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Ophthalmology news

Genetics

Scientists discover gene responsible for rare, inherited eye disease

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their colleagues have identified a gene responsible for some inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), which are a group of disorders that damage the eye's light-sensing ...

Ophthalmology

Case series offers insights on corneal epithelial ingrowth after small incision lenticule extraction surgery

Corneal epithelial ingrowth (EI) is a rare but significant complication following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery. Although this refractive procedure offers several advantages, such as a smaller incision ...

Immunology

Researchers discover new role of immune cells in eye health

The eye is an immune-privileged tissue because of the need to keep blood vessels away from the central pathway of light and to restrict entry of inflammatory cells that could cause damage. This has prompted questions about ...

Health

Your eyes could reveal the first signs of many diseases

Melissa, a 30-year-old educator, came to the emergency department with a sudden onset of double vision. She had not been in an accident or suffered any trauma and had never experienced this symptom before. However, she noted ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Laughter may be as effective as drops for dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic condition estimated to affect around 360 million individuals worldwide. Common symptoms include uncomfortable, red, scratchy or irritated eyes.

Genetics

Gene therapy found to be effective in hereditary blindness

Bothnia dystrophy is a form of hereditary blindness, prevalent in the region Västerbotten in Sweden. A new study at Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Communications shows that gene therapy can improve vision in patients ...

Genetics

100-fold improvement in sight seen after gene therapy trial

The vision of people with a rare inherited condition that causes them to lose much of their sight early in childhood was 100 times better after they received gene therapy to address the genetic mutation causing it. Some patients ...

Ophthalmology

Understanding Graves' disease

Graves' disease is a condition of the immune system that leads to an overactive thyroid. It is caused by antibodies attacking the thyroid by mistake. The thyroid and the hormones it produces are the gas pedal for the body. ...

Ophthalmology

A vitamin A analog may help treat diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness among the working-age population. A new study in the American Journal of Pathology reports that visual function in diabetic mice was ...

Ophthalmology

How exercise reduces cataract risk

Chinese and Australian researchers have combined studies of more than 170,000 people and found conclusive evidence that regular physical exercise reduces the risk of age-related cataracts, the cause of blindness in an estimated ...

Genetics

Restoring vision by gene therapy

Humans rely dominantly on their eyesight. Losing vision means inability to read, recognize faces or find objects. Macular degeneration is one of the major causes of visual impairment around the globe; close to 200 million ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Vision loss influences perception of sound

People with severe vision loss can less accurately judge the distance of nearby sounds, potentially putting them more at risk of injury, according to new research published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Your eyewear and COVID-19 safety

(HealthDay)—Coronavirus-related safety is crucial if you wear contact lenses, eyeglasses or safety glasses/goggles, experts say.

Ophthalmology

AI model predicts risk for age-related macular degeneration

(HealthDay)—A new artificial intelligence algorithm can predict risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published in the April issue of Translational Vision Science and Technology.

Diabetes

Inexpensive retinal diagnostics via smartphone

Retinal damage due to diabetes is now considered the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults. In low- and middle-income countries, an eye examination via smartphone could help to detect changes at an early stage. ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Co-occurring visual impairment, dementia heighten disability risk

(HealthDay)—Older adults with both dementia and self-reported visual impairment (VI) may be at higher risk for disability than adults with only one of these conditions, according to a study published online May 14 in JAMA ...

Genetics

New gene therapy for complete color blindness tested in patients

An initial trial in patients indicates that a new genetic treatment for complete color blindness, developed by research groups based in Tübingen and Munich is safe. Preliminary evidence for its efficacy has also been obtained.

Genetics

Researchers uncover genetic cause behind glaucoma

New research has identified a genetic mutation linked to a type of glaucoma, known as primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), which could open up new avenues for the early detection and treatment of the disease.