Computer gaming technology is being used to develop and pilot two low cost, next-generation screening tools for ‘lazy eye’ in children. NHS Forth Valley Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Iain Livingstone and Dr. Mario Giardini, senior lecturer in the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, have developed two prototype devices to […]
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates show that a billion people in 149 countries suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases. These include dengue, trachoma, filariasis and leishmaniasis, and are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or helminthes. Image of patient suffering from leprosy. These are called neglected because they […]
Optical microscopy is a technique employed to closely view a sample through the magnification of a lens with visible light. This is the traditional form of microscopy, which was first invented before the 18th century and is still in use today. ©science photo / Shutterstock.com An optical microscope, also sometimes […]
Blinking is a normal and physiologically important phenomenon. It is infrequent in newborn babies, hence their wide-eyed stare. The frequency slowly increases as the nervous system matures. Adults blink about 14-17 times a minute. But why do we blink? The importance of blinking includes its protective role in preventing the […]
Cells don't express all the genes they contain all the time. The portion of our genome that encodes eye color, for example, doesn't need to be turned on in liver cells. In plants, genes encoding the structure of a flower can be turned off in cells that will form a […]
Iridodonesis is a condition in which the iris (coloured part of the eye) vibrates during eye movements. Upon moving the eye rapidly, the iris can appear to ‘dance’, or ‘tremble’ (tremulousness). This occurs when the lens becomes partially detached (lens subluxation) from its suspensory ligaments. This itself is often asymptomatic […]
What if the degenerative eye conditions that lead to glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, and cataracts could be detected and treated before vision is impaired? Recent findings from the lab of Investigator Ting Xie, Ph.D., at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research point to the ciliary body as a key to unlocking […]
A rational design approach created novel variants of adeno-associated viral (AAV) capsids. These have improved transduction properties in the mouse retina and cornea. as reported in the peer-reviewed journal Human Gene Therapy. The efficient gene delivery of these variants was confirmed in non-human primate tissue. “The capsid modified AAV2 and […]
Sometimes, your seasonal allergies are pretty well under control—you’re taking your meds regularly and you’re not sneezing up a storm. But your eyes are still itchy and red. Other times, you seem to have no symptoms of seasonal allergies at all—no feeling fuzzy, no stuffed or runny nose—yet your eyes […]