Stars Dhamaka At IIFA

The "u.p bihar lutne" gal is back on stage

Imran-Sonam's adventurous act

Implantable eye telescope approved for use in patients

Updated at: 2333 PST, Saturday, July 10, 2010 NEW YORK: A miniature telescope that is implanted in the eye to solve sight problems has been approved for use in the US. The new device is for people with an irreversible, advanced form of macular degeneration in which a blind spot develops in the central vision of both eyes. The telescope replaces the eye’s nature lens and can provide an image that is magnified by almost three times. The device then magnifies and projects the images onto a healthy portion of the retina. The firm behind the telescope claims that it will help patients suffering from end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease which is the leading cause of vision loss in the US. It can only be used in one eye because the other is needed for peripheral vision. Patients who receive the telescope will need rehabilitation to help retrain their brain to merge the views from the two eyes into a single image. It is intended for patients 75 and older with severe vision impairment caused by blind spots and clinical tests found that for 75 per cent saw an improvement in their eyesight. The drugs watchdog, the FDA, said that the telescope’s size might mean that patients will also need a corneal transplant after the operation. Wet AMD is caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels around the eye, and can be treated by stopping the growth of a natural protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The firm behind the telescope, VisionCare, must now carry out two further studies, following up existing patients and beginning a study of 770 new patients. Each telescope will cost $15,000.

Spain, Dutch set for World Cup final battle

Updated at: 0701 PST, Sunday, July 11, 2010 JOHANNESBURG: Spain and Holland championed unity as the key to Sunday's World Cup final battle while Germany's impressive collection of young talent set out their stall for the 2014 title by clinching third place. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes victory at Johannesburg's Soccer City can strike a blow for national cohesion, a day after a million people marched in northeastern Spain in support of Catalan autonomy. "There are players from all over Spain here in the squad, we are united and I hope the same feeling of unity occurs back in Spain," said Del Bosque. "I think sport does many good things and I hope football could lead to better relations in our country." Barcelona supplied seven of the starting line-up when Spain beat Germany in the semi-finals with that figure likely to be replicated when del Bosque's stylish side look to add a first world title to their European crown. Dutch skipper Giovanni van Bronckhorst also stressed the significance of team spirit as he confirmed there had been none of the tensions between players that have hampered Holland's chances of success at previous tournaments. "I think the spirit in the camp has been extremely important," said Feyenoord star van Bronckhorst, who will retire after Sunday's final. "As players you have to spend six or seven weeks together to achieve your goal and I believe, if the atmosphere is good off the pitch, it will be good on it - you will go that extra mile for a team mate." It has not always been like that for the Dutch, whose chances of success on the international stage have been frequently sabotaged by squabbling.