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.

CDS Investigator Group identifies a new predictor for successful corneal transplant

A new predictor of cornea transplant success has been identified by the Cornea Donor Study (CDS) Investigator Group. New analysis of data from the 2008 Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study (SMAS), a subset of the CDS, found that the preoperative donor cell count of endothelial cells, previously considered to be an important predictor of a successful transplant, did not correlate with graft success.

12 Jan 2010

New hand-held device eliminates technical challenges involved in imaging progressive ROP in infants

Using a hand-held spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging device, researchers have obtained high-resolution retinal scans of premature infants with progressive retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), according to a report in this month's Archives of Ophthalmology.

12 Jan 2010

Enrollment for sham-controlled study of radiation therapy for treatment of wet AMD announced

Oraya Therapeutics, Inc., announced today that enrollment is now underway for the first ever masked and sham-controlled study to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of radiation therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

6 Jan 2010

Highlights of January 2010 'Ophthalmology'

This month's Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes a research review of the effects of Vitamins C and E and magnesium on diabetic retinopathy and findings from the first large study of vision problems in Hispanic and African-American infants and young children.

5 Jan 2010

Smoking increases age-related macular degeneration, finds UCLA study

Just in time for New Year's resolutions, a UCLA study finds that even after age 80, smoking continues to increase one's risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65.

31 Dec 2009

Popping a bottle of bubbly can be dangerous to health, says Ophthalmologist

For many, celebrating the holidays calls for a champagne toast. But for some people popping a bottle of bubbly can be dangerous to your health.

30 Dec 2009

Steroids not superior to laser treatments for DME

Researchers led by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute have found that injecting a corticosteroid, triamcinolone, directly into the eye may slow the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that frequently leads to blindness.

27 Dec 2009

Healthy Humans receives the 2009 Life Sciences Startup Company of the Year award

Healthy Humans (www.healthyhumans.com), an online wellness solutions company, received the 2009 Life Sciences Startup Company of the Year award from the Eastern Technology Council.

21 Dec 2009

Diabetes patients at higher risk from glaucoma

An estimated 3 million Americans have glaucoma, which can stealthily cause vision loss even before people realize they have the disease. People with diabetes face special risks from glaucoma. This January during Glaucoma Awareness Month, through its EyeSmart™ campaign, the American Academy of Ophthalmology in partnership with the American Glaucoma Society and the Glaucoma Research Foundation, remind Americans that knowing your glaucoma risks can save your sight and that people with diabetes need to be extra-vigilant.

19 Dec 2009

Encouraging early clinical results for treatment of KC with Avedro's Keraflex KXL technology

During the 5th International Congress of Corneal Cross Linking for Keratoconus in Leipzig, Germany on December 5th, Avedro presented encouraging early clinical results for treating keratoconus, a progressive disease of the cornea of the eye. The procedure, known as Keraflex® KXL, is non-incisional and reshapes the cornea without removing any tissue.

16 Dec 2009

NEI study reports 66.4 percent increase in myopia in Americans

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the 66.4 percent increase in myopia in Americans since the 1970s, as reported in the recent National Eye Institute (NEI) study, is significant and will impact healthcare costs as well as vision quality.

16 Dec 2009

Molecular Partners closes its CHF 46 million Series B equity investment round

Molecular Partners AG, a pioneer in the development of DARPins as next generation protein therapeutics, has announced the closing of its Series B equity investment round securing CHF 46 million (€ 30 million, $ 45 million).

15 Dec 2009

UT Southwestern Medical Center performs minimally invasive procedures for sinuses and chronic rhinosinusitis

Only about one in 2,000 people in the United States get a sinus tumor, but Johnnie Wilcox was one of the unfortunate few.

15 Dec 2009

Iowa researchers discover new inherited retinal disease

University of Iowa researchers have found the existence of a new, rare inherited retinal disease. Now the search is on to find the genetic cause, which investigators hope will increase understanding of more common retinal diseases.

14 Dec 2009

Phase 1 clinical trial of iCo-007 demonstrates positive safety profile

iCo Therapeutics Inc. - iCo Therapeutics ("iCo") is pleased to announce that its Phase 1 clinical trial of iCo-007, having enrolled all patients in four cohorts of increasing concentration (110ug, 350ug, 700ug, 1000ug), has to date demonstrated a positive safety profile.

12 Dec 2009

Stem cell therapy can be used for LSCD, reports newly published research

Newly published research, by investigators, at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) in the journal Stem Cells reported the first successful treatment of eight patients with "Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency" (LSCD) using the patients' own stem cells without the need of suppressing their immunity.

11 Dec 2009

New findings may help restore vision in patients with corneal injury

Winston Whei-Yang Kao, PhD, professor of ophthalmology, along with other researchers in UC's ophthalmology department found that transplanting human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells into mouse models that lack the protein lumican restored the transparency of cloudy and thin corneas.

9 Dec 2009

Study shows smiles and scowls provide cues for gender identification

"Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?" wrote author Lynn Hecht Schafran. The answer, according to an article in the Journal of Vision, may lie in our interpretation of facial expressions.

4 Dec 2009

Guidepoint Global launches Sleep Apnea Tracker

Guidepoint Global, LLC, a leading primary research firm, today announced the launch of their Sleep Apnea Tracker, a monthly longitudinal data release that monitors and projects trends and market share in the worldwide Sleep Apnea market.

4 Dec 2009

iCo Therapeutics to present an overview of its iCo-007 VEGF "+" agent at the ISOPT conference

iCo Therapeutics Inc. is pleased to announce that an overview of iCo-007, entitled "iCo-007 a VEGF "+" Agent for the Potential Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy" will be presented at the 8th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics ("ISOPT"), a major international ocular conference.

3 Dec 2009