Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Modified vitamin A drug may help prevent age-related macular degeneration

Slowing down the aggregation or "clumping" of vitamin A in the eye may help prevent vision loss caused by macular degeneration, research from Columbia University Medical Center has found.

19 May 2011

Health video games motivate vigorous exercise

Can't find anyone to exercise with? Don't despair: New research from Michigan State University reveals working out with a virtual partner improves motivation during exercise.

19 May 2011

Queen's University scientists partner to treat premature baby blindness with stem cells

Scientists from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast are teaming up to develop a cure to an illness that can lead to blindness in premature babies, thanks to funding from children's charity Action Medical Research.

18 May 2011

The Incubation Factory, UMDNJ and NJIT partner to commercialize personal tonometer for glaucoma

NJIT and UMDNJ have executed a license agreement with The Incubation Factory, St. Louis, MO, covering their personal tonometer technology on which a patent is pending. The tonometer was developed by a research team led by NJIT Professor Gordon Thomas, PhD, and Robert Fechtner, MD, director of the glaucoma division at UMDNJ.

18 May 2011

Positive results from Astellas Pharma's mirabegron phase III trial in overactive bladder

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., U.S. subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., today announced the results of a pivotal phase III clinical trial for mirabegron, the first of a new class of compounds under development for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), which show mirabegron significantly improves key OAB symptoms – urinary incontinence and frequency of micturition compared with placebo.

18 May 2011

$Avedro completes two Phase III corneal cross-linking studies in keratoconus, ectasia post-refractive surgery$

Avedro completes two Phase III corneal cross-linking studies in keratoconus, ectasia post-refractive surgery

Avedro, Inc. today announced the completion of all one-year follow-up visits for patients enrolled in its two multi-center Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of corneal collagen cross-linking for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and ectasia following refractive surgery.

18 May 2011

Fewer emergency rooms raises concern

According to a report released Tuesday this week, the number of emergency rooms has dropped by more than a quarter over the past two decades, while patient visits have kept rising. This has resulted in overcrowded ERs that can't provide optimal care for their patients, according to the new findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

17 May 2011

Fifty patients to receive complimentary cataract surgery from Kremer Eye Center

A team from Kremer Eye Center is traveling to Belize City, Belize to provide essential eye care June 18-25, 2011. Fifty patients will receive complimentary cataract surgery.

17 May 2011

SYMBICORT long-term comparative study data in African American asthma patients presented at ATS 2011

AstraZeneca today announced results from a long-term study comparing SYMBICORT Inhalation Aerosol 160/4.5 mcg with budesonide pressurized metered-dose inhaler 160 mcg in self-reported African American patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.

17 May 2011

Merck acquires Inspire Pharmaceuticals

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that it is has completed its acquisition of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing ophthalmic products, for $5.00 per share in cash.

17 May 2011

Volcano to share intravascular therapy guidance and optimization solutions at EuroPCR

Volcano Corporation today announced its participation in the Paris course for Revascularization from May 17 – 20. Volcano's focus will be on highlighting the strength of its product portfolio, which includes innovative devices like the Vascular Imaging Balloon Catheter, and its sponsorship of a symposium that highlights the use and value of Precision Guided Therapy in clinical practice today.

16 May 2011

pSivida resubmits ILUVIEN NDA to FDA for diabetic macular edema treatment

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced that its licensee, Alimera Sciences, Inc., resubmitted a New Drug Application for the investigational drug ILUVIEN for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 12, 2011 to address questions raised in the Complete Response Letter (CRL) Alimera received in December 2010.

16 May 2011

PCR testing for B. burgdorferi bacteria in joint fluid may confirm Lyme arthritis diagnosis

New research shows that polymerase chain reaction testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. Findings of this study are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

13 May 2011

ISCO announces near-term marketing plans for Lifeline Skin Care products

International Stem Cell Corporation today announced the Company's near-term marketing plans for products manufactured by its Lifeline Skin Care subsidiary.

13 May 2011

AHRQ: Rural Americans more likely to be treated in emergency departments for eye injury

Rural Americans were five times more likely than urban residents to be treated in emergency departments for eye injuries in 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

13 May 2011

CAMH scientist identifies gene responsible for Joubert syndrome

A new study involving Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has found a gene connected with a type of intellectual disability called Joubert syndrome.

13 May 2011

LVCCC Ophthalmic Surgeon brings laser eye surgery to Central Coast area

Laser Vision Clinic Central Coast is now open and is treating patients in the Central Coast area. This brand new, purpose-built facility, conveniently located in Erina, is the only clinic in Central Coast to offer laser eye surgery.

12 May 2011

Medicare, entitlement reform continue to trigger political rifts

The AP reports that, as unlikely as it may seem, the Obama administration and congressional Republicans may share some common ideas regarding Medicare costs. Still, the issue of how to address the programs — and the related proposals — still are causing rifts within the GOP.

11 May 2011

3M introduces Clean-Trace Hygiene Management System for healthcare facilities

As part of its effort to offer a wide range of environmental hygiene solutions for healthcare facilities, 3M Infection Prevention today announced its 3M™ Clean-Trace™ Hygiene Management System. This solution is designed to help hospitals assess the cleanliness of a surface and validate the efficacy of cleaning protocols and worker performance in less than one minute

11 May 2011

Inspire reports net loss of $17.6 million for first quarter 2011

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, reporting a net loss of $17.6 million or per common share, as compared to a net loss of $14.8 million, or per common share, for the same period in 2010.

10 May 2011