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Favorable results were realized when the efficacy, safety, and predictability outcomes were analyzed in 707 consecutive eyes with a phakic lens, toric phakic lens, or foldable phakic lens implanted.

Surgeons should be vigilant for cases of pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD), which is difficult to detect and may result in ectasia after LASIK. Individuals with PMD who seek refractive surgery are at high risk for ectasia if not detected in preoperative screening.

A systematic, evidence-based review of prior randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of aqueous shunts found no clear evidence that long-term clinical outcomes of trabeculectomy differ substantially from those of aqueous shunts in similar patients with complicated glaucoma over similar follow-up.

Ophthalmology Times magazine earned two awards in the 53rd annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards competition recognizing editorial excellence.

Although technology has made significant improvements in today's phacoemulsification systems, the mature cataract with a hard nucleus continues to be problematic during surgery. Prior to the modern systems that are available today, surgeons were faced with an even more difficult task when dealing with mature cataracts because of the lack of power and the degree of difficulty when emulsifying the cataract.

Las Vegas-When considering the use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), ophthalmologists should be mindful that cataract is a common complication and is particularly challenging in young patients with clear lenses and still-useful accommodation, according to a study reported by Moncef Khairallah, MD, here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Las Vegas-The BESSt formula allows pseudophakic IOL power calculation in postrefractive surgery eyes without any prerefractive surgery data and is significantly more accurate than a variety of other techniques, said Edmondo Borasio, MD, at the Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-The lack of highly effective treatments for macular edema associated with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), coupled with conflicting studies on the safety and effectiveness of treatment with triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog, Bristol-Myers), highlight the need for a definitive clinical study. Such a study is under way, with an enrollment of nearly 500 patients at more than 80 sites, said Ingrid U. Scott, MD, MPH.

Las Vegas-Off-axis ablations are rare with wavefront-guided LASIK procedures but still occur with conventional treatment. Although the consequences can be severe, good results eventually can be achieved through appropriate management strategies, said Robert K. Maloney, MD, speaking here during Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Monrovia, CA-Approval of its toric phakic implantable lens (Visian TICL) is unlikely to occur in 2007 as formerly anticipated, STAAR Surgical Co. has announced.

Durham, NC-Inspire Pharmaceuticals plans to commercialize InSite Vision Inc.’s 1% azithromycin topical anti-infective product (AzaSite) in the United States and Canada under the terms of a licensing agreement signed by the two companies. The product is under new device application review by the FDA for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

San Francisco-The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is calling for Medicare and other insurers to emphasize preventive care after a study recently published in the AAO journal Ophthalmology (2007;114:238-245) found that poor vision is costing Medicare more than $2 billion annually in non-eye-related maladies and health-care needs.

Las Vegas-A pilot study of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist, showed that the drug has a biological effect in diabetic macular edema (DME), reported Peter Campochiaro, MD, who spoke at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-A pilot study of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist, showed that the drug has a biological effect in diabetic macular edema (DME), reported Peter Campochiaro, MD, who spoke at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Amarillo, TX-The introduction of a photocoagulator (Pascal [PAttern SCAn Laser Photocoagulator], OptiMedica) has had a positive impact on the speed and precision of the laser procedure, has increased patient comfort, and has changed the treatment approaches to laser photocoagulation, according to J. Edward Ysasaga, MD.

Upgrades to specific confocal laser scanning systems (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph [HRT] and Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 [HRA 2], Heidelberg Engineering) should increase the utility of the devices, according to two physicians who have evaluated the new technology.

Las Vegas-Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc.) to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy, an off-label use of the drug, induces marked regression of neovascularization and may be a valuable adjunct to vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy because there is markedly reduced bleeding at vitrectomy, according to Robert Avery, MD, who spoke at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

At month 24, 65.7% of patients treated with PDT, 90.0% of those treated with 0.3 mg ranibizumab, and 89.9% of those treated with 0.5 mg ranibizumab lost fewer than 15 letters compared with baseline. These results were very similar to the 12-month results.

Las Vegas-Patients with recurrent noninfectious posterior uveitis fared well in a European trial of an implant of fluocinolone acetonide (Bausch & Lomb) compared with the standard of care-systemic therapy.

Las Vegas-Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers major advantages to the clinician in providing high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the retina. These newly developed instruments can acquire three-dimensional (3-D) scans at a high speed and provide excellent point-to-point registration, explained Yale L. Fisher, MD, during the Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-Ruboxistaurin mesylate (Arxxant, Eli Lilly) may be a useful new tool to prevent visual loss from diabetic retinopathy based on the results of the protein kinase C (PKC)-DRS2 Study. The study showed a reduction in sustained vision loss compared with placebo, reported Lloyd P. Aiello, MD, PhD, during the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Las Vegas-The 1-year results of a study that evaluated the effects of pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) on diabetic macular edema indicates that the drug might provide some patients with improved visual acuity and reduced central retinal thickness compared with no treatment with short follow-up (36 weeks).

Las Vegas-Two-year results of a study of a visual prosthetic device (Implantable Miniature Telescope [IMT], developed by Isaac Lipshitz, MD, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies Inc.) indicate that the device improves visual acuity and the quality of life in patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Few retinal complications were associated with the implantation of this device, according to Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, who spoke here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-The 25-gauge vitrectomy seems to be associated with a higher incidence of endophthalmitis compared with 20-gauge vitrectomy. The difference in the rates of endophthalmitis between the two procedures could be due to factors such as the unsutured wounds at the end of the 25-gauge procedure, postoperative hypotony, and lower infusion rates, according to Derek Y. Kunimoto, MD, JD.

Las Vegas-A trial is under way to evaluate the role of anecortave acetate (Retaane, Alcon Laboratories) in risk reduction for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Jason S. Slakter, MD, provided an update on the status of the C-02-60 Anecortave Acetate Risk Reduction Trial (AART) and the rationale for the use of anecortave acetate in preventing progression of non-exudative AMD to exudative AMD. He spoke on behalf of the Anecortave Acetate Clinical Study Group at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

An international phase III study is well under way evaluating the efficacy and safety of an innovative intravitreal insert of fluocinolone acetonide (Medidur, Alimera Sciences and Psivida Inc.) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Preferential hyperacuity perimetry (PHP; Foresee PHP, Notal Vision/ MSS) is innovative diagnostic technology uniquely able to detect the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from the intermediate stage to neovascular disease, according to Michael Elman, MD.

Las Vegas-Laser treatment as applied in the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (CAPT) proved to be neither beneficial nor harmful after 5 years of follow-up when compared with eyes that were observed for that period, Stuart Fine, MD, reported at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting.

Kaihai, HI-An intraocular epiretinal radiotherapy system (NeoVista Inc.) used during partial vitrectomy has provided encouraging results from a feasibility study of radiation to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), said Andrew P. Schachat, MD, here at the Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting.

Las Vegas-Early results from the ongoing prospective Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma Study (AIGS; see www.AIGStudy.net) indicate that Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT; also called spectral-domain OCT) is a valuable addition for glaucoma diagnosis, according to research presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.