News, Links and Commentary
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Radiation Treatment for MD - Emory Study
Researchers at Emory University in the United States are studying 20 patients treated with radiation for MD. The researchers have developed a special device for delivering radiation treatment to the patients' eyes ('Radiation for macular degeneration', News 8 Austin, 28 September 2005).
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Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Wet MD - Lucentis Vs Avastin
Genentech's drug Lucentis is expected to be approved for use in patients with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. Lucentis is a fragment of another drug developed by Genentech called Avastin. Avastin is approved to treat colorectal cancer and both drugs work by blocking a protein responsible for blood vessel growth. Avastin, not specifically trialed for use in the eye, is cheaper.
Some US ophthalmologists are currently using Avastin, in smaller quantities than needed for the treatment of colorectal cancer, to treat MD. Genentech is in the news because this is affecting company share prices.
Andrew Pollack's article, 'Genentech in Competition With Itself on Eye Drug' (The New York Times, 27 September 2005) is relevant to both patients and investors.
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Some US ophthalmologists are currently using Avastin, in smaller quantities than needed for the treatment of colorectal cancer, to treat MD. Genentech is in the news because this is affecting company share prices.
Andrew Pollack's article, 'Genentech in Competition With Itself on Eye Drug' (The New York Times, 27 September 2005) is relevant to both patients and investors.
Opera Browser is Free Without Ads
The latest version of the Opera browser, Opera 8.5, is now available, free and without ads.
If you have a vision impairment and you're wondering how Opera can improve your Web experience, I recommend reading 'Visual Impairments and Opera at the Opera Web site.
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If you have a vision impairment and you're wondering how Opera can improve your Web experience, I recommend reading 'Visual Impairments and Opera at the Opera Web site.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Adding Light to My Site
Adequate lighting can make a big difference when reading, writing or working with everyday objects such as nail scissors or knitting needles. I have now added a small section to my Adaptive Equipment page that gives links to information about lights. The first item listed is an article by Dan Roberts of MD Support. I recommend reading Dan's article, 'Artificial Lighting and the Blue Light Hazard (The Facts About Lighting and Vision)' before purchasing lights or bulbs that offer increased illumination.
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Cuban Study of Family with Kearns-Sayre Syndrome
Five members of the same family from the Las Tunas province of Cuba are affected by the rare Kearns-Sayre syndrome. One of the characteristics of Kearns-Sayre syndrome is pigmentary degeneration of the retina. The affected family members are participating in an ongoing study by doctors in Havana ('Family with Rare Eye Disease in Las Tunas, Cuba', Periodico26, 26 September 2005).
More information about Kearns-Sayre syndrome is available in 'Kearns-Sayre Syndrome' by Ewa Posner, MD at eMedicine (last updated 22 April 2002).
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More information about Kearns-Sayre syndrome is available in 'Kearns-Sayre Syndrome' by Ewa Posner, MD at eMedicine (last updated 22 April 2002).
Monday, September 26, 2005
Hawaii By Touch
Kissing wolphins and drinking coconut juice made Ken and Annie Sting's holiday to Hawaii memorable. Both Ken and Annie have Usher Syndrome Type 1 and communicate with each other and their companions using tactile sign language. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports on their recent trip, including visits to a pineapple plantation and local markets and beaches, in 'A hands-on adventure' (25 September 2005).
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Retina South Africa Promote World Retina Week
Retina South Africa have raised awareness of retinal degeneration and current research, including the Stargardt Gene Tracking Project, during World Retina Week over September 19 - 25 ('Toward a brighter retina', Health 24, 20 September 2005).
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Vegetable Oils and MD on Today Tonight
Channel 7's Today Tonight has again reported on the possible link between vegetable oils and macular degeneration. The report also included information about the macular degeneration drug Lucentis and comments from people who have MD. Read the full story in 'Vegetable oil still causing eye fears' (Today Tonight, 19 September 2005).
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Chip Screens For Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa
A chip developed at the University of Michigan's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences can test for many of the genetic causes of the autosomal recessive forms of retinitis pigmentosa.
The research was published in the September issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.
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This is a novel tool for scientists and physicians alike, says lead author and Kellogg scientist Radha Ayyagari, Ph.D. "For diseases that are associated with multiple genes, like RP, we now have a new and faster method for identifying the underlying genetic basis. This is also useful in analyzing complex patterns of inheritance and for understanding how causative genes might interact with each other."
'Genetic testing helps physicians zero in on eye disease', EurekAlert, 15 September 2005.
The research was published in the September issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.
Glasgow Image Detectors May Lead to Bionic Eye
Dr Keith Mathieson, from Glasgow University's Department of Physics and Astronomy is working towards a better understanding of how information is sent from the retina to the brain. Dr Mathieson is developing a microchip that will do the work of retinal cells and may one day give useable sight to people with retinal diseases.
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The implant uses minute image detectors found in digital cameras to turn light into electrical signals, mimicking the function of retina cells. Attached to an array of tiny electrodes, the signals from the detector are sent to undamaged retina cells, which then send the information to the optic nerve and on to the brain.
Up until now, Mathieson's team have been testing their chips on retinal tissue grown in the laboratory. But they believe they have found a way of interfacing them with the biological tissue of the eye.
''Bionic eye' has potential to cure blindness', Scotland on Sunday, 11 September 2005.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
AMD and Iron Metabolism Researcher To Receive Award
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) recently announced that Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD, has been chosen to receive the 2006 Cogan Award.
('ARVO's Cogan Award to macular degeneration scientist', ARVO media release at Medical News Today, 2 September 2005).
Dunaief is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute's F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology in Pennsylvania, USA. The award will be presented during ARVO's Annual Meeting in Florida next May.
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Dunaief was selected to receive the award for his innovative investigations of iron metabolism and oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including contributions from both human tissues and mice models of the disease.
('ARVO's Cogan Award to macular degeneration scientist', ARVO media release at Medical News Today, 2 September 2005).
Dunaief is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute's F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology in Pennsylvania, USA. The award will be presented during ARVO's Annual Meeting in Florida next May.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Study Findings on Retinal Surgery in Older Patients
Canadian researchers report that surgery to remove abnormal blood vessels in the eye, known as choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM), is not as successful in some older patients.
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"Most patients over 65 with CNVM have AMD, but in those in whom another cause is felt to be present, they do not appear to have the same potential for visual improvement that the younger patients do," says Dr. Thomas Sheidow, an ophthalmologist at the London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario.'Retinal surgery less effective in older patients' (Macleans.ca, 1 September 2005).
