A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease saw improvement of symptoms and vision following treatment with the drug rituximab. Inflammation around the eyes and optic nerve damage were greatly reduced.

Rituximab has been used to treat patients with other autoimmune diseases. It works by depleting B cells the body's normal antibody-producing cells that appear to go awry in autoimmune diseases.

Learn more about Graves' Eye Disease.

_{Source: University of Michigan Health System. Researchers Find New Way To Attack Inflammation In Graves' Eye Disease. Medical News Today, 07 Nov 2009.}

Thinking of trying Latisse? If you want to try Latisse eyelash treatment for longer, lusher lashes, it will come at a price.

This November, during Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, the AOA (American Academy of Ophthalmology) is reminding people that a yearly dilated eye exam can help prevent vision loss in people with diabetes. Along with its partners, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Macula Society and the Retina Society, the AOA has launched EyeSmart: EyeCommitted, a social media campaign to encourage people with diabetes to get an annual eye exam.

Diabetes can have a devastating impact on vision, but the good news is that regular dilated eye exams by an ophthalmologist and timely treatment, if needed, can save vision for the vast majority of diabetics," said David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. "That is why we're urging people with diabetes to get EyeCommitted. By taking charge of their eye health, Americans can greatly reduce their risk of losing their sight from diabetes."

Suggested Reading:

• All About Diabetic Retinopathy
• What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?
• Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease

_{Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology (AOA). American Academy Of Ophthalmology Announces New Drive For Thousands To Get Diabetic Eye Exam. Medical News Today, 01 Nov 2009.}

Latisse is an FDA-approved prescription eyelash treatment that claims to make your eyelashes longer, fuller and darker. Although rare, potential side effects may occur while using the treatment including allergic reactions, excess hair growth outside the treatment area, and permanent changes in iris and eyelid pigmentation.

If you would consider using it, despite the known risks and side effects, why would you do so? If you've used Latisse, why did you decide to use it?

_{Photo © Photodisc / Getty Images}

You may not think about eye safety in your home, but the average home is full of potential hazards to your eyes and vision. Here are a few tips for keeping your eyes and vision safe in the home.

A new study reveals that the brain can be trained to consciously see stimuli that would normally be invisible. The study, highlighted in the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's Journal of Vision, suggests that although we assume we can see everything in our field of vision, the brain actually picks and chooses the stimuli that come into our consciousness.

If we gain the ability to "train the brain" to consciously see, people with blindsight, whose primary visual cortex has been damaged through a stroke or trauma, may be helped. Blindsight patients can't consciously see, but their brains process their visual environment at least on some level .

Suggested Reading: Vision 101

_{Source: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Can We "Learn to See?" Study Shows Perception of Invisible Stimuli Improves with Training?. Newswise, 21 Oct 2009.}

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that sometimes develops in people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy causes damage to the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue located in the back of the eye. It is a serious complication of diabetes that can threaten sight.

Suggested Reading:

• All About Diabetic Retinopathy
• Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy
• Lower Your Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy

An inflammation of the sclera, the white outer covering of the eye, scleritis can be destructive to the eye, causing intense pain and loss of vision for some people.

Suggested Reading:

• Have You Had Scleritis?
• Common Eye Problems
• Diet and Eye Disease

Here's a question I'm asked frequently: Can I have astigmatism in both eyes?

Astigmatism is a vision disorder in which the eye focuses light on the retina at two points instead of just one. People with astigmatism sometimes complain of blurred, distorted or slanted vision. Astigmatism almost always occurs in both eyes and is usually quite symmetrical between the two.

Suggested Reading:

• Astigmatism Definition
• Astigmatism and Blurry Vision
• Video: Astigmatism

Before committing to cataract surgery, it's helpful to assure that removing the cloudy lens will actually help restore your vision. Your eye doctor may perform the PAM test to get a good idea of your vision potential post-surgery.

Suggested Reading:

• All About Cataracts
• Tests for Cataracts
• Cataract Eye Surgery