Blindness News and Research

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Researchers detect major contamination in organic vegetables, likely to cause fatal illness

According to a new study proposed at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Lisbon, Portugal (23–26 April, 2022), disease-causing amoebas that reside on natural leafy vegetables can preserve human pathogens such as Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Helicobacter, posing a public health hazard. Dr Yolanda Moreno and colleagues from Spain’s Universitat Politècnica de València conducted the research.

25 Apr 2022

Protein appears key to the function and survival of brain cells most impacted by glaucoma

A ubiquitous protein called sigma 1 receptor, which is known to protect cells from stress, appears key to the function and survival of the neurons most impacted by glaucoma, scientists report.

2 Mar 2022

Researchers aim to tackle neurodegenerative diseases of the eye and brain

Could a new paradigm in digital health treat blinding disorders and possibly also be a conduit for treating other parts of the brain? A multi-disciplinary team of world-renowned researchers at USC are exploring this exciting possibility.

31 Jan 2022

Cryo-ET reveals mechanisms underlying gene mutations that lead to blindness

Researchers have discovered the structural determinants of the highly specialized rod outer segments membrane architecture of the eye, which plays a crucial role in vision.

7 Jan 2022

Researchers identify production mechanism of light-sensitive protein of photoreceptors

Every 6 minutes someone is told they're going blind. One of the major causes of human blindness is a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), which causes progressive degeneration of the retina and vision loss.

20 Dec 2021

Gene writing helps develop advanced therapies safely and effectively

An international, multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain), led by Dr. Marc Güell, has published an article in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

14 Dec 2021

Experts create world’s first single-cell atlas of human and porcine eyes

Researchers recently constructed the first single-cell atlas of the human and porcine eyes.

8 Dec 2021

Experts identify novel mechanisms involved in macrophage polarization

Macrophages are important cells of the immune system with numerous beneficial functions. However, macrophages also aggravate common diseases.

8 Nov 2021

OHSU part of new project investigating stem cell therapy as potential glaucoma treatment

Oregon Health & Science University is part of a national research project investigating stem cell therapy as a potential treatment for glaucoma, the world's second leading cause of blindness.

1 Nov 2021

'Switching on' Sight using Gene Therapy

AZoLifeSciences speaks to Dr. Raymond Wong about his latest research into eye health and we could potentially 'switch on' sight using gene therapy.

20 Oct 2021

Study uncovers new gene variants that may cause inherited retinal dystrophies

An international team of researchers, led by scientists at University of California San Diego and Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health, has broadened and deepened understanding of how inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) affect different populations of people and, in the process, have identified new gene variants that may cause the diseases.

20 Oct 2021

Study identifies protein complex that confers neuroprotection against HSV-1 infection

Recent research by scientists from the University of Illinois demonstrates a process that halts the herpes simplex virus 1 from inducing severe brain damage and death.

15 Oct 2021

Experts describe structure of protein complex vital for proper cell function

Mitochondrial diseases exhibit different symptoms like muscle weakness, severe fatigue, even blindness. Most genetic diseases are the result of mitochondrial defects.

8 Oct 2021

Researchers identify the mechanism leading to deafness in Norrie disease

A team of Mass Eye and Ear Scientists led by Albert Edge, PhD, working with research fellow Yushi Hayashi, MD, PhD, has identified the mechanism that can lead to deafness in the rare syndrome, Norrie disease.

6 Oct 2021

New approach could lead to better treatments for mitochondrial diseases

Mutant DNA sequences inside cellular mitochondria can be eliminated using a bespoke chemical compound. The approach, developed by scientists at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS) in Japan, could lead to better treatments for mitochondrial diseases.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers identify a novel pathomechanism leading to Usher syndrome

Human Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of hereditary deaf-blindness. Sufferers can be deaf from birth, suffer from balance disorders, and eventually lose their eyesight as the disease progresses.

12 Jul 2021

Consuming large amounts of daily caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma

Consuming large amounts of daily caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma more than three-fold for those with a genetic predisposition to higher eye pressure according to an international, multi-center study.

8 Jun 2021

Study reveals genetic mutation associated with exfoliation syndrome

A team of researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), as well as Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), have identified a genetic mutation (functionally defective CYP39A1 gene) associated with exfoliation syndrome, the most common cause of glaucoma.

5 May 2021

Genetic flaw shows promise for treating eye disease

A genetic flaw may hold the key to delay or prevent the onset of a serious eye disorder that can result in blindness and vision loss.

From Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) 17 Mar 2021

Alzheimer’s proteins linked to age-related vision loss

A recently published study has demonstrated a close correlation between proteins linked to age-related vision loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

11 Mar 2021