Retina

Pfizer is to fund research into the application of stem cells in degenerative retinal disease through a $3 million investment in EyeCyte, a company based in California, US.

Oertli has launched new instruments to be used in microincision surgery for the anterior and the posterior segments.

Dr John Nolan discusses the crucial role of the macular carotenoids in the prevention of this blinding disease.

A revolutionary, needle-free technology that has been designed to deliver retina therapies non-invasively, to the back of the eye, has been launched.

Surgical therapy for age-related macular degeneration in the form of macular translocation, injection of tissue plasminogen activator, and gas tamponade provides some improvements in visual acuity for patients whose conditions do not respond to the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs.

Fundus autofluorescence imaging, one of the modes available in a new instrument (Spectralis HRA+OCT, Heidelberg Engineering), enhances its utility as a diagnostic device and a tool for monitoring therapy of patients with retinal and macular diseases.

Trivaris (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension; Allergan), a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of inflammatory ophthalmic conditions.

A new model can predict the percentage of people who will develop advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at various ages. The model, which is based on well-established risk factors for the disease such as age, smoking, and genetics, considers high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk genotypes. Genotypes are more predictive of the risk of developing advanced AMD than is age.

Scientists who produced a visual prosthesis giving rudimentary sight to the blind are to receive the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2008 in recognition of their achievement.

A research project developing new technologies for laser treatments for the retina has been launched by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.

Eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids seems to correlate with a low incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published in the June 2008 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Peeling the internal limiting membrane (ILM) may reduce the rate of premacular fibrosis (PMF) formation, according to a study published in the June 2008 issue of Retina.

The Verteporfin Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Study (VERITAS) of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog, Bristol-Myers Squibb) or pegaptanib (Macugen, Pfizer) in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) was underpowered to reach definitive conclusions about the therapies.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an independent risk factor for heart failure (HF), according to a study published in the April 22 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Absence of a specific RNase III endonuclease in the retina causes no immediate structural abnormalities but does prompt total retinal inactivity, according to a study published in the May 7 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Although fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are both effective ways to detect macular oedema (ME), when used in isolation they may miss subtle manifestations of the condition, according to a study published in the April 2008 issue of Retina.

Intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech) stabilize vision and decrease retinal detachment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), according to a study published in the May 2008 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Depression in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients worsens vision-related function even where visual acuity is not compromised, according to a study published in the May 2008 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

US firm Acucela Inc. has dosed the first patient in the Phase I trial of its lead candidate, ACU-02, an oral compound which is in development for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Bevasiranib, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) compound targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), is distributed throughout the eye, including the retina, according to a study published on 28 May 2008 in Molecular Vision.

Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Japan) and MacuSight Inc. (US) are to collaborate on developing MacuSight's sirolimus to treat ocular conditions including diabetic macular oedema (DME) and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Avastin (bevacizumab) does not exert any toxic effects on the retina and its function, according to a study published in the January issue of Retina journal.

Delaying treatment in patients with subfoveal neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) correlates to progressive and substantial loss of visual acuity (VA), according to a report published online ahead of print by Eye.

The OPTTX System (Novadaq Technologies) stabilizes or improves vision at one year in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), many of who have failed previous therapies and have no other treatment alternatives, according to Professor Giovanni Staurenghi of Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Italy, reporting at this year?s EURETINA congress in Vienna, Austria.

V2 Vantage DX, a new generation of retinal imaging software, has been released by Optos plc, UK.

The use of green gold nanoparticles may have a place in the therapy of cancer and ophthalmic diseases, according to a study presented at this year's meeting of the Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO).

The incidence of suspected endophthalmitis in patients who have received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatments in a community setting is very low, according to a study published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Diabetes-induced changes to 37 separate proteins of the vitreous may be the key to understanding the mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a study to be published in the June issue of the Journal of Proteome Research.

Clinical doses of Avastin (bevacizumab; Genentech) and Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) are equally effective in neutralizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while Macugen (pegaptanib; Pfizer) has no effect, according to a study published online ahead of print by the Journal of Investigative Ophthalmology.

The European Commission and the European Patent Office (EPO) have named Optos plc as European Inventor of the Year in the SME and Research category.