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Small Stem Cell Study Claims Early Success in Treating Eye Disease
Posted 23 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 23 – Using human embryonic stem cells to treat the eye disease macular degeneration appears to be safe and leads to some vision improvement, a small, early-stage study found. The study included one elderly patient and one younger adult patient with different types of macular degeneration that had led to severe vision loss. After four months, the embryonic stem cell transplants seemed safe and both patients had some improvement in vision, the U.S. researchers said. The study, published online Jan. 23 in The Lancet, is the first report of the use of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in humans for any purpose, the researchers said in a news release from the journal. One patient was a woman in her 70s with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. The other patient was a woman in her 50s with Stargardt's macular ... Read more
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FDA Approves Eylea for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Posted 18 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
November 18, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Eylea (aflibercept) to treat patients with wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans ages 60 and older. AMD gradually destroys a person’s sharp, central vision. It affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows people to see fine detail needed to do daily tasks such as reading and driving. There are two forms of AMD, a wet form and a dry form. The wet form of AMD includes the growth of abnormal blood vessels. The blood vessels can leak fluid into the central part of the retina, also known as the macula. When fluid leaks into the macula, the macula thickens and vision loss occurs. An early symptom of wet AMD occurs when straight lines appear to be wavy. “Eylea is an important new treatment option for adults with wet AMD,” said Edward Co ... Read more
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Eye Antibiotics Can Cause Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Study
Posted 12 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Sept. 12 – Repeated use of antibiotics among patients who receive eye injections for such ophthalmic conditions as age-related macular degeneration can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant germs, according to a new study. More than eight million people in the United States are affected by age-related macular degeneration, and its treatment involves monthly injections that are typically followed by antibiotics to prevent such complications as inflammation of the eye. Researchers from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville found, however, that long-term use of antibiotics after eye injection therapy may promote the growth of hard-to-treat germs. "Repeated exposure of ocular flora [microbes living on or inside the body] ... may select for resistant bacterial strains and cultivate 'superbugs' with multiple-drug resistance ..." the study's authors wrote a news ... Read more
Related support groups: Zymar, Macular Degeneration, Vigamox, Azasite, Sulfacetamide Sodium, Stye, Lucentis, Povidone Iodine, Ciloxan, Trifluridine, Besivance, Moxeza, Polytrim, Silver Nitrate, Boric Acid
Age-Related Eye Disease Declining in U.S.
Posted 11 Jan 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 10 – The rate of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss in the United States, has decreased in the last 15 years, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from 7,081 people, aged 40 and older, who took part in the 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The participants were assessed for signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and about 6.5 percent were found to have the disease. The 1988 to 1994 NHANES found that the rate of AMD among Americans aged 40 and older was 9.4 percent, according to the study published in the January issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. This finding has important implications for public health, said Dr. Ronald Klein, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and colleagues. The most recent data also showed that blacks aged 60 and older had a lower ... Read more
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Can Omega-3 Foods Prevent Eye Disease in Seniors?
Posted 1 Dec 2010 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1 – Eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids appears to protect seniors against the onset of a serious eye disease known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a new analysis indicates. "Our study corroborates earlier findings that eating omega-3-rich fish and shellfish may protect against advanced AMD," study lead author Sheila K. West, of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, said in a news release from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "While participants in all groups, including controls, averaged at least one serving of fish or shellfish per week, those who had advanced AMD were significantly less likely to consume high omega-3 fish and seafood," she added. The observations are published in the December issue of Ophthalmology. West and her colleagues based their findings on a fresh analysis of a one-year dietary survey ... Read more
Related support groups: Lovaza, Fish Oil, Macular Degeneration, Omacor, MaxEPA, Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Marine Lipid Concentrate, Animi-3, Mi-Omega, Divista, Omega-500, Sea-Omega, EPA Fish Oil, Sea-Omega 70, TheraTears Nutrition
Newer Therapies for Eye Disorder Not Tied to Heart Problems
Posted 12 Oct 2010 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Oct. 12 – Use of the drugs bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) doesn't appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular problems or death, a new study suggests. AMD is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss among older Americans. About 12 percent of cases are neovascular ("wet") AMD, which occurs when new blood vessels form in the eyes. Neovascular disease accounts for more than 80 percent of cases of severe vision loss in people with AMD. Bevacizumab is a chemotherapy drug that's used off-label to treat neovascular AMD. Ranibizumab is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for the condition. Both drugs, which are injected into the eye and block blood vessel growth, are newer treatments for the disorder. Other approved treatments for AMD are photodynamic (laser) therapy and eye injections of ... Read more
Related support groups: Avastin, Macular Degeneration, Lucentis, Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab
Retinal Disease Treatments for Elders Doubled Over 10 Years
Posted 11 Oct 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 11 – The number of older Americans undergoing treatment for retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy nearly doubled between 1997 and 2007, with a significant shift in the types of procedures being performed, a new study has found. Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive disease of the retina that causes the loss of central vision, and 40 percent of people with diabetes have some form of diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which blood vessels stop feeding the retina properly, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. Both conditions can cause vision loss and blindness. The researchers analyzed Medicare data from 1997 to 2007 and found that the number of retinal procedures increased 192 percent during that period. The largest year-to-year increase (20 percent) occurred between 2006 and 2007, according to ... Read more
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New Treatments Hold Hope for Failing Eyes
Posted 16 Jul 2010 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, Sept. 27 – Already a leading cause of vision loss among people older than 60, age-related macular degeneration is expected to skyrocket in numbers over the coming decades as the U.S. population grows older. However, a series of new treatments now under study or in development should mean that eye specialists will be well-prepared to treat the coming surge of macular degeneration cases. These include refinements of treatments that have proven effective against some forms of the disease as well as new therapies targeting forms of macular degeneration that have so far proven impossible to treat. Age-related macular degeneration involves the breakdown of the macula, which is located in the retina and helps provide clear central vision. As the macula deteriorates, people see a blurred spot in the center of their vision that grows over time. Macular degeneration comes in two forms, ... Read more
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'Miniature Telescope' for Eye Approved for Macular Degeneration
Posted 6 Jul 2010 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 6 – A tiny telescope that's implanted in an eye affected by advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Implantable Miniature Telescope replaces the natural lens and magnifies an image more than two times, the FDA said in a news release. The device is meant for people aged 75 and older who have blind spots associated with end-stage AMD. Candidates will be trained with an external telescopic device to see if they may benefit from the implanted product, the agency said. AMD damages the eye's macula, causing vision loss in the center of the visual field. The condition affects mostly older people, often making it impossible to recognize faces or perform tasks such as watching television, the FDA said. Some 8 million Americans have been diagnosed with the condition, and about 25 percent of those are ... Read more
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Red Wine Compound Could Point to Treatment for Eye Diseases
Posted 26 Jun 2010 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 25 – A compound found in red wine and grapes inhibits the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) associated with eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, researchers have found. Resveratrol, which is produced by a variety of plants to fight bacterial and fungal infections, is found in particularly high levels in grape skin and at lower levels in blueberries, peanuts and other plant-based foods. Previous research has shown that resveratrol can decrease the effects of aging and act as an anti-cancer agent. In this new study, researchers found that resveratrol inhibits harmful blood vessel growth in the eye. They also identified the specific pathway through which the compound achieves this effect and found that specific inhibitors could reverse the angiogenesis-blocking power of resveratrol. The study appears in the July issue of ... Read more
Related support groups: Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy
FDA Approves Lucentis (Ranibizumab Injection) for the Treatment of Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion
Posted 23 Jun 2010 by Drugs.com
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 23, 2010 - Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The FDA approved this new indication after a six-month Priority Review. "This approval provides an important new medicine for people experiencing the unexpected vision loss associated with macular edema following RVO," said Hal Barron, M.D., executive vice president, Global Development and chief medical officer. "In the Lucentis RVO clinical trials significantly more people treated with monthly Lucentis showed sustained vision improvement during the six-month study with an effect seen as early as seven days." About the Studies The BRAVO study assessed the safety and efficacy profile of Lucentis in a ... Read more
Related support groups: Macular Degeneration, Lucentis, Macular Edema, Ranibizumab
Diet, Meds and Smoking Linked to Eye Disease Risks
Posted 14 Jun 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 14 – A healthy diet helps guard against cataracts, while certain medications raise the risks of this common cause of vision loss, two new studies suggest. And a third study finds that smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, another disease that robs people of their sight. The first study found that women who eat foods that contain high levels of a variety of vitamins and minerals may be less likely to develop nuclear cataract, which is the most common type of age-related cataract in the United States. The study is published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. The researchers looked at 1,808 women in Iowa, Oregon and Wisconsin who took part in a study about age-related eye disease. Overall, 736 (41 percent) of the women had either nuclear cataracts evident from lens photographs or reported having undergone cataract extraction. ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Amitriptyline, Naproxen, Elavil, Cipro, Levaquin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Nortriptyline, Ciprofloxacin, Aleve, Cataract, Avelox, Doxepin, Pamelor, Imipramine
Gene Variant May Raise Risk of Common Eye Disease
Posted 12 Apr 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, April 12 – Two new studies provide more evidence of a genetic link between an eye disease that affects millions of older people and the regulation of so-called "good" cholesterol in the body. The researchers don't fully understand the connection, nor are they near finding better treatments for the eye disease, known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Still, they say the results could lead to future advances. Scientists had been exploring the cholesterol-eye disease link for some time, noted Anand Swaroop, an investigator with the National Eye Institute and lead author of one of the reports. "But somehow, their studies did not get much attention. Hopefully now the genetic evidence is so strong that people will explore those possibilities in much more detail," Swaroop said. An estimated 10 million or more people in the United States develop AMD each year, including about ... Read more
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In Women, Aspirin Might Ward Off Eye Trouble
Posted 2 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2 – Women who take low-dose aspirin to protect their heart might be helping their eyes as well. A new study by Harvard University researchers found what they described as a modest benefit for aspirin in preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that destroys sharp, central vision. "The data indicate that long-term treatment with low-dose aspirin has no large beneficial or harmful effect on risk of AMD," said the study's lead researcher, Dr. William G. Christen, an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "But, the data could not rule out a possible modest benefit," he said. Researchers have been looking at aspirin to see if it helps or hurts the eyes. Some believe its blood-thinning quality would be helpful in letting more blood reach the capillaries in the eyes. ... Read more
Related support groups: Aspirin, Ecotrin, Macular Degeneration, Bayer Aspirin, Bufferin, Easprin, ZORprin, Aspergum, Buffered Aspirin, St Joseph Aspirin, Aspir-Low, Bufferin Extra Strength, Gennin-FC, Therapy Bayer, Aspirin Low Strength
Nearly 18 Million Will Have Macular Degeneration by 2050
Posted 14 Apr 2009 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, April 14 – Although the rate of age-related macular degeneration is on the increase, newer treatments could help reduce the most serious effects of the disease by about 35 percent, new estimates suggest. In a study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers report that as many as 9.1 million people will have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2010, but that 17.8 million people will have the potentially blinding eye disease by 2050. "What we found is that due to aging, the number of cases of early and advanced AMD will increase dramatically no matter what," said study author David Rein, a senior research economist from RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "In 2050, we project there will be 1.57 million cases of blindness [caused by AMD] with no treatment. But, with vigorous treatment, that number's just about 1 million." ... Read more
Related support groups: Macular Degeneration
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