Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Scientists hope to unravel mystery of how Borrelia burgdorferi causes Lyme disease

Investigators at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have accelerated the search for the bacterial genes that make the Lyme disease bacterium so invasive and persistent. The discovery could advance the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, which affects an estimated 30,000 Americans each year.

29 Oct 2012

ESDM improves social skills and brain responses to social cues

The Early Start Denver Model, a comprehensive behavioral early intervention program that is appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder as young as 12 months, has been found to be effective in improving social skills and brain responses to social cues in a randomized controlled study published online today in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

29 Oct 2012

FDA approves 'first non-surgical treatment' for vitreomacular adhesion

The US Food and Drug Administration reports the approval of ocriplasmin for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.

26 Oct 2012

Targeted deletion of major VEGF gene in mice induces vision loss

Millions of people with "wet" macular degeneration are prescribed a class of medication known as anti-VEGF drugs. But now scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found that a drastic reduction of VEGF activity may do more harm than good.

26 Oct 2012

Video-article details new laser-activated bio-adhesive polymer

A new video-article in JoVE, Journal of Visualized Experiments, details the use of a new laser-activated bio-adhesive polymer. The chitosan-based polymer, SurgiLux, was developed by scientists at the University of New South Wales.

26 Oct 2012

Sleep deprivation affects memory formation in bees

Everyone feels refreshed after a good night's sleep, but sleep does more than just rejuvenate, it can also consolidate memories. 'The rapid eye movement form of sleep and slow wave sleep are involved in cognitive forms of memory such as learning motor skills and consciously accessible memory', explains Randolf Menzel from the Freie Universt-t Berlin, Germany.

26 Oct 2012

Scientists create yellow potatoes with high carotenoid levels

Potatoes with higher levels of beneficial carotenoids are the result of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) studies to improve one of America's most popular vegetables.

26 Oct 2012

Ophthotech announces data from Fovista Phase 2b trial on wet AMD

Ophthotech Corporation today announced that data from a large, prospective, randomized, controlled Phase 2b clinical trial of Ophthotech's Fovista anti-PDGF therapy (1.5 mg) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) will be presented during Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (AAO) on Sat., Nov. 10, 2012 at 9:15 a.m.

25 Oct 2012

Eyes deceive neuromuscular monitoring efforts

Measuring train-of-four ratios at the eye muscles risks leaving patients with residual paralysis after reversal of neuromuscular blockade, a study in Anesthesiology shows.

24 Oct 2012

Parkinson's reduces anticipatory eye responses, implicit timing unaffected

The occurrence of anticipatory responses is decreased in the eyes of individuals with Parkinson's disease, indicate study results published in Neuropsychologia.

24 Oct 2012

SIDS Center of New Jersey launches new initiative to reduce risk of sudden infant death syndrome

October is national SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month and recognized by the State of New Jersey through a proclamation signed by Governor Chris Christie, calling attention to one of the leading causes of infant mortality.

24 Oct 2012

GSU project to study how the body's internal clock is reset

Georgia State University's H. Elliott Albers, the Regents' Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, has received a four-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how the body's internal clock is "reset," a key to understanding more about sleep and other disorders affecting human health.

23 Oct 2012

In vitro fertilization may significantly increase risk of birth defects

In vitro fertilization may significantly increase the risk of birth defects, particularly those of the eyes, heart, reproductive organs and urinary system, according to a new UCLA study.

23 Oct 2012

Improper tinted contact lense use could cause severe eye damage

Decorative tinted contact lenses will be popular accessories this Halloween, but a Loyola University Medical Center optometrist is warning that improper use without a prescription could cause severe eye damage.

23 Oct 2012

Halloween safety tips from UC San Diego

The Regional Burn Center and Emergency Departments at UC San Diego Health System - along with the California Poison Control System - San Diego Division located at UC San Diego Medical Center - offer the following safety precautions to help parents and guardians make Halloween safe this year.

23 Oct 2012

Large companies eye on-site health clinics to lower health costs, up employee productivity

On-site health care clinics are increasingly being set up at large companies that are looking for new ways to reduce health care costs and boost employees' productivity. These facilities are being established by firms across all sectors to offer everything from urgent and primary care to biometric screenings to chronic disease management.

22 Oct 2012

PAC program improves children’s dental care, may serve as invaluable tool for dental students

A partnership between a New York City dental school and a local foster care agency has provided consistent dental care to more than 650 children, and may serve as a model for other dental school program curriculums. The success of Partners Against Caries (PAC), both for the participating foster children and dental school students, was outlined Oct. 21 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.

22 Oct 2012

Leaders come together to discuss latest advances in neurosciences

Stony Brook Medicine's Neurosciences Institute brings together leaders in the field of neurosciences to present the latest advances in research and clinical care for neurodegenerative disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, and neuro-ophthalmology.

20 Oct 2012

IVF may significantly increase risk of birth defects, new research says

In vitro fertilization may significantly increase the risk of birth defects, particularly those of the eye, heart, reproductive organs and urinary systems, according to new research presented Saturday, Oct. 20, at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.

20 Oct 2012

Study reveals key chemical process that corrects potential visual errors in low-light conditions

On the road at night or on a tennis court at dusk, the eye can be deceived. Vision is not as sharp as in the light of day, and detecting a bicyclist on the road or a careening tennis ball can be tough.

20 Oct 2012