Retinitis pigmentosa affects over one million people worldwide and is manifested by a progressive loss of sight, eventually leading to blindness. Retinitis pigmentosa is a form of inherited retinal degeneration that affects the light-sensitive cells : photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are a special type of neuron which convert light into nervous impulses. These impulses are then processed by the retina and transmitted along the nerve fibres to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones…

EyeGate Pharma, a privately held venture-backed pharmaceutical company developing a non-invasive ocular drug delivery platform and ocular therapeutics, announces that the Company has begun enrolling patients in the ALLUVION (EvALuation of Dexamethasone Phosphate DeLivered by OcUlar Iontophoresis for the Treatment of Dry Eye in the Controlled Adverse EnVIrONment (CAE) Model) pivotal Phase III study of its lead product, EGP-437, for the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). This ocular surface irritation affects millions of men and women…

VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., announced that it has received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market narafilcon B, the first and only silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens in the United States. The company will market it under the name 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye™ Brand Contact Lenses, and here at the annual meeting of the American Optometric Association, revealed that the product will be available in the offices of eye care professionals throughout the United States beginning this month…

Bevacizumab (Avastin), a bowel cancer medication which is widely used off label to prevent AMD (wet age related macular degeneration), has been shown to be safe and effective - it is a much cheaper alternative to approved drug ranibizumab (Lucentis). Several large trials comparing the two medications are currently ongoing. Ranibizumab was not included in this study (it was not licensed for use when the trial began), results of which have been published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal)…

Bevacizumab (Avastin), a bowel cancer medication which is widely used off label to prevent AMD (wet age related macular degeneration), has been shown to be safe and effective - it is a much cheaper alternative to approved drug ranibizumab (Lucentis). Several large trials comparing the two medications are currently ongoing. Ranibizumab was not included in this study (it was not licensed for use when the trial began), results of which have been published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal)…

Bevacizumab (Avastin), a bowel cancer medication which is widely used off label to prevent AMD (wet age related macular degeneration), has been shown to be safe and effective - it is a much cheaper alternative to approved drug ranibizumab (Lucentis). Several large trials comparing the two medications are currently ongoing. Ranibizumab was not included in this study (it was not licensed for use when the trial began), results of which have been published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal)…

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev students have developed an innovative optical radar system that helps blind people maneuver around obstacles. The radar system incorporates a computer, two video cameras and a scanning light source to warn the blind of obstacles with audible alerts. The system detects obstacles - even those overhead - by scanning the depth of its surroundings, taken from two different angles - similar to that of the human eye…

A dangerous drinking game called “vodka eyeballing” is attracting public attention on YouTube. People need to be aware that anyone who pours vodka directly into his eye risks damaging the surface epithelial cells-often causing pain and infection. More seriously, “eyeballing” can also lead to permanent vision damage by killing endothelial cells in deeper layers of the eye’s cornea. This is unlikely, but possible. The cornea is the clear outer part of the eye that focuses light and provides much of the optical power…

This month’s Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes new studies on links between eye diseases and two widely-prescribed drugs: SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, and amantadine, a Parkinson’s disease treatment. Some Antidepressants May Bump Up Cataract Risk Seniors who take SSRI antidepressants may be more likely to develop cataracts , says the first major study to examine this interaction…

This month’s Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes new studies on links between eye diseases and two widely-prescribed drugs: SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, and amantadine, a Parkinson’s disease treatment. Some Antidepressants May Bump Up Cataract Risk Seniors who take SSRI antidepressants may be more likely to develop cataracts, says the first major study to examine this interaction…