UK Scientists Discover Link Between Alzheimer's Disease And Glaucoma
UK scientists have shown for the first time that key proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease are also implicated in glaucoma, the major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Research carried out at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and funded by the Wellcome Trust has also shown that novel drugs being trialled for Alzheimer's disease which target this protein may be used to treat glaucoma. [click link for full article]

Laser-based Approach To Producing Bubbles, Which May Be Used For Future Tests To Study Properties Of Eye Materials, And Eventually Treat Eye Condition
By bouncing sound waves off tiny bubbles generated inside eye tissue, a biomedical engineer at The University of Texas at Austin is developing a new tool that could improve the outcome of laser eye surgery and address common eye conditions. [click link for full article]

Eye Cancer Linked With Immune Deficiency
The incidence of squamous cell eye cancer is greater among kidney transplant patients and people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than the general public, which suggests the disease is associated with immune deficiency.Claire Vajdic, Ph.D., of the University of New South Wales in Sydney and colleagues compared the incidence of squamous cell eye cancer in the general population with that of kidney transplant patients, who have suppressed immune systems. [click link for full article]

Research Outlined For Surgical Technique For Implantable Telescope For Severe Age-related Macular Degeneration
Recent studies have explored the use of an implantable prosthetic device -- an implantable miniature telescope -- for end-stage age-related macular degeneration. While the device has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, physicians have described a recommended surgical technique to ensure proper product placement while minimizing damage to the eye. Their technique is published in the August issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. [click link for full article]

Smoking Raises Risk Of Late Age-related Macular Degeneration
If you are a smoker you run a significantly higher risk of developing AMD (age-related macular degeneration) than a person who has never smoked, says a report in Archives of Ophthalmology (JAMA/Archives), July 2007 issue. AMD is a progressive eye disease affecting the central portion of the retina, it is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world. [click link for full article]

Brain Activity In Brain Injured Patients Improved By Vision Restoration Therapy
Columbia University Medical Center researchers have demonstrated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that brain activity was increased in stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors who underwent Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT), a rehabilitative treatment that helps these patients recover lost vision. The data was published online in the peer-reviewed journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair at http://nnr. [click link for full article]

Project Magnify Offers Low-vision Children Chance To Catch Up Quicker To Peers
The answer to teaching a legally blind child in a South Carolina public classroom traditionally has been large-print books and materials for that child's use. [click link for full article]

Rare Genetic Eye Disease Discovery Could Have Implications For More Common Medical Disorders
Halifax, July 2007: Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy (SCCD) is an inherited eye disease that can cause blindness. Although studies of SCCD carried out by research groups in the United States were able to determine the general location of the Schnyder gene, its exact identity remained frustratingly elusive. Until now. [click link for full article]

Health Tip: Know The Facts About Cataracts
What is a cataract? A cataract is a cloudy or opaque region of the eye's naturally clear lens. In healthy eyes, light rays pass through the lens and are focused on the retina (positioned in the back of the eye) to produce a clear illustration of what is seen. A cataract forms when the lens is clouded and it becomes difficult for light rays to pass through, resulting in distorted vision. [click link for full article]