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Lab-grown retinal cells show promise for new eye therapies

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have successfully grown specialized blood vessel cells critical to retinal health from induced pluripotent stem cells. These 'retinal endothelial cells' integrated into damaged tissue to regenerate blood vessels, restore function, and form functional vascular tissue in a lab-grown environment.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Global push to recognise threat of toxoplasmosis

A new study calls for formal recognition of toxoplasmosis as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. The disease, which can cause permanent vision loss, affects one third of the world's population and has significant impacts on global health.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Pitt scientists engineer “living eye drop” to support corneal healing

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine develop an experimental 'living eye drop' using naturally occurring eye bacteria to accelerate corneal wound healing. The engineered bacteria, Corynebacterium mastitidis, continuously secrete interleukin-10, a protein that regulates inflammation.

UH Professor warns of dangers of red-light laser myopia therapy for children

A University of Houston optometry researcher warns of the dangers of red-light laser myopia therapy for children, citing vision damage reports and the need for rigorous safety validation. The professor's quality improvement study found that two popular devices exceeded national standards for safety classifications.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Study reveals potential therapeutic target for treating glaucoma

Researchers have identified a metabolically sensitive cell subtype in the eye's drainage system that shows early signs of dysfunction in a genetic mouse model of glaucoma. The study provides what the editors say are fundamental findings highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or slowing the development of glaucoma.

Clinical trial in Ethiopia targets the trachoma scourge

A large-scale field trial in Ethiopia found no significant difference between fluorometholone and placebo treatments in reducing postoperative trachomatous trichiasis recurrence. The study, which involved over 2,400 participants, suggests that anti-inflammatory therapy may not be beneficial for improving TT surgery outcomes.

World-first project shows great promise to treat low eye pressure

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of a widely-used eye injection in managing hypotony, a rare condition characterized by abnormally low eye pressure. The treatment, which involves injecting HPMC gel, has shown promising results in restoring vision and increasing eye pressure.

Finding the genome's blind spot

Researchers identified changes in RNA molecules involved in cell's splicing machinery, causing retinitis pigmentosa in ~30-40% of patients with genetic disorder. Variants in five non-coding RNA genes were found to be responsible for the disease, offering a new diagnostic pathway for families worldwide.

Cardiovascular risk score predicts multiple eye diseases

A new study from UCLA Health found that a cardiovascular risk score can predict who will develop serious eye diseases years later. Higher cardiovascular risk scores were significantly more likely to develop conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Insights into dry eyes gained from stem cell-derived tear glands

Dry eye disease affects 5-15% of people, causing symptoms like redness and burning sensation. Researchers generated human tear gland organoids from stem cells to understand the connection between DED and autophagy. They found that disabling autophagy led to cellular disruption, reduced tear protein secretion, and increased cell death.

MIT study shows how vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia

A new MIT study reveals that temporarily anesthetizing the retina of the amblyopic eye can restore its neural connections and improve vision in adulthood. The treatment, which has been shown to be effective in infancy and early childhood, may have promising clinical potential for adults with amblyopia.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New dry macular degeneration treatment the first to halt disease’s progression

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a promising new treatment approach for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can potentially stop the disease's progression. The novel method uses heat and near-infrared light to trigger healing responses at a cellular level, strengthening protective mechanisms of affected cells.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Genetic cause of hereditary vision loss discovered

A research team has discovered a previously unknown genetic cause of hereditary optic atrophy, a degenerative disease of the optic nerve associated with gradual loss of vision. A genetic variant in the PPIB gene was found to impair mitochondrial function, detectable in most known forms of hereditary optic atrophy.

AI at the Eyelid: Glasses that track health through your blinks

Researchers developed AI-powered BlinkWise glasses that track blinking patterns to assess fatigue, mental workload, and eye-related health issues. The device uses radio signals to detect minute eyelid movements with unprecedented detail, preserving privacy and using minimal power.

Reversing age-related vision decline

A new study from UC Irvine researchers explores a potential therapy for addressing aging in the eye and preventing diseases like age-related macular degeneration. Injecting polyunsaturated fatty acids into aged mice improved visual function, suggesting a possible way to reverse age-related vision decline.

Taking aim at nearsightedness in kids before it’s diagnosed

Researchers are conducting a national study to test the effectiveness of daily atropine drops in delaying and reducing nearsightedness in young children. The study aims to enroll over 600 children aged 6-11 who will receive either atropine or a placebo, with results comparing the timing of onset and progression of myopia.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

New imaging approach simplifies retina exams by enabling digital refocusing

A new imaging approach has simplified retina exams by eliminating the need for mechanical focusing, making fundus cameras more accessible. The system uses a diffuser to capture 3D light information and digitally refocus images after they are taken, producing consistent resolution of about 7-10 line pairs per millimeter.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Retinitis pigmentosa mouse models reflect pathobiology of human RP59

Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham created novel mouse models with mutations in the DHDDS gene to study retinitis pigmentosa (RP) 59, a genetic cause of blindness. The studies revealed that both T206A/K42E and K42E/K42E mouse models exhibited changes in retinal structure and function similar to human RP59 disease.

Seeing with fresh eyes: Snails as a system for studying sight restoration

Researchers have established apple snails as a system to study eye regeneration, which may hold the key for restoring vision due to damage and disease. The team discovered that the snail eye is anatomically similar to humans and can regrow itself, with genes such as pax6 playing a crucial role in development.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Researchers find brain immune cells regulate vision health

In a breakthrough study, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that microglia cells respond differently than neutrophils to photoreceptor damage in the retina. This discovery has high implications for treating vision loss caused by photoreceptor cell damage.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Scientists discover unknown organelle inside our cells

Researchers have identified a previously unknown organelle called the hemifusome that plays a crucial role in cellular sorting and recycling. This discovery could lead to targeted treatments for complex genetic disorders like Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, which affects multiple systems in the body.

Strategy to prevent age-related macular degeneration identified

A new study found that increasing apolipoprotein M levels can slow or block progression of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in people over 50. The researchers also found that ApoM triggers a signaling pathway that breaks down cholesterol deposits.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Millions still lack access to glasses - new study

A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that global refractive correction rates are at 65.8%, six percentage points lower than in 2010, and urge urgent action to meet the WHO's target of a 40% increase by 2030.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Vitamin supplements slow down the progression of glaucoma

Researchers found that supplements of B vitamins B6, B9, and B12, as well as choline, slowed down damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma. This was observed in experiments on mice and rats with glaucoma, where eye pressure was left untreated.