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Scientists at the University of Iowa have discovered a new macula eye disease. This new eye disease is an inherited eye disease that affects the macula, a part of the retina.
Reporting their findings in the November 9 edition of the Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers are hoping that the discovery of this new inherited eye disease can provide a deeper understanding of other common retinal diseases.
Dr. Vinit Mahajan, the lead author said “It is rare to find a new inherited eye disease that affects the macula. We thought we had seen them all.”
The newly found retinal eye disease causes abnormal blood vessels to form in the macula. These abnormal blood vessels are prone to bleeding and this will cause both swelling and scars that affect vision. These are symptoms that are generally associated with wet macular degeneration.
The researchers discovered their findings when one person in a family sought care for eye problems. “If a doctor saw just one family member, they would probably call this macular degeneration. We knew there was something different, and we had to examine the rest of the family,” Mahajan said.
After examining 20 extended family members with visual problems of different severities. Some family members had lost central vision and some had strabismus, a disorder in which the eyes are not aligned.
It is hoped that the discovery of this new macula eye disease will lead to a greater understanding of other eye diseases.
Scientests have been able to produce a condition similar to the end stage of dry macular degeneration. Using genetically engineered mice that contain a retinal pigment epithelium, they showed these mice do not secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Macular Degeneration is thought to result from the breakdown in the relationship between retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the vascular layer that nourishes the retina. It is thought that as the RPE degenerates it will not produce VEGF and that this results in damage to the vascular layer. As a result, dry macular degeneration will occur. [click to continue…]
Stem cell treatments may be the cure for macular degeneration. With an American biotech company called Advanced Cell Technology set to apply for a license for using stem cells to treat the eye disease, macular degeneration patients may have a new hope for a cure.
The new stem cell treatment has the potential to save the vision of millions of people who suffer from the incurable eye disease macular degeneration. Patients would receive an injection of human stem cells that is hoped could repair the damaged eyes. [click to continue…]
The implantation of a blue light-filtering intraocular lens (IOL) may prevent the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration according to investigators in a newly released study.
Previous studies had shown a relationship between cataract surgery and the exposure of the retina to blue light. This was said to be a contributing factor for the development of macular degeneration.
It was thought that the retina may be protected from macular degeneration by macular pigment. This may prevent the onset of macular degeneration as well as the progression of macular degeneration according to the study authors.
In a prospective and randomized study of 42 patients, 21 of which were implanted with an AcrySof Natural IOL with blue light-filtering capability and the other 21 implanted an an AcrySof three-piece acrylic IOL, those patients implanted with the blue light-filtering IOL were shown to have increased macular pigment at 3-months after the surgery.
With Lutein and Zeaxanthin serum concentrations also assessed, researchers found that the results showed that implantation of blue light-filtering IOL increased macular pigment in the absense of raised lutein or zeaxanthin serum levels.
The study authors commented that “Further study is required in the form of controlled long-term trials to investigate whether implantation of a blue light-filtering IOL is effective in preventing or delaying development or progression of macular degeneration.”
Source: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(10):4777-4785.