Articles

A genetic link between cats and humans for two forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) have been identified by a University of Missouri researcher.

A study by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on the prevalence and costs of sight loss estimates that 1.8 million people with partial sight and blindness lived in the UK in 2008.

Positive twelve-month primary analysis results from the Phase II RADICAL study (Reduced Fluence Visudyne Anti-VEGF-Dexamethasone In Combination for AMD Lesions) in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) have been announced by QLT Inc.

Researchers at the University of Sydney have reported findings that support evidence of an association between retinal microvascular signs and stroke.

In a dry eye Phase II clinical trial EyeGate Pharma reports that EGP-437, a corticosteroid solution administered by a non-invasive ocular drug delivery system, improved signs and symptoms in patients with dry eye syndrome (DES).

The global initiative Vision2020: Right to Sight has received a major boost following the endorsement of the WHO Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment by the 62nd World Health Assembly, the WHO governing body.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that doctors promoting LASIK may not be informing consumers correctly about potential risks involved.

Alcon's first 330,000 sq. ft. ophthalmic pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Singapore is now under construction and is targeted for completion in 2012.

Colum Honan is to be Bausch & Lomb's general manager with responsibility for its Waterford plant which manufactures contact lenses and other eye health products.

Stem cells, extracted from bone marrow can restore damaged retinal tissue through new cell generation, according to a recent discovery by researchers at the University of Louisville.

Diets low in trans-unsaturated fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil may reduce the risk of AMD, according to a study by Chong et al., published in The Archives of Ophthalmology.

Harvested stem cells from patients' own eyes to rehabilitate damaged cornea in just ten days may prove to be a world-first breakthrough in restoring sight.

The International Glaucoma Association (IGA) is urging people not to cut back on eye tests due to the recession.

Researchers comparing the fetal development of the eye of the owl monkey with that of the capuchin monkey have found that only a minor difference in the timing of cell proliferation can explain the multiple anatomical differences in the two kinds of eyes.

During the recent ARVO congress, Sylentis provided an update on recent advances made by the company in the development a product for ocular pain associated with dry eye syndrome that addresses TRPV1 receptor, a nociceptor able to transmit stimuli.

Our congratulations go to Dr Martin Breimer who was the winner of Ophthalmology Times Europe's prize draw at Eurentin 2009.

Kuldev Singh, MD, Professor of ophthalmology, has been appointed chairman of the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF).

According to The Financial Times, the retinal imaging company, Optos plc has reported a $4.86 million loss and reduced its headcount by 20%.

The Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office has postponed its final decision on two appeals lodged by two competitors against an earlier decision to maintain the European patent for VisionBlue.

New research indicates that patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) should also be screened for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

The increased activity in ophthalmic research is reflected in the long list of clinical studies in their various stages: nearly 300 studies of various aspects of glaucoma and close to 250 studies on ocular surface, cornea and dry eye.

According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association patients taking tamsulosin for benign prostrate enlargement within 14 days of cataract surgery may have an increased risk of complications.

A diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression biomarker software has been developed with the research institute AIBILI (Association for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Light and Image) and Critical Health. The RetmarkerDR is able to calculate and provide important ratios regarding Microaneurysm Turnover (formation and disappearance rates) which are key indicators of progression of retinal diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy.

Speakers at the symposium "Retinal Surgery — New Dimensions in Patient Safety," described three methods/instruments to help surgeons minimize complications during surgery including improved endotamponade applications, new cannula designs and microscope data projections.

Retina navigation is a new retina therapy solution, four years in the making by OD-OS, which means a doctor can image, plan and treat using a single platform. It was demonstrated to over 100 doctors at the Euretina meeting.

The TearLab Osmolarity System is intended to measure the osmolarity of human tears to aid in the diagnosis of patients with signs or symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (DED) in conjunction with other methods of clinical evaluation. It is now in a position to be marketed to clinincal facilities in the United States, having received its FDA 510(k) clearance.

This month 40 ophthalmology graduates from all over the globe will converge on Lugano, Switzerland at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) to embark on a brand new post-graduate degree which will give them access to world leaders and experts in a variety of ophthalmic fields.

The 9th Euretina Congress took place during May in Nice, France and was attended, according to the organisers, by around 1700 delegates. This was a seminal event and will be the last of its kind as next year it will join forces with ESCRS (European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons) in Paris from 2–8 September.

The cataract surgery technology landscape including pipeline products at varying development stages comes under scrutiny in a new report released this month.

Results of the evaluation of two-year post-surgical safety and efficacy of canaloplasty to treat open angle glaucoma (OAG) have been published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr Richard A Lewis et al., concluded that the procedure was safe and effective in reducing IOP in adult OAG patients.