Publications

Publications from the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology

Researchers identify factors responsible for chronic nature of autoimmune disease

Researchers identify factors responsible for chronic nature of autoimmune disease

January 4, 2017

Boston, Mass. — Researchers from Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have uncovered two factors responsible for the chronic, lifelong nature of autoimmune disorders, which tend to “flare up” intermittently in affected patients. These two factors are cell-signaling proteins called cytokines—specifically Interleukin-7 and -15 (IL-7 and IL-15)—that are secreted by cells of the immune system and help modulate memory Th17 cells, a subset of T cells which are known to contribute to autoimmune disorders. Until now, it was unclear how Th17 cells...

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Inflammatory Factors Cause Damage to Back of Eye Following Keratoprosthesis Implantation

Inflammatory Factors Cause Damage to Back of Eye Following Keratoprosthesis Implantation

April 7, 2016

Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have identified inflammatory factors that contribute to optic nerve damage following keratoprosthesis (KPro) implantation in a mouse model. They have also shown that blocking one of the factors, TNFa, leads to a significant decrease in optic nerve cell death, suggesting a new direction for preventing optic nerve damage in patients with keratoprosthesis implants.

BOSTON – Researchers from...

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New Research Links Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Development of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), a Common Cause of Corneal Swelling and Blindness

New Research Links Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Development of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), a Common Cause of Corneal Swelling and Blindness

March 7, 2016

Findings could eventually lead to first non-surgical therapies and treatments for FECD. 

BOSTON -- Researchers at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have shown a link between mitochondrial dysfunction in corneal endothelial cells and the development of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD)....

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Targeting the Immune System to Prevent Vision Loss

Targeting the Immune System to Prevent Vision Loss

July 22, 2015

Vision researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology have taken a first step in solving a vexing problem: how to preserve photoreceptor cells and avoid irreversible vision loss in patients following retinal detachment. 

Degeneration of photoreceptors, the major light-sensing cells in the eye, is a primary cause of vision loss worldwide. Identifying the underlying causes surrounding photoreceptor cell death is paramount in order to develop new treatment strategies to prevent their loss. Retinal detachment and subsequent degeneration of...

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Researchers Resurrect Ancient Viruses in Hopes of Improving Gene Therapy

Researchers Resurrect Ancient Viruses in Hopes of Improving Gene Therapy

July 30, 2015

Boston, MA Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute have reconstructed an ancient virus that is highly effective at delivering gene therapies to the liver, muscle, and retina. This discovery, published July 30 in Cell Reports, could potentially be used to design gene therapies that are not only safer and more potent than therapies currently...

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Lloyd Paul Aiello

Comparing Diabetic Macular Edema Treatments

February 19, 2015

Results of the DRCR.net Protocol T Study 

In the first clinical trial directly comparing three drugs most commonly used to treat diabetic macular edema, researchers found all were effective in improving vision and preventing vision loss. However, one drug, aflibercept, provided greater improvement for people with more severe vision loss when treatment was initiated. The trial was conducted by the...

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