Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

Children with microcephaly should be screened for neurologic and cognitive problems, says guideline

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology, developed in full collaboration with the Child Neurology Society, finds that children with microcephaly that is, children whose head size is smaller than that of 97 percent of childrenare at risk of neurologic and cognitive problems and should be screened for these problems. The guideline is published in the September 15, 2009, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Sep 2009

AzaSite production increased to combat erythromycin ophthalmic ointment shortage

InSite Vision Incorporated today announced that Inspire Pharmaceuticals, its commercial partner for AzaSite (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1% in the U.S and Canada, has committed to increasing production of AzaSite in response to the manufacturing supply shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%).

15 Sep 2009

Patient enrollment for Phase 3 clinical trials of VEGF Trap-Eye completed

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced the completion of patient enrollment in two randomized, double-masked, Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating VEGF Trap-Eye in the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

14 Sep 2009

Public option, abortion funding unlikely in final health reform bill

News coverage of the Sunday talk shows centered around whether a "public option" will be included in health overhaul legislation.

14 Sep 2009

Alcon to acquire ESBATech AG

Alcon (NYSE:ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ESBATech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company. Alcon will pay ESBATech shareholders $150 million in cash at closing, plus contingent payments of up to $439 million based upon the achievement of future research and development milestones that would be expected to create value for Alcon.

14 Sep 2009

Solta Medical launches new Thermage CPT and Fraxel re:store Dual systems

Solta Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLTM) is proud to celebrate the launch of the new Thermage CPT and Fraxel re:store Dual systems with the kick off of the illumiNATION tour (www.illumiNATIONtour.com). Starting September 14 and continuing through November, the illumiNATION tour is bringing the latest breakthroughs in Thermage(R) and Fraxel(R) systems directly to physicians in over 20 cities across the U.S. and 11 cities in Europe.

11 Sep 2009

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks. In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

11 Sep 2009

ThromboGenics shortlisted for two awards at the Scrip Awards 2009

ThromboGenics NV, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer, announced today that it has been shortlisted for both the "Biotech Company of the Year" and "Licensing Deal of the Year" awards at the Scrip Awards 2009.

11 Sep 2009

GfK Singapore and Singapore Opticianry Practitioners sign MOU agreement

GfK Singapore and the Singapore Opticianry Practitioners (SOP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, paving the way for a better understanding of the rapidly changing optical retail market in Singapore.

11 Sep 2009

NovaBay begins clinical studies for treating impetigo skin infection

NovaBay(R) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE-Amex: NBY), (http://www.novabaypharma.com), a clinical stage company developing novel anti-infective compounds for the treatment or prevention of a wide range of bacterial, viral and fungal infections, announced today the start of a Phase 2a proof-of-concept study of its lead Aganocide(R) compound NVC-422 in impetigo.

10 Sep 2009

Inspire Pharmaceuticals to increase production of azithromycin ophthalmic solution

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has been communicating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is increasing its production of AzaSite® (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1% in response to the manufacturing supply shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%).

10 Sep 2009

Special issue of Optometry & Vision Development explores autism

Autism. What is its cause? How does it affect brain anatomy, electrophysiology, visual function and perception? What must we do to meet the needs of these patients? How can optometrists as health care providers be in the vanguard for screening for this spectrum of disorders?

10 Sep 2009

Presbia unveils implantable micro-lens treatment for presbyopia

Presbia Coöperatief U.A., an early-stage company focused on surgical solutions for presbyopia, today announced that it will unveil a breakthrough implantable micro-lens treatment for presbyopia at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Congress (ESCRS) beginning Sept. 12 in Barcelona.

10 Sep 2009

Brain's SCN is the master clock that synchronizes other biological clocks in the body

Alexis Webb enters a small room at Washington University in St. Louis with walls, floor and ceiling painted dark green, shuts the door, turns off the lights and bends over a microscope in a black box draped with black cloth. Through the microscope, she can see a single nerve cell on a glass cover slip glowing dimly.

10 Sep 2009

Childrens' cognitive development could be impacted due to undetected vision problems: Study

A new report by The Vision Council, Making the Grade? finds state laws regarding vision assessments for children entering school are inconsistent, impeding children's ability to succeed in school.

10 Sep 2009

With summer jobs, med students experience health system challenges first hand

A group of University of Washington medical students had an eye-opening experience with the health care system this summer, The New York Times reports. A record number of students from the university this year participated in a summer program that sends rising second-year medical students "across the Northwest to provide primary care in rural or underserved areas."

9 Sep 2009

SupportSight free seminar for people affected by macular degeneration

Chester County Eye Care Associates has joined with the Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) to sponsor a SupportSight seminar in West Chester on September 26th.

9 Sep 2009

1.4 million Nigerians over the age of 40 will become blind by 2020: Study

By 2020, 1.4 million Nigerians over age 40 will lose their sight, and the vast majority of the causes are either preventable or treatable, according to the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Study Group.

9 Sep 2009

New findings may help identify treatments for diabetes and hyperinsulinemia

By investigating a rare and severe form of diabetes in children, University of Iowa researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates specialized pancreatic cells and insulin secretion. The mechanism involves a protein called ankyrin, which UI researchers previously linked to potentially fatal human heart arrhythmias.

9 Sep 2009

Preliminary Phase 3 clinical study results of T-Pred released

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced preliminary results from two recently completed studies on its investigational ophthalmic product, T-Pred (prednisolone acetate 1.0% and tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic suspension). The Company is developing T-Pred as a treatment for inflammatory ocular conditions for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where bacterial ocular infection exists, or there is a risk of bacterial infection.

9 Sep 2009