Eye Health Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Eye Cells “Rewire” Themselves When Vision Begins to Fail

The AHA! Team — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:19:44 +0000

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences via Newswise – Mouse study reveals how retinal neurons adapt by forming new connections during early stages of inherited blindness Retinal cells can rewire themselves Scientists at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have discovered that certain retinal cells can rewire themselves when vision begins to deteriorate in retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that leads to progressive blindness. In a study using mouse models, researchers found that rod bipolar cells, neurons that normally receive signals from rods that provide night vision, can form new functional connections with cones that provide daytime vision when their usual partners stop working. The study appears in Current Biology. Why it matters Retinitis pigmentosa affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of inherited blindness. While the disease often progresses slowly, with some patients maintaining a surprising amount of usable vision into middle age, little is known about how retinal circuits adapt to cell loss. Understanding these natural adaptation mechanisms could reveal new targets for treatments aimed at preserving vision. What the study did Researchers used rhodopsin knockout mice that model early retinitis pigmentosa, where rod cells cannot respond to light and degeneration proceeds slowly. They made electrical recordings from individual rod bipolar cells, neurons that normally connect to rods, to see how these cells behaved when their usual input was lost. The team also used additional mouse models lacking different components of rod signaling to determine what triggers the rewiring process. They supported their single-cell findings with whole-retina electrical measurements. What they found Rod bipolar cells in mice lacking functional rods showed large-amplitude responses driven by cone cells instead of their normal rod inputs. These rewired responses were strong and had the expected electrical characteristics of cone-driven signals. The rewiring occurred specifically in mice with rod degeneration, but not in other mouse models that lacked rod light responses without actual cell death. This suggests that the cellular rewiring is triggered by the degeneration process itself, rather than simply the absence of light responses or broken synapses. The findings complement the research team’s previous 2023 work showing that individual cone cells can remain functional even after severe structural changes in later disease stages. Together, these studies reveal that retinal circuits maintain function through different adaptation mechanisms at various stages of disease progression. The research shows that retinal adaptation occurs through different mechanisms at various disease stages, which could help scientists identify new targets for preserving vision in patients with inherited retinal diseases. From the experts “Our findings show that the retina adapts to the loss of rods in ways that attempt to preserve daytime light sensitivity in the retina,” said senior author A.P. Sampath, PhD of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. “When the usual connections between rod bipolar cells and rods are lost, these cells can rewire themselves to receive signals from cones instead. The signal for this plasticity appears to be degeneration itself, perhaps through the role of glial support cells or factors released by dying cells.” What’s next One of the open questions is whether this rewiring represents a general mechanism used by the retina when rods die. The group is currently exploring this possibility with other mutant mice that carry mutations to rhodopsin and other rod proteins that are known to cause retinitis pigmentosa in humans. About the study Published in Current Biology (2025). “Photoreceptor degeneration induces homeostatic rewiring of rod bipolar cells.” DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.057 About the Research Team Paul J. Bonezzi, Rikard Frederiksen, Annabelle N. Tran, Kyle Kim, Gordon L. Fain, and Alapakkam P. Sampath from the Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Paul J. Bonezzi and Rikard Frederiksen contributed equally to this work. Funding and Disclosures This work was supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health USA (EY36811 and EY01844) and an unrestricted grant by Research to Prevent Blindness to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology. The authors have no disclosures. To read the original article click here.

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New Drug Shows Promise in Restoring Vision for People with Nerve Damage

The AHA! Team — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:24:11 +0000

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus via EurekAlert! – Research from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus reveals drug could potentially help repair vision in those with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found a promising drug candidate that could help restore vision in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions that damage neurons. The study was published this week in the journal Nature Communications. The drug, LL-341070, enhances the brain’s ability to repair damaged myelin— the protective sheath around nerve fibers. Damage to myelin is a hallmark of diseases like MS, as well as a natural consequence of aging, often resulting in vision loss, loss of motor skills, and cognitive decline. The research, focused on vision, demonstrated that while the brain has some ability to repair itself when myelin is damaged, the process can be slow and inefficient. Researchers observed that LL-341070 significantly accelerated the repair process and improved brain function related to vision in mice, even after severe damage. “This research brings us closer to a world where the brain has the capacity to heal itself” “This research brings us closer to a world where the brain has the capacity to heal itself” said Ethan Hughes, PhD, co-lead author and associate professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the CU School of Medicine. “By harnessing this potential, we hope to help people with diseases like MS by potentially reversing some of the damage, offering people the opportunity to regain their vision and cognitive function.” Researchers discovered that the treatment makes the repair process is much more effective following serious damage, highlighting the importance of intervention with severe injury. Even partial repair of myelin was found to significantly improve vision-related brain functions. “We’ve known for years that myelin plays a crucial role in brain function” “We’ve known for years that myelin plays a crucial role in brain function,” said Daniel Denman, PhD, co-lead author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the CU School of Medicine. “This study highlights the role of cortical myelin in visual function. The drug could be a game-changer because it accelerates the brain’s natural repair mechanisms.” The researchers plan to test the drug in other areas of the brain and refine the treatment, hoping to make it even more effective and eventually accessible to patients. “This discovery is just the beginning,” Hughes said. “We are optimistic that LL-341070 and similar therapies could one day provide real, tangible benefits to patients by improving overall brain function and quality of life.” About the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes and two nationally ranked independent hospitals – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado – which see more than two million adult and pediatric patient visits yearly. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by $910 million in annual research funding, including $757 million in sponsored awards and $153 million in philanthropic gifts. Journal Nature Communications To read the original article click here.

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Choose the Right Artificial Lens for Your Cataract Surgery

The AHA! Team — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:35:31 +0000

Larissa Biggers via Duke Health – Cataract surgery involves removing a clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (also called an IOL) to improve your vision. However, not all IOLs are the same. Cataract surgery involves removing a clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (also called an IOL) to improve your vision. However, not all IOLs are the same. Some can help you see near or far even better. Choosing the right lens for you can be confusing. Here, Duke corneal specialist, Terry Kim, MD, explains your options. What are my intraocular lens options? You have a one-time opportunity to select the lens that’s going to give you the best possible vision and improve your quality of life. It’s important for your doctor to explain all the options so you can make the best choice for you. Monofocal lenses correct your vision for distance or for near. You decide which is more important to you. For instance, you may want to correct your distant vision so you can drive without glasses but wear glasses for near work. If you are an artist or a dentist, you might choose to improve your near vision and wear glasses for distance. Toric lenses reduce your astigmatism to help improve the quality of your vision. Presbyopia-correcting lenses (also called multi-focal or extended depth-of-focus lenses) correct both near and far vision. For many people, this means depending less on distance glasses and reading glasses after cataract surgery. Which lens is right for me? That depends on your needs. If you’re comfortable wearing glasses after cataract surgery, a monofocal lens may be the right choice. If you want to avoid wearing distance glasses after cataract surgery and have astigmatism, a toric lens might be appropriate. A presbyopia-correcting lens may be best if you want to avoid wearing distance and reading glasses after cataract surgery. It all comes down to what you want in terms of improving your eyesight and lifestyle. Are all IOLs covered by insurance? Monofocal lenses are fully covered. Toric lenses and presbyopia-correcting lens are not covered by insurance. You will pay an additional out-of-pocket expense — around $1000 per eye for toric and between $2000 and $2600 per eye for presbyopia-correcting lenses — if you choose one of these IOLs. How long does vision correction last? Vision correction achieved with cataract surgery is permanent. Is the surgery performed differently based on the type of lens you choose? Cataract surgery is the same no matter which IOL you select, but surgeons can use one of two approaches. In traditional cataract surgery, your eye surgeon uses a thin blade to make incisions in your eye, removes the cataract, and replaces it with the artificial lens. In laser-assisted cataract surgery, the surgeon uses a laser to make the incisions, which allows for more precision and safety. The surgeon then removes the cataract and replaces it with the artificial lens. Laser-assisted surgery can also reduce astigmatism, which is harder to achieve with traditional surgery. It’s important to note that insurance plans don’t cover laser surgery for cataracts. What should people know when considering cataract surgery? It’s important for you to spend one-on-one time with your eye surgeon before the procedure. Your surgeon should explain the surgical procedure and your lens options. Understanding your choices is the only way you can make an informed decision. To read the original article click here.

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Daily Pistachio Consumption Linked to Improved Eye Health

The AHA! Team — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 06:23:49 +0000

American Pistachio Growers via News-Medical – A new study from researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University has found that consuming pistachios daily may significantly improve eye health by increasing macular pigment optical density (MPOD), due to the plant pigment lutein, a key factor in protecting the eyes from blue (visible) light and age-related damage. The randomized controlled trial showed that compared to eating a usual diet alone, eating 2 ounces (57 grams) of pistachios per day for 12 weeks as part of a usual diet resulted in a significant increase in MPOD in otherwise healthy middle-aged to older adults. MPOD is an important indicator of eye health, as it protects the retina and is linked to a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in older adults. Findings from this research are timely, as according to a national poll by the American Foundation for the Blind, Americans fear vision loss more than they fear other serious health problems. Key findings Increased MPOD: Participants who consumed pistachios daily saw a significant rise in MPOD after just 6 weeks, with the effect sustained throughout the 12-week study. Natural Lutein Source: Pistachios are the only nut that provides a measurable source of lutein, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the eyes. AMD Prevention Potential: The study suggests that regular pistachio consumption could offer a natural dietary approach to reducing the risk of AMD. “Our findings indicate that pistachios are not only a nutritious snack, but they may also provide significant benefits for eye health. This is especially important as people age and face higher risks of vision impairment.” Dr. Tammy Scott, a research and clinical neuropsychologist and lead author of the study Unique role of lutein from pistachios and eye health Lutein, found in pistachios, plays a critical role in maintaining eye health by filtering blue light and acting as an antioxidant in the eye. The study found that pistachio consumption nearly doubled participants’ daily intake of lutein, which is typically very low in most American diets, and significantly raised plasma levels of lutein. Dr. Scott explains that in the study, participants were selected to have low habitual baseline lutein intakes in their diet and just 2 ounces per day rapidly increased lutein levels in the blood in only 6 weeks. “By simply incorporating a handful of pistachios into your diet, you can improve your intake of lutein, which is crucial for protecting your eyes,” notes Dr. Scott. She adds that pistachios provide a source of healthy fat, potentially making the lutein from pistachios better taken up into the body. In the study, about 1.6 mg of lutein was provided from pistachios, which would be enough to double the average daily consumption of lutein, which is in a class of plant pigments known as xanthophylls, in U.S. adults. Broader health benefits of lutein Beyond supporting eye health, the lutein found in pistachios may also benefit brain function. “Lutein crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation,” notes Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, a co-investigator on the study. As with the eye, lutein selectively accumulates in the brain and may play a role in reducing cognitive decline. Studies suggest higher lutein levels are associated with better cognitive performance, including memory and processing speed, making pistachios a valuable addition to a diet aimed at supporting overall healthy aging. Source: American Pistachio Growers Journal reference: Scott, T. M., et al. (2024). Pistachio consumption increases Macular Pigment Optical Density in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nutrition. doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.10.022. To read the original article click here.

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LASIK: What You Need to Know

The AHA! Team — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:04:15 +0000

Kourtney H. Houser, MD via Duke Health – Chances are, you know someone who has had LASIK surgery, or you may have considered the procedure yourself. Despite the allure of ditching daily eyewear, the decision to undergo this elective surgery is one most people understandably deliberate on for quite a while. Here, Duke corneal specialist Kourtney Houser. MD, explains what you need to know if you are considering LASIK surgery. Is LASIK as quick, easy, and painless as it’s sometimes described? Make no mistake — LASIK is surgery, and anyone who implies otherwise is not forthcoming. The surgeon creates a flap in the cornea, and a laser is used to reshape the underlying cornea. The surgery takes less than ten minutes, and patients feel pressure but no pain. However, that does not mean it is a simple procedure that just anyone can perform. Like any surgery, the experience of the surgeon is the most important factor in achieving the best results. What factors are important when considering LASIK? In addition to the surgeon’s experience, several elements are crucial to success with LASIK surgery. It starts with a thorough preoperative exam by a qualified surgeon and staff to ensure you are a good candidate. The quality of the surgical tools, such as the laser used, is also very important. We believe that having dedicated, on-site laser machines in a controlled operating room environment, where temperature and humidity are constantly monitored, contributes to better outcomes in our patients. We also have two different excimer laser platforms so that we can customize the procedure to each patient’s eye measurements and ensure the best vision possible. What complications are possible, and how common are they? Any eye procedure has a risk of vision loss, infection, or scarring, but thankfully this is very rare with LASIK. We actually think that the infection risk is less than that with contact lens wear over a patient’s lifetime, based on some reviews. Other risks include needing a second procedure, worsened dry eye, and development of pain or discomfort in the eyes, but most of these can be avoided by appropriate and in-depth pre-operative screening. Our rate of complications is extremely low, with the majority of them occurring less than 1% of the time. Our rates of enhancement (the need for additional laser adjustments) are under 2%. Who is not a good candidate for LASIK? Good question. There are people who are not candidates for LASIK surgery. In fact, I generally turn down roughly 20% of the prospective patients who come in for an evaluation. Some of the more common reasons include high refractive errors (nearsightedness or farsightedness), dry eyes, thin or abnormally shaped corneas, cataracts, and retinal problems from diabetes. The good news is that if you do not qualify for LASIK, Duke offers an array of alternative surgical procedures, such as PRK, phakic intraocular lenses, and cataract surgery with presbyopia- or astigmatism-correcting intraocular lenses. How long do improvements last? Improvements typically last a lifetime, though there can be some slight regression with time depending on your prescription. Also, most patients will develop a need for reading glasses as they reach their 40s and 50s–and while this doesn’t signify the LASIK “not working” anymore, it does usually require patients to wear glasses for some near tasks. What’s the bottom line when considering LASIK? LASIK is not for everybody, but those who are good candidates can experience a life-changing experience–independence from glasses or contact lenses and the freedom to see without correction for many years. As with any surgery, people should do their homework beforehand and choose a surgeon and facility in which they have confidence. To read the original article click here.

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3D Printing Your Own Personalized Contact Lenses

The AHA! Team — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:26:35 +0000

John Jeffay via Israel21c – Lensy envisions that within a few years, the optometrist will check your vision, press a button and hand you a perfect pair of custom contact lenses. Instant 3D-printed contact lenses are the future. You’ll go for an eye exam, the optometrist will check your vision, press a button, and within minutes you’ll have a pair of contact lenses that are a perfect fit and provide perfect vision. Leonardo da Vinci came up with the theoretical idea of contact lenses in 1508. They didn’t become a practical reality until the 1930s. Yet even now they haven’t really taken off. Three billion people globally wear glasses, but only 150 million opt for contacts. The reason: Price and comfort. Contact lenses work out to be far more expensive than eyeglasses, especially now that 90 percent of users choose disposables. And many people find they simply can’t wear them – because their eyes are the wrong shape. Eyes are a bit like feet, Edan Kenig, CEO at Israeli startup Lensy, tells ISRAEL21c. They come in different shapes and sizes. Yet off-the-shelf contact lenses are “one-size-fits-all” aside from the optical part in the center. So they more or less fit 70% of the world’s population, but for the other 30%, it’s just tough. That’s because the big players in the optical market use the same molds to mass-manufacture millions of lenses. Some inevitably end up being too loose, some too tight, depending on tiny but significant differences in eye shape and size. Kenig says his technology will solve both the price and comfort problems, and his lenses could be available to buy four years from now. Resin 3D “I would really like to wear contact lens for the whole day,” says Kenig, who is extremely short-sighted (a minus-11 prescription). “But now I’m limited to use them only for sport [he does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu] for a few hours because it’s not comfortable for me.” He’s a biophysicist by training and later became an engineer and an entrepreneur, learning how to develop ideas into products. He saw the potential of an emerging technology called resin 3D-printing, a more sophisticated form of standard 3D printing. It uses UV light to “cure” or harden a resin, rather than squirting material through a nozzle to build objects layer by layer. Kenig and his small team, based in Rehovot, central Israel, have adapted a form of contact lens material and developed a technique to resin 3D-print it. They’ve got as far as printing a contact lens — and say they’re the first to have done so — but still need to perfect it before they can try it out in a human eye. Custom solutions Lensy is an early-stage startup founded in early 2022 with help from the Israel Innovation Authority. The company currently has no external funding. Big companies are also researching and developing printed lenses, says Kenig, but they’re planning what he calls “large, cumbersome, expensive printers” rather than the desktop version he’s working on. For the 70% of people with “normal” eyes, mass-produced lenses will likely remain the best option, he says. For the other 30%, tailored lenses will be a gamechanger. “The further away you are away from the average fit, the more problems you’re going to have, such as people with a high astigmatism, people with high myopia and people with peculiar eye shapes that are not round and not spherical. “The optometrist will then have the opportunity to make a custom solution so the patient will have an affordable, comfortable fit that’s tailored to their needs.” The machine will be available on a lease basis, using capsules that will cost the optometrist $50 per eye. The lenses will be reusable, although it’s possible that the technology will evolve to produce disposables. Like shoes “Contact lenses aren’t a new solution, yet they have many disadvantages that haven’t been resolved by better materials or better designs,” Kenig says. Around a fifth of wearers give up on them every year, he says. So although new users are always starting, the market is effectively stagnant. That’s partly to do with the cost – around $4 a day, he says – but largely because of the one-size-fits-all restriction. “It’s like going into a shoe store,” says Kenig, “and all the shoes are size nine [42 in Europe]. So if you’re size nine, great. If you’re size eight, you will have some problems. But if you’re seven or 11, it’ll be impossible.” Kenig says getting contact lenses today is time-consuming, cumbersome and labor-intensive, and the patient has to be really committed. Even a minor miscalculation means the optician will have to have the lenses redone. “If you have problem with your off-the-shelf contact lens, the optician will tell you to take glasses instead. They don’t have the tools to tailor your lenses.” In the future, Kenig says Lensy could make contact lenses that incorporate existing technology for kids that actually slows the progress of myopia as their eyes grow. Kenig also says lenses could one day be impregnated with slow-release drugs to avoid the need for painful eye injections, and smart contact lenses could be embedded with sensors and cameras. For more information, click here. To read the original article click here.

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Improving Vision with At-Home Brain Exercises

The AHA! Team — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:08:57 +0000

John Jeffay via Israel21c – RevitalVision offers a unique intervention for people with eyesight challenges, treating the brain where images are processed. Doctors told Amit Azulay again and again that she’d never be able to drive because of medical conditions affecting her eyesight. She proved them wrong — using a unique piece of software developed by a startup in Israel that has been clinically proven to improve vision. Despite suffering nystagmus (involuntary eye movements) and albinism, her eyesight became good enough to apply for a license (see her delighted response to the news here). Amit, aged 25, is one of many patients who say the online training exercises have literally changed their lives. RevitalVision offers a unique intervention for people with eyesight challenges. It doesn’t treat the eye. It treats the brain. The eye is the hardware, providing the best optical signal it can. But in many cases, the brain struggles to process that signal. That could be because of medical conditions including diabetes, glaucoma or AMD (age-related macular degeneration). It could be a cataract patient whose hardware has been upgraded (cloudy lenses replaced with clear ones) but whose software (the brain) hasn’t caught up. Or somebody who’s had laser surgery but now has blurry vision resulting from reduced contrast sensitivity and still has to wear glasses. Or somebody with “lazy eye” (amblyopia) whose brain sidelines signals from the eye that doesn’t work as well as the other. Or somebody who’s borderline for wearing glasses and would prefer not to. RevitalVision addresses all these problems, and more, with a structured program that trains the brain to better make sense of the blurry signals it receives. Screams of joy RevitalVision’s program typically involves three half-hour, at-home computer sessions per week for two or three months. Patients are trained via a dedicated app. The result, says Yair Yahav, the company’s CEO, is a measurable improvement in vision of 20% to 25%, equivalent to an extra two or more lines on a standard eye chart or, in many cases, the difference between a driving license and no license. “Some patients come to our premises in Modi’in [central Israel], where we have a team of optometrists,” he tells ISRAEL21c. “About once a week I hear screams of joy from a patient in another room who now has good enough vision to qualify for a driving license. We have people who are literally crying. “They’ve been told their whole life that there’s no way, forget it, you’ll never be able to drive. “Then they come to us and if they’re missing just one or two lines [on the eye chart], that’s the average, we tell them they have an 85% to 90% chance of success.” One patient testimonial is from a woman who couldn’t read the label on her medicine, or see well enough to sign a check. She now can. Another, a graduate student with congenital nystagmus, always had to sit at the front of the class to read the board. Now she can sit anywhere. “It’s really lifechanging for many, many people,” says Yahav. Image processing He explains the science behind what they do. “The quality of the image we see depends both on image capturing and image processing,” he says. “We don’t treat the lens of the eye; we treat the brain by enhancing its ability to process visual information, which results in significant vision improvement.” The brain training is based on a “Gabor patch,” which looks like a grid of blurry black and white stripes on a gray background. It was invented by Dennis Gabor, who was born in Hungary, fled the Holocaust, invented holography, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1971. His seemingly simple image perfectly matches the shape of the receptive fields of neurons, or nerve cells, in the part of the brain that processes visual information. Repeatedly stimulating those neurons improves their performance, just like physical exercise at the gym builds muscle, says Yahav. Shoring up weaknesses RevitalVision uses an algorithm to understand exactly where the weaknesses lie for each patient. In a typical on-screen exercise, the patient sees three images pop up, two of a Gabor patch and one of a blank. They have to click, using their computer’s mouse, to indicate which is which. The exercises get harder and harder, with the Gabor patch appearing less clear or further toward the edge of the patient’s field of vision. All the time, the algorithm is assessing responses and adjusting the images it displays accordingly. “Our software maps the patient’s cortical deficits, neurons that do not respond well. Then the algorithm tailors specific stimulation to match those deficits,” says Yahav. “Once the patient is consistently answering correctly, the software knows that’s the exact threshold, the maximum vision of the patient in this exercise, and moves on to the next one. “We are training the neurons to be more responsive and restoring the basic mechanism of visual processing in the brain,” he says. FDA approved Yahav says RevitalVision has “the only regulated product approved by the FDA with clinical claims to improve vision for a variety of eye diseases and impairments.” Some products approved to treat amblyopia, he says, are not for those over the age of nine. RevitalVision builds on pre-Internet technology developed in Israel, which it acquired from another company. This technology was launched commercially two years ago as a web-based product available by direct purchase or through an eyecare specialist. So far, the company’s product has treated 15,000 patients. “We’ve raised $7 million so far and we’re raising another $6 million. Now we are scaling up,” says Yahav. The company received a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority during its product development stage, and is conducting trials at Shamir Medical Center associated with Tel Aviv University. It currently employs six people in Israel, six in India and one in the UK. The potential market is so huge that the biggest challenge right now is to spread the word, says Yahav. For more information, click here. To read the original article click here.

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Little-Known Berry Shows Promise for Eye Health and Beyond

The AHA! Team — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 08:17:29 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – Nestled in the forests of Europe and North America lies a tiny berry with outsized health benefits. The bilberry, a close cousin of the blueberry, is emerging as a nutritional powerhouse that could revolutionize our approach to wellness and disease prevention. Often overlooked in favor of more common foods, this small, dark fruit packs a powerful punch when it comes to health benefits. Recent studies have uncovered a treasure trove of potential advantages, from boosting metabolism to safeguarding vision and even combating chronic diseases. Promising research: Bilberry extract and fish oil for severe dry eye relief This study investigated the effects of a dietary supplement containing bilberry extract and fish oil on severe dry eye symptoms. The research involved 24 subjects with severe dry eye symptoms, split evenly into intervention and control groups. The intervention group took a daily supplement containing 600 mg bilberry extract and 240 mg DHA-refined fish oil for 3 months, while the control group did not take any supplements. The study used several measurements to assess eye health: The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score: A questionnaire that measures how much discomfort a person experiences from dry eyes. Non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT): A test that shows how quickly the tear film on the eye’s surface starts to break up, indicating how stable and effective the tears are. Phenol red thread test (PRT): A simple way to measure how much moisture the eye produces. Percentage of meibomian gland openings: This checks the health of glands that produce oils essential for preventing tear evaporation. These tests together provide a comprehensive picture of eye health and the severity of dry eye symptoms. After 3 months, the intervention group showed improvements in all outcome measures. Compared to the control group, there were significant improvements in OSDI score, NITBUT, and PRT. Notably, these improvements were consistent across different age groups, including both younger adults and middle-aged participants. The study suggests that dietary supplementation with bilberry extract and fish oil may improve both signs and symptoms of severe dry eyes, regardless of age. From eye health to cancer prevention The benefits of bilberries extend far beyond eye health. Emerging research indicates that these potent berries may play a role in supporting overall cardiovascular health. Some studies have shown that bilberry consumption may help decrease cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol. This effect, combined with the berries’ potential to improve blood vessel function, makes them a promising natural ally in the fight against heart disease. Furthermore, bilberries show promise in blood sugar management, making them of particular interest to those at risk of or living with diabetes. The berries appear to have a positive effect on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, potentially helping to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Bilberries’ anti-inflammatory properties also make them a subject of interest in cognitive health research. Some scientists believe that regular consumption of these berries might help protect against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, though more research is needed in this area. As if these benefits weren’t enough, bilberries are also being studied for their potential anti-cancer properties. The high levels of antioxidants in these berries may help protect cells from damage that can lead to cancer, and some laboratory studies have shown promising results in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. While more research is needed to fully understand the extent of bilberries’ health benefits, the existing evidence paints a picture of a truly remarkable fruit. From supporting eye health to potentially fighting chronic diseases, these tiny berries pack a powerful punch when it comes to promoting overall wellness. As research continues, it’s likely that we’ll uncover even more reasons to add this superfruit to our diets. Harness the power of bilberries in your diet Incorporating bilberries into your diet can be both easy and delicious: Brew bilberry tea for a traditional remedy Add fresh or frozen bilberries to smoothies Consume bilberry extract supplements Enjoy handfuls of whole bilberries as a snack Whether you opt for fresh berries, supplements, or extracts, adding bilberries to your diet could be a simple yet powerful step towards better health. As always, consult with a holistic healthcare professional before starting any new supplement routine, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking medications. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov Lifeextension.com To read the original article click here.

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Improving Vision with At-Home Brain Exercises

The AHA! Team — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:17:33 +0000

The post Improving Vision with At-Home Brain Exercises appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.