Stopping Degeneration in its Tracks Part Two
GARP2 and GARP1 aren’t the only things that can negatively affect vision. Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) can lead to too many blood vessels in the eye, also known as neovascularization. This leads to vision loss in persons with diabetic retinopathy and plays a role in age-related macular degeneration. Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs […]
Stopping Degeneration in its Tracks Part One
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of rare genetic disorders that leads to the loss of retina cells. Symptoms include difficulty seeing at night or in low light conditions and the loss of peripheral vision. Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that blurs the central vision that you need for reading and driving. Both disorders are […]
Treatment Options for Age Related Macular Degeneration
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in persons over the age of 50. If the person has the “wet” variety, treatments include anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs that are injected into the eye and laser treatments. The trouble comes when a person has AMD that is resistant to […]
Technology & The Eye
Technology has changed our lives in so many ways. If there wasn’t an Internet, would we be able to do FaceTime, Skype or Zoom calls with co-workers or loved ones during the pandemic? In addition, advances in imaging technology and biometrics has helped in the diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions. Technology is also […]
Eye Drops to the Rescue
Eye drops are great. They help lubricate dry eye. They get rid of red eye. They can also be used to treat a condition like diabetic edema, macular degeneration and may prevent vision loss after retinal vein occlusion. Two studies, one done at the University of New South Wales in Australia and another at Columbia […]
Preventing Vision Loss
The causes behind vision loss from conditions such a macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are complex and are not just one thing but a cascade of cellular and genetic actions that lead to blindness for millions of people. What if there was a way to stop the negative cascade from happening and preserve vision? Thanks […]
Contact Lenses That Deliver Medication
Aren’t contact lenses great? They sit right on the eye and give the wearer more natural vision than glasses. They also don’t fog up in rainy damp weather and don’t get in the way when a person plays sports. Recently, scientists developed a way for contacts to deliver medicine to the eye. This is very […]
Gene Therapy for Leber Congenital Amaurosis
Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is a genetic eye disease that affects the retina. It is caused by a mutation in 14 genes that have a role in the development of the retina. Visual impairment starts in infancy and for the most part remains stable, though it can get worse over time. Those with LCA experience […]
Diabetes, Dementia, Vision and Artificial Intelligence
Diabetes, even when managed properly, comes with its share of challenges, such as vision problems and possibly dementia. Yes, you read correctly, dementia. Of course, research is looking into ways to detect both via the eyes. Dementia It has been shown that people with diabetes are more likely to develop dementia. Scientists at the Joslin […]
Optometry and Ophthalmology Working Together, Not Separately
There was a time when optometrists and ophthalmologists did not work together. If you talk to older optometrists and ophthalmologists, you will learn that they considered each other rivals. Now many optometrists and ophthalmologists work together, either in a co-management capacity or within the same practice. One reason for this is the growth of refractive […]