Hello, and welcome to our "blog", bringing you all the latest news and gossip from the world of optics. Updated every week, you can be sure of receiving the most up-to-date information possible.
14/04/08
Cataract research
Research work in Ireland using nanotechnology could lead to an alternative treatment to the surgical removal of cataracts. Recent advances in nanotechnology could help uncover the changes in the proteins within the lens that lead to cataract formation. The emphasis used to be on surgical removal but now the aim is to see if cataract formation could be reversed. This ground-breaking work is being carried out at the University of Ulster, which involves tagging the proteins in their natural arrangements to identify early structural changes that precede cataract formation. The work is being done in collaboration with a team from the University of Texas.
Myopia Link in Summer Births
Recent research findings have shown that babies born in summer months have a greater chance of severe myopia ( short-sightedness ) than those born in the autumn or winter months. The study suggested that light exposure before and just after birth generated biological signals that influenced the development of the eye's ability to focus and refract light properly.
Corneal Transplants
Older corneas seem to transplant just as well as younger ones according to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. When patients were transplanted with both young and old corneas, both groups survived equally well after five years.
21/4/08
Chronic Eye Conditions are a Worldwide Issue At the Second World Conference on Optometric Globalization held last week in London, the message was that a global effort is needed to combat the challenges posed by an ongoing worldwide population, and chronic disease in developing countries without the economic resource to provide eye care. Those in the developing countries are ageing much faster than those in developed countries, and so are getting eye disease much earlier.
28/4/08
Sight is the Most Feared Sense to Lose
A survey commissioned by the RNIB has shown that sight is the sense that nine out of ten people fear losing most. Furthermore, there was an alarming lack of knowledge among the 1009 adults questioned as to the leading cause of blindness in the UK. Only 16 per cent of respondents correctly identified it as age-related macular degeneration. Sight loss increases with age and the UK has an ageing population. The number of people losing their sight is set to double in the next few decades if intervention does not happen soon.
Diabetic Retinopathy and Heart Failure
A report in the journal of the American College of Cardiology has shown that diabetic retinopathy ( the changes you can get at the back of the eye from diabetes ) could be a risk factor for heart failure. The study showed that people with retinopathy had a two and half times higher risk of developing heart failure then those without retinopathy.
Children should have eyes tested before starting school
A study in Northern Ireland has shown that many primary school children had uncorrected astigmatism. Twenty-four per cent of the children had significant levels of astigmatism, and one in five of these 6-7 year olds had never worn spectacles. It was recommended that all children have a full sight test by an optometrist before starting school.
5/5/08
Elderly Drivers Might Need Compulsory Regular Eye Tests
Ministers are to review the law governing medical fitness of drivers, and are considering whether to make regular eye examinations compulsory for drivers over 75 years of age. Ministers have ruled out having a maximum age beyond which you cannot drive, relying instead on regular compulsory eye tests to ensure that elderly people are safe to drive. The Department of Transport is aiming to strike a balance between improving road safety and allowing independent mobility. A decision will be made later this year.
Gene therapy could help treat blindness
Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital have announced results from the world's first clinical trial of a revolutionary gene therapy treatment for a type of inherited blindness. The results show that the treatment can improve vision and caused no side effects. The trial was carried out on three patients suffering from Leber's congenital amaurosis, caused by an abnormality in gene RPE65. The treatment involves inserting healthy copies of the missing RPE65 gene into the cells of the retina to help them function normally. The healthy genes are delivered to the retina using a harmless virus called a "vector". One of the patients benefitted by having significantly improved night vision. The trial paves the way for the development in gene therapy approaches for a broad range of eye disorders.
12/5/08
Cataracts and Caffeine
A study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine suggests that caffeine may be effective at reducing UVB radiation damage to the eye's crystalline lens that can result in cataract formation. This may be due to the alkaloids contained in tea and coffee. In their study they found that when caffeine was present, part of the biochemical cascade that occurs in cataract formation was found to be significantly inhibited. So, a cuppa a day helps keep the cataracts at bay!
30/5/08 Macugen
A Study from the University of Pittsburgh has shown that the drug macugen can maintain or even improve vision in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
6/6/08
Mobile phone for the Blind
A new mobile phone has been developed for the blind, with a design that removes the need for a screen. It was created by designer Ben Scott-Robinson, who realised there was a lack of affordable handsets for the blind. His Blind Phone won top prize at the Mobile User Experience Awards in London recently.
14/6/08
Omega-3 could be good for your eyes
It has recently been shown that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish and flax, can help in reducing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in later life. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that omega-3 may reduce the risk of AMD by a third. However, more clinical trials are needed before the routine consumption of omega-3 for AMD prevention can be advocated, but it certainly looks as though eating fish about twice a week or taking cod liver oil supplements regularly could be beneficial.
21/6/08
Effects of UV radiation on the eye
The European Sunglass Association (ESA) is looking into the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the eye and then presenting its findings to Brussels in order to try and secure European Union research funding. The idea is to convince European nations to spend money on promoting sunglass use to prolong eye health. At a meeting in Treviso recently, it was stated that it was important to realise that the sunglass industry was dealing with people's eyes and not just fashion.
1/7/08
Diabetic screening
The prevalence of diabetes is expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years, with diabetic retinopathy (the changes found at the back of the eye caused by diabetes) affecting one in three diabetics. Various projects are being undertaken to investigate ways of improving screening for diabetic retinopathy, including the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for assessing diabetic macular oedema. The OCT scans the back of the eye and shows the layers of the retina as a "slice" in cross section, similar to looking at the different layers of a rock face. This makes it easier to see the areas of leakage or damage, and to pin-point the exact depth and location. Another project is looking into the possibility of using colour vision testing to help identify patients at risk of diabetic retinopathy.
7/7/08
Public ignorant of UV damage
Although people are becoming more aware about sun damage to the skin, a new survey has revealed that only 7% of the UK population are aware of how ultraviolet radiation can damage the eyes. The survey also found that 88% of people rate vision as their most valued sense, way above hearing, touch, taste and smell. Furthermore, 8 out of 10 people consider the eyes to be the first part of the body they notice when they meet someone. However, 1 in 4 respondents said they had never had an eye test, and more than half who wore spectacles or contact lenses admitted to avoiding eye examinations - having less than one test every two years.
19/7/08
Russan Ravers Lose Sight Dozens of people enjoying a rave near Moscow have suffered partial loss of sight due to the laser light show burning their retinas. The city's eye clinic confirmed 12 cases of blindness caused by the laser, and another 17 were registered at the central hospital. The unfortunate ravers had all attended an open-air festival on 5th July, but due to heavy rain the event's organisers decided to erect tents to host the all-night dance, so the lasers that would normally have been pointing into the sky, were instead confined within the tent, and refracted into the eyes of the ravers. People began seeking medical help a few days after the event, complaining about vision problems. An ophthalmologist stated that they all had retinal burns with scarring, and the loss of vision in some cases was as high as 80%. He added that regaining the vision was virtually impossible.
Retinal Transplants Show Promise
Initial American research on retinal transplants for patients with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration shows promising results. The retinal cells taken from aborted foetuses were implanted into 10 people with both conditions. The theory is that the new cells would grow to replace the damaged photoreceptor cells, connecting to the patient's remaining retina. The study at the University of Louisville found that 7 out of 10 patients benefitted from measurable visual improvements.