News

Recent innovations represent significant enhancements to the Millennium Mi-crosurgical System (Bausch & Lomb), according to vitreoretinal specialists who use that platform. The Millennium Trans-conjunctival Standard Vitrectomy 25-gauge (TSV25) system allows minimally invasive pars plana vitrectomy and other vitreoretinal surgeries to be performed without the need for separate opening incisions or closing sutures.

Posterior juxtascleral injection of he angiostatic steroid analog anecortave acetate (Alcon) has been associated with a remarkable safety profile in clinical trials evaluating it for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neorvascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The recently introduced Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (HRA 2, Heidelberg Engineering) offers a number of new features that further enhance the diagnostic capabilities of this second-generation device and make it even more user- and patient-friendly, according to two retinal disease specialists.

Orlando-Adherence to recommendations from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group on the use of antioxidant and zinc supplementation for preventing advanced AMD has significant public health implications, said Frederick L. Ferris III, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Orlando-There is no evidence of an association between cataract surgery and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but cataract surgery may increase the risk for development of central geographic atrophy, according to findings from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).

Orlando-Contact lens-assisted, pharmacologically induced keratosteepening (CLAPIKS) is a safe, simple, and often effective modality for treating hyperopia present after laser vision correction surgery, said Jay McDonald II, MD, during the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmol-ogy annual meeting.

Baltimore-Physicians are weathering a climate of economic disturbances. Reimbursements continue to decline as expenses continue to increase, fueled by higher liability premiums, managed care, increased documentation requirements, and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Orlando-The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (Pharmacia) is a revolutionary development in foldable IOL technology with significant visual function benefits for cataract surgery patients, concurred speakers at a Pharmacia-sponsored continuing medical education symposium held during the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Orlando-The incidence of diplopia after cataract surgery is lower when topical anesthesia is used compared with regional anesthesia, according to Julio Yangy?MD, who described the results of a 3-year study at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Mountain View, CA-IRIDEX Corp. has launched a new educational Web site designed to educate people about laser treatment options for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Princeton, NJ-Advanced Biomedical Research Inc. has launched a new ophthalmic division, called ABR InVision, devoted to conducting clinical studies in glaucoma, retinal and corneal diseases, cataract, refractive surgery, and neuroprotection.

Philadelphia-Wills Eye Hospital and Tulane Medical Center are joining efforts to study the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared with conventional medical management as monotherapy for open-angle glaucoma.

Orlando-Refractive surgeons need to understand that the procedures they perform and their potential complications can adversely affect quality of vision, said Thomas Kohnen, MD, during the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the Amer-ican Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Orlando-The viscoadaptive material 2.3% sodium hyaluronate viscoadaptive (Healon5, Pharmacia) is an excellent choice during cataract surgery for creating space, protecting tissues, and neutralizing positive pressure, as well as for traits such as viscomydriasis, clarity, and removability, noted Robert H. Osher, MD.

Cataract surgeons whose preferred viscoelastic is DuoVisc (Alcon), the product co-packaging 1% sodium hyaluro- nate (ProVisc) and 3% sodium hyaluronate/ 4% chrondoitin sulfate (Viscoat), appreciate its advantage in allowing use of either a cohesive viscoelastic or a dispersive agent during portions of the procedure when each is needed most.

Sewickley, PA-Sodium hyaluronate 1.6% (Amvisc Plus, Bausch & Lomb) offers the right balance of desired viscoelastic properties, making it useful during each stage of cat-aract surgery and an excellent choice for nearly all phacoemulsification cases, agree cataract surgeons Richard A. Bowers, MD, and Andrew Tharp, MD.

Houston-A modification to the tip design with Aqualase technology (Alcon) seems to make the procedure more successful with denser nuclei, reported Robert Lehmann, MD, who has been using the technology successfully for almost 3 years. Aqualase technology, which uses heated fluid instead of ultrasound energy to melt nuclear ma-terial, eliminates the energy and time of standard ultrasound phacoemulsification for small-incision cataract surgery, he said.

Lexington, KY-One of the newest viscoelastic products approved by the FDA is 1.2% sodium hyaluronate (CoEase, Advanced Medical Optics), which exemplifies the trend toward developing agents with both dispersive and cohesive properties.

A filtering device called "Cruise Control" that prevents fluctuations and surges during cataract surgery is the latest upgrade to the Sonic Wave phacoemulsification system (STAAR Surgical), according to I. Howard Fine, MD, who helped develop the enhancement.

The burst mode power modulation feature of the Millennium system (Bausch & Lomb Surgical) enhances surgeon control and improves the efficiency and safety of phacoemulsification. It also allows for bimanual surgery through ultrasmall incisions using a sleeveless phaco tip, according to users.

Experience in ongoing clinical trials points to the potential of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser (Photon, Paradigm Medical) as an effective and remarkably safe alternative for removing soft lenses, said Michael B. Limberg, MD.

Norristown, PA-The Fugo Blade (MediSURG Research and Management Corp., Norristown, PA) is now in its second year of clinical use in the United States, and more than 500 U.S. surgeons have completed instructional courses and are now certified in this patented technology.

Placement of IOLs is simplified with the Unfolder Silver-Z and Emeraldimplantation systems (Advanced Medical Optics), say cataract surgeons experienced with those devices.

Precautionary measure

Orlando-Recognizing the early signs of posterior capsule (PC) rupture during cataract surgery and employing proper surgical techniques will help ensure good visual and anatomic outcomes, according to Louis D. Nichamin, MD.

Novartis Ophthalmics and Valley Forge Pharmaceuticals Inc. have entered into a licensing agreement for a novel eye medication for myopia, which in phase II clinical trials reduced progression of the disease by 50% in the first 12 months of therapy.

Sacramento-As a high-molecular-weight, high-viscosity cohesive viscoelastic, 1% sodium hyaluronate (UniVisc, CIBA Vision) protects the corneal endothelium during cataract surgery and IOL implantation and maintains the anterior chamber during sur-gical procedures.

Rosenheim, Germany-Recent software up-grades to the WhiteStar technology system (Advanced Medical Optics) have resulted in lower total ultrasound power and phaco-emulsification time.

Little Rock, AR-Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) has awarded $110,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' (UAMS) Pat and Willard Walker Eye Research Center. The funds will be allocated toward research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of blinding diseases.

Cleveland-Ophthalmology Times is a finalist in two categories in the 49th annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards Competition. The prize is the most prestigious honor than can be bestowed upon the business-to-business media.