When central nervous system cells in the brain and spine are damaged by disease or injury, they fail to regenerate, limiting the body's ability to recover. In contrast, peripheral nerve cells that serve most other areas of the body are more able to regenerate. Scientists for decades have searched for molecular clues as to why […]
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Causes of visual impairment
There are many causes that may lead to loss of vision or lead to impairment of vision. Common causes that lead to vision loss or visual impairment include injury to the eye, inherited conditions, infections and so forth. (1-4) Injury to the eyes Injury to the eyes while playing or at work or due to […]
What is Phakic IOL?
A phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) is a synthetic lens that can be implanted into the eye to correct nearsightedness (myopia). Myopia. Image Credit: Neokryuger / Shutterstock What is a phakic intraocular lens? Phakic intraocular lenses (PIOL), which are made up of synthetic materials such as plastic or silicon, can be surgically implanted in the anterior […]
Long-term statin use associated with lower glaucoma risk
A new study brings the connection between statin use and risk of glaucoma into sharper focus. Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found that using statins for five or more years is associated with lower risk of primary open-angle glaucoma. Results of the study were published recently in JAMA Ophthalmology. Glaucoma, a leading cause […]
Scientists first to pinpoint a cause of pigmentary glaucoma
An international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for the onset of pigmentary glaucoma, which may lead to new therapies for the condition. “People who traditionally we wouldn’t think of having glaucoma—young males in their 20s and 30s—are at particular risk for this form of the disease and of losing their vision,” said […]
Study suggests CBD may worsen glaucoma, raise eye pressure
One of the most commonly proposed uses of medical marijuana is to treat glaucoma. But a study from researchers at Indiana University has found that a major chemical component in the substance appears to worsen the primary underpinning of the disease: a rise in pressure inside the eye. The chemical that causes this rise in […]
Gene regulator may contribute to protein pileup in exfoliation glaucoma
In exfoliation glaucoma, a protein dandruff clogs the outflow pathway for the fluid in our eyes. Scientists have evidence that variants of the same gene that enables us to make connective tissue by crosslinking proteins is associated with this unusual glaucoma. Now they are looking in human eye tissue at a long piece of RNA […]