Researchers at the National Eye Institute discovered a brain region, superior temporal sulcus (fSTS), crucial for processing and making decisions about visual information. This finding could provide clues to treating visual conditions from stroke.
A National Eye Institute-supported clinical study found that surgical and injectable drug approaches are equally effective in treating bleeding inside the eye from proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Most participants needed both treatments to improve vision over two years. The findings provide useful guidance for clinicians managing p...
Researchers at the National Eye Institute have decoded brain maps of human color perception, finding unique patterns of brain activity for each color. The study may have implications for the development of machine-brain interfaces for visual prosthetics.
A new gene therapy using a novel light-sensing protein has restored significant retinal function and vision in blind mice. The therapy involves attaching the MCO1 opsin to retina bipolar cells using gene therapy, allowing treated mice to navigate mazes and detect changes in motion faster than untreated mice.
A clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute found that multifocal contact lenses reduce worsening nearsightedness and slow eye growth in children. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows promising results for a new option in myopia control.
Researchers found that blocking IL-17A increases the presence of other inflammatory molecules produced by Th17 cells, immune cells involved in neuroinflammation. The study suggests a combination approach involving both IL-17A and IL-24 may be more effective in treating autoimmune disorders of the nervous system.
A new study found that very low doses of Avastin are effective in preventing blindness in preterm infants. The treatment was tested on 59 preterm infants with type 1 ROP and showed success in improving vision with minimal side effects.
NEI researchers identify 2,054 differentially methylated regions in mouse rod photoreceptors, revealing distinct shifts in gene expression that contribute to age-related disease susceptibility. The study suggests targeting the epigenome as a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent leading causes of vision loss, such as AMD.
Scientists have discovered a way to directly reprogram skin cells into light-sensing rod photoreceptors, enabling blind mice to detect light after transplantation. The technique, which took only 10 days to produce functional cells, has the potential to model eye disease and advance therapies for age-related macular degeneration.
A recent analysis found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet correlates with higher cognitive function and slower cognitive decline. High fish and vegetable consumption had the greatest protective effect on cognition.
Researchers at NIH defined a critical window for visual event detection in mice, revealing the superior colliculus plays a crucial role. Inhibiting this region impaired event perception and made mice more susceptible to distracting visuals.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute have discovered a tooth-enamel protein, amelotin, that is also present in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration. The protein may play a role in the formation of calcium deposits in the eye and could be a therapeutic target for treating the blinding disease.
A new AI-based device has been developed to help diagnose aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) in newborns. The study found that infants who developed AP-ROP were more premature and had lower birth weights, highlighting the need for early detection and monitoring.
A new clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute found that vision therapy for convergence insufficiency does not improve reading test scores in children. While in-office vision therapy can improve visual function, it fails to lead to better reading fluency and comprehension.
A NIH-funded clinical trial found that methotrexate was more effective than mycophenolate mofetil in controlling inflammation and treatment success for patients with severe forms of uveitis. At six months, 74% of participants in the methotrexate group achieved control compared to 55% in the mycophenolate group.
A new study reveals that the complement system, part of the innate immune system, plays a protective role in slowing retinal degeneration in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. The research suggests that the complement system helps to clear away dead cells and maintain homeostasis in the retina.
A study found that children's brains can compensate for missing regions of the visual cortex after epilepsy surgery, allowing them to maintain full visual perception. This brain plasticity suggests that early surgical treatment for children with epilepsy may enable this type of remapping.
A new study finds that starting treatment before vision loss is unnecessary for most people with diabetic macular edema. Close monitoring of the condition is essential to determine when treatment should begin.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute have developed a new imaging method that uses fluorescent dye to track changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer. The technique reveals unique patterns in individual cells, providing insights into disease progression and treatment options.
A recent NIH study found no evidence that eating a calcium-rich diet or taking supplements increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The study suggests that high calcium intake may be protective, but more research is needed to confirm this finding.
A small pilot clinical study suggests that nitisinone increases melanin production in some people with oculocutaneous albinism type 1B, a rare genetic disease. The drug may help protect against the sun's UV rays and promote normal vision development.
Researchers identified six target disease genes at previously known AMD loci and three additional candidate genes, providing insights into the genetic architecture of AMD. The study used RNA sequencing data to expand on the genetic contributions to AMD.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute discovered that TGF-beta signaling governs immune cell function in the eye, leading to activated microglia and retina damage. Disrupting this signal may represent a potential therapeutic target for treating AMD.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute have developed a patient-specific stem cell-based therapy that prevents blindness in animal models of geographic atrophy, a leading cause of vision loss among people age 65 and older. The therapy successfully integrates transplanted cells into the retina and restores photoreceptor health.
A new noninvasive technology detects nerve cell firing based on changes in shape, allowing for quantitative monitoring of visual function at the cellular level. This technique could be used to observe nerve activity in light-accessible parts of the body, such as the eye.
Scientists at the National Eye Institute have found that neurons in the superior colliculus are key players in allowing us to detect visual objects and events. The findings show that a specific population of neurons directly cause a behavior, and a mathematical model can predict behavior based on these neurons.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute combine adaptive optics and angiography to visualize live neurons, epithelial cells, and blood vessels in the retina. This technology could lead to earlier detection of diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
A comparative clinical trial found that delivering corticosteroids directly into the eye is more effective than injecting them adjacent to the eye in treating uveitic macular edema. The treatment led to significant reductions in macular edema and improvements in visual acuity, with intravitreal triamcinolone and dexamethasone implant s...
T. Michael Redmond's work deduced the molecular biology of the retina and led to the development of Luxturna, a gene therapy approved by FDA for treating Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited genetic disorder causing severe vision loss.
Scientists have developed a novel gene therapy that effectively reduces rhodopsin production and prevents photoreceptor death in dogs with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment, which combines shRNA interference with a replacement gene, shows promise for slowing or preventing vision loss in humans.
Researchers have reversed congenital blindness in mice by changing supportive cells in the retina called Müller glia into rod photoreceptors. The new technique integrates Müller glia-derived rods into the brain's visual pathway, enabling mice to regain functional vision.
A well-controlled trial found that omega-3 fatty acid supplements taken orally proved no better than placebo at relieving symptoms or signs of dry eye. Despite insufficient evidence establishing the effectiveness of omega-3s, clinicians and patients have been inclined to try the supplements for various conditions, including dry eye.
Researchers found that microglia in the retina can repopulate themselves and re-establish their normal organization and function after being nearly eliminated. The discovery could lead to new therapies for controlling inflammation and slowing progression of rare retinal diseases.
The NIH-led AMD Ryan Initiative Study (ARIS) will follow 500 people over five years to learn more about the natural history of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Researchers aim to identify biomarkers of disease progression and develop therapies to halt its progression.
The National Eye Institute is seeking innovative approaches to create functional human retina prototypes using stem cells. The goal is to develop 'mini-retinas' that can replicate the complexity of the human retina, enabling the study of underlying causes of retinal diseases and testing new drug therapies.
Researchers found that primary cilia on cells of the retinal pigment epithelium are crucial for the survival of photoreceptors. The discovery has advanced efforts to create stem cell-derived RPE cells for transplantation into patients with geographic atrophy, a leading cause of blindness in the US.
A study found that corneal donor tissue can be preserved for up to 11 days without affecting graft success rates. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 individuals and found that longer preservation times did not significantly impact the success of corneal transplantation.
The National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded $90,000 to a team led by Erin Lavik for their innovative approach to creating a living model of the human retina. The award aims to develop next-generation models to study blinding diseases and test therapies.
New research shows that injured mouse eyes can regenerate neurons, integrating them into the eye's circuitry. The study uses a zebrafish clue to discover cues that reprogram Müller glia into retinal neurons, opening new approaches for treating eye trauma and retinal disease.
A resident ocular microbiome, including bacteria like Staphylococci and Corynebacterium mastitidis, trains the developing immune system to fend off pathogens. This microbe induces the production of interleukin-17, a signaling protein critical for host defense.
Researchers have identified a seventh rhodopsin, Rh7, expressed in the brain of fruit flies where it regulates circadian rhythms and daily activity patterns. The discovery sheds light on the role of light-sensitive opsins in setting circadian rhythms and has potential implications for understanding degenerative retinal disorders.
A clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute shows that monthly eye injections of Avastin improve visual acuity on average from 20/100 to 20/40, comparable to Eylea. Macular edema decreased significantly in both groups, with higher resolution rates in the Eylea group.
The clinical trial found that systemic therapy preserved visual acuity and had fewer side effects compared to the intraocular implant. The researchers concluded that systemic therapy would be the first choice of treatment for average patients with uveitis.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute used CRISPR to rescue photoreceptors in mice, preserving daylight and color vision. The approach could lead to novel therapies for preventing vision loss from human diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Researchers discovered that decreased levels of neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) trigger the retina to produce stem cells in zebrafish, shedding light on retinal regeneration. The finding informs efforts to restore vision in people who are blind and has implications for regenerative medicine.
Researchers have discovered that stem cell secretions, called exosomes, can promote survival of retinal ganglion cells in rats, which could lead to potential therapies for glaucoma. The study found that exosome-treated retinal ganglion cells maintained function and lost fewer cells after optic nerve injury.
A new study published in Nature reveals that the visual cortex is involved in promoting plasticity of innate eye movements. Researchers used optogenetics to silence the visual cortex and observed a significant reduction in the activity of the optokinetic reflex, suggesting its role in mediating plasticity between the two reflexes.
Researchers will investigate molecular and genetic factors guiding axon growth in the retina, with goals of restoring vision through neuronal regeneration. The projects aim to develop breakthrough therapies for blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
A study in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health shows that high-contrast visual stimulation can help regenerate optic nerve fibers, allowing for partial restoration of visual function. The research demonstrates that adult regenerated central nervous system axons are capable of navigating to correct targets in the brain.
A new study led by NIH researchers suggests that rod photoreceptors in mammals evolved from cone cells through a protein-mediated transformation, enabling nocturnal animals to thrive. The findings provide insights into the evolution of night vision and have potential applications for regenerating retinal cells.