People with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing eye inflammation and resultant vision damage, a dermatologist said on Wednesday.
A man in his 40s, surnamed Chen (陳), had been suffering from psoriasis for more than 10 years when he began to feel pain in his left eye and was diagnosed with uveitis, an inflammation of the uvea — the middle layer of the eye, between the retina and the white of the eye.
The patient had experienced severe psoriasis, with worsening symptoms over the winter, but he thought his eye pain was the result of working overtime frequently and staying up late, said Chang Gung Memorial Hospital dermatologist Chi Ching-chi (紀景琪), who treated Chen.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors, Chi said, adding that the prevalence of the disease in Taiwan is about 2.3 per 1,000 people, which indicates that there could be more than 50,000 people with psoriasis in the nation.
The low temperatures and less sunshine during winter, sleeping late, mental stress, obesity and smoking and drinking habits can cause symptoms to worsen, Chi said.
Studies have suggested that psoriasis is not only a skin condition, but that severe psoriasis with large-scale skin inflammation can affect vital organs, including increased risk of kidney disease, myocardial infarction or heart attack, as well as a cerebral vascular accident or stroke, Chi said.
A research team led by Chi analyzed the National Health Insurance data of tens of thousands of people with and without psoriasis and discovered that people with severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have 2.4 times the risk of developing uveitis. Those without psoriatic arthritis also have 1.42 times the risk, compared with people without psoriasis.
The hospital’s dermatology department has established a special psoriasis treatment and a research team to provide better clinical care for patients and to conduct more research on the disease.
People with psoriasis are encouraged to maintain a balanced lifestyle, get sufficient sleep, relax, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and drinking, and maintain a healthy body weight, Chi said, adding that they should also seek medical attention as soon as they experience any eye discomfort.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS