Mist can offer comfort, ease of use with dry eye after LASIK
August 15th 2004A preservative-free moisturizing ocu-lar mist consisting of tissue-culture-grade medical water bottled to pharmaceutical standards (Nature's Tears, Bio-Logic Aqua Technologies) is a first-line recommendation for treating dry eye following LASIK. The eye mist is favored because of the ease of use and comfort level of the product and high patient compliance, according to two ophthalmologists who regularly recommend the product.
Disorders of accomoation can be perplexing
August 15th 2004Lausanne, Switzerland-Disorders of accommodation can be caused by disruption of neuroregulation. While many patients present with an insidious and mild accommodative insufficiency, often accompanying a systemic illness, the acute onset of severe and bilateral loss of accommodation is a more serious condition and may indicate the presence of a midbrain lesion.
Acute palsies may require assessing ischemic risk factors
August 15th 2004Montreal-Acute third-, fourth-, or sixth-nerve palsies do not seem to be associated with myocardial infarctions (MI) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), but the development of one of these palsies is an indi- cation for an assessment of ischemic risk factors, according to Kashif Baig, MD, MBA.
Vertical diplopia requires detailed history, complete exam
August 1st 2004Nashville-Vertical diplopia has an extensive differential diagnosis. However, it is im-portant to realize that if the ophthalmologist does an appropriate history and looks for a few key clues, there is rarely a case for which it is necessary to order imaging studies, according to Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville.
Visual acuity benefit seen with SnET2 photodynamic therapy
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-The investigational drug tin ethyl etiopurpurin (SnET2) produced a visual acuity benefit and slowed the development of neovascular lesions in two phase III trials of SnET2 photodynamic therapy (PDT) (Miravant Medical Technologies) for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with wet age-related macular degeneration, said Edgar L. Thomas, MD, Retina-Vitreous Associates, Los Angeles.
Vertical diplopia requires detailed history, complete exam
August 1st 2004Nashville-Vertical diplopia has an extensive differential diagnosis. However, it is im-portant to realize that if the ophthalmologist does an appropriate history and looks for a few key clues, there is rarely a case for which it is necessary to order imaging studies, according to Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville.
Key factors help clinician assess strabismus, diplopia
August 1st 2004Oklahoma City-When patients with strabismus or diplopia present, ophthalmologists question if the condition is a congenital or an acquired neurologic disease and if imaging or any other tests are needed. R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, differentiated among the various possibilities.
Use term 'papilledema' with caution to avoid unnecessary testing
August 1st 2004Papilledema is a term that is best reserved for optic disc edema that is due to increased intracranial pressure. All other forms of optic disc swelling should probably be referred to as optic disc edema to avoid clinical confusion with the more specific term, papilledema. Ophthalmologists should therefore be cautious about using the term papilledema when they really mean ischemic optic neuropathy or optic neuritis. This is especially important when referring patients to other consultants (for example, neurology) because these patients may end up with inappropriate, expensive, or unnecessary testing.
Constricted pupil may indicate physiologic anisocoria
August 1st 2004Iowa City, IA-The constricted pupil is both easy and hard to diagnose. As with the dilated pupil, there are easy-to-diagnose conditions in the patient with a small pupil-such as physiologic anisocoria, Horner's syndrome, and iris abnormalities-and these occur commonly. Pharmacologic miosis, Adie's pupil, and aberrant regeneration of the third nerve, however, are a bit harder to pinpoint, according to Andrew G. Lee, MD, who outlined his practical approach to diagnosing the constricted pupil.
Detection of structural damage key to glaucoma management
August 1st 2004New York-Structure does predict function, George A. (Jack) Cioffi, MD, told participants in the Glaucoma 2004 meeting here, and therefore measurement of the optic nerve head is important in assessing the presence and progression of the disease.
Research pointing to role of retinal iron overload in AMD
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Accumulating evidence is providing support for the hypothesis that elevated iron levels in the retina may be a factor in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), said Joshua Dunaief, MD, PhD
Lutien/zeaxanthin associated with decreased risk of AMD
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-A new analysis of baseline data collected in participants of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) reveals a higher intake of lutein/zeaxanthin was associated with a decreased likelihood of having advanced age-related macular degen- eration (AMD). The results were reported by John Paul SanGiovanni, ScD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Re-search in Vision and Ophthalmology.
NSAID with BAK as comfortable as preservative-free formula
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-In a comparison of the comfort of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) formulations, ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution 0.4% with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) (Acular LS, Allergan) seemed to be as comfortable as preservative-free ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Acular PF, Allergan) based on ratings by 45 healthy volunteers who received two doses of the drops in a randomized, investigator-masked, single-center clinical trial
Corneal epithelial barrier function studied in eyes receiving fluoroquinolones
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL- In a preliminary mouse model study of corneal epithelial permeability and barrier function, several differences were found be- tween gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% (Zymar, Allergan) and moxifloxacin ophthalmic solu- tion 0.5% (Vigamox, Alcon) but the significance of these findings is unclear, ac- cording to Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, who presented a poster on this study at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Diffusion through aging Bruch's membrane studied
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Studies evaluating age-related changes in the diffusional status of macromolecular transport processes across Bruch's membrane may provide new insight into the pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and suggest new targets for intervention, said Ali A. Hussain, PhD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Visual acuity benefit seen with SnET2 photodynamic therapy
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-The investigational drug tin ethyl etiopurpurin (SnET2) produced a visual acuity benefit and slowed the development of neovascular lesions in two phase III trials of SnET2 photodynamic therapy (PDT) (Miravant Medical Technologies) for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with wet age-related macular degeneration, said Edgar L. Thomas, MD, Retina-Vitreous Associates, Los Angeles.
Pseudophakic uveitc eyes at risk for traeculectomy failure
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Prior pseudophakia appears to be a risk factor for trabeculectomy failure in eyes with uveitic glaucoma, said K. Sheng Lim, MD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Scleral flap technique simplifies glaucoma device implantation
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Experience with implantation of the Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma device (Optonol Ltd.) under a scleral flap in high-risk eyes shows that it is a simple and effective technique for controlling IOP and reduces complications encountered with subconjunctival implantation, said Trevor R. Carmichael, MD, PhD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Survey study correlates glaucoma with cardiovascular risk
August 1st 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Results of the OPTIME Study show that cardiovascular risk factors are significantly more prevalent among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) compared with unaffected controls, reported Nicola Orzalesi, MD, PhD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Combination regimen may offer best topical keratitis treatment
August 1st 2004New York-Results of an in vitro susceptibility study suggest a combination regimen consisting of clarithromycin and a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone may offer the best topical treatment for keratitis due to non-tuberculous Mycobacteria, said Mahendra K. Shah, MS.