Glaucoma Eye Pressure Readings

Dr. Kisling Uncategorized 1 Comment

The National Eye Institute

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. The National Institute of Health falls under HHS and the National Eye Institute (NEI)  is part of the National Institute of Health. It was established by Congress in 1968. That’s the alphabet soup for the day.

The National Eye Institute supports research into understanding eye diseases and disorders of the vision system.  The NEI awarded about 1600 research grants and training awards  to scientists last year including several hundred medical centers and numerous  researchers around the country. The NEI also has its own facility in Bethesda, Maryland where it conducts patient research.

NEI research has contributed to numerous advances in areas such as

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Amblyopia.
  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • Glaucoma.Retinopathy of prematurity.
  • Corneal stromal keratitis.
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.
  • Uveitis.
  • Retinitis pigmentosa.
  • Leber’s congenital amaurosis.
  • Lasers for treatment of AMD, glaucoma, and myopia (nearsightedness).

Another function of the  NEI mission is to develop public and professional education programs that help prevent blindness, reduce visual impairment, and increase awareness of services and devices that are available for people with low vision.

Current projects cast insight into future treatments. NEI programs are working on transplanting cells into diseased retinas for eye diseases like macular degeneration. They are also working on genetic treatments for inherited eye diseases and new methods of glaucoma treatment involving protection of the optic nerve fibers.

  • NEI-supported scientists are working toward transplanting healthy cells into diseased retinas. This research may lead to new treatments for people with blinding retinal diseases, including AMD and retinitis pigmentosa.
  • Researchers are exploring gene-based treatments for a variety of inherited eye diseases.
  • NEI-supported scientists are developing “neuroprotection” methods that will prevent or slow glaucoma cell damage and promote the survival of retinal cells damaged by glaucoma.

The National Eye Institute is on of National Treasures of Health Care Assets that deserves support for future advances in eye care.

Comments 1

  1. larry reece

    I have had 0 eye pressure for about 5 weeks following an operation to tie off a shunt which was installed about 12 weeks before.what can be done to bring pressure back?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *