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Cataract surgeons in the United States now have at their disposal an exceptionally useful and beneficial device, the capsular tension ring (CTR), available from two different sources (Morcher Capsular Tension Ring, FCI Ophthalmics; StabilEyes, Advanced Medical Optics Inc.). A simple ring of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with an eyelet at either end, the ring may be inserted into the capsular bag to enhance stability and centration. I have had the opportunity to employ this device and would like to share my current view of its proper use, benefits, and risks.

Cataract surgeons in the United States now have at their disposal an exceptionally useful and beneficial device, the capsular tension ring (CTR), available from two different sources (Morcher Capsular Tension Ring, FCI Ophthalmics; StabilEyes, Advanced Medical Optics Inc.). A simple ring of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with an eyelet at either end, the ring may be inserted into the capsular bag to enhance stability and centration. I have had the opportunity to employ this device and would like to share my current view of its proper use, benefits, and risks.

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Contact lens use, as we know it today, began in the late 1940s with the introduction of the corneal contact lens, although sclero-corneal contact lenses were first used in the late 1880s. Even though use of contact lenses is approximately 120 years old, the basic concepts and the physiological optical principles leading to the clinical development of the contact lens date back to the 15th century.

Howard R. Krauss, MD, shared these "10 Golden Rules for differentiating optic neuritis from optic nerve sheath meningioma."

Los Angeles-Chronic progressive optic neuritis or optic nerve sheath meningioma? Until fairly recently, differentiating these two clinical entities would not have affected the clinical outcome because of the lack of an established safe, efficacious treatment for either condition. However, things have changed, said Howard R. Krauss, MD.

George A. (Jack) Cioffi, MD, is board-certified in ophthalmology. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Carolina and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Maryland and fellowship inresearch and clinical glaucomaat Devers Eye Institute.

Irvine, CA-Allergan Inc. said it has filed a lawsuit against Alcon Laboratories Inc. claiming that the Fort Worth, TX company infringed upon Allergan's patents for brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15% to manufacture a generic alternative to its Alphagan P drops.

New York-Members of the FDA's advisory committee reviewing pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration say they are "impressed" with the drug but declined to take a formal vote.

This [demographic] shift will have a disproportionate impact on the specialty of ophthalmology.

San Diego-An implantable miniature telescope in the capsular bag provides a permanent visual prosthetic device for patients who are legally blind from bilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While there is a learning curve, an early assessment of the implantation indicates that anterior segment surgeons are familiar with the standard phacoemulsification and manual extracapsular surgical skills used for this procedure, according to David F. Chang, MD.

Multifocal ablations have been gaining ground for the correction of presbyopia in the past year. Here at the University of Ottawa we have been studying this approach with the VISX STAR S4 excimer laser, with promising results as many patients are able to achieve excellent near and distance acuity.

San Diego-With the availability of foldable IOLs able to correct up to -31 D of spherical error, refractive lens exchange (RLE) for high myopia is now an option for patients hoping to achieve a good refractive outcome. However, patients will need to be monitored long term for potential complications, such as retinal detachments and posterior capsular opacification (PCO), explained Thomas Kohnen, MD, who spoke during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

San Diego-Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is proving to be a versatile procedure that also can be used as an off-label procedure to enhance the vision of patients who have undergone cataract extraction. The visual results were excellent and patients expressed satisfaction. CK may be a more attractive procedure for this patient group because of safety and economic considerations, according to Louis D. "Skip" Nichamin, MD.

The only constant in the relatively young life of refractive surgery has been change. Even now as our patients reap the rewards of decades of research in the form of customized wavefront ablation, currently unforeseen improvements are inevitable.

San Diego-Implantation of the AcrySof ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories Inc.) anterior chamber, angle-supported, phakic refractive IOL is a "very straightforward procedure," according to Michael C. Knorz, MD.

Difference in quality of vision seen in first week after LASEK procedure.

For the past 25 years, the medical management of glaucoma has become increasingly successful. The medications currently available have superior tolerability and efficacy compared with the most commonly used drugs 20 years ago.

Only a small proportion of patients were classified as having progression using both techniques.

Use of drugs and drainage implants also improves trabeculectomy outcomes

Surgeon outlines potential remedies such as medical therapy, tamponade, adhesives

San Diego-There is a great variety of instruments and displays commercially available to assess corneal topography. The array of instrumentation makes it increasingly difficult to interpret corneal topography maps correctly. During the Innovator's Session of the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Stephen D. Klyce, PhD, introduced a device-independent neural network-based tool that automatically interprets corneal topography maps.

Simple procedure helps reduce higher-order aberrations, allowing patients to see better

Portland, OR-Seronegative spondyloarthropathies are the most likely group of diseases that ophthalmologists will encounter in their practices, yet many cases will be overlooked if doctors rely on classic textbook definitions of symptoms, according to James T. Rosenbaum, MD, professor of ophthalmology and medicine, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

The institute will continue to focus on the development of the clinician-scientist model.

Gamagori, Japan-Nidek Co. marked a major milestone with the Aug. 6 shipment of its 1,000th EC-5000 CXII excimer laser system.It was destined for service in the Lin Yi Peoples Hospital in the Shan Tong Province in China.

Irvine, CA-Medennium Inc. is moving its offices to a new facility about a mile from its previous location.

Fountain Hills, AZ-Coronado Industries Inc. announced that it has received patents for its pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) treatment device and procedure in China.

Vancouver, British Columbia-A research chemist from QLT Inc. who helped develop the verteporfin for injection (Visudyne, QLT/Novartis Ophthalmics) treatment for age-related macular degeneration is among 13 chemists from four companies who have been named Heroes of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society.

Washington, DC-The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has approved a glaucoma screening for older adults as part of its 2005 Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures.