Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Combination of inhibitor and antioxidants may help prevent diabetes complications

In diabetes patients, high blood glucose levels can end up killing certain cells in the eyes and kidneys, which is why diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness and of kidney failure. Years ago, scientists identified one main route for this destruction—high glucose produces oxidative stress through the NF-kB molecular pathway—but success has been elusive for drugs targeting that pathway.

2 Nov 2009

Many details still bedevil Democrats in health reform bills

It was the usual partisan squabbling on the Sunday talk shows today, while Democrats are braced for a significant week ahead, ironing out significant differences in various health reform bills.

1 Nov 2009

Shire to present key data on ADHD treatments at national psychiatric meeting

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it will present key scientific data on its Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatments, INTUNIV- (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets, Vyvanse- (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII, and Daytrana- (methylphenidate transdermal system) CII, at a national meeting of psychiatrists to be held October 27 - November 1 in Honolulu.

31 Oct 2009

AHF praises Obama for lifting travel ban on HIV-infected people

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today lauded President Barack Obama for lifting a 22 year-old ban prohibiting HIV-positive foreigners from traveling to the US. The US was one of only twelve countries with such a travel ban. Obama announced repeal of the ban after signing the legislation renewing the Ryan White CARE Act, the federal law that authorizes the primary source of funding for AIDS care and services nationwide.

31 Oct 2009

Shire announces Phase IIIb study results of Daytrana

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced findings at a major medical meeting from a Phase IIIb study of the tolerability and effectiveness of Daytrana® (methylphenidate transdermal system) in adolescents aged 13 to 17 years diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

31 Oct 2009

Johns Hopkins researchers find life in blood-starved retinas; shed light on vision loss

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.

31 Oct 2009

Annual dilated eye exam helps prevent vision loss in people with diabetes

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.

30 Oct 2009

sanofi-aventis reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

In the third quarter of 2009, sanofi-aventis generated net sales of euro 7,400 million, up 8.0% on a reported basis. Exchange rate movements had a favorable effect of 2.0 percentage points, with the appreciation of the U.S. dollar (and to a lesser extent the yen) against the euro more than offsetting the unfavorable effects of some other currencies.

30 Oct 2009

COBC praises Court's decision over safe disposal of contact lens

The College of Opticians of British Columbia (COBC) today welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeal on The College of Opticians of British Columbia v. Coastal Contacts Inc. and Clearly Contacts Ltd., which found that contact lenses should not be treated as 'over the counter' products and that a prescription is required in order to dispense contact lenses.

30 Oct 2009

Mintel predicts increased sales of OTC drugs in upcoming months

Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere and with shades of yellow and orange comes a less-welcome visitor: cold and flu season. Made worse this year by the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, people around the world are flocking to drugstores and supermarkets to stock up on over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, says market research firm Mintel.

30 Oct 2009

UT Southwestern ophthalmologist receives 2009 Castroviejo Medal

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.

30 Oct 2009

Shire's ADHD treatment data to be presented at the Honolulu psychiatric meeting

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it will present key scientific data on its Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatments, INTUNIV(TM) (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets, Vyvanse®( ) (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII, and Daytrana®( ) (methylphenidate transdermal system) CII, at a national meeting of psychiatrists to be held October 27 - November 1 in Honolulu.

30 Oct 2009

Researchers discover new bend in gene control

Since the completion of the human genome sequence, a question has baffled researchers studying gene control: How is it that humans, being far more complex than the lowly yeast, do not proportionally contain in our genome significantly more gene-control proteins?

30 Oct 2009

New center to provide variety of medical services for people in and around Skid Row opened

The Weingart Center Association, JWCH Institute and the County of Los Angeles announced today the opening of the Center for Community Health Downtown Los Angeles, a state-of-the-art medical facility that provides integrated care to the more than 18,000 homeless and low-income people in and around Skid Row.

30 Oct 2009

USC to develop stem cell-based treatment for age-related macular degeneration with CIRM grant

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.

29 Oct 2009

Corinne McCormack acquired by FGX International

FGX International, a leading designer and marketer of non-prescription reading glasses and sunglasses, today announced that it has acquired Corinne McCormack, Inc. (CMI), a privately held company located in New York City.

29 Oct 2009

Phase Forward’s InForm GTM electronic data capture solution to be implemented by Bausch & Lomb

Phase Forward, a leading provider of data management solutions for clinical trials and drug safety, today announced a multi-year contract with renowned eye health company Bausch & Lomb. The agreement calls for Bausch & Lomb to implement Phase Forward’s InForm™ Global Trial Management (GTM) electronic data capture (EDC) solution, including the Central Coding™ module, in all of its trials, including Surgical, Vision Care and Pharmaceuticals products.

29 Oct 2009

Allergan reports operating results for the third quarter of 2009

Allergan, Inc. today announced operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Allergan also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a third quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on November 30, 2009 to stockholders of record on November 9, 2009.

29 Oct 2009

Promedior granted European Orphan Medicinal Product Designation for PRM-151

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.

29 Oct 2009