Blog

February 19, 2015May 19, 2026

One in Four Toronto Homeless Have Vision Problems

A survey by Saint Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found that 25% of homeless people have vision problems, rising to 35% when other eye abnormalities are included. This is four times higher than the North American average.

Of the respondents in need of vision care, 40% would benefit from glasses or contact lenses while 8% required urgent referral to an ophthalmologist. One in three respondents had been previously diagnosed with vision problems.

61 respondents had worn prescription glasses in the past. 43 reported that their glasses had been lost, stolen or broken and could not afford a replacement.

Researchers recommend introducing mobile eye screening centres, which include free eye exams and corrective eyewear. Similar programs have been successful in the United States, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and South Africa.

Only 14% of those surveyed had visited an ophthalmologist or optometrist within the last year compared with 41% of the general population. 89% of respondents expressed an interest in free eye exams.

For more information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150205123111.htm

February 18, 2015April 24, 2018

A Vaccine Against Eye Cancer

Researchers are currently testing a vaccine that improves the chances of recovery of patients with ocular tumors by stimulating their immune response.

Choroidal melanoma is the most common ocular malignancy. If it is not treated quickly enough, metastases develop and can cause death. Researchers at the University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany, have developed a vaccine to prevent the development of metastases.

Dendritic cells typically trigger the immune response after recognizing a threat. However, in cancer patients, the tumor often blocks the immune response. The new vaccine contains custom dendritic cells and triggers the immune response, which delays or prevents the formation of metastases.

Right now, 200 German patients involved in the study of the vaccine.

February 13, 2015April 24, 2018

Laser 1, AMD 0

A new laser treatment administered during early stages of age-related macular degeneration may slow, even reverse, the progression of the disease.

The new technique involving nanosecond laser may also have implications for other eye diseases such as diabetic macular oedema, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.

A study conducted on humans and mice showed that treatment using low-energy nanosecond laser limits the progression of the disease, without damaging the retina. Furthermore, treatment in one eye can also produce positive effects in the other untreated eye.

Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal, which published the findings, believes that this research could “usher in an era in which age-related macular degeneration is either eliminated or no longer considered a serious disease.”

For further information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150202105602.htm

February 12, 2015April 24, 2018

Sunglasses at your fingertips

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States have created a corrective lens that tints on demand.

There are limitations to photochromic lenses. They do not always provide enough protection in very strong light and do not darken enough when worn behind the windshield of a car.

Wearers of the lenses designed by the U.S. researchers activate the colouring and go from one tint to another by pressing the electrical switch on the temple. The lenses are made with four electrochromic polymers. They blend together in reaction to the tiny electrical charge set off by the switch, thus darkening the lenses.

The researchers are convinced this innovation could easily be mass-produced.

February 10, 2015April 24, 2018

Vision-Ease announces an appointment and an invitation

Grady Lenski is the new vice president of sales, North America, for Vision-Ease.

He will be responsible for sales teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in addition to supervising customer service initiatives. Lenski worked at PPG Industries for 32 years. He most recently served as managing director of marketing and business in Canada for Transitions Optical.

Furthermore, the U.S. women’s soccer legend and ambassador of Coppertone polarized lenses will visit the Vision-Ease kiosk at the next Vision Expo East, to be held at the Javits Center in New York. On Saturday, March 21, she will be present from 2:00 to 3:00 pm to sign autographs and meet her fans.

For the full press release on the Grady Lenski appointment, click HERE.

To read the full Mia Hamm at VEE press release, click HERE.