Eye News and Research

Latest Eye News and Research

Free clinics across the U.S. care for 1.8M uninsured patients annually: Survey

Free clinics across the U.S. provide care to about 1.8 million mostly uninsured patients annually and the majority of clinics receive no government support, according to the first comprehensive survey of all known free clinics since the 1960s.

15 Jun 2010

Texas prepares for health reform's changes despite opposition to new law; Other states brace for federal funding cuts

When Congress approved the sweeping federal health care overhaul in March, Texas Governor Rick Perry was one of the loudest critics. He blasted the initiative as unconstitutional, a government takeover of health care and an unfunded federal mandate on the states. … That sentiment remains widespread in Texas, which has joined with 20 other states in suing to block the law from taking effect.

15 Jun 2010

States, Feds look to expand ACOs and medical homes

Crain's New York Business, on ACOs in New York: "Authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in March, ACOs are intended to reward providers that shift their focus to preventive care and presumably reduce the need for expensive procedures.

15 Jun 2010

Fluorescent cancerous tumors for early detection

Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique F-d-rale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have established a procedure where cancerous tumors in the bladder become fluorescent and are more easily discoverable under blue light. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the technique- already in practice in Europe - for the American market. Under the name Cysview-, the product is commercialized by Photocure and GE Healthcare as the most efficient detection technique for early stage bladder cancer.

14 Jun 2010

WoundVision launches bedside thermographic imaging system

WoundVision™, the healthcare industry pioneer in advanced wound detection technology, is introducing today a revolutionary predictive bedside thermographic imaging system. The WoundVision system brings knowledge bedside by acquiring, analyzing and applying essential patient data to inform healthcare providers in the development of effective treatment and care plans.

14 Jun 2010

Researchers show how tiny insect brain uses multiple brain pathways to judge motion

Insects may have tiny brains the size of a pinhead, but the latest research from the University of Adelaide shows just how clever they really are. For the first time, researchers from the University's Discipline of Physiology have worked out how insects judge the speed of moving objects.

14 Jun 2010

Dysfunctional magno cells in eyes associated with learning disabilities

Problems with math? And perhaps with handwriting - and motor skills? Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) believe that the explanation for your troubles may be that not all of the cells in your eyes work the way they should.

14 Jun 2010

Researchers find new way to prevent blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have found a way to use a radical new type of gene therapy to prevent blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa, giving hope to the estimated 100,000 Americans who suffer from this debilitating disease.

14 Jun 2010

Opinions: Haitian housing; U.S. foreign aid

"The only thing that seems to be moving relentlessly ahead in Haiti is the weather, with punishing heat and near-daily thunderstorms settling in for the summer - and the hurricane season that just begun," according to a New York Times editorial highlighting some of the problems with the Haitian reconstruction effort.

14 Jun 2010

Overview of research into pathogenesis and clinical treatment of dry eye

Dry eye is one of the most common disorders encountered in ophthalmological practice. Its symptoms cause considerable discomfort and substantially reduce the patient's quality of life. As it is a complex and multifactorial condition, research investigating dry eye is a matter of great interest all over the world.

11 Jun 2010

Researchers to present advanced treatment strategies for eye diseases at NEI symposium

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is bringing together premier researchers who translate molecular and genetic approaches from the laboratory to visual system diseases in the clinic.

11 Jun 2010

Researchers to provide real-time analyses on potential disease threats during World Cup

Two Canadian researchers will be keeping a close eye on what hundreds of thousands of soccer fans take to the World Cup in South Africa _ and what they potentially bring home.

11 Jun 2010

Bevacizumab effective for treatment of wet AMD: Study

An inexpensive, but unlicensed drug to help prevent severe sight loss in older people has been shown to be safe and effective, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

11 Jun 2010

Sleep corrects drift in color perception that occurs during wakefulness: Research

Color perception drifts away from neutrality during wakefulness and is restored during sleep, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

10 Jun 2010

Laser pointers may lead to long term damage to the eyes say doctors

In a new warning eye specialists say that hand held laser pointing devices could lead to serious eye damage if used inappropriately. This warning came from the Royal Liverpool Hospital and Manchester Eye Hospital after a teenager developed eye problems after laser light was shone into his eyes.

9 Jun 2010

Surgery through eyelids avoid major head trauma

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins have safely and effectively operated inside the brains of a dozen patients by making a small entry incision through the natural creases of an eyelid to reach the skull and deep brain.

9 Jun 2010

Better understanding of eye movements can help develop strategies for reducing crash risks: Study

More than 16 people are killed and more than 1,300 people are injured each day in crashes involving a distracted driver, a phenomenon that could be reduced with the right application of motion information and appropriate eye movements.

9 Jun 2010

IBM, ProtonMedia enter teaming agreement for 3-D virtual collaboration platform

IBM and ProtonMedia have entered into a teaming agreement that will result in the delivery of innovative, 3-D virtual collaboration and communication solutions engineered specifically for global life sciences organizations. Under the terms of the agreement, ProtonMedia's ProtoSphere technology will be the basis for customized, 3-D virtual collaboration environments to create high-performance workplaces.

9 Jun 2010

TG-MV-006 study: Microplasmin shows promise for treatment of VMA, MH

A Phase III trial of a drug used for the treatment of vitreomacular adhesion and macular hole revealed key findings for patients diagnosed with these severe conditions which can lead to significant vision impairment.

8 Jun 2010

Top 10 tips to avoid medical mistakes

In this new original and eye-opening book, THE NOT SO PATIENT ADVOCATE: How To Get The Healthcare You Need Without Fear Or Frustration, readers walk through the seemingly forbidden or secretive door to the mystifying and occasionally infuriating maze that is today's healthcare machine. The author shares candid facts about what actually goes on where healthcare interaction occurs.

8 Jun 2010