Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are idiopathic (we don’t know the cause) inflammatory diseases (IBD) of the colon and/or small bowel. They are chronic in that we do not have a medical cure and are differentiated from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) by inflammation that causes ulcerations of the GI tract.

7 Jul 2014

New evidence for painless AF treatment to be presented at FCVB 2014

The first evidence for a shockless treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) will be presented today at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. T

4 Jul 2014

Mass spectrometry-based tool successfully used in brain cancer surgery

A tool to help brain surgeons test and more precisely remove cancerous tissue was successfully used during surgery, according to a Purdue University and Brigham and Women's Hospital study.

4 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

The Supreme Court wasted no time in delivering a message to anyone who thought its Hobby Lobby ruling was limited to religious objections to coverage of purported abortion methods: You're wrong.

4 Jul 2014

UCB, Dermira enter into licensing agreement for development, commercialization of Cimzia

UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader, and Dermira, Inc., a privately held US-based dermatology company, announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and future commercialization of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in dermatology.

3 Jul 2014

Researchers discover a way to restore corneal surface

A Boston-based scientific collaborative, led by Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers, has discovered a way to collect the best cell type for regenerating a damaged cornea-the clear membrane that covers the pupil and directs light into the back of the eye.

3 Jul 2014

Study results may help prevent eye injuries among soldiers

Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio are discovering that the current protective eyewear used by our U.S. armed forces might not be adequate to protect soldiers exposed to explosive blasts.

2 Jul 2014

NEI researchers describe functions of gene responsible for anchoring cilia

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have described the functions of a gene responsible for anchoring cilia - sensory hair-like extensions present on almost every cell of the body.

2 Jul 2014

Other religious challenges to mandate still await court decisions

Those cases generally involve nonprofit and religious organizations. Meanwhile, some employers who say their religious beliefs prevented them from complying with the contraceptive mandate say they plan to halt coverage of some methods following the Supreme Court decision, reports The Wall Street Journal, Meanwhile, attention moves to the administration as it attempts to draft new rules.

1 Jul 2014

Reticular drusen linked to AMD progression

Four percent of individuals aged 49 years and above will develop reticular drusen over 15 years of follow-up, Australian study findings suggest, with the incidence higher in those with age-related macular degeneration risk factors.

1 Jul 2014

Vitreous anatomic features characterised

Researchers have found a direct anteroposterior connection between the retrolental and premacular and preoptic spaces that exits in young adults before the occurrence of vitreous degeneration.

1 Jul 2014

Focal choroidal excavation’s coexistence with other choroidal diseases impairs vision

Focal choroidal excavation appears to be relatively common and can have a detrimental effect on vision, a study of Korean patients suggests.

1 Jul 2014

High court decision allows some employers to bypass contraceptive mandate

The 5-4 ruling says some closely held corporations cannot be forced to provide services that are at odds with the owners' religious beliefs.

1 Jul 2014

In 5-4 decision, high court sides with Hobby Lobby

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in a 5-4 split said "closely held" companies can on religious grounds opt out of a federal health-care law requirement that companies provide contraception coverage for employees, carving another piece from President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement.

1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

Researchers make giant leap towards goal of 'bio-printing' transplantable tissues, organs

Researchers have made a giant leap towards the goal of 'bio-printing' transplantable tissues and organs for people affected by major diseases and trauma injuries, a new study reports.

1 Jul 2014

Doctor offers tips on fireworks safety to prevent injuries

Fireworks can result in severe burns, scars and disfigurement that can last a lifetime. Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures above 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, and can burn users and bystanders.

1 Jul 2014

Researchers find unique cell type that can protect against uveitis

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have found a unique cell type that, in tests on mice, can protect against uveitis—a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the eye and can cause vision loss.

1 Jul 2014

BioLight enrolls first patient in FDA Phase 1/2a clinical trial with Eye-D for treatment of glaucoma

BioLight Israeli Life Sciences Investments Ltd., a firm that invests in, manages and commercializes biomedical innovations grouped into clusters around defined medical conditions, announces that the first patient has been enrolled in the U.S. into a FDA Phase 1/2a clinical trial with Eye-D, the company's controlled-release latanoprost insert for the treatment of glaucoma.

1 Jul 2014

Light-sensitive molecule enables noninvasive silencing of neurons

Optogenetics, a technology that allows scientists to control brain activity by shining light on neurons, relies on light-sensitive proteins that can suppress or stimulate electrical signals within cells. This technique requires a light source to be implanted in the brain, where it can reach the cells to be controlled.

30 Jun 2014