NeuroVision & AMD

The MDS talk presented by NeuroVision Pte Ltd on Saturday, 18 October was attended by about 40 MDS members. Mr Nir Ellenbogen, CEO, provided an overview of NeuroVision and its activities.

He explained that NeuroVision Inc is a USA Delaware-registered company, founded in 1999. Company headquarters are located in Singapore, and the R&D, Sales and Marketing, and Operations are conducted by NeuroVision Pte Ltd, the Company's wholly-owned Singaporean subsidiary.

The Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) is NeuroVision's primary research and clinical partner. The Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC) is NeuroVision's first commercial provider of NeuroVision's treatments in Asia, and its reference centre. NeuroVision is best known for its programme designed to improve the vision of children with myopia.

Mr Ellenbogen explained that NeuroVision's NVCTM vision correction technology enhances eyesight without sugery or medication. It optimises the performance of the neural or "back end" of the visual system - nothing is changed optically. The technology has been developed through research focused solely on how the brain processes vision. Generally 30 to 40 sessions with a computer programme are required to yield positive results.

Dr Allan Fong of SERI is one of the clinical investigators of a new pilot study which is now in its formation. Dr Fong explained that the study will focus on AMD sufferers, who have reduced central vision. It will evaluate the efficacy of NeuroVisions NVCTM for AMD patients.

The study is now recruiting around 50 volunteers to participate in the study. Volunteers must be between 10 and 70 years old. Their eye pathology must be stable.


They must have best corrected vision ranging from 6/7.5 to 6/30. Participants will be given a course of NeuroVision treatment sessions (around 30 to 40 sessions in pace of 2-3 times a week) at the NeuroVision Centre located at SNEC. They will be followed up for 12 months after the treatment with quarterly vision tests. The treatment is free for those selected to participate in the pilot study.

During the lively Q and A, Mr Ellenbogen and Dr Fong explained that not all who apply will be selected. Persons will be required to be available to undergo the treatments without any breaks over a three-month period.

All interested individuals can call DEBBIE LOW at 6322-4502 for clarification, or to fix an appointment for screening. Debbie can also be reached at debbie.low.w.l@seri.com.sg. There are still places available, and MDS members who qualify are encouraged to volunteer.

Forseeing MD earlier

Macular degeneration patients usually rely on the Amsler Grid to test if their eyes have deteriorated. Now, a new computerised test can do the work and it is more accurate, sensitive and reliable.

It is called the Foresee PHP and it helps doctors treat the disease sooner.

It shows a series of linear dots in a pattern, and the patient has to point out if any are out of place. Then the computer registers the patient's eye sight.

"It is more accurate in that it has a higher sensitivity level. It will detect a change from the dry macular degeneration to the wet faster or at an earlier stage," said ophthalmologist Dr. William F. Varr.

"The problem with that test (Amsler Grid) is that the patient has to do it on their own and to get patient compliance sometimes is difficult. It's sometimes difficult for them to see a change."

The old test relies on patient's compliance, so it's hard for doctors to keep track from year to year. With this new test, a computer records the data and doctors will be able to detect even the smallest changes in a patient's macula over time.

- Article adapted from abc.com

Outdoor activities can prevent myopia in kids

户外活动时间长 孩童近视几率低

一组来自新加坡国立大学和新加坡眼科研究所（SERI）的研究员进行的调查显示，孩子在户外活动的时间越长，患上近视的几率也越低。由国大杨潞龄医学院的社区、职业与家庭医学系的苏祥美副教授领导的研究小组，在2006年针对1249名青少年进行的调查发现：计算了看书、看电视等近距离工作之后，每天花多一个小时进行户外活动，患上近视的可能性会减少10％。


研究也发现，接受调查的14岁至16岁的青少年当中，有78％已经患有近视，而且他们每天平均花3.24个小时进行户外活动，其中0.76小时是做户外运动。研究人员比较澳大利亚悉尼和新加坡的六、七岁华族孩童的近视率，发现澳大利亚孩童每个星期花13个小时参与户外活动，只有3％患有近视；新加坡孩童每星期花在户外活动的时间只有3个小时，29％已患有近视。

苏祥美告诉本报，新加坡和悉尼的华族孩童有许多相近之处，基因、饮食习惯和生活水平相似，看电视和看书的时间相距不远，而最大的差别就在教育体制。研究报告也指出，悉尼的孩童上小学之前，会接受至少一年的学前教育，主要目的是发展社交能力，孩子也有很多时间在户外活动。相比之下，新加坡孩子在三年的学前教育，着重开发阅读能力，加上孩子到补习班，户外活动的时间也较少。

有趣的是，悉尼孩童花在阅读和使用电脑的时间比新加坡的孩童稍微多出一些，但是近视患者的比例比新加坡孩童低。苏祥美分析说，模糊的视线会促使眼球的发育出现异常。医学界推测，人们集中精神看近距离物品的时候，周边视力其实是模糊的，促使眼部细胞增生，引起近视。不过，进行户外活动时，中心视力和周边视力都是清晰的。

此外，在户外活动时，由于光线较充足，瞳孔会缩小，聚焦在视网膜上面的影像较清晰。苏祥美说：“这两个调查结果证实户外活动有助于预防近视，同时说明孩子们在户外活动的时间不够。我们建议家长改变生活习惯，多陪孩子到户外走动和玩乐.”

本地的7岁孩童当中，有28％患近视。苏祥美和她的组员早在1999年就开始对这些孩童进行长期追踪调查。他们在过去8年，主要着重于找出环境因素和日常习惯如看书、使用电脑，对视力退化产生的影响。新加坡眼科研究所黄天荫教授答复本报询问时指出，我国建立亚洲最大的眼睛疾病研究计划，搜集了多种常见眼疾的资料，研究范围跨越了华族、马来族和印度族。他说：“我们的数据库目前搜集了1万5000人的资料，很快地会扩大到两万人.”

配合社区、职业与家庭医学系庆祝成立60周年，国大和新加坡眼科研究所的研究员昨天上午发表了调查结果。

本地孩童易患近视 有三个可能性
近视在我国非常普遍。新加坡眼科研究所大约四年前进行的调查显示，7岁学生有28％患近视，8岁有34％，9岁有42％，12岁则有62％。此外，7岁至9岁学生当中，有48.7％患有散光。医疗界目前还无法确定近视的确切病因，我国的眼科医生进行的研究，就试图找出近视为何在我国那么普遍。

1) 可能与遗传有关
本地研究人员对本地1979名介于7岁到9岁的孩童展开大规模调查，从他们的身上拿取DNA样本，以便对那些近视和非近视孩童的基因组进行比较，从而通过基因定位研究，找出近视和基因之间的关联。

2) 长得越高　近视越深？
四年前进行的一项本地研究针对1449名来自三所学校的小一至小三华族学生进行调查。研究员把学生按体高分四组比较后发现，长得越高的学生，近视越深，而长得最高的那组比最矮的平均高了50度。

3) 幼儿生活习惯
3000名6个月大到6岁之间的孩童参与一项为期3年的调查计划。研究人员为孩子验眼，邀请父母参与问卷调查，从中了解孩子什么时候开始出现近视，从生活习惯了解近视的原因。调查结果预计在明年出炉。

Testicles a source for stem cells?

Washington: Cells taken from men's testicles seem as versatile as the stem cells derived from embryos, researchers reported in what may be yet another new approach in a burgeoning scientific field.

The new type of stem cells could be useful for growing personalised replacement tissues, according to a study in yesterday's issue of the journal Nature. But because of their source, their highest promise would apply to only half the world's population: men.

Embryonic stem cells can give rise to virtually any tissue in the body and scientists believe they may offer treatments for diseases like Parkinson's and diabetes, and for spinal cord injuries.

The testicular cells avoid the ethical dilemma of embryonic stem cells, which are harvested in a process that destroys the embryos. For that reason, some people, including President George W. Bush, oppose their use on ethical or religious grounds.

'The advantage these cells have, in comparison to embryonic stem cells, is that there is no ethical problem with these cells and that they are natural,' said study lead author Thomas Skutella, a professor at the Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine in Tuebingen, Germany.

The new study used cells taken from biopsied tissue from 22 different men undergoing various medical treatments. The men ranged in age from 17 to 81. Researchers found that after a few weeks of growth, the cells could differentiate into various types of cells just like those taken from embryos.

Using the new findings to treat patients could take years.

- Associated Press

Note: Stem cells is seen as one of the most exciting ways forward in the search for treatment for macular degeneration.