REFERENCES [For simplification references are not cited in the standard academic format ]

1. Complications of cataract surgery according to a large UK study.

"Whereas overall adverse events occurred in nearly 7.5 % patients during the surgery and 23.3 % patients soon after surgery, significant complications rate was around 5% during the operation and around 16% soon after the operation." ( " National cataract surgery survey 1997-98: a report of the results of the clinical outcomes" by P. Desai, DC Minassian, A. Reidy.)

2. Benefits of antioxidants and nutrients in Age Related Maculopathy.

" Although this study provides no evidence for the long term benefit of antioxidants in ARM, the results suggest that increasing the level of retinal antioxidants might influence macular function early in the disease process, as well as in normal aging." (Benedetto Falsini et al ,Ophthalmology, Jan 2003 )

"Daily supplement with vitamin E supplement does not prevent the development or progression of early or later stages of age related macular degeneration." (Taylor HR, BMJ, July 2002)

"Persons older than 55 years should have dilated eye examinations to determine their risk of developing advanced AMD. Those with extensive intermediate size drusen, at least 1 large drusen, noncentral geographic atrophy in 1 or both eyes, or advanced AMD or vision loss due to AMD in 1 eye, and without contraindications such as smoking, should consider taking a supplement of antioxidants plus zinc such as that used in this study." (Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group, Archives of ophthalmology, Oct 2001)

3. Advances in AMD treatment

"Immune modulator drugs seem to retard the progression of  neovascular AMD in Rat Model, However more work needs to be done before human trials." (Hikichi T et al, Current Eye Research, 2002)

4. Newer treatments in Diabetic retinopathy and Maculopathy

" Intra vitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolon acetonide may be beneficial for improving visual acuity in patients with clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema" (Jost B Jonas et al, Archives of Ophthalmology, 2003)

5. Treatment of diabetic retinopathy

The present treatment of diabetic retinopathy is based on many large scale multi-centre trials, the main ones being:

    1.DiabeticRetinopathyStudy(DRS) 1971 - 1978

    2.Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) 1980 –1989

    3.Diabetic Retinopathy Vitrectomy Study (DRVS) 1976 –1983

    4.Diabetic Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) 1983- 1989

    5.United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) 1981-1998