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NEI Research News

Thanks to the work of NEI scientists and grantees, we’re constantly learning new information about the causes and treatment of vision disorders. Get the latest updates about their work — along with other news about NEI.

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Photo shows microscopy image of exosomes in green surrounding retinal ganglion cells in yellow and orange.

Stem cell secretions may protect against glaucoma

A new study in rats shows that stem cell secretions, called exosomes, appear to protect cells in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.
Bar chart showing projections for glaucoma prevalence in 2010, 2030, and 2050 by race

10 things you should know about glaucoma

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. The National Eye Institute, part of NIH, is highlighting key facts about this blinding disease, important tips for prevention and treatment, and research updates you may not know about.
Doctor giving eye exam

Woman who lost vision to diabetes shares experience to raise awareness

It was Labor Day 2015 when Rosetta Ivey-Foster, a 67-year-old retired bank clerk, learned first-hand how quickly diabetes can deteriorate vision.
Two women panelists look at male colleague as he speaks

Reconnecting Eye to Brain

Michael Crair, Yale University, and Carol Mason, Columbia University, have co-authored a report published online today in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Illuminated neuron projection from visual cortex

Visual cortex plays role in plasticity of eye movement reflex

By peering into the eyes of mice and tracking their ocular movements, researchers made an unexpected discovery: the visual cortex – a region of the brain known to process sensory information – plays a key role...
Glaucoma and the optic nerve

U.S.-India joint effort targets genes and traits to improve glaucoma screening, prevention, and treatment

Researchers from the U.S. and India have begun a new collaborative project to identify genetic risk factors and traits related to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Young boy gets eye exam.

Statement by NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., on National Academies’ report outlining public health strategies to promote and protect healthy vision for all Americans

Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) released “Making Eye Health A Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow.
Artist’s rendering of neural activity in the retina. Light that enters the eye activates rod and cone photoreceptors, which then activates retinal ganglion cells. A signal travels to the brain via the retinal ganglion cell axons. Photo credit: National Eye Institute

Six teams seek to identify biological factors that influence neural regeneration

The National Institutes of Health will fund six projects to identify biological factors that affect neural regeneration in the retina.
Retinal degeneration in mice

Drugs already on market prevent light-induced retinal degeneration in mice

Combinations of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs protect against the loss of cells required for vision in a mouse model of blinding retinal diseases.
Regenerating mouse retinal ganglion cell axons (magenta and green) extending from site of optic nerve injury (left). Photo courtesy of Andrew D. Huberman.

Use it or Lose it: Visual Activity Regenerates Neural Connections Between Eye and Brain

A study in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows for the first time that high-contrast visual stimulation can help damaged retinal neurons regrow optic nerve fibers, otherwise known as retinal ganglion cell axons.