New light sensing molecule discovered in the fruit fly brain
Six biological pigments called rhodopsins play well-established roles in light-sensing in the fruit fly eye. Three of them also have light-independent roles in temperature sensation. New research shows that a seventh rhodopsin, Rh7, is expressed in the brain of fruit flies where it regulates the fly ’s day-night activity cycles. The study appears in Nature and was funded by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - May 10, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

Avastin as effective as Eylea for treating central retinal vein occlusion
Monthly eye injections of Avastin (bevacizumab) are as effective as the more expensive drug Eylea (aflibercept) for the treatment of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), according to a clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health. After six monthly injections, treatment with either drug improved visual acuity on average from 20/100 to  20/40. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - May 10, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

Systemic therapy outperforms intraocular implant for treating uveitis
Systemic therapy consisting of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants preserved vision of uveitis patients better – and had fewer adverse outcomes – than a long-lasting corticosteroid intraocular implant, according to a clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI). After seven years, visual acuity on average remained stable among participants on systemic therapy but declined by an average of si x letters (about one line on an eye chart) among participants who had the implant. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - May 7, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

Moving future regenerative therapies for blinding eye diseases to the clinic
A new report outlines steps to bringing future regenerative therapies for blinding diseases of the retina to patients. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. When stimulated, retinal neurons send visual information to the brain. Diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy can irreparably damage or destroy these neurons, which fail to regenerate on their  own.Language Undefined (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - April 30, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

Helping the retina regenerate
A new report gives recommendations for regenerating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), crucial neurons in the back of the eye that carry visual information to the brain. Authored by Monica Vetter, Ph.D., University of Utah, and Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D., University of Michigan, the report stems from a 2016 workshop sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI) Audacious Goals Initiative  (AGI). (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - March 30, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

NIH scientists deploy CRISPR to preserve photoreceptors in mice
Silencing a gene calledNrlin mice prevents the loss of cells from degenerative diseases of the retina, according to a new study. The findings could lead to novel therapies for preventing vision loss from human diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and was published online today in Nature Communications.     (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - March 14, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: balintfyj Source Type: news

Breast cancer drug dampens immune response, protecting light-sensing cells of the eye
The breast cancer drug tamoxifen appears to protect light-sensitive cells in the eye from degeneration, according to a new study in mice. The drug prevented immune cells from removing injured photoreceptors, the light-sensitive cells of the retina in the back of the eye. The study, recently reported in theJournal of Neuroscience, suggests tamoxifen might work for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), blinding diseases that lack good treatment options. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - March 13, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: balintfyj Source Type: news

NIH scientists identify disorder causing blindness, deafness, albinism and fragile bones
Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have identified the genetic underpinnings of a rare disorder that causes children to be born with deafness, blindness, albinism and fragile bones. The newly recognized syndrome, COMMAD, affects children who inherit two mutations of a gene – one from each parent – each of whom is deaf due to another rare, genetic disorder called Waardenburg syndrome 2A. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - February 28, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: demottke Source Type: news

Five innovations harness new technologies for people with visual impairment, blindness
DuringLow Vision Awareness Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is highlighting new technologies and tools in the works to help the 4.1 million Americans living with low vision or blindness. The innovations aim to help people with vision loss more easily accomplish daily tasks, from navigating office buildings to crossing a street. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - February 3, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: demottke Source Type: news

Stem cell secretions may protect against glaucoma
A new study in rats shows that stem cell secretions, called exosomes, appear to protect cells in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. The findings, published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, point to potential therapies for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of  Health.Language Undefined (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - January 26, 2017 Category: Opthalmology Authors: demottke Source Type: news

Reconnecting Eye to Brain
Michael Crair, Yale University, and Carol Mason, Columbia University, have co-authored a report published online today in the Journal of Neuroscience. “Reconnecting Eye to Brain” is a comprehensive assessment of what scientists know about optic nerve development, regeneration, and reconnection. The report was based on input gathered during the Oct. 16, 2015, panel discussion, titled “Reconnecting Neurons in the Visual System,” sponsored by the National Eye Institute Audacious Goals Initiative (AGI). The panel comprised two dozen leading experts on neural development and regeneration. Language Undefined (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 19, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: haysdc Source Type: news

Visual cortex plays role in plasticity of eye movement reflex
By peering into the eyes of mice and tracking their ocular movements, researchers made an unexpected discovery: the visual cortex – a region of the brain known to process sensory information – plays a key role in promoting the plasticity of innate, spontaneous eye movements. The study, published in Nature, was led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the University of California, San Francis co (UCSF) and funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health.Language Undefined (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 12, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: abiyub Source Type: news

U.S.-India joint effort targets genes and traits to improve glaucoma screening, prevention, and treatment
Researchers from the U.S. and India have begun a new collaborative project to identify genetic risk factors and traits related to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and India ’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the researchers’ goal is to help develop effective screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for glaucoma. (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - October 4, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: abiyub Source Type: news

U.S.-India joint effort targets genes and traits to improve glaucoma screening, prevention, and treatment
Researchers from the U.S. and India have begun a new collaborative project to identify genetic risk factors and traits related to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and India ’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the researchers’ goal is to help develop effective screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for glaucoma.Language English (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - September 29, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: abiyub Source Type: news

Statement by NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., on National Academies ’ report outlining public health strategies to promote and protect healthy vision for all Americans
Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) released“Making Eye Health A Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow.” The report culminates two years of in-depth analysis and discussion undertaken as a   consensus study onPublic Health Approaches to Reduce Vision Impairment and Promote Eye Health . (Source: News from NEI)
Source: News from NEI - September 15, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Authors: abiyub Source Type: news