News

Atlanta—Interim study analyses from a multicenter, North American trial indicate LASIK for treatment of hyperopia with or without astigmatism using the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser is associated with consistently good safety and efficacy outcomes, reported George O. Waring III, MD, the medical monitor for the study.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) (NearVision, Refractec Inc.) improves near vision in presbyopic eyes and in presbyopic eyes that had undergone an excimer laser procedure.

San Francisco—A number of studies have suggested an increased rate of endophthalmitis with clear cornea surgery compared with scleral tunnel surgery, and potential causes of this increase include incision location, incision architecture and changes in antibiotic prophylaxis, according to David G. Hwang, MD.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—Bimanual microincision phacoemulsification is ready for prime time and expected to have an even brighter future, according to William W. Culbertson, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

The cartridge allows easy IOL loading, visualization of progression, and implantation through an unenlarged incision.

For the past few years, the lure of ever smaller incisions has enticed cataract surgeons who perform temporal, clear corneal phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia. With a variety of shooters, we have been placing IOLs through 2.5- to 2.8-mm incisions and we feel comfortable with our self-sealing wounds and good results. Still, as many of us recall with previous transitions in our cataract surgery development, taking on a new skill requires stepping out of one's comfort zone to take advantage of even better technology. Such has been the situation with bimanual phacoemulsification.

Contrast sensitivity testing has long been a technology that clinicians know has value, but the interpretation and implementation of the results were not clear. A number of recent scientific publications and new FDA standards have paved the way for contrast sensitivity to be more easily incorporated into routine clinical practice. This article traces the background of contrast sensitivity testing and some of the exciting developments related to its use in FDA clinical trials, for the management of "quality of vision," and for the monitoring and treatment of disease.

The 2005 keynote session, to be held in the Grand Floridian D in the convention center on Sunday, May 1, from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m., will feature two distinguished speakers: NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, who will speak on "NIH: Advancing science in the 21st century," and 2003 Nobel Laureate Peter Agre, MD, who will deliver a address titled "Aquaporin water channels—From atomic structure to clinical medicine."

Fort Lauderdale, FL—The theme of this year's annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is "Global Networking." More than 9,000 scientists will be in attendance, and there will be in excess of 5,500 paper and poster presentations, more than 50 special events and presentations, and more than 100 exhibitors from which to choose. The conference begins Sunday, May 1, and wraps up on Thursday, May 5.

San Diego—Thomas A. George has joined Ophthonix Inc. as its chief financial officer. George, a CPA with more than 27 years of financial management experience, will oversee all financial controls, organization, and relationships.

Evry, France—Novagali Pharma, a drug delivery specialty company using cationic emulsions to develop age-related macular degeneration treatments, has hired Florence Barouki-Binlich, MD, as its vice president for development and medical affairs.

East Hanover, NJ—Novartis Ophthalmics is offering its Visudyne Access Network to help patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) get information about their disease.

Springfield, IL—Illinois ophthalmologists could face 3 years in prison under a proposed state law if they implant "eye jewelry" in a patient.

Seattle, WA—Visient Therapeutics Inc. has enrolled its first patient in a new phase I clinical trial to evaluate Light Infusion Technology (Litx) in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The patient was treated by Gary Edd Fish, MD, at Texas Retina Associates in Dallas.

Fairfax, VA—The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 's Clinical Committees are ready to publish the first in a series of white papers on ophthalmic practice and clinical issues.

S?Paulo, Brazil—Ophthalmologists from all over the world are being called together for the first World Ophthalmology Congress.

Walter J. Stark, MD, will present the 16th Wilmer Memorial Lecture, which will highlight the contributions made in cataract surgery.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—Recently reported results from the European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS) have taken the ophthalmology community by surprise, reported Richard K. Parrish II, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—A topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be a valuable tool for cataract surgeons.

FDA approvals occurring within a few days of each other have brought ophthalmologists two new multifocal IOLs to select fromfor patients seeking lessened spectacle dependency after cataract surgery.

Washington, DC &#8212 Early results of a study evaluating wavefront-guided customized treatment using the Epi-Lift technique indicate that the Gebauer EpiTome (VisiJet/Advanced Refractive Technologies) works well to separate the corneal epithelium. However, there has been significant interpatient variability so far in the level of postoperative comfort, speed of visual recovery, and time to removal of the therapeutic soft contact lens, reported Terrence P. O'Brien, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

Delegates of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) meeting received a special treat during Friday evening's welcome reception. The attraction: the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

The interest rate contributes directly to the 'rate of return'of the security, which is essentially the rate that an investor expects to receive.

Atlanta—Arterial dissection can be overlooked in a patient who presents to an ophthalmologist with acute orbital or periorbital pain. Val?rie Biousse, MD, described the appropriate steps to take to ensure an accurate diagnosis and avoid a subsequent cerebral insult.

New Orleans—Silicone hydrogel contact lenses may produce fewer complications for patients because of their high oxygen permeability, although their extended wearability could negate that advantage, suggested Peter R. Kastl, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology and adjunct professor of biochemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans.

Patients don't have to live in Los Angeles, New York, or even Seattle to receive top-notch ophthalmic care. In a bucolic college town located in central Washington State, John Boys Smith, MD, offers patients cutting-edge eye care with state-of-the-art medical technology.

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Welcome to Ophthalmology Times E-news, providing daily coverage of the 2005 ASCRS meeting from Washington, D.C., April 16-19.Over the next several days, you will receive "instant" meeting coverage of the top clinical presentations, breaking industry news, the latest new products, and other ophthalmic information. The editors of Ophthalmology Times will cover the ASCRS meeting, gathering the latest news and information, and deliver it daily to your inbox.If you would like to receive these updates in your in-box click www.ophthalmologytimes.com/enews

Ophthalmology's very own "piano man," Roberto Pinelli, MD, will entertain attendees of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) symposium this week in Washington, DC.

Physicians have chance to learn about latest advances in surgical techniques, technology, practice management