Cornea

Scientists in The Netherlands have received an innovation grant to finalise the specification of a collagen, derived from fishscale, which will act as an alternative material for cornea regeneration.

Dr Joachim Storsberg at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research in Germany has developed an artificial cornea. The ophthalmological polymer is designed to bond to the eye but remain unclouded by cells in its centre.

In a sample of moderate evaporative-type dry eye disease patients Enriquez-de-Salamanca et al., elevated five inflammatory molecules. Fracktalkine was demonstrated to be present and elevated in tears in human DED.

Non-incisional treatment preserves the biomechanical integrity of the cornea

Data from an interim analysis

The findings of a case report in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology may support its authors hypothesis that the primary visual cortex, in which retinal spatial geometry is preserved, is not critical for visual imagery.

Devices address both tissue shortage and transplant demand

What should you be concentrating on with severe corneal burns?

Treating corneal neovascularization and the need for new and better treatments.

Northeastern University engineering professor Jeffrey Ruberti and his research colleagues are breaking new ground in the technique known as "hybrid tissue engineering" by attempting to combine cow tissue with human tissue to produce corneas for human transplant.

Researchers are looking into corneal biomechanics as a means to screen patients for keratectasia. The authors review signal interpretation from a non-contact applanation tonometer as it relates to corneal biomechanical indices such as corneal hysteresis.

Ziemer has launched a new corneal surgery model to expand the capabilities of its LDV Femtosecond laser system.

Confocal microscopy as an evaluation tool of wound healing in corneal surgery

Interim results from a Phase II study by Gene Signal suggest that antisense oligonucleotide GS-101 is safe and effective at inhibiting abnormal corneal new blood vessel growth.

A new technique of intraductal meibomian gland probing using disposable cannulas of various lengths appears highly effective in providing quick and lasting relief from inflammatory sysmptoms of obstructive meibomian gland disease.

An oil-in-water and a corticosteroid were both effective in eliminating the signs and symptoms of lid wiper epitheliopathy after a 1-month active treatment phase in a recent study. Improvement was effectively maintained with the emollient eye drops in all patients over a 12-month period.

The use of hydroxypropyl cellulose can significantly improve the symptoms of dry eye, resulting in increased quality of life.

A recent study showed that moderate to sever dry eye disease can be best treated with anti-inflammatory medications such as topical cyclosporine. According to one ophthalmologist, cyclosporine can significantly limit progression of dry eye disease and should be considered a 'go-to' therapy for this patient population.

Drs Belin and Ambrosio's Enhanced Ectasia module is a keratoconus index, based on pachy

A comparison of an older nanoliter osometer and a newer osometer shows that both devices are effective in measuring tear osmolarity and produce comparable measurements.

Dr Mustafa Guzey and colleagues have found topical cyclosporine A to be effective in treating severe trachomatous dry eye in a recent study published in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.

CSO, which has a background in measuring and analysing the anterior corneal surface has extended its research to the posterior surface with its new device SIRIUS.

A further study in the July issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, investigated inflammation biomarkers in relation to corneal transplant rejection in herpes simplex patients. Its results have shown that inflammation thwarts corneal transplants.

Can BAK be used in corneal cross linking?

High molecular weight increases blink rate and helps eye drops retain moisture on the ocular surface according to Professor Giancarlo Montani an optometrist FIACLE and a professor of optometry at the Universita del Salento in Italy.

Nerve damage associated ocular dryness improved dramatically with hyaluronic acid-based lubricating eye drops explains Claes Feinbaum M.Sc. Professor Emeritus Optometry, Vision4You, Lund, Sweden.

Producing 3D human corneal tissue using corneal limbal stem cells with a view to developing and commercialising novel technology has potential to transform drug discovery and regenerative medicine.

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).

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.

Can topical bevacizumab be used to treat corneal neovascularisation.