Also in the News…
From new eye care campaigns to non-invasive treatments and novel IOP-lowering medications, these are the news stories and studies that caught our attention this week…
Alun Evans | | News
Credit: TU Wien - images sourced from eurekalert
HASA certified B. Belgium’s HASA OPTIX has become the first ophthalmic company to be certified as a B Corporation, meaning it meets “high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.” Link
Better Vision for Better Lives. The Vision Council, a non-profit trade association for suppliers and manufacturers of the US optical industry, recently launched its 2025 “Better Vision for Better Lives” campaign. The initiative is aimed at increasing access to eye care products and services. The Council hopes the campaign will “bring vision care resources to underserved communities, empower future industry professionals, and amplify its mission to make clear vision achievable for all.” Link
Non-invasive treatment for PVR. Mass Eye and Ear investigators have investigated the effectiveness of a new non-invasive mRNA-based therapy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The therapy – which targets RUNX1, a protein that regulates the gene involved both in the formation of scar tissue and abnormal blood vessels in several retinal diseases – is the first of its kind to deliver mRNA-based treatments directly into the eye. Link
Seeing the light. Using microelectrodes, scientists have explored how retinal ganglion cells (RCGs) process light signals from the retina. The study, conducted by a team based at the Institute of Biomedical Electronics, Vienna, Austria, found that RGCs take on different activity patterns for vision tasks, even though they are composed of the same cells. The differences between cell types could signal an important step towards better understanding signal processing and vision, say the researchers. Link
OMDI for glaucoma. A team of researchers from Santen have investigated the ocular tissue distribution and pharmacological activity of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI), a selective EP2 receptor agonist used to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Following topical administration in rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys, OMDI rapidly converted to its active form, omidenepag (OMD), which was distributed across anterior ocular tissues, including the cornea, aqueous humor, and trabecular meshwork. The findings confirm that OMDI specifically targets EP2 receptors without interacting with receptors or enzymes of other antiglaucoma agents, highlighting its potential as an effective treatment option. Link
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