Sight gone, but not necessarily lost? Oct 31, 2009
Johns Hopkins researchers find life in blood-starved retinas ... Reporting in the Oct. 16 issue of Cell, researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine find that when some cells in the mouse retina are not properly fed by blood vessels, they can remain alive for many months and can later recover some or all of their normal function, suggesting that similar conditions in people may also be reversible ... "It suggests that neurons in the retina can survive for an extended period of time even... (EurekAlert!)
105 Foods You Should Eat Every Day - Part II» Oct 31, 2009
Carrots are especially good at improving night vision because the body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is absorbed by the retina. There, it is transformed into a pigment that aids night vision. (Fox News)
'Blind art' exhibition launched Oct 30, 2009
She has retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive condition that affects the light-sensitive cells on the retina at the back of the eye. Sufferers can only see through a small patch in the centre of their field of vision. (BBC News -- UK)
Ansel Adams: The Black-and-White Master, in Color Oct 29, 2009
What he was after were tones, colors you can't put a name to, indeterminate registers that shift in the retina and brain. Even his sunsets were powder-puff pink. (Time.com)
Suns look for restart in familiar place Oct 28, 2009
But an inadvertent swipe by Clippers forward Al Thornton aggravated retina damage to Stoudemire's eye and ended his season. The Suns went 16-13 thereafter, leaving them out of the playoffs and setting up this season's quest to regain their winning ways. (AZCentral -- Sports)
Trends & Innovations - Monday Oct 27, 2009
Glasses beam image onto retinas. High-tech glasses can project images or documents directly onto a wearer's retinas ... Each pair of glasses is equipped with an optical scanner, and the system uses the retina as a screen. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Gene Therapy Cures a Form of Blindness Oct 27, 2009
The revolutionary treatment targets a disease of light-catching retinal cells called Leber's congenital amaurosis, or LCA. ... The modified virus was injected into the eyeball, and infected the diseased cells -- in effect, acting like a Trojan horse to deliver the right DNA to the retina ... "These remarkable results have laid a foundation for applying gene therapy not only to other forms of childhood-onset retinal disease, but also to more common retinal degenerations," said Bennett. (Newsmax)
Gene therapy experiment restores sight in a few Oct 27, 2009
"All 12 patients given gene therapy in one eye showed improvement in retinal function," Dr Katherine High of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and colleagues wrote in a report to be released at the same time by the Lancet medical journal. LCA causes the retina to degenerate and the researchers found that the younger the patient treated with the therapy, the better the effects ... "These findings may expedite development of gene therapy for more... (MSNBC -- Health)
Promising New Path For Treating Traumas Discovered Oct 27, 2009
16, 2009) Looking at the retina in the eyes of patients with cerebral malaria has provided scientists with a vital insight into why malaria infection in the brain is so deadly. Researchers in Malawi have shown. (Science Daily)
Gene Therapy Helps Blind Boy See Oct 27, 2009
The new gene will make a missing protein inside Corey's faulty retina to help restore his vision ... "There are lots of clinical trials ongoing, and this really sets the stage for many more diseases -- retinal diseases and eye diseases -- going forward.". (CBS News -- Evening News)
Dr. Joseph Walker: Health care reform needs clear detail, honest funding Oct 26, 2009
- Dr. Joseph P. Walker of Fort Myers founded Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida in 1980. In your voice. (The News-Press -- Opinion)
Treating ROP in tiny preemies; better glaucoma follow-up in urban clinic Oct 26, 2009
ROP vision loss occurs due to abnormal growth and function of blood vessels that nourish the retina, the light-sensitive area in the back of the eye where images are formed for relay to the brain's visual cortex. Long Wait Times, Interpreter Problems Impact Care, Glaucoma Clinic Patients Say. (EurekAlert!)
Dr. Lloyd M. Aiello is a visionary in laser treatment Oct 26, 2009
Our goal is to preserve the vision in the retina that you came into the world with, he says ... That was the year ophthalmologist Dr. Lloyd M. Aiello and his father-in-law, Dr. William P. Beetham of the Joslin Diabetes Center experimented with lasers to counteract leaking blood vessels in the retina ... There was no retinopathy between the scars, so we said, we think we want to create scars like that and leave the untreated retina in between. (Boston Globe)
Eye gene therapy boost for young Oct 25, 2009
"The visual recovery noted in the children confirms the hypothesis that efficacy will be improved if treatment is applied before retinal degeneration has progressed," said lead author Professor Jean Bennett. "Assessment of whether the treatment alters the natural progression of the retinal degeneration will be possible in follow-up studies." ... The genes are contained in a harmless virus which is unlikely to be attacked by the body as the immune system is not strong in the retina. (BBC News -- Health)
1 shot of gene therapy and children with congenital blindness can now see Oct 25, 2009
Oct. 24, 2009 Born with a retinal disease that made him legally blind, and would eventually leave him totally sightless, the nine-year-old boy used to sit in the back of the classroom, relying on the large print on an electronic screen and assisted by teacher aides ... "These findings may expedite development of gene therapy for more common retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration." ... "The clinical benefits have persisted for nearly two years since the first subjects were... (EurekAlert!)
Alzheimer's Lesions Found In The Retina Oct 23, 2009
UC Irvine neuroscientists have found that retinas in mice genetically altered to have Alzheimer's undergo changes similar to those that occur in the brain -- most notably the accumulation of amyloid plaque lesions. In addition, the scientists discovered that when Alzheimer's therapies are tested in such mice, retinal changes that result might predict how the treatments will work in humans better than changes in mouse brain tissue ... These findings are key to developing retinal imaging... (Science Daily)
Mona Lisas smile cracked Oct 23, 2009
Different cells in the retina transmit different categories of information or "channels" to the brain ... And in 2005, an American team suggested that in the path from retina to visual cortex determines whether we see a smile or not ... This suggests that retinal cells that process dead-centre vision convey information about the smile just as well as the cells that contribute to peripheral vision. (Harper's Magazine)
Bionic Technology Aims To Give Sight To Woman Blinded Beginning At Age 13 Oct 22, 2009
The first treatment aimed at restoring limited sight in people blinded by retinal disease, it is currently available as part of a multicenter clinical trial. The implant -- a component of the Argus II Retinal Stimulation System by Second Sight Medical Products Inc., of Sylmar, Calif ... -- is designed to stimulate retinal cells directly. (Science Daily)
New Method To Coax Retinal Cells From Stem Cells Oct 22, 2009
21, 2009) Researchers have developed a new method for identifying retinal precursor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (those from embryonic tissue) and induced pluripotent stem cells (those from adult skin cells). These precursor cells represent the earliest stages of retinal development ... The new method results in a greater yield of retinal cells from stem cells and could be used to better understand disease processes and realize effective treatments for eye disorders. (Science Daily)
Engineered Proteins Restore Light Sensitivity To Animals Oct 22, 2009
"This approach could prove to be a viable therapeutic option for people who have lost significant vision and are in the late stages of retinal degeneration," she said ... 11, 2006) This study raises the intriguing possibility that visual function might be restored by conveying light-sensitive properties to other surviving cells in the retina after the rods and cones have died ... 21, 2009) A new artificial retina, an array of electrodes implanted on the back of the eye, has been found to restore... (Science Daily)
Transplanted Tissue Improves Vision: Study Shows Enhanced Visual Acuity Oct 22, 2009
21, 2009) A clinical study is the first to show that advanced stages of incurable retinal diseases can be stopped and improved by a cell replacement technique. The researchers transplanted intact "sheets" of fetal retinal cells that develop into light-sensitive nerve cells, along with a supporting layer of tissue, into damaged human eyes ... To date, most clinical studies have targeted the early stages of retinal disease in attempts to rescue photoreceptors, the light-sensitive nerve cells. (Science Daily)
Experimental treatments restore partial vision to blind people Oct 21, 2009
Retinal prosthesis and fetal tissue transplant show promise in human studies. Two experimental treatments, a retinal prosthesis and fetal tissue transplant, restored some vision to people with blinding eye diseases ... These diseases destroy the light-sensitive nerve cells in the retina, leading to blindness. (EurekAlert!)
Scientists Create Robot Surrogate For Blind Persons In Testing Visual Prostheses Oct 21, 2009
20, 2009) Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have created a remote-controlled robot that is able to simulate the "visual" experience of a blind person who has been implanted with a visual prosthesis, such as an artificial retina. An artificial retina consists of a silicon chip studded with a varying number of electrodes that directly stimulate retinal nerve cells ... An artificial retina, also known as a retinal prosthesis, may use either an internal or external... (Science Daily)
Stem Cell Transplants Stalled Blindness in Rats Oct 21, 2009
They said putting nerve stem cells from StemCells Inc near the retinas of rats with a form of macular degeneration helped keep the disease from advancing to blindness for several months ... Lund said the mechanism is not clear, but he suspects that when immature nerve cells are placed near the retina, they produce growth factors that protect the cells from damage by the disease ... The findings raise hope for use of the treatment in humans with a range of diseases in which the retina become... (MEDLINEplus)
'Bionic Eye' May Help Blind See Oct 21, 2009
Bionic Eye' May Help Blind See: Retinal Prosthesis Shown To Restore Partial Vision ... Bionic Eye' May Help Blind See: Retinal Prosthesis Shown To Restore Partial Vision ... 21, 2009) A new artificial retina, an array of electrodes implanted on the back of the eye, has been found to restore partial vision to totally blind people. (Science Daily)
With luck, a new kidney Oct 21, 2009
My pie-in-the-face moment occurred in 1988 when my eyes hemorrhaged due to advanced retinopathy -- damage to the capillaries in the retina from high blood sugar. I was holding my newborn daughter Georgia when blood filled my left eye like black ink. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Cruise activities raise funds for boy Oct 19, 2009
The money was raised at a car cruise fundraiser held at the dealership (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Doctor says near-death experiences are in the mind Oct 18, 2009
"The eye, the retina of the eye, is one of the most exquisitely sensitive tissues to a loss of blood flow. So when blood flow does not reach the eye, vision fails, and darkness ensues from the periphery to the center. And that is very likely causing the tunnel effect.". Nelson is doing studies now to prove that the same effect results from fainting. (CNN)
Jammy dodger? Brown leaves biscuit question unanswered Oct 17, 2009
Asked about his eyesight, after No 10 revealed on Sunday he had suffered minor damage to the retina in his right eye, he thanked people for their interest in his health. "I am fine, run a lot, keep fit," he said. (BBC News -- UK)
Trials for 'bionic' eye implants Oct 17, 2009
Patients who tested less-advanced versions of the retinal implant were able to see light, shapes and movement ... 1: Camera on glasses views image 2: Signals are sent to hand-held device 3: Processed information is sent back to glasses and wirelessly transmitted to receiver under surface of eye 4: Receiver sends information to electrodes in retinal implant 5: Electrodes stimulate retina to send information to brain ... Retinal implants are able to partially restore the vision of people with... (Yahoo News -- Disabilities and the Disabled)
U.S. defender DeMerit needs unique eye surgery Oct 17, 2009
"After about 24 hours, my eye looked like a zombie eye, my pupil had turned white, and my iris and retina had turned a different color," says DeMerit. "It was such a freak thing and very scary. I've worn contacts for 10 years and I've been getting dust particles in my eyes all my life. "It's just a blur. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Soccer)
IEDM offers most recent research nuggets Oct 16, 2009
For their part, Stanford University researchers used solar and MEMS technologies to build a self-powered, conformal retinal prosthetic. Electrode arrays are implanted in the retina and current is injected into underlying, still-functional neural cells. (EETimes)
Loyal Red Sox fan thrown a cruel curve Oct 15, 2009
The retina reader does its magic. A minute later, a computer voice speaks. (Boston Globe)
Eye Problems Increasing in Preemies Oct 15, 2009
TUESDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Increased survival of extremely pre-term infants has led to a greater number of babies with vision problems caused by abnormal development of blood vessels in the retina, a new study finds. Swedish researchers looked at data on 506 extremely pre-term infants (born before 27 weeks of gestation) who survived until their first eye examination and found that 368 (72. (MEDLINEplus)
Mackie: Don't toss insides of carved pumpkins, many vitamins inside Oct 15, 2009
It is strongly believed to help reduce the rate of macular degeneration, an age-related deterioration of the central part of the eye s retina. It may also increase heart health and decrease the risk of other cancers. (WWLTV.com, LA)
Tech Helps Curb Infant Blindness Oct 14, 2009
The tool provides high-resolution images of the retina that are transmitted electronically to Packard's central reading station where a specialist reviews the picture ... The ability to screen infants from a distance is an important development, said Dr. Antonio Capone, director of vitreoretinal fellowship training at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan ... To treat ROP doctors use laser or freezing techniques to destroy the periphery of the retina and halt the growth of abnormal... (Yahoo News -- Children's Health)
How Humans See In Bright And Low Light Oct 14, 2009
When we go from light to near total darkness, cells in the retina must quickly adjust ... The discovery could contribute to better understanding of human diseases that affect the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50 ... Age-related macular degeneration may be modulated, perhaps, through this pathway we've identified in the retina, says principal investigator Vladimir J. Kefalov, Ph. (Science Daily)
Signs Of Macular Degeneration May Predict Heart Disease Oct 14, 2009
Macular degeneration, a condition that occurs in the retina and most affects an individuals' ability to drive and read, is being better diagnosed by. . (Science Daily)
Now, a single jab to prevent blindness Oct 13, 2009
A single jab can now prevent people from losing their vision, thanks to researchers at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, who have developed a new method to inject drug into the blood by weakening the otherwise impermeable blood-retina barrier. The blood-retina barrier normally prevents molecules in the blood from reaching the retina ... But now, researchers led by Matthew Campbell have now restored the vision of mice by temporarily weakening the blood-retina barrier to let drug molecules injected... (India Times, India)
More infants surviving pre-term births results in higher rates of eye problems Oct 13, 2009
As more extremely pre-term infants survive in Sweden, an increasing number of babies are experiencing vision problems caused by abnormalities involving the retina, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. "Retinopathy of prematurity [abnormal development of blood vessels in the retina] remains an important cause of childhood blindness and visual impairment throughout the world," the authors write as background information in the... (EurekAlert!)
* Brown treated in hospital for tears in his right eye Oct 12, 2009
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is blind in his left eye, has been treated for two minor tears in the retina of the right eye in which he has limited vision, his office at Number 10 Downing Street said on Saturday, days before the start of the new, and possibly his toughest, parliamentary session ... In a statement, Downing Street said Brown had his annual check-up, which was fine in summer, but subsequently underwent further tests on his retina, which found two tears ... The risk... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
British MPs face expenses verdict Oct 12, 2009
His office revealed at the weekend that an examination showed two tears in the retina of one of his eyes - a revelation that could embolden critics who want him to step down before a national election. Telegraph, London. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Brown's eye troubles Oct 12, 2009
LONDON: Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has disclosed that an examination showed two tears in the retina of one of his eyes - a revelation that could embolden critics who want him to step down before a national election. The disclosure came amid speculation Mr Brown would be among 325 MPs ordered this week to repay money or provide details of their parliamentary allowances by the head of an official inquiry into the House of Commons expenses scandal. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Minor retinal tears in PM's eye Oct 11, 2009
Eyesight tests have found Gordon Brown has two minor tears in his right retina but he will not be undergoing further operations, Downing Street has said. A spokesman said Mr Brown had an eye check in the summer which was fine, and later had his retina examined ... Mr Brown was diagnosed with a detached retina at the age of 16 - the result of a rugby injury. (BBC News -- UK)
British PM's eye condition disclosed Oct 11, 2009
LONDON (AP) The office of Britain's prime minister says Gordon Brown has two minor tears in his retina. But Brown's Downing Street office says in a Saturday statement there has been no further deterioration and no change in his eyesight. (Florida Today)
Disney sets out to make 'The Passion for kids' Oct 11, 2009
PM visited Moorfields in London, one of the world s best-known eye hospitals, after surgeons found two small tears in his retina. New inquiry into death of Briton murdered in Kenya 21 years ago following secret visit by anti-terror chief. (Yahoo News -- 'The Passion of the Christ')
Read more... Oct 10, 2009
The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Most parents are aware of the critical need to protect their children's skin from UV exposure with sun block, yet few insist their children wear sunglasses. (PNN Online)
Stoudemire steps it up, on and off the court (7) Oct 4, 2009
He spent part of it recovering from surgery to repair a detached retina he suffered in February. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. (Lake Wales News, FL)
Bicycle vs. car: The pain endures Oct 3, 2009
The doctor believes my head hitting the concrete so hard caused a detached retina in my right eye. This resulted in another surgery. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Retinal Rescue: Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reverse Retinal Degeneration Oct 3, 2009
2, 2009) A new study reports that transplanted pigment-containing visual cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) successfully preserved structure and function of the specialized light-sensitive lining of the eye (known as the retina) in an animal model of retinal degeneration ... The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a layer of pigmented cells sandwiched between the visual retinal cells, called photoreceptors, and the nourishing blood vessels at the back of the eye ... The RPE... (Science Daily)
Karlsson makes emotional return after eye trauma Oct 1, 2009
Karlsson began to experience problems with his vision in May and although the problem was quickly diagnosed as a stress-related blister on his left retina, he inevitably feared that it would prevent him from ever again playing at the top of his sport ... But his specialists assurances that the retina would repair itself have proved well-founded and he is relishing the prospect of defending his title here after returning to competitive action in last weeks match between continental Europe and... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Sports)
More Retinal Detachment Seen with Higher Income Status Oct 1, 2009
TUESDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Wealthy people are twice as likely to suffer retinal detachment as poorer people, according to Scottish researchers who said they couldn't identify the reason for the disparity. Retinal detachment -- the separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye -- usually occurs as a result of a tear in the retina ... If patients don't receive immediate treatment, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss. (MEDLINEplus)
New Treatments Hold Hope for Failing Eyes Sep 30, 2009
Age-related macular degeneration involves the breakdown of the macula, which is located in the retina and helps provide clear central vision. As the macula deteriorates, people see a blurred spot in the center of their vision that grows over time. (MEDLINEplus)
Microchip + video glasses = sight for blind? Sep 25, 2009
() -- A chip inside the eye that can help blind people see again is moving closer to reality as researchers at MIT work on a retinal implant that can bypass damaged cells and directly offer visual input to the brain ... Spence is looking to capture the world around him and a retinal implant like that from could actually help bring him closer to his quest ... In the October issue of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering journal, researchers have said they hope to attach the implant to the... (CNN -- Tech)
'Laser vision' offers new insights Sep 25, 2009
The images are sent directly onto the retina ... US firm Microvision has developed a system that projects lasers onto the retina, allowing users to view images on top of their normal field of vision ... The system uses tiny lasers, which scan their light onto the retina to produce the entire range of human vision, reported the journal of the Institute of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE Spectrum. (BBC News -- Technology)
ThromboGenics Completes Patient Enrolment in US Phase III Trial of Microplasmin for the Non-Surgical Treatment of Eye Disease Sep 24, 2009
Focal vitreomacular adhesion is a condition in which the vitreous gel, in the center of the eye, has an abnormally strong adhesion to the retina at the back of the eye ... This anatomical endpoint is being measured and recorded using optical coherence tomography (OCT) which provides images that can clearly show the separation of the vitreous from the retina ... Microplasmin is also being evaluated in Phase II clinical development for additional vitreoretinal indications. (PR Newswire)
Retinal Implant Could Help Restore Some Vision Sep 24, 2009
Stimulating Sight: Retinal Implant Could Help Restore Useful Level Of Vision To Certain Groups Of Blind People ... Stimulating Sight: Retinal Implant Could Help Restore Useful Level Of Vision To Certain Groups Of Blind People ... 24, 2009) Inspired by the success of cochlear implants that can restore hearing to some deaf people, researchers at MIT are working on a retinal implant that could one day help blind people regain a useful level of vision. (Science Daily)
Gene Variant Linked To Glaucoma Identified Sep 24, 2009
Known as "the silent thief of sight," glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of ganglion cells of the retina, resulting in gradual and irreversible loss of peripheral vision ... 18, 2008) Based on projected increases in the prevalence of diabetes, the number of people with diabetes-related retinal disease, with glaucoma and with cataracts is estimated to increase significantly by. (Science Daily)
A Chip For The Eye? Artificial Vision Enhancers Being Put To The Test Sep 22, 2009
21, 2009) Visually impaired or blind patients with degenerative retina conditions would be very happy if they were able to regain mobility, find their way around, be able to lead an independent life and to recognize faces and read again. These wishes were documented by a survey conducted by a research team ten years ago to find out what patients expectations of electronic retina prostheses (retina implants) were ... The symposium is being staged by the Retina Implant Foundation and the Pro... (Science Daily)
New device finds early signs of eye disease in preemies Sep 22, 2009
It occurs when babies are born prematurely and their retinal blood vessels don't develop fully ... That can pull the retina out of position, causing retinal detachments that can lead to visual loss and blindness ... "Examining the retina with these methods is like looking at the surface of the ocean and only seeing dimly into the shallow water," says Toth, a professor of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering. (EurekAlert!)
Out Of Darkness, Sight: Rare Cases Of Restored Vision Reveal How The Brain Learns To See Sep 19, 2009
Recent work to restore visual function during retinal degenerative diseases resulting in complete loss of photoreceptors that enable. (June 26, 2007) Researchers have demonstrated that gene therapy used to restore retinal activity to the blind also restores function to the brain's visual center, a critical component of ... 21, 2008) A new study shows that when patients with macular degeneration focus on using another part of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision, their... (Science Daily)
Seeking shade: Sunglasses crucial year-round for eye protection Sep 19, 2009
Too much time outdoors without adequate eye protection could penetrate the retina and lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or skin cancer around the eyelids, according to Prevent Blindness America, a national volunteer health and safety organization. Sunglasses should block ultraviolet radiation found in everyday sunlight. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Light Controls Genetically Encoded Mouse Cells Sep 19, 2009
11, 2006) This study raises the intriguing possibility that visual function might be restored by conveying light-sensitive properties to other surviving cells in the retina after the rods and cones have died ... The center of the retina has more of the light-sensitive cells ... At least three types of cells in the retina allow us to see images or distinguish between night and day. (Science Daily)
Saving Face: Marina Spies on Her Husband's Trampy Girlfriend Sep 19, 2009
Is there some Darwinian reason the laundry basket full of clean clothes waiting to be carried upstairs fails to register upon the male retina. Cole leaps over it, like a pirate, and chases the kids up to their rooms. (Slate)
Golf Tidbits: Karlsson Eyeing Return To Action Sep 18, 2009
The Swede has had trouble with his vision due to a water blister behind his retina. The ailment, first thought to be an ear infection, was diagnosed in June and was supposed to take between four-to-six months to heal. (ABC 7 News, DC)
