Retinal Bypass To Treat Eye Disease


New research shows that a retinal bypass could be key to safeguarding the vision of people suffering from progressive age related eye diseases. Researchers at the Lions Eye Institute in Australia claim to have developed a retinal bypass procedure that could significantly improve the vision of up to three in every four people who suffer from central retinal vein occlusion - one of the leading causes of blindness in adults over 40 years of age.

The eye condition arises when the central retinal vein is blocked which leads to symptoms including swelling of the eye's macula and deterioration of vision. Researchers found that they were able to bypass the blocked vein by using laser surgery to bypass the vein and restore a normalised blood flow to the eye's retina. The surgery resulted in 76% of patients reporting that their vision had been improved.

The new surgical procedure is not without risk. A number of patients have gone on to develop abnormal blood vessels in the eye following surgery. Researchers now hope to further research and develop their method and hope that it can be used to improve the eyesight of people suffering from central retinal vein occlusion and other potentially blinding eye disorders.

3rd May 2010

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