blindness

New approaches make retinal detachment highly treatable

harminka — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:29:03 -0600

Retinal detachment, a condition that afflicts about 10,000 Americans each year, puts an individual at risk for vision loss or blindness. In a new study in today's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading ophthalmologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center writes, however, that a high probability of reattachment and visual improvement is possible by using one of three currently available surgical techniques.

New research provides insight into intriguing disorder

harminka — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:58:27 -0600

For the first time, scientists have been able to map the disruption in neural circuitry of people suffering from congenital prosopagnosia, sometimes known as face blindness, and have been able to offer a biological explanation for this intriguing disorder.

Optic Nerve Damage in Glaucoma Patients May Indicate Carotid Artery Narrowing

harminka — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:51:58 -0600

Glaucoma is often associated with elevated pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure, or IOP) which can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and even blindness. Medication and/or surgery allow patients to control their IOP, thus preventing the development of vision loss.

Key mechanism regulating neural stem cell development is uncovered

harminka — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:09:53 -0500

A research team at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), discovered a novel mechanism that regulates how neural stem cells of the retina generate the appropriate cell type at the right time during normal development.

Genetic finding implicates innate immune system in major cause of blindness

harminka — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:49:04 -0500

The research, published online today in the Lancet, adds to the growing understanding of the genetics of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which the researchers believe should ultimately lead to novel treatments for the disease.

Researchers create first model for retina receptors

harminka — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:54:10 -0500

A team of scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has created the first genetic research model for a microscopic part of the eye that when missing causes blindness. The research appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Genes that cause blindness produced by corneal oedema

harminka — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:02:19 -0500

Scientists of the University of Granada (Spain) and the San Cecilio Teaching Hospital (Granada) have determined for the first time the causes for the blindness produced by corneal oedema and have identified the genes which cause it.

Gene therapy for blindness improves vision

harminka — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:06:45 -0500

All three people who received gene therapy at the University of Florida to treat a rare, incurable form of blindness have regained some of their vision, according to a paper published online today in Human Gene Therapy.

Outdoor Activity and Nearsightedness in Children

harminka — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:55:57 -0500

A growing number of the world's children are mildly to severely nearsighted (myopic), with rates especially high among urbanized East Asians. In addition to coping with poor distance vision, children with severe myopia are more prone to visual impairment and later in life

Hyperactive immune resistance brings blindness in old age

harminka — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:19:26 -0500

Age-dependent macular degeneration (AMD) is the commonest cause of blindness in the western industrialised nations. Hereditary changes in the regulation of the immune system influence the risk of contracting AMD.

Inflammatory disease causes blindness

harminka — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:24:29 -0500

People suffering from a type of connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation of arteries in the head are three times more likely to experience blindness, new Geisinger research shows.

Lions Clubs Conduct Glaucoma Screening and Educational Event

DevelopAll — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:06:58 -0500

BiCOM Inc. in conjunction with The Lions Clubs of Staten Island held an educational/screening event to detect and prevent glaucoma using hand held tonometer Diaton which screens through the eyelid without use of anesthetic drops. The event was very successful, and the Lions Club members learned how to further their attempts to educate and screen the public in order to prevent blindness. Lions Club members are planning to add painless Diaton tonometry to their health screening events.