Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Worker health checks reveal 50% men at risk of developing diabetes

Over the last one year 100,000 State Government financed worker health check ups have been conducted. The results have been an eye-opener. 800 workers after their check ups have been asked to consult their physicians immediately. These check ups included measurements of blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and waist circumference. The workers were also questioned regarding their eating, drinking and exercising habits.

1 Apr 2010

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of 28% for 2009

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

31 Mar 2010

STAAR Surgical Company enters into 'Stipulation for Settlement' to resolve pending disputes

STAAR Surgical Company, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that STAAR and all other parties to the matters Parallax Medical Systems v. STAAR Surgical Company and Scott C. Moody, Inc. v. STAAR Surgical Company entered into a Stipulation for Settlement that globally resolves all pending disputes among them.

31 Mar 2010

Optometrists and dietitians are important part of health care team

For people with diabetes, proper nutrition can have a far-reaching effect on their health and wellness. They also have a higher risk of developing vision problems. March is National Nutrition Month and Save Your Vision Month, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and American Optometric Association (AOA) would like to remind people that optometrists and registered dietitians are an important part of the health care team.

31 Mar 2010

Researcher explores the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies

A Kansas State University researcher is exploring the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies that are common for type-2 diabetics.

31 Mar 2010

Community Health Network enhances pediatric imaging with Bore-Less Oasis and RADAR technology

Bore-Less Oasis and RADAR technology enable Community Health Network to enhance their pediatric MRI capability.

31 Mar 2010

BVA unveils wide-view neurostimulator concept, prototype bionic eye

Bionic Vision Australia today unveils their wide-view neurostimulator concept - a bionic eye that will be implanted into Australia's first recipient of the technology.

31 Mar 2010

Vision CRC scientists discover new technology to control myopia

Scientists from the Vision Cooperative Research Centre in Australia today announced that myopia, or short-sightedness, can be controlled with new technology. This ground breaking discovery was based on research conducted by Vision CRC partners - the University of Houston College of Optometry and the Brien Holden Vision Institute, located at the University of New South Wales.

31 Mar 2010

States mull joining health care reform lawsuits or keeping out of it

The Associated Press/New York Times: Indiana has joined the lawsuit brought by 13 states challenging the constitutionality of a mandate on Americans to carry health insurance in the new health reform law. "State Attorney General Greg Zoeller said Monday that Indiana would be added to an amended version of the lawsuit against the law that is expected to be filed soon" (3/29).

31 Mar 2010

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals reports net income of $2.7M for 2009 against year-ago loss

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, anti-infective compounds for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, today reported full-year and fourth quarter financial results for 2009. The company also highlighted recent progress of its proprietary and partnered development programs.

30 Mar 2010

LCT receives approval for New Zealand Phase II human trial of DIABECELL

Living Cell Technologies Limited, a global company pioneering the development of a cell implant to treat diabetes, today announced that it has received approval to advance to the next phase of its New Zealand Phase II human clinical trial with its groundbreaking DIABECELL®. The approval follows a positive assessment from the New Zealand Data Safety and Monitoring Board of the first four patients to receive its DIABACELL® implants.

30 Mar 2010

How the health legislation will affect consumers

The Los Angeles Times explores some key questions: Will insurers continue to raise premiums; when will the Medicare "doughnut hole" close; and, "how do I sign up for my new insurance?" In answer to the last one, the Times writes, "Although there are some provisions that take effect this year, such as bans on lifetime limits and the denial of coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, the part of the bill that provides new insurance options does not take effect until 2014" (Geiger, 3/28).

30 Mar 2010

Alcon acquires right to market DUREZOL ophthalmic corticosteroid in U.S.

Alcon, the world's leader in eye care, announced today that it received regulatory approval and finalized the acquisition of the rights in the United States for DUREZOL™ emulsion and the global rights, excluding Latin America, for ZYCLORIN™ from Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.

30 Mar 2010

UCSF approach may one day be used to create new periods of plasticity in human brain

UCSF scientists report that they were able to prompt a new period of "plasticity," or capacity for change, in the neural circuitry of the visual cortex of juvenile mice. The approach, they say, might some day be used to create new periods of plasticity in the human brain that would allow for the repair of neural circuits following injury or disease.

27 Mar 2010

Cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians will jeopardize timely surgical care

The results of a new member survey by the nation's Surgical Coalition shows that the more than 21 percent pay cut to physicians that is scheduled to take effect April 1 will make it difficult, if not impossible, for already financially strapped surgical practices to continue to treat Medicare patients. A majority of the more than 14,000 surgeons and anesthesiologists who responded to the survey indicated that they will be forced to make significant changes in their practices if the cut goes into effect and that timely access to surgical care will be jeopardized if Medicare payments continue to decline.

27 Mar 2010

Biophotonics: Light to cure disease

Biophotonics, or photomedicine, is a relatively unknown discipline, though it has existed for years now. You may have even benefited from it without realizing it. Some of the greatest advances of this field can be found in applications for the areas of oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, surgery and cardiology.

27 Mar 2010

READ 3 study for DME begins enrolling participants

A Phase II clinical trial for a promising treatment for diabetic eye disease has begun enrolling participants.

27 Mar 2010

SENSIMED Triggerfish developed to diagnose and treat patients with glaucoma

STMicroelectronics, the world's leading supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices for consumer and portable applications, has announced that it will develop and supply a wireless MEMS sensor that acts as a transducer, antenna and mechanical support for additional read-out electronics in a breakthrough platform developed by Swiss company Sensimed AG.

26 Mar 2010

New topical drug may help treat diabetic eye disease

Early-stage human clinical trials showed that a new topical drug was safe and had biological effects in a type of diabetic eye disease, and may offer researchers a new approach to prevent and treat diabetic macular edema.

26 Mar 2010

New experiments may hold clues for controlling cancer

A protein discovered in fruit fly eyes has brought a Johns Hopkins team closer to understanding how the human heart and other organs automatically "right size" themselves, a piece of information that may hold clues to controlling cancer.

26 Mar 2010