News

Blue-light-filtering IOLs provide protection against potential blue light toxicity without significantly affecting clinical functioning of recipients, said James D. McCulley, MD, during a spotlight session on pseudophakic IOLs at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Wavefront-guided PRK in eyes with high aberrations after keratorefractive surgery was highly predictable and safe, with the vast majority of patients within 0.50 D of the intended correction, said Edward Manche, MD, of Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

The Anecortave Acetate Risk Reduction Trial has met its patient enrollment requirement with almost 2,600 individuals who are at high risk for developing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over time, reported Jason Slakter, MD, at a retina free papers session during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

A study comparing three LASIK re-treatment techniques found that using a bandage contact lens resulted in an increased incidence of epithelial ingrowth, according to Colin Chan, MBBS, of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Los Angeles.

Conductive keratoplasty corrects mild-to-moderate hyperopia, but the results may not be permanent, reported Jason Erlich, MD. He and colleagues conducted a study to determine the long-term results of conductive keratoplasty for the treatment of hyperopia.

When it comes to pseudophakic correction for eyes where there is no capsule fixation, a surgeon should select an IOL and fixation technique based on personal experience, skill, and comfort level while also taking into account the specific clinical presentation of the patient, said Roger F. Steinert, MD.

While high IOP has been a standard marker for diagnosing primary open-angle glaucoma, it is not foolproof. Patients with high IOP do not necessarily progress to glaucoma, while some patients with low or normal pressures do develop the disease. To improve the accuracy of diagnosis and better estimate progression, clinicians need to take into account other information, such as IOP fluctuation, visual field analysis with new technology, and data obtained with the latest imaging devices.

Allergan announced the recipients of the first Allergan Horizon Grant Program. The company will contribute $1 million over 2 years to academic medical institutions to support fellows seeking to develop careers in academic medicine. The awards will fund fellowship programs that conduct clinical research in the diagnosis or pharmacological treatment of glaucoma, corneal, and retinal diseases.

Bascom Palmer clinical care, residency programs recognized with Ophthalmology Times award

Gerald J. Harris, MD, the recipient of the Wendell L. Hughes Award for 2006, delivered the lecture entitled "Oculofacial Reconstruction after Mohs Surgery" during a symposium on oculoplastic surgery at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting.

"The distribution and causes of vision loss today are vastly different from 100 years ago when Edward Jackson was in practice."

Preliminary results of excimer laser LASIK treatment of hyperopia with the WaveLight Allegretto Wave are encouraging, although longer follow-up is needed, said Daniel S. Durrie, MD, of Durrie Vision, Overland Park, KS.

There have been a number of recent advances in ophthalmology that are leading to improved care and enhanced outcomes for patients undergoing refractive surgery, cataract removal with IOL implantation, and those with ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Chronic dry eye is highly prevalent and has a significant impact, yet it is simultaneously underdiagnosed, underappreciated, and undertreated, said Christopher J. Rapuano, MD, co-director of the refractive surgery department, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia

Omesh Gupta, MD, MBA, of Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, was named the winner of the fourth annual Ophthalmology Times Resident Writer's Award Program. The program was sponsored by Advanced Medical Optics (AMO).

In a large prospective study of patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), researchers found that worsening of vision in dim lighting in this patient population was a strong predictor of subsequent vision loss, according to Janet S. Sunness, MD, medical director of the Richard E. Hoover Rehabilitation Services for Low Vision and Blindness in the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Online risk calculator will guide in management of ocular hypertension

Study results analyzing data collected with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA, Reichert) are providing insight into how the parameters may differ in various patient populations and suggesting potential uses of this device in patient evaluation.

A fluocinolone acetonide implants seems effective for treating noninfectious posterior uveitis, reported Carlos Pavesio, MD, who reported his results at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

In patients undergoing primary pterygium excision with conjunctival autografting, use of a fibrin tissue adhesive (Tisseel VH Fibrin Sealant) to adhere the graft can improve long-term outcomes by lowering recurrence rates, according to the findings of a retrospective case series presented by investigators from the University of California-Irvine.

UVA-induced collagen crosslinking (CCL) followed by surface excimer ablation shows promise as a safe and effective technique for visual rehabilitation in eyes with keratoconus or postLASIK ectasia, said A. John Kanellopoulos, MD.

Special awards recipients advance AAO mission for eye care

Applying new philanthropy to blindness prevention

Gerald J. Harris, MD, the recipient of the Wendell L. Hughes Award for 2006, delivered the lecture entitled "Oculofacial Reconstruction after Mohs Surgery" during a symposium on oculoplastic surgery at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting.

The SOLX Gold Micro-Shunt (GMS, OccuLogix) is a novel approach to treating increased IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma that does not respond to other therapies and is a good alternative to trabeculectomy, according to Shlomo Melamed, MD, an investigator based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

VISX University celebrated its 10th anniversary Friday at the Sands Expo Center with record attendance. More than 400 physicians and practice managers joined the general session and breakout courses.

The new SofPort AO violet-filtering aspheric lens from Bausch & Lomb features innovative technology that blocks high-energy violet light while preserving blue light.

"Physicians must realize that dispensing is a retail business and it's a totally different breed of cat than having a surgical practice," said Phernell C. Walker II, ABOM, Master in Ophthalmic Optics.