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New disease found that causes night blindness and loss of peripheral vision

A new vision condition, EFEMP1-associated late-onset retinal degeneration (L-ORD), has been discovered, causing slow decline in peripheral vision and night vision loss. The p.Arg140Trp variant in the EFEMP1 gene leads to abnormally thick material building up between eye cells, affecting rod photoreceptors' recovery in darkness.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 11, 2026

Aging blocks the retina's ability to regrow lost neurons, a first-of-its-kind Upstate study finds

A new study found that aging significantly limits the ability of support cells in the retina to be reprogrammed into new neurons, a discovery that has important implications for the future of regenerative medicine. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found that inflammation and decreased ce...

SourceState University of New York Upstate Medical University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2026

Study from the Stein Eye Institute answers long-debated structural question of primate cone photoreceptors

A new study from the Stein Eye Institute resolves the long-standing debate on the structural question of primate cone photoreceptors' disk membranes. Researchers found that the majority of disk membranes are closed, unlike non-mammalian species, with implications for cell biological processes and phototransduction.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJNeurosci·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 9, 2026

Lab-grown human retina helps researchers unravel vision loss in Batten disease

Researchers developed a 3D human stem cell-derived retina model to study CLN3-Batten disease, a rare inherited condition causing early vision loss and progressive neurological decline. The model showed that damage to RPE support cells can trigger photoreceptor degeneration, highlighting a complex picture of the disease.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 26, 2026

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.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2026

Seeing through optical noise: a sharper way to image the eye

The STOC-T technology resolves optical noise in eye imaging by fundamentally changing the way imaging data is collected, resulting in sharper images and improved diagnostic accuracy. This new approach addresses the problem earlier, before image construction, rather than relying on post-processing algorithms.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 24, 2026

Retinal photographs can help predict Alzheimer’s disease risk factors

A new study revealed that retinal photographs can accurately predict many common risk factors associated with developing Alzheimer's disease. The AI model identified regions of the retina linked to Alzheimer's risk factors, such as arteries and optical nerve, and predicted lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol use.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 16, 2026

Eyes as a window to hidden brain diseases

Researchers developed a fast, non-invasive, and affordable diagnostic tool using retinal images to differentiate between ALS and Alzheimer's disease. The tool, based on polarized light analysis, accurately predicted disease severity and type with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2026

How a fish knows when to blend in

Researchers have identified the cells and connections underlying a fish's ability to dynamically change color to match its surroundings. The study found that specialized skin cells called melanophores control the color change, which helps the zebrafish evade predators by lightening its skin over tens of minutes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 16, 2025

Retinal implant restores central vision in patients with advanced AMD, study co-led by Pitt investigator shows

A wireless retinal implant has been shown to restore central vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), with 81% of participants achieving clinically meaningful improvements in visual acuity. The device converted light into electrical signals, stimulating remaining retinal cells and restoring visual inform...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 20, 2025

New imaging system maps retinal oxygen in unprecedented detail

A new dual-imaging system simultaneously maps retinal structure and capillary oxygen levels in live mice, allowing researchers to study vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This non-invasive approach offers a powerful tool for elucidating local capillary values and tracking changes in retinal oxygenation.

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.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalBiophotonics Discovery·DateSep 10, 2025

Novel study uncovers the critical role of ADAM10 protein in the development of retinal disorders

A recent study published in The American Journal of Pathology has discovered that ADAM10 regulates abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which can cause vision loss or impairment. The findings suggest that targeting ADAM10 or its downstream effectors, such as Ephrin B2, may offer novel strategies for managing or preventing retina...

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 24, 2025

Retinal clues to mental health

A recent study by the University of Zurich examined the connection between retinal nerve connections and schizophrenia. The researchers found that individuals with a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia tend to have thinner retinas, which can be detected using non-invasive retinal measurements.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2025

USC Stem Cell mouse study identifies shared genes involved in hearing and vision regeneration

A USC Stem Cell mouse study has identified shared genes involved in regenerating cells in the ear and eye, which could lead to new treatments for hearing and vision loss. The researchers discovered that inhibiting a specific protein, p27Kip1, can encourage regeneration in both organs.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2025

Artificial neural network (ANN) systems performed better at predicting future frames of a movie when trained on retinal waves mimicking the spontaneous activity patterns of the retina in animals' eyes, in addition to training on naturalistic movies

Artificial neural networks trained on spontaneous retinal activity patterns show improved motion prediction in natural scenes. The approach also enhances performance when combined with naturalistic movie data.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMar 31, 2025

The flicker reveals the mechanisms of vision. Groundbreaking f-ORG technique can advance the diagnosis of retinal diseases

A new diagnostic method called flicker optoretinography (f-ORG) analyzes the retina's reaction to light, helping to detect danger before symptoms appear. The technique detects even minor changes in photoreceptors, providing valuable insights into retinal health.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2025

Ziapin2 effectiveness in restoring retinal function in preclinical models of retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration

Researchers demonstrate the effectiveness of Ziapin2 in restoring ON, OFF, and ON-OFF responses induced by light stimuli in retinas with retinitis pigmentosa. The molecule restores light-induced behavior and visual acuteness for up to two weeks without toxic or inflammatory effects.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2025

How do we use STOC-T to assess ocular microcirculation?

Researchers used STOC-T to visualize retinal microcirculation in real-time, providing insights into the mechanisms of retinal function. The study offers a groundbreaking opportunity for precise monitoring of hemodynamic changes in the retina, enabling early detection and treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Combined screening can detect liver damage in diabetes patients

A new study published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that a combined screening approach can detect liver damage in people with type 2 diabetes. The method involves elastography, an ultrasound-based technique, which was found to be willing to be adopted by most patients. Early detection of liver fibrosis is crucial, as ...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology·DateDec 12, 2024

COVID infection and age-related blindness

An experimental study in mice found that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the retinas, leading to long-term implications for vision. The virus caused widespread inflammation across the retinal pigment epithelium, including complement activation and increased production of inflammatory cytokines.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 3, 2024

Scientists determine why some patients don’t respond well to wet macular degeneration treatment, show how new experimental drug can bridge gap

Researchers have identified a new experimental drug that can bridge the gap between patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and existing treatments. The drug, 32-134D, decreases levels of a key protein involved in AMD, leading to improved vision outcomes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 4, 2024

Retinal disorder diagnosis improved by new AI-powered medical imaging, study shows

Researchers have introduced DSFN to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses of retinal disorders. This AI-powered medical imaging technique combines retina images with vascular distribution information to accurately locate the fovea in complex clinical scenarios, enabling doctors to detect early signs of ocular diseases.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalIEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 12, 2024

Combined whole eye and face transplant

The world's first combined whole eye and face transplant has demonstrated allograft survival, including rejection-free graft survival. The transplanted eye has maintained normal pressure, good blood flow, and some remaining structure and functions in the retina. Researchers are now focused on understanding how to restore sight.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateSep 9, 2024