More than 5.5 million Canadians are living with eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma—a group of disorders that damage the optic nerve. Individuals with eye conditions experience higher rates of depression and falls, which can impact their quality of life.
However, more than 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable. At the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute at University Health Network, researchers, clinicians and therapists are working together to find innovative treatments and cures for vision-related illnesses and advance discoveries from the lab to a clinical setting faster.
The 2020 Vision Magazine provides a look inside one of North America’s leading vision institutes, featuring stories of innovation, collaboration and hope for a brighter future. Examples of these stories are listed below:
• Vision testing in the comfort of home: at home eye examinations developed using virtual reality headsets are improving access to glaucoma screening in remote areas
• Stopping glaucoma in its tracks: a molecule called lipoxin has been discovered that can protect the optic nerve from damage and is a target for new therapies to prevent or reverse glaucoma
• New solutions for the window of the eye: UHN scientists have helped develop a cutting-edge synthetic cornea, which will make corneal transplants easier and reduce the reliance on donors
• Protein with potential: researchers discovered a therapeutic target to prevent vision loss and blindness due to degeneration of the retina
Click here to read the 2020 issue of the Vision Magazine.