Eylea Outperforms Avastin for Diabetic Macular Edema with Moderate or Worse Vision Loss
A two-year clinical trial that compared three drugs for diabetic macular edema (DME) found that gains in vision were greater for participants receiving the drug Eylea (aflibercept) than for those receiving Avastin (bevacizumab), but only among participants starting treatment with 20/50 or worse vision. Gains after two years were about the same for Eylea and Lucentis (ranibizumab), contrary to year-one results from the study, which showed Eylea with a clear advantage.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - February 25, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Uncorrected Farsightedness Linked to Literacy Deficits in Preschoolers
A study funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has shown that uncorrected farsightedness (hyperopia) in preschool children is associated with significantly worse performance on a test of early literacy.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - January 26, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Researchers Discover Three Glaucoma-Related Genes
An analysis funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has identified three genes that contribute to the most common type of glaucoma. The study increases the total number of such genes to 15.
“Just in time for Glaucoma Awareness Month, this unprecedented analysis provides the most comprehensive genetic profile of glaucoma to date,” said NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. “These findings open avenues for the pursuit of new strategies to screen for, prevent, and treat glaucoma.”
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - January 11, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Retinal Cells Work with Little Reserve Energy; May Explain Vulnerability to Eye Diseases
Our eyes are especially demanding when it comes to energy: Along with our brain, they require a substantial amount of power to keep them functioning and healthy. Now a new study by the National Eye Institute suggests that because of their high-energy demands, our eyes function at high efficiency and with little reserve capacity, which scientists say may explain why they become vulnerable to degenerative diseases. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - January 8, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Glaucoma Awareness Can Help Save Vision for Millions
With Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, it’s a good time to think about scheduling a comprehensive dilated eye exam, especially if you’re at risk for glaucoma.
“It’s one of those things in life, like changing oil in your car, you just need to do it,” said John Schmelzer, a retired engineer in Durham, North Carolina. Schmelzer was diagnosed with glaucoma in the summer of 2013 during a routine eye exam.
Glaucoma is a major cause of vision loss in the U.S. While it currently affects about 3 million Americans, estimates show 6.3 million could have glaucoma by 2050. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - December 22, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Space Lab Technology May Help Researchers Detect Early Signs of Cataract
As we age, proteins in the lenses of our eyes start misbehaving: They unfold and congregate in clusters that block, scatter and distort light as it passes through the lens. A cloudy area, or cataract, forms. In a new study, scientists found that throughout our lifetime, levels of a key protein decline, and may be an early warning sign of a developing cataract. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - December 22, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Noemi Source Type: news
International Study Reveals New Genetic Clues to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
An international study of about 43,000 people has significantly expanded the number of genetic factors known to play a role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. Supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, the findings may help improve our understanding of the biological processes that lead to AMD and identify new therapeutic targets for potential drug development.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - December 18, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
NEI Funds Development of Co-Robot to Help Visually Impaired Grasp Objects
As part of the National Robotics Initiative (NRI), the National Institutes of Health announced that it will fund the development of three innovative co-robots—robots that work cooperatively with people. One of these will be a hand-worn device to help visually impaired people identify and grasp objects. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - December 7, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Hopkins Vision Researcher Links Environmental Change to Eye Health Hazards
Another reason to worry about climate change: Expanding areas of arid land, air pollution, and greater exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation all present potential health hazards to your eyes, according to Sheila West, Ph.D., vice chair for research at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University. In October, West discussed these hazards at a symposium on the health consequences of climate change. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - December 2, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
New Treatment Options, Better Hope of Preventing Vision Loss from Diabetes
This National Diabetes Month, there is some good news for people with eye complications from diabetes. Earlier this month, a network of researchers supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI) found that the drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) can be highly effective for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can occur as a complication of diabetes. The researchers, part of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, say this is the first major advance in therapy in 40 years. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - November 19, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Lucentis Effective for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
A clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis) is highly effective in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The trial, conducted by the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) compared Lucentis with a type of laser therapy called panretinal or scatter photocoagulation, which has remained the gold standard for proliferative diabetic retinopathy since the mid-1970s. The findings demonstrate the first major therapy advance in nearly 40 years.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - November 11, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Gene Therapy Staves Off Blindness from Retinitis Pigmentosa in Canine Model
Gene therapy preserved vision in a study involving dogs with naturally occurring, late-stage retinitis pigmentosa, according to research funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The findings contribute to the groundwork needed to move gene therapy forward into clinical trials for people with the blinding eye disorder, for which there is currently no cure.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 13, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
National Advisory Eye Council Welcomes Three New Members
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of NIH, has appointed three new members to the National Advisory Eye Council (NAEC) who are attending their first NAEC meeting as council members today. The NAEC provides guidance on research, training, and other NEI programs.
“Our new council members bring prodigious expertise,” said NEI director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. “They each have made major accomplishments in their respective fields, and we look forward to their input on strategies to advance the mission of NEI and the Audacious Goals Initiative.”
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 5, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Scientists Test New Gene Therapy for Vision Loss From a Mitochondrial Disease
Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a novel mouse model for the vision disorder Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and found that they can use gene therapy to improve visual function in the mice. LHON is one of many diseases tied to gene mutations that damage the tiny energy factories that power our cells, called mitochondria.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 5, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
Diet, Exercise, Smoking Habits and Genes Interact to Affect AMD Risk
People with a genetic predisposition for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) significantly increased their odds of developing the blinding eye disorder if they had a history of heavy smoking and consistently did not exercise or eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to an observational study of women funded by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
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English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - September 15, 2015 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Jason Source Type: news
