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Recent Advances in Vision Science
translational research

2000-Present


Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Laser Treatment Does Not Prevent Vision Loss for People with Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - November 2006

An extensive National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study found that low-intensity laser treatment, thought to be possibly beneficial in slowing or preventing the loss of vision from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is ineffective in preventing complications of AMD or loss of vision. This is the major conclusion of the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial published in the journal, Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000167.

Vision Not Improved by Surgery for Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration - November 2004

Vision does not improve substantially for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who undergo surgery to remove lesions of new blood vessels, scar tissue, or possible bleeding beneath the retina, according to the Submacular Surgery Trials (SST). Four of six papers on the SST were published in Ophthalmology, ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000150.

Antioxidant Vitamins and Zinc Reduce Risk of Vision Loss from Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Same Nutrients Have No Effect on the Development of Cataract - October 2001

High levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration and its associated vision loss. These same nutrients had no significant effect on the development or progression of cataract. These findings from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study were reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology.


Amblyopia

Statement on the Success of Reduced Daily Eye Patching to Treat Severe Amblyopia - November 2003

Prescribing six hours of daily patching for the unaffected eye of children with severe amblyopia works as well as prescribing full-time patching. This research finding should lead to better compliance with treatment and improved quality of life for children with severe amblyopia, or "lazy eye," the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood. The findings appeared in Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00094744.

Reduced Daily Eye Patching Effectively Treats Childhood's Most Common Eye Disorder - May 2003

Patching the unaffected eye of children with moderate amblyopia for two hours daily works as well as patching the eye for six hours. This research finding should lead to better compliance with treatment and improved quality of life for children with amblyopia, or "lazy eye," the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood. The results appeared in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00094679.

Eye Drops to Treat Childhood Eye Disorder Work as Well as Patching the Eye - March 2002

Atropine eye drops given once a day to treat amblyopia, or lazy eye, the most common cause of visual impairment in children, work as well as the standard treatment of patching one eye. This research finding may lead to better compliance with treatment and improved quality of life in children with this eye disorder. These results appear in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00315328.


Cancer (Ocular Melanoma)

Scientists Find Similar Survival Rates for Eye Cancer Therapies - Research Also Increases Nationwide Availability of Treatments - July 2001

Researchers in the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study have found that the survival rates for two alternative treatments for primary eye cancer--radiation therapy and removal of the eye--are about the same. Prior to this finding, there was a question in the medical community as to whether either treatment might result in lowered mortality. Mortality data are compared in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00000124.


Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Laser Treatment for Vision Loss from Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion is Safer than Corticosteroid Injections and Equally Effective - September 2009

Scientists in the Standard Care vs. Corticosteroid for Retinal Vein Occlusion study have found that laser therapy is equivalent to two different dosages of corticosteroid medications for treating vision loss from the blockage of small veins in the back of the eye, a condition known as branch retinal vein occlusion. The results appeared in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00105027.


Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

New Treatment Found to Reduce Vision Loss from Central Retinal Vein Occlusion - Eye Injections of Corticosteroid Medication May Improve Patients' Vision - September 2009

Scientists in the Standard Care vs. Corticosteroid for Retinal Vein Occlusion study have identified the first long-term, effective treatment to improve vision and reduce vision loss associated with blockage of large veins in the eye. The results appeared in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00105027.


Cornea

Older Corneas Suitable for Transplantation, Study Shows Could Expand Donor Pool Significantly - April 2008

The age pool of corneas for transplant should be expanded to include donors up to 75 years of age, based on findings from the Cornea Donor Study. Corneal transplants using tissue from older donors have similar rates of survival to those using tissue from younger donors. The study was published in Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00006411.


Convergence Insufficiency

More Effective Treatment Identified for Common Childhood Vision Disorder - October 2008

Scientists in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial have found a more effective treatment for a common childhood eye muscle coordination problem called convergence insufficiency (CI). Results were published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00338611.


Diabetes-Related Eye Complications

ACCORD Eye Study Finds Two Therapies Slow Diabetic Eye Disease Progression - June 2010

In high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that two therapies may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans. Results of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Eye Study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00542178.

Older Treatment May Be More Effective in Preserving Sight for Some Patients with Diabetes - New Drug Treatment Not as Successful and Had More Side Effects than Laser Treatment - July 2008

A promising new drug therapy used to treat abnormal swelling in the eye--a condition called diabetic macular edema--proved less effective than traditional laser treatments. The study published in Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00367133.

Comparative-Effectiveness Study Confirms New Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema - Ranibizumab Injections plus Laser Therapy Results in Dramatic Visual Improvement - April 2010

Researchers have shown that ranibizumab eye injections, often in combination with laser treatment, result in better vision than laser treatment alone for diabetes-associated swelling of the retina. The results were published in Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00444600.


Glaucoma

Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study - November 2001

A standard medical treatment for newly diagnosed glaucoma is using eye drops and/or laser treatment to lower the pressure inside the eye. However, recent studies of glaucoma treatment had questioned this approach, suggesting that the risk of vision loss from glaucoma could be reduced by instead having immediate surgery, called filtration surgery. The Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study investigators concluded that the study results provide no reason to change current treatment approaches to glaucoma. Results were reported in Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000149.

Immediate Treatment Helps Delay Progression of Glaucoma - October 2002

Researchers in the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial found that immediately treating people who have early-stage glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. This finding supports an emerging consensus in the medical community that treatment to lower pressure inside the eye can slow glaucoma damage and subsequent vision loss. The results were published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000132.

Eye Drops Delay Onset of Glaucoma in People at Higher Risk - June 2002

Researchers in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study discovered that eye drops used to treat elevated pressure inside the eye can be effective in delaying the onset of glaucoma. These results mean that treating people at higher risk for developing glaucoma may delay--and possibly prevent--the disease. These findings were reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000125.

Eye Drops May Delay or Prevent Glaucoma in African Americans at Higher Risk - June 2004

Eye drops that reduce elevated pressure inside the eye can delay or possibly prevent the onset of glaucoma in African Americans at higher risk for developing the disease, researchers have found. These findings indicate how important it is to identify African Americans at higher risk for developing glaucoma so they can receive prompt evaluation for possible medical treatment. These results from the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study were reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00000125.


Histoplasmosis

Statement: Eye Surgery on Histoplasmosis Lesions Provides Limited Benefits - November 2004

For most patients with abnormal blood vessels in the eye, either as a delayed complication from a fungus infection called histoplasmosis or from unknown causes, surgery will not likely improve vision. However, for those patients whose vision had been poor just prior to operating, surgery may increase the chances of improving or stabilizing it. These conclusions are part of the results of the Submacular Surgery Trials (SST). Two papers from the SST appeared in Archives of Ophthalmology. ClnicalTrials.gov # NCT00000150.


Retinitis Pigmentosa

Statement: Clinical Trial of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A Treatment - September 2004

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation at a dose of 1,200 milligrams per day for four years did not, on average, slow the course of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in adult RP patients already taking vitamin A supplements (vitamin A palmitate 15,000 IU/day), an established treatment for RP. These findings are reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology.


Retinopathy of Prematurity

Strategy Confirmed to Help Doctors Determine When to Treat Retinopathy of Prematurity - April 2010

Scientists have shown that through an eye exam, doctors can identify infants who are most likely to benefit from early treatment for a potentially blinding eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity, resulting in better vision for many children. These long-term results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity study confirm that the visual benefit of early treatment for selected infants continues through six years of age. The research was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00027222

Early Treatment of Blinding Eye Disease in Infants Can Prevent Severe Vision Loss - December 2003

The Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study has provided doctors with improved prognostic indicators and treatment options for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a blinding disease that affects premature, low-birth-weight infants. ROP spurs the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye. These vessels leak fluid and blood and scar the nerve tissue inside the eye, increasing the risk of retinal detachment and severe vision loss in infants. These conclusions were published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00027222.


Trichiasis

A Single Dose of One Antibiotic for Treating Trichiasis Is More Effective than a Six-Week Regimen of Another Antibiotic - March 2006

The Surgery for Trichiasis, Antibiotics to Prevent Recurrence clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has concluded that a single dose of azithromycin taken by mouth after surgery reduces by one-third the recurrence of a vision-threatening eyelid condition called trichiasis. This is in contrast to the usual six-week regimen of tetracycline ointment applied directly to the eye. This study was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00347776.



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