Retina

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and AMD

A study of over 38,000 women who participated in the recently completed Women’s Health Study indicates that regular consumption of fish is associated with a decreased risk of AMD.  These women did not have AMD at the beginning of the 10 year study and there were 235 cases of confirmed AMD at the end of the study.  Results showed that “regular consumption of DHA and EPA and fish was associated with a 35% to 45% lower risk of visually significant AMD.”  A higher intake of omega 3 fatty acids is significant in the primary preve

FDA Approves Study Using Embryonic Stem Cells For Dry AMD

The FDA approved Advanced Cell Technology’s (ACT) clinical trial to test human embryonic stem cells for treating dry macular degeneration.  ACT makes retinal pigment epithelial cells from human embryonic stem cells and is starting to recruit patients for this study.  Court battles continue over the use of federal funds for stem cell research and funding gets frozen and unfrozen while the government  appeals. 

 

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FDA Approves Stem Cell Trial in Eyes

A private company has just received FDA approval for a Phase 1/11 trial (second trial) involving implanting embryonic stem cells into the eye to replace damaged retinal pigment epithelium cells.  The 12 patients in the trial suffer from Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, a childhood version of macular degeneration.  The technique does not require destruction of the embryo.  “What this approval shows is that the readiness of the FDA to work with researchers to move exciting new stem cell based therapies out of the lab and into the clinic.”

AMD Risk

A key factor in preventing age related macular degeneration is the awareness of modifiable risk factors. Smoking and an unbalanced diet are major, modifiable risk factors.  The good news is that studies show that “past smokers have a risk of developing AMD that is closer to that of nonsmokers.  This is a good incentive for people to stop smoking,” said Dr. Tien Wong, director of the Singapore Eye Research Institute. He recommends a diet high in fiber with a good balance of vegetables and fish and an avoidance of fatty food and red meats.

NEJM Reports on Lucentis Effectiveness

The New England Journal of Medicine Communications blog recently reported on the effectiveness of ranibizumab (Lucentis) for AMD.  “Only 4% of patients treated with 0.5 mg of ranibizumab and 5% of those treated with 0.3 mg lost 15 letters of vision at 1 year, as compared with 36% of patients treated with laser-activated verteporfin.” Of those that were treated with the ranibizumab, 36-40% gained 15 letters of vision, as compared with only 6% in the verteporfin group.

Retinal Implant for Retinitis Pigmentosa Shows Promise

Scientists at the University of Tübingen in Germany have developed an eye implant that has had success in restoring some vision in patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that can result in blindness and affects about 1 in 4,000 people worldwide. While the findings are the result of a small study, they are particularly important as a "proof of concept" that demonstrates that the optic nerves can be "...re-awakened for them to be able to see again", according to Robert Maclaren, professor of Ophthalmology at Britain's Oxford University.

Fenretinide Slows Progression of AMD

Fenretinide, a retinol inhibitor, slowed progression of dry AMD and prevented the development of choroidal neovascularization in a phase 2 study of geographic atrophy.  Jason Slakter, MD, reported these results at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, October, 2010.  Fenretinide halts the accumulation of a toxic byproduct of Vitamin A in the photoreceptors of the retina.  It also inhibits proteins that cause increased vessel growth, leading to bleeding in the retina.  A phase 3 trial will begin in 2011.

Laser Photocoagulation

Submitted by Vishnu on Tue, 2010-09-07 16:00

Laser photocoagulation is a treatment most often used for diabetic retinopathy that uses a laser to seal leaking blood vessels. During later stages of diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels grow in response to damage within the retina. These new capillaries are weak and will often break, leak, or burst. When this happens, sudden and severe vision loss can occur.

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Reference to Disease: 
Diabetic Retinopathy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Submitted by Vishnu on Tue, 2010-09-07 15:55

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment used to destroy broken or newly forming abnormal blood vessels associated with wet AMD. It uses a drug called verteporfin that is activated by a bright laser light. Verteporfin is injected into the arm and travels throughout the body. It tends to stick to and accumulate in new blood vessels. After enough time has elapsed to allow the drug to travel to the vessels of the eye, a laser light is shined directly into it. The intense light from the laser activates the drug, which destroys the abnormal blood vessels without harming the surrounding tissue.

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Reference to Disease: 
AMD- Wet

Accessability Becoming Standard Fare For Many Electronics

Technological advances in electronic devices, such as the iPad and iPhone 4, both from Apple, are increasingly targeted towards visually impaired people. Both devices have a zoom feature, a white on black option, and a screen reading feature that are easily controlled with your fingers by touching the screen. They also have special features for those with hearing impairments. Most computers also come with special features for visually impaired people, and the Apple Computer models are particularly comprehensive and easy to use.

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