Chet Scerra

Use of drugs and drainage implants also improves trabeculectomy outcomes

If you were to do an Internet search for "titanium," you would likely get hundreds of hits, including titanium appliances, jewelry, tools, and surgical instruments.

For ophthalmologists who have decided to add an optical dispensary to their offices, the process of designing and equipping the space can be a daunting experience. Far more than just attaching frame display racks to the walls, the optical dispensary should be coordinated and blended with the decor and design of the rest of the office. It should also be designed for maximum efficiency and represent the doctors' aesthetic tastes.

When California ophthalmologist Leslie J. Weil, MD, was in the process of designing her private office, she made sure to include enough room for an optical dispensary.

San Francisco-Patients with a retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of 80 ?m or less are at high risk for developing future visual-field deterioration, said Gadi Wollstein, MD.

Cincinnati, OH-Releasable scleral-flap sutures reduce the incidence of a shallow and flat anterior chamber after trabeculectomy, without compromising long-term control of IOP, according to glaucoma specialist John S. Cohen, MD.

The introduction of the Grieshaber Revolution DSP (Alcon) line of disposable intraocular instruments represents a true innovation in the evolution of vitreoretinal surgery, according to retinal specialists Peter Kaiser, MD, and Allen C. Ho, MD.

The portable Sovereign Compact phaco system (AMO) has many of the same performance characteristics as its big brother (the AMO Sovereign unit), including WhiteStar technology.

San Francisco-Patients who repeatedly miss appointments or do not follow prescribed treatment plans can be walking litigation time bombs, according to attorney Paul Weber, JD, a risk manager at the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Co.

When Bruce Koffler, MD, brought optical dispensing into his practice, he was not convinced completely that it was a good idea. That was 3 years ago. Now, he wishes he had done it sooner.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Bimatoprost appears to have greater IOP-lowering effectiveness than travoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension, according to a small pilot study.

San Francisco-The newest version (A2) of the Carl Zeiss Meditec software algorithm for quantification of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using the third-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT 3) showed no improvement in glaucoma discriminating power compared with its predecessor software (A1), but it did reduce the variability of RNFL thickness measurements, according to a Tufts University glaucoma specialist.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost have comparable IOP-lowering effectiveness in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, according to a recent study.

Newark, NJ-Topical beta-blockers are much safer than physicians believe them to be, according to New Jersey glaucoma specialist Paul Lama, MD.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-An increase in outflow facility appears to be the mechanism by which unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution (Rescula 0.15%, Novartis) reduces IOP, said Carol B. Toris, PhD.

San Francisco-Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are blind from glaucoma, and this number will rise enormously as the population ages over the next 20 years unless better detection and treatment methods are developed, said Nathan G. Congdon, MD, MPH.

Orlando-The key to success in today's competitive contact lens market is to offer complete service and a full array of specialty contact lenses, according to one expert.

Troy, NY-Proper lighting techniques can help older adults cope with the visual changes associated with age, according to guidelines developed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center (LRC) here.

Tampa, FL-Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals and Pharmos Corp.), the first corticosteroid specifically designed for signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), is safe for long-term use, according to a recent multicenter study.

Chicago-The diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory glaucoma remain one of the most challenging problems for ophthalmologists, according to Chicago glaucoma specialist Jon M. Ruderman, MD.

Philadelphia-Adding an optical dispensary to a practice not only provides an added revenue center, but more importantly, it offers full-service care to patients, according to Philadelphia ophthalmic surgeon Vincent K. Young, MD.

Chicago-Improved centration with a good-quality eye tracker is essential to address many of the issues involved with hyperopic LASIK, according to refractive surgeon Manus Kraff, MD.

Take all concerns seriously, listen attentively, and get back to the basics, ophthalmologist advises