News

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.

Valuable new data continue to be gleaned from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). In this large randomized, controlled clinical study of 4,753 patients, investigators at 11 sites evaluated the effect of antioxidants vitamins C and E and zinc compared with placebo in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Topical application of mitomycin-C (MMC) is more effective for preventing corneal haze after PRK than it is for treating existing haze, but further studies are needed to establish the long-term corneal safety of this strongly cytostatic agent, said Marcelo V. Netto, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

San Diego-Implantation of the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical) to treat myopia has a negligible effect on the corneal endothelium 3 to 4 years after implantation of the lens, according to Henry Edelhauser, PhD.

San Diego-Recurrent outbreaks of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) seem to be associated with problems with cleaning protocols and bacterial contamination. Constant vigilance and maintenance of strict cleaning protocols are essential to prevent recurrences of DLK, said Simon P. Holland, MD.

Indianapolis-In vivo imaging studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) are providing new insight into the pathology of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, according to Hua Gao, MD, PhD.

S?o Paulo, Brazil-Botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan) significantly improves all aspects of quality of life in patients with blepharospasm, according to Tammy Osaki, MS, a medical student at the Vision Institute of the Federal University of S?o Paulo, Brazil.

San Diego-A new technique for corneal marking and probe placement seems to improve the accuracy and standardization of probe placement in conductive keratoplasty (CK). This has translated into improved surgical outcomes, reported Charles H. Williamson, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

San Diego-Wavefront-guided treatments seem to improve night-vision disturbances caused by LASIK. Patients with severe higher-order aberrations after the initial refractive procedure benefitted from treatment driven by the Wavefront Aberration Supported Corneal Ablation (WASCA) aberrometer and the MEL-80 excimer laser driven by the CRS-Master software platform (all from Carl Zeiss Meditec AG).

Baltimore-Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health studying a well-defined, older population found refractive error and myopia were highly heritable.

Vienna, VA-The 200 Hz Eye Tracker is an excellent addition to the EC-5000 excimer laser system (Nidek), according to Nancy A. Tanchel, MD.

As another safety bonus, improper assembly is no longer a concern.

San Diego-Implantation of the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical) to treat myopia has a negligible effect on the corneal endothelium 3 to 4 years after implantation of the lens, according to Henry Edelhauser, PhD.

Kingston, PA-FDA study results show the safety and effectiveness of the investigational viscous-dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) DisCoVisc (Alcon Laboratories) for use during cataract surgery and IOL implantation, said Harvey Reiser, MD.

With the relatively recent FDA approval of capsular tension rings (CTRs), cataract surgeons finally have the opportunity to use these devices for their patients

San Diego-A system for performing a sutureless posterior vitrectomy uses 25-gauge cannula instruments that can be inserted directly through the conjunctiva and eliminates the need for its dissection. The transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy system (TSV25, Bausch & Lomb) reduces the problems associated with performing surgery in eyes with a shallow anterior chamber, according to Rosa Braga-Mele, MD.

The AcrySof Natural IOL (SN60AT, Alcon Laboratories) has the ability to attenuate blue light-mediated cell death, according to results of a cell culture system study comparing several IOLs.

IOLs that block blue light, such as the AcrySof Natural IOL (Alcon Laboratories), trade scotopic visual performance for limited protection against acute UV-blue retinal phototoxicity, and they are a particularly poor choice for individuals whose scotopic vision is impaired because of conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, according to Martin A. Mainster, PhD, MD, FRCOphth.

Eye surgeons who routinely use injection anesthesia may find it helpful to utilize a device to shield the globe and periocular structures.

San Diego-A laboratory comparison of the theoretical optical performance of three different IOLs conducted under similar intraocular conditions indicated that the aberration-free IOL (L161AO, Bausch & Lomb) was superior to the conventional IOL (L161U, Bausch & Lomb) in optical performance under all conditions. It was superior to the modified prolate aspheric IOL (Tecnis Z9000, Advanced Medical Optics) in various degrees of decentration, and it maintained optical performance in various simulated clinical conditions.

Almost all cases of phacoemulsification can be performed by means of a bimanual microincision approach. The major advantage ofbimanual microincisions has been an improvement in control over most of the steps involved in endocapsular surgery. The anterior chamber is more stable during capsulorhexis construction, hydrodelineation and hydrodissection can be performed more efficiently, and separation of irrigation from aspiration allows for improved followability by avoiding competing currents at the tip of the phaco needle.

Magnets have led travelers and explorers safely home and have spared ship's captains from the ocean depths. Today, they play a major role in medicine in the analysis of ourinternal organs by the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

New York-Multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs) and multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEPs) are relatively new techniques that are starting to be used in a clinical setting. Jeffrey G. Odel, MD, discussed the usefulness of these diagnostic tests in patients with neuro-ophthalmic pathology.

Buffalo, NY-In the absence of optic nerve swelling, the clinician may be faced with a difficult diagnosis in a patient with a pale optic nerve, according to Norah S. Lincoff-Cohen, MD. A comprehensive differential diagnosis needs to be made to rule out disorders that may require immediate treatment.

New York -Five potential causes of failure of glaucoma filtration surgery include excessive subconjunctival fibrosis, tight scleral flap sutures, encapsulated bleb, occluded internal ostium, and intraocular obstruction, according to James C. Tsai, MD.

Munich, Germany-The key to minimizing vision loss associated with diabetic macular edema (DME) is to develop a treatment to prevent the edema from reaching the center of the macula, according to analyses of a study by Eli Lilly and Co.

Aliso Viejo, CA-Eyeonics Inc. is altering the wording of the physician's labeling on its Crystalens IOL to indicate better that it can treat presbyopia.

Fairfax, VA-Physicians-in-training in ophthalmology may take the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program examination April 16, 2005, in Washington, DC.

San Carlos, CA-The international approval process of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen) as a potential treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration is under way, as the companies begin filings in Europe, Canada, and Japan.

Irvine, CA-The FDA will let VisiJet Inc. sell its surgical device for separating corneal tissue in the United States, according to the company.