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Imaging and Navigation
Figure 1: CF-1 Digital Retinal Camera
With this sophisticated digital imaging technology in every primary care
office, patients will have access to excellent treatment alternatives.
Indeed, a diagnostic digital retinal imaging device is now available that
can take dilated fundus colour–fluorescein angiographic photographs
and send the images over the Internet to a centralised reading centre.
The images are examined and interpreted by a team of retina
specialists, and the results are sent back to the primary care physician’s
office immediately.
As mentioned above, affordability is also important. I think this device is
an excellent digital retinal camera, and the price is an extra bonus. This
cost-effective, advanced design in compact ergonomic technology allows
us to achieve high-quality (colour–red-free–fluorescein angiographic)
photographic results and comprehensive assessment. I would urge you to
make an economic argument for every piece of equipment you are
intending to purchase, without of course sacrificing or endangering your
main purpose. ■
The European Ophthalmic Arena – In Brief
Human CHN1 Mutations Cause Duane’s Diabetics Over 12 Years of Age Should Be Routinely
Retraction Syndrome Screened for Diabetic Retinopathy, Claims Diabetes UK
Mutations of the CHN1 gene could cause Duane’s retraction Diabetics over 12 years of age should be routinely screened for
syndrome (DRS), according to a collaborative research project at the diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to the charity Diabetes UK’s ‘Your
University of Aberdeen, the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Vision’ awareness campaign. DR – which has no early symptoms,
King’s College London and Harvard University. Twenty-seven resulting in frequent late discovery – is the leading cause of blindness
researchers studied familial DRS – a complex congenital eye in the UK’s working population, with over half a million diabetes
movement disorder caused by aberrant innervation of the extraocular sufferers succumbing. Despite this, UK Department of Health figures
muscles – and identified causative heterozygous missense mutations show that only 61.3% of diabetics routinely receive screening. The
in CHN1, a gene on chromosome 2q31. Since expression of mutant charity is running an advocacy campaign across Bath, North East
2-chimaerin results in failure of oculomotor axons to innervate their Somerset, Hampshire, Kingston and East Lancashire. It intends to
target extraocular muscles, the authors conclude that 2-chimaerin apply pressure to primary care trusts and local governments, over half
has a critical developmental function in ocular motor axon of whom failed to achieve screening targets. ■
pathfinding. The paper is published in the July edition of Science. ■
Hydrogel Helps Fend off Post-operative
Retinal Gene Therapy Achieves Early Success Cataracts Infection
A revolutionary gene therapy treatment for Leber’s congenital Coating an artificial lens with antibiotics could reduce the risk of post-
amaurosis (LCA) has been proved safe and effective after a operative infection for cataracts patients, according to research
successful trial conducted at the University College London Institute presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC). Infections
of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. The trial sought to such as endophthalmitis occur when bacteria enter the eye during
establish the safety of gene therapy in patients with the inherited cataract surgery, binding to the implanted intraocular lens (IOL).
retinal degenerative disease, and involved the insertion of healthy Measures taken to prevent endophthalmitis include the use of eye-
copies of the missing RPE65 gene into the cells of the retina. “We drops prior to surgery, improved intraocular lens materials and the
developed surgical techniques to enable access to the cells beneath injection of antibiotics post-surgery. However, the new hydrogel
the retinas of patients, using a very fine needle to deliver the Gentamicin, developed at Queen’s University Belfast, is able to absorb
modified virus in a controlled retinal detachment,” explained Dr and hold antibiotics within the lens during surgery. Gentamicin
James Bainbridge, who led the surgical team. continues to release antibiotics for a period after its insertion, making
it a highly effective protection against all bacterial threats post-surgery.
Fully described in a report published in the New England Journal of
Medicine, the successful application of gene therapy to eye “Incorporating gentamicin into the hydrogels significantly reduced
disease has been described as a “very significant milestone” by bacteria sticking to the IOL surface, indicating that these antibiotic-
Professor Robin Ali, senior investigator of the study. Further impregnated hydrogels would be highly beneficial as IOL coatings,” said
trials are now planned in the coming months. The team is researcher Dr Carole Parsons. Pre-clinical and clinical testing will now
supported by funding from the Department of Health, the follow these positive laboratory results. ■
Wellcome Trust and the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society (BRPS),
Sources: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Scanlon PH, Diabetes UK, New England
among others. ■
Journal of Medicine, Science.
20 EUROPEAN OPHTHALMIC REVIEW
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