News

Boston-Nidek Co. is asking a federal court to review a verdict by its jury that determined Nidek's EC-5000 Excimer Laser infringes on two patents now owned by Alcon.

Rome, Italy-The implantation of the AT-45 CrystaLens accommodating IOL (C & C Vision, Aliso Viejo, CA) through a corneal tunnel resulted in disappointing outcomes in patients with 2 D or more of astigmatism. The outcomes differed for patients with against-the-rule astigmatism compared with those who had with-the-rule astigmatism, and there was no predictability in the procedure, according to Scipione Rossi, MD.

San Francisco-The Viscoat (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) posterior-assisted levitation (PAL) technique can be used to rescue nuclei that have partially descended into the anterior vitreous after posterior capsular rupture, according to David F. Chang, MD.

Editor's Note: It has been a great pleasure and an honor to have been able to work with the editorial staff of Ophthalmology Times in creating the Cataract Corner column over the past 5 years. However, at this time I take equal pleasure in turning over the column to my two associates, Dr. Richard Hoffman and Dr. Mark Packer, both of whom are superb surgeons, excellent clinicians, great speakers, and experienced researchers. They represent the next generation of leadership in cataract and refractive surgery, and I'm sure the readers of this column will enjoy their perspective and input as they

Barcelona-Dissecting Schlemm's canal is the basis of every type of non-penetrating filtering glaucoma surgery, but the procedure can be technically challenging at first.

Mexico City-Surgical treatment of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) by the creation of retinochoroidal anastomosis (RCA) may become an effective therapy for some patients with CRVO, according to Hugo Quiroz-Mercado, MD.

Ann Arbor, MI-Results from gene microarray studies by researchers at the University of Michigan reveal there are highly specific, age-related changes in retinal gene expression. Those findings are described in the August issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science [Yoshida S, et al. IVOS 2002; 43:2554-2560].

Fort Myers, FL-A comparison of two laser systems, the STAR S2 (VISX, Santa Clara, CA) and the LadarVision (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX), used to treat low to moderate levels of myopia indicated that the visual results after LASIK were similar between the two but that visual recovery appeared to be faster with the STAR S2.

A 42-year-old Hispanic male presented complaining of decreased vision in his left eye. He noted that his vision in that eye had decreased suddenly three weeks earlier. The patient had low hyperopia. His medical, surgical, and family histories were unremarkable. He was using no medications and had no known drug allergies. Although he initially reported no significant social history, after more extensive questioning he admitted to the occasional inhalational use of cocaine. His most recent use was on the day prior to the onset of his visual disturbance.

San Diego-Several higher-order aberrations have been correlated with patients' visual complaints after LASIK. Because wavefront technology appears to reduce the induction of higher-order aberrations after LASIK, wavefront-guided ablations may improve the visual outcomes after LASIK, according to Steven C. Schallhorn, MD.

Bucaramanga, Colombia-A study that compared traditional Planoscan ablations with Zyoptix (Bausch & Lomb, San Dimas, CA) wavefront-guided LASIK for myopia indicated that the two treatment approaches provide similar visual results.

Atlanta-The risk of corneal ectasia following LASIK is greater in patients with form fruste keratoconus, more than -8 D of myopia, and residual stromal beds that are thinner than 225 ?m. Most of the patients who developed corneal ectasia, however, were able to obtain a good visual outcome with contact lens correction, according to R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD.

Rockville Centre, NY-Implantation of a posterior chamber phakic refractive lens (PRL) (Medennium phakic refractive lens, CIBA Vision, Duluth, GA) demonstrated positive visual outcomes in the treatment of high hyperopia, according to Alexander Hatsis, MD, who presented the results of the FDA phase II trial.

Warner Robins, GA-Diagnosis and treatment of late-onset microbacterial infections with amikacin after LASIK results in good visual recoveries. However, other refractive procedures, such as PRK or LASEK, will decrease the incidence of these types of infections, most of which result from creation of the flap, according to Johnny L. Gayton, MD.

Philadelphia-Wills Eye Hospital relocated to a new facility, constructed on top of the Walnut Towers building in Center City Philadelphia.

Dr. Kornmehl: Thank you all for participating in this discussion about conductive keratoplasty (CK). Ed, what is the mechanism of CK

Napa, CA-When Santen Inc. entered the U.S. marketplace, the company's initial corporate campaign featured a bright-eyed, smiling little girl named Molly. The little girl was the focal point of the campaign that was entitled, "Protecting the Joy of Sight."

Baltimore-Race, that ever-sensitive subject in American culture, was the focus of a day-long meeting, "Ethnicity & Glaucoma: The Past, Present, and Future," at Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Fremont, CA-Nidek Inc. has submitted its hyperopia PMA clinical module to the FDA for review and approval of its EC-5000 Excimer Laser System for hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism, and mixed astigmatism. This marks the final step in gaining commercialization approval by the FDA to market and treat indications of hyperopia with the Nidek system.

Sint-Truiden, Belgium-Implantation of the toric Artisan IOL (Ophtec BV, Groningen, the Netherlands) is a safe technique for use in patients with moderate and high levels of astigmatism, according to Camille Budo, MD, an ophthalmologist in Sint-Truiden, Belgium.

Nice, France-Preliminary data suggest that visual outcomes are excellent with the VISX WavePrint ablation method (VISX) for custom laser vision correction. At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Douglas D. Koch, MD, described results of the VISX Study Group with 171 patients. He is professor of ophthalmology, The Allen, Mosbacher, and Law Chair in Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.

Boston-Joan W. Miller, MD, has become the first female physician to be named a full professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

Fairfax, VA-Mark Packer, MD, and Connie S. McCaa, MD, have been appointed to serve on the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Board of Councilors as representatives of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) membership.

Orlando, FL-Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, a specialist in corneal, cataract, refractive, and laser surgery, has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society of Refractive Surgery

Alameda, CA-InSite Vision Inc.'s antibiotic product ISV-401 has proved safe and effective for treating acute bacterial conjunctivitis in a phase II clinical study.

Melville, NY-Nikon Instruments Inc. has formed two new business divisions to streamline its microscope operations.

All Joint Meeting attendees may participate in the PAAO programs that include instruction courses and symposia. All PAAO instruction courses and symposia were selected by the PAAO's Scientific Program Committee.

The French-speaking universities of Switzerland have the smallest of the five medical schools but bring with them a rich history of distinguished accomplishment.

There's only one chance for a physician to make a first impression and to make that first impression a lasting one.

The desire to save money on legal fees is an autonomic response for lots of physicians. "Let's just keep things simple. We don't need a fancy contract-we trust each other, right?"