2/22/20 Macular Degeneration

Primarily info on macular degeneration as I have a fair chance of battling this one. My grandmother had it and I have a gene that means I have a higher shot at than some. I am not a believer that genes are your destiny. I am doing all the things I do so I'll have a healthy lifespan. I plan to have a long, healthy life barring any unforeseen accidents. Nothing is guaranteed. I keep up with things as I'm continually finding that new info comes out that changes what has been accepted practice. Every day I learn something new!

2/22/20

Macular degeneration: Link found in eye disease treatment

Sufferers of a degenerative eye disease have been offered hope after a new link between a protein and the condition was discovered by scientists.

A team from four universities found significantly higher levels of a protein factor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients...
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-51547061

Increased circulating levels of Factor H-Related Protein 4 are strongly associated with age-related macular degeneration
...Our findings identify FHR-4 as a key molecular player contributing to complement dysregulation in AMD...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14499-3

2/21/20

AMD awareness: Close focus on preserving vision ...Dr. Khurana underscored two important points. First, that in the face of such a clinical scenario, early diagnosis is mandatory to start preventive treatment with high-dose antioxidant vitamins that may help prevent development of the vision-threatening complications of AMD...
https://www.modernretina.com/amd-awareness/amd-awareness-close-focus-preserving-vision

2/19/20

Lineage Cell Therapeutics to Present New Data From OpRegen® and Vision Restoration Programs at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (ARVO 2020)
"We continue to be encouraged by positive data with OpRegen for the treatment of dry AMD," stated Brian M. Culley, CEO of Lineage. "The five patients treated as part of cohort 4, which more closely match our intended patient population, have all demonstrated an increase in the number of letters they can read on an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Scale (ETDRS), having gained between 10 – 25 letters...
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lineage-cell-therapeutics-present-data-130000352.html

Amazing zebrafish cure human blindness: Medicine's next big thing?
Now researchers are looking into how a unique characteristic of a zebrafish can regenerate retinas in humans and keep people seeing as they age...
https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Amazing-zebrafish-cure-human-blindness-Medicines-next-big-thing-567981561.html

Ocutrx Vision Technologies promotes AR for macular degeneration
A California-based technology startup has developed an augmented reality headset meant to help patients cope with macular degeneration.
Mitchael Freeman, COO of Ocutrx Vision Technologies, LLC, presented the products and discussed how wearable devices, smartphones and artificial intelligence are changing healthcare at the Medical Design & Manufacturing West Conference.
Freeman highlighted the Oculenz Advanced Macular Degeneration ARwear, which has patented technology that uses complex algorithms to reposition video pixels from blurred vision areas to adjacent areas that still have viable vision...
https://www.mcknights.com/news/products/ocutrx-vision-technologies-promotes-ar-for-macular-degeneration/

Beovu approved for wet AMD in Europe 
The European Commission has approved Beovu for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, Novartis announced in a press release...
https://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/retina-vitreous/news/online/%7B6c19546a-d258-4bf4-a142-3608e82ae1c1%7D/beovu-approved-for-wet-amd-in-europe

2/14/20

Your Brain May be Disguising a Blinding Eye Disease
...According to a recent Harris Poll survey, most Americans are unaware that people do not always experience symptoms before losing vision to eye disease. During February, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging people to protect themselves from vision loss from AMD by getting a baseline eye exam by age 40...
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brain-may-disguising-blinding-eye-181700710.html

Periodontal disease may be risk factor for AMD
Periodontal diseases are a possible additional risk factor for age-related macular degeneration; however, the link between the two remains unclear, according to a literature review published in The Permanente Journal.
Recent studies have shown that AMD and periodontal diseases (PDs) have been associated with similar biomarkers, said the authors.
https://www.healio.com/optometry/retina-vitreous/news/online/%7Bb27d0a23-1c24-469d-b051-267c1bc4da01%7D/periodontal-disease-may-be-risk-factor-for-amd
My thoughts: I found this one particularly interesting as they are linking gingivitis, periodontal diseases, to Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. Guess I need to get my butt in gear and go see the dentist...yuck.

Revolutionary Eye Drops to Treat Macular Degeneration
Scientists have developed eye drops that could spell the end of painful injections directly into the eye to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
https://www.worldhealth.net/news/macular-degeneration-amd-eye-drops-revolutionary/