Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes due to abnormalities in retinal blood vessels. Initially, the retinal vessel changes are non-proliferative, thus termed as non-proliferative DR (NPDR). As NPDR progresses, the micro-vessels leak to form macular edema or even close off to cause macular ischemia. Both forms of lesions can lead to the partial loss of vision or blurry.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that leads to the central vision loss among people age over 50 years. There are two types of AMD: dry (atrophic) and wet (neovascular or exudative). Ten to 20% of AMD patients will progress to wet AMD.
The KBI monkey models of spontaneous intraocular hypertension and laser-induced ocular hypertension closely mimic the glaucoma in humans with typical high intraocular pressure (IOP) and optic nerve pathology. These two models provide reliable validation of therapeutic treatments for high IOP and associated neuropathology to guide clinical trials.
KBI has established a step-wise screening system specially for monkeys by the Slit-lamp test to identify and assess cataract with the use of Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III).
Myopia is a type of refractive disorder. KBI has screened a large cohort of monkeys and identified 10% to 13% myopia at an age of 5 years or older. We have a large cohort of monkeys with moderate to severe myopia available and they have been successfully used for the evaluation of various therapeutic treatments.
KBI has established a step-wise screening system to identify the dry eye disease (DED) in non-human primates (NHPs). This model has been successfully used for the evaluation of pharmacological efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics. As illustrated below, a range of evaluations tools are available for the detailed evaluation of this eye disease at KBI, including the Schirmer's test, measurement of tear film breakup time (TBUT), staining of corneal fluorescein and examination of meibomian glands.
Induced-eye disease models: • OHT glaucoma • Normal IOP glaucomatous neurodegeneration • Retinal detachment • Uveitis • Optic neuropathy Optic Neuritis • Macular edema • Low vision Spontaneous eye disease models • Presbyopia • Cataract • Myopia • Dry eye