Dry age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa are caused by neuroinflammation, which progressively damages the retina and can lead to blindness. Macular degeneration is the primary cause of vision loss in older Americans, affecting more than 7 million people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Retinitis pigmentosa encompasses many genetic conditions affecting the retina and impacts 1 in 4,000 Americans, the NIH estimates. "There is no cure for these diseases," says Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist Raymond Iezzi, M.D., a lead author of the study. "An effective treatment could offer hope to hundreds of millions of patients worldwide." Additional coverage: AZoNano,

Nanotechnology Now 12/2011

Tags: Mayo Clinic Rochester, Ophthalmology