Researchers have developed a new, regenerative medicine approach to remove congenital cataracts in infants, permitting remaining stem cells to regrow functional lenses.

As the years progress, you might find yourself seeking out treatment of cataracts more and more. Check out this post to learn some contemporary treatments!

The age-dependent loss of solubility and aggregation of crystallins constitute the pathological hallmarks of cataract. Several biochemical and biophysical factors are responsible for the reduction of crystallins’ solubility and formation of irreversible protein aggregates, which display amyloid-like characteristics. The present study reports the heat-induced aggregation of soluble proteins isolated from human cataract lenses and the formation of amyloid-like structures. Exposure of protein at 55 °C for 4 h resulted in extensive (≈ 60%) protein aggregation. The heat-induced protein aggregates displayed substantial (≈ 20 nm) redshift in the wavelength of maximum absorption (λmax) of Congo red (CR) and increase in Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence emission intensity, indicating the presence of amyloid-like structures in the heat-induced protein aggregates. Subsequently, the addition of trehalose resulted in substantial inhibition of heat-induced aggregation and the formation of amyloid-like structure. The ability of trehalose to inhibit the heat-induced aggregation was found to be linearly dependent upon its concentration used. The optimum effect was observed in the presence of 30–40% (w/v) trehalose where the aggregated was found to be reduced from 60 to 30%. The present study demonstrated the ability to trehalose to inhibit the protein aggregation and interfere with the formation of amyloid-like structures.

Purpose Prospective, randomised, open-label, comparative study to evaluate efficacy of trehalose/sodium hyaluronate eye drops for post-operative discomfort and tear film stability in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Methods Patients with healthy ocular surface, subclinical, or mild dry eye were enrolled. Tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer test, dry eye symptoms, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and ocular surface disease (OSDI) evaluation were performed pre-operatively and at two and four weeks after surgery. Patients were assigned to receive trehalose/sodium hyaluronate eye drops b.i.d (Group A), or 0.9% unpreserved sodium chloride eye drops b.i.d for 4 weeks (Group B). Results One hundred and thirty-five patients were randomised, 66 patients in Group A (73.2 ± 4.5 years) and 69 patients in Group B (74.3 ± 3.8 years), 60.8% females. Fifteen patients (8 Group A) were lost at follow-up. Pre-operatively, no between-group differences were observed, and TBUT increased in Group A between the pre-operative and 2 and 4 week evaluations and was higher in group A than in Group B at 4 weeks. Schirmer test and CFS showed an improvement only in Group A four weeks post-operatively. In Group A an improvement was observed after two and four weeks in foreign body and puncture sensation, whilst a difference in blinking discomfort was observed after four weeks. In Group B we observed an improvement in puncture sensation two and four weeks after surgery. Mean OSDI scores differences between the two groups were significant at four weeks. Conclusions Trehalose/sodium hyaluronate eye drops were effective in reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye and improving tear film stability

Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers are common eye disorders frequently diagnosed in both humans and animals, and are currently treated by topical administration of eye drops containing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. ...

Glaucoma leads to incurable blindness. There are no early warning signs. Half of people with the disease don't even know they have it. Changing your diet can cut your risk.

As the baby-boomers age, blindness from age-related macular degeneration is on the rise. More than 3 million more people will become victims in the next five years. Eating right can lower your risk

A retinal prosthesis fabricated from an organic photovoltaic polymer can restore degenerative blindness in vivo, and over long implantation periods.

Several macular degeneration treatment breakthrough are available on the market today. If you are suffering from this disease, you can find one that works for you. Let us talk more about that in this article.

Stimulating the brain with a mild electrical current can temporarily sharpen vision without glasses or contacts, researchers have found.

Hyaluronic acid-trehalose is effective and safe, with better patient satisfaction, than existing HA-only eyedrops particularly from the first month of treatment, and offers a therapeutic advancement in the treatment of moderate to severe DED.

New research reveals a potential revolutionary way to treat eye injuries and prevent blindness -- by softening the tissue hosting the stem cells which then helps repair wounds, inside the body.

The role of sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R) in rescuing cone photoreceptor function was investigated in Pde6β rd10 ( rd10 ) mice, a model of severe retinal degeneration. Sig1R, a putative molecular chaperone, is implicated in several human neurodegenerative diseases. We administered (+)-pentazocine, a high-affinity Sig1R ligand, to rd10 mice, which lose rod and subsequently cone photoreceptor cells (PRC) within the first few weeks of life, rendering them completely blind. Regular administration of (+)-pentazocine rescued cone PRC responses, which were markedly preserved and were similar to those in wild-type mice. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of significant preservation of retinal function as a consequence of Sig1R activation. The data are highly relevant to potential therapeutic interventions in human retinal disease.

In a study of nearly 650 people with the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), half still had vision 20/40 or better, typically good enough to drive or to read standard print, after five years of treatment with anti-VEGF drugs that are injected into the eye. The authors of the study say those outcomes would have been unimaginable about 10 years ago, prior to the drugs' availability.

Aloe vera contains multiple pharmacologically active substances which are capable of modulating cellular phenotypes and functions. Aloe vera ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts may be used in eye drops to treat inflammations and other ailments of external parts of the eye such as the cornea.

Increased expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF-A promotes three common aging-related eye conditions - both versions of age-related macular degeneration and also cataracts - in an animal model, report scientists.

Trehalose is a natural disaccharide synthesized in various life forms, but not found in vertebrates. An increasing body of evidence demonstrates exceptional bioprotective characteristics of trehalose. This review discusses the scientific findings on potential functions of trehalose in oxidative stress, protein clearance, and inflammation, with an emphasis on animal models and clinical trials in ophthalmology. The main objective is to help understand the beneficial effects of trehalose in clinical trials and practice, especially in patients suffering from ocular surface disease. The discussion is supplemented with an overview of patents for the use of trehalose in dry eye and with prospects for the 2020s.

New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. Scientists have tracked down a genetic mutation which took place 6,000-10,000 years ago and is the cause of the eye color of all blue-eyed humans alive on the planet today.

It's important to know the causes of blurred vision to aid in prevention. This guide takes you through both the painless and painful causes of hazy vision.