News

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-A new treatment strategy consisting of oral doxycycline and topical sodium citrate 10% may have a positive role in the treatment of post-LASIK inflammatory conditions characterized by increased collagenolytic activities, said Elias F. Jarade, MD.

Minneapolis, MN-Early results are promising regarding the potential role of conductive keratoplasty (CK, Refractec) as an additional tool to improve vision outcomes in eyes with keratoconus or post-LASIK ectasia treated with corneal implants (Intacs, Addition Technology), said Jason K. Darlington, MD.

San Francisco-Cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis, Allergan) does not seem to provide a benefit for patients with a normal ocular surface when the drug is started postoperatively for either dryness or photophobia during the first month following LASIK. The light sensitivity in patients using topical cyclosporine was slightly higher 5 weeks after LASIK compared with the control patients randomly assigned to carboxymethylcellulose sodium 1.0% (Celluvisc, Allergan).

Cincinnati-"Regardless of whether we are talking about full-thickness transplants or endothelial transplants, corneal transplant rejection is the leading cause of graft failure," said Edward J. Holland, MD, director, Cornea and External Diseases, Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-The use of topical peripheral annular application of mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.02% for 2 minutes is safe and effective in preventing corneal scarring after PRK with more predictable refractive outcomes. In addition, it decreases the potential for side effects, especially damage to the corneal endothelium, associated with topical MMC disc application and central corneal exposure to MMC, according to Elias F. Jarade, MD.

The Tecnis multifocal IOL (Advanced Medical Optics) has been shown to be highly effective for patients with different clinical needs, such as in patients undergoing cataract surgery and IOL implantation, those with presbyopia, and in those with hyperopia. Three studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reported the results with this IOL.

When choosing an aspheric IOL, aiming for an overall postoperative spherical aberration of +0.10 ?m provides better patient outcomes based on the latest research.

Marseille, France-Anterior chamber OCT (Visante, Carl Zeiss Meditec) is new and powerful technology with important applications in research and clinical practice, said Georges D. Baikoff, MD.

Charleston, SC-Torsional phacoemulsification, which is accomplished with the OZil handpiece (Alcon Laboratories), is the newest incarnation of a phacoemulsification process that has remained virtually unchanged for 4 decades, since Charles Kelman, MD, introduced ultrasonic phacoemulsification. The improvements promised by this torsional technology include less dispersion of nuclear fragments, improved cutting performance, and improved thermal safety profile.

Somain, France-The new Akreos microincision IOL (Bausch & Lomb) with its new haptic design can be implanted without difficulty through a 1.8-mm incision, combining all the benefits of the Akreos design with those of smaller corneal incisions. The IOL provides good-quality vision and intracapsular stability, according to Thierry Amzallag, MD, who reported the 6-month results of a pilot study.

Los Angeles-Preliminary results from a prospective study of patients with the crystalens square edge (SE) accommodating IOL (eyeonics) implanted suggest modification of the original optic edge design has been effective for reducing the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and without causing an increase in visual quality-related complaints, according to D. Michael Colvard, MD.

Baltimore-Surgical results for patients requesting a blepharoplasty can be improved if the surgeon carefully examines individuals for coexisting diagnoses, pre-existing asymmetries, brow position, and lower eyelid malposition, explained Shannath L. Merbs, MD, PhD, FACS.

Rochester, NY-The Rochester nomogram for custom LASIK provided significantly better postoperative visual acuity, better predictability, and reduced range of postoperative spherical equivalent compared with the previous FDA study in eyes with greater degrees of myopia, according to Manoj Subbaram, PhD.

Houston-Hyperopia treated with the wavefront-optimized Allegretto Wave excimer laser (WaveLight) achieved good long-term stability, even in patients with 4 to 6 D of hyperopia. The wavefront-optimized platform also achieved excellent outcomes for hyperopia up to 6 D with 5 D of cylinder, reported Charles R. Moore, MD.

The topographically guided algorithm in the EC-5000 CX (Nidek) excimer laser provided a good visual outcome for patients with myopia, with 95% of patients achieving 20/20 or better visual acuity and no induction of total aberrations, according to a study by Mihai Pop, MD.

Los Angeles-Wavefront-guided LASIK using the CustomCornea platform (Alcon Laboratories) yields superior outcomes compared with conventional LASIK when treating hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism, said James J. Salz, MD.

Minneapolis-Wavefront surface ablation seemed to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with substantial degrees of coma or trefoil in the early follow-up period. The 1-year data in a small number of eyes showed that the results remained stable, according to David R. Hardten, MD.

Baltimore-Tunnel creation for placement of corneal implants (Intacs, Addition Technology) in eyes with corneal ectasia is a promising new use for the femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS, IntraLase), according to Alisa Kim, MD.

New York-Some imaging devices may help predict which patients will develop glaucoma, but "they will not supplant clinical assessment of the optic disc by a trained observer," said Christopher A. Girkin, MD, MSPH, to attendees of the Glaucoma 2006 meeting here.

Editor's Note: As defined by the FDA, the term "biologics" refers to a wide range of products that includes vaccines, blood and blood components, allergenics, somatic cells, gene therapy, tissues, and recombinant therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments.

Ann Arbor, MI-An aging population plus the need for more space for clinical care, surgery, and research have led the University of Michigan's (U-M) W.K. Kellogg Eye Center to launch a $121 million expansion that will almost double the size of its existing facility. Kellogg officials expect to open a 222,000-square-foot building adjoining the current structure by 2010 and say the enlarged center could serve as a model for other eye centers confronting similar issues.

Alameda, CA-InSite Vision Inc. submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for a topical 1% azithromycin formulation (Aza-Site) for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Monrovia, CA-The People's Republic of China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) granted approval to STAAR Surgical Co. to market its Visian implantable collamer lens (ICL) in China.

Louisville, KY-Potentia Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of Pennsylvania entered into an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement that allows Potentia to develop and commercialize the university's Compstatin class of complement-inhibiting peptides for the treatment of ocular diseases. The agreement allows Potentia to move forward with preclinical development of the first complement-inhibiting drug product aimed at treating both wet and dry forms of age-related macular degeneration.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL-The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opened one of the most technologically advanced eye-care centers in the United States on Aug. 1. The new campus triples the size of the institute's facilities in Palm Beach County.

Lexington, KY-Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) selected Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, for the 2006 Lew R. Wasserman Award for research in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

New York-Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD, co-director of Glaucoma Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, and assistant professor of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, received the New York Academy of Medicine's 2006 Lewis Rudini Glaucoma Prize for the discovery of an enzyme that contributes to nerve cell death in the eye in glaucoma.

Miami-Medical errors in refractive surgery can be avoided by engaging in a fastidious checking and rechecking of the patient, the site, and the chart before entering the surgical suite, according to Sonal B. Dav?, MD.

Philadelphia-Changes in the way ophthalmology is practiced have led Wills Eye Hospital to transfer its inpatient and ophthalmology residency programs to Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

New York-A patient with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) may have the worst type of open-angle glaucoma, according to Robert Ritch, MD, who opened a session on XFS at the Glaucoma 2006 meeting.