News

San Francisco-Wavefront-optimized excimer laser ablation does not appear to induce night vision disturbances-in fact, patients were more likely to report fewer night vision disturbances after the procedure than they did preoperatively, according to Olivia Lee, MD, Emory University, Atlanta.

San Francisco-When analyzing multifocal lens performance, it is important to follow patients over time and to remember that there is a brain behind the eyes, said Manfred R. Tetz, MD, of the University of Berlin, Germany.

San Francisco-Large preoperative pupil size does not positively correlate with an increase in visual symptoms after wavefront-guided myopic LASIK, according to the results of a prospective study reported by researchers from Stanford University, Stanford, CA. The relationship between pupil size and quality of vision after LASIK is a source of controversy with various publications reporting different results, said Annie Chan, MD, who is in the residency program at the university's Department of Ophthalmology.

San Francisco- Non-penetrating canaloplasty may provide an effective and safe alternative to standard trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to Diamond Y. Tam, MD, University of Toronto.

San Francisco-Results of the most recent American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)/European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) survey on foldable IOLs requiring explantation or secondary intervention indicate a shift in the leading causes for these procedures, said Nick Mamalis, MD, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.

San Francisco-Ophthalmologists and optometrists can and should work together as colleagues in service to patients but with appropriately defined responsibilities. That's the word from guest speaker David W. Parke II, MD, the new executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

San Francisco-Three programs in different geographic areas of the world serve as models of success in addressing cataract, the top cause of blindness globally, said David F. Chang, MD, who delivered the Binkhorst Lecture during the opening session.

San Francisco-At the opening general session, Bradford J. Shingleton, MD, summarized the activities and accomplishments of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) during his 1-year tenure as president of the organization.

San Francisco-The first session of a unique training program, Premium Lens Boot Camp, to help refractive and cataract surgeons grow their accommodating/multifocal lens business will be held June 5 at the O'Hare Marriott, Chicago.

San Francisco-New three-dimensional (3D) flat-panel displays (TrueVision Systems Inc.) will enable cataract and refractive surgeons to display live and recorded content of the surgical view from a microscope or slit lamp.

San Francisco-If you had a very ill patient, you would examine his or her vital signs frequently. The same holds true when the "patient" is the U.S. economy, said John B. Pinto, of the ophthalmic practice management consulting firm J. Pinto & Associates.

San Francisco-"If you wanted to be at the start of a major change in how we do things in glaucoma, you're there," said Richard A. Lewis, MD, who spoke during the Stephen A. Obstbaum, MD, Honored Lecture at Glaucoma Day.

San Francisco-What advice would you give to President Obama to help navigate health-care reform? Three people well acquainted with the challenges that the president will face answered that question here at Glaucoma Day.

San Francisco-Although the debate continues regarding the pros and cons of different approaches to antibiotic prophylaxis for postoperative endophthalmitis, available data are clear in demonstrating that it is critical to assure an effective concentration is present at the time of surgery and maintained in the early postoperative period, said Randall J. Olson, MD, John A. Moran Presidential Professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.

San Francisco-An interim analysis of data from an ongoing U.S. clinical trial shows corneal collagen crosslinking using riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA) light has promising efficacy and safety for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and postLASIK ectasia, said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta.

San Francisco-Femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) has potential advantages over conventional PKP performed with manual corneal trephination.

San Francisco-In eyes with normal endothelium requiring corneal transplantation, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using Anwar's big-bubble technique can result in visual acuity outcomes that are at least as good as those experienced after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and with the advantage of causing fewer complications than the full thickness procedure, said Donald H. Tan, MD, deputy director and head, corneal service, Singapore National Eye Centre, and head and professor of ophthalmology, National University of Singapore.

The FDA has approved trypan blue ophthalmic solution 0.15% (MembraneBlue, Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center International, b.v.) for use as an aid during vitrectomy procedures by staining the epiretinal membranes and, thereby, facilitating the removal of tissue, according to a prepared statement.

QLT Inc. has released results from its phase Ia trial of QLT091001, a new drug QLT is developing for the potential treatment of Leber's congential amaurosis.

Bausch & Lomb has launched a multitiered education initiative to raise consumer awareness of presbyopia and the option of multifocal contact lenses, according to a statement issued by the company.

Alcon Laboratories Inc. announced in a prepared statement the launch of a new online resource for patients with nasal allergies: its new Web site for olopatadine (Patanase) nasal spray, www.patanese.com.

Alimera Sciences Inc., has made available the interim, 12-month safety and efficacy data from the first human pharmacokinetic study of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert (Iluvien), which is currently under development for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, the company said in a prepared statement.

HyperBranch Medical Technology Inc. has granted BD Medical-Ophthalmic Systems, a unit of Becton, Dickinson and Co., an exclusive worldwide license to market its liquid ocular bandage (OcuSeal), according to a prepared statement.

The FDA has accepted for review a supplemental new drug application submitted by Sirion Therapeutics Inc., which seeks market approval of difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Durezol) for the treatment of endogenous anterior uveitis, according to a statement issued by Sirion.

A lack of access to eye-care services for residents in rural and low-income areas has become a major public health crisis in America, according to analysis from the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

iScience Interventional has launched a new surgeon support Web site, called iForum, that can be viewed at www.iforummd.com, according to a release issued by the company.

ThromboGenics has completed patient enrollment for a phase II trial of microplasmin intravitreal injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, according to a statement issued by the company.

Bausch & Lomb and Santen Pharmaceutical Co. have entered into a licensing agreement for the development of certain IOL materials, according to statements issued by the companies. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

Bausch & Lomb and Pfizer have entered into a co-promotion agreement that involves both companies? prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in the United States, the companies announced in a joint statement.

Alcon announced in a prepared statement that the FDA has approved its aspheric toric IOL (AcrySof).