Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Eye Health / Blindness News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/eye_health/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115581.php Many newly diagnosed diabetic Hispanics are unaware that their condition increases their risk for eye disease, according to a study published in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.Hispanics have a diabetes rate that is 1.9 times higher than the rate of whites. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115619.php Over the past ten years the European Blind Union has been working to improve travel by air for blind and partially sighted, deaf blind and blind people with additional disabilities. As a result of our work, we are pleased to inform you that from 26 July 2008, the new Air Regulations come into operation at all airports throughout Europe. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115523.php New evidence that the brain regions responsible for vision are capable of adapting in adults offers new hope for those with an untreated condition commonly known as lazy eye. Also called amblyopia, the condition is the most prevalent cause of visual impairment in a single eye, affecting about six million people in the United States alone. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115504.php The American Optometric Association (AOA) applauds Members of Congress from both parties for voting to override President Bush's veto of legislation passed to stop massive cuts in the Medicare program. Concerned optometrists from across the country have been calling Capitol Hill to urge their representatives in Congress to safeguard patient access to eye and vision care through Medicare. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115547.php Health Canada is warning consumers not to use the prescription drug Sandoz Timolol Ophthalmic Solution in 0.25% and 0.5% strengths, because some bottles may contain more of the active ingredient (timolol maleate) than indicated on the label, exposing patients to an increased risk of adverse events. Sandoz Timolol Ophthalmic Solution 0.25% and 0.5% are eye drops taken for treatment of increased intraocular pressure (high fluid pressure inside the eye) and glaucoma. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115401.php The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) hosted its convention June 30-July 5 in Dallas, TX where Diagnostic Devices, Inc., makers of Prodigy® blood glucose monitoring systems, received the Access Plus Award (A+). "The A+ Award program was designed to reward companies that make consumer products that are truly accessible for blind people" said Eileen Rivera Ley, Director of Diabetes Initiatives for the NFB on the Access Plus Award. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115393.php On July 18th it will be twenty five years since tactile paving was introduced for all pedestrian crossings in the United Kingdom. This red textured surface was suggested by the National Federation of the Blind, to let blind people know when they were up to a safe place to cross. It was developed after kerbs had been removed making it impossible for blind people to know if they were on the pavement or in the road. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115380.php A new study published in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology finds that eye exam frequency among Hispanic patients with diabetes is smaller than the national average for Hispanics. Beatriz Munoz, M.Sc. (Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore) and colleagues also report that diabetic Hispanics are unaware that diabetes is associated with eye disorders. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115251.php For infants and children with blinding diseases of the cornea, a sophisticated new corneal transplantation technique offers the hope of improving vision while overcoming the technical difficulty and low success rate of traditional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in children, according to reports in the current issue of the Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus). Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115239.php The General Optical Council and British Contact Lens Association are today urging consumers to follow advice on buying contact lenses safely. The bodies are taking action following reports of cases of contact lens wearers experiencing eye health problems after buying lenses without getting proper eye care and advice. Two new studies from Australia and the US have also suggested increased risks associated with purchasing contact lenses online. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115217.php Researchers have made a finding which could pave the way for new treatments for sufferers of a rare eye disease which can lead to blindness. In a paper published in the Journal of Pathology, scientists reveal they have discovered why mutations in a key gene can cause the cornea to go opaque and lead to sight loss. Pax6 is the gene responsible for the development of the eye and mutations of it can cause the cornea to go cloudy. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115204.php NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC BB: NNVC.OB) reported that excellent efficacy of its EKC-Cide™ nanoviricide drug candidate was revealed upon statistical analyses of clinical scores from the first animal study. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115191.php Paradigm Medical Industries, Inc. (OTCBB: PMED) has begun selling the Glaid-PERG electrophysiology instrument for the early detection of glaucoma. Pricing and volumes were not disclosed. "We've recorded sales in select U.S. cities of this revolutionary FDA-approved device, following its introduction at the American Society for Cataract Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) in April," said Paradigm Medical's Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Cannefax. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115093.php EyeGate Pharma, a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company using iontophoresis technology to safely and non-invasively deliver therapeutics into the front and back of the eye to treat serious ocular diseases, today announced the initiation of patient dosing in a prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-masked U.S. Phase II proof-of-concept study of the EyeGate® II Ocular Drug Delivery System. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115090.php New research from Action for Blind People shows that many people in Great Britain are unaware an eye test could prevent them from going blind, and are risking their sight by not going for regular eye tests. The national visual impairment charity commissioned a survey of over 2,000 people in Great Britain on their habits and attitudes towards eye tests. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115045.php An amusing story was covered in the press this week about how an application pack for a job as an air traffic controller was available in braille. Some view it as political correctness taken too far but it appears people have missed the point. Blind and partially sighted people have the right to read the same information as sighted people. And this includes application forms - regardless of whether they are qualified for the job. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114973.php The Discovery Eye Foundation (DEF) announces their support and progress in the research of Ocular Herpres and Infectious Blindness. Their research continues to bring them closer to understanding new medical approaches, therapies and the molecular mechanisms of Ocular Herpes. Advancements have also been made in developing a new vaccine that would eventually prevent the spread of the Herpes Simplex Virus of the eye and genital tract. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114960.php The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF) announced the creation of an annual Award for Innovation and Excellence in Glaucoma. This new honor recognizes the contributions of individuals who have played a significant and unique role in promoting the medicine and science of glaucoma. The first 2008 Glaucoma Foundation Award for Innovation & Excellence in Glaucoma will be presented to Robert Ritch, MD, on December 3, 2008, at the 22nd Black and White Ball, TGF's yearly benefit gala. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114934.php A new vision screening device, already shown to give an early warning of eye disease, could give doctors and patients a head start on treating diabetes and its vision complications, a new study shows. The instrument, invented by two scientists at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, captures images of the eye to detect metabolic stress and tissue damage that occur before the first symptoms of disease are evident. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114771.php An increased risk of suicide may be associated with visual impairment, perhaps due to its indirect negative effect on health, according to an article released on July 14, 2008 in the Archives of Opthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives Journals. Visual impairment is irreversible and may be caused by various eye conditions that have additional psychosocial and health effects. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114883.php Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) announced today it has terminated the development program designed to evaluate the benefit of anecortave acetate treatment on the risk for developing sight-threatening choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The decision followed a planned interim analysis of studies C-02-60 A and B that was performed after 2,546 patients had completed the 24 month time point. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114834.php Getting a feel for what we see Psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Richard A. Abrams, Ph.D., professor of psychology in Arts & Sciences, have shown that to see objects better, you should take the matter into your own hands. They have demonstrated that humans more thoroughly inspect objects when their hands are near the object rather than farther away from it. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114786.php Two pediatric eye surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis expressed alarm over what they label a "21st century snake oil" scam. Recent newspaper stories including several from Missouri -- have reported parents flying their children to main land China for umbilical cord stem cell (CSC) infusions. The cost of these treatments, paid for entirely out-of-pocket by the parents, can be $50,000 or more. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114785.php Beginning July 1, all children in kindergarten or first grade entering Missouri schools for the first time are required to have a comprehensive eye exam. According to Missouri Senate Bill No. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114635.php Australia's regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB; USOTC: MBLTY), announced highly significant preclinical trial results of the adult stem cell technology platform for the treatment of eye diseases associated with abnormal blood vessels. These diseases include diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading causes of blindness in the western world.