People who have progressed to central vision loss from any one of a number of retinal dystrophies have probably noticed a tiny spot of healthier sight in the very center of the macula (the fovea). Over time, the fovea becomes surrounded by a growing band of blindness, first appearing as individual spots, then coalescing to [Read More]
Category: Research and Developments
Stem Cell Treatment for Dry AMD Fast-tracked by FDA
It was reported here in March 2017 that BioTime, Inc. is conducting a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for OpRegen® for treatment of dry AMD. OpRegen is a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) stem cell transplant therapy currently in development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with geographic atrophy (GA). RPE cells are essential [Read More]
Correcting Misconceptions About AMD
(Updated 7/29/19) Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease of the retina wherein the light-sensing cells in the central area of vision (the macula) stop working and eventually die. The disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and it is most common in people who are age [Read More]
Summary of Research and Developments-2019
This is our 14th annual summary presented to the International Low Vision Support Group about leading research and developments during the past 12 months in the fields of blindness and low vision. Most activity has been in the fields of anti-VEGF treatment and gene replacement therapy. We have also seen promising work with stem cell [Read More]
Why Do More Women Than Men Have AMD?
Nearly every reliable resource on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will reveal that more women than men are affected by the disease. Some even go so far as to offer questionable statistics like “About 2/3 of people with AMD are women and 1/3 men”.(1) To explain, writers offer that women live longer than men, or that [Read More]