What's Inside
- Can coffee cause vision impairment?
- Climate change may be contributing to blindness.
- Diabetes drug may help with glaucoma.
- Implants for glaucoma patients.
- And, about 13 stories about the science, medicine and prevention of blindness.
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
Welcome to the 43rd edition of Science Briefs. This edition has 14 stories about the science, medicine and prevention of blindness. I find the science stories to be quite fascinating but must admit that sometimes the vocabulary of these articles can be a bit hard for me, I was a career software engineer and manager thereof so the language of medicine and research into vision issues is a bit obscure to me. Thankfully, we have the Internet and I have dictionaries available.
I hope you enjoy this edition and find something useful in it.
Disclaimer
World Blind herald does not write the stories to which we link in Science Briefs, we gather them, curate them and bring them to our readers. We are not scientists ourselves and cannot guarantee the validity of the stories in this digest. We do, however, want to be very clear that you should not attempt any of the medical interventions mentioned in Science Briefs without first consulting a professional ophthalmologist and discussing it with them. Do not take medical advice from this or any other web site or podcast without first consulting a professional.
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Science and Medicine
Can coffee cause blindness or damage eyesight?
Moderate coffee consumption does not directly cause vision impairment or eye damage. This story comes to us from: Medical News Today.
Study Shows Direct Impact of Warmer Climate on Significant Vision Impairment in Elderly Individuals
According to recent research from the University of Toronto, American seniors who live in warm climates are more likely to experience "serious vision impairment" than those who reside in colder climates. This story comes to us from: Sportskeeda.
Now scientists say climate change is making us BLIND
Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses? This story comes to us from: Daily Mail.
University of Galway leading new project to tackle rare diseases that impact sight
The RESTORE VISION consortium plans to address this complicated rare diseases situation by formulating novel treatments and using repurposed drugs that have been validated in different disease indications. This story comes to us from: Connacht Tribune.
Diabetes Drug Metformin May Protect Your Eyes From Glaucoma, According to New Study
Excitingly, scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery: they have … Glaucoma stands as the leading cause of irreversible blindness. This story comes to us from: Revyuh.
Genetic discovery could lead to a treatment for glaucoma blindness
The largest-ever global genetic study of glaucoma has uncovered more genes associated with the disease. This story comes to us from: New Atlas.
NHS to offer 'life-saving' treatment to prevent blindness
Premature babies with retinopathy of prematurity to be routinely offered ranibizumab as a treatment for blindness. This story comes to us from: National Health Executive.
Developing minimally invasive smart glaucoma implants
Glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause irreversible blindness, is a major health concern worldwide. This story comes to us from: Medical Xpress.
Study reveals diabetic retinopathy affecting more people than previously estimated
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness. This story comes to us from: KOMO News.
Jigawa: BMZ funds free eye surgery, treatment for 3.9m persons
The Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI) has launched a project in Jigawa State aimed at providing free eye surgeries and addressing other eye-related cases for a total of 3.9 million people. This story comes to us from: Tribune Online.
Diabetic macular edema: lasting improvements with new treatment
The researchers are excited by the results, believing aflibercept 8 mg could help reduce the burden of disease for many patients. New two-year (96-week) results from the pivotal Photon trial demonstrate that aflibercept 8 mg offers lasting improvements for patients with diabetic macular edema (Dme), a condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness. This story comes to us from: Breaking Latest News.
Preventing Blindness
In Nepal, surgeon runs free treatment camps for impoverished blind people
Nepal has one of the world's highest rates of cataracts and subsequent blindness, with devastating consequences for the country's poor. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
UB researcher's eye bank holds keys to combatting blindness
Professor Margaret DeAngelis research on blindness … in 2012 as a tenured associate professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. This story comes to us from: Buffalo News.
The Medical Minute: Early detection key to protecting vision from glaucoma
Too much pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to vision loss, or worse end in blindness. This story comes to us from: Penn State Health News.