Surgery

The insertion of larger orbital balls placed more posteriorly reduced the number of subsequent procedures.

Salt Lake City—A few cases of dystrophic calcification have been reported that required explantation of the patients' silicone IOLs because of the opacified posterior surface of the IOLs. The phenomenon seems to be associated with asteroid hyalosis, according to Liliana Werner, MD, PhD.

Mainz, Germany—The first clinical results from the European Multicenter Trial of the Artiflex foldable iris-claw phakic IOL (Ophtec, Groningen, the Netherlands) indicated that the implant is safe and effective for treating myopia after a 6-month follow-up period.

Atlanta—Up-to-date results from participants in the FDA clinical trial of the recently approved Verisyse phakic myopic IOL (Advanced Medical Optics) demonstrate that implant provides excellent refractive outcomes with a good safety profile, according to R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD.

The endothelial cell count had to be at least 2,500 cells/mm2 if the patient was over 45 years.

Accommodation ranged from 0.75to 2 D and did not change significantly throughout thefollow-up period.

New Orleans—The modified prolate anterior surface IOL (Tecnis, AMO) is creating a new standard for visual performance after cataract surgery, according to Robert M. Kershner, MD, MS, FACS, at the Spotlight on Cataracts 2004: Cataract Controversies Symposium, held during the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and European Society of Ophthalmology.

The lens is unique in that it is designed to change its true power during accommodation rather than changing its position in the eye.

Brookville, PA—The new aberration-free aspheric IOL (SofPort Advanced Optics, Bausch & Lomb) is an exciting advance in implant technology because of its potential to offer better quality of vision to all patients, said Louis D. "Skip" Nichamin, MD.

Chicago—Although the introduction of aphakic IOLs led to a 50-year epidemic of pseudophakic corneal edema, it is unlikely that the advent of phakic IOLs will cause history to repeat itself, said Joel Sugar, MD.

New Orleans—Patients undergoing intraocular refractive surgery with either refractive lens exchange (RLE) or phakic intraocular lens implantation need to be informed that there is a lifelong risk of retinal detachment, said Kirk H. Packo, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

New Orleans—Late-onset bleb leakage needs to be controlled to avoid such complications as blebitis or bleb-related endophthalmitis, which can result in poor visual outcome, reported Philip P. Chen, MD, during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

New Orleans—Patients with refractory glaucoma may be candidates for transscleral or endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) to lower IOP (Figure 1), although there is no direct evidence comparing the two approaches, explained Neeru Gupta, MD, PhD.

New Orleans—Bleb needling may be a good approach for early bleb failure if medication, digital massage, and suture lysis or removal are not effective. In the case of late bleb failure, YAG laser lysis of the sclerotomy, bleb needling, and bleb revision are favored, according to glaucoma specialist Jon M. Ruderman, MD.

Nuremberg, Germany—The latest refinements in the Dodick laser photolysis system (A.R.C. Laser GmbH)—a new handpiece design, shorter pulse laser, and power VAC tubing system and improved laser hardware—have resulted in what investigators believe is a procedure that is superior to conventional ultrasound phacoemulsification.

Atlanta—CIBA Vision is hoping to attract new patients with a variety of programs, including a rebate and Super Bowl advertising.

Atlanta—CIBA Vision is hoping to attract new patients with a variety of programs, including a rebate and Super Bowl advertising.

Feds Raid Clinic in Botox Investigation" reported the headline in The Miami Herald (Dec. 2, 2004). "Four victims hospitalized after injection with Botox anti-wrinkle medicine! Details at 11," reported the local news anchor.

Dublin, Ireland-Allergan Inc. will cut more than 300 jobs this spring at its Westport plant in western Ireland as it transfers its contact lens solutions operations there to Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) of Santa Clara, CA.

Atlanta-CIBA Vision has extended its Platinum Guarantee to include its recently introduced O2OPTIX silicone hydrogel lens.

Baltimore-Intraocular implantation of fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert, Bausch & Lomb) has resulted in significant decreases in the recurrence rate of non-infectious posterior segment uveitis and improvements in visual acuity (VA), it was an-nounced at the annual meeting of the Retina Society here.

There are many locations within the eye that an IOL can be placed. Most often, lenses are placed in the bag, but they may be placed in the sulcus, sewn into the posterior chamber, or sewn into or clipped onto the iris. Another location can be in the anterior chamber. Let's look at the evolution of anterior chamber IOLs (AC IOLs) in this month's column.

New York-Aqueous misdirection is "a rare, but serious complication of intraocular surgery" that requires immediate attention to prevent lasting damage, Celso Tello, MD, told participants at the Glaucoma 2004 meeting here.

Dermis fat grafts have become "overlooked" as orbital implants in favor of newer alternatives but deserve to maintain a role in primary and secondary socket implant procedures, and more complex socket problems, said James A. Katowitz, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The accommodating IOL (Crystalens, eyeonics) appears promising in providing pseudophakic patients with enough pseudoaccommodation to function without near glasses, said George I. Papastergiou, MD.