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NEI Research News

Thanks to the work of NEI scientists and grantees, we’re constantly learning new information about the causes and treatment of vision disorders. Get the latest updates about their work — along with other news about NEI.

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67 items
Fundus photograph of age-related macular degeneration showing drusen.

Discovery suggests new way to prevent common causes of vision loss

UVA Health scientists have discovered an unknown contributor to harmful blood vessel growth in the eye that could lead to new treatments for blinding macular degeneration and other common causes of vision loss.

Early anti-VEGF treatment of diabetic retinopathy yields no benefit to visual acuity

While early treatment of diabetes-related eye disease slowed progression to severe disease, it did not improve visual acuity compared with treating more severe disease once it developed, according to a clinical study from the DRCR Retina Network.
Mexico and U.S. flags

US-Mexico Symposium highlights international collaborations, diabetic eye disease research

Session topics included assessing the global burden of diabetes-related eye disease; preventing, treating, and managing disease; and collaborating internationally.
A person with diabetes checks their blood sugar

Researchers unravel why episodes of low blood sugar worsen eye disease in people with diabetes

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have linked transient low blood sugar levels that occur in people with diabetes with a molecular pathway that is turned on in oxygen-starved cells in the eye.
Animation of abnormal blood vessels bleeding into the center of the eye due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Photo credit: National Eye Institute. Watch video.

Type 1 diabetes: Maintaining the enzyme ACE2 in the gut prevents diabetic blindness

Study from University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that a leaky small intestine that weakens the barrier between gut bacteria and the blood system may drive diabetic retinopathy.
Face-on view of an iris and pupil

National Institutes of Health awards Case Western Reserve University $7.3M for eye research

NEI grant will support examining impact of pain and inflammation on eye’s surface and possible link to diseases.

Powerful enzyme that tamps down inflammation holds promise for protecting eyes in diabetes, premature birth

An enzyme under study to treat certain cancers is also showing promise in reducing the significant vision damage that can result from diabetes and premature birth, scientists report.
Chirag Jhaveri, MD, examines the eyes of a patient.

A type of ‘step therapy’ is an effective strategy for diabetic eye disease

Clinical trial results from the DRCR Retina Network suggest that a specific step strategy gives results similar to starting off with the higher-priced drug.
retina blood vessels

Indiana University-led study shows human induced pluripotent stem cells improve visual acuity, vascular health

Researchers improved vision in a type 2 diabetes mouse model by reprogramming blood cells into endothelial cells with vessel reparative properties similar to endothelial colony forming cells.

Small amounts of carbon monoxide may help protect vision in diabetes

The Medical College of Georgia scientists have early evidence that HBI-002, a low-dose oral compound, can safely reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the retina, both early, major contributors to diabetic retinopathy.