Please note that our offices will be closed from December 22 to January 2 inclusively.
New target for AMD treatment
Researchers have identified a new genetic target for AMD treatment.
One of the genes associated with the risk of AMD is the complement factor H (CFH) gene. It codes the factor H (FH) protein, which protects our eyes from attacks from our own immune system.
The researchers discovered that in the back of the eye, it is not the factor H protein that acts as a protector, but rather the factor “H-like 1” (FHL-1) protein. The protein’s reduced size (about a third of factor H) allows it to get to the structures at the back of the eye, whereas FH cannot.
An insufficient amount of FHL-1 in the back of the eye leaves the eyes vulnerable to inflammation and can lead to vision loss.
For further information: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/early/2014/10/10/jimmunol.1401613.abstract
Carl Zeiss Meditec Wins the US EyeVote Readers’ Choice Awards
Carl Zeiss Meditec has won two US EyeVote Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014. The medical technology business group of ZEISS won Best Brand in Diagnostic Equipment and Best Company in Diagnostic Equipment.
EyeVote is an annual survey run by Jobson Publishing. The survey is sent to all of their publications’ US and Canadian subscribers including those that receive Review of Ophthalmology, Review of Optometry, Vision Monday and 20/20.
This is the third consecutive year Carl Zeiss Meditec has won the two distinctions.
Luxottica Opens First Canadian Customer Showroom in Toronto
Luxottica has opened its first Canadian customer showroom in Toronto at a gala event opening on Monday.
In a celebration with Canadian eye care industry clients, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Luxottica Wholesale North America Ludovic Ladreyt said, “We want to show increasing support for the Canadian market, by supporting increased training, for a team that’s stronger at supporting you to do a better job of sales consulting.”
Located on the 58th floor of downtown’s prestigious Toronto First Canadian Place building, the glass offices include a training room and showcase room, being nicknamed the vault.
President of Luxottica Wholesale North America Holly Rush said, “We want to elevate the experience when viewing our products and brand and change the experience from transactional to transformational.”
This is Luxottica’s fourth premium customer showroom in North America, joining centres in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
Television helps diagnose glaucoma
Researchers at City University London claim that they can detect glaucoma by observing how a person watches television.
They compared a group of 32 elderly people with another group of 44 people who had glaucoma. Participants were asked to view three TV and film clips, while their eye movements, particularly the direction they were looking in, were being recorded. The researchers then analyzed the data to produce detailed maps that were used to diagnose glaucoma.
This breakthrough could lead to the early detection of the disease and to the possibility of beginning treatment before permanent damage sets in.
For further information: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00312/abstract
