Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Study indicates two treatment strategies can reduce progression of diabetic retinopathy

In high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that two therapies may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans.

30 Jun 2010

AqueSys secures $35 million in Series C financing round

AqueSys, Inc., a medical device company that develops, manufactures and distributes proprietary implants for glaucoma, today announced that it has secured $35 million in Series C financing. The round was led by Longitude Capital and Rho Ventures, with participation from existing investors Accuitive Medical Ventures, The Carlyle Group and SV Life Sciences.

30 Jun 2010

Alimera submits Iluvien NDA for DME to FDA

Alimera Sciences, Inc.,, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Iluvien®, (flucocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert), its investigational, sustained drug delivery system releasing sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

29 Jun 2010

Successful growth of mouse embryonic stem cells in rat lungs raises hopes for engineering human transplants

For someone with a severe, incurable lung disorder such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung transplant may be the only chance for survival. Unfortunately, it's often not a very good chance. Matching donor lungs are rare, and many would-be recipients die waiting for the transplants that could save their lives.

29 Jun 2010

Artificial pancreas holds promise for treating Type 1 diabetes

Shawna Wood would like nothing better than to go back to bed for another 24 hours of perfect blood sugar control. The 50-year old Wilsonville, Ore. woman has Type 1 diabetes, and she recently took part in a clinical trial of an automated replacement for her pancreas, which stopped producing insulin 9 years ago.

29 Jun 2010

Quark reports results from QPI-1007 siRNA drug study in rat ocular hypertension model of glaucoma

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced results from a second study of QPI-1007, a neuroprotective siRNA drug, in rat ocular hypertension model of glaucoma, conducted by Prof. Adriana Di Polo of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Universite de Montreal.

29 Jun 2010

A neuro-optometric rehabilitation case report

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) has posted its current issue of Optometry & Vision Development online and invites all to read the full-text articles free of charge.

29 Jun 2010

Sunridge International delivers 60 PNT Units and 10,000 disposable rings to BV of China

Sunridge International, announced today that it has completed production and delivery of 60 PNT Units and 10,000 disposable rings to its exclusive distributor, Beijing Vision World Trading Company (BV) of China.

28 Jun 2010

Fireworks Safety Tips from AMR paramedics

The Independence Day holiday is filled with the bangs, whistles and pops of backyard fireworks. Too often, revelers forget that fireworks are dangerous explosives, not toys. Fireworks send thousands of people to the hospital each year and cause millions of dollars in fire losses. Here's some fireworks safety advice from paramedics at American Medical Response (AMR) to help protect you and your family from injury and property damage.

28 Jun 2010

QLT joins Russell Global Index

QLT Inc., a company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the eye, announced today that the company has been added to the Russell Global Index. The 2010 reconstitution of the Russell Indexes, a comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes created by Russell Investments, took place after the market close on June 25, 2010.

28 Jun 2010

Scientists discover characteristic amyloid plaques in retinas from Alzheimer's disease patients

The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes - and it shows up there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the disease, according to new research.

25 Jun 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals' siRNA drug candidates featured in two presentations at Glaucoma & Retinopathies 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced that two of its siRNA drug candidates were featured in the following two presentations at the Glaucoma & Retinopathies 2010 conference, which was held June 21-22, 2010 in London, UK.

25 Jun 2010

New research suggests resveratrol may inhibit pathogenic blood vessel formation

Current research suggests that resveratrol, a naturally occurring compound found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts, and other plants, inhibits pathogenic new blood vessel growth.

25 Jun 2010

Nintendo DS helps cure lazy eye

For six year old Ben Michaels nothing could be more welcome than his recent therapy regime. He was detected with a problem in his eyesight by a school nurse from the age of four. On examination he was found to have a lazy right eye or amblyopia. Left untreated it would have lost him his vision completely.

24 Jun 2010

AGTC, Icagen complete agreement for purchase and sale of patent rights

AGTC, a privately held company, and Icagen, Inc. today announced the completion of an agreement for the purchase and sale of certain patent rights between the companies. Icagen is transferring its rights to patents relating to the ion channel gene CNGB3, which has been linked to certain disorders of the eye. Under the terms of the agreement, Icagen has assigned ownership of the patents to AGTC, which intends to use the patented technology for gene therapy as a potential treatment for Achromatopsia, a severe form of daytime blindness.

24 Jun 2010

International Stem Cell congratulates ACT on the issuance of its recent patent

International Stem Cell Corporation, www.intlstemcell.com, a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products, congratulates Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. on the issuance of its recent patent, U.S. Patent Number 7,736,896, covering a method for producing retinal pigment epithelial cells.

24 Jun 2010

Blood flow disturbances in artery determine appearance of atherosclerosis: Study

A new animal model of atherosclerosis has allowed researchers to identify a host of genes turned on or off during the initial stages of the process, before a plaque appears in the affected blood vessel.

24 Jun 2010

Merck's DULERA Inhalation Aerosol for asthma receives FDA approval

Merck today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DULERA® (mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, a new fixed-dose combination asthma treatment for patients 12 years of age and older. DULERA is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. DULERA combines an inhaled corticosteroid (mometasone furoate) with a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol fumarate).

24 Jun 2010

Researchers find why patients with XPV are more susceptible to skin cancer

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found why patients with a variant form of xeroderma pigmentosum, an inherited genetic disorder characterized by extreme sensitivity to the sun, are more susceptible to skin cancers than the general population. The data are published in the current issue of the journal Nature. Their finding sets the stage for research into therapies that would help protect people with XPV from developing skin cancers.

24 Jun 2010

VISINE launches new Maximum Redness Relief Formula

Now irritated, red eyes can get the fast, effective relief they need with the launch of NEW VISINE® Maximum Redness Relief Formula. Plus, the free new VISINE® Red Eye Remover Application lets iPhone® and iPod® Touch users eliminate red eye from their photos in moments.

24 Jun 2010