Hemera Biosciences today announced its Series A financing of $3.75 million and issuance of US patent 8,324,182 B2 on December 4, 2012 for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with a human protein, soluble CD59 — otherwise known as protectin…
Author: Eyewire Today
Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking May Help With Keratoconus
Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) helps control keratoconus progression in all age groups, but it works best in adults under 40, new data suggest. The procedure involves a photo-oxidative reaction, catalyzed by riboflavin, that stiffens the cornea. …
Understanding How Eye Cells Become Damaged Could Help Prevent Blindness
Light-sensing cells in the eye rely on their outer segment to convert light into neural signals that allow us to see. But because of its unique cylindrical shape, the outer segment is prone to breakage, which can cause blindness in humans. A study publ…
Ampio Pharma Says FDA Accepts IND For Diabetic Macular Edema Drug
Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said the FDA has accepted its IND for Optina, an oral drug used in the treatment of diabetic macular edema, or DME. Optina had been given 505-b-2 status by FDA in July, 2012. Drugs designated under this pathway can be approv…
The Complexity Of Gene Therapy For Congenital Blindness
Independent clinical trials, including one conducted at the Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine, have reported safety and efficacy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a congenital form of blindness caused by mutations in a gene (R…
Low Incidence of Acute Anterior Uveitis After Intravenous Zoledronate
About one in 100 patients could develop acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in the week after receiving intravenous zoledronate, researchers from New Zealand report. “The study was the first to quantify the incidence of AAU following zoledronate infusion,” Dr…
NHS Admits Widespread Restrictions on Cataract Surgery in UK
Sir Bruce Keogh also said that most local health authorities were not using the best evidence to base decisions on whether or not to fund surgery. Labour said ministers should act without delay to remedy the situation. Sir Bruces comments come months a…
EyeTechCare Announces Preliminary Clinical Trial Results of EyeMUST
EyeTechCare SA, a company developing non-invasive therapeutic medical devices using ultrasound technology for ophthalmology market, has announced the preliminary results of EyeMUST, a multicenter study of the use of its EyeOP1 device in glaucoma. The…
“Preservative Toxicity a Disease,” Reports Working Group on Glaucoma Medication Preservatives Toxicity
Valeant Ophthalmics, a division of Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC, announced that the Working Group on Preservatives Toxicity in Glaucoma Medications, an advisory panel of glaucoma treatment experts, was recently convened as an ongoing group…
Antibiotic Use With Intravitreal Injection Unnecessary
As the number of intravitreal injection procedures increases, so will the incidence of injection-related complications, such as endophthalmitis. Attempting to reduce the rate of postinjection endophthalmitis with prophylactic antibiotics is unnecessary…
Novel Technique Using Stem Cells Revives Damaged Eye
Treating blindness caused by burns using limbal stem cells harvested from the undamaged eye of the same patient has now become cheaper, easier and safer. Results of a pilot study of the SLET (simplified technique of limbal transplantation) technique co…
Costs Related to Vision Loss to Exceed $3.5 Trillion by 2020
Costs related to vision loss are expected to skyrocket in the next 10 years as the global population ages. In particular, ocular morbidity related to the diabetes epidemic will increase, according to a study presented here at the World Ophthalmology Co…
Bevacizumab Prevents Posttrabeculectomy Complications
The antiangiogenesis agent bevacizumab had an 80% success rate in the maintenance of postoperative improvement in intraocular pressure (IOP) after trabeculectomy. In addition, the drug reduced the incidence of subconjunctival scarring, according to fin…
In Retinoblastoma, Orbit Vascular Anatomy May Affect Outcome
Whether intra-arterial chemotherapy can salvage eyes with retinoblastoma may be affected by the anatomy of orbital blood vessels, according to a new report. “Because of the small volume of drug used (0.50-1.25 mL per treatment) and the selectivity of c…
Intake of Calcium, Iron Supplement Associated With Glaucoma
Supplementary consumption of the oxidants calcium and iron may be a risk factor for the development of glaucomatous disease, according to a study in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. The investigators reviewed the 2007 to 2008 National He…
Eylea Has Already Begun to Be Used by U.S. Retinal Specialists One Month Post-Launch, According to a Recent BioTrends Report
The LaunchTrends: Eylea Wave 1 report, which measures product uptake and commercial effectiveness at one month post launch, finds that 40% of surveyed retinal specialists have initiated trial on Regenerons Eylea, the newest treatment for wet age-relate…
Scientists Develop Animal Model for TB-Related Blindness
Working with guinea pigs, tuberculosis experts at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere have closely mimicked how active but untreated cases of the underlying lung infection lead to permanent eye damage and blindness in people. Lead study investigator and Johns …
Two-At-Once Visual Field Testing: More Efficient, Equally Accurate
Ophthalmology practices could save time and money by performing visual field (VF) testing on more than one patient at a time, say researchers at the University of Michigan. Their study, published online November 23 in Ophthalmology, found no decrease i…
Canaloplasty an Option in Open-Angle Glaucoma
Canaloplasty works just as well as trabeculectomy in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma, according to a comparative case series in Ophthalmology.
Novel Drug to Slow Cataracts on Their Path to Causing Blindness
The innovators behind commercializing a world-first drug to slow cataract growth and to delay cataracts forming, have been named as one of five finalists in The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School’s $100,000 Enterprize business plan competiti…