News

New York?When glaucoma suddenly stole vision from Minnesota Twins' Kirby Puckett's right eye and forced his retirement from Major League Baseball in 1996, it offered those in ophthalmology a remarkable opportunity to increase awareness about the disease.

Ophthalmologists have long been frustrated by their inability to stop or reverse glaucoma. Once the diagnosis has been made, they try valiantly to preserve what vision remains.

ASCRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are working together to develop measures of performance.

For almost 2 years, I have pioneered a change in phaco needleconfiguration to improve the safety of cataract surgery. The DeweyRadius Tip, manufactured by Microsurgical Technologies (MST,Redmond, WA) is a standard phaco needle with a simpleexception-no sharp edges. This rounded design can be appliedto any phaco needle of standard gauge, bevel, or bend.

When Stephen R. Powell, MD, is spreading cheer throughout the community, his patients usually do not recognize him. Why? Dr. Powell moonlights as a unicycle-riding clown.

An ophthalmology practice located right on the border of two states, with patients coming from the many rural communities surrounding Danville, VA, and northern North Carolina, can be a real challenge.

Atlanta?A 6-year study confirms the safety of dual-laser blepharoplasty for aesthetic rejuvenation of the upper and lower eyelids. Describing a series of 320 blepharoplasties, Harley Freiberger, MD, a dermatologic cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles, reported that no permanent complications were observed, and that lesions healed rapidly and patients were quickly able to return to normal activity.

Indianapolis?Squalamine lactate (Evizon, Genaera) seems to be safe and effective when administered with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics/QLT Inc.) to patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Thomas A. Ciulla, MD.

Cambridge, England?Research published in the January issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology found not only a strong association between pack years of cigarette smoking and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) but also an increased risk of AMD in nonsmokers exposed to passive smoking.

Montr?al?A modified version of the Amsler grid, with a backlit screen and other changes, improves detection of scotomas and is easier for patients and clinicians to use, according to designer Elie Khouri, MD, a Montr?al ophthalmologist.

Bethesda, MD?The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) indicatedthat supplementation with micronutrients has a protective effect inpreventing the development of advanced stages of age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD). Emily Y. Chew, MD, reviewed thefindings of the role of micronutrients for the treatment of AMD.

Boston?Ruboxistaurin mesylate (Arxxant, Eli Lilly), an investigational drug that is an oral protein kinase C (PKC) beta inhibitor, reduced the occurrence of sustained moderate vision loss by 40% in patients with moderately severe to very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, reported Lloyd P. Aiello, MD, PhD.

Miami?Is it time to retire fluorescein angiography in light of the commercial availability of optical coherence tomography (OCT)? Certainly not, because they are complementary technologies that are integral to the management and treatment of retinal diseases, explained Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA.

Boston?The 12-month results of two randomized clinical trials of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) indicate that the drug shows encouraging signs of activity against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Cleveland?Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has been validated as the foundation treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), stated Lawrence J. Singerman, MD, who provided an update on pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, OSI Pharmaceuticals/Eyetech Pharmaceuticals).

Miami?Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be a valuable tool for evaluating the status of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly when new drugs are being used to treat the disease, said Philip J. Rosenfeld, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami.

Madison, WI?The intravitreal injection of triamcinolone as a treatment for retinal vascular disease may be an effective treatment for diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusions, according to Michael S. Ip, MD.

New York?Anecortave acetate (Retaane 15 mg suspension, Alcon Laboratories) seems to be safe and effective for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for injection (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthal-mics/QLT Inc.).

Memphis, TN?Twenty-five-gauge vitrectomy has become his preferred method for most vitrectomy applications, according to Steven T. Charles, MD, who described how he uses this new technology.

Frankfurt, Germany?Twenty-three gauge vitrectomy instrumentation has become available and offers surgeons an alternative to 25-gauge instruments. Claus Eckardt, MD, looked at the pros and cons of these smaller instruments.

Durham, NC?The Retisert implant (Bausch & Lomb), a nonbiogradable device containing fluocinolone acetonide, is approved for the treatment of posterior uveitis and seems promising in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) and vein occlusion in clinical trials, according to Glenn Jaffe, MD.

Royal Oak, MI?Vitrectomy should be considered for some eyes withdiffuse diabetic macular edema (DME). The procedure seems to be along-term efficacious treatment in some eyes, according to Tarek S.Hassan, MD.

Winter Haven, FL?A number of new pharmacologic options for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), mostly designed to block different steps in the angiogenic cascade, are in various stages of development and testing, and some may one day be shown to improve outcomes, said Michael J. Tolentino, MD, director of clinical research, Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Kyoto, Japan?Seasonal variation in IOP is important to take into account when evaluating those patients with glaucoma and particularly those with steroid-induced ocular hypertension, according to Kazuhiko Mori, MD, PhD.

Minneapolis?Refractive surgeons should incorporate rather than dismiss corneal refractive therapy (orthokeratology) and contact lens fitting because those techniques can have a synergistic benefit rather than play a competitive role in a refractive surgery practice, according to David R. Hardten, MD.

Oklahoma City, OK?A state bill requiring children entering kindergarten, first, and third grades to receive vision screenings has passed the Senate and is being considered in the House.

Mentor, OH?To meet the needs of a growing global customer base, Volk Optical has appointed Tim Warrell to the newly created position of marketing and customer service manager.

Irvine, CA?3D Vision Systems Inc., a digital imaging technology developer, has added industry veteran John Gilbert to its medical advisory board.

Washington?New York State's Department of Health will include new questions about visual impairment and access to eyecare in its annual 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System program.

The settlement grants Alcon the right to introduce its brimonidine 0.15% product on Sept. 30, 2009, or earlier if "certain market conditions" are met.