5 Things We Learned This Month:

1. “Smart” nanowires could deliver drug therapy
Nanowires have been developed that can be loaded with drugs, with their release being switched “on” or “off” by the application of a strong electromagnetic field. Current range is 3 cm, but that’s deep enough for most ocular use-case scenarios…
 
2. Eyedrops could dissolve cataracts
Lanosterol, a molecule produced in the human body, can help to dissolve protein aggregates in the eye that contribute to cataract – and a clinical trial is set to start next year.
 
3. Minimally invasive corneal neurotomy matters
Corneal anesthesia is a debilitating condition caused by a lack of pain sensation in the cornea. But a sural nerve graft from the leg can restore sensation. Once major surgery, it’s now a minimally invasive procedure.
 
4. A protocol for stem cell section could help pick cell sources for retinal therapy
STEM-RET, a protocol to assess retinogenesis, could help standardize quantification of stem cell differentiation, and allow better selection of cells for therapeutic use.
 
5. There’s a unicellular organism with an eye-like structure
Warnowiid dinoflagellate, a single-celled plankton, has evolved a miniature mimic of the multicellular eye – and its structure demonstrates a striking case of convergent evolution.