News

Selective laser trabeculoplasty is safe and effective for reducing IOP in patients with glaucoma. However, not all patients respond to treatment and its effects are not permanent even in those who respond well.

The babies of women who use topical chloramphenicol during pregnancy do not appear to run an increased risk of congenital malformations, researchers say. An analysis of births to Danish mothers picking up topical prescriptions for the antibiotic during pregnancy found a major malformation rate of 3.50% compared to 3.49% for unexposed Danish mothers, according to Vilde Thomseth, MD, of the Ophthalmology Department at Golstrub Hospital in Glostrup, Denmark and colleagues at three other Danish centres.

Ophthalmology Times is pleased to announce Amy Patel, MD, of Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, UC Irvine Health, Irvine, CA, as the winner of its 2015 Resident Writer’s Award Program, sponsored by Allergan. Dr. Patel’s winning entry is featured here.

The trend for advances in intraoperative imaging systems and linking of diagnostic and surgical technology continued in 2015, bringing cataract surgeons more opportunity for increasing workflow efficiency and improving patient outcomes.

The year 2015 brought a trickle of innovation to the technique of glaucoma surgery, and a tidal wave of change to the business model in the United States.

Lines continue to blur as to what constitutes refractive surgery, and likely will continue to blur well into the future. Multiple compounds-phenylephrine and ketorolac 1%/0.3%, (Omidria, Omeros) and the “Dropless” line (Tri-Moxi/Tri-moxi-Vanc, Imprimis Pharmaceuticals)-are designed for use in cataract surgery, but their goal is to improve refractive outcomes. 2015 was the year they started to get some serious attention.

A new non-apodized diffractive trifocal IOL allows 88% energy utilization and sends energy to near (40 cm), a preferred intermediate distance (60 cm), and far (infinity). Early results for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and photopic symptoms are encouraging.

New alloplastic materials are being used as intracorneal inlays to offer predictable and safe refractive surgical correction of presbyopia and low hyperopia. The major problem with such inlays is the wound-healing response following their insertion; however, they can easily be removed.

This article discusses the advantages and limitations for surgical compensation of presbyopia with the femtosecond laser using corneal inlays and the Intracor technique.

Contact lens-assisted corneal crosslinking (CA-CXL) is a novel technique in which a riboflavin-soaked ultraviolet (UV) barrier-free soft contact lens is applied over the denuded cornea prior to UVA irradiation.

The expenditures for medical care in our country are “unsustainable,” says the Dallas Morning News, whereas The New York Times, in an editorial entitled “Why we must ration healthcare,” declares the monetary valuation of human life to be immoral. Everybody says we spend too much on healthcare, so they must be right. Right?

IOLs are proving to provide new options for cataract surgeons as well as entryways for more advanced research trials.

Technologies and techniques such as femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and microinvasive glaucoma surgery may be guiding the way for future cataract surgeries.

Although no new drug therapies entered cataract surgeons’ armamentarium in 2015, interest continues to grow in approaches for intraocular administration.

Quantitative techniques are important for researching changes to the anatomy of the anterior chamber angle in primary angle closure spectrum eyes. The authors evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various such techniques: gonioscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, Scheimpflug imaging and anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Accountability comes in many shapes and sizes in a medical clinic. One group of ophthalmic technicians learned a valuable lession in prioritizing to the patient, relates Dianna Graves.

Organizers for Glaucoma 360 say that interest for the upcoming fifth annual installment of this meeting, set for Jan. 28 to 30, 2016, is higher than ever.

‘The irony is that compounding pharmacies were not long ago about as popular as Shkreli is today, related to an outbreak of fungal meningitis complicating the use of specially compounded steroids.’

People over 90 years of age may not benefit from being screened for diabetic retinopathy, researchers say.A review of 200 randomly chosen people in the United Kingdom eligible for screening at this age found that only 2 had been referred for further evaluation of diabetic retinopathy.

Femtosecond laser intrastromal arcuate keratotomy (AK) under a corneal flap is feasible and appears to be safe and effective for reducing high astigmatism, according to the early experience of António Limão, MD.

Hyperopic LASIK (H-LASIK) has limited predictability and declining efficacy during long-term follow-up, but its safety remains good and patient satisfaction stays high, said Reena Mahendra Dave, MD.

Microelectrostimulation of the ciliary body is a promising non-invasive technique for restoring accommodative loss in eyes with early presbyopia, said Luca Gualdi, MD.

Intravenous administration of the anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) agent tocilizumab (Actemra, Genentech) is well-tolerated in patients with non-infectious uveitis involving the posterior segment and showing promising efficacy, according to interim outcomes reported by Quan Dong Nguyen, MD.

Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% (Shire Pharmaceuticals) administered twice daily for 1 year appeared safe and well-tolerated with no unexpected adverse events in a study.

Ultrathin Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) is associated with faster visual recovery and better visual acuity in a study compared ultrathin with standard DSAEK.

Treatment with red light technology resulted in a significant improvement in the tear break-up time in the vast majority of patients. This may be a future light treatment for the improvement of dry eye disease in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.

The natural triglyceride form of omega-3 is an excellent treatment option for dry eye disease.