News

Minneapolis-A new phacoemulsification system (Stellaris Vision Enhancement System, Bausch & Lomb) is state-of-the-art technology designed to meet the current and future needs of the contemporary phaco surgeon and surgical staff, according to Elizabeth A. Davis, MD.

Las Vegas-Existing sterilization techniques, particularly those used in higher-volume, rapid-turnover operating rooms, may need to be modified to avoid and control future outbreaks of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS), Simon P. Holland, MD, FRCSC, said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology here.

Charleston, SC-A large study of routine phacoemulsification found the total incidence of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) to be 3.8%. In addition to the use of tamsulosin (Flomax, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) before surgery, angiotensin antagonists and saw palmetto also were implicated in the development of IFIS.

Las Vegas-Ophthalmologists can use one of several modified strategies to perform cataract surgery in patients who are taking or have taken tamsulosin (Flomax, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals), with good outcomes and low complication rates, when they know of the medication history in advance, David F. Chang, MD, told those attending the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology here.

The use of fibrin glue during pterygium surgery has been gaining in popularity. Generally, investigators from different institutions have reported the glue to be a safe and effective alternative to sutures that can effectively reduce surgical time as well as postoperative pain and discomfort.

Los Angeles-The Jules Stein Eye Institute (JSEI) and the Department of Ophthalmology of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have appointed Michael Gorin, MD, the Harold and Pauline Price Chair in Ophthalmology and professor of ophthalmology in the retina and vision science divisions.

The shunt takes advantage of the naturally occurring pressure differential between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space.

Las Vegas-Studies have found conflicting evidence that sleep apnea is a risk factor for glaucoma, with variable control groups and variability in defining sleep apnea and glaucoma contributing to the disagreement. Parag A. Gokhale, MD, speaking here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said he sides with those who believe that a positive association exists between the two conditions.

Las Vegas-Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is associated with an increased burden of informed consent disclosure because of the complex issues, both current and future, accompanying that procedure, said Douglas D. Koch, MD, at the Refractive Sur-gery Subspecialty Day during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-As outlandish as it may sound now, in the future, refractive surgery may be the best treatment for severe aniso-metropia and severe bilateral amblyopia, said Evelyn A. Paysse, MD, here during a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Louisville, KY-Monotherapy with latano-prost (Xalatan, Pfizer) provides more days of controlled IOP compared with bimatoprost (Lumigan, Allergan) and travoprost (Travatan, Alcon Laboratories) in patients undergoing treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to Thom J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD, and colleagues.

Las Vegas-Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is comparable to medical treatment as the initial therapy for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension, according to results of a study reported by L. Jay Katz, MD, and colleagues here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Indianapolis-Bimatoprost (Lumigan, Allergan) seems to lower IOP more effectively in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension compared with travoprost (Travatan, Alcon Laboratories), according to Louis B. Cantor, MD, lead author of the study. The authors published their results in the British Journal of Ophthalmology (2006; 90:1370-1373).

Baltimore-Beta blockers continue to play an important role as an ocular hypotensive agent for both primary and adjunctive treatment, and when a beta blocker is indicated, the novel formulation of timolol maleate 0.5% ophthalmic solution with potassium sorbate (Istalol, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) is a good choice, said Alan L. Robin, MD.

Las Vegas-In pediatric eyes with uncontrolled aphakic glaucoma and no history of previous surgical intervention, trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) and placement of an Ahmed glaucoma implant (AGI, New World Medical) result in comparable outcomes with respect to successful IOP control and rate of complications, according to the findings of a prospective, randomized study undertaken at the Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.

Las Vegas-Results of a cross-sectional study demonstrate there is good agreement (~85%) between the evaluation of the optic nerve head structure using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT II, Heidelberg Engineering) and results of multifocal visual evoked potential testing (mfVEP; AccuMap, ObjectiVision, Sydney, Australia) in identifying normal and glaucomatous eyes as well as statistically significant topographic associations between many HRT parameters and the amplitudes of mfVEP waves on the corresponding opposite hemisphere, reported Omar S. Punjabi, MBBS, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Las Vegas–Relatively little evidence exists that imaging technologies can detect change over time, although based on the resolution and reproducibility, they probably can do so, said Christopher Bowd, PhD, during a Glaucoma Subspecialty Day presentation here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

New York-In a controlled trial, endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) combined with phacoemulsification showed significant benefits in treating cataract patients who also have glaucoma, according to Stanley J. Berke, MD.

Las Vegas-Should clinicians abandon the use of a monocular drug trial in patients with glaucoma, which has been the preferred practice pattern for primary open-angle glaucoma issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)?

The president of my university, William Brody, MD, PhD, says we take too long to train the current generation of physicians and biomedical scientists. I agree.

Las Vegas-A study evaluating IOP measurement performed with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), the digital handheld Tono-Pen XL applanation tonometer (Medtronic Ophthalmics), the Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer (PDCT, SMT Swiss Microtechnology AG), and the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA, Reichert Inc.) indicates that the results obtained with all of those devices may be affected by central corneal thickness (CCT). IOP measurements using the PDCT and ORA, however, appear to be influenced the least, reported Maged Nessim, MD, and coauthors here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Accurate diagnosis of ocular surface disease (OSD) is essential in patients with glaucoma who complain of burning, itching, foreign body sensation, or a dry, gritty sensation often in concert with paradoxical tearing.

Ocular surface disease (OSD) in patients with glaucoma is surprisingly common, yet it remains an under-recognized condition by eye-care specialists. Among patients with severe OSD, approximately two-thirds concurrently are afflicted with glaucoma (range, 42.9% to 88.4%).1 OSD encompasses a myriad of ocular conditions, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Editor's Note: During the time I was a resident at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (1969-1972), I had the good fortune to work with Byron Capleese Smith, MD. Those who knew him will never forget him, and those who were not able to know him will gain a small glimpse of his persona and his contributions, as written by Christopher Teng, MD. -Norman Medow, MD

New Haven, CT-Glaucoma specialist James C. Tsai, MD, MBA, has been named chairman of the Yale School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

San Diego-TargeGen has begun a phase I trial of a topical drug to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Roanoke, VA-OcuCure Therapeutics Inc. has received $1.5 million in seed financing to develop a topical eye drop for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry AMD prophylaxis.

Redwood City, CA-The first of 15 patients has received CGC-11047, a novel poly-amine analog that targets choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.