The Genes Have It
Genetic research has revealed many things about eye diseases. Two studies in particular have revealed how gene variants in inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs), such as retinitis pigmentosa, lead to these diseases and how gene therapy can help preserve vision. Whole-Genome Sequences Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and at Shiley […]
Contacts—They’re Not Just for Adult Vision
There are a lot of benefits associated with contact lenses. Increased field of vision, less vision distortion and contacts don’t fog up when it is cold, rainy or while wearing a mask. For the most part, contacts are first recommended for teenagers. Children as young as 7 can wear and care for contacts and here […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cutting the Fat & Turning Back the Clock
During the coronavirus lockdown, many people used this time to exercise more. As a result, their clothes aren’t as tight and they felt better. The bad thing about the lockdown is that it led to a lot of shortages, like toilet paper. Too bad we can’t turn back the clock to February 2020 and stock […]
Research
Thanks to biomedical research, our understanding of the human body is evolving and this has led to treatments that improve health outcomes. This includes vision research and as a result, more is being learned about what leads to amblyopia and a possible treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Amblyopia Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, […]
Good for One, Bad for Another
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a protein that our bodies produce to promote the growth of new blood vessels. This is a good thing since more blood vessels mean more oxygen goes to the tissues. The lungs have VEGF because blood flow is so important. Of course, what’s good for one organ isn’t good […]
On/Off Switches Part Two
In On/Off Switches Part One I wrote about research done at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) that discovered a compound that controls the growth of blood vessels. This can be utilized for conditions ranging from diabetic retinopathy to cancer. They aren’t the only ones doing this type of research. Scientists at Johns Hopkins have […]