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: 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 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 present invention provides new methods of treating wet type of age related macular degeneration by administering adiponectin (APN) or a functional fragment derived therefrom. One of the pathological complications of age related macular degeneration (AMD) is choroidal angiogenesis or choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The inventors discovered that the level of APN expression is significantly lower in the choroids of the laser-induced mouse model of choroidal angiogenesis or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) than that of the control mice and that administration of recombinant adiponectin (rAPN) or a peptide derived from the globular domain of the intact APN protein to the mouse model of CNV reduced the size of CNV significantly. These studies are the first to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of adiponectin on choroidal angiogenesis and thus provide the basis for treating a condition or disease involving angiogenesis, particularly age related macular degeneration, with administration of adiponectin.

Abstract: The invention generally provides compositions and methods for promoting and enhancing wound closure and healing. Specifically, the invention provides a biologic composition which comprises a support layer which serves as transport scaffold, for example made of gelatin, which is coated or impregnated with a bio-adhesive molecule such as rose bengal or glyceraldehyde. The composition can also comprise an artificial or biological matrix, optionally processed (i.e. cleaned and coated with extracellular matrix proteins) to enhance cell attachment and survival. The composition can further comprise a monolayer of epithelial, endothelial cells or mesenchymal cells. The invention provides methods for using the compositions for treating wounds due to disease, trauma or surgery. Specific methods for treating ocular wounds are provided.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided which monitor a condition of an eye. The system includes a communication interface and a processor operably coupled to the communication interface. The communication interface is configured to receive an intraocular pressure measurement datum and a time datum associated with the time the intraocular pressure measurement was measured using an eye measurement system. The processor is configured to receive the intraocular pressure measurement datum and the time datum, to receive a dispensed amount datum associated with an amount of a drug administered to an eye of a user and a second time datum associated with the time the drug was administered, and to store the received intraocular pressure measurement datum, the received time datum, the received dispensed amount datum, and the received second time datum to monitor a condition of the eye.

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 invention is directed to compositions and methods for reversing age-related changes in extracellular matrix proteins, particularly the collagen framework of basement membranes of various organs. The invention has particular application to age-related changes that impair Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cell repopulation of human Bruch's membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides new methods of treating wet type of age related macular degeneration by administering adiponectin (APN) or a functional fragment derived therefrom. One of the pathological complications of age related macular degeneration (AMD) is choroidal angiogenesis or choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The inventors discovered that the level of APN expression is significantly lower in the choroids of the laser-induced mouse model of choroidal angiogenesis or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) than that of the control mice and that administration of recombinant adiponectin (rAPN) or a peptide derived from the globular domain of the intact APN protein to the mouse model of CNV reduced the size of CNV significantly. These studies are the first to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of adiponectin on choroidal angiogenesis and thus provide the basis for treating a condition or disease involving angiogenesis, particularly age related macular degeneration, with administration of adiponectin.

Abstract: An implantation device having a reservoir for holding a solid or semisolid implant and a carrier fluid, wherein the reservoir includes a cannula. The cannula has a tip end and a delivery opening therein both shaped and dimensioned to suit the application. For example, an implant (such as a retinal cell graft) and suitable carrier fluid (such as an aqueous hyaluronic acid solution) can be expressed from the opening into the subretinal space of a recipient eye, provided the cannula is of sufficient length that the tip end can reach the subretinal space while the remainder of the fluid reservoir is external of the eye. Expression of the carrier fluid from the reservoir via the delivery opening expels the implant through the delivery opening. An electromechanically driven plunger apparatus with operator controls is provided in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: An implantation device having a reservoir for holding a solid or semisolid implant and a carrier fluid, wherein the reservoir includes a cannula. The cannula has a tip end and a delivery opening therein both shaped and dimensioned to suit the application. For example, an implant (such as a retinal cell graft) and suitable carrier fluid (such as an aqueous hyaluronic acid solution) can be expressed from the opening into the subretinal space of a recipient eye, provided the cannula is of sufficient length that the tip end can reach the subretinal space while the remainder of the fluid reservoir is external of the eye. Expression of the carrier fluid from the reservoir via the delivery opening expels the implant through the delivery opening. An electromechanically driven plunger apparatus with operator controls is provided in a preferred embodiment.

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.