Lazy Eye Discovery: How An Old Gene Learns New Tricks

Researchers have made a discovery which could lead the way for new treatments into a rare eye disorder which if not treated can result in permanent blindness in childhood.


An eye disorder which leads to "lazy eye" (strabismus) first described in early 1900, and a gene known since 1990 to be widely expressed within the nervous system, have now been linked together.


Mutations of the CHN1 gene give rise to a hyperactive gene product called a2 chimerin that in turn affects the normal eye development.


These new findings published in Science today (Thursday 24 July) demonstrate how genetic errors can explain developmental errors.


The research shows that seven CHN1 mutations found in families with a history of Duane's Retraction Syndrome (DRS) - a rare, disorder of eye movement which is present at birth - lead to abnormal development of the cranial nerve III which is integral to normal eye development.


A large team of experts from UK and USA, including a scientist now based in Aberdeen, have been involved in the research into the CHN1 gene and its connections to this unique syndrome which affects 1% of the general population of individuals with eye movement disorders worldwide. The condition may affect one or both eyes and is more common in girls.


Dr Maria Psatha, University of Aberdeen who co-authored the paper said: "In normal eye movements, 3 cranial nerves control 6 eye muscles, which control the movement of each eye horizontally, up and down, or at an angle. In DRS,miswiring between the muscles and the nerves can cause some eye muscles to contract when they should not and other eye muscles not to contract when they should. This typically occurs around the sixth week of pregnancy when the cranial nerves and eye muscles develop. During this time, the mutations of the gene of CHN1 have now been shown to explain the pathophysiology of the DRS disorder."


It is hoped that this latest discovery will lead to future developments in the treatment of Duane's Syndrome.


Dr Psatha,continues: "I have been very fortunate to be part of a very fruitful international interdisciplinary collaboration that resulted in a high impact paper reporting the findings of the gene responsible for an important yet rare eye disorder that affects children. I look forward to more collaboration of this calibre in the very vibrant environment of the University of Aberdeen."


The research was undertaken by Dr Maria Psatha while at King's College of London in collaboration with the Harvard Medical School

FDA Approves New TECNIS(R) Foldable Acrylic Intraocular Lens for Cataract Patients

Advanced Medical
Optics, Inc today announced that the US Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) has approved the TECNIS(R) intraocular lens (IOL) on an
acrylic platform.


The TECNIS(R) foldable acrylic IOL offers surgeons and their patients the
same unique benefits as the TECNIS(R) silicone IOL. AMO is the only company
to market IOLs with a claim approved by the FDA for reduced spherical
aberration and improved functional vision.


"FDA approval of the TECNIS(R) acrylic IOL marks an important milestone
for AMO because it represents the first approved product that combines the
outstanding optical technology from our 2004 acquisition of the Pfizer
ophthalmic surgical business, with our existing advanced IOL materials
expertise," said AMO President and CEO Jim Mazzo. "This FDA approval broadens
our portfolio of acrylic IOLs, providing more options for our customers and
their patients."


Visual performance degrades with age, including a loss of functional
vision, which is caused by an increase in the optical aberration of the eye
that may result in difficulty seeing in low light conditions. Cataract
patients with reduced functional vision may be challenged driving at dusk or
at night, experience trouble reading or doing work at close range, or lack
confidence navigating stairs or unfamiliar settings. The TECNIS(R) lens
reduces spherical aberration and improves functional vision in varying light
conditions, which is likely to provide a meaningful safety benefit for older
drivers and pedestrians with whom they share the road.


In a simulated night driving study, patients viewing a rural road through
the TECNIS(R) lens identified a pedestrian hazard significantly sooner than
through a traditional spherical IOL. The TECNIS(R) lens also provided a
45-foot advantage in detection and identification distance. At 55 MPH, this
would provide an additional 0.5 seconds to perceive and react to a pedestrian
hazard.
AMO plans to release the TECNIS(R) foldable acrylic IOL commercially in
the U.S. and Europe in September 2005.


About the TECNIS(R) IOL


The eyes, like other parts of the body, actually fall out of balance with
age. The cornea and natural crystalline lens of a young person work together
to focus light onto the retina. Over time, the natural lens loses some of its
ability to balance the cornea, resulting in vision that is not quite as crisp
as it used to be.


Typical cataract surgery restores cornea/lens balance to a
level equivalent to that of a healthy older person. The TECNIS(R) lens
implant restores the cornea/lens balance to a level more like that of a
healthy younger person. While most IOLs are made with a spherical (rounded)
surface, the TECNIS(R) lens is an aspheric wavefront-designed optic.

This
design was developed by collecting actual wavefront measurements from human
corneas of a representative sample of the population. Then, a modified
prolate intraocular lens surface was created that reduces spherical aberration
and works with the cornea in a way that more closely resembles the balance of
a natural lens and cornea of a young person. The result is improved
functional vision for most people after cataract surgery.















TECNIS(R) foldable intraocular lenses are indicated for primary
implantation for the visual correction of aphakia in adults in whom a
cataractous lens has been removed by phacoemulsification. The lenses are
intended to be placed in the capsular bag. Rx Only. For a complete listing of
precautions, warnings and adverse events, refer to the package insert.


About Advanced Medical Optics (AMO)


AMO is a global medical device leader focused on the discovery and
delivery of innovative vision technologies that optimize the quality of life
for people of all ages. Products in the ophthalmic surgical line include
intraocular lenses, laser vision correction systems, phacoemulsification
systems, viscoelastics, microkeratomes and related products used in cataract
and refractive surgery. AMO owns or has the rights to such ophthalmic
surgical product brands as ReZoom(TM), Phacoflex(R), Clariflex(R), Array(R),
Sensar(R), CeeOn(R), Tecnis(R) and Verisyse(TM) intraocular lenses, STAR S4
IR(TM) laser vision correction system, WaveScan Wavefront(R) System,
CustomVue(TM) procedure, Sovereign(R) and Sovereign(R) Compact(TM)
phacoemulsification systems with WhiteStar(TM) technology, Amadeus(TM) and
Amadeus(TM) II microkeratomes, Healon(R) and Vitrax(R) viscoelastics, and the
Baerveldt(R) glaucoma shunt. Products in the contact lens care line include
disinfecting solutions, daily cleaners, enzymatic cleaners and lens rewetting
drops. Among the contact lens care product brands the company possesses are
COMPLETE(R) Moisture PLUS(TM), COMPLETE(R) Blink-N-Clean(R), Consept(R)F,
Consept(R) 1 Step, Oxysept(R) 1 Step, UltraCare(R), Ultrazyme(R), Total
Care(R) and blink(TM) branded products. Amadeus is a licensed product of, and
a trademark of, SIS, Ltd. AMO is based in Santa Ana, California, and employs
approximately 3,500 worldwide. The company has operations in 24 countries and
markets products in approximately 60 countries. For more information, visit
the company's Web site at amo-inc.


Forward-Looking Statements


Mr. Mazzo's statements and statements in this press release regarding new
product benefits and expected release timing, and any other statements that
refer to AMO's estimated or anticipated future results are forward-looking
statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release reflect
AMO's current analysis of existing trends and information and represent AMO's
judgment only as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ
from current expectations based on a number of factors affecting AMO's
businesses, including but not limited to unexpected changes in competitive,
regulatory and market conditions, AMO's ability to obtain adequate product
supply, unexpected litigation or intellectual property issues, and the
uncertainties associated with market acceptance of new products. Therefore,
the reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. AMO
disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


Additional information concerning these and other risk factors may be
found in previous financial press releases issued by AMO. AMO's public
periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
discussion under the heading "Certain Factors and Trends Affecting AMO and its
Businesses" in AMO's 2004 Form 10-K filed in March 2005 include information
concerning these and other risk factors. Copies of press releases and
additional information about AMO are available at amo-inc, or you can
contact the AMO Investor Relations Department by calling 714-247-8348.


Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.


Investors:

Sheree Aronson

(714) 247-8290

sheree.aronsonamo-inc


Media:

Steve Chesterman

(714) 247-8711

steve.chestermanamo-inc


Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.

amo-inc

HealthSaver Focus On Back-To-School: Vision, Dental Check-Ups Open Eyes, Brighten Smiles For Learning

It's back-to-school across
America, and it's time to focus on ways to open students' eyes and brighten
their smiles for learning success. As the school bell is set to ring -- and
with one in four children having undiagnosed vision problems and tooth
decay one of the most common childhood diseases -- now is the time to give
students a clear vision for their future. Also, make sure pre-schoolers
have the recommended immunizations and vaccinations.


HealthSaver, an emerging health care discount program, recommends that
in addition to new school supplies, backpacks and trendy clothes, it's a
good idea for students to undergo a comprehensive vision exam, dental
checkup and required immunizations.


"Early vision testing and proper oral hygiene are great ways to start
the school year off on the right foot," said HealthSaver Vice President
Lorien Saumier. "A complete and comprehensive eye and dental exam can spell
greater success in the classroom."


This year alone, 10 million children will return to school with a
vision problem that could interfere with their learning ability, contribute
to disciplinary problems and put them at risk for permanent vision loss,
according to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). The
group also warns that when vision problems go undetected, students have
trouble reading and doing schoolwork, and they often display fatigue,
fidgeting, and frustration in the classroom. An estimated 70 percent of
school-age children who have a learning disability in reading have some
sort of visual problem, according to COVD.


And despite recent improvements in dental care in the United States,
tooth decay is still one of the most common childhood diseases, according
to the American Dental Association. It is five times as common as asthma in
5-17 year-olds, according to the association. And, it affects more than one
fifth of American children aged 2-4, half of those aged 6-8 and nearly 60
percent of those aged 15, according to the National Center for Health
Statistics.


Since 1995, August has been National Children's Vision and Learning
Month, and the goal of this national observance is to help educate parents
and teachers across the country about the critical link between vision and
learning. With that in mind, the experts at HealthSaver and the COVD have
developed a checklist for common signs and symptoms of vision problems that
may indicate the need for a comprehensive vision exam:


Physical signs or symptoms:


-- Frequent headaches or eye strain

-- Blurring of distance or near vision, particularly after reading or

other close work

-- Avoidance of close work or other visually demanding tasks

-- Poor judgment of depth

-- Turning of an eye in or out, up or down

-- Double vision

-- Poor hand-eye coordination

-- Difficulty following a moving target

-- Dizziness or motion sickness















Performance problems:


-- Poor reading comprehension

-- Difficulty copying from one place to another

-- Loss of place, repetition, and/or omission of words while reading

-- Difficulty changing focus from distance to near and back

-- Poor posture when reading or writing

-- Poor handwriting

-- Can respond orally but can't get the same information down on paper

-- Letter and word reversals

-- Difficulty judging sizes and shapes


And brush-up on dental hygiene with these tips from the HealthSaver,
the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental
Association:


-- A Good Cleaning. Your child may think they're old enough to brush their
own teeth, but until they reach the age of six, make sure to take
command and brush their teeth for them at least twice a day, using a
pea-sized amount of ADA-approved toothpaste. Make sure older children
brush at least twice a day, too.


-- Visit your Dentist. Visit a dentist as soon as your baby's first tooth
appears and no later than age one. Book routine visits for professional
cleanings and check-ups as recommended by your child's dentist.


-- Drink Fluoridated Water. Water fluoridation can prevent up to 40
percent of tooth decay. Drinking water with fluoride is still the
easiest and most effective way to fight tooth decay.


-- Don't Forget in Between. A toothbrush can't get into every nook and
cranny so it's important for parents to floss their child's teeth.


-- Eat Well. Make sure your child eats a balanced diet, stays hydrated,
and seeks healthy options for between-meal snacks. Do not put your
child to bed with a bottle containing anything but water, and encourage
use of a cup as their first birthday approaches.


About HealthSaver


HealthSaver offers discounts of 20 percent on vision care, as well as
discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies,
20 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and
fitness club benefits. HealthSaver also offers discounts of 10 to 35
percent on dental care services at some 42,000 participating provider
locations nationwide, including routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings,
orthodontics, and even popular cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth
whitening. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and
supplements by mail. Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary
costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available
from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or
service. More information about HealthSaver is available online at
healthsaver or toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584).
A one month trial membership in HealthSaver ( healthsaver or
1-800-743-2584) costs $1 and can be canceled anytime during the trial
period. Unless the member calls to cancel during the trial, membership will
be extended automatically and billed to a credit card number at the $149.99
annual fee. Members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a
refund of the unused portion of their current year's fee. HealthSaver is
offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and
loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch
the lives of millions of Americans.


About Affinion Group


Affinion Group, affiniongroup, is a leading affinity direct
marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement
programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience,
Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through
more than 4,500 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity
partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries,
including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities
and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation
which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn.,
Affinion Group has approximately 3,600 employees throughout the United
States and in 13 countries across Europe.


HealthSaver

healthsaver

Mutated Gene In Zebrafish Sheds Light On Blindness In Humans

Among zebrafish, the eyes have it. Inside them is a mosaic of light-sensitive cells whose structure and functions are nearly identical to those of humans. There, biologists at The Florida State University discovered a gene mutation that determines if the cells develop as rods (the photoreceptors responsible for dim-light vision) or as cones (the photoreceptors needed for color vision).


Described in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the landmark study of retinal development in zebrafish larvae and the genetic switch it has identified should shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying that development and, consequently, provide needed insight on inherited retinal diseases in humans.


From FSU's Department of Biological Science and Program in Neuroscience, doctoral candidate Karen Alvarez-Delfin (first author of the PNAS paper), postdoctoral fellow Ann Morris (second author), and Associate Professor James M. Fadool are the first scientists to identify the crucial function of a previously known gene called "tbx2b." The researchers have named the newfound allele (a different form of a gene) "lor" -- for "lots-of-rods" -- because the mutation results in too many rods and fewer ultraviolet cones than in the normal eye.


"Our goal is to generate animal models of inherited diseases of the eye and retina to understand the progression of disease and find more effective treatments for blindness," said Fadool, faculty advisor to Alvarez-Delfin and principal investigator for Morris's ongoing research. "We are excited about the mutation that Karen has identified because it is one of the few mutations in this clinically critical pathway that is responsible for cells developing into one photoreceptor subtype rather than another."


"What is striking in this case is that the photoreceptor cell changes we observed in the retinas of zebrafish are opposite to the changes identified in Enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS), an inherited human retinal dystrophy in which the rods express genes usually only found in cones, eventually leading to blindness," Alvarez-Delfin said. "Equally surprising is that this study and others from our lab show that while alterations in photoreceptor development in the human and mouse eyes lead to retinal degeneration and blindness, they don't in zebrafish. Therefore, the work from our Florida State lab and with our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University and the University of Louisville should provide a model for better understanding the differences in outcomes between mammals and fish, and why the human mutation leads to degenerative disease."


Morris calls the zebrafish an ideal genetic model for studies of development and disease. The common aquarium species are vertebrates, like humans. Their retinal organization and cell types are similar to those in humans. Zebrafish mature rapidly, and lay many eggs. The embryos are transparent, and they develop externally, unlike mammals, which develop in utero.















"This lets us study developmental processes such as the formation of tissues and organs in living animals," she said.


"From a developmental biology perspective, our research will help us unravel the competing signals necessary for generating the different photoreceptor cell types in their appropriate numbers and arrangement," Morris said. "The highly specialized nature of rods and cones may make them particularly vulnerable to inherited diseases and environmental damage in humans. Understanding the genetic processes of photoreceptor development could lead to clinical treatments for the millions of people affected by photoreceptor cell dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration."


The mosaic arrangement of photoreceptors in fish was first described more than 100 years ago, but the J. Fadool laboratory at Florida State was the first to successfully take advantage of the pattern to identify mutations affecting photoreceptor development and degeneration.


"Imagine a tile mosaic," Fadool said. "That is the kind of geometric pattern formed by the rod and cone photoreceptors in the zebrafish retina. This mosaic is similar to the pattern of a checkerboard but with four colors rather than two alternating in a square pattern. The red-, green-, blue-, and ultraviolet-sensitive cones are always arranged in a precise repeating pattern. Human retinas have a photoreceptor mosaic, too, but here the term is used loosely, because while the arrangement of the different photoreceptors is nonrandom, they don't form the geometric pattern observed in zebrafish.


"So how do we ask a fish if it has photoreceptor defects?" he asked.


Fadool explained that because the mosaic pattern of zebrafish photoreceptors is so precise, mutations causing subtle alterations are easier to uncover than in retinas with a "messier" arrangement.


"Just as we can easily recognize a checkerboard mistakenly manufactured with some of the squares changed from black to red or with all-black squares, by using fluorescent labeling and fluorescence microscopes we can see similar changes in the pattern of the zebrafish photoreceptor mosaic," he said. "Karen showed that within the mosaic of the lots-of-rod fish, the position on the checkerboard normally occupied by a UV cone is replaced with a rod. The identity of the mutated gene is then discovered using a combination of classical genetics and genomic resources."


To access the PNAS paper ("tbx2b is required for ultraviolet photoreceptor cell specification during zebrafish retinal development"), visit the journal's Web site at pnas/content/106/6.toc.


Funding for the Fadool laboratory's zebrafish research comes in large part from a five-year grant totaling more than $1.7 million from the National Institutes of Health.


Florida State University

114 Westcott Bldg.

Tallahassee

FL 32306-1430

United States

fsu.edu

Gene for age-related macular degeneration discovered by Yale researchers

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have identified a gene for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on a region of
chromosome 1, leading the way for targeted treatment for this widespread eye disease that causes blindness in millions of
people.


The study, led by Josephine Hoh, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) at Yale School
of Medicine, will be published online in the March 10 issue of Science Express. Hoh and colleagues from Yale, Rockefeller
University and the National Eye Institute, used a highly interdisciplinary approach to conclude that the gene for a substance
known as complement factor H (CFH) on chromosome 1 is associated with AMD.


"This is the first study to identify a common variant of the specific gene being associated with AMD," said Hoh. "Caucasian
AMD patients are at least four times more likely to have one particular alteration in the CFH gene that produces a different
form of the CFH protein compared to individuals without the disease."


AMD is a debilitating eye disease affecting about 15 million people in the United States. It destroys vision by attacking an
area of the retina called the macula, particularly in people age 60 or older. The macula is the most sensitive region of the
retina, enabling fine-detail vision, reading, driving and leisure tasks such as playing sports and watching movies and
television. As part of the normal aging process, yellowish waste deposits called drusen accumulate around the macula, but in
individuals with AMD, the drusen are larger and more numerous, killing cells necessary for the nourishment of adjacent
retinal photoreceptor cells. As these photoreceptors die in and around the macula, central vision is lost. Peripheral vision
is not impaired by AMD.


There are two forms of AMD, the more common "dry" form and the less common "wet" form. The wet form can rapidly lead to
blindness, while the dry form progresses more slowly. Both are associated with the same variant in the CFH gene.


Hoh and her team used new genetic analysis and microscopic imaging technologies to find the genetic variant of the AMD gene.
"What sets our study apart from previous research is that we used many more genetic markers to find the specific gene and
variation," said Hoh. "Past research has involved collecting family data that pinpoint a region on chromosome 1, but failed
to find the specific gene. We analyzed the DNA of unrelated patients with AMD and compared their genetic profile to that of
AMD-free controls. In this sea of DNA information, we applied computation-intensive, statistical analyses and were able to
find the differences between the two groups. Subsequently, the gene association has been confirmed by at least three
independent studies with results pending publication."


"This work is not only important for the gene we have found, but also highlights the value in new paradigms for whole genome
analysis for chronic diseases," Hoh added. "I believe that in order to find genes responsible for diseases, you have to use a
totally different approach, instead of an educated guess. Our findings support greater use of this technique."


Other authors on the study are Caroline Zeiss, Susan T. Mayne, Michael B. Bracken, Colin Barnstable and Shrikant M. Mane of
Yale; Robert J. Klein, Richard S. Sackler, M.D., Chad Haynes and Jurg Ott of Rockefeller University; and Alice K. Henning,
John Paul San Giovanni, Emily Y. Chew, M.D., and Frederick L. Ferris, M.D. of the National Eye Institute.


The research was supported by a grant from the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fund for the Arts and Sciences.


Citation: Science, Online Publication March 10, 2005.


Contact: Karen N. Peart

karen.peartyale.edu

203-432-1326

Yale University

yale.edu

Paragon CRT(R) Inquiries Increase With Recent FDA Hearing On Dangers Of LASIK

Paragon Vision Sciences announced a surge in inquiries for Paragon CRT® contact lenses, which gently reshape the cornea during sleep, temporarily correcting nearsightedness. The increase follows the April 25 FDA hearing regarding the dangers of LASIK surgery.


Paragon CRT® provides similar visual benefits as LASIK in that patients can see all day without glasses or daytime contacts. However, CRT provides other significant benefits for both children and adults as it's temporary and reversible.


"With approximately 400,000 Americans experiencing unacceptable outcomes from LASIK surgery, Paragon CRT® offers consumers a non-surgical and reversible alternative," said Joe Sicari, President and CEO of Paragon Vision Sciences. "I'm pleased that since the recent FDA hearing more consumers are seeking out Paragon CRT® and encourage everyone considering LASIK to also research this alternative."


While LASIK is a good procedure for most people, many fear eye surgery. Paragon CRT® offers an alternative to those worried about the outcome of a permanent, surgical procedure.


Paragon CRT® contact lenses temporarily reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness with or without moderate astigmatism during sleep, allowing users to see clearly without lenses for their waking hours. If a patient chooses to discontinue wearing the lenses, the cornea will return to its original shape. Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT® allows for adjustments for normal changes in vision that occur as people age. Not only is the therapy a non-invasive alternative to laser-corrective surgery, there are no age restrictions and it is reversible.


Paragon CRT® is the only therapeutic contact lens FDA-approved for overnight contact lens corneal reshaping. Paragon CRT® gently and safely reshapes the cornea.


The lenses are only available through trained and certified practitioners. An estimated 4,000 practitioners in the USA already fit CRT lenses with more than 200,000 happy consumers including adults and children.


Paragon CRT® is a product of Paragon Vision Sciences, a privately held corporation based in Mesa, Ariz. Paragon Vision Sciences is a leading manufacturer of advanced materials used to produce contact lenses. For over 25 years, the company has been at the forefront of research and development, including a 10-year R&D project with NASA involving studies aboard three Space Shuttle missions. This project led to the development of the technology behind the oxygen-permeable material used in the manufacture of Paragon CRT®. All operations are conducted in compliance with the FDA regulations.

paragoncrt
paragonvision

MS Drug Helps Reduce Vision Loss

A drug that slows disability and reduces relapse rates in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been found to also reduce vision loss in patients with relapsing MS. Vision loss is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of MS. The findings are published in the April 17, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.


The analyses were performed on data from the AFFIRM and SENTINEL studies, which involved 2,138 men and women with relapsing multiple sclerosis from clinics in Europe, North American, Australia, and New Zealand. More than half of the people received the drug natalizumab every four weeks for two years. The rest of the group received placebo. Researchers used eye charts of low contrast letters to test the vision of the participants every 12 weeks.


The study found vision loss, defined as a worsening in score by two rows of letters on the eye chart, was reduced by as much as 47 percent among people taking natalizumab compared to those taking placebo.


"Not only does natalizumab prevent the worsening of vision loss in people with relapsing MS, we also found the drug was associated with significant reductions in the likelihood of sustained vision loss," said study author Laura J. Balcer, MD, MSCE, with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "Specifically, this drug may have implications for preventing further sustained vision loss due to inflammatory demyelination of nerve fibers that connect to the eye, which is common in MS."


However, Balcer said the potential benefits of natalizumab treatment must be weighed with the drug's potential risks or complications, including the rare, often lethal brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), of which three confirmed cases have been reported.


In addition, data from AFFIRM and SENTINEL studies showed that low-contrast letter acuity eye chart testing is effective for assessing visual outcomes in future MS clinical trials, which have not typically included visual testing components despite vision loss being a main disability of MS.


The study was supported by Biogen Idec and Elan, makers of natalizumab.


The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as epilepsy, dystonia, migraine, Huntington's disease, and dementia.


American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

1080 Montreal Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55116

United States

aan