NIH-funded clinical trial marks first major advance in therapy in 40 years A clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis) is highly effective in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The trial, conducted by the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) compared Lucentis with a type of laser [Read More]
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Medicare Covers Annual Eye Exams for Diabetics
November is American Diabetes Month. To prevent diabetes-related vision loss, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends people with diabetes get a dilated eye exam each year. One in four Americans age 65 or older has diabetes, putting them at increased risk for vision loss and blindness. Fortunately, diabetes-related vision loss is largely preventable with [Read More]
RXI-109 May Reduce Retinal Scarring
New drug silences connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which plays a key role in tissue regeneration and repair. by Dan Roberts (Updated August 2018) One of the most serious causes of vision loss is development of scar tissue on, in, or under the retina. People can develop retinal scarring from severe myopia, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, [Read More]
Retinitis Pigmentosa
by David Twigg (freelance writer, Sheffield, England) (Reprinted here with permission from https://www.edel-optics.co.uk/Retinitis-Pigmentosa.html) Retinitis Pigmentosa covers a group of eye conditions affecting the retina, leading to sight problems and loss of vision. It is one of the conditions falling under the heading of Rod-Cone Dystrophy, genetic conditions in which the rod and cone cells in the eye deteriorate [Read More]
Diet, exercise, smoking habits, and genes interact to affect AMD risk
NIH-funded study points to converging factors that drive disease-related inflammation People with a genetic predisposition for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) significantly increased their odds of developing the blinding eye disorder if they had a history of heavy smoking and consistently did not exercise or eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to an observational study of [Read More]