Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water, adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: Methods for modulating eye damage associated with a disease or disorder, and/or damage incident to trauma including but not limited to trauma associated with ocular surgery are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include administering an effective amount of a modulator of a migration inhibitory factor (MIF) polypeptide biological activity to a subject. Also provided are methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of an ocular disease, and methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of scarring and/or other consequence of wound healing incident to ocular surgery, as well as modulating the survival, function, and/or differentiation of engrafted cells that can be employed as part of tissue engineering procedures to correct structural, functional, and/or cellular defects of the eye.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogels and methods for their use in treating disorders of the retina such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogels and methods for their use in treating disorders of the retina such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Abstract: Surgical instruments having at least one surface modified through formation of polyelectrolyte films and/or nanoparticle deposition thereon to increase adhesion between the surgical instrument and a patient's inner limiting membrane while reducing trauma during surgery are provided. The instrument includes a proximate end operable to be grasped by a surgeon and a distal tip operable to interface with a selected tissue, the distal tip comprising: i. first surface operable to receive at least one electrolyte film; ii. at least one layer of a polyelectrolyte film substantially coating the first surface, the polyelectrolyte film having at least one functional group displaying a charge.

Abstract: Methods for modulating eye damage associated with a disease or disorder, and/or damage incident to trauma including but not limited to trauma associated with ocular surgery are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include administering an effective amount of a modulator of a migration inhibitory factor (MIF) polypeptide biological activity to a subject. Also provided are methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of an ocular disease, and methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of scarring and/or other consequence of wound healing incident to ocular surgery, as well as modulating the survival, function, and/or differentiation of engrafted cells that can be employed as part of tissue engineering procedures to correct structural, functional, and/or cellular defects of the eye.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogels and methods for their use in treating disorders of the retina such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods of diagnosing retinal disorders in subjects by measuring hemoglobin and modified hemoglobin in the subjects. The presently disclosed subject matter further provides methods of treating retinal disorders in subjects by decreasing hypoxia in retinal tissue of the subjects through modulation of hemoglobin levels and activities in the retinal tissue.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods of diagnosing retinal disorders in subjects by measuring hemoglobin and modified hemoglobin in the subjects. The presently disclosed subject matter further provides methods of treating retinal disorders in subjects by decreasing hypoxia in retinal tissue of the subjects through modulation of hemoglobin levels and activities in the retinal tissue.

Abstract: Methods for enzymatic production of a posterior vitreous detachment are provided. In preferred methods, dispase is used to cleave type IV collagen and fibronectin at the vitreoretinal junction to promote the posterior vitreous detachment. The methods provide for enzymatic treatment in conjunction with intraocular surgery as well as treatments to relieve the blinding complications of certain eye disorders without the need for surgery. Also disclosed are kits for production of a posterior vitreous detachment and devices containing the enzymes useful in the methods.