Recently@Retina

August 2023

The mission of the Retina Foundation of the Southwest is to prevent vision loss and restore sight through innovative research and treatment for pediatric eye conditions, inherited eye diseases, and age-related macular degeneration.

— LATEST NEWS & EVENTS —

Innovative New Vision Screening Tools Help Researchers Detect Common Childhood Vision Problems Faster

Researchers at the Retina Foundation are testing new vision screening devices that make diagnosing common children’s eye diseases more efficient and convenient for patients and their families.

This year’s screenings conducted by the Retina Foundation just in time for back-to-school involve a broad comparative research effort that includes analysis of legacy refraction-based technologies that have been available since the early 2000s, the Blinq Vision Scanner and the first clinical research for a new iteration of the Blinq’s amblyopia detection technology.

The new device uses imaging to detect retinal irregularities. It is smaller, less expensive, and more efficient than the previous laser-operated model marketed by Boston-based firm, Rebion, and also tested by the Retina Foundation. Both models are an improvement over older screening devices which only screen for risk factors, not actual disease. This is great news for doctors, schools, and non-profits who conduct vision screenings.

“Accurate early diagnosis during the critical years of visual development is crucial for the prevention of lifelong visual deficits”, said Eileen Birch, Senior Research Scientist and Director, of Crystal Charity Ball Pediatric Vision Laboratory at the Retina Foundation. “Before the development of the Blinq Vision Scanner, vision screening devices had a low success rate for screening preschool children and were plagued by false positives.”

Undetected vision problems can hurt a child’s educational experience and their emotional health. Common conditions like strabismus (misaligned eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye) are leading causes of preventable vision loss in children. In addition to impaired vision, the conditions can cause learning difficulties, impaired motor skills and loss of dexterity, lower self-confidence, and lower self-reported quality of life.

“In 2013-2016, we enthusiastically played a major role in the development of the Blinq Vision Scanner to provide a simple and accurate way for pediatricians to identify children who need prompt eye care,” added Birch. “We hope that our current contributions to the development of a new iteration of Blinq’s amblyopia detection technology will further improve its accuracy and efficiency in identifying young children with amblyopia, during the early critical years when treatment is most effective.”

2023 Summer Interns

Largest Community-Wide Giving Event in the Nation

In 2022, $62.6 million was raised through 94,385 donors benefiting 3,210 local nonprofits, bringing the fourteen-year total to over $503 million for our community.

Less Than 1 Month Away

Scan Below to Help Us Meet Our 2023 Goal:

$60,000

NorthTexasGivingDay.org/organization/Retina-Foundation-Of-The-Southwest

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Investigational Therapeutic for Retinitis Pigmentosa & Leber Congenital Amaurosis

Rose-Silverthorne Laboratory

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05203939

This study will determine the safety of subretinal administrations of a therapeutic for patients with RP associated with NR2E3 and RHO mutations and patients with LCA due to mutation(s) in CEP290 gene (LCA10).

Will an Investigational Drug Alter the Course of Late-Stage Dry AMD?

Molecular Ophthalmology Laboratory

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05811351

A Study to Evaluate Intravitreal JNJ-81201887 (AAVCAGsCD59) Compared to Sham Procedure for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD

Binocular Amblyopia Treatment

Crystal Charity Ball Pediatric Vision Laboratory

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03288948

This study will investigate two alternative protocols designed to extend the game treatment period beyond 4 weeks to allow for more complete recovery of visual acuity.

• We expect about 40% of amblyopic children to achieve normal visual acuity.
• Children who attain at least 20/40 acuity will receive stereo acuity training promoting binocular vision.

Please help the Retina Foundation continue ​leading research and saving sight.