Prevent Blindness America is proud to announce the recipients of the Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award for the 2006-2007 year. We received many wonderful and deserving applications which made the selection process very difficult. We would like to thank all of those organizations that applied for this program.
We would also like to thank the ARVO representatives that participated on the selection committee.
Charlotte E. Joslin, OD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago-area Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a severe, painful infection of the cornea – which is located at the front of the eye – that usually causes corneal scarring and sometimes blindness. It is caused by the amoeba Acanthamoeba, and it is believed that exposure to contaminated water allows the waterborne amoeba to transfer into the eye. The condition develops among contact lens wearers, especially those who wear contact lenses while swimming in lake water or who have poor lens hygiene. It is extremely rare in the United States, with only 1.65 to 2.01 cases per million contact lens wearers diagnosed nationally each year. However, 42 cases were diagnosed at UIC between June 1, 2003 and November 30, 2005.
Due to the recent increase in cases and their inconsistency with previously understood risk factors, we have begun to hypothesize that the water supply for the Chicago area may be contributing to the rise in Acanthamoeba keratitis cases, and that recent US EPA regulations decreasing the amount of allowable carcinogenic byproducts in the water supply may have shifted the microbial risk. This hypothesis is based in part on research from the United Kingdom, where rates of Acanthamoeba keratitis are significantly higher than in the U.S. Researchers in the UK have identified domestic tap water as a case-control study utilizing both patient-answered questionnaires as well as water sample analysis from the subject’s home for the presence of Acanthamoeba. Further water sample analysis will attempt to match corneal and water sample Acanthamoeba strains by typing the molecular genetics of the various Acanthamoeba isolates. The study also includes plans to develop an electronic survey and tracking system for corneal sub-specialists nationally which will determine other geographic areas experiencing increased cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Linda K. McLoon, PhD
Professor
University of Minnesota
Intranasal Application of Neuroprotective Agents in Rats with Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) and glaucoma are devastating ocular diseases. AION is due to disruption of the arterial blood supply to the optic nerve head resulting in loss of oxygen. Alteration of blood flow has been implicated in glaucoma also. There is no effective treatment for AION. We have shown that intranasal administration through nose drops delivers therapeutic doses of the neuroprotective agents insulin growth factor-1 and erythropoietin to the retina and optic nerve. The goal of this study is to determine whether intranasal administration of IGF1 or erythropoietin will rescue retinal ganglion cells and optic axons that have been exposed to an experimentally induced loss of oxygen. Intranasal delivery is a non-invasive method to deliver therapeutic doses of neuroprotective agents to the eye, optic nerve and brain. This could result in a simple and cost-effective treatment for AION, glaucoma and other vision debilitating injuries to the optic nerve and retina.
Marilyn E. Schneck, PhD
Research Scientist
University of California, Berkeley
Objective Assessment of Retinal Function in Adolescents with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
The diabetic complication affecting the retinal blood vessels, diabetic retinopathy, is a leading cause of blindness in the US. There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy and the resulting vision loss, once present, is essentially irreversible. We’ve shown in diabetic adults that specialized non-invasive tests reveal changes in vision prior to retinopathy, and, more importantly, that these tests are strong predictors of future retinopathy. The goal of this project is to characterize changes in vision in adolescents with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in an effort to prevent devastating sight loss. The new epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in children/adolescents makes such research yet more timely.
Kelly W. Muir, MD
Clinical Associate
Duke University School of Medicine
Randomized Trial of Literacy Level Appropriate Education in Improving Patient Adherence to Glaucoma Therapy
Many Americans have limited ability to comprehend written and verbal material in a health care context, or low literacy. People with low health literacy suffer from disease disproportionately than those who are more literate. We wish to determine if we can improve the treatment of patients with glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, by employing an educational program catered to the patients’ level of literacy.
Copyright © 2006 Prevent Blindness America ®
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