Summary of Research and Developments in Macular Degeneration: 2009-2010

by Dan Roberts June 10, 2010 Introduction If I were to describe the past twelve months in a word, it would be “progress.” No spectacular breakthroughs have occurred during that time to make big news in the AMD world, but a lot of persistent work has been reaping promising results. moving us ever closer to [Read More]

Summary of Research and Developments in Macular Degeneration: 2007-2008

Compiled and edited by Dan Roberts JUNE 2007 Omega-3 Proving to be Beneficial on Several Fronts Recent studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids and fish consumption may reduce the risks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation and depression. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group showed that dietary total Omega-3 and [Read More]

Gene Therapy Breakthrough

by Dan Roberts April 28, 2008 According to two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine*, doctors have, for the first time, used gene replacement therapy to restore vision in patients with Leber’s congenital amaurosis. Leber’s syndrome is a form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) that affects children and often leads to blindness by [Read More]

Gene Therapy Studies Successful in Slowing Neovascularization

by Dan Roberts January 2002 (Updated February 2006) Researchers at Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute have been able to successfully slow blood vessel growth in laboratory mice in two different experiments involving injection of genes, and human trials have begun. In one study (Mori, K., et al., “Inhibition of Choroidal Neovascularization by Intravenous Injection of [Read More]

Gene Therapy Successful in Halting CNV

by Dan Roberts Researchers have been able to halt (at least temporarily) choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with gene replacement therapy. This was done by single injections into the eyeballs of patients during a phase I clinical trial. Here is more detail, as reported on January 17, 2006 by Genetic Engineering News (www.genengnews.com): Clinical Trial on Gene [Read More]