Blindness News and Research

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Aquaporin 5 induction may be a potential therapy to accelerate resurfacing of corneal defects

Corneal defects often heal themselves, but serious injuries that are left untreated can result in inflammation, infection, ulceration and even blindness.

30 Sep 2021

Widely used osteoporosis drug protects against type 2 diabetes, says research

New research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held online this year, suggests that the widely used osteoporosis drug alendronate reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.

27 Sep 2021

COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increases risk of developing pre-eclampsia, study finds

A newly published study found that women who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy are at significantly higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia, the leading cause of maternal and infant death worldwide.

22 Sep 2021

Clinical trial to test new automatic oxygen control device for premature babies

The consequences are dire for the health of a premature baby - too much oxygen can cause blindness, and too little oxygen can cause brain damage and other negative health effects.

21 Sep 2021

Popular class of diabetes medications may be protective against glaucoma

A popular class of diabetes medications called GLP-1R agonists (Trulicity and Rybelsus) may also protect against glaucoma in diabetic patients, according to a new study led by researchers in the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

20 Sep 2021

Study offers evolutionary insights into pineal color detection system of the lamprey

Most non-mammalian vertebrates have a color detection system in the pineal organ of the brain that is located in a single cell.

17 Sep 2021

No papers, no care: Disabled migrants seek help through lawsuit, activism

Desperation led José Luis Hernández to ride atop a speeding train through northern Mexico with hopes of reaching the United States 13 years ago.

16 Sep 2021

Study finds possible direct connection between neurodegenerative diseases and the herpesvirus

A new study by researchers at University of Illinois Chicago suggests that when the protein optineurin, or OPTN, is present in cells it restricts the spread of HSV-1, the herpes simplex virus type 1.

13 Sep 2021

Novel method uses AI to screen for glaucoma

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), in collaboration with clinicians at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in Singapore have developed a novel method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to screen for glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness through damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye.

7 Sep 2021

Review: Remission should be the primary treatment goal of GPs for people with type 2 diabetes

Achieving 'remission' for people with type 2 diabetes through dietary approaches and weight loss should be the primary treatment goal of GPs and healthcare practitioners, concludes a large-scale review of clinical evidence led by researchers at UCL and Aston University.

2 Sep 2021

COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases in India

India continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To date, the country has reported over one million new cases for the past 28 days.

31 Aug 2021

Mutated enzyme impairs communication between neurons and causes motor defects in SCA34 model

In one type of a rare, inherited genetic disorder that affects control of body movement, scientists have found a mutation in an enzyme that impairs communication between neurons and what should be the inherent ability to pick up our pace when we need to run, instead of walk, across the street.

17 Aug 2021

Start codon disruption with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing prevents Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy in mice

In a new study, researchers at the University of Oregon's Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact used start codon disruption with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to prevent Fuchs' corneal dystrophy in mice.

3 Aug 2021

Sharp rise in screen time during the pandemic may be linked to increase in childhood short-sightedness

A rise in cases of short-sightedness (myopia) among children in Hong Kong may be linked to a significant decrease in the time they have been able to spend outdoors and a sharp rise in screen time during the coronavirus pandemic, suggests research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

31 Jul 2021

New biomarkers in the eyes could unlock the key to management of diabetic retinopathy

New biomarkers found in the eyes could unlock the key to helping manage diabetic retinopathy, and perhaps even diabetes, according to new research conducted at the Indiana University School of Optometry.

26 Jul 2021

Gene therapy protects optic nerve cells and preserves vision in glaucoma mouse models

A form of gene therapy protects optic nerve cells and preserves vision in mouse models of glaucoma, according to research supported by NIH's National Eye Institute.

23 Jul 2021

Broad-spectrum antibiotic no more effective than placebo in preventing COVID-19 symptoms

A UC San Francisco study has found that the antibiotic azithromycin was no more effective than a placebo in preventing symptoms of COVID-19 among non-hospitalized patients, and may increase their chance of hospitalization, despite widespread prescription of the antibiotic for the disease.

16 Jul 2021

More progress with promising new genetic test for glaucoma

The latest investigation into a promising new genetic test for glaucoma - the leading cause of blindness worldwide - has found it has the ability to identify 15 times more people at high risk of glaucoma than an existing genetic test.

15 Jul 2021

A small molecule inhibitor shows promise to reduce the growth of uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma, or UM, is a rare and deadly cancer of the eye, and the mortality rate has remained unimproved for 40 years. Half of the melanomas spread to other organs of the body, causing death in less than a year, so new treatments to preserve vision and prevent death are an urgent need.