Archive for January 2016

A team of international scientists has identified 13 new genetic factors linked to the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which widen the understanding of the biological processes that leads to the condition. It is believed that the discovery could also serve as therapeutic targets for potential drug development. The study, which was led by…

A team of international researchers has discovered three new genetic risk factors associated with the most common form of glaucoma.   Scientists found that variations in the genes TXNRD2, ATXN2 and FOXC1 are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and present novel targets for screening, prevention and treatment.   The study, which was published in…

Green vegetables could reduce the risk of open-angle glaucoma by up to 30 per cent, research claims.  The consumption of nitrate-rich leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale could reduce the risk of open-angle glaucoma by up to 30%, according to research. A study, published by JAMA Ophthalmology, examined the medical histories of  middle-aged patients…

One in five children across the UK are myopic according to new research released in partnership between the College of Optometrists and the University of Ulster. The prevalence of myopia among children in the UK has more than doubled over the last 50 years, according to research findings released jointly by the College of Optometrists…

Researchers fix the gene responsible for retinitis pigmentosa in stem cells using a gene editing technique.  Stem cells taken from patients with retinitis pigmentosa could soon be used to treat blindness caused by the disease, according to new research. Scientists at the University of Iowa and Columbia University repaired the damaged gene associated with the…