News

Fort Lauderdale, FL-The ARVO Foundation, the non-profit research support group for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), received a $500,000 grant from Pfizer Ophthalmics, New York, to fund in partnership interdisciplinary research conferences and awards to promote research related to preventing blindness.

Progressive condition involving tissue damage is related to IOP, not necessarily elevated pressure

Branded drug with lower concentration does offer a better side effect profile than generics

Surgeons should reconsider system that allows for rapid rise in vacuum, increased efficiency

Surgeons should reconsider system that allows for rapid rise in vacuum, increased efficiency

'The low vision population continuesto expand.'Bruce P. Rosenthal, OD

Positive effect seen with azelastine solution in early, late phases of allergic response

New publication covers the Edo, Meiji eras, including Western influences

AdvaMed works to clear policy hurdles, making it easier for device manufacturers to bring their products to the marketplace.

With Advanced Medical Optics' (AMO) acquisition of the Pfizer surgical sector, it bought a lot more than just products.

Analyses of complication and adverse event data demonstrate the excellent safety profile of the capsular tension ring.

In addition to preventing allergic symptoms, an eye drop helps to improve the quality of the ocular surface.

Pinellas Park, FL-An 11-city tour is giving eye-care professionals a chance to refresh their training on the importance of providing healthy vision to patients while building a healthy practice.

Optical complications were substantial glare in about 20% of patients, halos in 30%, and problems with night driving in 20%.

Heraklion, Greece-Pilot clinical study results of Epi-LASIK suggest that the technique, which separates the epithelial sheet mechanically without the use of alcohol, could be a viable photorefractive treatment alternative, according to its inventor Ioannis G. Pallikaris, MD, PhD.

Molecular structure allows inactivation, reducing risk of intraocular side effects

Immediate benefits of anti-allergy drug include prevention of redness and swelling

Rapid relief, good safety profile, long-term efficacy are advantages for highly effective drugs

Boston-A study using a novel, objective method for quantifying eyelid swelling reinforces the benefit of olopatadine HCl 0.1% (Patanol, Alcon) for reducing eyelid swelling triggered by allergen exposure, said Mark B. Abelson, MD.

Study showed effective relief of ocular signs, symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

A 1-hour video providing a comprehensive historical and clinical review of cataract surgery using a capsular tension ring is being distributed free of charge by AMO, the company that is distributing the newly approved StabilEyes Capsular Tension Ring in the United States.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO, Santa Ana, CA) redefined its position in the ophthalmic community when it reached a definitive agreement April 21 to acquire Pfizer's surgical ophthalmology business for $450 million in cash. The deal will boost AMO's revenue base by 25% and allow the company bragging rights to the Healon line of viscoelastic products, the CeeOn and Tecnis IOLs, and the Baerveldt glaucoma shunt.

London-The Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial (EMGT) provides a unique set of data for the natural history of moderate glaucoma and demonstrates that lowering IOP by 25% protects against progression of visual field loss, according to Roger A. Hitchings, MD.

WaveLight Laser Technologie AG and Lumenis Inc. have agreed to restructuretheir global distribution agreements.

Carl Zeiss Meditec announced that the company has submitted an InvestigationalDevice Exemption (IDE) application to the FDA for LASIK utilizing the MEL-80Excimer Laser System.

"Like the Holy Grail, perfect vision is the ultimate prize, butit is illusive," stated Roger Steinert, MD, during the opening sessionof the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annualmeeting Saturday afternoon. "Its existence is uncertain, and we maynot successfully find it if we don't know what we are looking for."

Miravant Medical Technologies is asking the FDA to okay a new drug application for marketing approval of its SnET2-PDT as a treatment for patients with wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Washington, DC-The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun to cover ocular photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin to treat select patients with subfoveal occult, but no classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and subfoveal minimally classic CNV.

Oklahoma City-Optometrists in Oklahoma will no longer perform LASIK and other surgical procedures typically reserved for ophthalmologists after the state's attorney general revised his opinion on the scope of optometric surgery.

Physiologic, healing differences, technology, surgeon-dependent variables may be limitations