Surgery

Carlsbad, CA-SynergEyes Inc. has received FDA market clearance for the use of Alcon Opti-Free Replenish multi-purpose disinfecting solution with SynergEyes contact lenses.

Austin, TX-A new surgical technique addresses the cosmetic concerns of patients with facial palsy and provides them the eye protection that they need, said Sheri L. De Martel?re, MD, an oculoplastic surgeon in private practice in Austin, TX.

New York-The use of a scleral spacing procedure using PreView Scleral Implants (Refocus Group Inc.) appears to improve the technique to correct presbyopia. This revised technique seems to be a safe and effective method of improving near visual acuity without affecting distance visual acuity in emmetropic presbyopia, according to Barrie D. Soloway, MD, FACS.

Boston-SOLX, the glaucoma division of OccuLogix Inc., has begun an international program to train and certify ophthalmologists in Europe and the Middle East in surgical implantation procedures using the company’s Gold Micro-Shunt (GMS) products to treat patients with glaucoma.

Houston-Intestinal surgeries-such as gastric bypass, resections of the large and small bowel, and gallbladder removal-may interfere with the intestine's ability to absorb vitamin A, resulting in the potential for severe deficiencies and compromised vision.

London- One of the most revolutionary technological changes in corneal transplant surgery in decades is beginning to hit clinics around the world. A software and hardware upgrade for the femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS, IntraLase Corp.) has been released to help surgeons design custom incision shapes that improve surgical precision and promote faster healing.

Many factors play a role in wound healing after epi-LASIK. For example, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after surgery, advanced age, and a compromised tear film have been associated with delayed wound healing, whereas younger age, healthy tear film, and certain nutritional supplements have been associated with rapid wound healing.

Lenstec Inc. announced that the FDA has granted the company an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to begin a clinical trial of the Softec HD posterior chamber IOL.

Blue-light-filtering IOLs provide protection against potential blue light toxicity without significantly affecting clinical functioning of recipients, said James D. McCulley, MD, during a spotlight session on pseudophakic IOLs at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

A fluocinolone acetonide implants seems effective for treating noninfectious posterior uveitis, reported Carlos Pavesio, MD, who reported his results at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The SOLX Gold Micro-Shunt (GMS, OccuLogix) is a novel approach to treating increased IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma that does not respond to other therapies and is a good alternative to trabeculectomy, according to Shlomo Melamed, MD, an investigator based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The SOLX Gold Micro-Shunt (GMS, OccuLogix) is a novel approach to treating increased IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma that does not respond to other therapies and is a good alternative to trabeculectomy, according to Shlomo Melamed, MD, an investigator based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

DSAEK

Today most universities have one or two oculoplastic surgeons on staff.

Stockholm, Sweden-The Perfect Capsule (Milvella), a sealed capsule irrigation device, seems to be very useful in very small eyes for preventing posterior capsular opacification (PCO), according to Maria Kugelberg, MD, PhD.

Maastricht, The Netherlands-Preliminary results with the foldable iris-claw myopic phakic IOL (Artiflex, Ophtec) indicate it has a similar safety index when compared with the original polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) model (Artisan, Ophtec), but is associated with less early induced refractive astigmatism, which results in a better efficacy index initially and shorter visual recovery curve, said Rudy M.M.A. Nuijts, MD, PhD.

I have made two changes in my surgical technique to enhance outcomes with presbyopia-correcting IOLs.

Since our practice began offering presbyopia-correcting IOLs, we have implanted 450 of them. One in five of our cataract and refractive lens exchange patients chooses one of these new lenses. The AcrySof ReSTOR lens (Alcon Laboratories) accounts for 80% of our presbyopia-correcting implants, while the ReZoom (Advanced Medical Optics) and the crystalens (eyeonics) together represent 20%.

Rockville, MD-The Association for Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) has announced the next recipient of its Friedenwald Award and a new member of its supporting organization's governing board.

Alicante, Spain-While one segment of the ophthalmic community sees presbyopic lens exchange for patients with high myopia as a promising, safe technique leading to good improvements in visual acuity, another segment does not, stating that the risk of retinal detachment and other complications related to the surgery are just too high, according to Jorge L. Alio, MD.

Charleston, SC-Pediatric cataract surgery with IOL implantation and primary posterior capsulectomy plus vitrectomy is associated with a satisfactory outcome, especially in children operated on after their first birthday, said Rupal H. Trivedi, MD, MSCR.

Salt Lake City-Failure to recognize late opacification of the MemoryLens IOL (CIBA Vision) as a cause for vision problems can have potentially negative consequences, including unnecessary surgery and complications secondary to those procedures, said Jonathan G. Haymore, MD.

IOL preference could be related to the degree of dysphotopsia, a better depth of field, or other factors.

Des Plaines, IL-Addition Technology Inc., maker of Intacs corneal implants for keratoconus and myopia, has acquired AlphaCor and AlphaSphere from CooperVision Surgical.

This year's scientific program includes more than 500 peer-reviewed courses.