29, and
legislative issues were given high
priority.
The major legislative objective of
the Academy during 1989 was the
continued funding of the Rural
Obstetrical Care Incentive Program
(ROCI), which would provide state
monies to assist in payment of
malpractice liability premiums for
doctors providing obstetrical care
in obstetrically underserved areas
in North Carolina.
In 1989, 51 physicians and 28
counties benefit^ from state ROCI
allocations. That allocation was
responsible for stalemating the
exodus of doctors practicing
obstetrics in several counties.
During 1989 and 1990, two
hundred forty thousand dollars
have been appropriated annually
for the Rural Obstetrical Incentive
Program. Fifty-six physicians and
25 counties are targeted for
assistance in providing obstetrical
services in underserved areas of our
state. The Academy has, since
1988, sought ROCI funds for 1.5
Ask Dr. Epstein
“All About
Adolescents”
When You’re Ready To Go
Home...
...We’U Be Going With You.
Durham County General Hospital
Now Makes Housecalls
We know that you want to leave the hospital as soon as possible...
’ go home... to your family and your friends. Hospital stays are getting shorter, and we are ready to
help you leave as soon as possible by following you home and
giving you the kind of health care service we have become well known for.
Whether it’s high-tech nursing, physical therapy or one of many other health care services,
We are ready to work with your doctor.
Home Treatment and Life Care,
A Home Health Care Service of
Durham County General Hospital
continuing the tradition of high quality health care
you’ve come to expect.
Call 493-3220 or
N. C. Toll Free 1-800-433-7511
Dear Dr. Epstein: I am a mother of three young
children, and my oldest daughter is in the fourth
grade.
Her elementary school has a police officer come out
periodically to talk to the children about substance
abuse and crime. Because of these visits she has decided
to lead a drug free life. She has written a short poem I
would like to share with your readers. Mrs. S.
Drugs Are Not For Me
I want to think smart, feel smart, healthy and free
and that's why drugs are not for me.
I V ’nt to play safe, stay safe, naturally
and that’s why dmgs are not for me.
When I say no to drugs. I'm saying yes to me,
and that’s the only thing I can do, you see.
My heart is sure and my mind agrees
and that’s why drugs are not for me.
Say no to drugs ll^ Sebrina, Age 9
Dear Mrs. S.: Thank you for sharing your daughter’s
special poem. It is truly heartwarming to see such a
positive response to the drug problem from such a
young child. Also, it is encouraging to know that
children as young as your daughter are giving thought
to the dangers of substance abuse.
As your daughter pointed out in her poem, by saying
no to drugs, children are saying yes to themselves.
Dear Dr. Epstein: I am 16 years old and I have a
problem with my boyfriend who is 17.
I am not ashamed to admit that I am not sexually
active, however, my boyfriend has been putting pres
sure on me.
I like him alot, but I am not ready to make that kind
of commitment. I also don’t want to lose him because
he is so special to me. You see we have been dating for
eight months now.
How can I let him know how much I care for him
without doing something so drastic? Confused
Dear Confused: The problem you write about
occurs frequently with teenagers.
At this point, you should place your trust in the
relationship. Go to your boyfriend and tell him that you
need to talk. Explain to him in a friendly, but direct,
manner that you care about him, but also that you care
about the future of your relationship. In addition, tell
him that you are certain that he cares deeply for you
and that you know he would never do anything to
deliberately hurt you. Explain that you are feeling pres
sured to become involved sexually. Tell him that you
feel the two of you need to slow down and let the
relationship develop more fully before you make a
commitment.
You will know when you are ready to become sex
ually involved because it will seem natural and
comfortable. If you were to give in to your boyfriend s
pressure, you would begin to resent him and feel angry.
Resentment and anger will not lead to a relationship
with a positive future.
Bruce A. Epstein ,
Dr. Epstein has practiced pediatric medicine in St.
Petersburg, Fiorida, since 1972. Dr. Epstein serves on
the Board of Directors of STRAIGHT, Inc., a national
adolescent drug treatment program with National Cor
porate offices in St. Petersburg, Fiorida. STRAIGHT
maintains the nationwide 24-hour hotline, 1-800-9-FRIEND.
You can write Dr. Epstein at 3001 Gandy Boulevard,
St. Petersburg, FL 33702. ©1989.
million dollars annually lo
supplement liability in.surance
premiums for doctors serving in
eligible and obstetrically deficit
counties.
The North Carolina Academy of
Family Physicians has repeatedly
proclaimed strong support fo: tfit
ROCI Program its the best means to
provide more perinatal ca.. to
expectant mothers and, in turn,
retard the severe infant mortality
rate in North Carolina which is
12.7 deaths per l(X) live births and
represents the highest rate in the
United Stales.
The Rural Obstetrical Care
Incentive Program is a start m the
right direction to increase perinatal
care and decrease fetal moruilily.
and the North Canolina Academy of
Family Physicians expresses
continued strong s upport for ROCI
funding.
Members of the bean family manufacture their own nit
rogen that enriches the soil around them. Planting beans
in sandy tracts will enable other plants to thrive there
as well.
Discountl Drugs
206 W. Mein St
688-13F>8
Head Lice: Prevention
and Treatmen t
Head lice are tin>' parasites -
about the size of smal I ants. Lice
have claws on each leg; that allows
them to cling to the sk in and suck
small amounts of blood from
humans. Infestations of head lice
are common among elementary-
age school children. Head lice
bites often produce reximess, itch
ing, and scratching for up to 24
hours after bites occur. Severe
bites may result in enlisting and
oozing from the scalp a nd along
the hair line.
Prescription and nonprcscrip-
tion medicines areavai labl eto help
get rid of head lice. Pres cription
medicines include shampoos and
cream rinses that are applic d to the
scalp for a few minutes an id then
rinsed away. Nonprescription
shampoos should be applied a
second time, 7 to 10 days af ter the
firstapplication. Someof tlhe,sham
poo productscomewilhahair comb
for removing lice eggs (nils ) that
may remain after shampotiin,?.
Prevent head lice infestat ions
by washing infected family m em
ber’s clothes in hot water and diy nng
clothes in a hot dryer for at Icasi ’. 20
minutes. Vacuumareassuchas the
backs of chairs and head rests tl lat
may come in contact with in fech'd
persons. Disinfect combs and ha ir
brushes and periodical ly checl t chi, l-
dren’s hair for lice or eggs.