Glaucoma :: University of Maryland Project Targets Population at Increased Risk for Glaucoma

Dilated eye exams, in which special eye drops are used to widen the pupils, allow eye care professionals to see into the back of the eye to check for early signs of eye disease such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, two of the leading causes of blindness in this country. But many people, particularly seniors who are at increased risk for these diseases, do not get this important test.

Newly identified strains of Chlamydia trachomatis could produce new diseases

A new study led by a scientist at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) is the first to conclude that Chlamydia trachomatis is evolving at a rate faster than scientists first thought or imagined. Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that is the leading cause of sexually transmitted diseases and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Macular Degeneration :: Photoswitches could restore sight to blind retinas

A research center newly created by the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) aims to put light-sensitive switches in the body’s cells that can be flipped on and off as easily as a remote control operates a TV. Optical switches like these could trigger a chemical reaction, initiate a muscle contraction, activate a drug or stimulate a nerve cell – all at the flash of a light.

Eyes :: Using Decorative Contact Lenses without Consulting Eye Care Professional?

This Halloween season, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again warning consumers about the serious risks of using decorative contact lenses without the appropriate involvement of an eye care professional. These contact lenses, sometimes called Plano or non-corrective lenses, do not correct vision and are intended solely to change the appearance of the eye, but carry serious risks, including permanent eye injury that may lead to blindness.

Eyes :: Bayer & Regeneron’s VEGF Trap for the treatment of eye diseases, AMD

Bayer HealthCare (NYSE: BAY) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced that the companies have entered into a collaboration agreement for the global development, and commercialization outside the U.S., of the VEGF Trap for the treatment of eye disease by local administration (VEGF Trap-Eye). The VEGF Trap-Eye, currently in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, is a protein that binds to or ?traps? vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and blocks its activity. VEGF is thought to play a critical role in certain eye diseases.

Diabetes :: Plan Will Guide NIH Research in Type 1 Diabetes

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a long range plan that will help to guide research in type 1 diabetes for the next decade. Advances and Emerging Opportunities in Type 1 Diabetes Research: A Strategic Plan identifies goals and objectives to exploit recent scientific advances in combating this autoimmune form of diabetes.

Diabetes :: Vision loss can be prevented in people with diabetes

The millions of Americans afflicted with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes face many potential complications,including: heart and kidney disease; nerve damage and stroke; foot and skin problems; and gastrointestinal disorders and hypoglycemia.