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.

Herpes virus is everywhere and it's unavoidable

While not the first, the researchers report that this study uses the most sensitive techniques in a cross-sectional assessment performed to date of the presence of HSV-1 DNA in the eyes and mouths of healthy individuals, in terms of population size and total samples collected.

6 Jan 2005

Study finds advanced vision testing system highly effective in detecting deficits in pre-verbal children

Clinical results of a new pediatric vision test, the Enfant™ Pediatric Vision Testing System, show a 97 percent sensitivity in detecting vision deficits in children as young as six months of age, according to a study published in the December 2004 issue (Volume 8, Number 6) of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

4 Jan 2005

Pegaptanib (Macugen) is an effective treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Results from two concurrent, prospective, double-blind, multi-center clinical trials show that pegaptanib (Macugen), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, is an effective treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a paper in the Dec. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Macugen was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 17.

30 Dec 2004

Bacteria can use a sonar-like system to spot other cells

For the first time, scientists have found that bacteria can use a Sonar-like system to spot other cells (either normal body cells or other bacteria) and target them for destruction.

23 Dec 2004

Macugen approved for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection) for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease associated with aging that destroys central vision.

20 Dec 2004

Children who wear rigid gas-permeable contact lenses had slower progression of their myopia than patients who wear soft contact lenses

According to the article, “myopia affects approximately 25 percent of the U.S. population, and it typically develops between eight and 16 years of age.” Previous studies have reported that rigid contact lenses may slow myopia progression, but other studies have found that rigid contact lenses have no effect on myopia progression in children, the article states.

13 Dec 2004

Stem cells can preserve and improve vision in eyes damaged by retinal disease

"These findings hold great promise for potential treatments for people suffering from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases," says Michael Young, PhD, an assistant scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute and the lead author of the study.

18 Nov 2004

Instructions provided with medicines is far too small for people with impaired or partially sighted vision to read

When you're in your local pharmacy, do you ever try to compare the lables on products, only to find that the print is impossible to read? A new study goes a little way to remedy this, at least for those who are visually impaired.

16 Nov 2004

Study suggests that rigid contact lens users should switch to glasses 3 to 6 weeks before having pre-LASIK examinations

A study published in this month's issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery suggests that rigid contact lens users should stop using contacts and switch to glasses 3 to 6 weeks before having pre-LASIK examinations, rather than the traditional 3 weeks.

10 Nov 2004

Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension who kept their blood pressure very tightly controlled had fewer eye disorders caused by their diabetes

According to the article, type 2 diabetes and hypertension are often associated. At age 40, approximately 32 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes are also hypertensive, and that proportion increases to 47 percent by age 60, the article states.

8 Nov 2004

Search for genetic key to corneal disease

A new federal grant focusing on painful inherited visual disorders that scar the cornea will allow researchers to narrow the genetic cause of one type of corneal dystrophy and to offer improved diagnosis of this family of diseases.

8 Nov 2004

McGuinty Government introduces changes to eye care services

The McGuinty government is making changes to the way OHIP insures routine eye exams, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

1 Nov 2004

Possible new way to treat amblyopia (lazy eye)

New research suggests a way to treat "lazy eye" that may be easier on children - and their parents - than current treatments.

1 Nov 2004

Ruboxistaurin may reduce vision loss from diabetes-induced eye disease

Eli Lilly and Company's investigational compound ruboxistaurin may reduce vision loss from diabetes-induced eye disease, according to new analyses of previously reported data presented at the 2004 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the European Society of Ophthalmology in New Orleans, La.

26 Oct 2004

Herbal, nutritional supplements linked to side effects ranging from dry eye to retinal hemorrhages and transient visual loss

An estimated 42 percent of Americans use herbal medicines or nutritional supplements. Many people taking these products and their physicians are unaware of the adverse reactions they can cause.

13 Oct 2004

Transparent gel could soon become the first and best choice for sealing corneal incisions

The substance, known as a hydrogel, promises to be a useful tool in the kit used for the most common of ophthalmic surgeries: cataract removal. Currently, 11 million such surgeries are performed worldwide annually, a figure expected to increase as the world's population grows older.

12 Oct 2004

AMA condemns new Oklahoma rule allowing non-physicians to perform eye surgery

Shining a national spotlight on Oklahoma's one-of-a-kind rule that allows non-physicians to conduct eye surgery, the American Medical Association barnstormed Oklahoma City today.

5 Oct 2004

Academy of Ophthalmology reacts to recent study on eye exams for children

Sean Donahue, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric ophthalmologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville Tenn., agrees. "The data used in this paper unfortunately mixes well-conducted clinical trials and weak, poorly conducted and non-controlled studies."

29 Sep 2004

Brand-conscious customers necessitate robust supply chain management in custom procedure tray markets

End users such as surgeons and operating room (OR) staff are very brand conscious, and the inability of custom procedure tray (CPT) vendors to provide a desired brand may result in loss of business and inability to maintain healthy customer relations.