Using a groundbreaking imaging technique, a University of Houston chemist is uncovering how copper imbalances in the body may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS.

For patients with keratoconus, corneal scarring, post-transplant irregularity, or secondary corneal ectasia, clearer vision is often not as simple as changing a pair of spectacles. When the corneal surface becomes irregular, conventional glasses or soft contact lenses may not fully correct distorted optics, leaving patients with blurred vision, reduced visual quality, and difficulty in daily activities.  Scleral lenses offer a different approach. Unlike conventional corneal contact lenses, scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the conjunctival tissue overlying the sclera. The fluid reservoir between the lens and the cornea can help mask corneal irregularities and improve optical performance. Although scleral lenses have been widely studied in non-Asian populations, evidence in Chinese eyes remains limited, especially for patients with irregular corneas. Anatomical differences such as eyelid morphology, eyelid tension, and palpebral aperture size may influence lens fitting and wearing experience in Asian eyes.

Research collaboration of Pennington Biomedical, Our Lady of the Lake and Metamor Institute highlights safe surgical outcomes and significant health improvements in young patients: 

A new study from researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Metamor Institute demonstrates that metabolic and bariatric surgery can be delivered safely and effectively for adolescents and young adults living with severe obesity, offering promising improvements in weight loss and obesity-related health conditions.

Published in Obesity Surgery, “Outcomes of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Southern Louisiana” examined outcomes from 76 patients ages 10 to 25 who underwent bariatric surgery between January 2020 and March 2025 through a Louisiana-based bariatric surgery program at the Metamor Institute. Researchers evaluated both safety outcomes and longer-term health improvements, helping expand understanding of how surgical obesity treatment can benefit younger populations.