Feature Channels: Vision

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As NASA prepares for its journey to Mars, one UAB researcher is investigating why so many astronauts suffer from poorer vision after they return to Earth.

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Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have identified the genetic underpinnings of a rare disorder that causes children to be born with deafness, blindness, albinism and fragile bones.

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Scientists at the Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology at the Kresge Eye Institute have shown that the Zika virus can replicate in the eye’s retinal cells, causing severe tissue damage and even blindness. The research is supported in part by Research to Prevent Blindness.

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By the time current screening recommendations kicked in, 18% of youth with type 1 diabetes already had diabetic retinopathy, according to a study led by University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.

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Ms. Jones brings more than two decades of fundraising experience to JTC.

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Scientific research builds its own momentum as one discovery triggers another, building an ongoing wave of unexpected possibilities. In the world of glaucoma, such a surge began when advances in stem cell research opened doors experts had never imagined.

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The Shaffer Prize is awarded annually by Glaucoma Research Foundation to recognize a researcher whose project best exemplifies the pursuit of innovative ideas in the quest to cure glaucoma.

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The Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala at San Francisco’s historic Palace Hotel honored leaders in glaucoma research innovation and visionary volunteers helping to raise awareness.

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Researchers show that GARP2 accelerates retinal degeneration in mice, and they have also made an important step toward creating a standardized OTC nomenclature between mice and humans for a measurement of retinal degeneration.

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Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, and colleagues at the John A. Moran Center and Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, were looking for a way to tease apart the effects of preeclampsia on the risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease found in premature infants. Their results, and the model they developed, were published February 14, 2017, in Scientific Reports.

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Pinkeye isn’t a medical emergency. Neither is a puffy eyelid. But a new study finds that nearly one in four people who seek emergency care for eye problems have those mild conditions, and recommends ways to help those patients get the right level of care.

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George Wanna, MD, an internationally renowned hearing and balance surgeon and researcher, has been named the Site Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

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Symptoms of dry eye syndrome -- dry, red, itchy, gritty, sore eyes -- are more common among contact lens wearers. But relief may be on the horizon, thanks to a group of Stanford University researchers and their work exploring the mechanical interactions between the eye surface, the cornea and contact lenses. Ultimately, the group’s goal is to create better contact lenses that maximize comfort and alleviate dry eye symptoms, and their work will be presented at the Society of Rheology meeting being held Feb. 12-16, in Tampa, Florida.

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Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a cell in the retina that may cause myopia when it dysfunctions. The dysfunction may be linked to the amount of time a child spends indoors and away from natural light.

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An international team of researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, University College London and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA have developed a cell culture model that could help to develop earlier treatment strategies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

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A new therapeutic agent tested in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) produced anti-inflammatory activity and prevented loss of cells in the optic nerve, according to a new study by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Noveome Biotherapeutics.

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Carl D. Regillo, MD Chief of the Wills Eye Hospital Retina Service discusses what patients need to know about Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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The University of Chicago Medicine has been awarded a $2.4 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a system of wireless brain implants that might restore partial vision to people who have lost their sight.

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During Low Vision Awareness Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is highlighting new technologies and tools in the works to help the 4.1 million Americans living with low vision or blindness. The innovations aim to help people with vision loss more easily accomplish daily tasks, from navigating office buildings to crossing a street.

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In photographs of the eye used to screen for diabetes-related eye disease, separating out the red color channel can help show some abnormalities—especially in racial/ethnic minority patients, suggests a study in the February issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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Researchers from the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have shown that a slight increase in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), which is present in preclinical animal models with diabetic eye disease, protects retinal blood vessels from damage that commonly occurs in the early stages of the disease (known as diabetic retinopathy). Their findings, published in the American Journal of Pathology, may lead to targeted therapeutics that delay or prevent the development of the disease in patients.

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Christine Curcio, Ph.D., led an international team of researchers that developed a culture system for age-related macular degeneration, the third most prevalent cause of vision loss worldwide.

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Researchers from Florida Atlantic University are collaborating with scientists from Sancilio and Company, Inc. to begin a new research project aimed at finding a treatment for patients afflicted by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP is an inherited disease that causes severe progressive vision impairment and blindness.

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A new study in rats shows that stem cell secretions, called exosomes, appear to protect cells in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. The findings, published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, point to potential therapies for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

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Quick digital surveys before eye health appointments could help clinicians target care and improve record keeping, a Michigan Medicine study finds.

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Johns Hopkins researchers report that a new peptide holds promise for improving treatment for degenerative retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. These vascular diseases often result in central vision loss as blood vessels grow into tissues at the back of the eye, where such growth should not occur.

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University of Utah engineers have created “smart glasses” with liquid-based lenses that can automatically adjust the focus on what a person is seeing, whether it is far away or close up.

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In partnership with the Bay State Council of the Blind, Massachusetts Eye and Ear today announced the launch of a comprehensive initiative to ensure that persons with visual disabilities have full and equal opportunity to the best possible care.

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The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute will provide free eye screenings for Baltimore seniors as part of its Screening to Prevent Glaucoma (SToP Glaucoma) program. It will be held during an event at the Mary Harvin Senior Center on Thursday, Jan. 26. The free screening events is aimed at eliminating some of the barriers to accessing healthcare faced by Baltimore residents

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A University of Cincinnati study reported that patients who sustained a concussion, followed by symptoms of visual dysfunction, experienced delayed central and peripheral vision reaction times.

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If your eyes feel like the Sahara desert or your vision seems blurrier than usual, don’t panic. It may just be seasonal dry eye.

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Vision deterioration in astronauts who spend a long time in space is likely due to the lack of a day-night cycle in intracranial pressure. But using a vacuum device to lower pressure for part of each day might prevent the problem, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers said.

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One way to reduce vision loss from glaucoma is to make sure your family members understand that they are at increased risk - if you have glaucoma.

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Massachusetts Eye and Ear has launched a health blog to provide stories and insight from experts in otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat, head and neck care) and ophthalmology (eye care) to those interested in the hospital’s mission and areas of expertise. The online publication, named Focus, covers a range of topics in the form of expert commentary on common conditions, profiles of medical and research trainees, research findings and patient stories.

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January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. The National Eye Institute, part of NIH, is highlighting key facts about this blinding disease, important tips for prevention and treatment, and research updates you may not know about.

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UNC scientists found more clues about the evolving brains of baby mammals as eyesight comes online. Using an imaging system to get neuron-level resolution, they showed how one specific brain circuit in mice came online immediately after birth, but another needed visual stimuli in order to mature.

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Institute Will Pursue Cutting-Edge Research to Find Treatments and Cures

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Vision problems are a common and sometimes lasting consequence of head injuries—from children and teens with sports-related concussions to military personnel with combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). New research and perspectives on TBI and vision are presented in the January feature issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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A UAB study shows that evaluation from a vision specialist should be included in return-to-learn concussion protocols.

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University of Virginia Health System researchers have developed a potential therapeutic treatment for dry eye, with human testing to start in March. The drug differs from other treatments of dry eye in that it aims to treat the cause of dry eye instead of masking the symptoms. About the drug The drug, Lacripep (TM), is a topical eye drop that functions differently from conventional  approaches.

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Researchers from Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have uncovered two factors responsible for the chronic, lifelong nature of autoimmune disorders, which tend to “flare up” intermittently in affected patients. These two factors are cell-signaling proteins called cytokines—specifically Interleukin-7 and -15 (IL-7 and IL-15)—that are secreted by cells of the immune system and help modulate memory Th17 cells, a subset of T cells which are known to contribute to autoimmune disorders. Until now, it was unclear how Th17 cells maintained memory; the study results show that IL-7 and IL-15 signal the Th17 cells to chronically reside in the body.

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January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month -- Learn about this sight-stealing eye disease and how to spread the word and help speed the cure.

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Simultaneous Bilateral Cataract Surgery (SBCS) lets patients have cataract surgery on both eyes, on the same day. But this procedure sparks debate in the professional community. While frequently performed in Europe, it is still a rarity in the U.S.—and MedStar Washington Hospital Center ophthalmologists Jay Lustbader, MD, and Mark Gonzalez, MD, say the lack of popularity of the procedure in this country is well-deserved.

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Jonathan Lass, MD, has been awarded the Castroviejo Medal, the Cornea Society's highest honor. Dr. Lass, an ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Eye Institute at UH Cleveland Medical Center and Charles I Thomas Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine received the award in recognition of his lifetime contributions to research and advancements in corneal transplant and surgery.

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The Catalyst Award, Glaucoma Research Foundation’s highest honor, will be presented to Eugene de Juan, Jr., MD, Founder and Vice-Chairman of ForSight Labs and the Jean Kelly Stock Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California San Francisco, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing ophthalmology.

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This unique three-day event dedicated to highlighting innovation in glaucoma kicks off with a fundraising Gala, followed by the New Horizons Forum and educational symposia for Clinicians.

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Vision scientists may have discovered how to reduce pedestrian collisions in crowded and chaotic open space environments like bus terminals, shopping malls and city plazas involving individuals with partial blindness. Researchers have determined from which direction collisions with partially blind pedestrians are most likely to originate. This understanding will guide the development of new glasses that expand the sight of a person with limited peripheral vision.

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Research finds that Zika-linked abnormalities that occur in human fetuses are more extensive and severe than previously thought, with 46 percent of 125 pregnancies among Zika-infected women resulting in birth defects in newborns or ending in fetal death.

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A new book by the world’s leading expert on vision restoration, Professor Bernhard A. Sabel, PhD, delivers information about how to better understand the impact of vision loss and new treatment options that could potentially help the more than 150 million people worldwide who suffer from partial blindness.

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A team of researchers at the Krembil Research Institute has published a paper that is expected to change the way scientists think about vision recovery after retinal cell transplantation.