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.

AHRQ selects Outcome Sciences to study effects of different treatments for open angle glaucoma

Outcome Sciences, Inc. (OUTCOME), the leading provider of patient registries, studies, and technologies for evaluating real-world outcomes, today announced that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has selected Outcome as the DEcIDE Center for a study designed to compare the effectiveness of medications versus surgery for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. The study will enroll 2,600 patients from 30 sites across the United States and is intended to provide new scientific information about the effects of different treatment approaches in individuals who have glaucoma.

13 Aug 2010

OXiGENE reports $2.5M net income for second-quarter 2010 vs. $5.3M net loss for same period in 2009

OXiGENE, Inc., a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, reported financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010, and presented an update on recent clinical and corporate progress.

13 Aug 2010

Rxi Pharmaceuticals second-quarter net loss decreases to $2.1 million

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a recognized leader in RNAi-based therapeutic discovery and development, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

11 Aug 2010

OptiMedica to sell retina and glaucoma assets to Topcon

Global ophthalmic device company OptiMedica Corp. has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its retina and glaucoma assets to Topcon Corp., a strategic move that positions OptiMedica to focus exclusively on the continued development and commercialization of advanced technologies for the treatment of cataract.

11 Aug 2010

Scientist invents new approach to boost body's response to vaccinations

As the medical community searches for better vaccines and ways to deliver them, a University of Rochester scientist believes he has discovered a new approach to boosting the body's response to vaccinations.Richard P. Phipps, Ph.D., found that the same molecules used in drugs that treat diabetes also stimulate B cells in the immune system, pushing them to make antibodies for protection against invading microorganisms.

5 Aug 2010

Research links body weight to glaucoma risk

This month's Ophthalmology journal includes surprising research from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary on the relation of body weight to the risk for glaucoma. Also, from researchers at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, comes the first specific map of how the development of myopic maculopathy, an illness that afflicts many severely nearsighted people, predicts which patients will be most susceptible to vision loss.

3 Aug 2010

RoundTable announces establishment of new platform business in ophthalmology market

RoundTable Healthcare Partners, an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, announced today that it has established a platform business in the ophthalmology market. The new platform company, Beaver-Visitec International, Inc., consists of ophthalmology products and assets recently acquired from BD and Medtronic, Inc.

2 Aug 2010

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of $0.86, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the gain on AstraZeneca's asset option exercise. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.24.

2 Aug 2010

Angiotech reports $61.9 million total revenue for second-quarter 2010

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

31 Jul 2010

EyeHealth Northwest to deploy NextGen Ambulatory EHR and Practice Management solutions

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced it has executed an agreement with EyeHealth Northwest to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR and NextGen® Practice Management across its 11 offices, 11 optical shops and two surgery centers in Oregon.

28 Jul 2010

NEI, FDA to sponsor Glaucoma Endpoints conference

The National Eye Institute and the Food and Drug Administration are sponsoring a Glaucoma Endpoints conference on September 24, 2010, to develop definitions and standards for describing structural changes in the glaucomatous optic nerve and functional changes in vision, as criteria for approval of new glaucoma therapeutics in clinical trials. The one-day meeting will take place at the Natcher Center, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

28 Jul 2010

QLT second-quarter total revenue increases 15.4% to $12.4 million

QLT Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Unless specified otherwise, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

27 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: Health reform and long-term care; Health care incentives; Reasons for optimism or repeal and replace?

Our system of long-term care does not provide adequate or coordinated human services and medical treatment for our growing aging population. … Thanks to a provision of the new health care law known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, tomorrow's continuum of care does not have to be so unforgiving. For the first time, a voluntary public insurance program will be available to help adults and families pay for long-term care services (Bruce Chernof, 7/23).

26 Jul 2010

Valproic acid halts vision loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School believe they may have found a new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, a severe neurodegenerative disease of the retina that ultimately results in blindness. One of the more common retinal degenerative diseases, RP is caused by the death of photoreceptor cells and affects 1 in 4,000 people in the United States. RP typically manifests in young adulthood as night blindness or a loss of peripheral vision and in many cases progresses to legal blindness by age 40.

22 Jul 2010

HOYA, Adoptics partner to develop shape-changing accommodating intraocular lens

HOYA announced today that the Company has formed a strategic partnership with Adoptics (Switzerland) through an investment that will fund the development of a shape-changing accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL).

21 Jul 2010

International Stem Cell, IBVI sign letter of intent concerning funding, establishment of ISCO India

International Stem Cell Corporation, www.internationalstemcell.com, and Insight Bioventures India Private Limited, announced today that they have signed a letter of intent concerning funding and establishment of an Indian affiliate of ISCO. The goal is to establish world-class development and manufacturing operations for ISCO's research and pharmaceutical products in India, including its Lifeline Cell Technology research products and human corneal tissue, CytoCor, for treatment of corneal vision impairment and testing of chemicals.

20 Jul 2010

Mayo Clinic's July issue offers tips on ophthalmology, Alzheimer's and CKD

Here are highlights from the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource attribution is required.

20 Jul 2010

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks first: U.S. News & World Report survey

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks as one of the top five American hospitals -- and the best hospital in the western United States for the 21st consecutive year -- according to a U.S. News & World Report survey that reviewed patient-outcomes data, reputation among physicians and other care-

17 Jul 2010

Mother’s obesity surgery may cause vitamin deficiencies in children

Biliopancreatic diversion surgery for morbid obesity is known to cause multiple vitamin deficiencies that may worsen during pregnancy. In the June issue of the Journal of AAPOS, the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, a group of Australian clinicians report a child who was born blind as a result of Vitamin A deficiency caused by his mother's obesity surgery.

17 Jul 2010

Johns Hopkins Hospital takes top spot in annual rankings of American hospitals for 20th year in a row

Once more — and for the 20th year in a row — The Johns Hopkins Hospital has taken the top spot in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of American hospitals, placing first in five medical specialties and in the top five in 10 others.

16 Jul 2010