Blogs

Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 25: ACT Patient in Dry AMD Trial Goes from 20/400 to 20/40!

2013/05/17

The story started innocently enough. On Wednesday, May 15th, the journal Cell reported on a study that claimed biologists had finally created human stem cells by the same technique that produced Dolly the cloned sheep in 1996. They transplanted genetic material from an adult cell into an egg whose own DNA had been removed.

OK, an important story but what followed boggles the mind. Many science reporters wrote about the discovery which got picked up by several news sources. However, a sharp-eyed member of the Investor Stemcell Forum (iCell), a group originally started by investors in Advanced Cell Technology (Read more...)

AREDS 2 Vitamin Study for Macular Degeneration

2013/05/16

By RetinaEyeDoctor

The original AREDS study (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) was published in 2001 and concluded that a combination of vitamins and supplements, the “AREDS Formula,” consisting of vitamin C, vitamin E, B-Carotene, zinc and copper could reduce the risk of developing advanced ARMD.

The “AREDS Formula” has been recommended for patients with intermediate or high risk ARMD. The AREDS study found that in these pa (Read more...)

A New Technique for Restoring Normal Vision to the Blind: The Technology of Prof. Sheila Nirenberg of Weill Cornell Medical School

2013/05/07

About a year ago, a colleague put me in touch with a Boston-based venture capitalist who was interested in a new method for restoring vision to the blind that was under development at Cornell University. I did some cursory research about the technology and wrote a brief report about what I learned.

I really didn’t understand the front end of the technology – how the research team was able to acquire and manage a useful visual signal that could be converted into sight by the brain, but since the back end involved the use of gene therapy, which I was (Read more...)

Macular Pucker Surgery

2013/05/01

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Macular pucker surgery (removing an ERM) is my favorite surgery. It’s elegant and usually involves healthy eyes. It’s one of the few operations where we can get significant improvement, as long as we operate early enough.

Symptoms of Macular Pucker

Distortion and blurred vision are the two most common symptoms of an epiretinal membrane (ERM) or “macular pucker.”

Patients noticing a change in vision, eith (Read more...)

What is 25 Gauge Vitrectomy?

2013/04/26

By RetinaEyeDoctor

25 gauge vitrectomy is safer due to smaller openings and thinner intrument shafts. Vitrectomy is an eye operation usually performed by a retinal specialist to treat a variety of retinal conditions. Most vitrectomies are performed to treat:

1.  Retinal Detachments
2.  Epiretinal Membranes
3.  Macular Holes
4.  Floaters
5. Blood, aka Vitreous Hemorrhage

25 Gauge Vitrectomy is as Safe as Cataract Surgery

For me, this is state of the art. A 25 gauge vitrectomy uses thinner instruments compared to the older 20 ga (Read more...)

Recently Published Articles: Current Status of Stem Cells and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology

2013/04/23

In the past couple of months, I was asked to update an article I wrote on stem cells in ophthalmology, originally published in Retina Today, for its sister publication, Advanced Ocular Care, and to write a similar article about the current status of gene therapy for another ophthalmic publication, Retinal Physician. These two articles have now been published in the respective journals and made available online.

Here is a brief summary of each article, along with the link to its online version and a note about finding the current versions of the tables associated with each, online.

(Read more...)

Best Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration

2013/04/12

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Best Eye Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration, Randall V. Wong, M.D., Retina Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia. The best treatment for wet macular degeneration is a treatment which efficacious, has no complications and is effective. Actually, these are the three attributes of any “best” treatment.

The best treatment for wet macular degeneration comes close to meeting these criteria. At present, anti-VEGF treatments; Avastin, Lucentis, Eylea and Macugen are commonly used for the treatment of wet ARMD.

Efficacious Treatment for (Read more...)

A Personal Journey: How I Went From Being A Bench Chemist to An Expert Resource in Ophthalmology and Medical Lasers

2013/04/05

A short while ago, I was asked by Maureen Duffy, editor of VisionAware, the blog of the American Foundation for the Blind, how I became so knowledgeable about ophthalmology and why I started my blog. I prepared some background information for Maureen and she published it as a guest blog on her site, but because of space limitations, she was only able to use an abridged version. Since I don’t have the same space limitations, I decided to publish the “unabridged” version here.

So, here is my story:

The Beginning of My Career in Chemistry

I graduated from (Read more...)

When to Call After Your Retinal Surgery

2013/04/04

By RetinaEyeDoctor

When to call your doctor after retinal surgery. Randall Wong, MD. I want my patients to call me after retinal eye surgery if they develop pain and/or loss of vision. These two symptoms can be signs of either infection or retinal detachment, the two most dreaded complications of retinal surgery .

Eye Infection Can Blind

The most concerning post-operative complication of retinal eye surgery would be infection inside the eye. Infection inside the eye, called endophthalmitis, often leads to blin (Read more...)

People in the NorthWest with X-linked retinoschisis

2013/03/30

XLRS Natural History Study Beginning in Portland, Oregon

March 29, 2013 – Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is launching a three-year natural history study for people with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). Funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the investigation’s primary goal is to identify outcome measures — such as changes in vision or retinal structure — that could be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of potential therapies in clinical trials. The study will also help determine the types of XLRS patients most suitable for future therapeutic studies.

Knowledge gained from the XLRS natural history study will aid in the (Read more...)

Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 18: A RetroSense Update

2013/03/30

I first learned about the potential of using gene therapies in treating ophthalmic disorders back in November 2010. That’s when I was introduced to gene therapy by Sean Ainsworth, the founder and CEO of RetroSense Therapeutics. I haven’t written about this company or the unique approach it is taking to try and treat retinitis pigmentosa and the dry form of AMD since that first article, The Use of Gene Therapy in Treating Retinitis Pigmentosa and Dry AMD. With several news events occurring with the company recently, I felt it was time to bring readers of this blog up-to-date.

Avastin Injection Recall

2013/03/27

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Avastin injections, used for wet ARMD, are again linked to eye infections. At least five patients have developed intraocular eye infections after receiving Avastin injections distributed by the same compounding pharmacy located in Augusta, Georgia. A voluntary recall of all sterile products from Clinical Specialities, Inc., has been issued. Most of their drugs are distributed to Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee a (Read more...)

My Oldest Patient Turns 96

2013/03/21

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Randall Wong, M.D., Retina Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia One of my favorite patients, Donald, is about to turn 96! We met almost 3 years ago. He’s a transplant from Florida, has wet ARMD and needs periodic injections for his wet ARMD in the right eye. The vision in the left eye was lost years ago from wet ARMD, too.

I now see him every 3 months to give him an injection of Avastin to his right eye. He still sees well.

More importantly, his story highlights the importance and v (Read more...)

Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 17: Hemera Biosciences Obtains Initial Funding

2013/03/19

In December 2011, following that year’s AAO Meeting, I wrote about Hemera Biosciences and its complement regulation therapy via the use of gene therapy to prevent membrane attack complex (MAC), the final stage of the complement cascade that is implicated in both dry and wet AMD. (Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 5: A Complement-Based Gene Therapy for AMD)

I am now happy to report that Hemera has obtained initial funding, along with the issuance of a US Patent and can now begin manufacturing its drug, soluble CD59 (protectin), perform animal toxicology and initiate a phase 1 clinical study.

(Read more...)

How to Prepare for Your Eye Surgery

2013/03/14

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Pre-operative directions for Dr. Randall Wong's retina patients. There is only one requirement I have before your retinal eye surgery, “Do NOT eat before Surgery!”

Eating anything after midnight the night before surgery is certain to cancel your surgery. By the way, the following rules apply to my personal patients who are having surgery at INOVA Woodburn Surgical center. These guidelines may be similar to your own doctor’s, in your own state/country and your hospital, but (Read more...)

Webinar on Floaters: Uploaded

2013/03/08

By RetinaEyeDoctor

I have finally uploaded the webinar on floaters presented on 2/5/13. There are five parts and it includes the entire presentation and Q & A following.

As always, please feel free to leave comments and ask questions.

Part 1: Presentation

Part 2: Presentation

Part 3: Q & A, 1st Portion

Part 4: Q & A, 2nd Portion

Part 5: Q & A, 3rd and Final Portion

Marc Staal Hit by Slapshot to Right Eye

2013/03/08

By RetinaEyeDoctor

Possible Eye Injury from Blunt Trauma Marc Staal of the New York Rangers was struck in his right eye yesterday by a hockey puck fired by his opponent Kimmo Timonen of the Philadelphia Flyers. The incident has refueled the visor debate. Had the NHL veteran been wearing a visor, the puck would have simply glanced off harmlessly.

As we all await status reports about the injury, just what might have happened to his eye?

Blunt Trauma to the Eye

Mr. Staal sustained blunt (Read more...)

Oraya IRay Update 2: INTREPID Two-year Results Meet Primary Clinical Endpoint – Results in At Least 35% Fewer anti-VEGF Injections — Oraya Joins with Optegra to Provide Treatments in the UK

2013/03/05

The last time we checked in on Oraya in May 2011, the company had announced it had completed enrollment in its INTREPID clinical trial, being conducted at seven European sites with the enrollment of a minimum of 150 patients. (Oraya IRay Update: Company Completes Enrollment in European Clinical Trial)

The INTREPID trial is the first sham-controlled double-masked study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a one-time radiation therapy in conjunction with as-needed anti-VEGF injections for the treatment of wet AMD. A total of 21 sites in five European countries participated in the trial with a total enrollment (Read more...)

AMD Update 23: DARPins, The Next “Game Changer” for Wet AMD?

2013/02/28

As many of you know, I am now retired and no longer attending ophthalmic industry meetings, the source for much of my writing when I was producing the “Technology Update” columns for Ocular Surgery News for over eleven years. I now scour the web searching for interesting ophthalmic industry news in the field of my current interest – new technologies for treating retinal diseases, for ideas of stories to write about for this Journal. I also rely on tips from former industry colleagues and new friends that inquire, “Have you heard about...”, which sometimes leads to interesting stories to investigate (Read more...)

Excercise After PVD is Safe

2013/02/27

By RetinaEyeDoctor

I believe exercise after sustaining a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) to be safe. Many doctors recommend a “no exercise” period after a PVD to decrease the risk of retinal tear and retinal detachment. This does not make sense to me. PVD Causes Retinal Tear A retinal tear may occur after a posterior vitreous detachment, but [...]

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