Copyright 2009 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 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170193.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170193.php A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease experienced rapid improvement of their symptoms and improved vision following treatment with the drug rituximab. Inflammation around their eyes and damage to the optic nerve were significantly reduced. The same patients had not previously responded to steroids, a common treatment for Graves' eye disease. Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D. Eye Health / Blindness Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170142.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170142.php The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute is participating in a research study to determine if an investigational corneal inlay can safely and effectively reduce the need for reading glasses. Dr. Peter Hersh, the study doctor, will perform the procedures. The investigational AcuFocus Corneal Inlay (ACI) is intended to improve near vision in patients with presbyopia, which is the loss of near vision, and reduce dependency on reading glasses. Eye Health / Blindness Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170005.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170005.php Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the patient's own immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much thyroxine. Thyroxine (T4) is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that has four iodine molecules attached to its molecular structure. T4, as well as other thyroid hormones help regulate growth and control metabolism in the body. Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism. Endocrinology Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169998.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169998.php Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today patient enrollment is complete in three of its late-stage clinical trials. "We are pleased to be executing on our strategic plan with the achievement of these patient enrollment milestones in the clinical development programs for denufosol, PROLACRIA™ and AZASITE®, as this places us in a position to have top-line results from all our late-stage clinical programs within 18 months. Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169840.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169840.php Marking a significant bench to bedside research milestone in Singapore, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, and the National University Hospital (NUH) launched the IBN iCare and the NUH Eye Centre @ Biopolis at an official opening ceremony officiated by the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, S. Iswaran, at the Biopolis on Nov. 3, 2009. Eye Health / Blindness Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169869.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169869.php Exophthalmos, or exophthalmia, is a protruding eyeball anteriorly out of the orbit (eye socket). The Greek word ophthalmos means "eye" and the Greek word ex means "out". Exophthalmos can be either bilateral (both eyes bulge out) or unilateral (just one eye bulges out). Doctors use an exophthalmometer to measure the degree of exophthalmos. Eye Health / Blindness Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169779.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169779.php The majority of our life is spent moving around a static world and we generate our impression of the world using visual and other senses simultaneously. It is the ability to freely explore our environment that is essential for the view we form of our local surroundings. When we walk down the street and enter a shop to buy fruit, the street, shop and fruit are not moving, we are. Neurology / Neuroscience Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169817.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169817.php Optic nerve sheath meningiomas are rare tumors that are traditionally treated with surgery, which is typically a blinding procedure. However, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have found that a specialized type of radiation therapy offers the same local control, with fewer adverse effects on vision. The investigators presented their data at the 51st ASTRO Annual Meeting (Abstract #2676/B-261). Eye Health / Blindness Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169771.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169771.php New research reveals how proteins that are critical for the transparency of the eye lens are properly sorted and localized in membrane bilayers. The study, published by Cell Press in the November 3rd issue of Biophysical Journal, analyzes how interactions between lipid and protein molecules can selectively concentrate proteins in certain regions of the cell membrane. All cells are surrounded by a dynamic semi-permeable structure called the plasma membrane. Eye Health / Blindness Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169709.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169709.php The sight loss charity, Thomas Pocklington Trust (1), calls for a fresh approach to dementia care after new research confirms a lack of attention to sight loss. A sensory model of care practice should be developed, says the charity after two new studies revealed a widespread failing to acknowledge the importance of sight loss. Alzheimer's / Dementia Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169565.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169565.php Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have found that when the eye is missing a diffusible form of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), i.e. one that when secreted can reach other cells at a distance, the retina shows defects similar to "dry" macular degeneration, also called geographic atrophy (GA). Eye Health / Blindness Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169603.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169603.php The Glaucoma Research Foundation announced that Adrienne L. Graves, PhD has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Dr. Graves is President and CEO of Santen Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 4536). Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH, Board Chair of the Glaucoma Research Foundation and Director of Glaucoma Service and Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University, commented, "Having observed the quality of Dr. Eye Health / Blindness Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169543.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169543.php This month's Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) reports on a national study that finds cataract surgery is likely to benefit patients with Eye Health / Blindness Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169517.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169517.php AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said the human cost of the Government's savage cuts to Medicare patient rebates for critical medical procedures is becoming more evident as people with eye, heart and joint conditions become aware that they must pay more for their treatment. Eye Health / Blindness Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169541.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169541.php A new US study found that cataract surgery is likely to benefit pateints with all stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), from mild to advanced. The multicenter study, which is published in the November issue of Ophthalmology, was the work of Dr Emily Y Chew, Deputy Director, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the National Eye Institute (NEI), in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues. Eye Health / Blindness Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169498.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169498.php Promedior, Inc., a leader in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases and tissue remodeling, announced today that the European Commission has granted Orphan Medicinal Product Designation to its lead drug candidate PRM-151 for use in the prevention of scarring post glaucoma filtration surgery. Glaucoma filtration surgery generally is used to treat patients with advanced glaucoma that are at high risk for visual loss. Eye Health / Blindness Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169362.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169362.php Diabetes causes more new cases of legal blindness among working-age Americans than any other disease. If diabetics are monitored regularly by their ophthalmologist, this vision loss is almost always avoidable. Yet, tragically, more than half of all people living with diabetes do not get the recommended annual dilated eye exam. As the number of people with Type 2 diabetes rises in the U.S., the CDC projects that the number of adults with diabetic retinopathy will double by the year 2050. Eye Health / Blindness Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169397.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169397.php Watering eye, also known as epiphora or tearing, is a condition in which there is an overflow of tears onto the face, often without a clear explanation. There is insufficient tear film drainage from the eye(s) - instead of all the tears draining through the nasolacrimal system, they overflow onto the face. Epiphora can develop at any age. It is, however, more common among babies aged under 12 months, and adults over the age of 60 years. Eye Health / Blindness Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169389.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169389.php Like all tissues in the body, the eye needs a healthy blood supply to function properly. Poorly developed blood vessels can lead to visual impairment or even blindness. While many of the molecules involved in guiding the development of the intricate blood vessel architecture are known, only now are we learning how these molecules work and how they might affect sight. Reporting in the Oct. Eye Health / Blindness Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169320.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169320.php Physician-researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) received a nearly $16 million grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to fund the development of a stem cell-based treatment for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among the elderly. Mark Humayun, M.D., Ph.D. Eye Health / Blindness Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169321.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169321.php Dr. H. Dwight Cavanagh, vice chairman of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been named the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Castroviejo Medal, one of the top ophthalmology prizes in the world. The Cornea Society annually awards the medal to an ophthalmologist who exemplifies the society's mission to promote knowledge and the exchange of scientific ideas related to the cornea, anterior segment and external eye. Eye Health / Blindness Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169296.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169296.php Turnout was strong for the largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the 2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy)-Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) Joint Meeting, held in San Francisco Oct. 25 to Oct. 27. Preliminary figures for attendance at the meeting were approximately 25,000, a 17 percent increase over 2008. More than 6,000 international physicians attended the meeting, an increase of 50 percent compared to 2008. Eye Health / Blindness Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169159.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169159.php AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the Government's revised Medicare rebate for cataract surgery is totally inadequate and will do nothing to ease the anxiety and uncertainty of patients waiting for sight-restoring surgery. "The Government had a chance to fix this fiasco today but has failed miserably," Dr Pesce said. "There is only one solution, and that is to restore the Medicare patient rebate to its original level. Eye Health / Blindness Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169057.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169057.php IOptima of the Israeli based Bio-Light group (TASE: BOLT) announces that they have received the European Patent Office (EPO) approval for its OT-134 laser based system, known also as IOPtiMateTM , for the non invasive filtration treatment of Glaucoma. Eye Health / Blindness Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169033.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169033.php This month's Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) reports on a national study that finds cataract surgery is likely to benefit patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at all stages of the disease, on a clinical trial showing that the steroid triamcinolone may be effective in advanced diabetic macular edema (DME) patients when standard treatment fails, and on the public's use of two Academy-sponsored online eye health forums. Eye Health / Blindness