Genetics & Their Effects on Eye Disease Part One
When it comes to many diseases, particularly eye diseases, genetics plays a role in the how and when a specific disease develops. Of course, it isn’t as simple as having X gene and getting Y disease. Lifestyle factors can influence certain genes. Also, the presence of modifier genes—genes that are slightly different, such as a […]
Targeting and Repairing Genes: Breakthroughs in Treating Eye Diseases
Many times, the purpose of vision research is to identify genes that cause diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and Leber Congenital Amaurosis, and then either stop the gene from causing damage or fix the troublesome gene entirely. Two research projects are focused on just that and the results are promising. Scientists from the lab […]
Bionic Vision: Sci-Fi to Reality
Science fiction provides some good examples of bionic vision. The main character in the 1970s television show, The Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin, had a bionic eye implanted, along with bionic limbs, after he was involved in a horrific crash of a test plane. This bionic eye had a zoom lens and could do […]
Lab Grown Organoids
For over 50 years, organ transplants has helped people with various diseases get a new lease on life. While retinas can be transplanted, the eye itself can’t be transplanted. That means that persons with retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and certain kinds of eye injuries have to deal with compromised vision or eventually blindness. Of […]
Night Vision Tests and AI Part One
The two forms of age-related macular degeneration progress at different rates. The wet form of the disease progresses faster than the dry form. Still regardless of the type, once someone is diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, that person can expect a decline in vision to take place gradually over the course of five years. In […]
Detecting & Fixing Eye Diseases
In eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and Leber congenital amaurosis, things are going on in the cellular level that occur before anything is detected by way of a test or observation. It would be great if these changes could be detected sooner and if there was a way to stop the deterioration […]
Stem Cells, Protein & The Ways Research Are Learning More About Them
As always, research shines a light on the eye and vision. Case in point, wouldn’t it be nice if people experiencing vision diseases, like a retinal disorder or age-related macular degeneration could receive treatments that were derived from either stem-cells or from a specific protein and vision would improve. Well, we will spotlight stem-cell based […]
The (Donor) Eyes Have It
Most people know that donor organs save lives. What many don’t realize is that donating organs can help with bio-medical research. Two research projects, one was conducted at the National Eye Institute (NEI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health and another at John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah […]
Good News About Supplements and Macular Degeneration
Many agree that taking supplements can benefit your health. Now you can add slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration to the list of supplement benefits. First reported in 2001, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that persons who were at high risk of developing advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration lower their risk […]
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 […]