By Linda Kaspari Updated, March 2006 Cigarette smoking reduces levels of plasma antioxidant, a substance in the blood stream, which protects retinal cells. Smoking causes the protective layer between the retina and blood vessels to erode, resulting in poor circulation, irritation and scarring. Smoking is damaging to the blood supply. Smoking exposes the body to [Read More]
News
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]
Drusen Fragments May Lead to Wet AMD
by Dan Roberts February 2006 Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati (University of Kentucky HealthCare physician and Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences), has announced that his lab has identified fragments of two known components of drusen that may be the cause of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progressing to the [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]
SmartSight: Making the Most of Remaining Vision
Information for Patients from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Reprinted with permission) Is it difficult for you to read the newspaper, see price tags or set dials? Are you bothered by glare? If you answered “yes” to any of these, then SmartSight is for you. Making the most of the vision you have is smart. [Read More]