- Drops could be used to treat age-related macular degeneration, which causes loss of central vision
- Occurs when blood fats build up behind the retina
- Theory now is that drugs used to treat hardened arteries – also caused by blood fats – could treat AMD
By
Emma Innes
04:17 EST, 3 April 2013
|
11:02 EST, 3 April 2013
Eye drops containing cholesterol-busting drugs could combat one of the most common causes of blindness
Eye drops containing cholesterol-busting drugs could combat one of the most common causes of blindness, according to new research.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless condition which leads to the gradual loss of the central vision.
It is thought that aging, smoking and genetics can all increase a person’s chance of developing the condition.
However, it is also thought to be triggered by harmful blood fats.
Experiments on mice have found that deposits of this cholesterol contribute to the development of the condition.
Patients who have hardened arteries – which are also caused by harmful blood fats – often are prescribed medications to lower cholesterol and keep arteries clear.
Now, a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests that some of those same drugs could be used to treat patients with macular degeneration.
Professor Rajendra Apte said: ‘Based on our findings, we need to investigate whether vision loss caused by macular degeneration could be prevented with cholesterol-lowering eye drops or other medications that might prevent the build-up of fats beneath the retina.’
An estimated 500,000 people in the UK suffer from AMD, and 40 per cent are over the age of 75.
The new research centres on immune cells known as macrophages that remove cholesterol and fats from tissues.
In macular degeneration, the excessive build-up of cholesterol begins to occur as we age, and our macrophages begin to malfunction.
In the less aggressive form of AMD, doctors examining the eye can see lipid deposits beneath the retina.
As those deposits become larger and more numerous, they slowly begin to destroy the central part of the eye, interfering with the vision needed to read a book or drive a car.
Some of the drugs used to treat people with hardening of the arteries could be used to treat patients with macular degeneration
Professor Apte’s researchers at the University of Washington found macrophages taken from old mice and patients with macular degeneration have inadequate levels of a protein called ABCA1 which transports cholesterol out of cells.
As a result, the old macrophages accumulated high levels of cholesterol and could not inhibit the growth of the damaging blood vessels that characterise the more advanced form of the disorder.
WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?
AMD is a painless eye condition that leads to a gradual loss of the central vision.
It’s the most common cause of visual impairment in the UK.
It causes central vision to become blurred resulting in symptoms such as difficulty reading and problems recognising people’s faces.
It usually affects both eyes but the speed of progression can vary between eyes.
It occurs when the macular – the part of the eye responsible for central vision – stops functioning effectively.
It is thought to be triggered by aging, smoking and genetics.
Does not affect the peripheral vision so does not cause complete blindness.
There is currently no cure for the most common form of AMD – dry AMD.
But when the macrophages were treated with a substance that helped restore levels of ABCA1, the cells could remove cholesterol more effectively, and the development of new blood vessels was slowed.
Co-author, Dr Abdoulaye Sene, said: ‘We were able to deliver the drug, called an LXR agonist, in eye drops. And we found we could reverse the macular degeneration in the eye of an old mouse.
‘That is exciting because if we could use eye drops to deliver drugs that fight macular degeneration, we could focus therapy only on the eyes, and we likely could limit the side effects of drugs taken orally.’
Since macrophages are important in thickening of the arteries and in the formation of new blood vessels around certain types of cancerous tumours, the same pathway also might provide a target for more effective therapies for those diseases.
Professor Apte said: ‘We have shown we can reverse the disease cascade in mice by improving macrophage function, either with eye drops or with systemic treatments.
‘Some of the therapies already being used to treat thickening arteries target this same pathway, so we may be able to modify drugs that already are available and use them to deliver treatment to the eye.’
The Royal National Institute for Blind People is currently running an awareness campaign about AMD.
For more information visit
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‘Could’…that word always comes in handy in nearly every DM science non-story.
RW
,
LONDON, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 17:43
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…it only works if you get correctlty diagnosed -something that is NOT happening inthe UK under NHS state-run medicine.
There in Ormskirk ,Lancashire a Mr Morgan went blind because of the idiotic UK system of eyecare –
First you see an Optician ( who’s real job is just fitting glasses) . Next if you are lucky you are sent to a GP , and if he’s on the ball , sends you to some hospital specialist for diagnosis treatment —-RIDICULOUS !
….Here in the US , if your vision’s not right you go straight to your Ophthalmologist.
He would diagnoses you then there, on your first visit , then suggest a treatment plan.
Which saves more sight ? which is really most cost – effective ?
Ask poor old Mr Morgan –blind in Ormskirk , because he was shuffled around for TWO YEARS before being correctly diagnosed !
Brits -you get what you pay for.
wilfred knight
,
orange,
03/4/2013 17:39
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:10
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:10
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:10
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:10
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:10
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:09
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:09
Report abuse
LIZ: I’m so sorry your Mother goes through so much fear I’ve been having those injections for 3.5 years now. At first I could only read about 3 lines on the chart, but now, I’m reading 3 letters on line before bottom line, and as optician said, ‘That’s nearly a whole line.Most times I add letters, once even 10 – 7 in good eye and 3 in bad eye. I do take Visi-Vite.com vitamins specially for the complaint, nothing in this country to equal these.I fortunately go to America each year. I also take a lot of Fish Oil daily, and see an improvement since taking these, and a slip back when I ran out of them and didn’t bother to replace. But, thank God, I’m improving again.I have the same injections as your Mum in both eyes.Still able to drive, even in America on right side of road was easy for me last month. So, please MUM, don’t worry. Also, body is great at adjusting,and fingers can be used to feel for spray area on cans! I still do this naturally,even tho not needed now.Nothing to fear!
elsie X-IAN
,
NORTHERN IRELAND, United Kingdom,
03/4/2013 16:09
Report abuse
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