Surgery

San Francisco-The AcrySof Natural IOL (Model SB30AL, Alcon), containing a covalently bonded, blue light-filtering chromophore (ImprUV), more closely mimics the light transmission spectrum of the precataractous adult human crystalline lens compared with standard UV-absorbing IOLs without any adverse effects on vision, said Paul H. Ernest, MD, at the American Society of Cata-ract and Refractive Surgery an-nual meeting.

San Francisco-With its proprietary apodized diffractive technology, the AcrySof ReSTOR pseudoaccommodative IOL (Alcon) provides patients with excellent near and distance vision and only infrequently causes visual symptoms that are generally minimal and easily tolerated, said David Allen, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

The first one-bottle daily lens-care system for rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses will be available this month from Bausch & Lomb. The FDA approved Boston Simplus Multi-Action Solution in May.

Milwaukee-When an anophthalmic implant is required, in most cases, oculoplastic surgeon Russell S. Gonnering, MD, prefers using a non-wrapped porous sphere.

London-Subconjunctival injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan) can offer an effective treatment for upper eyelid retraction associated with thyroid eye dis-ease, said Jimmy M. Uddin, MD.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb will delay the regulatory filing for the intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant (Retisert), a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME), for up to 3 years while the FDA reviews 12-month safety data of additional eyes treated with implants.

The FDA has approved the use of CIBA Vision's Focus NIGHT & DAY silicone hydrogel contact lenses for therapeutic use, and AOSEPT Clear Care lens-care solution for use with rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses.

The Legacy phacoemulsification system with AdvanTec (Alcon) runs cooler compared with the Sovereign phacoemulsification system with WhiteStar (Advanced Medical Optics) under all experimental conditions in air, according to Kevin M. Miller, MD.

San Francisco-With the presbyopic population reaching 51% (141 million) in the United States, the interest in surgical correction of presbyopia will likely take off as the baby boomers look for alternatives to glasses, according to Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, who delivered the Binkhorst Lecture during the opening session of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Kansas City, MO-Placement of silicone intracanalicular plugs (ICP) in the treatment of dry eye can result in a variety of complications, including irreversible lacrimal occlusion. When removal is indicated, various surgical strategies may be necessary because the recommended simple irrigation in the office is not always effective, said William L. White, MD.

Recently, I have heard oculoplastic surgeons voicing their concerns about the future of our profession. Many advise de-specializing to try to compete with other plastic surgeons. I advise trying to be the best in our area of expertise. We are privileged to be in the best specialty in medicine.

San Francisco-At 1-year follow-up, the majority of patients who received the hyperopic Implantable Contact Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA) for correction of moderate to high hyperopia were satisfied with an uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of at least 20/40 or better, noted Paul J. Dougherty, MD, who spoke during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting.

Many of the common complications associated with external silicone punctum plugs, such as extrusion or irritation, can be avoided if physicians take the time to measure the puncta and gauge the correct size, according to representatives of the major manufacturers of these plugs.

Salt Lake City-Patients with pseudoexfoliation who have undergone cataract surgery are at risk for spontaneous IOL dislocation years after the procedure, according to Alan S. Crandall, MD.

In the past decade, porous orbital implants have become the implant of choice for many surgeons managing the anophthalmic socket after enucleation or evisceration. By permitting fibrovascular ingrowth, these porous implants are better able to resist infection, migration, and extrusion when compared with acrylic or silicone implants.

Restoration of accommodation and elimination of aberration arebecoming the standards by which we evaluate the results of cataract andrefractive surgery today.

Atlanta-CIBA Vision will purchase the posterior-chamber phakic refractive lens (PRL) from Medennium.

Warren, NJ-Success of browlifting depends on careful selection of the appropriate procedure, which takes into account the patient's anatomic features and goals, said Susan R. Carter, MD.

Jacksonville, FL-Wavefront technology is the tool of the future to determine the total optical system of the eye, according to Arun Gulani, MD.

Editor's Note: I developed myectomy surgery more than 25 years ago, and this procedure has been confirmed to be the best surgical treatment for blepharospasm. I have performed more than 1,000 myectomy procedures, and while functional results (reduction in spasm) have not changed greatly in the past few years, cosmetic results have improved greatly and negative side effects and healing time have been reduced.

Cataract removal by means of phacoemulsification has improved over the last 35 years in small, incremental steps. The sequential introductions of capsulorhexis, foldable IOLs, clear corneal incisions, and topical anesthesia have made small improvements in the safety andefficacy of cataract surgery and as a whole have taken us one giant leap forward.Bimanual phacoemulsification is just another one of these small steps that may ultimately enhance our ability to offer the best surgical procedure to our patients.

Orlando-Posterior chamber phakic implants can offer safe and effective correction of moderate to high myopia with stable refractive outcomes, low risks of operative and postoperative complications, high patient satisfaction, and the benefit of less induction of optical aberrations relative to LASIK, according to James J. Salz, MD.

Rochester, NY-A federal circuit appeals court has upheld a ruling that Bausch & Lomb's PureVision contact lenses infringe a patent owned by CIBA Vision that the company uses for its silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Memphis-The Ophthalas EyeLite Photocoagulator (Alcon) features a 532-nm diode-pumped frequency-doubled YAG laser that makes it a powerful and reliable choice for endoscopic, laser indirect ophthalmoscope (LIO), and slit-lamp delivered photocoagulation procedures, said Steve Charles, MD.

Orlando-The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (Pharmacia) is a revolutionary development in foldable IOL technology with significant visual function benefits for cataract surgery patients, concurred speakers at a Pharmacia-sponsored continuing medical education symposium held during the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Philadelphia-Wills Eye Hospital and Tulane Medical Center are joining efforts to study the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared with conventional medical management as monotherapy for open-angle glaucoma.

Lexington, KY-One of the newest viscoelastic products approved by the FDA is 1.2% sodium hyaluronate (CoEase, Advanced Medical Optics), which exemplifies the trend toward developing agents with both dispersive and cohesive properties.

Experience in ongoing clinical trials points to the potential of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser (Photon, Paradigm Medical) as an effective and remarkably safe alternative for removing soft lenses, said Michael B. Limberg, MD.

Salt Lake City-An evaluation of four materials available for the manufacture of IOL haptics showed that polymethylmethac-rylate (PMMA), elastimide, and polyvi-nylidene fluoride (PVDF) had similar loop memory at a level that was significantly higher than that of polypropylene (PP) haptics. All lenses had a silicone optic.

Cincinnati, OH-The toric implantable contact lens (ICL) from STAAR Surgical promises to expand the range of patients who can be treated with phakic implants by enabling the treatment of astigmatic myopia and, eventually, astigmatic hyperopia.