In $25M Gift, Casino Mogul Bets on Blindness Cure – Higher Education



by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn will donate $25 million to the University of Iowa to accelerate the search for cures to rare eye diseases including the one that hampers his own vision, the school announced Thursday.

The donation, to be paid over five years, will support the Institute for Vision Research, will be renamed in honor of the billionaire chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts Ltd. The institute is a leader in genetic testing for eye disease and seeks to develop gene and stem cell therapies that could restore vision.

Wynn, 71, has retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that affects one in 4,000 people and causes night blindness and weakness in peripheral vision. A fixture at Las Vegas galas, he’s often seen leaning on an aide’s arm at nighttime events.

“As a person who knows firsthand what it is like to lose vision from a rare inherited eye disease, I want to do everything I can to help others who are similarly affected,” he said in a statement. “I am thrilled by the pace of the scientific progress that has occurred in the past few years and I feel that the prospect of finding a cure is possible and probable in the short term and certain in the long term.”

University President Sally Mason announced the “inspirational” donation during a Thursday meeting of the Board of Regents.

Wynn, a University of Pennsylvania alum, has no prior ties to Iowa. But he and a longtime associate, Steve Dezii, who directs Wynn’s foundation, have long supported eye research and are acquainted with many top scientists, including institute director Ed Stone.

The institute offers genetic testing worldwide and has developed expertise in discovering and understanding mutations that cause retinitis pigmentosa and other diseases. The institute aims to use that knowledge to develop gene therapies, including transplanting corrected genes into eye tissue.

Researchers are working out how to restore vision for those with advanced disease by growing photoreceptor cells from adult stem cells that could be transplanted into their eyes. Stone said that the institute has learned how to grow the cells and that testing on mice has been encouraging. He said he believed such treatment could be available within a decade.

Wynn’s donation is double the institute’s annual $12 million budget. The institute, which has 30 faculty and 100 staff, is expected to double its laboratory space and hire 10 new faculty from among the brightest in the field, Stone said.

“We want to … translate that money into effective treatments as fast as we can,” he said.

Dezii said he has visited the institute several times in the last two years, and that he and Wynn believe that a gift could accelerate breakthroughs. The donation will benefit those suffering from so-called orphan disorders, which are so rare that researchers typically do not focus on them, and will allow scientists to carry out multiple experiments at once rather than one after another.

“Time is our worst enemy,” Dezii said.

Wynn’s deteriorating sight has caused problems. In 2006, he damaged a Pablo Picasso painting called “Le Reve” shortly after he had agreed to sell it for a record $139 million. Wynn was showing the painting to guests when he struck the painting with his elbow, tearing a silver-dollar-sized hole in the canvas. In March, he sold the restored painting for $155 million.

A $135 million Wynn Resorts donation to a university in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau came under scrutiny for coinciding with Wynn’s request for land to develop a third casino. Wynn denied the gift constituted a bribe, and the SEC concluded its investigation last month without taking any enforcement action.

Wynn doesn’t own any Iowa casinos and has no business ventures planned in the state, Dezii said.

AP reporter Hannah Dreier contributed from Las Vegas.

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Wanted: 10 People Who Want to Read Without Eyeglasses | The …

Robert RivardSince the mid-1990s, when refractive surgery became an affordable, low-risk option, millions of baby boomers have sought what was once thought impossible: to see well again without eyeglasses or contact lenses.

I was one of those millions, dependent on eyeglasses since age eight, and too uncomfortable wearing contact lenses. Since 1996 I have written from time to time about my quest for restored 20/20 vision, and the procedures I underwent to eliminate myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism.

Dr. Arthur Medina, my optometrist, long ago became a friend and more, and recently he introduced me to Dr. Gregory Parkhurst, the lead ophthalmologist and his partner in a national clinical trial exploring yet another step forward in the ever-evolving science of vision restoration and improvement.

Sometime in the next month, once my left eye is fully healed and I can write with confidence about the outcome, I will publish a story about the latest — my third — experience with refractive surgery. Today’s article is to share with readers an even more advanced procedure and technology that, alas, I did not qualify for  as a patient.

Parkhurst and Medina are seeking 10 patients to complete a clinical trial by the end of August for a procedure that corrects near vision without degrading far vision. They want 10 people — ideally between the ages of 40 and 65 — whose distance vision is good, without correction, who require eyeglasses to read. The patients cannot have had any prior eye surgeries.

Gregory D. Parkhurst and Arthur Media in the NuVision office. Courtesy photo.

Dr. Gregory Parkhurst (left) and Dr. Arthur Medina. Courtesy photo.

That, unfortunately, is not me. But it could be you, and if you are interested, simply go to www.lasik-sanantonio.com and click on the red “Tired of Reading Glasses?” icon and fill out the form. Or you can call the Nuvision offices, located at 9725 Datapoint Dr. in the former Rackspace headquarters,  at 210-428-6788. Ten fortunate people who fit the above description will get a $5,000 procedure performed at no cost.

“We believe this is going to be next evolutionary step in vision surgery,” Parkhurst said. “Right now the (FDA-approved) technology is such that one eye can be corrected for distance focus, and one eye for near focus.  We don’t have an approved technology to date that allows each eye to see near and far the way you did when you were 20 years old. This clinical trial is designed to allow people to see both far and near in the same eye, so it restores the near vision while not degrading the far vision. This surgery will get you out of reading glasses.”

Parkhurst and Nuvision are one of 12 sites around the country involved in Phase III clinical trials on behalf of Revision Optics, an Orange County, CA company specializing in what it calls “raindrop near vision inlay” surgery. Corneal inlays restore the proper curvature of the cornea and thus cure presbyopia, the condition brought on by age that causes the eye to lose its ability to focus on near objects. Once Parkhurst performs 10 more surgeries, the clinical trial phase will be completed and Revision Optics will await formal approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

There are a handful of other companies competing in the same space. One is Acufocus, another privately held company also located in Orange County. Parkhurst is not associated with Acufocus, but clearly there is a lot of competition for what is seen as a huge market as vision correction surgery becomes widely accepted and new products and procedures attract more patients. The various companies’ websites tend to show happy, active boomer couples — not unlike advertisements for prescription medicines that enhance or restore virility.

 

Parkhurst Nuvision LogoAre there risks involved with the surgery? Yes, but the FDA site devoted to refractive surgery states most patients enjoy improved vision without serious side effects.

“There has never been a case of blindness with this procedure,” Parkhurst said. “This is a clinical trial, so the first thing we do is bring patients in and describe all the risks and benefits. They want us to complete the trials by the end of August so we want to screen people within a week.”

I long ago concluded the benefits far outweighed the risks, and time has proven me right. I’ll have more to write about my own vision improvement quest in a few weeks.

Follow Robert Rivard on Twitter @rivardreport or on Facebook. 

 

 

 



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'Bionic eye' new option for retinitis pigmentosa patients | Research …

‘Bionic eye’ new option for retinitis pigmentosa patients

by | Posted on Thursday, Jul. 25, 2013 — 9:20 AM

The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System includes eyeglasses, a camera, transmitter and video processing unit as well as an implanted artificial retina.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been chosen as one of 12 sites in the United States to offer the first FDA-approved bionic eye for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

The device, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, will be available to patients being treated for late-stage RP, an inherited retinal degenerative disease. Although still a few months away, ophthalmologists at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the innovative technology for patients who are functionally blind.

“We are excited to be chosen as one of the centers nationwide to provide this remarkable innovation to our patients,” said Paul Sternberg Jr., M.D., George W. Hale Professor and chair of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and director of the Vanderbilt Eye Institute. “It is an acknowledgement that VEI is one of the premier eye institutes in the country.

“To date, there has been no proven, effective treatment in preventing this disease or slowing it down. For patients who are blind, the ability to regain some vision, functionality and independence is astonishing.”

Retinitis pigmentosa is a retinal degenerative disease characterized by progressive peripheral vision loss and night vision difficulties. It is caused by abnormalities of the rods and cones (receptors of vision) that can lead to peripheral and central vision loss. An estimated 100,000 people are living with RP in the U.S.

Anita Agarwal, M.D., associate professor of Ophthalmology, is looking forward to providing an improved quality of life for patients suffering from end-stage RP.

“It is really amazing to see that patients, who previously were functionally blind, will be able to recognize objects, silhouettes, people and large letters. Patients living with RP have adapted to a non-seeing lifestyle. This is a life-changing treatment.”

Agarwal said researchers have been working toward a treatment for nearly 25 years. And for the past decade, she and her colleagues have been waiting for such a discovery to restore a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks and detect images.

Argus II includes a miniature video camera, a transmitter, eyeglasses, a video processing unit (VPU) and an implanted artificial retina.

The device works by converting video images captured by the camera, which is mounted on the eyeglasses, into a series of small electrical pulses that are then transmitted wirelessly through the VPU to the implanted retina. The pulses conduct messages to the brain and in turn the patient learns how to interpret the visual patterns.

Agarwal stresses that the implanted device will not restore a patient’s vision, rather it will serve as a replacement for the function of the degenerated retinal cells.

The device was created by Second Sight Medical Products Inc.

“With such promising discoveries, patients with other blinding eye diseases may be able to benefit from similar technology,” said Agarwal. “This is a step toward what the future holds.”

In addition to Agarwal, the VEI team, which is made up of physicians, low vision specialists and mobility specialist, includes Milam Brantley, M.D., Stephen Kim, M.D., Jeffrey Sonsino, O.D., Bradley Kehler, O.D., and a vision and a mobility specialist.

Contact:
Jessica Pasley, (615) 322-4747
jessica.pasley@Vanderbilt.Edu


Second Suns: Restoring Sight, Saving Lives | Medical Eye Center

Second-Suns-coverSecond Suns tells the story of the Himalayan Cataract Project’s work restoring vision to people in the poorest communities of Asia and Africa. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally and can be treated with a 10-minute surgery. In wealthy countries, surgery is readily available and cataracts typically are removed when there is mild visual impairment. In poorer countries, however, the condition often progresses to total blindness, and treatment for many is unavailable. The World Health Organization estimates that 18 million people remain blind from cataracts.

Medical Eye Center’s Dr. Matt Oliva is a board member and director of African programs at the Himalayan Cataract Project, which is the subject of a new book called Second Suns, published by Random House. Drs. Paul Jorizzo and Paul Imperia have also been associate physicians with the international non-profit organization since 2008. “I’m very proud to be mentioned in Second Suns” says Dr. Oliva. “I’m hoping the book will raise awareness for our high quality, comprehensive approach to eradicating treatable blindness in the world’s poorest countries.” Learn more…

Vision: Retina Implant AG wins E.U. approval for sight-restoring …

July 5, 2013 by Sony Salzman

Retinal Implant AG wins its 1st CE Mark for a wireless sub-retinal implant that reverses blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa.

European healthcare regulators this month granted CE Mark approval to Retina Implant AG’s Alpha IMS, a tiny eye implant that restores “useful” vision in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa.

Reutlingen, Germany-based Retina Implant AG, founded in 2003 from a German research institute spinout, touts the technology as “artificial sight.” The Alpha IMS chip is implanted beneath the retina, where it sends electrical impulses to the brain to help restore visual capacity.

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This is company’s 1st stamp of approval in Europe, and the Alpha IMS device has already been implanted in 36 patients, according to a company statement. Retina Implant AG claims its microchip implant’s 1,500 electrodes are more than any other device device used in humans.

“We are delighted that our subretinal implant has received CE marking, validating the safety and potential benefits of our revolutionary product to patients and physicians,” CEO Walter-G Wrobel said in prepared remarks. “We also want to thank all of the patients who participated in our clinical trials, as without their contributions, this day would not be possible.”

A different kind of retinal implant called Argus II, made by Second Sight, hit the shelves in the States following FDA approval earlier this year. The company is slated to set up shop at 12 medical centers across the U.S. to begin consultations for the device.

Tiny telescope implant helps restore age-related vision loss – NBC …





June 27, 2013 at 8:50 PM ET

Video: By surgically implanting a miniature telescope in the eye, doctors have successfully magnified objects in patients’ central vision. It’s not a quick fix, and requires intense rehabilitation — but the results can be dramatic. NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.

Jim Hindman, the co-founder of car maintenance service Jiffy Lube was 55 when his eyesight started to fail. The problem started as a tiny black dot in the center of his vision at first, but the blind spot grew. As the years passed, Hindman, now 77, had trouble reading and making out faces.

The low point, Hindman says, came when his age-related macular degeneration forced him to give up his driver’s license. “That was, I think, the moment of despair,” Hindman told NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman. “I began to get depressed. I began to get angry.”

Age-related macular degeneration, a slowly developing condition that can make it difficult to recognize faces, drive a car or read, typically affects people in their 50s and older. As baby boomers age – and as lifespans continue to increase — the numbers of people are expected to surge.

The worst part for Hindman was learning there was no way to stop the deterioration. While there are some therapies for the wet form of macular degeneration – a more advanced, severe condition — treatments for the dry form, which afflicts Hindman and millions of other Americans, have been mostly limited to magnifying glasses.

Video: Jim Hindman started losing his vision after developing dry age related macular degeneration. He got the implantable miniature telescope placed in his left eye, and says the surgery to implant it was painless.

That wasn’t enough for Hindman, a college coach, and a racehorse owner. He found doctors at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital who have been helping patients see better with a tiny device that can be surgically implanted in the eye.

The device was given Food and Drug Administration approval and is now covered by Medicare. For those paying out of pocket, the cost of the device is $15,000, not including surgery or rehabilitation.

When people develop macular degeneration, they lose their central vision as the middle part of the retina becomes increasingly scarred over. Because the surrounding areas are unscathed, their peripheral vision survives. So they are able to see what’s beside them, but not what’s in front of them.

At the institute, doctors implanted a miniature telescope behind the iris of Hindman’s left eye. The device magnifies what’s in front of Hindman and projects it back onto the parts of his retina that haven’t been destroyed by the disease.

“The advantages of the telescope are that people can see detail much more clearly — people’s faces, television, looking out into the world,” says Dr. Judith E. Goldstein an assistant professor of ophthalmology and chief of low vision services at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

Still, the device is not a panacea. “It’s important that patients know that this device is not going to allow them to drive,” says Dr. Oliver D. Schein, a professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute. “It’s not going to let them read small print. But it may take someone who has had to give up reading entirely and get them to the point where they can read large print.”

Beyond that, the device requires months of therapy. It’s implanted in only one eye because it takes away peripheral vision. As a result, patients need therapy to help rewire their brains to use one eye to see directly in front of them and the other to see everything else.

The rehab isn’t for the faint hearted. “The therapy at first was very exhausting,” Hindman said. “I can remember at the end of a two hour session, just getting in the back seat of the car and going to sleep.”

But Hindman says it was all worthwhile.

“I hate to use the word miraculous,” he says. “But it has been miraculous. The change in my psychological outlook on life was dramatic.”

And while he knows that the telescope is not a cure it is allowing him to once again to actually see the things he loves, including the beautiful Thoroughbreds dotting his pastures.

Video: Dr. Oliver Schain, with the Wilmer Eye Institute, explains how the implantable miniature telescope works.







Natural Clear Vision – Restore Your Natural 20/20 Vision Without …

Natural Clear Vision - Restore Your Natural 20/20 Vision Without SurgeryHey, Kevin Richardson here. If you’re watching this exclusive presentation, then you’re either one of my elite subscribers, or I have allowed a very close friend of mine to share this website with you.

In the next few minutes, I’m going to share with you a simple but powerful technique that’s going to help you get natural clear vision.

Now before we go any further, let me remind you that this is an exclusive, by invitation only presentation.

This is easily the most important thing you’ll ever see in your life, because you’re about to discover a secret that’s going to get you crystal clear vision through very simple and natural ways.

Before I go on to tell you about this amazing discovery, let me share with you how I came about this secret.

When I was very young my parents thought I had a learning disability, because try as they might, they couldn’t get me to learn the alphabet.

It wasn’t until a routine medical checkup that the doctor diagnosed me as having severe myopia, which is basically a fancy word for short-sightedness.

By the age of 5 I was made to wear glasses, and I can’t begin to tell you how much that affected me as a kid.

I remember going to the optometrist when I was 15 for a new pair of glasses, and for some reason I told him that I’d hoped to be rid of them soon.

I’m probably getting ahead of myself, but in my years-long research into corrective eye procedures I would eventually discover that corrective lenses actually do more harm than good in the long run.

If you wear glasses or contacts, do some close work for an hour or two, then check your unaided vision.

Using corrective lenses doesn’t aid in strengthening the eye. They’re a crutch that the eye becomes dependent on over time.

They make the eye lethargic, complacent, because it no longer has to engage in the hard work of focusing on producing the clearest image for your brain.

And just like today’s procedures, there was NO GUARANTEE that I wouldn’t ever need my glasses again.

Every now and then there would be news of some botched eye surgery leaving some poor guy or woman with even more eye problems than they started with.

Heck, even with today’s advanced technology you still hear… Read more…

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Gene Therapy Restores Vision to Some of the Blind | IdeaFeed | Big …

We live in a time of information abundance, which far too many of us see as information overload. With the sum total of human knowledge, past and present, at our fingertips, we’re faced with a crisis of attention: which ideas should we engage with, and why? Big Think is an evolving roadmap to the best thinking on the planet — the ideas that can help you think flexibly and act decisively in a multivariate world.

A word about Big Ideas and Themes — The architecture of Big Think

Big ideas are lenses for envisioning the future. Every article and video on bigthink.com and on our learning platforms is based on an emerging “big idea” that is significant, widely relevant, and actionable. We’re sifting the noise for the questions and insights that have the power to change all of our lives, for decades to come. For example, reverse-engineering is a big idea in that the concept is increasingly useful across multiple disciplines, from education to nanotechnology.

Themes are the seven broad umbrellas under which we organize the hundreds of big ideas that populate Big Think. They include New World Order, Earth and Beyond, 21st Century Living, Going Mental, Extreme Biology, Power and Influence, and Inventing the Future.