Eye News and Research

Latest Eye News and Research

First Edition: Sept. 13, 2012

Today's headlines include news from the Census Bureau that, although record numbers of poor people persist, the number of uninsured Americans dropped by 1.3 million.

13 Sep 2012

Readily available index provides practical landmarks for glaucoma patients

The mean deviation index, a widely understood metric for summarizing damage to an individuals’ visual field, could help physicians estimate practical landmarks in patients with glaucoma such as fitness to drive, report UK researchers.

12 Sep 2012

Interventions can help prevent older people from falling

There is now strong evidence that some interventions can prevent falls in people over the age of 65 who are living in their own homes. However, the researchers who reached this conclusion say that care is needed when choosing interventions, as some have no effect. The full details are published this month in The Cochrane Library. This is an update of a previous report that contains data from 51 additional trials, enabling the authors to reach many more conclusions.

12 Sep 2012

Joslin Diabetes Center, Mass. Eye and Ear partner to form clinical and research alliance

Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that they have reached agreement to form a clinical and research alliance, aimed toward providing coordinated high quality care to eye patients throughout greater Boston, especially those with or at-risk for diabetes-related eye disease.

11 Sep 2012

Combining two drugs may offer new and potent punch against cancer and other diseases

A new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College shows combining two already-FDA approved drugs may offer a new and potent punch against diseases in which blood vessel growth is abnormal -- such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis.

11 Sep 2012

Automated system for mapping protein-DNA interactions

Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, all our genes - around 20,000 in total - have been identified. But much is still unknown - for instance where and when each is active. Next to each gene sits a short DNA segment, and the activity of this regulatory segment determines whether the gene will be turned on, where and how strongly.

10 Sep 2012

UC Irvine receives CIRM grant to advance stem cell-based treatments for AD, retinitis pigmentosa

Efforts to begin human clinical trials using stem cells to treat Alzheimer's disease and retinitis pigmentosa received a $37.3 million boost from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine during its most recent round of funding on Sept. 5.

10 Sep 2012

Nano biosensor measures and analyzes glucose without needle pricks

Pricking a finger everyday is just part of everyday life for many diabetes patients. A non-invasive measurement approach could release them from the constant pain of pin pricks. The linchpin is a biosensor engineered by Fraunhofer researchers: A tiny chip combines measurement and digital analysis - and can be radioed to a mobile device.

7 Sep 2012

Rigid gas-permeable lenses correct vision after ocular trauma

Fitting a rigid gas-permeable contact lens into the eyes of patients treated surgically for ocular trauma can improve their visual acuity and are well tolerated, report researchers from China.

7 Sep 2012

George Washington University receives two grants for medical and health research

The George Washington University today announced that it has received two grants totaling nearly $24.5 million dollars, the largest grant allocation the university has received in recent history.

7 Sep 2012

Germline BAP1 mutations associated with novel cancer syndrome

University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers have discovered germline BAP1 mutations are associated with a novel cancer syndrome characterized by malignant mesothelioma, uveal melanoma, cutaneous melanoma and atypical melanocytic tumors. Germline mutations are hereditary gene defects that are present in every cell.

7 Sep 2012

Researchers discover genetic cause of hereditary spastic ataxia

Researchers from the Guy Rouleau Laboratory affiliated with the CHUM Research Centre and the CHU-Sainte-Justine Research Centre have discovered the genetic cause of a rare disease reported only in patients originating from Newfoundland: hereditary spastic ataxia (HSA).

7 Sep 2012

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care develops new educational resource

Soft contact lenses are worn safely and comfortably by millions of people worldwide, and have a long history of providing wearers with a safe and effective form of vision correction when properly worn and cared for. However, research shows that many contact lens wearers are significantly non-compliant in virtually all active steps involved in soft contact lens wear, including hand washing, case hygiene, lens disinfection, and following the recommended lens replacement schedule.

6 Sep 2012

CSHL publishes genome-wide analysis of transcripts produced within human cells

Most people understand genes to be specific segments of DNA that determine traits or diseases that are inherited. Textbooks suggest that genes are copied into RNA molecules, which are then used as templates for making protein - the highly diverse set of molecules that act as building blocks and engines of our cells. The truth, it now appears, is not so simple.

6 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: Anti-abortion Democrats praise health law; A defense of the Medicare cost-cutting board

The big question heading into the Democratic Convention is just how forcefully the party will defend the Affordable Care Act, which the president fought to pass and then declined to sell. On Tuesday, an unusually vocal endorsement of the law came from an unlikely source: Anti-abortion Democrats.

6 Sep 2012

DuraSite 2 ophthalmic drug delivery system from InSite Vision

InSite Vision Incorporated today introduced DuraSite 2, its next-generation enhanced drug delivery system which provides a broad platform for developing superior ophthalmic therapeutics.

6 Sep 2012

Corticosteroids needed after DALK to avert stromal rejection

Like those undergoing penetrating keratoplasty, patients treated with deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty may benefit from taking postoperative corticosteroids to prevent stromal rejection, report US researchers.

5 Sep 2012

Scientists identify three new genes associated with Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Singapore scientists have identified three new genes associated with Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG), a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people. PACG affects 15 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in Asia.

5 Sep 2012

NIH funded researchers identify and explore different aspects of anesthesia

Anesthesia helps many of us during our lives, whether we need a local painkiller at the dentist, numbing eye drops for laser vision correction or general anesthesia for major surgery. But even though anesthetics have been used in many procedures for more than 150 years, doctors and scientists still don't know exactly how these medicines work in the body.

5 Sep 2012