News

Editor's Note: The eye is the window to our body's health. In this month's column, we examine two ocular findings in children that have led to the discovery of life-threatening kidney disease and examine the life of the physicians who made these connections.

The development of wavefront technology is a major advancement in refractive surgery. It appears to deliver overall better results than conventional LASIK, thereby increasing patient expectations. It is imperative that refractive surgeons interested in continuing to perform laser-vision correction develop expertise with this technology. As with all transitions this, too, has a learning curve that must be conquered.

Irvine, CA-Refractec Inc. has filed its pre-market approval application with the FDA for a conductive keratoplasty (CK) procedure designed for patients with presbyopia.

Newtown Square, PA-Americans age 40 and older say their biggest obstacle to laser-vision correction procedures is concern over safety, according to a survey by AllAboutVision.com.

Paris-Neurotech SA is initiating a phase I clinical trial of NT-501, its lead Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) product for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Fountain Hills, AZ-Coronado Industries has expanded its exclusive agreement with an Italian distributor to include Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia.

Mason, OH-The FDA has approved Haag-Streit International's new pachymeter, which uses Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR) to send a light beam to measure corneal thickness.

Des Plaines, IL-Micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology Inc.) may be used to reduce or eliminate myopia and astigmatism in patients with keratoconus for whom restoration of functional vision is no longer possible with contact lenses or glasses, under a new designation by the FDA.

New York-Allergan Inc. will pay nearly $230 million in cash to acquire Oculex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held company specializing in the development of treatments for sight-threatening diseases of the eye.

Monrovia, CA-The FDA's Ophthalmic Devices Panel of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health is recommending that STAAR Surgical Co.'s Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) be approved with conditions for use in correcting ?3 to ?15 D of myopia and reducing myopia in the range of ?15 to ?20 D.

Here are the top 10 reasons why it is important to attend the 2003 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) this month in Anaheim, CA.

Miami-Microbiologic studies indicated that Mycobacterium chelonae and M abscessus respond to antibacterial treatment differently from other atypical nontuberculous mycobacteria, reported Eduardo Alfonso, MD, of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami.

Mainz, Germany-Corneal thickness can be reproducibly measured using either noncontact optical coherence tomography (OCT) or ultrasound pachymetry. A comparison of results obtained with those two techniques, however, indicates that ultrasound pachymetry may underestimate corneal thickness, probably due to its applana- tion of the cornea, said Peter Breil, MD.

As an ophthalmologist, you work too hard not to consider tax planning a priority. That is, of course, unless you like spending 40% to 50% of your time working for the IRS. Still, if you are like most physicians, you don't even dedicate 1 day per month to see how you could reduce your tax liability.

Virginia Beach, VA-Femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS) creation of channels for implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs micro-thin prescription inserts, Addition Technology) represents an improved technique relative to mechanical dissection because it is easier and associated with better visual outcomes as well as fewer explantations and exchanges, according to the results of a comparative study.

Montreal-PRK using adjunctive intraoperative mitomycin-C (Mutamycin, Bristol-Myers Squibb) is a safe and effective tech- nique for treating eyes with high myopia, thin corneas, and large pupils, according to Pierre E. Demers, MD.

Wilmington, NC-There's new help available for creating LASEK flaps. Instead of making one large, hinged flap in LASEK, the Brown Butterfly trephine (Rhein Medical) allows ophthalmologists to create two smaller flaps, which, according to its inventor, is significantly more manageable.

El Paso, TX-Laser presbyopia reversal (LAPR) is showing promise in the treatment of presbyopia in early clinical trials, according to Bobby Maddox, MD.

San Diego-Analyses of subjective and objective outcome parameters indicate wavefront-guided LASIK offers better quality of vision compared with conventional LASIK, according to Steve C. Schallhorn, MD.

Wilkes-Barre, PA-Preoperative oral intake of nutritional supplements containing omega fatty acids prevents the precipitous drop-off in tear lactoferrin that occurs following the LASIK-induced creation of a neurotrophic cornea, reported Frank A. Bucci Jr., MD.

Imaging studies in typical glaucomatous cupping are usually unnecessary because the diagnosis can normally be made on clinical grounds alone (e.g., elevated IOP, glaucomatous cupping, nerve fiber layer visual field defects). In addition, glaucoma produces a specific and differentiating form of optic atrophy (i.e., cupping). Although most patients with glaucoma have an elevated IOP, some have normal-tension glaucoma.This article reviews the "red flags" for considering imaging in suspected glaucomatous optic atrophy.

Detroit-Careful tracking of socket surgery cases will allow surgeons to analyze their results and thereby learn valuable lessons that will enable them to take better care of future patients, said Murray D. Christian-son, MD.

New York-More drugs are in the pipeline that may have a positive impact on the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One that is providing good results is anecortave acetate (15 mg) for depot suspension, (Retaane, Alcon).

Toronto-Offering dual linear control of vacuum and phaco power in conjunction with burst mode, the Millennium microsurgical system (Bausch & Lomb) enhances phaco safety and efficiency to optimize patient outcomes, said Rosa M. Braga-Mele, MD.

Although patients with uveitis are at increased risk of complications following cataract surgery with IOL implantation, due to pre-existing inflam- mation, improvements in technology, materials, and surgical techniques have greatly improved outcomes.

Stanford, CA-Tube shunt surgery is an efficacious way to lower IOP in complicated glaucomas, according to Mary Ann Lloyd, MD.

Durham, NC-Central corneal thickness (CCT) may be the best parameter for predicting the severity of glaucoma, according to Jennifer S. Weizer, MD.

Chicago-Ophthalmologists confront many issues in managing glaucoma, but patients with exfoliation syndrome, cataracts, and a history of refractive surgery present additional challenges.

"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime."

The sunny, southern California city of Anaheim plays host this year to the 107th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). The program is being held at the completely renovated Anaheim Convention Center and features a new compact format that conveniently consolidates all of the educational opportunities of subspecialty days and the annual meeting into 5 days.