Genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 prevents angiogenesis of the retina

July 27, 2017

Powerful new technology may lead to novel therapies to prevent vision loss, blindness in those with diseases of the retina

Boston, Mass. — A research team from the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear has successfully prevented mice from developing angiogenesis of the retina—the sensory tissue at the back of the eye—using gene-editing techniques with CRISPR-Cas9. Angiogenesis causes vision loss and blindness and is a feature of several degenerative eye conditions, including proliferative diabetic

Patrick Oellers awarded Thomas J. Madden Fellowship in Retina

May 24, 2017

Patrick Oellers, MD, is the inaugural recipient of the Thomas J. Madden Fellowship in Retina at Mass. Eye and Ear. Patrick is completing his first year as a Retina Surgery Fellow. The fellowship was created to support a clinical or research fellow while honoring the legacy of Thomas J. Madden who passed away in 2015. Tom played an instrumental role in securing the successful outcome of patent-related litigation resulting in the landmark $126M judgment for Mass. Eye and Ear against QLT, Inc. and Novartis in 2009. The award has enabled major

Massachusetts Eye and Ear first in New England to offer advanced, 3D surgical visualization technology to retina patients

May 5, 2017

State-of-the-art high-definition, platform aims to bring care of adult and pediatric patients to an unprecedented level

ngenuity

Boston, Mass. — Massachusetts Eye and Ear is enhancing the care it brings to adult and pediatric retina patients with a new and innovative

Researchers identify mechanism of retina damage following chemical eye burns

April 13, 2017

Findings may lead to the development of therapies to prevent damage to the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Boston, Mass. — Chemical eye burns caused by alkali agents not only injure the front of the eye — the cornea, where the contact takes place — but also cause widespread damage to the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (the retina) as well, often leading to optic nerve damage and glaucoma. In a report

Researchers identify new target for abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes

April 11, 2017

Regulating transcription factor RUNX1 using small molecule drugs a promising novel therapy for diseases of the retina, including advanced diabetic eye disease.

Fundus photograph of the left eye in a patient with proliferative diabetic

Shizuo Mukai and Baily Shen with retina cmaera

A pocket-sized retina camera, no dilating required

March 20, 2017

Boston, Mass. — It’s the part of the eye exam everyone hates: the pupil-dilating eye drops. The drops work by opening the pupil and preventing the iris from constricting in response to light and are often used for routine examination and photography of the back of the eye. The drops sting, can take up to 30 minutes to work, and cause blurry vision for several hours afterwards, often making them inconvenient for both patient and doctor.

Now, researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and the University

Retina