Implants for Presbyops Work, Says Study

“Patient satisfaction at 12 months was very positive with 9 patients reporting to be ‘completely satisfied,’ 3 were ‘very satisfied’ and 1 was ‘somewhat satisfied,’” said John Olkowski about the clinical results of a single-center study, The chief surgeon at EyeSight Hawaii explained at the International Society of Presbyopia Fourth Annual Conference in Milan that the study showed significant improvement in near visual acuity following treatment with Raindrop Near Vision Inlay (formerly the Vue+ and PresbyLens), products created by ReVision Optics, Inc. (RVO).  Significant improvement in this group of patients reportedly was observed within 7 days of treatment. Data showed that at one week following treatment with the Raindrop in the non-dominant eye, 19 of 25 subjects achieved uncorrected 20/25 or better near visual acuity with an average gain in near vision of 4 lines using the Optec 6500 visual acuity tester, according to RVO. Read more.

Partnering Up to Fight Poor Eye Care and Poverty in South Africa

Orbis, the Brien Holden Vision Institute and African Vision Research Institute (AVRI) have joined forces around the issue of eye health and poverty in South Africa. The consortium aims to improve the understanding of the impact of visual loss on poverty and to develop relationships with key organisations working in poverty reduction to mainstream eye health.. Read more

Interrupting the Damage Caused by Diabetic Retinopathy

"Researchers at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center have identified a compound that could interrupt the chain of events that cause damage to the retina in diabetic retinopathy," according to Science Daily. "The finding is significant because it could lead to a novel therapy that targets two mechanisms at the root of the disease: inflammation and the weakening of the blood barrier that protects the retina." Read more.

Boy Going Blind While Bureaucrats Struggle

"Liam Reid’s family has struggled to pay for his care at a U.S. hospital while another boy with the same rare eye condition has received 49 treatments paid for by the Ontario government," notes the Toronto Star. "If Liam, nearly 3, does not receive surgery to correct the vision in his left eye, he will go blind before he is 4 years old, said his mother, Kristina Reid. Liam has a retinal condition called advanced bilateral persistent fetal vasculature syndrome or Norrie disease." Read more. Even so, it's better care than an American could get.