Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Recipients of the 2010 Media Awards for Health Reporting announced

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today announced the recipients of the 2010 Media Awards for Health Reporting, Canada's premier health journalism awards.

27 Jan 2010

Budget realities are rippling through states' health institutions

The (Raleigh, N.C.) News-Observer: "The state's drug assistance program for HIV patients has been capped at its current enrollment, with budget cuts hitting at the same time more people need help, state officials said Monday." Because patients with HIV are more likely to spread the virus when not on medications, public health officials are worried about denying medications (Avery, 1/26).

27 Jan 2010

Florida, California, Kansas eyeing cuts in Medicaid funding

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that as the recession continues to increase the number of people without jobs, many more are seeking health care through the state's Medicaid program, "driving up costs and playing a major role in a potential $3 billion state budget shortfall next year.

27 Jan 2010

Study of 16INK4A gene's role in progression of retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a pediatric eye cancer initiated by the loss or mutation of both copies of the retinoblastoma gene. Current evidence suggests that additional genetic alterations are required for retinoblastoma to become fully malignant.

23 Jan 2010

Virtual-reality baseballs give researchers insight into long-standing mystery

While baseball fans still rank "The Catch" by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series as one of the greatest baseball moments of all times, scientists see the feat as more of a puzzle: How does an outfielder get to the right place at the right time to catch a fly ball?

22 Jan 2010

NicOx receives EMEA approval for naproxcinod MAA

NicOx S.A. today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has validated the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for naproxcinod, which was submitted through the centralized procedure in December 2009. NicOx is seeking approval for an indication for the relief of the signs and symptoms of primary osteoarthritis. This follows the acceptance for filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2009.

22 Jan 2010

Phase 3 clinical trial results of Inspire Pharmaceuticals' PROLACRIA announced

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its Phase 3 clinical trial (Trial 03-113) of PROLACRIA™ (diquafosol tetrasodium ophthalmic solution) 2% for the treatment of dry eye disease did not meet its primary endpoint (p = 0.526) or its secondary endpoint (p = 0.368).

21 Jan 2010

UnitedHealth Group announces its revenues and net earnings in 2009

UnitedHealth Group today reported growth in revenues and net earnings per share in 2009. The Company earned $0.81 per share in the fourth quarter, bringing full year 2009 net earnings to $3.24 per share.

21 Jan 2010

6th Annual Diabetes Conference to feature ocular drug delivery in diabetic retinopathy

pSivida Corp., a leader in the development of tiny, sustained-release drug delivery technologies, with two of the only three ophthalmic sustained-release delivery products approved by the FDA for treatment of back of the eye diseases, announced that its chief executive officer, Dr. Paul Ashton, will discuss ocular drug delivery in diabetic retinopathy during a presentation at the 6th Annual Diabetes Conference in London, on Friday, January 22.

21 Jan 2010

U.S. veterinarians join coalition to address ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) have joined a coalition of other animal health and welfare groups to help address the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake that devastated the country.

21 Jan 2010

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from its LX4211 Phase 2 trial in type 2 diabetic patients

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease, obtained positive results from a recently completed Phase 2 study of LX4211 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. LX4211 is a once-per-day, orally-delivered, small molecule drug candidate that inhibits the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2), lowering the accumulation of glucose in the body and reducing caloric load.

20 Jan 2010

Speaker and House Majority Leader hold press availability following Democratic leadership meeting

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn held a press availability this afternoon in the Capitol following a Democratic leadership meeting.

20 Jan 2010

$SIR supports use of vertebral augmentation for patients with spine fractures$

SIR supports use of vertebral augmentation for patients with spine fractures

Given the current controversy over vertebroplasty-a minimally invasive treatment performed by interventional radiologists in individuals with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures that fail to respond to conventional medical therapy-what's a patient to do?

20 Jan 2010

Davis Vision's "Order Online to Win" promotion awarded to Dr. Candice Macri

Dr. Candice Macri, a Pittsburgh-area optometrist, has won Davis Vision's "Order Online to Win" promotion. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, Davis Vision representatives will visit Dr. Macri's office in New Castle, Pa. to present her prize, a trip to Miami for the Big Game on Sunday, Feb. 7.

20 Jan 2010

Zecotek Photonics' Real-Time 3D2D Display System exhibited in Zurich

Zecotek Photonics Inc., a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, today announced that its Real-Time 3D2D Display System is exhibited in Zurich, Switzerland to a select number of European display manufacturers.

20 Jan 2010

Cognitive fluctuations more likely to occur in older persons with Alzheimer's disease

Cognitive fluctuations, or episodes when train of thought temporarily is lost, are more likely to occur in older persons who are developing Alzheimer's disease than in their healthy peers, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

19 Jan 2010

Alcon to acquire U.S. rights to Sirion Therapeutics' Durezol and Zirgan

Alcon, the world’s leader in eye care, announced today that it will purchase the rights in the United States for two FDA-approved topical eye care products from Sirion Therapeutics, Inc. The two products purchased are Durezol™, a marketed ophthalmic corticosteroid approved for the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with eye surgery, and Zirgan™, a recently approved antiviral for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcers).

18 Jan 2010

NIH awards IU School of Optometry $2.35M for glaucoma research

An Indiana University School of Optometry researcher's ongoing work to improve testing for and treatment of one of the world's leading causes of blindness will advance with support from a $2.35 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

18 Jan 2010

This year's Aegean Cornea Conference to celebrate 20th Anniversary of LASIK Surgery

The Institute of Vision and Optics at the University of Crete announced today that this year’s Aegean Cornea Conference will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of LASIK surgery. The biennial event will feature world leaders in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery as well as presentations on medical and scientific breakthroughs in the field.

18 Jan 2010

Over-the-counter medications can help manage minor ailments

Nonprescription medications in the home medicine cabinet could save a trip to the doctor. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter lists more than a dozen over-the-counter medications that can help manage minor ailments.

18 Jan 2010