Researchers from Cornell University, in New York State, report that drinking coffee may protect against deteriorating eyesight, even blindness.

 

Although the most well-known coffee ingredient is caffeine, it also contains about 7–9% chlorogenic acid (CGA). Past studies indicated that this antioxidant could be a powerful neuroprotector and block the deprivation of oxygen in certain areas of the body (hypoxia).

 

However, the retina is particularly prone to this problem.

 

“The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, consuming oxygen more rapidly than any other tissues, including the brain,” the researchers explain. “Therefore, it is susceptible to a variety of diseases caused by oxidative stress, including AMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.”

 

The researchers tested the effects of CGA on retinal ganglion cells that were exposed to hypoxia in mice. They discovered that the cell damage could be reduced when the cells were pretreated with this acid. The team then induced retinal damage in the eyes of mice and tested the effects of coffee extract and CGA. Both substances reduced cell mortality, thus helping to prevent retinal degeneration.

Source:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/276519.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bacterial strain that causes microbial keratitis shows alarming resistance to contact lens disinfectant solutions.

 

In the United Kingdom, researchers from The University of Liverpool and The Royal Liverpool University NHS Trust tested the ability of different strains of the keratitis-causing bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to survive in commonly used contact lens cleaning solutions. They compared nine different strains of P. aeruginosa, with P. aeruginosa strain 9027, the standard strain used by lens solution manufacturers.

 

Although the majority of these strains were killed after about ten minutes of being immersed in the contact lens solution, one of them, the P. aeruginosa strain 39016, survived for over four hours. However, it is associated with a more severe case of keratitis.

 

“Microbial keratitis can be devastating for a patient – it is important that the risk of developing this condition is reduced in contact lens wearers by improving contact lens disinfectant solutions,” says Professor Craig Winstanley, who led the research.

 

The researchers will now investigate the extent of the bacterial resistance of this strain and the underlying mechanisms to help develop more effective products.

Source:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140416190926.htm

 

The Board of Directors at Allergan, the manufacturer of Restasis eye drops, formally rejected the unsolicited takeover bid from Quebec-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

 

Allergan says that the $52-billion offer in cash and stock undervalues the company and does not reflect its potential for growth. The Board has targeted a 20% to 25% increase in its earnings per share and expects a strong increase in revenue in 2015.

 

In a letter sent to his counterpart at Valeant, the CEO of Allergan also questioned how Valeant would achieve the level of cost cuts it is proposing without harming the long-term viability of Allergan. Valeant estimates that the acquisition will generate $3.3 billion in operating cost savings as a result of synergies.

 

Far from giving up, Valeant quickly responded, stating that the offer would be increased. The details are to be announced May 28. Furthermore, Pershing Square Capital Management, Valeant’s partner in this purchase offer, hopes to obtain the complete list of Allergan’s shareholders. Valeant would like to organize a “referendum” to determine whether shareholders want to see the two companies negotiate the merger. Valeant could even ask for a special meeting to be held to replace some or all of Allergan’s Board members.

Sources:

http://www.lesaffaires.com/secteurs-d-activite/sante-pharmaceutique-et-biotechnologies/allergan-rejette-l-offre-de-valeant/568801

http://eyewiretoday.com/view.asp?20140512-allergan_rejects_valeant_pharmas_cut_and_slash_takeover

Researchers from Indiana University have detected new early-warning signs of the loss of sight associated with diabetes.

 

“We had not expected to see such striking changes to the retinas at such early stages,” said Ann Elsner, lead author of the study, published in Biomedical Optics Express. “We set out to study the early signs, in volunteer research subjects whose eyes were not thought to have very advanced disease. There was damage spread widely across the retina, including changes to blood vessels that were not thought to occur until the more advanced disease states.”

 

These important early-warning signs were invisible to existing diagnostic techniques, due to optical imperfections of the eyes. Stephen Burns, professor and associate dean at the Indiana University School of Optometry, developed an instrument using small mirrors with tiny moveable segments to reflect light into the eye.

 

“It is shocking to see that there can be large areas of retina with insufficient blood circulation,” he said. “The consequence for individual patients is that some have far more advanced damage to their retinas than others with the same duration of diabetes.”

 

Further research will be needed to identify patients whose retinas are the most damaged, and to see whether the damage can be reversed.

Sources:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140417090834.htm

http://www.opticsinfobase.org/boe/abstract.cfm?uri=boe-5-3-961

 

Essilor recently inaugurated its Centre for Innovation and Technologies Europe in Créteil, France, which is described as “the world’s largest private campus dedicated to research and innovation in the ophthalmic optics industry.”

 

Almost 900 people from R&D, Worldwide Operations, Global Engineering, Purchasing, Quality and Supply Chain are now working in close collaboration at this centre dedicated to innovation. Bringing these teams together at a single site is intended to foster collaboration and accelerate projects, as well as launch new products and technologies.

 

“The new centre is a powerful platform for developing tomorrow’s lenses, materials and coatings that will open new perspectives in terms of vision correction and protection, and take up the challenge of prevention and visual health,” says Hubert Sagnières, Essilor’s CEO.

 

Innovation is at the heart of Essilor’s business strategy. Each year, the company invests more than €150 million in research and innovation. About 40% of its revenue is generated from products launched less than four years ago.

 

Essilor, ranked by Forbes magazine for three years in a row among the world’s most innovative companies, has two similar centres in Dallas and Singapore.

Source:

http://www.essilor.com/en