News

Dublin, CA-Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. completed the acquisition of Laser Diagnostic Technologies (LDT), maker of a complementary technology aimed at measuring optic changes that lead to glaucoma diagnosis.

Irvine, CA-The FDA has approved Visiogen Inc.'s Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for the Synchronym dual-optic accommodating IOL.

New Orleans-Surface ablation is an important option for enhancement procedures in eyes with thin corneas or previous flap complications that are at risk for poor outcomes after LASIK treatment, said Raymond M. Stein, MD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Burlington, MA-A new approach to treating ocular ischemic syndrome-percutaneous carotid artery stenting-may be useful to treat previously inoperable lesions and provide subsequent visual and intracranial benefits, said Jeffrey L. Marx, MD.

A single state has the attention of ophthalmologists and their advocates throughout the United States-and the state in question is not even a swing state.

Munich, Germany-Posterior chamber Artisan/Verisyse aphakic IOL (Ophtec BV) implantation for aphakic correction in eyes without capsular support may be the answer to the challenges that arise with anterior chamber IOL implantation. Tobias Neuhann, MD, described a new technique that uses this normally anterior chamber IOL in a novel way.

Dublin, Ireland-Allergan Inc. will cut more than 300 jobs this spring at its Westport plant in western Ireland as it transfers its contact lens solutions operations there to Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) of Santa Clara, CA.

San Diego-Wavefront-guided PRK using the CustomVue S4 laser (VISX) was found to be safe and effective and to induce fewer higher-order aberrations when compared with standard PRK, according to Steven C. Schallhorn, MD.

Munich, Germany-Posterior chamber Artisan/Verisyse aphakic IOL (Ophtec BV) implantation for aphakic correction in eyes without capsular support may be the answer to the challenges that arise with anterior chamber IOL implantation. Tobias Neuhann, MD, described a new technique that uses this normally anterior chamber IOL in a novel way.

Implementing new technology for biometry and IOL power calculation represents an important investment for the surgeon.

Sterling, VA-WaveLight Inc. has honored four surgeons for their work in advancing new refractive laser technology through their early adoption of the company's Allegretto Wave excimer laser system.

New York-Eyetech Pharmaceuticals has appointed Barrett Katz, MD, as its vice president of medical strategy.

Durham, NC-Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc. will exclusively license several patents from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to develop and commercialize new therapeutics for treating glaucoma.

The FDA has approved a new 9-mm version of the suction ring used in Norwood EyeCare's Centurion SES Epikeratome with EpiEdge for Epi-LASIK.

New Orleans-Continued efforts in the areas of treatment, prevention trials, and understanding the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has helped "move AMD from the rear balcony to center stage," according to Stuart L. Fine, MD, department chairman, professor of ophthalmology, and director of the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

New Orleans-Glaucoma genetics should help physicians understand the pathophysiology of glaucoma and lead to the development of better tests and better treatments, according to Wallace L.M. Alward, MD.

The release of the 2005 Physician Fee Schedule includes an across-the-board increase of 1.5% to physicians as required under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA).

New York-A comparison of CustomCornea (Alcon Laboratories Inc.) and CustomVue (VISX) indicated that both systems provided excellent visual outcomes, with most eyes gaining one or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

In the area of laser surgery, selective laser trabeculoplasty has come into more widespread use.

The excitement in retina during the past year has been about the promise of the development of more effective treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the excitement has been mixed with a measure of disappointment surrounding the therapies in the pipeline but tempered by the possibility of combination therapies that warrant exploration and tweaking.

The unexpected move by Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) to acquire VISX Inc. in a $1.27 billion cash and stock deal caught Wall Street-and many in the ophthalmic industry-by complete surprise.

Chicago-Topical eye medications penetrate the cornea more rapidly after LASIK because of corneal thinning, said Hak Sung Chung, MD, PhD. As a result, pupils dilate more rapidly in these eyes after 1% tropicamide is instilled, which carries potential benefits as well as disadvantages for patients.

New York-Combining phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) and wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) seems to be a winning approach to dealing with residual myopia and longstanding striae after LASIK, according to Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, who described the procedure.

Bilbao, Spain-A research team from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of the Basque Country (EHU), led by cell biologist Elena Vecino, has been awarded a grant by the American Glaucoma Foundation for its study of animal glaucoma models, the first time that the North American Foundation has presented an award to a European research work.

Developments in refractive surgery continue and are dependent on advances in the associated technologies that drive them.

The year 2004 has been marked by important developments in IOLs.

Coronado Island, CA-The focus of attention in caring for babies with incontinentia pigmenti (IP) should be on the potential for rapid development of irreversible blindness rather than on the clinically obvious skin manifestations, said Morton F. Goldberg, MD, in the Gertrude D. Pyron Award Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology's (AAO) Web site (www.aao.org) has a new look and feel, with a redesigned home to add artistic and visual appeal and to make navigation more intuitive.

New Orleans-Earlier surgical intervention for congenital ptosis may be required, because standard treatment of observation for the first 3 to 4 years of life followed by surgical intervention may threaten vision and ocular development, according to John Linberg, MD, who delivered the 35th annual Wendell Hughes Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology here in October.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb has honored the achievements of four ophthalmologists as visionaries for their work in eye health.