Human tests on Google lens to start in 2016

Novartis plans the first human tests next year of a "smart" contact lens it is developing with Google designed to help restore the eye's natural autofocus.

"This project is progressing well," Novartis Chief Executive Joe Jimenez told Swiss newspaper Le Temps in an interview.

"I had said it would take about five years to see a product on the market," Jimenez told the paper. "The calendar is on track and we are already developing a technological lens prototype (that) should be tested on humans in 2016."

A Novartis spokesman told Reuters that Jimenez was referring to a smart lens for accommodative vision correction in people with presbyopia, or age-related long sightedness, who can no longer read without glasses.

Under an agreement signed with Google in 2014, Novartis is also developing smart contact lenses to help diabetics track their blood glucose levels.

Jimenez also discussed Novartis' efforts to test a novel pay-for-performance pricing model with some customers for its new heart failure drug Entresto.

Earlier this year, Novartis said it was pursuing a system under which customers would get the drug at a discount but then pay Novartis more if it cut the need for costly hospital visits.

Jimenez indicated the plan has encountered headwinds.

"In the United States, we proposed to insurers a differentiated price calculated according to length of stay," Jimenez said. "Few insurers entered in the field. They told us that the system was too complicated."

Novartis finally established the price at around $4,500 per year, he said.

The CEO, a former executive at Reddiwip-maker ConAgra Foods who joined Novartis in 2007, also said the company expects its generics business Sandoz "will always be large enough to be competitive worldwide" without joining a consolidation trend.

Israeli generics rival Teva agreed to buy Allergan's generics unit in July for more than $40 billion.

"There is no project on our side to participate in this consolidation trend because we cannot ensure this growth," Jimenez said.

Novartis, which owns a one-third voting stake in pharmaceuticals rival Roche, has trade agreements with Roche on two drugs and Jimenez said he can imagine research and development collaborations, as well.

"But the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

#AskBarbie: Is it okay to wear cheap sunglasses?

Q: Is it okay to wear cheap sunglasses this summer?

A: Absolutely NOT!

Not all sunglasses are created equal. Some are made just for porma or as a fashion accessory, while some actually protect your eyes. Do not confuse dark-colored sunglasses for protection even though it offers shade from the sun. You don’t have to spend too much for a good pair of sunglasses but note that you shouldn’t scrimp on it either because cheap ones can actually hurt your eyes.

Soaking up the sun is everybody’s favorite activity this summer. But just as you would protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays using sunblock lotions, you must protect your eyes as well. Before looking at the design, first look at the UV protection a pair of sunglasses offer. Choose the ones that are labeled to offer protection from a wide spectrum of UV rays, specifically UVA and UVB rays. This includes those labeled as "UV 400," which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers.

Now, why do I advise against buying cheap sunglasses from street vendors?

According to experts, dark-colored shades without UV protection can be more harmful to your eyes than not wearing shades at all. When you do not wear shades, you tend to squint and your pupils constrict, allowing lesser light to come in. When you wear dark shades, your eyes can see well, and your pupils dilate allowing more light to come into your eyes. But because it does not have UV protection, it also allows the harmful UVA and UVB rays to reach your eyes, therefore hurting you all the more.

Exposing your eyes to UVA and UVB rays may increase the risk for cataracts, macular degeneration and even development of ocular melanoma — a very rare type of cancer. So please go for fashionable shades but make sure it has UV protection.

Okay, well maybe the tiangge vendor tells you she is selling shades with UV protection but only for maybe P150. And you checked the label, it does say UV protection. Would you believe them? Honestly, if their supplier can imitate the designs of branded shades like those of Ray Ban Aviator and Wayfarer lines, they will have no trouble printing UVA and UVB protection labels even if it really isn’t.

So, to make sure your shades really have UV protection, better to purchase from trusted brands. Spend a little bit more and think of it as an investment. It gives you eye protection and they would last longer, at least five years.

But should you spend P10,000 and above for a good pair? Well I honestly don’t think you have to. Shades priced that expensive are probably luxury brands. And if you can’t afford them, don’t worry. You can always settle for branded shades worth P2,000 to P6,000 that offer both fashion and UV protection.

Rethink your choices this summer. Make sure you are cute but also protected.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs' Leonard out of preseason with eye infection

San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Kawhi Leonard will likely miss the remainder of the preseason with an infection in his right eye that spread to his left eye, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Leonard's availability for the Oct. 28 regular-season opener against the Dallas Mavericks is also in doubt.

"It is going back and forth between the two (eyes)," coach Gregg Popovich said on Saturday. "It's crazy. Kawhi is still out for 10 more days."

Popovich was critical of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, who apologized to Suns fans when the Spurs played Phoenix without their star players, including Leonard.

Popovich suggested that Sarver should have put on a "chicken suit" when the owner apologized over the public address system before Thursday night's preseason game.

- - -

The Minnesota Timberwolves exercised the third-year options on forward Anthony Bennett, center Gorgui Dieng and forward Shabazz Muhammad for 2015-16, the team announced Sunday.

- - -

The Sacramento Kings picked up the 2015-16 option on guard Ben McLemore's contract, the team announced.

The Kings also waived 7-foot-5 center Sim Bhullar, guard Deonte Burton and forward David Wear.

- - -

The Cleveland Cavaliers waived guards Chris Crawford and Stephen Holt, the team announced.

(Editing by Gene Cherry)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

4 common eye problems

To protect our precious vision, we must take the necessary precautions. Working Mom asked Asian Eye Institute’s chief optometrist Dr. Jesse Caguioa and comprehensive ophthalmologist Dr. Norman Eric Fajardo about common vision problems and the best remedies for these.











Eyestrain
    Causes: Prolonged use of digital devices, reading, and other tedious visual tasks.
    Symptoms: Tired eyes, with accompanying headache or dizziness, blurred distance vision.
    Rx: Take frequent breaks— close your eyes or look at a distance to relax your eyes.

Dry eyes

    Causes: Lack of sleep, prolonged reading or computer work, exposure to wind, electric fan or air conditioning.
    Symptoms: Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, gritty irritation, redness, itchiness.
    Rx: Dr. Fajardo advises applying warm compress, getting enough sleep, using lubricating drops, and avoiding allergic triggers like cigarette smoke.

Red eyes

    Causes: Eye fatigue, severe dryness, infection, allergy.
    Symptom: Bloodshot eyes.
    Rx: Dr. Fajardo doesn’t advise using vasoconstrictors (redness relievers) because it can mask symptoms of certain illnesses.

Pseudomyopia

    Cause: Prolonged use of digital devices.
    Symptoms: Headache, sudden nearsightedness, blurring of distance vision.
    Rx: Pseudomyopia vanishes after relaxing your eyes. If symptoms persist, consult your eye doctor.

EYEGLASS DO'S AND DON'TS

The perfect eyeglass frame allows people to see the real you. Dr. Sarabia shares some do’s and don’ts:

Do's

    Do try eyeglasses on before buying.
    Do wear shapes that slant upwards (cat’s eye glasses) if you are past the age of 45. (Read: instant facelift!)

Don'ts
    Don’t wear gold frames if you want to look younger.
    Don’t wear oversized frames if your face is small. Aviators can be aging because it pulls your face down.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com