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Entries for the ‘Eye Health / Blindness’ Category

Transplanting Whole Cornea Not Always Necessary

Worldwide, corneas are the most frequently transplanted tissue. However, because of rapid advances, the long-developed technique of complete transplantation, i.e. penetrating keratorplasty (PK) is no longer necessary in many instances. Dr Donald Tan f…

Age-Related Macular Degeneration – How To Tackle Increasing Rates

With aging populations, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is set to increase. AMD, which causes progressive blindness, may already be present in the early stages in 20% of 60 year-olds and those who are older in some countries. Whilst 10 years ago…

Myopia, Short-sightedness Rates Very High In East Asia

Around 80% to 90% of school-leavers in major East Asian cities like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea suffer from myopia or short-sightedness. This represents an enormous burden of disease that will lead to further problems in …

Genes Linked To Common Forms Of Glaucoma

Results from the largest genetic study of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness and vision loss worldwide, showed that two genetic variations are associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), a common form of the disease. The identification of g…

Major Breakthrough In Eye Disease Reported By Researchers

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that a part of the immune system called the inflammasome is involved in regulating the development of one of the most common forms of blindness, called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). They ha…

Breakthrough Raises Hope Of Preventing Wet AMD

A new study led by Trinity College Dublin, in Ireland, finds that controlling or raising levels of the immune system component IL-18 in the retinas of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), could prevent it progressing into the wet…

Protecting The Eye From Glaucoma Using ‘Positive Stress’

Working in mice, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have devised a treatment that prevents the optic nerve injury that occurs in glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease that is a leading cause of blindness. Researchers in…

Sending Your Recycled Glasses To Developing Countries Costs Twice As Much As Giving Them Ready-Made Glasses

You might feel good sending your old reading glasses to a developing country. But a recent international study, led by the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), a collaborating partner in the Vision CRC, in Sydney, suggests it is far bette…

Oral Fluoroquinolones Slightly Raise Risk Of Retinal Detachment

According to a study published in the April 4 issue of JAMA , individuals have an increased, although overall small risk of developing a serious eye condition called retinal detachment when taking oral fluoroquinolones. The study included nearly 1 mil…

Hope Of Treatment For Debilitating Eye Disease Using New Pig Model

A newly developed, genetically modified pig may hold the keys to the development of improved treatments and possibly even a cure for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common inherited retinal disease in the United States. The pig model was developed …