News

San Francisco-The BD K-4000 microkeratome (Becton, Dickinson & Co.) can be used reliably to create high-quality flaps of predictable dimensions, said Robert M. Kersh-ner, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Novartis Ophthalmics and QLT Inc. have received the 2003 Helen Keller Prize for Innovation in Eye Care for their development of verteporfin for injection (Visudyne) therapy.

Somerset, NJ-MedPointe Inc. has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to azelastine HCl (Optivar), a treatment for itching of the eye associated with allergic conjunctivitis in adults and children ages 3 and older.

STAAR Surgical has submitted the final module of its FDA pre-market approval papers for its implantable contact lens (ICL).

Dublin, CA-Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. has purchased worldwide distribution rights to a new perimetry device for the detection and management of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A loading forceps (American Surgical Instruments Corp. [ASICO]) is designed to set an IOL in the cartridge easilyand rapidly and without damaging the lens surface. The device, the Akahoshi Acrylic Loading Forceps AE-4253, was designed by Takayuki Akahoshi, MD, director of the Mitsui Memorial Hospital in Tokyo, Japan.

Heidelberg, Germany-The accommodative power of a new accommodative IOL is about 1 D compared with that of a monofocal IOL that provided pseudoaccommodation of about 0.5 D, according to Gangolf Sauder, MD, and Jost Jonas, MD.

Dayton, OH-Move over a few disc diameters from the optic nerve head to assess the retinal thickness in the para-macular region for early diagnosis and close monitoring of the glaucomatous process. That's the message of Talia Technology Inc., Tampa.

Durham, NC-Corneal thickness should be taken into account when assessing a patient's risk profile for progression from ocular hypertension to glaucoma, according to a Duke University glaucoma specialist.

Milwaukee-The approach to repairing a bleb leak in the office needs to be in the context of what will provide the greatest benefit for the patient with the least amount of risk, according to glaucoma specialist Dale K. Heuer, MD.

When prescribing ophthalmic drugs, the decision of whether to opt for a generic substitute involves greater consideration than may be required for a systemic agent.

San Francisco-Mounting evidence supports a relationship between the immune system and glaucoma, according to Martin B. Wax, MD, a cell biologist and ophthalmologist.

Saratoga, CA-A pivotal trial has begun with the implantable miniature telescope (IMT) (VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies Inc., Saratoga, CA), a low vision IOL for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), following a successful phase I trial. In that trial, most patients gained three or more lines of near or distance visual acuity and improved their ability to perform daily activities.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Central corneal thickness (CCT) influences IOP measurement and almost certainly plays an important role in pharmacokinetics. However, a recent study found that CCT did not significantly affect mean IOP despite differences in CCT between black and non-black patients who had been treated for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT).

San Francisco-Due to the rapid aging of the U.S. population, public health officials are predicting a dramatic increase in the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) over the next 2 decades.

The FDA has approved the expansion of the clinical trial of Anamed Inc.'s Perma-Vision intracorneal lens for the correction of hyperopia up to +6 D.

The FDA will allow an increase in the number of clinical trial patients eligible to be treated for presbyopia with SurgiLight's OptiVision system.

Boston-The Schepens Eye Research Institute will honor the memory of the late Rep. John Joseph Moakley (D-MA) with a new endowed chair called the Moakley Scholar in Aging Eye Research.

Dallas-Ronald A. Schachar, MD, the founder and chairman of Presby Corp., has resigned as director, officer, and employee of the company, which is now known as Refocus Group Inc. Dr. Schachar's resignation occurred as the medical device company moved to expand its board of directors.

San Francisco-Two groups of doctors interested in promoting education among refractive surgeons have decided to join forces.

Dallas-TransFirst Health Services is offering credit card transaction processing for more than 8,000 members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA).

Mountain View, CA-California's Medicare Part B carrier will begin to cover transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) and feeder vessel (FV) laser protocols to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Santa Ana, CA-Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) Inc. has secured distribution rights for a capsular tension ring, manufactured by OPHTEC BV, that is said to ensure capsular bag stability.

New York-Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s sales force will help sell Pfizer Inc.'s once-daily latanoprost ophthalmic solution (Xalatan) to U.S. ophthalmologists.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-When assessing a patient with dry eye, clinicians should keep the time of day in mind, said Carolyn G. Begley, OD, MS.

Hunting for Larry W. Kreider, MD, ophthalmologist, is more than just a sport. Since he began hunting with his father and grandfather at 12 years old, he has made memories and learned lessons that he will never forget.

Oklahoma City-The delivery of remote care is one aspect of telemedical communication that is gaining increased attention because of its positive health and economic impact.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-New innovative approaches for treating dry eye have been emerging that researchers hope will alleviate symptoms for the enormous number of patients affected by this disease.

The Legacy phacoemulsification system with AdvanTec (Alcon) runs cooler compared with the Sovereign phacoemulsification system with WhiteStar (Advanced Medical Optics) under all experimental conditions in air, according to Kevin M. Miller, MD.

Salt Lake City-New instrumentation makes it virtually impossible to cause a wound burn during microphacoemulsification in human cadaver eyes.