News

Solutions to impact patient outcomes are being evaluated.

The ocular functional optical zone decreased in about one-third of eyes following wavefront-guided PRK for myopia and mixed astigmatism.

Potent activity combined with a favorable safety profile make loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% a valuable option for the management of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Near-term results from a study assessing the effects of patient age on the safety and efficacy of LASIK for the treatment of myopia indicate that young adults do equally well as their older counterparts.

In the first in-human study fo human umbilical tissue-derived cells as cell-based therapy for retinal degenerative diseases, all seven patients tolerated the subretinal injection well and had no postoperative visual loss.

Frontalis suspension, the ptosis surgery of choice for poor levator function due to congenital or acquired ptosis, can be performed with synthetic materials or fascia lata allografts or autografts.

In patients undergoing LASIK with use of a femtosecond laser for flap creation, pretreatment with a hyperosmotic agent during the week before surgery significantly reduces the risk of intraoperative corneal epithelial disruption.

Refractive surgeons able to offer both phakic IOL implantation and LASIK can meet the needs of a broader population seeking treatment for moderate-to-high myopia.

Ocular allergy remains one area in which new therapies are continually being developed.

Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty procedure seems to be supplanting penetrating keratoplasty as the standard of care for vision loss from corneal edema.

The cost of glaucoma medications is affecting patient compliance with their treatment regimens.

The author analyzes the plight that student loans present in today's society.

A sterile cornea allograft has many advantages that make it a useful alternative to traditional eye bank corneas and other allograft material for a variety of graft procedures where viable endothelium is not needed.

The latest addition to the antihistamine arsenal is alcaftadine ophthalmic solution 0.25%, a new chemical entity developed as an ocular anti-allergic agent.

A novel compound may be able to bring vision to previously blind retinas by switching on remaining ganglion cells in the inner retina.

Improved quality of life for patients with allergic conjunctivitis is the name of the game for Stephen V. Scoper, MD, who uses olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.2% to treat this patient population because of the increased compliance that the drug affords with its once-daily dosing requirement.

A new partnership between Addition Technology Inc. and Switzerland-based Sensimed AG will have the former company rolling out the latter company?s IOP monitoring system (Sensimed Triggerfish) in Latin America.

Superfocus LLC has received 2011 iF International Forum Design Award in the medical device category. The award recognizes the world?s first adjustable-focus eyeglasses (Superfocus) providing focus at all distances through the entire field of view, according to the honoree.

Healthy children who consistently develop headaches or tired eyes or cannot clearly see images when playing 3-D games on handheld digital products may have a vision or eye disorder, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). ?If such problems occur, the [AAO] recommends that the child be given a comprehensive exam by an ophthalmologist,? the organization said in a statement.

ifa Systems AG has acquired inoveon Corp. ifa Systems provides ophthalmology-related software applications, including an electronic health record system that has been adopted in Europe and Latin America and now has been introduced into the North American and Asian markets. inoveon Corp. is a medical services company focused on managing diabetic eye disease, clinical research, and development.

A silicone hydrogel contact lens (Avaria Toric, CooperVision) for patients with astigmatism is now available nationwide.

Epimacular brachytherapy has been used commercially in Germany for the first time, according to NeoVista Inc.

InSite Vision Inc. has filed with the FDA an investigational new drug (IND) application for a novel compound (ISV-101) for dry eye disease.

Kowa Optimed and EMRlogic Systems Inc. have integrated an e-prescribing solution (DrFirst Rcopia) into proprietary electronic medical record (EMR) management software (activEHR).

An osmolarity system (TearLab, TearLab Corp.) is now available in the United States at the point of care, thanks to a partnership between its manufacturer and COLA, a private, non-profit clinical laboratory education, consultation, and accreditation organization.

Advance Optical, Rochester, NY, and 21st Century Optics, Long Island City, NY, have been named by Transitions Optical Inc. as recipients of the 2010 Transitions Partner Labs Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Lab of the Year Award. Advance Optical received the award in the small/medium lab division; 21st Century Optics received the award in the large lab division.

Richard L. Abbott, MD, began his term as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Jan. 1. Dr. Abbott is the Thomas W. Boyden Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco, and research associate at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation. He succeeded Randy Johnston, MD, as AAO president.

Medical device company Vycor Medical Inc. has acquired NovaVision Inc., a provider of technologies designed to reverse and restore neurological visual loss. Together the companies will promote NovaVision?s FDA-approved, non-invasive light stimulation-based platform (Vision Restoration Therapy [VRT])?clinically proven to permanently restore lost vision resulting from stroke, brain cancer, and traumatic or other acquired brain injury.

A new eyewear collection for men (Surface, REM Eyewear) recently was unveiled.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis) is now available in the United Kingdom for the treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema, announced Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.