News

Jackson, MI—The patient-reported quality of life is high with the AcrySof IOLs (Alcon Laboratories), according to Paul Ernest, MD, who reported a significant improvement in the quality of life after cataract surgery with implantation of either a conventional AcrySof IOL or the AcrySof Natural lens.

New Orleans—The modified prolate anterior surface IOL (Tecnis, AMO) is creating a new standard for visual performance after cataract surgery, according to Robert M. Kershner, MD, MS, FACS, at the Spotlight on Cataracts 2004: Cataract Controversies Symposium, held during the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and European Society of Ophthalmology.

New Orleans—The condition of the anterior segment will determine the outcome of secondary IOL implantation in children, according to Edward G. Buckley, MD, chief, divisions of pediatrics and neuro-ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC.

New Orleans—Refractive lens exchange (RLE) with implantation of the Acrysof SA 60D3 ReSTOR IOL (Alcon Laboratories) is an effective method for treating myopia and hyperopia in presbyopic age patients, said Francesco Carones, MD, at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

The lens is unique in that it is designed to change its true power during accommodation rather than changing its position in the eye.

Brookville, PA—The new aberration-free aspheric IOL (SofPort Advanced Optics, Bausch & Lomb) is an exciting advance in implant technology because of its potential to offer better quality of vision to all patients, said Louis D. "Skip" Nichamin, MD.

San Diego—With data available from up to 1 year of follow-up in an ongoing FDA multicenter clinical trial, the toric ICL (STAAR Surgical) is demonstrating favorable efficacy, safety, and predictability for the correction of myopic astigmatism, said Capt. Steven C. Schallhorn, MD.

Chicago—Although the introduction of aphakic IOLs led to a 50-year epidemic of pseudophakic corneal edema, it is unlikely that the advent of phakic IOLs will cause history to repeat itself, said Joel Sugar, MD.

Washington, DC—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that as of Jan. 1, 2005, the Medicare Part B allowable for pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) is 106% of average sales price (ASP), or $1,054.70 per injection.

Kingston, NH—The FDA has approved D.O.R.C. International/Dutch Ophthalmic USA's New Drug Application for its patented VisionBlue staining solution for use in cataract surgery.

Fairfax, VA—The FDA is asking cataract surgeons to report any incidents of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) that they have experienced on the agency's MedWatch Web site.

Two of the most critical and foundational elements in the diagnosis of glaucoma—consistent examination of the optic nerve and aggressively lowering IOP—are one step closer to reality.

Newark, NJ—Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a safe and effective procedure to treat patients with LASIK complications, an off-label application of the procedure, in whom an additional laser procedure is contraindicated, said Peter Hersh, MD.

Baltimore—Ongoing programs at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) are having a positive influence on bringing more safe and effective drugs to market, said Wiley A. Chambers, MD.

New Orleans—Patients undergoing intraocular refractive surgery with either refractive lens exchange (RLE) or phakic intraocular lens implantation need to be informed that there is a lifelong risk of retinal detachment, said Kirk H. Packo, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

regionals

Columbus, OH—In children with juvenile myopia, younger age at onset appears to be associated with an increased risk for rapid progression of refractive error, said Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD.

Quality of life (QOL) has become an issue in every branch of medicine, including ophthalmology. From an economic perspective, loss of productivity contributes to the economic burden of a disease in the same manner as the shared costs of treatment.

New Orleans—"What is quality of human vision? And what should we be looking for when we assess it?" asked Jack T. Holladay, MD, MSEE, FACS, who delivered the Barraquer Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

In the midst of all the uncertainty about his health, Dr. Ogawa was thrilled when the cabin was completed in May 2003.

None of the patients treated with prophylactic ganciclovir had a recurrence.

Baltimore—Substantial improvement in visual acuity occurred in the amblyopic eyes of children in both treatment arms of a study comparing atropine and occlusive patching, said Michael X. Repka, MD.

Los Angeles—Implantation of micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology, Sunnyvale, CA) using the IntraLase femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp., Irvine, CA) to create the channels seems to be a less traumatic and a more accurate means of placing the prescription inserts in the eye, compared with the mechanical procedure for implanting them in a group of patients with keratoconus who were contact lens intolerant, reported Yaron Rabinowitz, MD.

Columbus, OH—In children with juvenile myopia, younger age at onset appears to be associated with an increased risk for rapid progression of refractive error, said Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD.

New Orleans—Intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA), a useful treatment for macular edema and neovascularization, has been associated with a high incidence of elevated IOP as early as 1 week after injection. Patients receiving IVTA should be monitored closely, according to Michele C. Lim, MD, who spoke during the American Academy of Ophthalmology's glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

New Orleans—Optic disc hemorrhage, a rare event in non-glaucomatous eyes, is a strong predictor of glaucoma as well as glaucoma progression. Clinicians might consider re-evaluating the patient's target IOP after this finding, said Jost B. Jonas, MD, at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

The greatest preoperative risk factor for CME is diabetes—the risk of developing post-cataract extraction CME has been reported to be as high as 60% in diabetics.

North Arlington, NJ—Loteprednol etabonate 0.2% ophthalmic suspension (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb) provides safe and rapid relief from the entire gamut of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, according to John Favetta, MD.

Wantagh, NY-Because of its ability to halt the allergic cascade, its long duration of action, and rapid relief of itching, nedocromil sodium ophthalmic solution 2% (Alocril, Allergan) is an excellent choice for the treatment of chronic allergic conjunctivitis, according to Jodi Luchs, MD, a private practitioner at South Shore Eye Care, Wantagh, NY.

Chicago—Ketotifen fumarate 0.025% ophthalmic solution (Zaditor, Novartis) offers rapid-onset, long-lasting relief of allergy-associated itching along with excellent local tolerability and a long-standing record of safety. Those features combined make it an outstanding therapeutic choice for all patients with allergic conjunctivitis and a particularly attractive option for the pediatric population, said Kimberlee M. Curnyn, MD.