News

A special session on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) sponsored by Novartis Ophthalmics was held at the W New Orleans Hotel to spotlight the direction research is taking with the disease.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) utilizing a short-pulse, low-energy (532 nm) laser (Selecta Duet, Lumenis) is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with open-angle glaucoma. This approach offers good IOP lowering and control while preserving the trabecular meshwork architecture, said its developer, Mark A. Latina, MD.

Although amblyopia has been recognized for a long time, patching has been the primary treatment and the cause is unknown., according to Creig Hoyt, MD of San Francisco during the William F. Hoyt Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dermis fat grafts have become "overlooked" as orbital implants in favor of newer alternatives but deserve to maintain a role in primary and secondary socket implant procedures, and more complex socket problems, said James A. Katowitz, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) should be considered first for patients with endothelial dysfunction requiring corneal transplant surgery, said Mark A. Terry, MD.

The accommodating IOL (Crystalens, eyeonics) appears promising in providing pseudophakic patients with enough pseudoaccommodation to function without near glasses, said George I. Papastergiou, MD.

An implantable miniature telescope (IMT, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies Inc.) may help improve visual acuity in patients with bilateral, end-stage macular degeneration, according to the phase II/III results at 6 months.

Stuart L. Fine, MD, covered the evolution of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over the last 35 years in his Jackson Memorial Lecture during the opening session of the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Laserex held a breakfast symposium Sunday morning to address the merits and mechanisms of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and to provide a forum to discuss the efficacy of SLT in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

FCI Ophthalmics (Booth 5339) announces that it has been awarded distribution rights for the Mackool Cataract Support System (CSS).

The tenets of evidence-based medicine, rather than anecdotal evidence, can be used to improve cataract and refractive surgery outcomes, concluded panelists at a breakfast CME symposium on Sunday.

Perhaps more valuable if less provocative than clues to the "Da Vinci Code," as set out in the bestselling thriller, are the keys to the glaucoma code, which could lead to improvements in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

NuLens Ltd., a company formed 2 years ago in Herzliya Pituach, Israel, has developed a new accommodative IOL technology that offers more than 10 D of accommodative power, according to Joshua Ben-Nun, MD, chief scientific officer, NuLens, who spoke at a breakfast session during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Eyeonics announces that it has received FDA approval to market its accommodating IOL (Crystalens) in 0.25-D steps.

Up-to-date results from participants in the FDA clinical trial of the recently approved phakic myopic IOL (Verisyse, Advanced Medical Optics) demonstrate that implant provides excellent refractive outcomes with a good safety profile, said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Data collected through up to 1 year of follow-up in the FDA multicenter clinical trial of the toric ICL (STAAR Surgical) support the efficacy, safety, and predictability of that phakic IOL for correcting myopic astigmatism, said Captain Steven Schallhorn, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Prevention of postLASIK dry eye by recognition and management of risk factors is critical because treatment of dry eye that develops after LASIK can be challenging, said Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, in a keynote address at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Late onset bleb leakage usually occurs 2 to 3 years after glaucoma filtering surgery with an incidence between 2% and 9%. This condition warrants treatment, according to Philip P. Chen, MD, who spoke during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

A new preventive approach to perforating ocular injuries seems to prevent the almost inevitable development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) that follows this type of injury, according to Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Patients who undergo intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) injection for the treatment of retinal disease should be closely monitored because of the risk of steroid-induced IOP, explained Michele C. Lim, MD, during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. and Laser Diagnostic Technologies Inc. (LDT) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Carl Zeiss Meditec's acquisition of LDT.

Ophthalmologists can improve glaucoma care by evaluating the optic nerve to assess the patient's risk of progression, according to speakers at a CME symposium Saturday. Faculty members provided the audience with tips for determining disease severity through optic nerve evaluation, employing a systematic approach to the evaluation, identifying patients at risk of disease progression, and determining the most effective treatment.

Laser presbyopia reversal (LAPR) is showing significant promise and patient satisfaction based on 12-month follow-up results from a U.S. clinical trial, said Sandra C. Belmont, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Following its recent initial public offering, IntraLase has positioned itself for growth in the keratome market.

Refractive surgeons shared their experiences with the One Use-Plus microkeratome (Moria) for LASIK flaps as well as clinical trials using the new Epi-K device (Moria) for epi-LASIK, which is not yet available in the United States.

Two phase III trials, one phase II trial, and one extension trial of anti-VEGF agent Lucentis (Genentech) are under way.

The C-01-99 phase III clinical trial, which compared a 15-mg dose of anecortave acetate (Alcon Laboratories) with standard administration of verteporfin for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), found that there was no statistical difference between the two treatments.

The VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Inhibition Study in Ocular Neovascularization (VISION), a phase III appraisal of three doses of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) (0.3, 1, and 3 mg) compared with a sham procedure, found that the 0.3-mg dose of Macugen improves visual outcomes in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Refractive lens exchange with implantation of the Acrysof ReSTOR IOL (Alcon Laboratories) is an effective method for providing an excellent range of vision for presbyopic myopes or hyperopes, said Francesco Carones, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Results of the 2004 ISRS/AAO refractive surgery survey show some continuing trends, a few surprises, and the impact of new technology on refractive surgery practices.