An anti-VEGF single-domain antibody and a VHH chain thereof have been described. A coding sequence for coding the single-domain antibody or the VHH chain thereof, a corresponding expression vector, a host cell capable of expressing the single-domain antibody, and a production method for the single-domain antibody have been presented. The single-domain antibody can specifically recognize human VEGFA and will not cause cross reactions with VEGFB, VEGFC and VEGFD, thus having a good specificity. The single-domain antibody can further recognize VEGFAs of a human, a rat, a rabbit and a monkey, effectively blocks interactions between VEGFA and VEGFR2 and between VEGFA and VEGFR1, has an excellent inhibiting effect on angiogenesis, and has a good stability in a non-preparation condition.

The present invention provides biomarkers of oxidative stress in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Fuchs' dystrophy, diabetic macular edema (DME), geographic atrophy, Stargardt's disease, or retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and their use in identifying subjects in need of treatment and methods for staging the severity of the disease.

The effect of laser stimulation, e.g., R:GEN, of the RPE and its impact on MMPs and RAAS pathways are used to guide patient therapies. Certain biomarkers, namely MMPs, TIMPs, and components associated with RAAS, are effective indicators of healing response levels generated by the patients undergoing the therapy. An eye disease is diagnosed in a patient and a first biomarker sample is obtained from a biomatrix, e.g., patient's blood in containers with protease inhibitors. An initial subthreshold laser treatment is then performed on the eye. By monitoring the presence, amount, and relative levels of one or more of the above biomarkers as the patient heals, it is determined when the patient's body has sufficiently responded to the previous treatment, such that retreatment may be appropriate. The present disclosure demonstrates effective treatment of eye diseases, e.g., dry age-related macular degeneration, which utilize laser treatment alone or in combination with other treatments.

This disclosure provides a new phagocytosis assay to test the function of RPE cells and photoreceptor progenitors using a pH sensitive fluorescent label.

Described herein is a method of preventing or treating ocular vascular hyperpermeability including macular edema, in a subject comprising inhibiting Sema3A activity. Also disclosed are compositions and their use for preventing or treating Sema3A-dependent ocular vascular hyperpermeability.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for detecting ocular analytes in vitreous humor or aqueous humor. Specifically exemplified are systems having a sample acquisition device that is inline with an analyte detection device. The system embodiments allow for the easy procurement and testing of samples. In a typical embodiment, the analyte detection device includes a sample staging chamber and a test chamber that comprises reagents that specifically interact with the analyte. The test chamber may include a sample pad, a conjugate pad having at least one conjugate reagent specific to the analyte loaded thereon, an assay platform having a substrate with at least one test region having a test reagent immobilized thereon, the test reagent being specific to the analyte; and an optional absorbent pad.

The present invention provides biomarkers of oxidative stress in subjects with Retinitis Pigmentosa and their use in identifying subjects in need of treatment and methods for staging the severity of the disease.

Neuroprotective compounds for treating optic neuropathies and screening methods for identifying neuroprotective compounds.

The present application is directed to the use of a VEGF-C inhibitor, a VEGFR-2 inhibitor and/or a VEGFR-3 inhibitor as a prophylactic or therapeutic for the treatment of eye disorders such as a maculopathy and pathogenic ocular neovascularisation. The application is also directed to the use of a VEGF-C measurement from a biological sample from a mammalian subject as a predictive marker, a selected marker, a responsive marker or a tracking marker for a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of a maculopathy and pathogenic ocular neovascularization.

The present invention provides a method for producing a retinal cell or a retinal tissue, including the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells in a medium containing 1) a TGFβ family signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance and/or a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance, and 2) a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the cells obtained in the first step in suspension in a medium containing a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence or absence of a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance in a medium containing a BMP signal transduction pathway activating substance to obtain an aggregate containing a retinal cell or a retinal tissue.