DEC 15, 2017
By Anni Griswold
Cornea/External Disease, Oculoplastics/Orbit, Retina/Vitreous
A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.
This woman stared at the solar eclipse for 6 seconds and developed a crescent-shaped wound in her retina and a matching black spot in the middle of her vision. Her irreversible injury is among surprisingly few reported after an estimated 215 million Americans watched the August 21 eclipse. NPR Health Shots
A twist on the standard crosslinking procedure can effectively eliminate fungal eye infections, according to researchers from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The new approach uses green fluorescent light and swaps out riboflavin for the chemical stain rose bengal to effectively zap out most infections with just 2 hour-long sessions. CBS Miami
The molecular mysteries of dry AMD are one step closer to resolution with the report that an enzyme called cGAS—normally tasked with detecting foreign bacterial or viral DNA—could be triggering inflammation and subsequent cell damage in the retina. The enzyme may also play important roles in diabetes, lupus and obesity. Scientists have already begun working on small-molecule inhibitors. Nature Medicine
Eylea (aflibercept) sales continue to grow, raking in an impressive $953 million in third-quarter U.S. sales despite Regeneron’s recent decision to abandon their aflibercept and angiopoietin2 antibody (nesvacumab) combination therapy for DME and wet AMD. Reuters
Two women who applied cosmetic retinoid creams around their eyes daily for nearly 2 decades have developed severe bilateral lower eyelid retraction. Doctors say long-term use of the creams can severely shorten the anterior lamella, producing bloodshot eyes and eyelids that won’t fully close. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery