Articles tagged with Eye Diseases
Researchers found that HIV protease inhibitors can decrease photoreceptor apoptosis in mouse models of retinal detachment. The study suggests that these drugs may prevent vision loss after retinal detachment by inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis.
A new small molecule inhibitor of Src kinases was found to eliminate VEGF-induced fluid accumulation in the retina of mice and rabbits. The approach, which involved topical application or intravenous injection, showed promise for reducing vision loss due to VEGF-mediated blood vessel permeability.
Patients with hemianopia benefit from prism glasses that expand their visual field, improving obstacle avoidance and daily mobility. A new study has shown significant benefits for patients wearing these glasses, with 47% reporting them as 'very helpful' after 12 months.
A study published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences identifies the erythropoietin (EPO) gene as a contributor to increased risk of severe diabetic eye and kidney diseases. The research highlights the importance of considering blunting EPO's effects in future therapeutic strategies, such as anti-VEGF therapy.
Two studies shed new light on eye health issues: the role of antioxidant supplements in preventing cataract development and their relationship to mortality. Glaucoma research also explores the link between cerebrospinal fluid pressure and optic nerve damage, revealing a potential contributor to glaucoma's progression.
Researchers have successfully used gene therapy to restore vision in three young adults with a rare form of congenital blindness. The study showed significant improvements in visual acuity and sensitivity to light, setting the stage for further studies.
Researchers found that the eye uses a distinct mechanism to reset the biological clock through light detection, separate from sight. This discovery could lead to easier tests to diagnose issues with light detection, potentially helping SAD and insomnia patients.
A collaborative effort by Boston University researchers has discovered the TFAP2A gene is linked to Branchio-Oculo-Facial syndrome (BOFS), a disorder marked by clefting, skin anomalies, and eye abnormalities. The study's findings may lead to more precise diagnostic testing and suggest new research directions.
Researchers have discovered a new vector, AAV5, that can carry large genes linked to inherited blindness, paving the way for potential gene therapy treatments. This breakthrough enables the delivery of corrected faulty genes into cells where they are required.
Research found that postmenopausal hormone users had a 48% lower risk of neovascular AMD, but unexpectedly higher risk of early AMD. Women who gave birth had a 26% lower risk of early AMD.
Studies among Ophthalmology's April 2008 issue highlight the potential link between natural light exposure before birth and the development of myopia. Researchers also examine the suitability of older donor corneas for transplant surgery, finding that those from donors aged 66-75 have comparable quality to younger donors.
Researchers awarded $2.4 million NEI grant to study corneal infection (keratitis) caused by disease-causing fungi on contact lenses and in the environment. The team will focus on Fusarium solani, a fungus that causes eye infections in warm, humid areas.
The latest advances in genetics and genomics hold great potential for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of diseases. Recent research has shed light on the genetic causes of conditions such as vitiligo, autoinflammatory diseases, and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers found a blood vessel protein, Robo4, that reverses or prevents damage from two devastating eye diseases. The study's discovery could lead to new drugs to treat and prevent age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
A study published in Archives of Ophthalmology found that black patients with diagnosed and treated glaucoma have a higher risk of cardiovascular death. The research suggests that this increased risk may be due to the use of certain medications used to treat glaucoma.
Researchers from the US and China have confirmed the effectiveness of a simple treatment for amblyopia in laboratory and clinical trials. The treatment, which involves training on a visual task, has shown promising results in improving vision and challenging traditional theories about critical periods.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine created a device that measures metabolic stress, detecting eye disease before symptoms appear. The instrument provides accurate results in detecting vision loss and characterizing disease progression.
Researchers at Sainte-Justine Hospital and Université de Montréal have identified the CD36 receptor as the key cause of dry AMD. This discovery brings hope for new therapies to treat the blinding eye disease, which affects 30 million people over 50 worldwide.
Researchers developed an optical technique using 'frequency combs' to detect biomarkers for diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The method simultaneously identifies tiny amounts of molecules in the breath with high precision.
Researchers have identified a key role for a glaucoma gene, sFRP1, in the development of the disease, which causes high pressure in the eye. Over-expression of this gene disrupts the WNT-signaling pathway, leading to elevated intraocular pressure and vision loss.
A study analyzed eyes of 2520 individuals, finding larger drusen and abnormal blood vessel growth more common in whites. Whites were also more likely to develop advanced AMD and geographic atrophy, with black individuals showing potential protection against AMD.
Researchers found that topical application of alpha-linolenic acid significantly decreased clinical signs of dry eye syndrome in animal models. The study suggests a potential new treatment approach for this common condition, which affects millions of people worldwide.
The department has received grants totaling over $1.6 million in the past 11 years, with a focus on identifying causes and treatments for blinding diseases such as corneal cataracts and macular degeneration. The grant will support research into diabetic retinopathy, ocular inflammation, and genetic eye diseases.
A long-term study found that smokers have an increased risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and experience greater progression of the disease. Smokers developed AMD at a younger age than non-smokers, and smoking was associated with cumulative progression of AMD over 15 years.
Researchers discovered that experimental drug endostatin may significantly reduce or eliminate abnormal blood vessel growth, a hallmark of advanced AMD. This finding gives hope to individuals at high risk for the disease, which affects central vision and can lead to total blindness.
A large USC study of over 6,000 Los Angeles-area children found that older children are more likely to develop vision disorders like strabismus and amblyopia. The study highlights the need for early screening and intervention programs to prevent lifelong visual impairments.
A simple technique using the twinkle after-effect can accurately identify blind spots in people with retinal disease, helping patients seek timely treatment for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The method is inexpensive, accessible, and can be used daily by patients to detect changes in their vision.
A new 'Twinkle' eye test has been developed to detect vision loss in people with age-related macular disease (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. The test relies on a visual illusion that can identify regions of the eye with vision loss, and its results indicate it could be a powerful diagnostic tool.
Scientists have discovered a simple method for detecting vision loss in patients with retinal disease, utilizing the induced twinkle after-effect. This technique, already proven effective in 75% of cases, allows patients to identify visual defects at home before seeking medical attention.
Researchers used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to scan retinal nerve fibers, finding correlations with brain MRI scans and suggesting an inexpensive alternative for tracking MS. OCT scans can detect early optic nerve damage, potentially identifying MS before brain damage occurs.
Phylonix Pharmaceuticals has been awarded a Phase II SBIR grant from the National Eye Institute to develop zebrafish models for eye diseases. The company aims to model various eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, using zebrafish models with high accuracy and speed.
The study found that perindopril therapy reduced aortic diameters relative to placebo in both systole and diastole in patients with MFS taking standard beta-blocker therapy. This suggests that ACE inhibitors may be a useful treatment option for Marfan syndrome patients.
Researchers found that corrective lenses can successfully treat bilateral amblyopia in children when diagnosed and treated early. The study showed significant improvement in visual acuity after one year, with most children reaching 20/25 or better.
A study found that childhood vaccination for the rubella virus may have eliminated an inflammatory eye disease from the U.S.-born population. The vaccine was implemented in 1969, and subsequent reductions in Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) cases were observed, especially among foreign-born patients.
Researchers from the Picower Institute at MIT have identified the gene Ten_m3 as crucial for creating matched projections from both eyes in the brain. In mice with this gene knocked out, visual deficits persisted even when one eye was covered, but blocking the output of one eye restored vision.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered a crucial mechanism driving the growth of light-sensing discs in rod cells, shedding new light on retinal health and disease. The study's findings could lead to significant advances in understanding and treating eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new eye-staining technique using Lissamine green to detect early stages of dry eye syndrome. The test reveals staining patterns that indicate the severity and progression of the condition, allowing for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment options.
A study found that individuals with suppressed immune systems, such as kidney transplant patients and those with HIV, have a higher incidence of squamous cell eye cancer. Residence in subtropical regions and prior history of skin cancer were also associated with increased risk.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are developing a new tool to improve LASIK surgery outcomes by measuring eye tissue stiffness using tiny bubbles generated inside eye tissue. The technology could also provide a new treatment for presbyopia, a age-related difficulty focusing on close objects.
Research found that glaucoma patients with fluctuating eye pressure have worse visual fields after three months and 13 years, highlighting the importance of reducing long-term IOP fluctuations. The study suggests that 'IOP modulation' rather than reduction is a more effective treatment approach for stabilizing vision.
A gene variant in the complement C3 gene has been found to more than double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of visual loss and blindness. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that inflammation plays a key role in the disease process.
Researchers found that consuming diets with a higher glycemic index increased the risk of developing advanced AMD, with severity linked to dietary glycemic index. The study suggests improving dietary carbohydrate quality through simple alterations may help prevent AMD progression.
Individuals aged 49 and older with cataract or age-related macular degeneration have higher mortality rates compared to those without visual impairments. Regular vision assessment may lead to early detection and treatment to reduce the impact of visual impairment.
A study published in Nature Medicine found that increasing omega-3 intake in mice reduced damaging vessel growth in the eye, a cause of retinopathy and blindness. Omega-3 supplementation is being tested in premature babies at risk for vision loss in a clinical trial.
Researchers found that increasing omega-3 fatty acids and decreasing omega-6 fatty acids in the diet can reduce retinopathy severity by suppressing inflammatory proteins. The study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may act as protective factors in diseases affecting retinal blood vessels.
A new study has identified proteins in the rod and cones of the eye that could lead to the discovery of the genetic causes of a host of inherited eye diseases. The researchers hope to gain a clearer understanding of what goes wrong at the most basic level in these diseases that cause blindness and other disorders.
A study by researchers at UIC found a strong association between the use of contact lens solution AMO Complete MoisturePlus and Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare severe eye infection. The study suggests that the solution's ability to kill Acanthamoeba is compromised, increasing the risk of infection.
Researchers have discovered a new gene, LCA5, that causes inherited blindness in babies. The finding holds promise for future gene therapy treatments, which may restore vision by injecting genes into the eye.
The Friedlander lab will work with six other laboratory groups to conduct pre-clinical work on adult stem cells, aiming to develop a new approach to treating retinal diseases. The therapy targets abnormal blood vessel formation, which is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans.
A national Joslin-led study found that maintaining tight blood glucose control in people with type 1 diabetes does not lead to long-term loss of cognitive ability. The study, part of the EDIC study, followed participants for 12 years and showed no adverse effects on cognition.
A study found that specific genetic variants in genes CFH and LOC387715 are associated with an increased risk of progressing to advanced age-related macular degeneration. Smoking and high body mass index further increase the risk, but healthy lifestyle habits can reduce it.
Researchers have discovered that neural progenitor cells derived from human fetal stem cells can protect the vision of animals with degenerative eye disease. The new findings suggest novel ways to preserve vision in humans with no effective treatments.
Researchers found high levels of zinc in deposits in the eye associated with age-related macular degeneration. The discovery may facilitate the development of effective treatments for this leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
A study by Schepens Eye Research Institute found that an educational video increased patients' knowledge about macular degeneration and adaptive devices, but had no effect on their emotional response or behavior. The video did not motivate patients to make changes to improve their quality of life.
Researchers used gene therapy to shut down a key gene responsible for inherited blindness, reducing mutated rhodopsin by 60%, in an effort to develop a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. The technique may restore vision in affected individuals if successful.
An estimated 60 million American adults are at high risk of vision loss due to various factors such as age, diabetes, and income level. Only half of the high-risk population visited an eye doctor in the past year, emphasizing the need for better access to preventive eye care services.
Scientists at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute have discovered defects in the infection-fighting T-cells of Graves' disease (GD) patients' immune systems. The study found an abnormal surplus of receptors targeted by an antibody that mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and damage to eye tissue.
Researchers at Dalhousie University found that glaucoma patients are over three times more likely to experience falls and six times more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. Impaired useful field of view is the strongest risk factor for these accidents.
Researchers found that FASD children had longer reaction times and made more direction errors in eye-movement tasks. The study provides a powerful tool for assessing executive-function deficits in individuals with FASD.
Investigators at LA BioMed found evidence linking insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) to the development of Graves' disease, a common cause of hyperthyroidism. The discovery suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases.