Currently, patients who have had type 1 diabetes for 5 years are encouraged to have annual dilated retinal exams to look for possible progression to diabetic retinopathy (DR) or diabetic macular edema (DME). Both of these conditions can lead to severe vision loss and should be treated immediately. Now, a 30-year study* published in April
read more »

Genentech, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) 0.3 mg for the monthly treatment of all forms of diabetic retinopathy. The most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 and affects
read more »

Genentech, Inc. is testing a less-invasive method of delivery of their anti-VEGF drug Lucentis into the eyes of patients with wet AMD. Currently, anti-VEGF treatments require regular monthly or bi-monthly injections into the back of the eye, which can be taxing on patients’ time and stress level. The new method utilizes a timed release capsule
read more »

A common belief that blind people possess unusually heightened non-visual senses now may be more than just a belief. Credit: Bauer et al. PLOS ONE 2017 A new study led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers has found that the brains of those who are born blind make new connections in the absence of visual information.
read more »

Researchers have found no significant difference between patients implanted with capsules manufacturing the drug NT-503 and patients receiving anti-VEGF drug injections. As reported on this site in 2015, Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced a Phase 2 clinical study of NT-503 Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study planned
read more »

Commentary by Dan Roberts, Editor Living Well With Low Vision The low vision community has been shaken this past week by news of three patients whose vision was damaged by stem cell treatment at a Florida clinic in 2015. There is good reason for concern, but not about the future of stem cell therapy for
read more »

BioTime, Inc. is expanding its ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial for OpRegen® for treatment of dry AMD. by naming the first two sites that will treat patients in the U.S. Adi Mohanty, Co-Chief Executive Officer of BioTime, said, “We are honored to be working with two of the leading U.S. clinicians in ophthalmology, Dr. David
read more »

A new study, published in the March 8 edition of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, has concluded that low-vision patients who improve in their daily living activities through at-home training with an occupational therapist (OT) have less severe symptoms of depression than similar patients who did not receive such training. Using outcomes from a recently
read more »

by Dan Roberts We announced here in December 2016 that Fovista, Ophthotech’s once-promising experimental drug for treatment of wet macular degeneration, failed to show positive results in Phase 3 trials, resulting in a discontinuance of the research. Now, Ohr Pharmaceuticals has announced temporary suspension of a clinical study for its drug candidate, Squalamine, an eye
read more »

Acucela has announced that the first patient has enrolled in a study to evaluate emixustat hydrochloride (“emixustat”) in subjects with Stargardt disease. Approximately 30 subjects will be enrolled at 4 to 6 clinical sites in the United States, with subjects taking oral doses of the drug once daily in the evening for one month. Emixustat
read more »