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June 29, 2015April 24, 2018

Clinical Trial Demonstrates Safety, Benefits of Bionic Eye

The results of the 3-year clinical trial of the Argus II retinal prosthesis system, a “bionic eye” developed by Second Sight Medical Products to return sight to patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa, were published this week in the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The Argus II system transmits images from a camera mounted on the patient’s glasses to a device implanted on the retina, allowing the brain to interpret patterns of light.

The trial involved 30 patients aged 28 to 77 over a three year period, all having little or no perception in both eyes.

89 percent of patients performed better on visual function results with the implant. Eleven patients experienced serious adverse effects soon after the implantation, which were successfully treated.

The Argus II is approved by Health Canada. The first Canadian patient was given the implant in June 2014.

Further information: http://www.aaojournal.org/pb/assets/raw/Health%20Advance/journals/ophtha/ophtha_8651.pdf

June 26, 2015April 24, 2018

New Discovery About Blink Rates

A study by English and Spanish researchers published in Nature Communications sheds new light on the mechanisms that control the blink rate.

The study found that the TRPM8 receptor, a protein which is activated by cold or chemicals that cause a cooling sensation such as menthol, is also responsible for regulating basal blinking rates in mice. The link between TRPM8 and ocular wetness was first proposed by the same research team in a 2010 paper in Nature Medicine.

In sufferers of dry eye, an increased salt concentration in tears can lead to elevated blinking rates and a decrease in the volume of the tear film, and understanding the receptors controlling blink rates could lead to new treatments combatting dry eye.

Further information: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150522/ncomms8150/full/ncomms8150.html

June 25, 2015April 24, 2018

Intel Acquires Canadian Smart Eyewear Company Recon

Intel has completed its acquisition of the Vancouver-based company Recon Instruments, a manufacturer of smart, computerized eyewear for athletes.

Recon, founded in 2008, produces the intelligent glasses Jet™, with built-in GPS and motion tracking, and skiing goggles Snow2, which also contains an onboard camera.

Since becoming the CEO of Intel in 2013, Brian Krzanich has been committed to making Intel a player in wearable technologies. Intel’s New Technology Group has also collaborated with Luxottica’s Oakley brand to produce smart eyewear and recently announced the plans to release the Curie Module, a chip designed for use in wearable devices.

Further information: http://www.reconinstruments.com/2015/06/intel-acquires-recon-instruments/

June 24, 2015April 24, 2018

Survey Finds Poor Vision, Hearing Loss in Adolescents

A recent survey of French adolescents sponsored by the Optic 2000 group has found that visual and auditory health problems are increasingly common, even though only a quarter of the teens surveyed reported being concerned about their own health.

Teenagers spend an average of 4 hours a day in front of a screen, and the survey found that 44% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 had experienced eye strain or dry eye. 37% of those surveyed admitted to not wearing their prescribed glasses.

The survey highlights the need for increased awareness and prevention, according to Yves Guénin, secretary general of Optic 2000. 90% of those surveyed reported that they are sensitive to messages from healthcare professionals, and one in two changed their behaviour based on advice from their parents.

Further Information (French): http://www.observatoire-groupeoptic2000.fr/etudes/vue-audition-adolescents/

June 22, 2015May 19, 2026

CCLR Update Spotlights Sports Vision in Practice

Contact Lens Update Sports Vision Spotlight

Issue 26 of Contact Lens Update, published by the Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR), University of Waterloo, features sports vision as an emerging specialization area. David Mann, from the Faculty of Human Movement Science at VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands, reviews a European study of 157 Olympic-level athletes in a variety of sports, giving clues as to how clinicians might help customize their approach to optimize on-field performance for a given sport.

Kristin Dalton, Assistant Professor and creator of the Sports Vision Clinic at U of Waterloo in 2014, provides practical advice in her editorial overview on how to start up sports vision services in practice.

Dr. Dalton, and the new sports vision clinic were featured in the March 2015 issue of Optik (see page 32). In reference to Sports Vision as a rewarding part of clinical practice, Dr. Dalton concludes that, as in the beauty of sport, “anything is possible”.

Visit Contact Lens Update online.