All articles tagged with #eye disease
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious eye infection primarily affecting contact lens wearers, caused by a parasite found in water and soil, which can lead to permanent vision loss if not diagnosed and treated early. Proper lens hygiene, avoiding water contact, and prompt medical attention are crucial for prevention and management.
UCL scientists have identified the protein LRG1 as a key early trigger of diabetic retinopathy, suggesting that targeting this protein could prevent vision loss in people with diabetes before irreversible damage occurs. A drug targeting LRG1 is already in pre-clinical development, offering hope for more effective early intervention compared to current treatments.
Teresa Puthussery, a UC Berkeley vision scientist, received the 2025 MacArthur 'genius' award for her groundbreaking research on retinal cells, which could lead to new treatments for eye diseases and vision restoration. Her work focuses on understanding how different retinal cells encode visual information and developing innovative therapies for degenerative eye conditions.
A new observational study suggests that GLP-1 drugs, used for diabetes and weight management, may be linked to a doubled risk of developing a serious eye condition called neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, especially in older adults. While the absolute risk remains low, the findings raise concerns about eye health and highlight the need for further research and monitoring for patients on these medications.
Merck is re-entering the ophthalmology drug market with a $1.3 billion upfront cash acquisition of EyeBio, marking its return to the lucrative eye disease sector after a decade-long absence.
Scientists from Stanford University have developed a new tool for determining the age of eye cells without the need for tissue sampling, potentially leading to more personalized and targeted treatments for eye diseases. By analyzing eye fluid, an artificial intelligence system was trained to predict a person's age based on the proteins detected in the fluid. The researchers also identified specific proteins linked to eye aging and found that certain eye diseases could accelerate cell aging. This new approach could provide valuable biomarkers for treating and preventing diseases in various parts of the body, not just the eyes.
A study conducted in Sweden involving 178 extremely preterm babies found that those given a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements showed improved visual function by age two and a half. The supplement not only reduced the risk of a sight-threatening eye disease but also appeared to enhance the brain's ability to interpret visual stimuli. These findings could influence new guidelines for neonatal care regarding the administration of fatty acid supplements to extremely preterm babies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a higher dose version of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' drug Eylea for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The higher dose, known as Eylea HD, is priced at $2,625 per single-use vial in the U.S. and has been shown to be as effective as the lower dose version in late-stage trials. The FDA had previously declined to approve the higher dose version due to outstanding questions regarding a third-party manufacturer, but those issues have now been addressed.
Five elderly patients have experienced blindness in one eye after receiving injections of Apellis Pharmaceuticals' newly approved eye disease treatment, Syfovre. The cause of this severe side effect, a type of eye inflammation, is still unknown. Apellis conducted its own internal review, finding fewer cases of the severe eye inflammation, but maintains that the rate of occurrence remains very rare and there is no evidence linking the drug or its manufacturing to the side effect.
Henry Winkler, known for his roles in Happy Days, Arrested Development, and HBO's Barry, is partnering with Apellis to raise awareness about geographic atrophy, an advanced form of macular degeneration. He shares his family's experience with the disease and encourages older adults to have their eyes checked. Winkler also discusses his new memoir, Being Henry ... The Fonz and Beyond, and his thoughts on his Barry character, Gene Cousineau. The fourth and final season of Barry premiered on Sunday, and Winkler reflects on the end of the show and his past experiences with Happy Days and Arrested Development.