Vision Loss News and Research

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Careful counselling from clinicians may help alleviate anxiety in wAMD patients

Highly effective current treatments for vision loss need to be allied with careful counselling to ensure patients maintain good psychological health as well as good vision, new research recommends.

From The University of Manchester 11 Apr 2017

Visually impaired musician receives gift of sight through Augmented Reality developed by NuEyes

Two weeks ago, Robert "BlindDog" Cook received the gift of sight through Augmented Reality developed by NuEyes featuring ODG Smartglasses in California. Philip Monroe of TxEyeTech is the Texas distributor for NuEyes that demonstrated the glasses for BlindDog.

7 Apr 2017

Zika-related birth defects reported by 1 in 10 US based pregnant women infected by the virus in 2016

The new Vital Signs report, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has reported that of 250 pregnant women confirmed with Zika infection in 2016, approximately 1 in 10 of them had a fetus or infant with virus-related birth defects. Thisreport is the first of its kind, to present an analysis from a sample of US women with a definite case of Zika infection during pregnancy.

5 Apr 2017

Lighthouse Guild doctor offers tips to help visually impaired people walk the Monday Mile

Nearly 14 million Americans - about one out of every 20 people - have low vision, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eye-care professionals use the term "low vision" to describe significant visual impairment that cannot be corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine or eye surgery.

4 Apr 2017

New report outlines strategies for regenerating retinal ganglion cells

A new report gives recommendations for regenerating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), crucial neurons in the back of the eye that carry visual information to the brain.

31 Mar 2017

Researchers uncover novel genetic links underlying Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

Corneal diseases are among the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness, with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), a gradual swelling and clouding of the cornea, being the most common reason for eventual corneal transplants.

31 Mar 2017

Dedicated staff contribute greatly to successful screening of diabetic retinopathy

Once Rafael Duran, ophthalmology technician, positions patient Maria Cortez Orozco just right in front of the high-optic retinal scan camera, he turns off the lights and waits for Orozco's eyes to dilate.

30 Mar 2017

Inner ear gene therapy holds promise for treating patients with hearing loss and dizziness

In a first-of-its-kind study published in the March 1, 2017 edition of Molecular Therapy, researchers from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine showed that gene therapy was able to restore balance and hearing in genetically modified mice that mimic Usher Syndrome, a genetic condition in humans characterized by partial or total hearing loss, dizziness, and vision loss that worsens over time.

23 Mar 2017

Scientists identify molecule that could be targeted to prevent vision loss in diabetics and preterm infants

Researchers at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have identified a new molecule that induces the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes of diabetic mice.

23 Mar 2017

ARVO urges Congress to reject budget proposal that seeks to cut NIH funding

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology urges Congressional leaders to reject the U.S. administration's recent FY18 budget proposal, which seeks to drastically cut National Institute of Health funding by nearly $6 billion, or 20%.

22 Mar 2017

Young researchers explore impact of prolonged Zika viremia in pregnant women, fetuses and infants

A Maryland woman traveled to the Dominican Republic early in her pregnancy, spending three weeks with family. She felt dizzy and tired and, at first, attributed the lethargy to jet lag.

16 Mar 2017

Breakthrough brain repair discovery could revolutionise treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Queen's University Belfast scientists have discovered that specific cells from the immune system are key players in brain repair - a fundamental breakthrough that could revolutionise the treatment of debilitating neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis.

15 Mar 2017

Study findings could lead to novel therapies for preventing vision loss from degenerative retinal diseases

Silencing a gene called Nrl in mice prevents the loss of cells from degenerative diseases of the retina, according to a new study.

15 Mar 2017

TSRI scientists discover how key protein establishes proper vision

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have discovered how a protein called α2δ4 establishes proper vision.

6 Mar 2017

Study finds useful way to evaluate impact of stress in AMD

Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among older adults in the United States, is often associated with psychological stress.

3 Mar 2017

New micro-pump technology may offer promising alternative to eye drops for glaucoma patients

It is no secret that the issues associated with current glaucoma medications can be problematic. Systemic medications carry the risk of side effects, while the current medical treatment of choice, eye drops, has its own drawbacks.

2 Mar 2017

Vision scientists uncover reasons behind unusual perceptual properties of the eye's fovea

Vision scientists have uncovered some of the reasons behind the unusual perceptual properties of the eye's fovea. Only humans and other primates have this dimple-like structure in their retinas.

23 Feb 2017

Study finds improvements in survival and neurodevelopment of preterm babies

Babies born at just 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy continue to have sobering outlooks -- only about 1 in 3 survive.

16 Feb 2017

Two-drug combination shows promise against diabetic retinopathy in animal models

A two-drug cocktail provided better protection against diabetes-related vision loss than a single drug during testing in rat models, a team of University of Florida Health and Dutch researchers has found.

15 Feb 2017

New therapeutic agent shows potential for treating optic neuritis linked to multiple sclerosis

A new therapeutic agent tested in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) produced anti-inflammatory activity and prevented loss of cells in the optic nerve, according to a new study by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, with Pittsburgh-based Noveome Biotherapeutics.

9 Feb 2017