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.

Novel low molecular weight dextran-sulphate could play a key role in glaucoma treatment

Scientists at the University of Birmingham, UK, have shown that a novel low molecular weight dextran-sulphate, ILB® could play a key role in treating open angle glaucoma (OAG), a neurodegenerative disease that affects over 70 million people worldwide and causes irreversible blindness.

7 Jan 2021

Study: Antibiotics are not necessary after most endoscopic sinus surgeries

Antibiotics are not necessary for patients after most routine endoscopic sinus surgeries despite the common practice to prescribe them, according to a team led by researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

6 Jan 2021

AI screening algorithms to diagnose diabetic retinopathy do not show consistent performance

Diabetes continues to be the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. But the current shortage of eye-care providers would make it impossible to keep up with demand to provide the requisite annual screenings for this population.

5 Jan 2021

Common ophthalmic devices measure corneal parameters using different technologies

As the recently published article in the journal Open Ophthalmology Journal shows, there are significant differences among the measures of corneal parameters obtained by the three most commonly used ophthalmic devices, called topographers.

23 Dec 2020

Zika infection affects fetal retinal development during pregnancy but not after birth

While the SARS-CoV-2 virus has dominated the news this past year, researchers continue to study the health effects of the Zika virus, which has been reported in 86 countries globally.

18 Dec 2020

Pioneering new eye test may predict wet AMD three years before symptoms develop

A pioneering new eye test, developed by scientists at UCL in collaboration with the Western Eye Hospital, London, may predict wet AMD, a leading cause of severe sight loss, three years before symptoms develop.

18 Dec 2020

Study: Specific class of drugs can be repurposed to treat genetic diseases

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have published a study showing a promising approach to using drug repurposing to treat genetic diseases.

17 Dec 2020

New data shows encouraging results for patients with neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease

New data published in the Journal Science Translational Medicine shows encouraging results in a worldwide clinical trial for patients diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease; Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON.)

16 Dec 2020

New clue to protect neurons and encourage their growth found

Many neurodegenerative conditions, from glaucoma to Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by injury to axons -; the long, slender projections that conduct electrical impulses from one nerve cell to another, facilitating cellular communications. Injury to axons often leads to neuronal impairment and cell death.

14 Dec 2020

Study identifies protein as potential therapeutic target for leishmaniasis vaccines

According to the results of research led by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), one the various strategies deployed by the Leishmania parasite to avoid triggering the human immune system is to activate the SHP-1 protein.

11 Dec 2020

Largest-ever study finds low complication rates in children who wear soft contact lenses

The largest-ever retrospective study of its kind has found very low complication rates in children who wear soft contact lenses, similar to rates in adults.

10 Dec 2020

RetinAI collaborates with Novartis to provide AI solutions for ophthalmology projects

RetinAI Medical AG announces a multi-year collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG under which RetinAI’s IT solutions and artificial intelligence tools shall be employed to support multiple projects in ophthalmology and digital health. Both companies have previously worked successfully on pilot projects in this disease area.

10 Dec 2020

Drug prescribed for rare enzyme deficiency shows promise to treat herpes viruses

A drug currently prescribed to treat a rare enzyme deficiency can help cells clear the herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2 viruses, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances.

7 Dec 2020

UIC researchers use new approach to identify genes that cause diabetic retinopathy

In a search to discover the genetic factors underlying diabetic retinopathy, University of Illinois Chicago researchers also have identified a new approach that can be used as a template to study other diseases.

7 Dec 2020

Study: Global public health services fail to meet targets to reduce avoidable sight loss

A new global study has found no significant reduction in the number of people with treatable sight loss since 2010.

3 Dec 2020

Studies examine rates of blindness and vision impairment worldwide

Sobering new statistics released by the Global Burden of Disease study found no significant reduction in the number of people with treatable sight loss worldwide since 2010 as public health services failed to meet World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

2 Dec 2020

Study uncovers a promising therapeutic target for retinal dystrophies

A team of LSU Health New Orleans researchers reports for the first time that deleting one of the inhibitors of the RPE65 gene in a mouse model that carries a human disease mutation prevents degeneration of cone photoreceptors that are used for daytime high-resolution color vision.

1 Dec 2020

Researchers find way for customized programming of human stem cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have the potential to convert into a wide variety of cell types and tissues for drug testing and cell replacement therapies. However, the "recipes" for this conversion are often complicated and difficult to implement.

30 Nov 2020

Machine learning model uses retinal scans to detect Alzheimer’s disease

A form of artificial intelligence designed to interpret a combination of retinal images was able to successfully identify a group of patients who were known to have Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the approach could one day be used as a predictive tool, according to an interdisciplinary study from Duke University.