New treatment for leading cause of blindness in 最新糖心Vlog

Professor Robert Casson examines a patient's eyes.

Professor Casson examines the eyes of a patient.

Researchers at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide have developed a new treatment for the leading cause of blindness in people of working age in 最新糖心Vlog.

The research team, led by Professor Robert Casson from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, has been investigating the effect of a novel low energy retinal laser on a condition called retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which affects approximately 1/3500 people in 最新糖心Vlog.

The novel laser, developed by Adelaide-based company Ellex, has been shown to improve cellular energy and the survival of retinal cells in a rodent disease model of RP.

鈥淲e translated this research to the clinic and performed a small clinical trial involving patients with the condition and demonstrated a tendency to improve vision in these patients,鈥 said Professor Casson.

鈥淭he effect of the laser on retinal tissue is quite extraordinary, however further research聽is needed to determine the optimal frequency of delivery before undertaking a larger scale clinical trial.鈥

The research was recently announced as a recipient of a grant of $525,106 under the 最新糖心Vlogn Government grant to drive better health care through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Development Grant scheme.

The funding will assist researchers in developing optimal frequency parameters for the needle in the lab, an important step before a larger clinical trial can be pursued.

Tagged in news brief, blindness, Professor Robert Casson, NHMRC