Uveitis Update: Medical, surgical options considered for uveitic glaucoma
September 1st 2002Editor's Note: Uveitic glaucoma is often not a single disease. Multiple factors, including inflammatory mediators as well as anatomic/morphologic changes, can contribute to the development of elevated IOP. Corticosteroids used to treat the inflammation can also produce elevated IOP. It is important to try to sort out these factors in patients with uveitic glaucoma to determine what category they fit in, and then select the best treatment.
Benefits of bifocal contact lens may depend on aberrations
September 1st 2002Fort Lauderdale, FL-Researchers at the University of Houston College of Optometry are trying to understand why certain individuals do not gain bifocal vision with a multizone bifocal contact lens. The reason could be dependent on an individual's optical aberrations, noted Joy A. Martin, an OD and PhD student, who spoke during the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Survey suggests better glaucoma regimen needed
September 1st 2002London: A survey by the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) of 243 European patients and 250 physicians found that a significant number of patients with glaucoma experienced difficulties taking multiple medications, indicating a need for better education about the disease and its treatment options.
Blue-blocking lens closely mimics human crystalline lens
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-The clinical results with a new, single-piece Blue Blocking AcrySof IOL (SB30, Alcon) that mimics the light transmission spectrum of a human natural crystalline lens indicate that it is safe and effective. The visual results were comparable to those obtained with the SA30 lens (Alcon) that served as a control.
Technology reduces thermal injury in small-incision surgery
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-Ultrasound energy and time are eliminated with the development of Aqualase technology (Alcon) for small-incision cataract surgery. Robert Lehmann, MD, reported on the advancement of this liquefaction technology here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cata-ract and Refractive Surgery.
Early results promising for two IOLs with sharp-edged optics
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-A new silicone IOL and a new hydrophobic acrylate lens are both easy and safe to implant, offering reliable refraction for patients with high myopia and high hyperopia, said Gerd U. Auffarth, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting here.
Brunescent lenses removed safely, effectively with cold phaco
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-The Sovereign WhiteStar system is a revolutionary "cold" phaco technology that is unique in its ability to emulsify the most brunescent nuclei without any risk of a wound burn, according to David F. Chang, MD, who reported on his experience with WhiteStar (AMO, Irvine, CA) here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Patients satisfied with improved contrast sensitivity of IOL
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (Pharmacia) performed well in a clinical trial by providing improved contrast sensitivity compared with a conventional IOL. In addition, in a model eye the Tecnis IOL also improved the optical performance by compensating for corneal aberrations.
Pre-rolled implant offers a novel optic-edge design
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-The CV232 Square-Round-Edge (SRE) IOL, the newest-generation pre-rolled implant from CIBA Vision, combines all of the advantages of its predecessor model (MemoryLens) with the best of both worlds in optic-edge design, said Matteo Piovella, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).
Louis Emile Javal contributed to field before, after blindness
August 15th 2002Editor's Note: About 100 years ago, Louis Emile Javal, MD (1839-1907), suffered blindness as a result of glaucoma. Thebest medical minds of the day could not stave off these results. Medicine and surgery were used in vain. The accomplishments of this great ophthalmologist both before and after his blindness are discussed in this month's column.
Incorrect lens power still the most common reason for IOL explantation
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-Incorrect lens power continues to top the list as the most common reason for IOL explantation, followed by dislocation/decentration, reported Nick Mamalis, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) here.
Enzyme may halt progression of diabetic retinopathy
August 15th 2002Fort Lauderdale, FL-The use of an enzyme to liquefy the vitreous can induce posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and could potentially halt the progression of diabetic retinopathy, reported Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD, during of the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology here.
CK an effective approach for hyperopia, presbyopia
August 15th 2002Philadelphia-Conductive keratoplasty (CK), a collagen shrinking procedure, has produced good visual results for patients treated for hyperopia and presbyopia, according to researchers at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Capillary blood speed helps in NAION, ON diagnoses
August 1st 2002Fort Lauderdale, FL-Differences in local capillary blood speed characteristics in patients who have unilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and optic neuritis (ON) may help in the differential diagnosis of these two most common nonglaucomatous optic neuropathies, said Nathalie Collignon, MD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Sutureless lamellar keratoplasty now possible with two-component system
August 1st 2002Philadelphia-Fibrin glue, approved by the FDA to seal blood vessels, can be used for lamellar keratoplasty to keep the donor cornea in place until it is completely healed 2 to 3 weeks postoperatively, according to Herbert E. Kaufman, MD, who spoke during the Innovator's Session at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting here.
Wavefront-guided LASIK effective for higher-order aberrations
August 1st 2002Philadelphia-Improved visual outcomes were seen with wavefront-guided laser ablations because both lower- and higher-order aberrations were reduced. The residual higher-order aberrations were lower than those found in conventionally treated eyes, according to Stephen Brint, MD, who reported results from the CustomCornea study group here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.