Blindness News and Research

RSS

Mayo researchers discover new therapy for patients with neuromyelitis optica

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a new therapy for patients with neuromyelitis optica that appears to stop inflammation of the eye nerves and spinal cord. NMO is a debilitating central nervous system disorder that is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS).

10 Oct 2012

Grp94 chaperone protein can interfere with clearance of myocilin from cells

The chaperone protein Grp94 can interfere with the clearance of another protein known to cause the glaucoma when mutated, a new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida has found. Using a cell model, the researchers also demonstrated that a new specific inhibitor of Grp94 facilitates clearance of the genetically-defective protein, called myocilin, from cells.

10 Oct 2012

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health epidemiologist receives Dean's Medal honor

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has awarded the Dean's Medal-the School's highest honor-to William Foege, MD, MPH. Foege is a celebrated epidemiologist and physician who played a leading role in many of the important public health campaigns of the past half-century, including efforts to eradicate smallpox and to control onchocerciasis (the cause of river blindness) and guinea worm.

8 Oct 2012

Government investment in eye examinations may boost the economy

Governments could add thousands of millions of dollars to the global economy simply by investing in eye examinations and the provision of glasses for some 703 million people who need them, according to a study published this month in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

6 Oct 2012

Patients with eye diseases can benefit from ArtCornea

Blindness is often caused by corneal diseases. The established treatment is a corneal transplant, but in many cases this is not possible and donor corneas are often hard to come by. In the future, an artificial cornea could make up for this deficiency and save the vision of those affected.

5 Oct 2012

Heavy caffeinated coffee consumption may increase risk of exfoliation glaucoma

A new study suggests caffeinated coffee drinkers should limit their intake to reduce their chances of developing vision loss or blindness. According to a scientific paper in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, heavy caffeinated coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, the leading cause of secondary glaucoma worldwide.

4 Oct 2012

FDA panel recommends U.S. approval for Second Sight’s Argus II bionic eye

On Friday September 28th, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel unanimously voted 19-0 that the probable benefit of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System outweighs the risks to health, an important step toward the FDA market approval of this product manufactured by Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

3 Oct 2012

Experimental stem cell treatment improves vision in blind mice

An experimental treatment for blindness, developed from a patient's skin cells, improved the vision of blind mice in a study conducted by Columbia ophthalmologists and stem cell researchers.

3 Oct 2012

Statins may protect against glaucoma

People who take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients.

2 Oct 2012

Medistem initiates collaboration with Superview Biotechnology

Medistem Inc announced today the initiation of a collaboration with Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Yinhuan Holding Co from Yixing, China.

1 Oct 2012

CIB2 genetic mutation responsible for deafness associated with Usher syndrome type 1

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have found a new genetic mutation responsible for deafness and hearing loss associated with Usher syndrome type 1.

1 Oct 2012

Cholesterol precursor suppresses inflammatory response genes, causes atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis - the hardening of arteries that is a primary cause of cardiovascular disease and death - has long been presumed to be the fateful consequence of complicated interactions between overabundant cholesterol and resulting inflammation in the heart and blood vessels.

28 Sep 2012

GW to evaluate effectiveness of glucose-lowering drugs against type 2 diabetes

John Lachin, professor of biostatistics, epidemiology and statistics at the George Washington University, has been awarded a five-year, $134 million grant from the National Institute of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to conduct a clinical trial examining the long-term effectiveness of several glucose-lowering medications for treatment of people with type 2 diabetes. The grant sets a record as the largest sum award GW has ever received.

27 Sep 2012

Amakem commences AMA0076 Phase 2a study in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Amakem NV, a kinase platform company focusing on ophthalmology, today announces that it has initiated a Phase 2a proof of concept study of its novel Rho Kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, AMA0076, in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

27 Sep 2012

Universitat de València to use optical technology to prevent myopia

The Universitat de València will use optical technology in order to prevent myopia, which is considered the most common eye disease in the world. Until now, this technology was only used in astronomy to study images of the Universe.

26 Sep 2012

Dexamethasone use during tonsillectomy not associated with excessive bleeding in children

Tonsillectomy is exceedingly common, with a reported increase in tonsillectomy rates in children younger than 15 years from 287,000 to 530,000 per year over the past decade. Although safe, adenotonsillectomy can result in significant complications, such as aspiration and bleeding. Complications are infrequent, but because tonsillectomy is so common, the absolute number of children experiencing tonsillectomy complications is formidable.

26 Sep 2012

Weill Cornell to purchase innovative equipment to help detect and treat diabetic retinopathy

Weill Cornell Medical College's ophthalmology services for diabetic patients received a boost last month, courtesy of a grant from the New York City Council secured by Councilwoman Jessica Lappin.

21 Sep 2012

Mathematical modeling can help treat several diseases

Mathematical modeling being tested by researchers at the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the IU School of Medicine has the potential to impact the knowledge and treatment of several diseases that continue to challenge scientists across the world.

21 Sep 2012

Research to gauge effectiveness of street-crossing training program in impaired people

An Indiana University assistant professor and low-vision optometrist working to advance pedestrian safety has been awarded more than $1.9 million by the National Institutes of Health to evaluate street-crossing decision-making performance in pedestrians who are elderly, visually impaired or blind.

21 Sep 2012

Small subset of patients with OAG accounts for large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges

A small subset of patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) account for a large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges in the United States, according to new data published by researchers at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center and Washington University, St. Louis.

20 Sep 2012

Blindness News and Research

Mayo researchers discover new therapy for patients with neuromyelitis optica

Grp94 chaperone protein can interfere with clearance of myocilin from cells

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health epidemiologist receives Dean's Medal honor

Government investment in eye examinations may boost the economy

Patients with eye diseases can benefit from ArtCornea

Heavy caffeinated coffee consumption may increase risk of exfoliation glaucoma

FDA panel recommends U.S. approval for Second Sight’s Argus II bionic eye

Experimental stem cell treatment improves vision in blind mice

Statins may protect against glaucoma

Medistem initiates collaboration with Superview Biotechnology

CIB2 genetic mutation responsible for deafness associated with Usher syndrome type 1

Cholesterol precursor suppresses inflammatory response genes, causes atherosclerosis

GW to evaluate effectiveness of glucose-lowering drugs against type 2 diabetes

Amakem commences AMA0076 Phase 2a study in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Universitat de València to use optical technology to prevent myopia

Dexamethasone use during tonsillectomy not associated with excessive bleeding in children

Weill Cornell to purchase innovative equipment to help detect and treat diabetic retinopathy

Mathematical modeling can help treat several diseases

Research to gauge effectiveness of street-crossing training program in impaired people

Small subset of patients with OAG accounts for large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Applications Engineer

Latest News