Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Pediatrician recommends red reflex vision test for all newborns

With the number of premature births and medically fragile infants now increasing in the U.S., a basic eye exam, including a red reflex test, should be given to all children shortly after birth, reports Angela Buffenn, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Orbit and Eye Movement Institute at The Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

7 Nov 2009

Rituximab drug potentially effective for treating Graves' eye disease, shows study

A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease experienced rapid improvement of their symptoms - and improved vision - following treatment with the drug rituximab. Inflammation around their eyes and damage to the optic nerve were significantly reduced. The same patients had not previously responded to steroids, a common treatment for Graves' eye disease.

7 Nov 2009

Gonorrhea medication may help fight cancer

Drugs sometimes have beneficial side effects. A glaucoma treatment causes luscious eyelashes. A blood pressure drug also aids those with a rare genetic disease. The newest surprise discovered by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is a gonorrhea medication that might help battle cancer.

6 Nov 2009

Californians who lose jobs find health care safety net badly frayed

In this article for Kaiser Health News, Janet Wilson focuses on California and reports on how the safety net is fraying as economic woes take their toll on state budgets. "With a nip here and a slash there, California's budget crisis is now affecting health care for millions of residents, from wealthy Orange County to the struggling city of Oakland.

6 Nov 2009

$1.85 million grant to study how digital games can improve players' health behaviors and outcomes

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced more than $1.85 million in grants for research that will offer unprecedented insight into how digital games can improve players' health behaviors and outcomes. With funding from RWJF's Health Games Research national program, nine research teams across the country will conduct extensive studies to discover, for example, how the popular dance pad video game Dance Dance Revolution might help Parkinson's patients reduce the risk of falling, how Wii Active might be most effectively implemented in high schools to help overweight students lose weight, how a mobile phone game with a breath interface might help smokers quit or reduce their tobacco use, or how facial recognition games might be designed to help people with autism learn to identify others' emotions.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 6 Nov 2009

AcuFocus Corneal Inlay: Will it improve near vision in patients with presbyopia?

The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute is participating in a research study to determine if an investigational corneal inlay can safely and effectively reduce the need for reading glasses. Dr. Peter Hersh, the study doctor, will perform the procedures.

6 Nov 2009

Malaria experts discuss eradication at MIM conference

In a session at the 5th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, experts discussed the tools required to eradicate the disease and highlighted insecticide and drug resistance in some parts of the world, Xinhua reports. Researchers noted that resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has been documented in western Cambodia and "has now also been reported in the west of Thailand and in eastern Myanmar," the news service writes (Ooko/Zhuoyun, 11/5).

6 Nov 2009

Inspire Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $8.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, reporting a net loss of $8.5 million or ($0.12) per common share.

5 Nov 2009

Five life-saving tips to survive a hospital stay

With the numbers of H1N1 (Swine Flu) cases flooding emergency rooms all over the country, you'll want to do everything you can to prevent contracting H1N1 and being subjected to fatal medical errors and infectious diseases if you have to go into the hospital. Martine Ehrenclou, author of the multiple award winning book, Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide To Get Your Loved One Out Alive, offers five life-saving tips to stay safe and free of disease if you have to be in the hospital.

5 Nov 2009

New laser therapy for cataract treatment

A new laser therapy that can potentially remove cataracts from people's eyes more efficiently and with greater precision was presented on October 24, 2009 at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting.

5 Nov 2009

Surgical groups oppose Senate’s health care reform bill

Twenty surgical organizations, led by the American College of Surgeons, sent a letter to the U.S. Senate today stating they are prepared to oppose the Senate's health care reform bill because it will threaten patient access and harm quality.

5 Nov 2009

Patient enrollment in three late-stage clinical trials completed

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today patient enrollment is complete in three of its late-stage clinical trials.

5 Nov 2009

New Merck set to begin global health care operations

Merck & Co., Inc. today outlined its global plans following the completion of Merck's merger with Schering-Plough Corporation announced yesterday. The new Merck is a global health care leader aimed at providing innovative, distinctive products and services that save and improve lives, while satisfying customer needs and creating long term shareholder value.

5 Nov 2009

GOP frames election outcome as rebuff of Dems' health overhaul, but Pelosi paints a rosier picture

"Republican victories in two gubernatorial elections are casting a shadow on House Democratic efforts to secure support from wavering members for health-care legislation," Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports. "The GOP is framing the outcome as a rejection of Democratic proposals including the health-care bill, and some conservative and vulnerable Democrats seem inclined to agree, as they keep an eye on 2010 elections" (Vaughan, 11/4).

4 Nov 2009

New pediatric simulation center launched by Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital opened the doors of its brand new Simulation Center today, where healthcare teams will be trained in the management of rare, complex, and complicated patient care through a simulated clinical environment. The facility is the only center of its kind in Texas, and one of the largest among the twelve pediatric simulation centers in the United States.

4 Nov 2009

Reduced VEGF can lead to degeneration of retina

Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have found that when the eye is missing a diffusible form of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), i.e. one that when secreted can reach other cells at a distance, the retina shows defects similar to "dry" macular degeneration, also called geographic atrophy (GA).

4 Nov 2009

IBN iCare to develop cutting-edge nanomaterials for ocular therapy

Marking a significant bench to bedside research milestone in Singapore, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, and the National University Hospital (NUH) launched the IBN iCare and the NUH Eye Centre @ Biopolis at an official opening ceremony officiated by the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, S. Iswaran, at the Biopolis on Nov. 3, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

ThromboGenics issues business update for the third-quarter of 2009

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative medicines for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer, is today issuing a business update for the period ending 30 September, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

MedInformatix demonstrates its PM and EMR Solution at 2009 AAO Conference

MedInformatix, a leading provider of software solutions for the healthcare industry, announced the tenth anniversary of its relationships with several prominent Midwestern ophthalmology practices at the 2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Conference in San Francisco. In each case, the practices showcase the benefits of MedInformatix's Practice Management (PM) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Solution.

4 Nov 2009

$Optic nerve sheath meningioma patients can be cured using fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy$

Optic nerve sheath meningioma patients can be cured using fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

Optic nerve sheath meningiomas are rare tumors that are traditionally treated with surgery, which is typically a blinding procedure. However, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have found that a specialized type of radiation therapy offers the same local control, with fewer adverse effects on vision.

4 Nov 2009