Blindness

Benefits from food fortification, yet global nutrient gaps persist

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Fortifying staple foods can dramatically reduce global nutrient deficiencies at minimal cost, but gaps persist, and the risk of excess intake underscores the need for smarter, more balanced nutrition strategies.  Study: Impact of large-scale food fortification programmes on micronutrient inadequacies and their implementation costs: a modelling analysis. Image credit: udra11/Shutterstock.com Expanded guideline-based food fortification programs … Read more

WHO validates Libya’s success in eliminating trachoma nationwide

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The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, a landmark victory for public health in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. This hard-won achievement protects future generations from preventable blindness and provides a powerful reminder that countries can overcome neglected tropical diseases despite persisting challenges. “This milestone reflects … Read more

Everday diabetes medicine linked to less progression of age-related macular degeneration

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Doctors have found that metformin, an everyday medicine for diabetes, is associated with less progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the commonest cause of blindness in western countries. People with diabetes over the age of 55 years taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop the intermediate stage of AMD over a five year period … Read more

Common Diabetes Treatment May Cause Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Results from a recent population-based cohort study have indicated that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may increase the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in patients with diabetes.1 GLP-1 RAs are one of the most beneficial treatments for type 2 diabetes; it increases glucose transporter expression in pancreatic cells, which facilitate glucose … Read more

Intraocular Pressure Therapy May Slow Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Progression

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Vihar Naik, MD | Image Credit: UNC School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology According to a recent systematic review from the University of North Carolina, IOP-lowering therapy may potentially slow glaucoma progression in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).1 Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, affecting >70 million people globally; of these, … Read more

USPSTF urges universal syphilis screening in pregnancy to prevent congenital infections

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With congenital syphilis at a 30-year high in the US, experts stress that early and universal syphilis screening in pregnancy is vital to protect both mothers and newborns from preventable harm. Study: Screening for Syphilis Infection During Pregnancy: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. Image Credit: Summit Art Creations / Shutterstock.com In a recent … Read more

India, China, and the US will drive global diabetes burden by 2050, study finds

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Apr 9 2025 A sweeping global study finds that India, China, and the US will account for one-third of diabetes deaths and disabilities by 2050, unless urgent action is taken to curb the soaring rise of type 2 diabetes. Study: Comparative diabetes mellitus burden trends across global, Chinese, US, and Indian populations using GBD 2021 … Read more

Report shows alarming measles resurgence in Europe and US

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A recent report shows cases of measles across the World Health Organization’s European Region, which includes the UK, are the highest they’ve been for more than 25 years. At the same time, large outbreaks of measles in the US have led to the first measles deaths there since 2015. For our new series, LSHTM Unpacked, … Read more

Eye drops show potential to slow progression of human degenerative retinal diseases

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Treatment shows potential to slow the progression of human degenerative eye diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed eye drops that extend vision in animal models of a group of inherited diseases that lead to progressive vision loss in humans, known as retinitis pigmentosa. The eye drops contain … Read more

New lab-grown pig retinal organoids could aid stem cell-based vision therapy

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Inside the human eye, the retina is made up of several types of cells, including the light-sensing photoreceptors that initiate the cascade of events that lead to vision. Damage to the photoreceptors, either through degenerative disease or injury, leads to permanent vision impairment or blindness.  David Gamm, director of UW–Madison’s McPherson Eye Research Institute and professor of … Read more