Small Items, Big Impact
What do nanoparticles and small-molecule drugs have in common, other than the fact that they are small? They can both be used as therapeutics for vision. Nanoparticles can be used post-op to prevent the rejection of corneal grafts. Small-molecule drugs can be used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. […]
Stopping the Damage From Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when there is damage to the blood vessels in the retina, and it is the leading cause of blindness for adults in the U.S. Since diabetes causes this and a host of other complications, scientists are working to learn more about what causes diabetic retinopathy in the hopes of developing treatments and […]
Light and Dark
While it is difficult to do near work like reading, writing or certain crafts like needlepoint, in low light, for the most part our eyes adjust and we can maneuver in the space or at least find the light switch. How does our eyes and brain work so that we can see both in low […]
2023 Ocular Melanoma Update
Ocular melanoma, despite its name is not caused by exposure to the sun. This type of cancer is found in Caucasians between the ages of 30 and 50 and occurs in 1 out of 2,500 people. As you can guess, it can cause vision loss or blindness and can spread to the brain and liver. […]
Shedding Light on the Retina and Stargardt Disease
Eyes need light in order for human to see. What happens at the cellular level once light enters the retina? Conversely, when things aren’t working in the retina, what’s going at the cellular level that is causing the malfunction? Two studies at the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health looked at these […]
Newts and Zebrafishes—Oh My!
A little over 100 years ago, scientist were studying fruit flies to learn more about genetics. Since they were easy to capture and breed, scientists were able to study multiple generations in a short period of time. The information that they found lead to the mapping of regions that correspond to the fly’s physical traits. […]
Glaucoma Research News
It is safe to say that no one wants to get glaucoma. This is the leading cause of blindness in persons age 60 and over. Thankfully research is taking place to learn more about the disease and possible treatment targets. Two projects in particular are studying how stress causes the disease and the genetic mutations […]
What’s Going on When it Comes to Brains & Vision?
What is going on in the cellular space and the neurological space that allows us to see? As you can guess scientists have studied these things and here are what they have found. Stem Cells There have been great advancements in the development of lab-grown photoreceptors. The problem lies in implanting them. Once they are […]
Reusing What Is Currently Available
Instead of buying new items, it is a good idea to reuse what you already have. For example, if you are going to ship something to a friend or relative who lives out of state, it is a good idea to re-use a box and packing materials from an item that you had shipped to […]
3D Printing for Vision
3D Printing is a manufacturing method whereby a three-dimensional object is created layer by layer. This process is used in the aerospace and automotive industries and for biomedical use. One way 3D Printing is used for biomedical purposes is for vision. Baylor University used 3D Printing as a way for blind and low vision persons […]