Ophthalmology News and Research

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Ophthalmology is the specialized field of medicine that focuses on the health of the eye. It includes the anatomy, physiology and diseases that may affect the eye. Historically, the science of ophthalmology encompassed all aspects of visual function, both in health and in illness. Additionally, ophthalmology also includes animal eyes as ocular function and optic diseases are similar among humans and animals.

AMD risk alleles fail to predict treatment response

The major risk alleles that influence the development of age-related macular degeneration do not predict response to therapy for the condition, a substudy of the CATT trial indicates.

20 Feb 2013

Sucampo's RESCULA 0.15% now available by prescription across the U.S.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that RESCULA (unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution) 0.15% is now available by prescription across the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a sNDA for RESCULA for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on December 7, 2012.

19 Feb 2013

MSU to launch levetiracetam clinical trial for treatment of African children with epilepsy

Determined to bring relief to seizure victims, a Michigan State University research team this month begins a groundbreaking clinical drug trial that could help prevent a quarter-million African children from developing epilepsy each year.

16 Feb 2013

Pediatric blindness etiology varies around the globe

The causes and prevalence of blindness in children vary markedly by geography, presumably as a proxy for socioeconomic factors influencing prevention and treatment schemes, conclude the authors of a literature review.

15 Feb 2013

Dompé initiates enrollment in rhNGF phase I/II REPARO study for neurotrophic keratitis

The first patient has been enrolled in the phase I/II REPARO study, the first international clinical trial evaluating the ophthalmological use of a topical solution of recombinant human Nerve Growth Factor (rhNGF) for the treatment of moderate to severe neurotrophic keratitis (NK).

15 Feb 2013

Castle Biosciences launches MyUvealMelanoma website

Castle Biosciences Inc., a leading developer of prognostic tests for rare cancers, announced today the launch of MyUvealMelanoma.com, a website created to educate newly diagnosed patients, their families and healthcare providers about the most common form of eye cancer. MyUvealMelanoma tells the story of this disease, its treatment and the importance of prognostic testing, through the experience of patients who recently faced this devastating diagnosis first-hand.

15 Feb 2013

Amblyopia screening guidelines updated

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the professional body for pediatric eye care, has issued revised guidelines for preschool vision screening based on new evidence.

14 Feb 2013

CATT study clarifies value of genetic testing for age-related macular degeneration

New findings from a landmark clinical trial show that although certain gene variants may predict whether a person is likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a potentially blinding eye disease that afflicts more than nine million Americans, these genes do not predict how patients will respond to Lucentis- and Avastin-, the two medications most widely used to treat the "wet" form of AMD.

13 Feb 2013

Researchers describe novel antiviral property of cholesterol-25-hydroxylase

A team of UCLA-led researchers has identified a protein with broad virus-fighting properties that potentially could be used as a weapon against deadly human pathogenic viruses such as HIV, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, Nipah and others designated "priority pathogens" for national biosecurity purposes by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

13 Feb 2013

Sucampo, R-Tech Ueno and Takeda file patent infringement lawsuit against Anchen for AMITIZA

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it, together with R-Tech Ueno, Ltd., Sucampo AG, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and certain affiliates of Takeda, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Anchen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which had filed Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic version of AMITIZA (lubiprostone) oral capsules, and certain affiliates of Anchen.

12 Feb 2013

Enzyme therapy slows progression of Batten disease in dogs

Batten disease is a rare, fatal genetic disorder that affects children. Currently, no effective treatment exists for the disease, which ultimately kills all who are affected. Dachshunds also suffer from Batten disease, and now researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Medicine, in collaboration with BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., have developed a treatment for the disease that has significantly delayed the onset and progression of symptoms in the Dachshunds.

12 Feb 2013

Taro, Sun Pharma mutually agree to terminate merger agreement

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that they have mutually agreed to terminate their merger agreement, announced in August 2012, pursuant to which all shareholders of Taro would have received a cash payment of $39.50 per share upon the closing of the merger.

10 Feb 2013

Northwestern Medicine to open new Outpatient Center in Glenview, Illinois

Northwestern Medicine today announced that on March 1 it will open a new Outpatient Center at 2701 Patriot Boulevard in Glenview, Illinois. At this new center, 20-30 physicians will offer patients a wide range of primary care and specialty clinical services.

10 Feb 2013

Social networking sites could effectively help prevent HIV infection among at-risk groups

Facebook and other social networking technologies could serve as effective tools for preventing HIV infection among at-risk groups, new UCLA research suggests.

9 Feb 2013

Selective laser trabeculoplasty promising for glaucoma

Selective laser trabeculoplasty leads to significant reductions in intraocular pressure in people with primary open-angle glaucoma, a study has found.

6 Feb 2013

Viral conjunctivitis: potential new treatment

Viral conjunctivitis is a highly contagious infection, often causing major ophthalmic epidemics. There is no approved acute treatment currently approved by the FDA for viral conjunctivitis. A safe broad-spectrum antiviral agent is needed to treat this unmet medical need.

5 Feb 2013

AAPOS committee revises guidelines for automated preschool vision screening

The Vision Screening Committee of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the professional organization for pediatric eye care, has revised its guidelines for automated preschool vision screening based on new evidence. The new guidelines are published in the February issue of the Journal of AAPOS.

5 Feb 2013