Vision Loss News and Research

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UH, AOA partner to get the word out about summer eye care, protection against UVR

As summer approaches, most people step up skin protection from harmful ultraviolet rays, yet aren't as vigilant about their eyes. Optometrists at the University of Houston are involved in a campaign to change this way of thinking.

15 Jun 2010

Research on genetic mutations could lead to accurate diagnosis of USH, says scientist

Usher syndrome, an inherited condition involving both hearing and vision loss, is not a simply recessively inherited disease, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Saturday). Dr. Hanno Bolz, Associate Medical Director of the Bioscientia Centre for Human Genetics, Ingelheim, Germany, and active in teaching and research at the University Hospital of Cologne, will say that his team's research challenges the traditional view that USH was inherited as a single gene disorder, and shows that it may result from at least two different genetic mutations.

14 Jun 2010

Ranibizumab improves vision in patients with visual impairment due to DME: RESTORE study

Results from a new major diabetes eye health study may have the potential to change the way vision loss due to diabetic macular edema, a serious and devastating complication of diabetes, is treated. One year results from the RESTORE study show that 37 per cent of patients treated with ranibizumab only and 43 per cent of those treated with ranibizumab plus laser therapy, had a significant improvement in visual acuity of 10 letters or more on an eye chart, compared to 16 per cent of patients treated with laser alone - the current standard treatment for visual impairment due to DME.

7 Jun 2010

RTU announces phase 2 clinical trial results of UF-021 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its partner, R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. reported the results of its recently completed phase 2 clinical trial of UF-021 in retinitis pigmentosa patients. The results showed improvement in visual function dose-dependently in both visual field test and subjective findings.

5 Jun 2010

New study holds promise for patients with LCA

A new study led by Dr. Robert Koenekoop at the Montreal Children's Hospital at the McGill University Health Centre holds promise for certain patients with Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited retinal degenerative disease that causes significant vision loss from birth. The study, sponsored by Canadian company QLT Inc., is designed to treat patients with LCA due to genetic mutations in either retinal pigment epithelium protein 65 or lecithin:retinol acyltransferase.

27 May 2010

New book to prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A new prevention tool is now available, in both French and English, at local bookstores and pharmacies. Dr. Jean-Daniel Arbour and Dr. Pierre Labelle of the Universit- de Montr-al Department of Ophthalmology, along with two colleagues from France, have authored a new book to prevent vision loss, AMD: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Annika Parance Publisher; 121 pages). Written to educate readers about the importance of vision health, the book provides clear explanations on the causes, consequences and treatments of AMD.

26 May 2010

Study: When incentive payments are removed, quality of health care suffers

Los Angeles Times: Researchers in Britain teamed with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California "to see what happened in Northern California when the health giant stopped rewarding doctors who screened patients for diabetic retinopathy and cervical cancer."

13 May 2010

Telemedical Retinal Image Analysis and Diagnosis technology permits early detection of diabetic retinopathy

Automated Medical Diagnostics, a startup company based in Memphis, envisions its product helping to preserve the sight of millions of people at risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

7 May 2010

Early treatment of ROP for high-risk premature babies can improve vision: ETROP study

Scientists have shown that through eye examinations, doctors can identify infants who are most likely to benefit from early treatment for a potentially blinding eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity, resulting in better vision for many children.

4 May 2010

Acucela to present data on ACU-4429 oral visual cycle modulator for dry AMD at Retina International meeting

Acucela, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new treatments for blinding eye diseases, announced today that Ryo Kubota, M.D., Ph.D., Acucela's chairman, president and chief executive officer, has been invited to participate in Retina International's annual Scientific & Medical Advisory Board meeting being held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 3, 2010.

3 May 2010

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

With summer right around the corner, more people will be spending time outdoors and UV protection will be top of mind. Unfortunately, most people think about the protection of their skin, when they should also be considering the safety of their eyes. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) American Eye-Q® survey, only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

3 May 2010

Report shows increasing rates of AMD among Asians

The May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes a surprising, first report on increasing rates of age-related macular degeneration among Asians, and describes an innovative "bypass" laser surgery that may help many people with central retinal vein occlusion avoid serious vision loss.

3 May 2010

Latinos have higher rates of developing visual impairment than non-Hispanic whites: Researchers

Latinos have higher rates of developing visual impairment, blindness, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts than non-Hispanic whites, researchers found. These are the first estimates of visual impairment and eye disease development in Latinos, the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States.

3 May 2010

Nationwide Children's Hospital opens first pediatric Pseudotumor Cerebri Clinic in the U.S.

While most headaches in children can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications or lifestyle changes, it is important to pay attention to their symptoms in case they herald something more serious.

30 Apr 2010

Blind and sighted individuals have similar smell perception

An ongoing study by Mathilde Beaulieu-Lefebvre, a graduate student from the Universit- de Montr-al Department of Psychology, has debunked the myth that the blind have a more acute sense of smell than the sighted.

29 Apr 2010

Ranibizumab eye injections plus laser therapy result in dramatic visual improvement

Researchers have shown that ranibizumab (Lucentis) eye injections, often in combination with laser treatment, result in better vision than laser treatment alone for diabetes-associated swelling of the retina.

28 Apr 2010

DRCR Network study finds new treatment more effective

28 Apr 2010

Better vision ahead for many diabetic retinopathy patients

A nationwide, government-sponsored study finds that people with a common form of diabetic retinopathy can benefit from a medication first developed to combat another potentially blinding disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treating diabetic macular edema (DME) with ranibizumab (Lucentis) eye injections, plus laser treatment if needed, appears to result in better vision than laser treatment alone, according to the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network study published today in Ophthalmology online, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy). DME is the main cause of vision loss in people with diabetes mellitus.

27 Apr 2010

Pericytes may use mechanical forces to initiate angiogenesis: Researchers

Pericytes, the contractile cells surrounding capillaries, may use mechanical forces to initiate angiogenesis, the "sprouting" of new blood vessels, according to researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

27 Apr 2010

First patient enrolled in Phase II clinical trial of E10030 for treatment of wet age-related AMD

Ophthotech Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ophthalmic therapies for back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase II randomized, controlled clinical trial of E10030, an anti-PDGF aptamer, in combination with Lucentis® for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

26 Apr 2010

Vision Loss News and Research

UH, AOA partner to get the word out about summer eye care, protection against UVR

Research on genetic mutations could lead to accurate diagnosis of USH, says scientist

Ranibizumab improves vision in patients with visual impairment due to DME: RESTORE study

RTU announces phase 2 clinical trial results of UF-021 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

New study holds promise for patients with LCA

New book to prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Study: When incentive payments are removed, quality of health care suffers

Telemedical Retinal Image Analysis and Diagnosis technology permits early detection of diabetic retinopathy

Early treatment of ROP for high-risk premature babies can improve vision: ETROP study

Acucela to present data on ACU-4429 oral visual cycle modulator for dry AMD at Retina International meeting

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

Report shows increasing rates of AMD among Asians

Latinos have higher rates of developing visual impairment than non-Hispanic whites: Researchers

Nationwide Children's Hospital opens first pediatric Pseudotumor Cerebri Clinic in the U.S.

Blind and sighted individuals have similar smell perception

Ranibizumab eye injections plus laser therapy result in dramatic visual improvement

DRCR Network study finds new treatment more effective

Better vision ahead for many diabetic retinopathy patients

Pericytes may use mechanical forces to initiate angiogenesis: Researchers

First patient enrolled in Phase II clinical trial of E10030 for treatment of wet age-related AMD

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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