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Dr. Alexander Eaton today presented the results of a two-year clinical study of the drug Fenretinide for the treatment of geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry macular degeneration at the American Society of Retina Specialists conference in Vancouver. The meeting was attended by retina physicians from around the world.

The two-year research was done at 30 centers throughout the United States and included 246 study patients. The results provide hope for patients who are diagnosed with dry macular degeneration.

“This research was broad, involved a large number of institutions, and has significant implications for our patients,” said Eaton. “For the first time, the study results demonstrate that the progression of this type of macular degeneration can be significantly slowed with medication. By reducing the amount of vitamin A delivered to the retina, the drug also reduces the amount of toxic byproducts that are produced by the Vitamin A cycle. Since vitamin A and the vitamin A cycle are critical to healthy vision, this is especially important as these byproducts are continually being produced.”

One Southwest Florida participant, Herbert Ruescher, has reported decreased vision since completing the study in February and discontinuing use of the study medication he received. While we can not be sure he received the active drug, his experience suggests he did. With Fenretinide the desired effect of the drug is to prevent vision loss.

Ruescher, who had been treated for dry macular degeneration in the past, participated in the study for two years. During the study, he says his vision didn’t get worse at all, describing his vision loss while taking Fenretinide as “nil.” Since stopping the medication at the study’s conclusion, the patient experienced rapid deterioration and describes his vision as “blurry” and “hazy” as if he has tears in his eyes. Also, during the study, Ruescher says his eye exams were “status quo,” but at his latest exam the doctor could see a change for the worse. He believes Fenretinide stopped his vision from getting worse while he took it.

“Eyesight is a very precious thing,” says Ruescher. “I had to stop driving for safety reasons so I’m interested in anything that will help. They are doing a good job. Dr. Eaton and Dr. Wafapoor are very fine doctors.”

The incidence of this form of dry macular degeneration has been estimated to be around 2 percent at 75 years of age and 22 percent at 90 years of age. In the study, the patients who received the higher dose of the medication showed a 50 percent reduction in the growth of lesions.

In addition, the drug was found to inhibit the development of exudative macular degeneration from 18.3 percent in the controls, to around 9 percent in the treatment group. This is approximately a 50 percent reduction, and occurred in both the lower and higher doses of the medication used in the study.

“We have not seen any other compound produce this kind of reduction in both of these vision threatening forms of macular degeneration, so it is really exciting,” said Eaton.

After detecting this finding, additional research with Fenretinide shows a direct effect of the medication on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates the growth of blood vessels and plays an important role in the development of wet macular degeneration.

“What makes this drug so incredible is it appears to work on two different pathways that are important in the development of macular degeneration,” said Eaton. “It slows the development of dry macular degeneration, while reducing the incidence of wet macular degeneration. As far as we are aware, this is the first compound to have such a benefit.”

The side effects of Fenretinide include difficulty with night vision and mildly elevated results for liver function screenings. The night blindness was reversed when the drug was discontinued.

Before Fenretinide can be released, a final research study will be needed. This is expected to begin soon and to take two or three years to complete.

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 1993 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 17 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit http://www.retinahealthcenter.com/.

Duke Eye Center has reappointed Dr. Alexander M. Eaton of Retina Health Center as a consulting associate in the department of ophthalmology, a role he has served since 1999.

The Duke Eye Center, part of the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., is a world-class eye care and research center, which specializes in the treatment of blinding eye diseases such as macular degeneration. The Duke Eye Center was recently ranked one of the top 10 ophthalmology hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

Eaton, an alumnus of Duke University School of Medicine, is a well-known macular degeneration expert. He has won numerous honors and awards for his research and service, holds a number of patents on surgical devices, and authored See Again! Reversing and Preventing Macular Degeneration, published by Random House Company.  

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit http://www.retinahealthcenter.com/.

With a focus on developing new technology to improve retinal care, The Retina Health Center announces the filing of a provisional patent for an oxygen imaging system developed by Dr. Alexander Eaton, director, Retina Health Center and his colleague Dr. Hussein Wafapoor. As part of a research protocol, physicians at Retina Health Center were the first to use this advance technology to take images of patients in February 2010.

“We believe the oxygen imaging system will revolutionize our understanding of retinal disorders and the way we treat patients with these diseases,” says Eaton. “This new technology allows us to determine oxygen levels in both the vessels and the tissue with significant implications in the evolution and management of retinal disorders. Oxygen imaging technology is being worked on in various parts of the world and our recent breakthrough is the first documented measurement of retinal oxygen values in retinal tissue, which has not been achieved before.” 

A minimally invasive procedure, the oxygen imaging system uses a camera system to record images of the retina. These images provide a wealth of information to help physicians and researchers better understand the role that oxygen plays in the development of a number of retinal disorders. Researchers at Retina Health Center are evaluating a number of conditions that the oxygen imaging system may be used to treat including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal, arterial and venous occlusions.

“Once we better understand the role of oxygen, we will be able to evaluate how different therapies impact the tissue oxygen levels, allowing us to better treat retinal disorders,” said Eaton.

Currently, the Retina Health Center is the first and only location in the world with this advanced technology.  Retina Health Center expects to provide equipment to other university and research centers later this year, allowing them to help define how this new information will be used to improve retina health care for patients.

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit http://www.retinahealthcenter.com/.

Dr. Hussein Wafapoor of Retina Health Center presented new research findings to more than 11,000 eye care specialists from around the world at the Association for Research in Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale on May 3.  

Wafapoor presented new findings from a study on macular telangiectasia, a disorder that affects the central portion of the macula causing loss of vision. The study looked at the characteristics of 12 eyes of patients suffering from macular telangiectasia using a high definition optical coherence tomography (Spectral Domain OCT) and compared these findings with older OCT (called time domain OCT or TD OCT)

“The pathogenesis of this disorder is unknown and the treatment can be challenging,” said Wafapoor. “By using the high-resolution SD OCT, we have learned that eyes with macular telangiectasia have varying degree of abnormality at the level of outer nuclear and outer plexiform layer of the retina, previously not detectable by TD OCT. It is our hope that these study results will help not only with the diagnosis of this disease but also with treatment options for patients.”

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Wafapoor, who presented the work, joined the Retina Health Center in 2006. Prior to that time he was on the faculty of the University of Mississippi. Both Wafapoor and Eaton have been the principal investigators for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit www.retinahealthcenter.com.

When Edward Sweeney, a 67-year-old computer programmer from Buckingham, began having trouble with his vision in his left eye nearly two years ago, he was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). In wet AMD, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes disruption and dysfunction of the retina, creating blind spots in central vision. Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Europe.

“Working daily on the computer, my vision is critical to my job and lifestyle,” said Sweeney. “My vision loss came on very suddenly and everything was distorted and elongated. It was so bad that I had to wear a patch over my eye to see, but once I started the injections, I experienced tremendous improvements and my vision has returned.”

Now 69, Sweeney is in his second year of participating in an investigational study of VEGF Trap-eye for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. This investigational drug is being evaluated at Retina Health Center and other research centers around the world. Recent data is showing that patients are achieving improved vision with few repeat injections.

VEGF Trap-eye is just one of the new treatments for wet macular degeneration that will be discussed at a public health seminar presented by Retina Health Center and the Foundation Fighting Blindness on Jan. 30. At the seminar, leading experts from throughout the country present latest research findings on both wet and dry macular degeneration.

Retina Health Center and the Foundation Fighting Blindness will host the seventh annual Southwest Florida Macular Degeneration Symposium on Jan. 30. Two identical sessions will take place on Sat. Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Low-vision devices will be available. Both sessions of the symposium will be identical. Admission is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, call 800-455-0060.

This year’s symposium features two keynote speakers, Brent Zanke M.D., Ph.D., chairman and chief medical officer of ArcticDX Inc. and Edmund Mickunas, vice president of Advanced Cell Technologies, a biotechnology company that is developing stem cell technology for the treatments of macular degeneration.

A staff scientist at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, Zanke has won numerous awards, received over 25 grants worth more than 20 million dollars, co-authored more than 30 journal articles and presented at numerous meetings throughout the world. He has extensive experience in the field of genetics, particularly as it relates to macular degeneration, which he will be speaking about at the symposium. In addition, Mickunas has extensive experience in gene therapy, and will discuss the latest in what stem cell research can mean for individuals with macular degeneration.

Also presenting will be Drs. Alexander Eaton and Hussein Wafapoor of Retina Health Center, along with Dr. Timothy Schoen of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Eaton, director of Retina Health Center, will provide an overview of macular degeneration and an update on the prevention of vision loss from macular degeneration. Wafapoor will cover some of the ongoing studies at Retina Health Center that are helping patients on a local, national and international level. The center’s research arm, the Macular Degeneration Research Center, is continuously conducting studies to determine the effectiveness of investigational drugs and delivery methods that may prevent and treat macular degeneration. A national test site for the evaluation of new treatments and delivery systems for retinal disorders, Retina Health Center brings the world’s most advanced care to local patients.

About Retina Health Center:
Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, director of Retina Health Center, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit www.retinahealthcenter.com.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.FightBlindness.org) is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. The largest source of non-governmental funding for retinal disease research in the world, the Foundation has raised more than $370 million to put an end to these devastating diseases. Throughout its 38 year history, FFB has invested almost 80 percent of its revenue in research and public health education programs.

Retina Health Center and the Foundation Fighting Blindness will host the seventh annual Southwest Florida Macular Degeneration Symposium on Jan. 30. Two identical sessions will take place on Sat. Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Low-vision devices will be available.

This year’s symposium features two keynote speakers, Brent Zanke MD, PhD, chairman and chief medical officer of ArcticDX Inc. and Mr. Edmund Mickunas, vice president of Advanced Cell Technologies, a biotechnology company that is developing stem cell technology for the treatments of macular degeneration.

A staff scientist at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, Zanke has won numerous awards, received over 25 grants worth more than 20 million dollars, co-authored more than 30 journal articles and presented at numerous meetings throughout the world. He has extensive experience in the field of genetics, particularly as it relates to macular degeneration, which he will be speaking about at the symposium.  In addition, Mickunas has extensive experience in gene therapy, and will discuss the latest in what stem cell research can mean for individuals with macular degeneration.

Both sessions of the symposium will be identical. Admission is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, call 800-455-0060.

Also presenting will be Drs. Alexander Eaton and Hussein Wafapoor of Retina Health Center, along with Dr. Timothy Schoen of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Eaton, director of the Retina Health Center, will provide an overview of macular degeneration and an update on the prevention of vision loss from macular degeneration. Hussein Wafapoor will cover some of the ongoing studies at the Retina Health Center that are helping patients on a local, national and international level. The center’s research arm, the Macular Degeneration Research Center, is continuously conducting studies to determine the effectiveness of investigational drugs and delivery methods that may prevent and treat macular degeneration. A national test site for the evaluation of new treatments and delivery systems for retinal disorders, Retina Health Center brings the world’s most advanced care to local patients.

About Retina Health Center:

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit www.retinahealthcenter.com.

New research by Dr. Hussein Wafapoor of Retina Health Center may help ophthalmologists better predict whether patients who have epiretinal membrane, also referred to as a “wrinkled retina,” are more likely to develop macular edema and require further treatment following cataract surgery. With this new information, physicians can better educate patients on macular edema and prepare them for possible post-surgical treatment.