Ophthalmology News and Research

RSS

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.

Novel technological treatment for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

A research team, led by John Guy, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has pioneered a novel technological treatment for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), an inherited genetic defect that causes rapid, permanent, and bilateral loss of vision in people of all ages, but primarily males ages 20-40.

24 Apr 2012

ACT announces dosing of third patient in dry AMD Phase I/II trial

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today the dosing of the third patient in its Phase I/II trial for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells.

21 Apr 2012

Regenerative medicine research offers hope for the blind

The University College London researchers transplanted immature vision cells directly into the mouse retina. They noted that within weeks the cells began to integrate into the retina and the researchers, led by Prof Robin Ali in the university’s Institute of Ophthalmology, were able to show that vision began to return to the mice.

19 Apr 2012

ARVO to host presentation of results from two clinical trials on neovascular AMD

ARVO is pleased to host a presentation of the one-year results from the U.K.'s Inhibition of VEGF in Age-related Choroidal Neovascularisation (IVAN) study and the two-year results of the Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) trial.

19 Apr 2012

Caffeine increases eye's ability to produce tears

Researchers at the University of Tokyo's School of Medicine have shown for the first time that caffeine intake can significantly increase the eye's ability to produce tears, a finding that could improve treatment of dry eye syndrome. This common eye condition affects about four million people age 50 and older in the United States.

18 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum pushed Romney on health care; GOP's 'classic male mistake'; ACOs and the anti-trust challenge

The Pennsylvanian was also by far the most effective Republican critic of RomneyCare. When he stood on stage in a debate and took apart the Massachusetts health law as a prototype for ObamaCare, Mr. Romney realized he couldn't coast to the nomination. That's when the former Massachusetts Governor came out with his own tax cut and tax reform plan to appeal to economic conservatives.

12 Apr 2012

Changes in corneal thickness occur in patients at early stages of FECD

A national consortium of researchers has published new findings that could change the standard of practice for those treating Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), a disease characterized by cornea swelling that can eventually lead to the need for corneal transplantation.

10 Apr 2012

Monitoring necessary for early intervention in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy patients

10 Apr 2012

Key finding in regulation of intraocular pressure in glaucoma

A six-year collaboration between two faculty members of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has yielded new insight regarding the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma - an irreversible blinding disease that causes progressive visual impairment due to optic nerve damage and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

6 Apr 2012

Stress-induced tolerance can prevent glaucoma

Working in mice, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have devised a treatment that prevents the optic nerve injury that occurs in glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease that is a leading cause of blindness.

4 Apr 2012

JDRF, iCo Therapeutics partner for iCo-007 Phase II trial in DME

iCo Therapeutics, a Vancouver-based drug reprofiling company and JDRF, the largest charitable funder of type 1 Diabetes (T1D) research have joined forces to investigate a potential new treatment for one of the most common complications of diabetes, diabetic macular edema.

29 Mar 2012

AIUM to honor four individuals in the field of medical ultrasound

During the opening session of the 2012 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 30, 2012, Alfred Z. Abuhamad, MD, president of the AIUM, will present awards to individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of medical ultrasound.

27 Mar 2012

DMEI chooses ifa EMR v6 as future Electronic Medical Record system

ifa united i-tech, a U.S. subsidiary of ifa Systems AG, the global leader for IT solutions in ophthalmology, announced that the Dean McGee Eye Institute (DMEI) selected ifa EMR v6 as its future Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

17 Mar 2012

Einstein members celebrate 2012 Match Day

Members of Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University's graduating class celebrated another strong year for residency placements in competitive specialties and prestigious programs at this year's Match Day. Representing the culmination of their medical school education, Match Day marked the transition of Einstein's class of 2012 into the post-graduate phase of their training - when they will practice medicine in a clinical setting under the supervision of fully licensed physicians.

17 Mar 2012

ThromboGenics, Alcon collaborate to commercialize ocriplasmin outside the US

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative ophthalmic medicines, announces today that it has entered into an agreement with Alcon (a division of Novartis), the global leader in eyecare, for the commercialization of ocriplasmin in all markets outside the U.S.

16 Mar 2012

Scientists grow rudimentary retina structure from blood cells

For the first time, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have made early retina structures containing proliferating neuroretinal progenitor cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from human blood.

14 Mar 2012

Positive results from Bausch + Lomb, NicOx BOL‑303259‑X phase 2b study on OAG

Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, and NicOx S.A. today announced positive top-line results from the phase 2b study conducted with BOL‑303259‑X, a novel nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2‑alpha analog, in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

13 Mar 2012

Blood vessels that form within brain cancers predominantly not made up of cancer cells

Johns Hopkins scientists have published laboratory data refuting studies that suggest blood vessels that form within brain cancers are largely made up of cancer cells. The theory of cancer-based blood vessels calls into question the use and value of anticancer drugs that target these blood vessels, including bevacizumab (Avastin).

10 Mar 2012

Infrared optical head tracker can help diagnose ocular torticollis

Wii remotes are not all about fun and games. Scientists can use them to assess and diagnose children with an abnormal head position caused by eye diseases. As described in a recent Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science article, researchers developed a low-cost digital head posture measuring device with Nintendo Wiimotes to help diagnose this condition, medically called ocular torticollis.

9 Mar 2012

Genetically modified pig may hold keys to develop treatments for RP

A newly developed, genetically modified pig may hold the keys to the development of improved treatments and possibly even a cure for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common inherited retinal disease in the United States.

9 Mar 2012