Blog

March 8, 2016April 24, 2018

Sight-Threatening Abnormalities in Newborns Linked to Zika Virus

The rapid spread of the Zika virus infection across South America, and the associated increase in the prevalence of microcephaly, carries with it a host of sight-threatening complications, according to a study recently published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Researchers at Roberto Santos General Hospital in Salvador, Brazil, found a high rate of ocular abnormalities in newborns with microcephaly associated with congenital Zika virus infection. Of 29 infants with microcephaly examined, ocular lesions were found in 10, many with focal pigment mottling of the retina and chorioretinal atrophy. Optical nerve abnormalities were found in 4 patients.

“This study can help guide clinical management and practice, as we observed that a high proportion of the infants with microcephaly had ophthalmologic lesions. Infants with microcephaly should undergo routine ophthalmologic evaluations to identify such lesions. In high-transmission settings, such as South America, Central America and the Caribbean, ophthalmologists should be aware of the risk of congenital ZIKV-associated ophthalmologic sequelae,” the authors write.

Link to full article: http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2491896

March 7, 2016May 20, 2026

New York Fashion Designer and Silhouette Join Forces

Renowned fashion designer Wes Gordon has created a special edition, elegant and sophisticated sunglass. The iconic style is available in four fashionable colours using advanced technology, creating superb rimless eyewear.

The lenses are meticulously crafted from a single piece of glass that is hand-sanded around the perimeter, then needle painted with a contrast colour, creating a unique, stunning, fashion forward design for Titan Minimal Art.

Silhouette is distributed by COS.

March 7, 2016May 19, 2026

Over 52,000 visitors at Mido 2016

The renowned eyewear show, Mido, held in Milan from February 27 to 29, registered a new record of over 52,000 visitors this year.

The show’s theme, More!, is an accurate description of this year’s success, with a 7% increase in visitors over last year and 106 new exhibitors.

Organizers were particularly proud of Mido’s increased presence on social media. Over 10,000 mentions of #MIDO2016 were found on Instagram and Twitter, and the number of people following Mido on Facebook increased by more than 2,000 during the event.

Mido 2017 will be held February 25–27.

March 4, 2016May 20, 2026

Plan “B” Eyewear’s IceCream Frames Pop

Fresh, flirty and fun, these four new models from the IceCream Collection are the perfect frames to put a spring in your step while you’re dreaming of summer. The IC9030, 9032, 9049 and 9052 feature an exceptional colour palette. Bright fuchsia, bold orange, and mellow green are just some of the selections available. Made from sheet stainless style and high-grade acetate, these frames use cute colour fades and delicate colour layering to brighten, lift and emphasis the eyes.

www.alternativeeyes.com

March 3, 2016April 24, 2018

Waterloo Scientists Search for Adult Amblyopia Treatment

In a paper published in the February issue of Scientific Reports, researchers at the University of Waterloo have shown that low voltage electrical currents temporarily improve vision in adult patients with amblyopia.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which increases activity in the primary visual cortex, has previously been shown to increase adult neuroplasticity. In this study, it was shown that tDCS increased the brain’s response to information from the lazy eye and improvement in the ability of the patient to see contrast.

“It’s a long held view that adults can’t be treated for lazy eye because their brains no longer have the capacity to change,” says study lead Dr. Ben Thompson. “We demonstrate here that adults do have the capacity, especially when it comes to vision.”

“Our ultimate goal is to develop an evidence based treatment that patients can receive right in their eye doctor’s office,” says Thompson. “We expect there are other primary visual cortex problems that we may be able to address with this method.”

Full article: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep19280