Vision for the blind.......
You will be happy to know that we are in process of developing
an artificial retina which will be helpful in restoring vision to some extent
for the patient's affected with the degenerative diseases of the retina. This
study is already been carried out in other developed countries and the results
are promising and Aditya Jyot Research Foundation in collaboration with I.I.T
Bombay will be the first eye hospital to venture into this challenging project.
We would just like to brief you on our progress in the
Artificial Retina Research Project so far and inform you about the device that
is still in developmental stages in India and which has already made some
progress in other parts of the world and have reported improved vision.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a inherent disease that causes
degeneration of photoreceptor cells in retina, that are responsible for
capturing and processing light that helps us to see .In a person with RP
symptoms are Night blindness and loss of peripheral (side) vision initially. In
the later stage patient may also lose central vision .Age Related Macular
Degeneration is another such disease where the light sensing photoreceptor
cells of the eye are destroyed and the central vision is lost. Researchers
around the world are trying to develop a silicon microchip, which will replace
the photoreceptor layer of the retina and act as artificial retina. This chip
is slightly larger than the head of the pin and can be surgically implanted on
the retina at the back of the eye, which will convert light energy to
electrical impulses, which in turn would stimulate the intact functional cells
of the retina and induce biological visual signals in the 'good 'retinal
tissue. With electrical signals to the brain via the optic nerve the person
should be able to see. There are two models that the researchers are currently
working on depending on the location where the implant will be placed .The only
eye center in India to venture into this highly tough and competitive field is
Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt. Ltd. The Chairman and Medical Director Dr. S.
Natarajan has put in a lot of effort in making this project successful in India
for half a decade now. Aditya Jyot Research Foundation has already made some
progress by taking the first and significant step of contacting the right
agencies, which could help develop such an electronic device we are also
working on a project on Stem cell research where retinal stem cells can be
cultured and transplanted to the affected eye.
We are working on the formation of Artificial Retina in
Collaboration with I.I.T led by Prof. Bellare and Prof. Uday Sheorey and
R.G.Rao.The project will constitute of three phases. Phase one is the formation
of silicon retina and phase two is the implantation of silicon retina in
animals. AJRF is in the process of establishing animal lab for carrying
out the artificial retina prosthesis trials. The estimated cost for developing
the animal lab with all the facilities (like veterinary professionals,
maintaining the lab, instruments etc.) is approx Rupees Seven Crores. Phase
three is human trials where patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa and
age related macular degeneration would be selected and treated with the silicon
retina implantation at Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital.
Our team at Aditya Jyot Eye
Hospital(Wadala)
Dr.
S. Natarajan, PrincipalInvestigator (Chairman and Medical
Director).
Dr.
Nazimul Hussian, (Professor Emeritus).
Dr.
Mahesh Uparkar, (Clinical Research Ophthalmologist).
Mrs. Anjali
Khulsange (Sr.Clinical Research Coordinator).
Miss. Hemali
Shah (Clinical Research Coordinator and Research Optometrist).
APPEAL
In a world of complete darkness, just the ability of seeing a loved one can be
nothing more than a dream. For those without sight, the gift of vision can be
the most precious boon, a gift that can illuminate their world and introduce
them to the joys that we take for granted.
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Retinitis Pigmentosa
RP is one such inherent disease that causes degeneration of photoreceptor cells
in retina , that areresponsible for capturing and processing light that helps
us to see .In a person with RP symptoms are Night blindness and loss of
peripheral(side) vision initially.In the later stage patient may also lose
central vision.Other diseases are Age related Macular Degeration and Diabetic
Retinopathy.
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ARMD
Age Related Macular Degeneration(ARMD)is a devastating disease that robs
elderly patients of their vision and severely impacts their quality of
life.Age-related macular degenerationis the leading cause of legal blindness in
those over the age of 65 yearsFailure in the RPE cell degradation and recycling
system, possibly occurring as a result of free radical damage to molecules
within the receptor outer segments, is probably involved in the formation of
drusen, the initial lesion seen in ARMD.
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Regrettably,the end stage of ARMD can be irreversible
central vision loss.
Large areas of atrophy can develop and this leads to the irreversible vision
loss produced by ARMD.
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We at Aditya Jyot Hospital and Research Foundation constantly work to
give these people a chance to see the beautiful world.
Current research projects at Aditya Jyot
Research Foundation
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Scyfix 650 Microcurrent stimulation trial for macular
degeneration and glaucoma : Microcurrent stimulation has been used
over decades for a variety of interventions .In the eye , it is known that
stimulation of degenerating cells with microcurrent helps in prolonging the
life span of such cells through chemical mediators( trophic growth factors, ATP
replenishing etc).The investigational device being tested is an improved
version of the older model ( Scyfix 600).
Target population : Adults with
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Dry macular
degeneration in either eye
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Wet type of
macular degeneration in either eye
-
Primary
Glaucoma
without other diseases of the eye
egdiabetic retinopathy.
Duration of study : 2 years.
Current status : Recruiting
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LUX Bioscience :
Uveitis is an important cause of visual loss. A study
to access the efficacy and safety of an investigational drug as therapy in
subjects with active sight threatening, quiescent sight threatening ,active
sight threatening, non-infectious anterior, intermediate- posterior and pan
uveitis is conducted here.
Target population :
Subjects with
-
Active
sight threatening, quiescent sight threatening, active sight threatening,
non-infectious anterior, intermediate- posterior and pan uveitis.Without other
diseases e.g. Diabetic retinopathy, uncontrolled glaucoma, hypertension.
Duration of study : 2 years.
Current status : Recruiting till 10th June 2008
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Novartis :
Based on the current medical information and practice
, visudyne is used in a condition of retina called choroidal neovascularisation
which is due to age related macular degeneration. Lucentis is also approved for
use in this condition . We at Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt. Ltd , are studying
on the combination therapy of:
a) VISUDYNE with Standard fluence light dose & LUCENTIS.
b) VISUDYNE with Reduced fluence light dose & LUCENTIS.
Target population :
Subjects with
Duration of study : 2 years.
Current status : Recruiting
Objectives:
Primary objectives:
To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in an urban
slum in
Western India
Secondary
objectives:
Expected outcome
Primary outcome:
Secondary outcomes:
Target Population: Patients with
Diabetes.
Duration: 8 months.
Current status: Recruiting.
The project is supported by Pfizer Ltd.
Other trials in the pipeline include.
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Trial of antineovascular agents with photodynamic therapy in wet type of
macular
degeneration
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Trial of investigational immunomodulating drug in the
management of non-infectious uveitis.
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Prevention of corneal graft rejection and failure using a
sustained release immuno-modulator implantable drug .
Artificial Retina Prosthesis Project:Researchers around
the world are trying to develop a silicon microchip which will replace the
photoreceptor layer of the retina and act as artificial retina.Patients with
Retinal Degenerations have lost the function of their photoreceptors
permanently. These cells convert light into electrochemical signals that are
transmitted to the brain and processed as visual images. Thus, these patients
could benefit from a device that conveys visual information to the remaining
functional portions of the retina such as the bipolar cells or retinal ganglion
cells. In this capacity, the Retinal Prosthesis serves as a neural interface-a
man-machine connection that conveys data from a camera or computer to the
central nervous system. We are working on Artificial Retina Prosthesis Project
in collaboration with I.I.T.
Stem Cell Culture Project:The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a
key role in maintaining retinal function. Retinal degenerations and dystrophies
are the major causes of genetically inherited blindness in the developed world.
Photoreceptor replacement in the form of a cell-based therapeutic approach
might possibly aid in the restoration of some degree of vision. In this
respect, if an accessible pluripotent stem cell source can be
identified,autologous stem cell therapies offer a great advantage. We are
working on Retinal stem cell research with Nichi-in center,Chennai to explore
the possibilities and find new solutions to various blinding disorders.
Such activities call for great humane endeavor and monetary aid!
Let us do it together with no second thoughts.
The only eye center in Indiato venture into this highly tough and competitive
field is Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt Ltd.The Chairman and Medical
Director Dr. S. Natarajan has put in a lot of effort in making this
project successful in India for halfa decade now. Aditya Jyot Research
Foundation has already made some progress by taking the first and
significant step of contacting the right agencies.
Cheque / DD may be drawn in favor of "Aditya
Jyot Research Foundation" . All your support will attract tax
exemption as per income tax rules (Sec-80G).
For more information about Artificial Retina please
Click Here
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