Optometry

Excimer laser ablation to create a multifocal cornea is not only possible but represents a safe and effective method for treating presbyopia, according to research.

Although all practices are different, the tips outlined in this first installment of a two-part series should help to avoid the most common implementation pitfalls.

There is little debate that vision is a critical factor in sports performance.

An important advance for enhancing the ease and safety of pediatric cataract surgery is 1.8mm coaxial microincision cataract surgery using a particular phaco platform, according to one expert.

The differential diagnosis for corneal infiltrate after refractive surgery includes several infectious and non-infectious etiologies.

Compared with sham injections, monthly injections of 0.3 or 0.5 mg of ranibizumab significantly reduced macular edema and improved best-corrected visual acuity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Lessons learned from an ongoing retinal implant program at the University of Southern California are being applied to the development of a novel refillable and programmable drug delivery device that could be used in glaucoma management.

Intrastromal corneal ring segments can improve visual and refractive outcomes in eyes with keratoconus by reshaping the cornea, but collagen crosslinking may have an additive effect as an enhancement and stabilizing procedure.

All current IOL options for presbyopia correction involve some compromise, according to one ophthalmologist.

A unique fusion protein is being studied to treat age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.

The time at which an IOL is implanted following ocular trauma can be controversial.

Glaucoma is common in eyes with a keratoprosthesis implanted, and this increases the challenge of disease management, particularly IOP measurement, according to one expert.

The adoption of electronic medical records in the United States has been slow, but interest seems to be picking up despite a number of obstacles.

The combinations of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT), ranibizumab, and dexamethasone and verteporfin PDT and ranibizumab for treating patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration resulted in fewere re-treatments compared with ranibizumab alone in the phase II exploratory RADICAL study, according to one investigator.

Pazopanib, an investigational topical therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), showed positive beneficial results for treating choroidal neovascularization in a phase IIa trial.

Results of a retrospective study evaluating safety of LASIK flap creation using the 60-kHz femtosecond laser show complications occur at a low overall incidence and, ultimately, are visually insignificant, according to one researcher.

Bepostastine besilate ophthalmic solution 1.5% (Bepreve, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) is safe and well-tolerated in healthy children as young as 3 years of age, according to results from a multicenter, prospective, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops improved dry eye symptoms significantly better than Systane Lubricant Eye Drops when the artificial tears were paired with topical cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion.

In the future, a range of devices will be available to restore corneal integrity and function.

A 1-mg dose of intravitreal triamcinolone had a safety profile superior to that of a 4-mg dose of intravitreal triamcinolone and produced visual acuity increases similar to the 4-mg groupand better than the standard-of-care group, according to the primary outcomes of a randomized clinical trial.

For patients who are suffering with moderate to severe signs and symptoms of seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis, loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb) is a safe and well-tolerated therapeutic option that can provide rapid clinical improvement, according to new research.

An efficacy evaluation comparing two marketed artificial tears showed that a polyethylene-based product (Systane Ultra, Alcon Laboratories) resulted in statisically greater reductions in corneal and conjunctival staining than a glycerin/carboxymethylcellulose-based tear (Refresh Optive, Allergan).

The overall anti-allergic eye drop market consists of about 25 products developed and approved in the United States (with some marketed abroad) to address the needs of the seasonal allergic conjunctivitis patient population.

International Vision Expo and Conference East promises to deliver all the latest products, trends, and information on medical eye care, fashion, lens technology, and business solutions at its annual meeting here.

Just a few weeks after announcing a controversial plan to take over ophthalmic giant Alcon Laboratories, Novartis announced its chief executive officer is stepping down and the chief financial officer will retire.

The use of a hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic insert (Lacrisert, Aton Pharma) has been proven to offer much relief to patients suffering from dry eye syndrome.

A phase II study with a novel non-invasive iontopohoretic drug delivery system (EyeGate II Delivery System, EyeGate Pharma) shows that the device appears to optimize the delivery of a proprietary dexamethasone-derived corticosteroid solution (EGP-437) and improve significantly the signs and symptoms of dry eye, which may raise the bar in therapies for dry eye syndrome.

Results of a utility analysis of cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis, Allergan) show that it is highly cost-effective and improves the quality of life in patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease that is unresponsive to conventional lubricant therapy.

Benefits of an artificial tear drop that commonly is used to help relieve symptoms of dry eye may extend to contact lens wearers who experience dryness and discomfort caused by their contact lenses, according to researchers.

Analyses of data from two hybrid environmental studies evaluating olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% once daily for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis or rhinoconjunctivitis show that patients derive improvement in the frequency and/or severity of their nasal symptoms as a simultaneous benefit with relief of ocular allergy, according to Mark B. Abelson, MD.