Viewing

Cornea

Latest News


CME Content


A further study in the July issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, investigated inflammation biomarkers in relation to corneal transplant rejection in herpes simplex patients. Its results have shown that inflammation thwarts corneal transplants.

High molecular weight increases blink rate and helps eye drops retain moisture on the ocular surface according to Professor Giancarlo Montani an optometrist FIACLE and a professor of optometry at the Universita del Salento in Italy.

Nerve damage associated ocular dryness improved dramatically with hyaluronic acid-based lubricating eye drops explains Claes Feinbaum M.Sc. Professor Emeritus Optometry, Vision4You, Lund, Sweden.

Producing 3D human corneal tissue using corneal limbal stem cells with a view to developing and commercialising novel technology has potential to transform drug discovery and regenerative medicine.

Cornea breakthrough

Harvested stem cells from patients' own eyes to rehabilitate damaged cornea in just ten days may prove to be a world-first breakthrough in restoring sight.

The TearLab Osmolarity System is intended to measure the osmolarity of human tears to aid in the diagnosis of patients with signs or symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (DED) in conjunction with other methods of clinical evaluation. It is now in a position to be marketed to clinincal facilities in the United States, having received its FDA 510(k) clearance.

The world's largest eye bank, The Tampa Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research, Inc. in Florida, which has supplied over 30,000 corneas for transplant and 50,000 eyes for research worldwide over the past 30 years, is to open a state-of-the-art research facility.

An OTEurope story we ran a couple of weeks ago clearly resonated with reader, Peter Raus in Belgium. Read on to see what he thought.

Significant improvement in signs and symptoms in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe dry eye syndrome have been found following the Phase II trial of Cyclokat, the formulation of cyclosporine by French pharmaceutical ophthalmic company Novagali Pharma.

The side effects of an experimental 'gene-silencing' treatment that is currently being investigated for a variety of diseases could be useful in corneal transplantation, where growth of new blood and lymph vessels is believed to be a major cause of graft failure.

The first ophthalmic surgery in Europe using the CE mark approved I-SIPxAE Adherent Ocular Bandage was conducted in the UK by Dr Daniel Calladine and Mr Richard Packard.

Dr Sami El Hage outlines a technique for early detection of corneal ectasia using four different displays: the normal average cornea, Zernike polynomials, Fourier harmonics and elevation plots.

BD OcuSeal Liquid Ocular Bandage, a fully synthetic protective barrier to be used for post-surgical, post-traumatic and non-traumatic ocular conditions, has been launched in Europe by BD Medical?Ophthalmic Systems.

Lux Biosciences has just completed its enrolment in the company's Phase III LUCIDA (LUx Corneal Transplant Implant Development and Advancement of Therapy) clinical trial programme for LUMITECT (LX201), a silicone matrix ocular (episcleral) implant designed to provide the continuous release for one year of therapeutic levels of cyclosporine A locally to the eye to prevent corneal transplant rejection.

The TearLab Osmolarity Core Validation Study, a multicentre international clinical study assessing the efficacy of the TearLab Osmolarity System for the diagnosis of dry eye disease, has been launched by the system's maker, OccuLogix Inc, and sponsored by Alcon.

There is an association between uveal and a variety of skin melanomas, according to study results published in the March issue of Ophthalmology.

Sirion Therapeutics Inc and Advanced Vision Research Inc (AVR) have agreed to co-promote AVR's MacuTrition (a nutritional supplement promoting retinal health) and NutiDox Convenience Kit (a meibomian gland therapy) in the US.

Building artificial corneas

Insights gained from research into keratoconus using extremely intense x-rays could refine laser surgeries, including LASIK, and may one day even lead to the development of an artificial cornea, according to researchers at Cardiff University, UK.

Prolacria (diquafosol tetrasodium ophthalmic solution) 2% has entered a Phase III trial for the treatment of dry eye disease, according to an announcement from the solution's developer, Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' dry eye candidate, ecabet sodium, has successfully completed Phase IIb testing and will soon be progressing to Phase III trials taking it a step closer to regulatory approval.