Eye News and Research

Latest Eye News and Research

Early diagnosis can delay or halt progression of macular degeneration

February is Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness month, providing an opportunity to inform and educate the public on the leading cause of vision loss for adults over the age of 65. Today, over 15 million of these adults suffer from age-related macular degeneration, a number that is expected to grow considerably as the baby boomer generation begins heading into retirement age. While the risks are growing, awareness and education is key to treating and saving the eyesight of millions.

19 Feb 2011

Deep brain stimulation therapy promising against severe OCD

When obsessive-compulsive disorder is of crippling severity and drugs and behavior therapy can't help, there has been for just over a year a thread - or rather a wire - of hope. By inserting a thin electrode deep into the brain, doctors can precisely deliver an electrical current to a cord of the brain's wiring and soften the severity of the symptoms. "Deep brain stimulation" therapy for OCD won Food and Drug Administration approval in 2009 for extreme cases under its humanitarian device exemption.

19 Feb 2011

TLC plans for Laser Eye Centers in Southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego

TLC Vision announced today plans for a continued presence in Southern California, from Los Angeles to San Diego. The renewed commitment includes an agreement to maintain the long-standing relationship with Drs. Alan M. Berg and Robert E. Feinfield, which forms The Berg-Feinfield/TLC Laser Eye Centers located throughout the Los Angeles area.

19 Feb 2011

Recent releases in Global Health

Factors Contributing to Health Of Women Worldwide: The Kaiser Family Foundation features a narrated slide tutorial by epidemiologist Laurel Spielberg on the health issues facing women around the world. The tutorial touches on issues such as economic status and biological, social, and cultural factors that affect women's health, as well as access to health services such as family planning (2/17).

19 Feb 2011

Bilingualism enhances multi-tasking skills

Once likened to a confusing tower of Babel, speaking more than one language can actually bolster brain function by serving as a mental gymnasium, according to researchers.

18 Feb 2011

Report finds neglected diseases research funding up in 2009, funding for related non-profits down

"A rise in global funding for research into neglected diseases needs to be matched by a continued focus on delivering practical new ways to curb sickness in the developing world," according to the third annual report by the Global Funding of Innovation for Neglected Diseases released on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

18 Feb 2011

Statin drug may help prevent blindness in diabetics

New University of Georgia research has found that a statin drug that is often known by the brand-name Lipitor may help prevent blindness in people with diabetes.

17 Feb 2011

Iris Pharma announces validation of new EIU model of ocular inflammation

Iris Pharma, a world leader CRO specialized in ophthalmology, today announced the validation of the Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis model, a new model of ocular inflammation.

17 Feb 2011

Inspire announces strategic corporate restructuring on its eye care business

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, announced today a strategic corporate restructuring designed to result in the Company focusing activities on its eye care business, allowing it to fully leverage existing commercial capabilities, pipeline assets and related corporate development and licensing opportunities.

17 Feb 2011

Inspire fourth quarter revenues increase 2% to $30.3 million

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company reported a net loss of $4.3 million, or per common share, compared to a net loss of $2.6 million, or per common share, for the same period in 2009.

17 Feb 2011

New computer application automatically detects subtle epileptic brain lesions in MRI scans

Researchers from the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center identified potential benefits of a new computer application that automatically detects subtle brain lesions in MRI scans in patients with epilepsy. In a study published in the February 2011 issue of PLoS ONE, the authors discuss the software's potential to assist radiologists in better identifying and locating visually undetectable, operable lesions.

17 Feb 2011

Avesthagen completes development of microalgae based vegetarian DHA omega 3 essential fatty acid

Avesthagen Limited announced completion of a landmark project for the development of AvestaDHA(TM) - a vegetarian source of DHA (docohexanoic acid) omega 3 essential fatty acid based on an innovative approach using naturally occurring microalgae.

17 Feb 2011

GOP continues attack on Planned Parenthood, abortion funding

Abortion-rights advocates and abortion-rights opponents don't see eye to eye on much, but they do agree on this: Nobody hates Planned Parenthood quite as much as Mike Pence. The Indiana Republican is on a one-man crusade to deny all federal funding to the group — not just the money it gets for reproductive health and family planning services, but every penny it gets for anything (Kliff, 2/16).

17 Feb 2011

Inexpensive drug therapy shows promise in treating premature infants with childhood blindness

A readily available, inexpensive drug therapy showed a significant benefit in treating premature infants with the worst and historically most difficult-to-treat cases of retinopathy of prematurity.

17 Feb 2011

Assessment of child's learning strategies can reveal signs of vision problems

Parents across Ontario will be soon receiving the second round of newly formatted report cards emphasizing the importance of how students work and how this contributes to their overall academic success. As parents and teachers review each child's progress they may want to consider whether vision problems might be a contributing factor to performance and behaviour in class.

16 Feb 2011

Obesity associated with decreased risk of open-angle glaucoma in women, not men

Obesity may be associated with higher eye pressure and a decreased risk of open-angle glaucoma in women but not men, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

14 Feb 2011

OXiGENE, NCI/CTEP and GOG collaborate on ZYBRESTAT Phase 2 study in relapsed ovarian cancer

OXiGENE, Inc., a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, announced today that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) to collaborate on the conduct of a randomized Phase 2 trial of ZYBRESTAT in combination with bevacizumab in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer.

14 Feb 2011

Phase III RISE study of Lucentis for DME meets primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced today that one of two Phase III studies evaluating monthly Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), met its primary endpoint. DME is a serious complication of diabetes that affects up to 10 percent of people with the disease and can lead to blurred vision, severe vision loss and blindness.

14 Feb 2011

New clinical trial to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes

A new clinical trial at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is among the first to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to understand whether surgery can control diabetes, as well or even better than the best medical treatment available today. This is the first study of its kind open to patients who are overweight or mildly obese.

14 Feb 2011