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July 29, 2021
flu-season-ahead


    Health insurance isn’t required to participate.
    Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information
    (904) 730-0166

    Learn More

    If you want us to contact you about our research studies call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


    Glaucoma-eye-drops.jpg

    April 28, 2020
    Glaucoma eye drops

    If you or someone you know has Glaucoma, call us today! We have research studies enrolling now.

    No cost, and no health insurance is required to participate.
    Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information.

    For more information call:
    (904) 730-0166
    Or sign up below!


    • Glaucoma: Too Much Aqueous Humor Is Nothing To Laugh At
    • Blindsided by Glaucoma?
    Glaucoma: Too Much Aqueous Humor Is Nothing To Laugh At

    The eye is a fragile and carefully balanced organ. At the very front of the eye is a fluid-filled chamber called the anterior chamber. This is located between the clear cornea at the front and the pupil, where light enters the rest of the eye. The fluid that fills this area is called the aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is critically important for cleaning and bringing nutrients to the lens. It is like a clear version of blood. Another key job the aqueous humor performs is maintaining eye pressure.

    The pressure in the eye needs to be maintained within a very specific range (12-22 mm Hg). Aqueous humor continuously flows through the front of the eye at a very slow rate (like blood, but slower). When the flow rate out of the eye gets disrupted, eye pressure increases.

    Doctors call high eye pressure ocular hypertension. The major characteristic is increased eye pressure without other symptoms. When eye pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, we call it glaucoma. Glaucoma can occur in two ways, closed angle or open angle. Closed angle is sudden and a medical emergency. Open angle makes up almost all cases of glaucoma and is gradual in onset. Typical symptoms of open angle glaucoma are vision problems in the middle of sight. These can include trouble with reading, seeing faces, walking, and driving. Both types will cause permanent blindness if untreated.

    Open angle glaucoma can happen to anyone, but is much more common with adults over 60 years old. Most cases are females, and black and Asian populations experience higher rates of the condition. There are several underlying reasons for open-angle glaucoma: vascular, anatomical, genetic, or immune. Because of this wide spread of causes, there are several risk factors:

    • Genetics / Family history
    • Diabetes
    • Extreme nearsightedness
    • Hypertension
    • Eye injury
    • Eye abnormalities
    • Steroid use
    • Smoking

    Several treatments are available for glaucoma. These include surgical and medication-based treatments, and surgically implanted medications. The goal of all treatments is to increase the flow of fluid out, decrease the amount of fluid coming in, or to decrease the volume of the anterior chamber. Medications are quite effective when taken properly. Unfortunately, fewer than one third of patients adhere to doctor recommendations for glaucoma eye drops after a year. This is in spite of the condition being progressive in nature and leading to blindness. Effective implanted medication delivery systems may provide better outcomes for patients.

    To get involved in the latest glaucoma research, contact our Nature Coast Crystal River office.

    Sources:

    Allison, K., Patel, D., & Alabi, O. (2020). Epidemiology of glaucoma: the past, present, and predictions for the future. Cureus12(11).

    Li, F., Huang, W., & Zhang, X. (2018). Efficacy and safety of different regimens for primary open‐angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis. Acta ophthalmologica96(3), e277-e284.

    Robin, A. L., & Muir, K. W. (2019). Medication adherence in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma. Expert Review of Ophthalmology14(4-5), 199-210.

    Blindsided by Glaucoma?

    Glaucoma is a common eye disease that can gradually steal your vision. The term glaucoma refers to a collection of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. This damage can lead to permanent vision loss or even total blindness. Glaucoma is considered a major cause of blindness in the general population.

    A major concern is that glaucoma often presents no early symptoms but continues to cause gradual, un-reversable damage. In most cases, glaucoma is diagnosed in people who are older than 40 but can still develop at an earlier age. An estimated 3.54% of adults between 40 and 80 years have been diagnosed with some type of glaucoma.

    Causes Of Glaucoma

    In most types of glaucoma, the eye’s drainage system becomes clogged so the intraocular fluid cannot drain. As the fluid builds up, it causes pressure to build inside the eye.  High pressure damages the sensitive optic nerve and results in vision loss.

    People are more likely to develop glaucoma if they:

    • Are over the age of 40
    • Have a family history of glaucoma
    • Have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or sickle cell anemia
    • Are of African American, Irish, Russian, Japanese, Hispanic, Inuit, or Scandinavian descent
    • Take certain steroid medications such as prednisone
    • Have had an injury to your eye or eyes
    • Have high eye pressure (ocular hypertension)

    Current Treatments Available

    Unfortunately, there is not currently a cure for glaucoma. However, there are several therapies that can help reduce eye pressure and the rate of damage to the optic nerve. Current approved treatment options for glaucoma include eyedrops, oral medications, laser surgery, or microsurgery.

    Clinical Research Advancements

    New clinical trials for glaucoma are focused on more innovative ways to treat the disease. Researchers are studying everything from electric current stimulation to slow release eye implants to help find relief for patients with glaucoma.

    You can help advance medical research by participating in a clinical trial! Contact any of our offices to see what clinical trials are enrolling today.



    This research study is enrolling at:


    Nature Coast Clinical Research – Crystal River
    6122 West Corporate Oaks Drive
    Crystal River, FL 34429
    (352) 563-1865



    Learn More

    If you want us to contact you about our research studies call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


    Volunteers.jpg

    April 28, 2020


      If you are a healthy volunteer interested in research, you may qualify for one of our studies.
      Healthy Volunteer Study Opportunities:
      • Vaccine Studies
      Qualified volunteers may receive at no cost:
      • investigational medication
      • study-related care from a local doctor
      • possible compensation
      Health insurance isn’t required to participate.
      Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information
      (904) 730-0166
      Or sign up below!


      Healthy research is enrolling at:


      Nature Coast Clinical Research
      6122 West Corporate Oaks Drive
      Crystal River, FL 34429
      (352) 861-1865



      Westside Center for Clinical Research
      810 Lane Avenue South
      Jacksonville, FL 32205
      (904) 693-1490



      Fleming Island Center for Clinical Research
      1679 Eagle Harbor Parkway
      Suite D, 2nd Floor Fleming Island, FL 32003
      (904) 621-0390



      Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research
      4085 University Blvd., South
      Suite 1
      Jacksonville, FL 32216
      (904) 730-0166



      Learn More

      If you want us to contact you about our research studies call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


      Heart-stethoscope.jpg

      May 4, 2022


      If you or someone you know has heart failure, call us today! We have multiple cardiovascular research studies enrolling now.

      No cost, and no health insurance is required to participate.
      Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information.

      For more information call:
      (904) 730-0166
      Or sign up below!




        This research is enrolling at:


        Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research
        4085 University Blvd., South
        Suite 1
        Jacksonville, FL 32216
        (904) 730-0166



        Nature Coast Clinical Research – Crystal River
        6122 West Corporate Oaks Drive
        Crystal River, FL 34429
        (352) 861-1865



        St. Johns Center for Clinical Research
        100 Whetstone Place,
        Suites 300 – 301,
        St. Augustine, FL 32086

        (904) 209-0043



        Learn More

        If you want us to contact you about this research study call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


        Heart-Human.jpg

        July 22, 2021
        Human Heart Drawing


        If you or someone you know has heart failure, call us today! We have multiple cardiovascular research studies enrolling now.

        No cost, and no health insurance is required to participate.
        Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information.

        For more information call:
        (904) 730-0166
        Or sign up below!




          This research is enrolling at:


          Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research
          4085 University Blvd., South
          Suite 1
          Jacksonville, FL 32216
          (904) 730-0166



          Nature Coast Clinical Research – Crystal River
          6122 West Corporate Oaks Drive
          Crystal River, FL 34429
          (352) 861-1865



          St. Johns Center for Clinical Research
          100 Whetstone Place,
          Suites 300 – 301,
          St. Augustine, FL 32086

          (904) 209-0043



          Learn More

          If you want us to contact you about our research studies call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


          cholesterol-heart.jpg

          January 30, 2020
          cholesterol heart


          If you or someone you know has heart disease, call us today! We have multiple cardiovascular research studies enrolling now.

          No cost, and no health insurance is required to participate.
          Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information.

          For more information call:
          (904) 730-0166
          Or sign up below!


          • What causes a heart attack?
          What causes a heart attack?

          What causes a heart attack?

          A heart attack (myocardial infarction) means that blood flow to the heart muscle has been decreased enough to cause damage to the heart muscle.  Some causes of blocked blood flow include blood clots, cholesterol build up, and rupture of plaque within the blood vessel.  For those who have already suffered a heart attack, it is important to reduce the risk of recurrent attacks. Research has shown that there are several steps that can be taken to help reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks.

          Proven things you can do to prevent heart attacks

          • Lower cholesterol
          • Lower triglycerides
          • Lower blood pressure
          • Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
          • Eat fish
          • Increase physical activity as allowed by your doctor. Inactive people have nearly twice the risk of heart disease as those who are active.
          • Talk with your doctor about medicines that can decrease blood clotting

          Medications that can reduce risk of heart attack

          • Cholesterol lowering medication, which include statins and non-statins
          • Triglyceride lowering medications
          • Medications that decrease inflammation

          Participating in a research study can help keep you motivated on your journey to better health. If you are interested in participating in any of our research studies, call your local office today!



          Heart Disease research is enrolling at:


          Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research
          4085 University Blvd., South
          Suite 1
          Jacksonville, FL 32216
          (904) 730-0166



          St. Johns Center for Clinical Research
          100 Whetstone Place,
          Suites 300 – 301,
          St. Augustine, FL 32086

          (904) 209-0043



          Nature Coast Clinical Research
          6122 West Corporate Oaks Drive
          Crystal River, FL 34429
          (352) 861-1865



          Learn More

          If you want us to contact you about our research studies call (904) 730-0166 or sign up below!


          red-eye.jpg

          March 23, 2021
          red eye


            If you or someone you know has Keratitis, call us today! We have research studies enrolling now.

            No cost, and no health insurance is required to participate.
            Ask your doctor or contact our clinic for more information.

            For more information call:
            (352) 563-1865
            Or sign up below!