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Studies evaluating the new Zyoptix XP microkeratome (Bausch &Lomb) indicate that it performs safely and reliably to cut LASIKflaps of a reproducible thickness with a standard deviation thatmatches or exceeds results reported for the femtosecond laser(IntraLase).

Analyses of flap thickness showed favorable predictability.

Barranquilla, Colombia-Mechanical microkeratomes have anumber of advantages compared with the femtosecond laser"macrokeratome" and should continue to be regarded as safe andefficient instruments for LASIK flap creation, according to CesarA. Carriazo, MD.

One of the major advantages of the femtosecond laser is theversatility to program flap thickness across a wide range.

New York-On March 6, OSI Pharmaceuticals/EyetechPharmaceuticals and Pfizer issued changes in the product labelingfor pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen), which was approved bythe FDA for the treatment of neovascular age-related maculardegeneration in December 2004.

San Francisco-A team of ophthalmologists founded the EctasiaCommittee in the hopes of summarizing the current knowledgeregarding ectasia and refractive surgery and developingrecommendations to prevent the development of the condition,explained Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, at the annual meeting of theAmerican Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

Teams of investigators are searching for the source of a recentoutbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) followingcataract surgery that has been reported in sites throughout NorthAmerica since March. The current increased incidence in theoccurrence of TASS appears to be unrelated to an outbreak thatoccurred last fall, which was linked to endotoxin contamination inthe balanced salt solution (BSS) product (Endosol, CytosolOphthalmics/Advanced Medical Optics).

Pittsburgh-U.S. health officials are recommending thatophthalmic professionals who see patients with microbial keratitisshould consider whether it might be caused by the Fusarium fungus,rather than assume it is a bacterial infection as they might havein the past.

Atlanta-With a growing list of states reporting suspectedcases of an uncommon fungal keratitis, the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. health authoritiescontinue to search for the cause of an apparent outbreak of therare fungal infection among soft contact-lens wearers.

Iron overload may join several other factors as a contributor toage-related macular degeneration (AMD), suggests research beingcarried out in the lab of Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD, assistantprofessor of ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for MolecularOphthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University ofPennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Iron overload may join several other factors as a contributor toage-related macular degeneration (AMD), suggests research beingcarried out in the lab of Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD, assistantprofessor of ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for MolecularOphthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University ofPennsylvania, Philadelphia.

David R. Williams, PhD, of the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, received the Friedenwald Award for his studies of human optics, human cone receptors, and color vision, and for his work on the application of adaptive optics, a method to compensate for optical effects affecting ideal visualization of a target, to human retinal imaging.

In a prospective comparison study of 20- versus 25-gaugeinstruments for pars plana vitrectomy, investigators found thatoverall operating times were not significantly different betweenthe two systems.

Ultra high-speed, high-resolution spectral domain optical coherencetomography (SD-OCT) seems to have surpassed the low-resolutionslow-speed OCT and provides video images of structures in eyes withglaucoma that demonstrate the minute details of the glaucomatoustissues.

Investigators have successfully transferred lentiviral vectors, atype of retroviral vector, into the trabecular meshwork ofcynomolgus monkeys and achieved sustained transgene expression.

With glaucoma being the second leading cause of blindness in theworld, treatment consisting of eye drops has inherent problems andstops only about half of the damage. While the effect of treatmentwithin the confines of a clinical trial far exceeds those ofpatients being treated outside the framework of a clinical trial,the reality is that most patients are in the "real world,"according to Harry Quigley, MD, who spoke at the annual meeting ofthe Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Rosiglitazone, an oral medication for diabetes with antiangiogenicproperties, may delay ocular neovascularization in patients withsevere diabetic retinopathy at baseline, according to results of alongitudinal chart review study, said Lucy Q. Shen, MD, HarvardMedical School, Boston.

Optos plc presents the new P200MA retinal imaging device. Thecompany received FDA clearance in March to market the medicaldevice in the United States.

Optical introduces the Digital High Mag and NC (non-contact)Surgical WA (wide angle) AutoClaveSterilizable (ACS) lenses at thisyear's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmologymeeting.

The António Champalimaud Science Award was introduced to thescientific community during the Association for Research in Visionand Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting by Larry Takemoto,president of ARVO.

Baltimore-Although vision screening is a state issue and notlegislated by the federal government, there are many ways thefederal government can influence medical care delivery forchildren.

A March survey showed that 62% of menopausal and perimenopausal women reported dry eye symptoms, yet 16% of women experiencing dry eye symptoms realized dry eye was a symptom of menopause. Of the women experiencing dry eye symptoms, less than 59% spoke to a doctor about it and about 58% used over-the-counter eye drops to treat the symptoms.

The diagnosis of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) should be approachedas one of exclusion, according to Andrew G. Iwach, MD.

Miami-The introduction of Systane Free Lubricant Eye Drops (Alcon Laboratories Inc.) has further diversified the company's product line to enable optimization of artificial tear treatment for the broad spectrum of patients suffering with dry eye, said Terrence P. O'Brien, MD.

San Francisco-Just as during LASIK procedures, cataract surgery can damage the corneal nerves and cause symptoms of dry eye.

Woburn, MA-The chicken-and-egg controversy has swirled for years about what causes what in dry eye syndrome, but the scales are tipping in favor of elevated tear film osmolarity as the cause of dry eye surface disease, based on the latest research.

New York-It's more an evolution than a revolution, but ophthalmologists' stance on dry eye is unquestionably changing. Definitions and treatments are being revised, and this process will continue as ongoing research yields new findings.

Cleveland-Artificial tears are an important complement totopical cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis, Allergan)for dry eye therapy, said Steven E. Wilson, MD.

Our understanding of dry eye has evolved and improved dramatically, as well as our ability to diagnose and treat this multi-faceted disorder. Despite its prevalence, estimated at 11% to 22% of the general population,1 dry eye is not always easy to diagnose differentially from other ocular surface disorders. Without accurate diagnosis, patients may not receive the proper treatment and education they need.

Eugene, OR-The Tecnis Z9000 modified prolate IOL (AMO)improves functional vision by eliminating positive ocular sphericalaberration, which increases by 0.15% a year, according to MarkPacker, MD, FACS.