Weekly Ophthalmic Newsletter

1. Scientists Develop Novel Gene Therapy for Glaucoma

Trinity College Dublin scientists, in collaboration with biotechnology company Exhaura Ltd., have made a significant development towards a new therapeutic treatment for?glaucoma.

The Smurfit Institute of Genetics team has demonstrated that a gene therapy-based approach can lower intraocular pressure in pre-clinical models of glaucoma. The study found that a single injection of a viral vector could increase aqueous fluid flow from the eye's front, resulting in decreased eye pressure. The viral vector was engineered to instruct cells to produce an enzyme matrix (metalloproteinase-3, or MMP-3) that kickstarts the fluid flow process.

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2. Revolutionary Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa Goes to Human Clinical Trials

Researchers at Michigan State University have conducted a gene therapy trial on dogs with an inherited eye disease that has yielded successful results. This therapy is now being prepared for clinical use in human patients suffering from a rare condition called?retinitis pigmentosa.

Both humans and dogs have a gene called cyclic nucleotide-gated channel beta 1 (CNGB1) that, when mutated, can lead to eye disease. Dogs can develop a type of progressive retinal atrophy, while humans can develop a form of retinitis pigmentosa that is similar to progressive retinal atrophy in dogs.

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3. Samsara's Implantable Telescope Restores Vision in UK Patients with Late-Stage AMD

Samsara Vision has made an announcement about a new procedure available for patients suffering from late-stage?age-related macular degeneration?(AMD) at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, which is the first NHS Trust in the United Kingdom.

The SING IMT? is a miniature implantable telescope that is only 10.8 mm in diameter, and it magnifies images, projecting them onto healthy photoreceptors that surround the macula at the back of the eye. This mechanism helps reduce the effects of the "blind spot" caused by AMD and enables people living in the final stages of this eye disease to see clearly again.

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4. FDA Warns of Unapproved Amniotic Fluid Eye Drops

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a?safety communication warning?against the use of amniotic fluid eye drops to treat dry eye disease. The FDA has found that some manufacturers are marketing and distributing these drops without the required premarket review and approval, which raises significant safety concerns.

Currently, there are no FDA-approved amniotic fluid eye drops to treat, mitigate, or cure eye diseases or conditions. In order for a healthcare practitioner to offer these products to patients, there must be an investigational new drug application (IND) in effect.

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5. Scientists Develop Low-Cost Contact Lenses for Color Blindness

A study recently published in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering has revealed that researchers at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates, including Ahmed Salih and Haider Butt, have developed contact lenses that can filter light to improve color blindness. The lenses were created using advanced 3D printing and a cost-effective dye.

To shape the lenses, an advanced 3D printing technology called mask stereolithography apparatus (MSLA) was used, which allows for quick, high-quality production at a low cost.?

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