News

Dr Jayakrishna Ambati, professor and vice chairman of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Cogan Award from The Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology (ARVO).

The twelve-month primary analysis results from the Novartis sponsored Phase II MONT BLANC study investigating the efficacy and safety of combining Visudyne (Novartis Pharma AG) and Lucentis (Novartis Pharma AG, Genentech Inc.) have been released and so far are showing no significant differences.

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.

Journal watch

Biometric and corneal topographic characteristics in patients with Weill-Marchesani syndrome

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.

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 first in Asia

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.

Cornea breakthrough

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.

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.