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Ophthalmic Sutures Market will exceed USD 443.5 million by 2025; as per a new research report.

Increasing incidences of ocular diseases will prove beneficial for market growth in forthcoming years. Prevalence of eye conditions such as hyperopia, myopia, glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration is rising from past few years. According to WHO, 51% of world blindness occur due to cataract. As a result, physicians recommend surgical procedures to cure ophthalmic diseases, that will augment demand for surgical sutures, thereby propelling business growth.

Technological advancement in ophthalmic sutures will escalate industry growth. Industry players are emphasizing on development of suture that will enhance post-surgical outcomes. Infection of eye leads to hazardous repercussions such as endophthalmitis, bacterial keratitis, corneal ulceration, inflammation and edema. Companies are developing sutures that will supply antibiotics and levofloxacin to prevent ocular infections resulting in patient convenience. As a result, adoption for these sutures is expected to rise thereby augmenting business growth. However, dearth of trained ophthalmologists may hamper business growth up to certain extent.

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Synthetic sutures segment is anticipated to witness around 5% CAGR over the analysis timeframe. Significant growth is attributed to several benefits associated with synthetic sutures. Synthetic suture consists of nylon, prolene, dacron, etc. These material offer strong and prolonged support for slowly healing ocular tissues. Additionally, synthetic sutures cause minimum tissue reaction, has enhanced handling properties, passes easily through tissues, and has superior strength. Aforementioned benefits provided by synthetic sutures will augment the demand, thereby fueling segment growth.

Non-absorbable sutures segment held more than 62% revenue share in 2018. Non-absorbable sutures are made of natural and synthetic polymers. These sutures have high tensile strength and provides knot security. Nonabsorbable sutures are recommended for oculoplastic surgery. Moreover, non-absorbable sutures are unaffected by biologic activities of body tissues and remains intact until they are removed. Benefits offered by these sutures will increase its adoption, thereby augmenting its demand.

Corneal transplantation surgery segment is estimated to witness more than 6% growth over the forthcoming years. According to Eye bank of association of America, in 2016, 82,994 corneal graft tissues were utilized in the U.S. alone. Moreover, there is an increase is corneal donors since past few years. Increasing number of corneal donors coupled with unmet demand will increase surgical procedures. This scenario proves beneficial for segmental growth.

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Ambulatory surgical centers segment held around 65% revenue share in 2018 and estimated to witness substantial growth in analysis timeframe. Patients prefer ASCs due to superior quality treatment, minimally invasive surgeries and low cost offered by these healthcare settings. ASCs provide good assistance, high quality equipment and infection control in ophthalmic surgical procedures that reduces the post operations complications.

Asia Pacific ophthalmic surgical market is projected to witness around 6% growth over analysis timeframe. Aging population, changing lifestyle and lack of exercise are increasing the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases and associated risk conditions such as diabetes. Growing patient pool in the region will create need for ophthalmic surgical procedures ultimately augmenting ophthalmic sutures market growth.

Prominent industry players operational in the ophthalmic sutures market include B.Braun, Medtronic, Ethicon(J&J), Teleflex, Smith& Nephew, Conmed Corporation, DemeTEch Corporation, Gore Medical, Surgical Specialties Corporation, SUTUMED. Key industry players adopt strategic initiatives such as acquisitions and new product launches, that enable them in sustaining market competition. For instance, Teleflex developed BONDEK PLUS BRAIDED that has characteristics such as lubricity and smoothness. This product received FDA clearance on October 2018 for ophthalmic procedures. Company offers customization in the product to serve the needs of patients. This strategy will enable company to gain competitive advantage.

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Ophthalmic Sutures Market 2019 Global Analysis, Opportunities And Forecast To 2025 - Cole of Duty

Kerrisa Wilson, CP24.com Published Wednesday, May 27, 2020 11:45AM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, May 27, 2020 12:18PM EDT

York Regional Police have laid charges in two separate incidents and are investigating a third after a police helicopter was struck by multiple laser pointers.

On May 21, around 11:25 p.m., police say Air2 was on a general patrol over the area of Rutherford Rd. and Islington Ave., in Vaughan, when it was struck by a bright light.

The crew was able to direct officers to the location of the suspect outside of a residence on Ronan Cr.

A 44-year-old man from Vaughan was arrested and charged with mischief endangering life, endangering security of an aircraft in flight and unlawfully projecting bright light into navigable airspace.

Following this incident, police say Air2 was struck by a laser again on May 22 in Markham. Just before midnight, the helicopter was in the area of Birchmount Rd. and Enterprise Blvd. assisting on a break and enter investigation when it was hit multiple times by a laser.

The suspect was believed to be on a balcony of a hotel on Birchmount. Officers attended the location and arrested the suspect.

A 52-year-old man from Markham is facing the same three charges as the other individual, plus obstructing police charges.

Meanwhile, police are looking for a third suspect in connection with an incident that occured on May 23. At around 11:30 p.m., police say Air2 was hit by a laser while on general patrol near Bathurst St. and Jefferson Sideroad in Richmond Hill. No suspect information has been released.

Police say laser pointers can have serious consequences for pilots as they can cause flash blindness. Health Canada says this reaction is similar to what happens during flash photography, where the image of the flash remains in your eyes for a few seconds then fades away.

Anyone with information about the third laser strike incident is asked to contact police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Link:
Charges laid after three incidents of laser strikes on York Regional Police helicopter - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

COLUMBIA, Md., May 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world's leading organization searching for treatments and cures for inherited retinal diseases, has introduced many improvements and upgrades to its My Retina Tracker Registry. Overall, the upgraded platform makes this best-in-class patient database even easier to use for patients, industry, and investigators who access de-identified data for research studies and clinical trial recruitment. Launched in 2013, more than 15,500 IRD patients are active in the Registry. The patient-driven registry is accessible at MyRetinaTracker.org.

"The My Retina Tracker Registry has been an invaluable resource for both IRD patients and research communities. It provides a secure venue for patients to get on the radar screens of therapy developers both industry and researcher partners who are recruiting for clinical trials and conducting studies using human data," says Brian Mansfield, PhD, executive vice president of research and interim chief scientific officer. "From the start, we have been strongly committed to security of privacy coupled with ease-of-use for both patients and professionals. These enhancements are part of our continual process to maximize the registry's usability and efficiently integrate it with our genetic testing programs."

Highlights of upgrades and enhancements:

The Foundation also offers no-cost genetic testing for those affected with IRDs. The Open Access Genetic Testing Program, allows for any eye care professional in the U.S. to order the no-cost test along with a no-cost genetic counseling session for their IRD patients. Neither membership to My Retina Tracker Registry, nor clinician pre-approval, is needed to participate in the Open Access Genetic Testing Program and receive free testing and genetic counseling.

If a person who is tested chooses to join My Retina Tracker Registry, their data is automatically uploaded into their profile from the genetic testing laboratory.

Current sponsors of the new My Retina Tracker Registry include: The George Gund Foundation, Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Sofia Sees Hope, AGTC and MeiraGTx. Sponsors of the Open Access Genetic Testing Program include: ProQR, Blueprint Genetics, InformedDNA, Sophia Sees Hope, and The George Gund Foundation.

About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. VisitFightingBlindness.orgfor more information.

Media Contact:Chris AdamsVice President, Marketing & Communications[emailprotected]410-423-0585

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness

http://www.FightBlindness.org

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Foundation Fighting Blindness Launches Upgraded My Retina Tracker Registry for People with Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) - PRNewswire

(PRESS RELEASE) CHICAGO In order to help patients with Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) receive an accurate diagnosis through genetic testing, Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest volunteer eye health organization, is embarking on a new awareness initiative to educate the public on IRDs, a group of genetic disorders that can cause severe vision loss or total blindness. A recent editorial noted that IRDs are the leading cause of vision loss in persons between 15 and 45 years of age- impacting one in every 2,000 people.

To continue the Prevent Blindness mission of preventing blindness and saving sight, the group has declared May 17-23, 2020 as Inherited Retinal Disease Genetic Testing Week. As part of this initiative, Prevent Blindness has created a dedicated webpage (to go live on May 15, 2020) with no-cost educational resources on IRDs, providing detailed information on risk factors, therapy and research options, financial assistance services, the importance of genetic testing, and more. Shareable social media graphics on IRDs are also available. Development of these new resources was supported by a donation from Spark Therapeutics, a gene therapy company striving to challenge the inevitability of genetic disease.

The most common types of IRDs include:

All those diagnosed with IRDs should work with their healthcare professional to develop a disease management plan tailored to the patients needs.

Patients with suspected IRDs are encouraged to participate in genetic testing, even those who were tested more than five years ago and did not receive a definitive result. According to the National Institutes of Health, genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test may provide a detailed diagnosis which confirms or rules out most suspected genetic conditions and the test can help determine a persons chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder to their children. Free genetic testing is now available from select organizations and commercial businesses, including through the ID YOUR IRD program.

Inherited retinal diseases can have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients, including affecting the ability to work and live independently, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. Fortunately, today there are more therapies being researched than ever before. We encourage patients and their caregivers to educate themselves on steps that can be taken today to save sight for tomorrow.

As a leading gene therapy company with a strong commitment to genetic testing for the IRD community, Spark Therapeutics is pleased to support the Prevent Blindness inaugural IRD Genetic Testing Week, said Dan Chung, DO, MA, ophthalmology therapeutic area leader, Spark Therapeutics. We encourage patients living with IRDs and caregivers to pursue genetic testing in order to receive a true, genetic diagnosis.

For more information on IRDs and genetic testing for vision issues, please call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit here. For a listing of vision care financial assistance programs in English or Spanish, visit here.

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Prevent Blindness Offers New Educational Resources on IRD's, Importance of Genetic Testing and Services - InvisionMag

Legends of Tomorrow season 5, episode 11, "Ship Broken" affirmed Sara Lance's superpower and the price she had to pay to take advantage of it.

Warning: SPOILERS for Legends of Tomorrow, Season 5, Episode 11, "Ship Broken."

Legends of Tomorrowseason 5, episode 11, "Ship Broken" confirmed that Sara Lance had developed the power to see the future, but revealed that she had also lost her sight. Interestingly enough, this places Sara within two categories of hero common to both superhero comics and mythology in general; the blind seer and the blind warrior.

The youngest daughter of Quentin and Dinah Lance, Sara Lance is perhaps the most popular of the original characters created for the Arrowverse. Whereas Oliver Queen spent "five years in Hell" learning the skills he would later use to save his city, Sara Lance spent six years struggling to survive as a captive of the mad scientist Anthony Ivo and training as an assassin under the tutelage of Ra's Al Ghul. She was later given the rare opportunity to leave the League of Assassins, returning home to become a protector of the innocent as Canary. Following her death and resurrection, she took on the alias White Canary and became one of the founding members of the Legends of Tomorrow, eventually becoming the Captain of the Waverider when Rip Hunter left the team.

Related: Legends of Tomorrow Reveals How Heatwave Funds The Arrowverse Team

Throughout all of this, Sara has held her own against metahumans and magicians alike, despite lacking any superpowers of her own. That changed in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "The Great British Fake Off," where Sara seemed to start seeing events play out just before they happened. This occurred twice before Sara lapsed into a coma. She woke up early on in the following episode, "Ship Broken," but quickly realized that she had been struck blind - an unfortunate consequence for being able to see the future.

Sara's precognition took on a new form in this episode, giving her horrific visions of her teammates's deaths whenever she touched anyone's hand, ala Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone. By the end of the episode, Sara had learned how to focus this ability, shifting her perspective to check on specific people while holding another person's hand. Through this, she was able to witness and then avert Mick Rory's death by hellhound while holding hands with John Constantine.

It's worth noting that the loss of her sight has not robbed Sara Lance of her ability to fight. When Sara protested Constantine's statement that he was glad he had her to protect him while facing the hellhound, he reminded her that she was blind, not deaf. Trained to fight while blindfolded, Sara was able to backflip over a prone Constantine and deliver an impressive midair kick to the hellhound as it tried to pounce on her.While she may not be on par with Daredevil just yet, Sara more than proved her worthiness to continue leading the Legends of Tomorrow.

More: Why Legends of Tomorrow Keeps Recruiting Its Villains To The Team

The Flash Theory: Barry Was Replaced In The Season 6 Finale

Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word"blogging" was coined. He got his start writing for thelegendary DC Comics digital fanzine Fanzing,before receiving his own column, The Mount. Since then he has gone onto write for over a dozen websites, including 411Mania, ComicsNexus and The Cult of Nobody. He holds both an MS in InformationScience from the University of North Texas and a BFA from theUniversity of Texas at Arlington. Known as a font of comic bookhistory trivia, he has delivered lectures on the history of AmericanComic Books, Japanese Manga and Cosplay at over a dozen conventionsand served as an Expert In-Residence for a course on Graphic Novelsfor Librarians at the University of North Texas. In addition to hiswork for Screen Rant, Matt is currently the Managing Editor ofKabooooom.com, the housecritic of Explore The Multiverse and writes reviews for NoFlying, No Tights a graphic literature and anime review siteaimed at teachers and librarians. He also maintains a personal blog My Geeky Geeky Ways which hosts his extensive episode guide for the television seriesmaking up The Arrowverse as well as hiscomedic Lets Play videos. What little spare time he has isdevoted towards acting, role-playing, movie-riffing and sarcasm. Youcan follow his adventures on Twitter, @GeekyGeekyWays.

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Legends of Tomorrow: Saras Blindness & Superpower Explained - What It Means - Screen Rant

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a large plant, but although grand and showy in its appearance, it is an invasive plant that you dont want to touch. Also in the same family,Apiaceae the carrot family, is wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), another invasive species to avoid. Both plants contain chemicals that can cause a toxic skin reaction when humans encounter the plants sap.

Furanocoumarins, when combined with sunlight, can cause phytophotodermatitis, a serious skin inflammation. The chemical prevents the skin from protecting itself against sunlight, which can lead to a severe sunburn. The reaction can be as mild as skin discoloration or as severe as large, painful blisters. The effects of giant hogweed can be much worse than that of wild parsnip, with some blisters similar to third-degree burns, permanent scarring, discoloration of the skin, increased sensitivity to sunlight that may last for years, and contact with the eyes could lead to blindness.

Giant hogweed was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. as an ornamental. One of the first plantings was in gardens near Highland Park in Rochester. It escaped cultivation and has now become established in the Northeast and parts of Canada.

Characteristics:

White flowers clustered into an umbrella-shaped flower cluster, up to 2.5 feet across, blooms between June and July (note: plant generally produces a flowering stalk in 3 to 5 years but can take up to 8 years or more)

Between 7 to 14 feet tallwith huge leaves, incised and deeply lobed, up to 5 feet across

Stems are green with purple splotches and coarse white hairs, 2-4 inches in diameter

Seeds are dry, flattened, oval and approximately 3/8-inch-long and tan with brown lines

Except for its towering size, giant hogweed can easily be mistaken for other umbrel plants.

If you see Giant Hogweed, keep your distance, and take high-resolution photos of the entire plant, stem, leaves, flowers and/or seeds. Photos and detailed directions to the infestation can be emailed to DEC at ghogweed@dec.ny.gov or contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for assistance with identification.

DEC crews visit each confirmed infestation site of giant hogweed and use an appropriate control method for the size of infestation and location. This service is free of charge to the landowner. Sites are visited each year until the plants are eradicated. For sites to be monitored and controlled, the landowner must give annual permission.

Wild Parsnip is native to southern and central Europe and was possibly brought to North America as a root crop by colonists as early as the 1600s. It has become established throughout the northern United States and southern Canada.

Characteristics:

Yellow flowers clustered into an umbrella-shaped flower cluster, 4-6 inches wide, blooms between May to mid-July (note: flowering usually occurs during the second year of growth)

Between 2 to 5 feet tall with yellowish-green leaves with 5 to 15 toothed and variably lobed leaflets

Stems are yellowish-green with vertical grooves

Seeds are flat, brown, and slightly winged

Both plants can be found growing on roadsides, fields, pastures, along trails, any place where the soil has been disturbed, and along streams and rivers.

If you see Wild Parsnip, manual removal of plants can be effective for new infestations and small areas. When removing plants, wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, pants, boots, and eye protection to prevent contact with the sap. Synthetic, water-resistant materials are recommended. Before the plant going to seed, cut the root 1-2 inches below the soil or pull by hand. If removing the plants after they have gone to seed, cut off the seed head and place it in a plastic bag. Leave the bags in the sunlight for one week to kill the seeds before disposal. Mowing only after it has flowered, but before it goes to seed, can kill the plant. When mowing, take precautions to prevent sap from contacting skin and eyes. Clean all protective clothing, gear, tools, and equipment thoroughly. Herbicides such as glyphosate or triclopyr can be applied as spot treatments; follow product labels carefully. Monitor the area long-term for seedlings emerging from the seed bank.

What to do if you come in contact with these plants?Immediately wash the area with soap and COLD water and keep the area away from sunlight for 48 hours. If a reaction occurs, see a physician.

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Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip: Do Not Touch! - Steuben Courier

NewsEnvironmentThe Canal and River Trust spends nearly 100,000 a year trying to control giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed

Wednesday, 13th May 2020, 9:20 am

After being introduced into Britain in the early 19th century from central Asia as an ornamental plant, it began growing along canals and rivers. However, in recent years it has appeared in streets and gardens, causing experts to worry that because its pretty and looks like cow parsley, or common hogweed, children may mistake it for something harmless.

If the sap gets rubbed into the eyes it can cause blindness. After contact with the plant, the burns can last for several months and the skin can remain sensitive to light for many years, and the NHS says anyone who touches giant hogweed should wash the affected area with soap and water, and keep it covered.

Growing out of control

Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society, said that flooding this year may have carried seeds to new areas, where warm weather has helped the plants grow to at least 2 metres tall, and sometimes up to 5 metres.

Most people know about foxglove and deadly nightshade, he says. But not as many know about giant hogweed. Co-ordinated action is the only way to get rid of it. In the 1990s there was very little of it. The proliferation has got worse everyyear.

The Canal and River Trust spends nearly 100,000 a year trying to control giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed. Plant tracker the Environment Agencys database of invasive, non-native plants reports hundreds of sightings across all of the UK, from Inverness to Kent.

Agonising burns

Dean Simmons was left with agonising body burns in 2015 after brushing against the weed in Taunton, Somerset. I was out fishing and didnt see it until it was too late, he told the BBC at the time, and a day later I was on morphine.

There have since been reports of adults and children hospitalised with third-degree burns.

So, how to spot it? Giant hogweed has large leaves, spotted leaf stalks and a hollow, reddish-purple stem with fine spines that make it appear furry.

Giant hogweed is one of several UK plants to steer clear of. As well as deadly nightshade and the spiky pink and purple foxglove, poison hemlock can also be fatal if ingested. The yellow-and-green plant lords and ladies also has severely poisonous berries but if put on the tongue, they leave an acrid taste as a warning.

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What is giant hogweed? How to identify the invasive and toxic plant which can cause burns and even blindness - inews

Fifteen years have elapsed since the worst bout of bloodletting that Uzbekistan has seen in its post-independence history, but still the authorities, even under the rule of self-styled reformer President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, appear uninterested in pursuing a thorough and transparent investigation.

The uprising in the ancient Ferghana Valley bazaar city of Andijan which began on May 13, 2005, came on the heels of a wave of arrests of local businessmen tied to another one by their strong Islamic faith.

The thousands that took their positions on the citys Bobur Square were almost all unarmed citizens, although they also included some gunmen who had been sprung overnight from the local prison. After days of tension, then President Islam Karimovs government sent in heavily armed troops, who indiscriminately opened fire on the crowd.

There is no consensus on the exact number of fatalities as the authorities swiftly squelched any pleas to conduct an independent investigation. The official figure is 187 dead. Rights activists believe the real figure is many times greater.

Although the current political elite in Tashkent does not openly talk about this, the disastrous economic situation and political consequences brought on by the Andijan massacre and its aftermath in large part contributed to President Mirziyoyevs determination to break with the Karimov legacy and begin certain reforms, said Steve Swerdlow, a human rights lawyer and Central Asia expert.

There was a slight shift in the official tone earlier this year when Deputy Prosecutor General Svetlana Artykovagave an interviewto a local outlet,Qalampir.uz, in which she appeared to concede that excessive force was deployed. The remarks made by Artykova, who was the spokeswoman for the prosecutors office in May 2005, could only have been made with approval from above.

When asked if weapons were used by government forces against civilians, Artykova answered that there had been no clear coordination between troops and the national leadership and that this was why a certain number of citizens died during the rally.

Some officials found responsible for unlawful killing were convicted and some were already out of prison, Artykova claimed. This was the first time any Uzbek official has alleged that any officials were imprisoned for their involvement in the Andijan events.

The idea that government troops would have acted with such force upon their own initiative defies credibility, however.

Indeed, documentaries produced for state television since Mirziyoyev came to power have sought to whitewash the actions of senior security officials, including then Interior MinisterZokir Almatov.After the Andijan events, Almatov was included on a list of Uzbek officials sanctioned by the European Union and the United States. Under international pressure, Karimov finally caved and dismissed Almatov.

But Almatov has since beenrehabilitatedand beendraftedby Mirziyoyev to assist in reforming the police force.

In the wake of Andijan, the repression of devout Muslims, whose presence was especially pronounced in the Ferghana Valley, only escalated. Many rights activists were also hounded out of Uzbekistan. Numerous international organizations were forced to shutter.

Although there have been many improvements in those areas, Kamoliddin Rabimov, a political migr residing in France, believes the Mirziyoyev administration is unlikely to wish to revisit what happened in May 2005.

For the political elite, especially for the security forces, any such step would be considered a source of destabilization. And for the public, the issue of the Andijan tragedy has been, and remains to be, a very sensitive, painful matter, Rabimov said.

Ravshan Nazarov, a historian in Tashkent, told Eurasianet that there continues to be a split in perceptions about what actually happened in Andijan. Many hold the opinion that the uprising was the entirely the work of extremists and terrorists a view that has been eagerly promoted by state-funded action movies, at least one of which is shown as in-trip entertainment on trains running between Tashkent and Andijan. Another camp recalls the events as just another instance of cruel suppression of a peaceful demonstration.

It is this polarized set of perceptions that makes a proper study of the uprising so necessary, said Nazarov

A serious and thorough analysis of all available materials and documents on the events of 2005 remains to be done. It is necessary to talk directly with participants and witnesses of those events, he told Eurasianet.

Such a process would in any event only be in keeping with Uzbekistans pledges to bodies like theUN Human Rights Committee and Committee Against Torture to enable an impartial and international investigation.

There is more at stake than just fresh insight into a specific set of events.

Truth-telling and public discussion about the Andijan massacre are deeply important 15 years after the events, said Swerdlow. Andijan in many ways was the defining event of the Karimov era. It is necessary to comprehend and study it in an open format for national healing. Understanding the painful history of Andijan will ultimately help Uzbekistan make a transition to a more open and democratic society.

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Uzbekistan: Andijan blindness slows transition to era of openness, experts say - Eurasianet

Seva Foundation will celebrate 1960s counter-culture icon Wavy Gravys 84th birthday with a Quarantine Concert featuring previously unreleased archival videos from past Seva benefit concerts spanning 2007 to 2019. Bob Weir, David Crosby & Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt & Ruthie Foster, Hot Tuna, Zero and many more musicians will be part of the online event.

Other acts that are part of Sevas Quarantine Concert include Ani DiFranco, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Chris Robinson, Dr. John & Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Poor Mans Whiskey, Roy Rogers & Carlos Reyes, Steve Kimock, Rising Appalacia and Steve Earle. The event will be able to be streamed between May 14 and 17. Follow this link for more information.

The Berkeley, California-based Seva Foundation is a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives and strengthens communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness preventing and treating blindness and other visual impairments. The Grateful Dead performed at the first Seva benefit concert in 1979.

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Seva Foundation Celebrating Wavy Gravy's 84th Birthday With Archival Video Release - JamBase

When the seas of life get rough, some readers look for escape, while others dive right in. So it is during the pandemic, when many book lovers are turning toward apocalyptic fiction.

A modern classic of the genre is Emily St. John Mandels Station Eleven, which tells the story of a nomadic group of entertainers in the years after a flu has destroyed civilization. I would not recommend reading Station Eleven in the middle of a pandemic, Mandel told the L.A. Times in an interview.

Yet many people are doing just that: The book is selling briskly just as Mandels new novel of financial disaster, The Glass Hotel, settles into the Los Angeles Times bestseller list. Mandel joins the L.A. Times Book Club on May 19 for a virtual discussion of these two eerily timely novels.

In advance of Mandels appearance, we asked her and a few other authors to help us put together an end-of-world reading list.

Mandel called the 1961 Hugo Award winner an interesting and somewhat haunting story. It was the first post-apocalyptic book I read, and reading it made me think for the first time about what a post-apocalyptic world might look like.

Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book, suggested the classic dystopian novel, which played a role in her nonfiction bestseller about the 1986 fire that closed the Los Angeles Central Library for seven years. Orlean also mentioned A Canticle for Leibowitz.

T.C Boyle, author of the upcoming Talk to Me, called Fiskadoro a poetic fever dream which takes place in the Florida Keys a generation after a nuclear war has destroyed most of civilization and rendered vast territories uninhabitable. The novel opens up the reader to what culture is, what it means to its constituency, and how it draws from the traditions of the past in order to create a rationale for the present.

Marlon James, winner of the 2020 L.A. Times Ray Bradbury Prize, described the Frankenstein authors later work as the original speculative novel. Funny enough, it was a plague I was like, Damn, girl. The original dystopian novel got it right! He also mentioned The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

The vivid, unusual, stirring characters make it a piquant and often enjoyable read despite the pointed bleakness of the setting, Malka Older, author of Infomocracy, said of Solomons debut science fiction novel. Its structurally and thematically daring and manages to include a little bit of hope while leveling a devastating critique at racism and fascism.

Lessings writing is so perfect and full of beautiful details that her apocalypse feels inextricably linked to the rest of her narrative, said Charlie Jane Anders, author of The City in the Middle of the Night. I feel like people dont read Lessing as much as they did maybe 20 years ago, and this makes me incredibly sad of all the 20th century lit authors, shes the one whose work is the most relevant and timeless in 2020. Anders also recommended Cats Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut, The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin and Jos Saramagos Blindness.

Wil Wheaton, actor and author of Just a Geek, suggested this three-book anthology edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey. The collection tells stories from three distinct periods in the apocalypse: The end is nigh, the end is now, and the end has come. While there are fantastic stand-alone stories in each volume, for a reader who wants to take the whole ride, there are some extremely rewarding tales. Standouts include Charlie Jane Anders, Scott Sigler and Seanan McGuire.

Aimee Liu, author of the new novel Glorious Boy, cited the Pulitzer Prize-winning tales unflinching humanity in the face of horror and uncertainty, all amplified by McCarthys refusal to name the precise cause, date, or nature of Earths collapse. Liu also mentioned The Book of Aron, by Jim Shepard.

Im a Shakespeare buff, and I thought it was terribly inventive, said Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins and the upcoming Cold Millions. I admired her deft writing touch and the way she moved back and forth in time. Walter also mentioned Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood, and Cats Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut.

Alex Espinoza, author of Cruising, is another fan of Saramagos story of an epidemic of blindness that sweeps through an unidentified city. The novel focuses on a group of strangers who are among the first to get infected and are quarantined in a filthy, crowded asylum where they must band together in order to survive. A terrifying and timely story.

Wolk has been a senior correspondent for Reuters and NBC News, among other publications.If you go: Book ClubEmily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, joins the L.A. Times Book Club in conversation with reporter Carolina A. Miranda.

When: 7 p.m. May 19

Where: Free virtual event livestreaming on the Los Angeles Times Facebook Page and YouTube.

More info: latimes.com/bookclub

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Quarantine books: Your essential end-of-the-world reading list - Los Angeles Times

Upstream: The quest to solve problemsbefore they happen, by DanHeath

Picnicking beside a river, you see a child floatingdown, in danger of drowning. You and your friend dive in and save her, only tosee another coming down, and another and another. Suddenly you see your friendclimb out the river and start running. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to sort out the person who isthrowing children in the river!"

Author Dan Heath uses the word upstream forefforts intended to prevent problems before they happen.

"So why do our efforts skew so heavily towardreaction rather than prevention?" he asks. Primarily, because the furtherupstream we go back, the more complex the solution. It is easier to call HR torecruit a new executive than it is to ensure that the organisation is a deeplysatisfying place to work.

The US will spend billions more recovering from thecoronavirus because they slashed funding for Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.And similar examples abound.

"My goal in this book is to convince you thatwe should shift more of our energies upstream," Heath explains.

There are three forces that push us downstream,impeding our ability to prevent problems.

The first is what Heath calls problem blindness,the response to problems that is similar to the way we treat the weather there is nothing we can do about it.

The second is that no one takes ownership of theproblem. Stanford researchers, in a paper exploring this sense of reluctance,wrote "what often prevents people from protesting is not a lack ofmotivation to protest, but rather their feeling that they lack the legitimacyto do so."

The third is tunnelling, where people react toproblems rather than prevent them. Tunnelling confines us to short-term,reactive thinking. In the tunnel, theres only forward. When people experiencescarcityof money or time or mental bandwidththe harm is not that the bigproblems crowd out the little ones. The harm is that the little ones crowd outthe big ones.

If upstream thinking is so obviously correct andunequivocally more effective in eliminating recurring problems, why is it sorare? Heath identifies seven significant barriers to upstream thinking andprovides solutions from lessons learned from real world successes.

Heaths three forces described above, and the sevenbarriers (of which I will describe some below) are the same whether you lead afor-profit-business, a public benefit organisation or a government department.

How will you unite all theright people who are needed to solve the problem?

In 1998, 42% of Icelandic 15- and 16-year-olds hadbeen drunk in the previous 30 days. Almost a quarter smoked cigarettes daily,and 17% had already tried cannabis. Among 22 European countries, Icelandic teenagershad the second-highest rate of accidents or injuries related to substance abuse.Todays Icelandic teenagers have grown up in a country where substance abuse islargely absent.

As in many upstream efforts, the success wasachieved by surrounding the problem, recruiting a multifaceted group ofpeople and organisations, united by a common aim "Drug-free Iceland".

The campaign team solicited help from anyone whowas willing to assist: researchers, policymakers, schools, police, parents,teenagers, singers/musicians, government agencies, private companies, churches,sports clubs, athletes, and media members.

Surrounding the problem with the right people and aligningtheir efforts toward preventing specific instances of that problem, was theirsolution.

Who would need to be involved in your organisation?

How will you change the system?

"Every system is perfectly designed to get theresults it gets."

Whether the results are good or bad, the systemthrough which the results are achieved is a complete success.

In 1967, 5 people died for every 100 million milesdriven. Fifty years later, fewer drunk drivers better roads, seat belts,airbags and better braking technologies, reduced that number to 1 death per 100million miles driven. The vastly improved system happened with no centralplanner. Thousands of people, safety experts, transportation engineers andMothers Against Drunk Driving, tweaked the system so that millions of people aresafer.

Identifying the systems that need to change is criticallyimportant.

How will you get early warning ofthe problem?

When everything is cause for alarm, nothing iscause for alarm.

The value of an early warning depends on whetherthe warning gives sufficient time to respond. A car tyre that gives a 30-secondadvance warning of a blowout, might save your life. A half-second warning isworthless.

LinkedIn discovered that the churn rate forcustomers of their flagship product for recruiters was roughly 30%. On further investigationthey found that customers who used the product in the first 30 days were fourtimes more likely to continue using LinkedIn. So, they started using all theresources they had been using to save customers, to onboard them properly sothey become users immediately.

How will you know youresucceeding?

What counts as success? If my laptop broke and youfix it, thats victory. With upstream efforts, success is not alwaysself-evident and is often misleading.

Consider a team that applauds itself for scoringmore runs. Is that because every team in the league is scoring more too,because bowling talent has declined? The team that doubled its run rate barelywon any more games, which doesnt align with their goal.

If the short measures runs starts becoming the goal,players under pressure may start cheating. Here, succeeding with the measuremakes a mockery of the goal. Care must be taken which factors really measuresuccess.

How will you avoid doing harm?

Systems are complicated. One need only consider theban of single use plastic bags that damage the waterways.

An estimated 100 billion bags that may not degradefor hundreds of years, are used annually just in the US. Paper bags andreusable bags are far better than plastic ones from the perspective of keepingwaterways clean, but they are worse in other ways.

A UK Environment Agency study calculated the "peruse" effects of different bags on climate change. You need to use a paperbag 3 times and a cotton reusable bag 131 times to be on par with plastic bagsoverall effect on the environment. Manufacturing paper bags and cotton reusablebags causes more air and water pollution than plastic, and they are much harderto recycle.

Is protecting waterways and marine life our goal,or making the whole environment better?

Systems cant be controlled, but they can bedesigned and redesigned. We need to rely on careful experimentation, guided byfeedback loops. We should think very carefully before proceeding where systemsare involved. Upstream work hinges on an attitude of care and humility.

Who will pay for what does nothappen?

A person will pay if they will reap the rewards andwhat comes out of the pocket goes back in. But what if many units in the organisationor country will benefit, unequally? Getting funding for many pockets is acoordination nightmare.

In the case of climate control, those who areresponsible for the problem (wealthy countries,) require a contribution in cashor kind from poor countries who benefit from the solution, but did little tocause the problem.

Not considering these questions will make upstreamsuccess ever harder. Considering them may go a long way to improve youroperations and I cannot think of any time when that consideration is morenecessary.

I consider this the most useful book I have read inyears. It reads easily and is rich with examples and nuances.

Readability Light--+-- Serious

Insights High +---- Low

Practical High -+--- Low

*Ian Mann of Gateways consultsinternationally on strategy and implementation, is the author of Strategy thatWorks and a public speaker. Views expressed are his own.

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IAN MANN REVIEWS | Getting the jump on problems before they happen - Fin24

New Delhi | Jagran Lifestyle Desk: World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to increase the awareness about this ilent killer and help people realise that Hypertension or high blood pressure is a preventable and controllable condition.

Increasing the awareness about the condition -- where the blood pressure is consistently more than 140/90mm/Hg -- is necessary given the lack of knowledge among the people about the 'silent killer' as the symptoms often go unnoticed during the early phase.

Dr P Venkata Krishnan, Internal Medicine, at Paras Hospital, Gurugram, as quoted by news agency ANI, explains that the condition can be considered as the cause of many NCDs -- heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke, and also damage to eyes.

"Its prevalence is widespread with different studies concluding anywhere between one third and 50 per cent of the population suffering from hypertension. While 90 per cent of the cases of high BP is idiopathic, in 5 per cent of the cases, it is caused by underlying conditions of heart, thyroid and kidney diseases or other illness," said Dr Krishnan.

The major concern surrounding the condition is that of not showing any visible symptoms, and hence difficult to detect it via regular health and BP check-up. In fact, the doctor says that in most people, it is diagnosed during a regular check-up.

"Treating hypertension requires a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as medicines under medical supervision. Taking proactive steps such as a decrease in the consumption of junk food, managing stress, and regular exercise are important not just in the management of hypertension but also its prevention," he concluded.

Highlighting another viewpoint around the condition, Dr Parul Katiyar, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, said that hypertension can also adversely affect fertility, especially in men.

"Various studies have suggested that hypertensive men tend to have low semen volume, sperm count and motility. Some of the antihypertensive medications have been linked to poor semen volume and quality and their side-effects also include retrograde ejaculation and erectile dysfunction," remarked Dr Katiyar.

The doctor also emphasised that hypertension can be managed by bringing certain changes in the lifestyle and also intake of the right medication can result in improvement in impaired semen and erectile dysfunction.

Talking about chronic hypertension during pregnancy, Dr Manisha Ranjan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, said that the condition has been associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature delivery, fetal growth restriction, fetal death, placental abruption, and cesarean delivery.

"Sometimes, the onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be a sign of preeclampsia, a condition in which high blood pressure occurs exclusively in pregnancy. Therefore, even if your chronic high blood pressure is under control before you are pregnant, you may later develop preeclampsia, as well," she added.

The doctor further recommended inducing labour before the patient's due date in order to prevent any pregnancy complications. In some cases, cesarean birth is also recommended.

"So, it becomes imperative that one should manage their high blood pressure during pregnancy by eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, taking medications properly, and staying physically active," the gynaecologist explained.

Referring to the prevailing coronavirus crisis, Dr Manjeetha Nath Das, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, said that the condition has emerged as serious comorbidity, especially for the elderly.

"Every third Indian grown up has this disease. Its high prevalence makes all these people vulnerable to coronavirus, which may affect them more severely than those who are not hypertensive and increase the chances of death," said Dr Das.

"Therefore, our aim should be to check the number of new people who get hypertensive and help the hypertensive to manage their condition better. The disease also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness significantly," the doctor said.

Dr Das further recommended proper screening of hypertension for anyone over the age of 35 years. "Besides, right from childhood, people should be encouraged to live a healthy and active lifestyle with less sugar and fat intake and minimum 30-minute of activity daily," Dr Das added.

(With ANI Inputs)

Posted By: Talib Khan

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World Hypertension Day 2020: Know the remedies for defeating this silent killer - Jagran English

You can now do your bit for charity this Ramadan by creating a video on social networking platform TikTok.

The video-sharing service has joined the Reach Campaign, an Emirates Red Crescent-organised drive that targets neglected tropical diseases, as its latest media partner. TikTok has pledged to donate $2 (Dh7) for every video created on the app, up to a maximum of $100,000.

The Reach Campaign launched in January and uses the theme Give 2, Save 2 meaning that a Dh2 donation is enough to provide medicine and treatment to protect one person against both diseases for an entire year.

During Ramadan, however, the campaign set a goal of protecting one million people from river blindness over the course of the holy month.

TikTok users can contribute by creating videos using three special interactive "Reach Campaign stickers", or donating directly to the cause through links on the campaigns in-app landing page.

TikTok will also run in-app advertisements shedding light on river blindness, and has encouraged several high-profile public figures to take part in the challenge.

Social media influencers Max of Arabia, Khalid and Salama Al Ameri, Abas, and Mona Sheikh have so far created #ReachTheEnd videos.

More than 200 million people worldwide require treatment for river blindness, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. It is caused by repeated bites by black flies that live near flowing water.

Like many neglected tropical diseases, river blindness disproportionately affects the worlds most vulnerable people, trapping their families in cycles of poverty. Most of the cases are found in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We are excited to launch a new element to the campaign in collaboration with an innovative partner such as TikTok. Allowing the community to participate creatively while helping reach the end of river blindness has truly inspired users to join our campaign.

"We are honoured to see the inventive ways people continue to show their support from the comfort of their own homes," Nassar Abdul Raouf Al Mubarak, managing director of the Reach Campaign said.

In addition to TikTok videos, the month-long Reach Ramadan campaign follows a simple three-step challenge: the community is encouraged to donate by either texting GIVE to 2424, visiting the Reach the End website, or posting a selfie on social media making a "V for victory over river blindness" sign with their hands, and challenging friends and family to do the same by by tagging them.

Updated: May 12, 2020 05:15 PM

Originally posted here:
Reach Ramadan Challenge: how you can raise money for river blindness on TikTok - The National

Retinal diseases contributing heavily to the demand growth of intravitreal (IVT) injectables

Hereditary retinal diseases is the major cause of visual loss. Macular degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy is the important and prominent cause of blindness.

According to Genentech Retinal disease report, around 11 million US population are affected with age-related macular degeneration, 7.7 million people are affected with diabetic retinopathy and around 1.1 million population are affected with retinal vein occlusions.

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Company Profiles

Anti-VEGF intravitreal (IVT) injectables medication is most likely use to treat retinal disorders. Increasing prescription of anti-VEGF anticipate the growth of the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market. Many manufacturers aims to develop drugs with anti-VEGF inhibitor, as a result leading to an increase in the demand for intravitreal (IVT) injectables.

North America to have substantial revenue growth in intravitreal (IVT) injectables Market

North America region shown to have high growth inintravitreal (IVT) injectables market. Low vision and blindness are prevailing in the region and high prescription of anti-VEGF intravitreal (IVT) injectables medication has increases the growth of intravitreal (IVT) injectables market. It is estimated that intravitreal (IVT) injectables create an incremental $ opportunity worth US$ 4,350 Mn between 2018 and 2028.

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Lucentis marketed by Roche and Eylea marketed by Regeneron in the United States, are the commonly prescribed biologics use in intravitreal (IVT) injectables. Apart from this, Avastin and Macugen are also widely used in intravitreal (IVT) injectables market.

The North America region holds a significant share in intravitreal (IVT) injectables among all other regions, due to the increase in prescription of retinal biologics, high healthcare facilities and availability and usage of expensive drugs.

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Intravitreal (IVT) Injectables Market: Segmental Analysis

The global intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented on the basis of drug class, indication and distributional channel. On the basis of drug class, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented into anti-VEGF, corticosteroids, antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. Based on indication, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented into diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, endophthalmitis, retinal vein occlusions and others.

In terms of revenue, the anti-VEGF segment is expected to have a major share in intravitreal (IVT) injectables during the forecast period as it prevents angiogenesis and also minimize the leakage of fluid that occurs due to retinal diseases.

On the basis of distributional channel, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been categorized into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, drug stores, mail order pharmacies and others. The hospital pharmacies is expected to have high revenue growth in intravitreal (IVT) injectables, owing to the availability of biologics and increase in prescription of anti-VEGF drugs.

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Opioids MarketOpioids Market Segmented By Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl, Meperidine, Methadone Product in Analgesia, Cough Suppression, Diarrhea Suppression.For More Information

Non Infectious Macular Edema Treatment MarketNon-infectious Macular Edema Treatment Market Segmented By Anti-VEGF, Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressant, Biologics Drug with Non-infectious Uveitic Macular Edema, Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion with Macular Edema Indication by Oral, Parenteral, Topical Route of Administration.For More Information

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Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics andmarket research methodologyto help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

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Intravitreal IVT Injectable Market Worth Will Reach US$ 4350 Mn According To Forecast By 2028 - Cole of Duty

Yvette C. Terrie, BSPharm, RPh

The common ocular condition accounts for an expanding percentage of primary care medical visits.1 Although blepharitis does not typically result in blindness, left intreated, it has can cause corneal neovascularization and ulceration, keratopathy, and permanent alterations in eyelid morphology.2 The pathophysiology is thought to stem from a bacterial infection, dermatologic conditions such as rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, or a problem with the oil glands near the base of the eyelids.3 Common clinical presentation includes burning and/or itching of the eyelid margins and/or conjunctival irritation with lacrimation, photosensitivity, or the sensation of a foreign body.2,3

Blepharitis is classified into 2 types, according to the American Optometric Association.2 Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front of the eyelid, where the eyelashes are attached. The 2 most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria (Staphylococcus) and scalp dandruff.2 Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid and is caused by problems with the oil (meibomian) glands in this area. Two dermatologic disorders can cause this form of blepharitis: acne rosacea, which leads to erythema, and seborrheic dermatitis.2

Self-treatable ophthalmic disorders primarily affect the eyelids, but it is important that patients always seek medical guidance to determine if an infection is present and rule out a more complicated condition or disorder.4 Pharmacists can assess if self-treatment is appropriate, direct patients to seek further medical care when warranted, and provide information about blepharitis. They can also educate patients about eyelid hygiene, including related nonprescription products, and the numerous OTC artificial tear products that may provide symptomatic relief.

PRACTICING PROPER EYELID HYGIENE Even with successful treatment, blepharitis may recur. Treatment depends on the severity and type of blepharitis, and some cases require more complex regimens. Blepharitis rarely disappears completely.5,6 Proper eyelid hygiene is the foundation of treatment and is effective in most cases.3

For a bacterial infection that does not respond to eyelid hygiene, a prescription topical antibiotic ointment may be warranted.5 A severe case may call for an oral antibiotic and a short course of a steroid.3,5 Because most blepharitis cases are chronic, patients need to follow a good hygiene regimen to prevent recurrence. Recommended measures include:2,3,5

PATIENT EDUCATION RESOURCES American Academy of Ophthalmology: aao.org/eye-health/diseases/ what-is-blepharitisMayo Clinic: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blepharitis/symptoms- causes/syc-20370141National Eye Institute: nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions- and-diseases/blepharitis

REFERENCES

Continued here:
Educate Patients About the Basics of Blepharitis - Pharmacy Times

Retinitis pigmentosa, is a condition where patients typically loses ability to see at night in young years, side vision in middle age, and focal vision in later in his/her life due to relentless loss of cone photoreceptor cells. Proportions of retinal capacity, for example, the electroretinogram, demonstrate that photoreceptor capacity is decreased normally quite before symptomic night visual impairment, visual-field scotomas, or diminished visual sharpness emerge. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an acquired retinal condition that causes retinal depletion, is an uncommon illness. Its underlying manifestations are decreased night vision along with loss of fringe vision. It slowly causes visual impairment.

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There is no conclusive remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. Hence medical institutions and various research and development centers are researching to develop a full proof cure for this disease which is boosting the growth of global retinitis pigmentosa market.

Retinitis pigmentosa, in which patients usually lose night vision in teenage years, side vision in middle age, and central vision in later life because of steady loss of cone photoreceptor cells and rod. Measures of retinal function, such as the electroretinogram, indicate that photoreceptor function is reduced usually several years before visual-field scotomas, symptomic night blindness, or reduced visual acuity arise.

As of now, there are no specific treatments available for retinitis pigmentosa. Efficient treatments for retinitis pigmentosa are much awaited, particularly for genetically defined subsets of patients. Various studies suggest that this disease affects about 1 in 4,000 individuals worldwide. Without treatment, patients permanently lose central vision by the age of 60. For past many years, there have been several treatments reported, which did not completely cure the disease but were beneficial to some extent. For instance, in the past, patients used to consume a supplement of 15,000 I.U. of Vitamin A and possibly fish oilto address this conditions. In 2011, a method of treatment was patented, in which a medical dose of insulin, IGF-1, and chlorin e6 was used. Another treatment option which was proposed in November 2012 was a combined treatment regimen ofoily fish (DHA), vitamin A palmitate, and lutein. This treatment was reported to slow vision loss in people suffering from the disease. Rare forms may also be treated with vitamin supplements or diet modification.

Looking at the immense growth potential, several new players are likely to venture into the global retinitis pigmentosa market, thereby making it a highly competitive arena in the near future.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an inherited retinal condition causing retinal degeneration and visual field loss, is a rare disease. Its initial symptoms are reduced nightvisionand loss of peripheral vision. It gradually causes blindness. There is no definitive cure for retinitis pigmentosa. Therefore, the market for treating this genetic disorder is vastly untapped. The available therapies apply various approaches such as stem cell therapy and transcorneal electric stimulation therapy. However, such therapies have not been approved of unanimously on account of certain intrinsic limitations.

A range of services and devices are available to aid people with vision loss to conduct their day to day activities independently. Those include anything from a vision aid and an eye care professional to orientation and mobility specialists and certified low vision therapists, among others.

The global retinitis pigmentosa market has been treading a healthy growth path due to limited availability of therapeutics to cure this rare disease which has opened up a window of opportunity for new therapies and treatments. In fact, most people afflicted with the genetic disorder progress to the advanced stage of retinitis pigmentosa because of the dearth of proper cure. This has generated demand for retinal prosthesis devices for restoring the lost vision. Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., for example, offers FDA approved Argus II retinal prosthesis system meant for patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa. This device does the function of degenerated retinal cells and enhances the patients ability to see images and movement.

A new approach known as optogenetics, which involves applying gene therapy for restoring vision, is currently being researched upon by companies operating in the ophthalmology market. It helps to power cells, especially ganglion cells, to respond to light after the degeneration of rod cells and cone cells. Further, the orphan drug designation given by the FDA and European Commission to ReN003 by ReNeuron in the U.S. and Europe in 2013 is another positive development in the market. ReN003 is a retinalstem cell therapycandidate.

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Based on geography, the global retinitis pigmentosa market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Among them, North America and Europe dominate the market powered by the developed markets of the U.S and U.K. where exhaustive research and development activities have been carried out in this direction. However, the Asia Pacific retinitis pigmentosa market is also poised for growth due to the large patient pool in the region, who need to be treated for retinitis pigmentosa. The Rest of the World also has a substantial number of people suffering from this rare genetic disorder.

Companies Mentioned in Report

To present an study the current competitive dynamics in the global retinitis pigmentosa market, the report has profiled some of the major players involved in the development and commercialization of products in the field such as ReNeuron Group plc, Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc., Ocugen, Inc., ReGenX Biosciences, LLC, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Inc., and Okuvision GmbH.

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Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Market Poised to Expand at a Robust Pace Over 2025 - Cole of Duty

Councils face an uphill struggle when their budget shortfalls are not covered and local expertise is not trusted by ministers, writes LGC editor Nick Golding.

There has been criticism lately in certain quarters of journalists and commentators for their raising of deficiencies in the national coronavirus response. Questioning and scrutiny are seen as tantamount to treachery, working against the war effort and undermining ministers who face the unenviable task of having to take unprecedented action with imperfect information. Of course, this criticism is misplaced. It is the most fundamental job of the journalist to expose inefficiency, hypocrisy, mistruths and failure and far from being a fair-weather luxury this role becomes even more important during a crisis when such failings have an immediate detrimental effect on wellbeing and even survival.

LGC has been asking searching questions of the government, mainly around two key themes. First, do councils have the funding to protect their communities and, second, is local expertise being used to its full potential and sufficiently supported in an increasingly centralised operation? The answer to both questions from our readership has been an overwhelming no.

Councils have been regularly undermined by the centre

On finance, the mood music was initially positive. When ministers were telling councils to do whatever is necessary to support their place, the implication was their work would be fully funded. It seems communities secretary Robert Jenrick has lost a financial battle with the Treasury and his promise has been diluted to covering the costs of specific tasks councils have been told to do. Any expenditure on top of this will be merely taken into consideration while councils projections of sector-wide multi-billion pound income losses are deemed highly speculative. And it would, we were told, create a moral hazard to bail out authorities that had made unwise commercial investments, upon the success of which they are reliant. Mr Jenrick made no mention of the fact councils have done this the vast majority of them acting responsibly to try to recoup the funding they have lost at the hands of Conservative ministers.

To ignore councils dire straits amounts to delusional, head-in-sand, ostrich leadership. While the exact size of each councils shortfall for the rest of 2020-21 is uncertain, one thing is clear: unless far more funding than the current 3.2bn arrives, councils will collapse and local services will be decimated. Does Mr Jenrick really want that? Councils are having to take decisions now about expenditure for the rest of the year and need a clear commitment that their budget shortfalls will be covered. Mr Jenrick diluted his promises, condemning local service users to misery just as Boris Johnson was pledging no return to austerity, a meaningless statement unless backed by resources.

On the second theme, councils have been regularly undermined by the centre (despite the belated move which went live today for directors of public health to lead on care home testing). Councils have been bypassed on contact tracing, coordination of volunteers and sharing of data for the shielding service. The social care workforce has often been near the back of the queue for personal protective equipment while deaths in care homes were not even included in NHS England daily statistics for most of the crisis to date. And why have we not seen James Jamieson or Mark Lloyd, respectively the chair and chief executive of the Local Government Association, behind a lectern at the Downing Street briefing? They havent been invited because councils are not seen as a sufficiently important partner by the centre.

All of this undermines the effort to reduce the spread and impact of coronavirus. While aspects of the central response have been impressive, government incompetence, wilful blindness and control freakery are hindering councils efforts. Perhaps the greatest challenge now is rebuilding shattered local economies an operation that can only be successful if undertaken by empowered, properly funded local leaders. Every central action needs to be scrutinised, questioned and debated to ensure it aids the local response to coronavirus because at present too many are thwarting it. As Britains Covid-19 death rate soars higher than the rest of Europe there is a moral imperative to ask why? and can we as a nation do better?.

Original post:
The centre's wilful blindness and control freakery hinders the Covid response - Local Government Chronicle

COLUMBIA, Md., May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Fighting Blindnesshas transformed all VisionWalk in-person events scheduled to take place through June 2020, into one nationwide virtual experience taking place on Saturday, June 6, 2020. This National Virtual VisionWalk Day is a new opportunity for communities to still come together, virtually, and celebrate the Foundation's accomplishments of funding research leading to treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases.

On June 6th, the Foundation is asking VisionWalk participants to take a walk around their block, on the treadmill, or step in spirit and show how they're celebrating using #VisionWalkStrong on social media.

"Our VisionWalks may look different this year, but our mission to find treatments and cures is unchanging," says Michele DiVincenzo, vice president, events. "We are so thankful for our VisionWalk community's continued support during these difficult times. Now more than ever, we need to stand strong together and make a difference in fighting blindness."

Throughout its 15-year history and through the generosity of more than 200,000 walkers, donors, and corporate sponsors, VisionWalk has raised more than $55 million. These funds have enabled the Foundation to continue advancing its important mission of moving vision-restoring treatments from the laboratory to the patients who need them. Vision science is making great strides today more than 38 potential treatments are in clinical trials but there is still more work to do.

Join the National Virtual VisionWalk on Saturday, June 6, 2020 by visiting, VisionWalk.org.Together, we step closer to fighting blindness.

For more information, contact Michele DiVincenzo at [emailprotected] or (847) 549-1523.

About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

Media Contacts:

Michele DiVincenzo

Chris Adams

Vice President, Events

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

[emailprotected]

[emailprotected]

(847) 549-1523

(410) 423-0585

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness

http://www.FightBlindness.org

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Foundation Fighting Blindness Announces National Virtual VisionWalk Day - PRNewswire

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), researchers have developed a quick test to identify which people with glaucoma are at risk of rapid progression to blindness.

A new test can detect glaucoma progression 18 months earlier than the current gold standard method, said the study published in the journal Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics.

Glaucoma, the leading global cause of irreversible blindness, affects over 60 million people, which is predicted to double by 2040 as the global population ages.

Loss of sight in glaucoma is caused by the death of cells in the retina, at the back of the eye.

Being able to diagnose glaucoma at an earlier stage, and predict its course of progression, could help people to maintain their sight, as treatment is most successful if provided at an early stage of the disease, said study first author Eduardo Normando from Imperial College London.

The test, called DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells), involves injecting into the bloodstream (via the arm) a fluorescent dye that attaches to retinal cells, and illuminates those that are in the process of apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death.

Also read: Earth Day 2020: Using artificial intelligence to save coral reefs

The damaged cells appear bright white when viewed in eye examinations -- the more damaged cells detected, the higher the DARC count.

One challenge with evaluating eye diseases is that specialists often disagree when viewing the same scans, so the researchers have incorporated an AI algorithm into their method.

In the Phase II clinical trial of DARC, the AI was used to assess 60 of the study participants -- 20 with glaucoma and 40 healthy control subjects.

Also read: Huawei onboards Indian firms AI-driven keyboard into AppGallery

The AI was initially trained by analysing the retinal scans (after injection of the dye) of the healthy control participants.

The AI was then tested on the glaucoma patients.

Those taking part in the AI study were followed up 18 months after the main trial period to see whether their eye health had deteriorated.

The researchers were able to accurately predict progressive glaucomatous damage 18 months before that seen with the current gold standard OCT retinal imaging technology, as every patient with a DARC count over a certain threshold was found to have progressive glaucoma at follow-up.

These results are very promising as they show DARC could be used as a biomarker when combined with the AI-aided algorithm, said lead researcher Francesca Cordeiro from University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology.

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AI helps spot early signs of glaucoma progression to blindness - Hindustan Times

Express News Service

NEW DELHI:As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the world, people from all walks of life, including the differently abled, are profoundly impacted by the new normal. The Morning Standardspoke to RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, on the kind of impact the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have on the sight-impaired in India.

How did Sightsavers begin? What was the mission then, and has it changed since?

After being blinded in an accident at age 12, Sir John Wilson spent his life advocating for people with visual impairments. He began plans to establish a non-government organisation to address the prevention of blindness and provide rehabilitation of those whose sight couldnt be saved. And so, on January 5, 1950, the British Empire Society for the Blind, as Sightsavers was originally known, was born. Since 1966, in India, Sightsavers has been working to eliminate avoidable blindness and that the irreversibly blind people are supported adequately to lead lives of independence and dignity. Sightsavers focusses on collaborating with various state government departments to scale up operations for the three core areas of work: eye health, inclusive education and social inclusion.

How are the facilities for the sight-impaired in India, especially compared to other countries?

India is home to a third of the worlds blind population. The country has about 12 million individuals with visual impairment as against the global total of 39 million, according to a report published by the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB). Despite this, when it comes to accessibility of education, healthcare and employment, the visually impaired are cut off. Only 29.16 percent of the blind in India are part of the education system as per a survey conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The prevalence of blindness is higher among population having lower socio-economic status. Females are found to have a higher preponderance of blindness as compared to males, and the prevalence is significantly higher in rural areas.

What are some of the professions that you help the sight-impaired get into?

We work to change the attitudes of communities, schools and governments by ensuring they adopt socially inclusive policies towards people with disabilities so that they are treated with dignity and are not denied their rights to appropriate healthcare, education and income. We work to equip people with disabilities with the skills (daily living, vocational training), tools and assistance they need to earn a living and lead an independent life. Animal rearing, agriculture, small businesses, poultry farming, shops for daily needs and groceries, tailoring, teaching, and computer operators are a few of the jobs and roles that our beneficiaries undertake.

Has the ongoing pandemic brought up new hurdles for the sight-impaired?

On a global level, Sightsavers is focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities, who are being disproportionally affected, both in terms of potentially being more at risk and less able to access health services, and also in terms of impact on the support services they require. Activities include coordinating with partners, and if needed governments, to ensure responses to the global pandemic are inclusive of people with disabilities; taking extra precautions to safeguard staff and partners in a higher risk category of developing serious symptoms from COVID-19. We will be reviewing and updating these activities as the pandemic continues as appropriate.

How can the authorities help alleviate conditions for the sight-impaired in the pandemic?

People with disabilities may be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because of barriers to implementing basic hygiene measures, such as handwashing. They may have difficulty in enacting social distancing because of additional support needs, barriers to accessing public health information.People with disabilities may also be disproportionately impacted by the outbreak because of serious disruptions to the services they rely on. Hence, they need additional considerations during these times.

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INTERVIEW | Sight-impaired in India are more affected by COVID-19 pandemic: RN Mohanty - The New Indian Express