News

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Results of analyses of data collected in an ancillary study of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) demonstrate that an elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is an independent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). That finding provides further support for the concept that inflammation is involved in AMD pathogenesis, said Johanna M. Seddon, MD, principal investigator of the study, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Miami-Results from a preclinical tumor model indicate that anti-angiogenic therapy may offer a useful new approach for the treatment of retinoblastoma, said Timothy G. Murray, MD, at Angiogenesis 2004.

TTT is a technique in which heat is delivered to the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium through the pupil using a modified diode laser.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is the most promising of the FDA-approved therapies for exudative CNV.

San Diego-Undersurface ablation of the flap appears to be an underpracticed-but-useful procedure for enhancement in patients who underwent LASIK to treat myopia or astigmatism; it does not induce keratectasia compared with the standard enhancement technique, said Miguel J. Maldonado, MD, PhD.

Baltimore-Preparation is essential to successful cataract surgery for patients with uveitis, according to James P. Dunn Jr., MD.

San Diego-Regression after refractive surgery may be reduced by using ultraviolet A (UVA) cross-linking techniques to stabilize the cornea. The preliminary results of UVA cross-linking after refractive procedures demonstrated that regression stopped in the near term and appeared to be without adverse effects.

Pre-formed gel masks are applied to patients requesting injectable cosmetic therapies.

Las Vegas-Ophthalmologists who dispense eyewear are gearing up for the biggest program in the history of the American Association of Dispensing Ophthalmologists' meetings.

San Diego-The Artisan Phakic IOL (Ophtec BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) provides overall high satisfaction for patients with moderate to high myopia. Night vision problems from higher-order aberrations, decentration of the lens, and pupil size versus the optic disparity of the IOL should be investigated further, according to Randy Nuijts, MD.

San Diego-The I-CARE anterior chamber foldable phakic IOL (CORNEAL, Paris, France) seems to provide excellent anatomic and visual results 2 years after implantation.

San Diego-Phakic anterior chamber IOLs affect the biometric measurement of axial length, which results in clinically significant errors in IOL power calculations in patients who need to undergo cataract surgery. Gerald Zaidman, MD, described such a patient and offered suggestions for managing this complicated problem here at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Minneapolis-Differentiating ischemic optic neuropathy from optic neuritis can be problematic. The type of visual field defect, the presence or absence of pain, radiologic differences distinguishing between the two, and the degree of visual recovery, among others, may be helpful clues, Howard D. Pomeranz, MD, PhD, suggested.

San Francisco-There are distinct forms of amblyopia characterized by varying patterns of visual deficits. Both blurred imagery and the loss of binocular function can cause amblyopia and determine the pattern of visual deficit, said Suzanne P. McKee, PhD, who reported on the results of an NEI-sponsored study analyzing a comprehensive set of visual function data collected in a large group of patients with amblyopia.

Jackson, MS-In eyes without capsular support, placement of a transscleral sutured, foldable IOL through a clear corneal incision is a reasonable option, said Hussein Wafapoor, MD.

San Francisco-Pfizer Ophthalmics has given EyeCare America a $1.5 million unrestricted grant to promote the program's efforts to raise awareness of glaucoma risk factors and provide free eye examinations to uninsured people.

San Francisco-A discussion of medical policy in the United States and around the world by the administrator and chief executive officer for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will highlight the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the European Society of Ophthalmology meeting next month.

Santa Ana, CA-Advanced Medical Optics Inc.'s (AMO) Silver Series Unfolder can be used successfully with the Tecnis and CeeOn IOLs, which the company recently acquired from Pfizer Ophthalmics.

Santa Monica, CA-The first three U.S. cataract patients to receive the ThinOptX lens have achieved 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity 4 days after implantation.

Los Angeles-Like that twinkle in her eye? It might not be there just for you.

Dallas-Refocus Group Inc., a medical device company engaged in the research and development of treatments for eye disorders, announced promising preliminary data from the company's ongoing phase II clinical trials for the treatment of presbyopia.

Rochester, NY-The FDA has issued approvable letters to Bausch & Lomb for loteprednol etabonate and tobramycin ophthalmic suspension (ZyLET), and Allergan Inc. for its bimatoprost 0.03%/timolol 0.05% solution (Lumigan).

Los Angeles-A 5-year, multipart study of Latino eye health shows that open-angle glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy pose significant risks to this population.

Mississauga, Ontario-OccuLogix, an ophthalmic therapeutic company working on treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), plans to hold an initial public offering of its stock.

Des Plaines, IL-Physicians treating advanced keratoconus may find a new standard of care now that the FDA has approved a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) for micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs).

San Diego-The M2 130-?m disposable head (Moria) performed well in a small series of patients who underwent LASIK for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. The faster surgical path used with this device may be responsible for induction of less higher-order aberration.

Tokyo-Dry eye is a well-known complication of LASIK, but what may be less widely recognized is that it can be a cause of visual dysfunction in addition to a source of discomfort, said Kazuo Tsubota, MD.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Two pilot studies have shown that single doses of olopatadine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Patanol, Alcon Laboratories) and pemirolast potassium ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Alamast, Santen Inc./Johnson and Johnson) were comparable in reducing and controlling ocular itching in cat-sensitive individuals, according to Jason S. Rothman, MD, Cornea fellow, New England Eye Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-A new formulation of an anti-allergy medication, olopatadine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.2% (Patanol II, Alcon Laboratories), provides two important advantages. It allows once-daily dosing, which increases patient compliance, and maintains the level of effectiveness of the original formulation, olopatadine 0.1%, during peak pollen seasons for an extended period up to 24 hours, according to Jack Greiner, DO, PhD.

Topical anti-allergic medications do not induce the ocular drying characteristic of systemic antihistamines.