Eyes

An eye is an organ that detects light. Different kinds of light-sensitive organs are found in a variety of creatures. The simplest eyes do nothing but detect whether the surroundings are light or dark. More complex eyes are used to provide the sense of vision.

Mentally stimulating activities boost brainpower in old age

Does being a bookworm boost your brainpower in old age? – New research suggests that reading books, writing and participating in brain-stimulating activities at any age may preserve memory. “Our study suggests that exercising your brain by taking part in activities such as these across a person’s lifetime, from childhood through old age, is important for brain health in old age,” said study author Robert S. Wilson, PhD, with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Swine Flu – H1N1 Influenza outbreak in Venezuela

Venezuelan H1N1 flu outbreak has killed 17 and infected another 250, according to health sources – An outbreak of H1N1 flu has killed 17 people in Venezuela and infected another 250, private media and local authorities said on Monday. H1N1, often referred to as swine flu, was a flu strain that swept around in the world in a 2009/2010 pandemic.

Tetris a promising new therapeutic approach for lazy eye disorder

‘Lazy eye disorder — A promising new therapeutic approach – Popular puzzle video game Tetris is used in an innovative approach to treat adult amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye”. By distributing information between the two eyes in a complementary fashion, the video game trains both eyes to work together, which is counter to previous treatments for the disorder (e.g. patching).

Controlling inflammation in macular degeneration prevents progress of AMD

Trinity researchers report major eye disease breakthrough — Controlling an inflammatory component IL-18 in age-related macular degeneration could prevent the development of the disease – Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that a part of the immune system called the inflammasome is involved in regulating the development of one of the most common forms of blindness, called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Photoshop reality check – reality in the eye of the beholder

Reality in the eye of the beholder — A Photoshop reality check – You know they couldn’t possibly look that good. But what did those models and celebrities look like before all the retouching? How different is the image we see from the original? Dartmouth Computer Science Professor Hany Farid and Eric Kee, a PhD student at Dartmouth College, are proposing a method to not only answer such questions but also to quantify the changes.

2 types of botulinum toxin compared for cosmetic use

Study compares 2 types of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use – Botulinum toxin, a protein long considered harmful, is now known as a neuromodulator (a chemical that affects nerve impulses) that has cosmetic and medical uses. Not all varieties of botulinum toxin seem to be equally effective in reducing crow’s feet wrinkles, according to a report published by Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Incivek for hepatitis C infection is approved in US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Incivek for hepatitis C – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Incivek (telaprevir) to treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. Incivek is used for patients who have either not received interferon-based drug therapy for their infection or who have not responded adequately to prior therapies.

Follow up helps detect melanoma earlier

Follow-Up Program Helps Detect Melanoma Earlier in High-Risk Patients – A follow-up program for patients at high risk of developing skin cancer appears to be associated with the detection of melanomas at early stages and with good prognosis.

AMD prevalence lowered in US

Study Evaluates Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the United States – An estimated 6.5 percent of Americans age 40 and older have the eye disease age related macular degeneration, a lower rate than was reported 15 years ago, according to a report in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis

Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis — Georgetown researcher says advances go unnoticed because they are not reported in targeted publications – Facial pain. Nasal congestion. Postnasal drip. Fatigue. These are hallmark signs of chronic sinusitis, a swelling of tissue in the nasal and sinus cavity. The illness strikes millions of Americans each year and is one of the top five reasons patients visit their primary care doctor.