News

Washington, DC-Co-management of cataract and refractive surgery patients may seem like a risky endeavor for ophthalmologists, exposing them to liability under the anti-kickback law. However, this doesn't have to be the case, noted Michael A. Romansky, JD.

"Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom."

Citrus Heights, CA-The LADARVision system (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) performed well with improved outcomes in the first 90 days in a study conducted to determine the effect on outcomes of incorporation of a new laser platform into a refractive practice.

Alicante, Spain-Wavefront-guided LASIK followed 3 months later with a refinement procedure seems to be an effective method for correcting residual refractive error, according to Jorge Alio, MD, PhD, professor and chairman, department of ophthalmology, University Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain.

Minneapolis-Patients with lower amounts of myopia benefit from LASIK using the Technolas 217A laser (Bausch & Lomb Surgical, San Dimas, CA), according to refractive surgeon Richard L. Lindstrom, MD.

Sydney, Australia-Wavefront-guided ablations using the LADARWave CustomCornea Wavefront System (Alcon Surgical, Fort Worth, TX) produced fewer spherical aberrations than seen in conventionally treated eyes, according to an updated report of the FDA clinical trials at the International Congress of Ophthalmology meeting here.

Vancouver, British Columbia-Bacterial endotoxin is not susceptible to short-cycle (3-minute) sterilization during LASIK, but dry heat or endotoxin-free water during steam sterilization may help prevent diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) when short-cycle sterilization is used, according to Simon P. Holland, MD.

We have been hearing about wavefront technology and its potential for a year or more, with escalating expectations, as well as considerable promotion about the capabilities of this technology-some even rising to the level of hype. Wavefront's true potential, however, is just beginning to be explored.

Chicago-The results of two studies using the VISX PreVue Method (Santa Clara, CA) showed very good visual outcomes after1 year in patients with low myopia andcomparable results in patients with moderate myopia, according to Colman R. Kraff, MD, director of the Kraff Eye Institute, and a clinical instructor at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago.

Bethesda, MD-Clinicians can feel confident in prescribing nutritional supplements for patients who are at risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Emily Y. Chew, MD.

The management of refractory and complex glaucoma is a challenging and often humbling undertaking. These difficult-to-treat glaucomas include neovascular, traumatic, uveitic, secondary angle closure, postsurgical, and refractory open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Rockville Centre, NY-Phacoemulsification can safely be performed through a 1.2-mmincision using WhiteStar technology (Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA). This new technology delivers bursts of energy hundreds of times per second that disperses rapidly in the eye, according to Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD.

New York-The incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was found to be significantly lower following cataract extraction with the Nd:YAG laser (Dodick photolysis system, ARC Laser Corp.) than with conventional phaco, according to a study performed at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital (MEETH), New York.

Los Angeles-Polishing the anterior capsule after phacoemulsification and lens implantation does not appear to reduce the incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In fact, substantially more eyes that underwent this procedure after cataract surgery needed posterior capsulotomy, a startling finding reported by Kevin M. Miller, MD.

High myopia (HM) is defined as a myopic refractive error of more than 6 D associated with degenerative posterior and peripheral fundus changes. Due to progressive scleral stretching and vitreous degeneration, these eyes develop typical pathologic features at the posterior pole, such as posterior staphyloma, progressive atrophy of choriocapillaris (CC) and choroid, linear ruptures of Bruch's membrane (lacquer cracks), and retinal thinning, and also frequent peripheral rhegmatogenous retinal lesions.

Chennai, India-Phakonit, a cataract extraction technique, accompanied by implantation of rollable IOLs through ultra-small incisions, seems to be an excellent option for cataract extraction that minimizes the induction of astigmatism, according to Amar Agarwal, MD.

Since its introduction in early 1998,the Memory Lens (CIBA Vision) has gained increasing popularity. This is due in large part to its ease of handling and insertion.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) once again are bringing their joint meeting to sunny Orlando and the beautiful Orange County Convention Center.

Antwerp, Belgium-Researchers in Belgium and The Netherlands have developed a new type of IOL that helps prevent secondary posterior capsular opacification (PCO), which is due to the proliferation of the remaining lens epithelial cells (LECs) in the lens bag after cataract extraction, according to Veva De Groot, MD.

Jackson, MI-The new AcrySof Natural IOL (Model SB30AL, Alcon, Fort Worth, TX), which has a light transmission spectrum similar to that of a 53-year-old human crystalline lens, is the first of its kind that has become commercially available. It effectively filters blue light between 400 and 500 nm and preserves contrast sensitivity and color perception, according to Paul Ernest, MD.

Pediatric refractive surgery is a pro-cedure whose time has come for a small group of children, but should not be considered the panacea for every child's refractive error.

Jundiai, Brazil-Residual refractive errors induced by RK can be treated successfully by hyperopic LASIK. This is of particular importance for patients who underwent RK because the procedure has proved to beunstable over the long term, with 25% to 43% progressing to hyperopia.

Toronto-Patients with highly aberrant corneas can benefit from the Tracey Visual Function Analyzer (Tracey Technologies, LLC, Houston) using refractive surgery complications software, because the system can accurately create a wavefront map and treatment ablation profile.

L'Aquila, Italy-Wavefront-supported customized ablation (WASCA) seems to enhance the qualitative outcome of excimer standard laser ablation, based on the results of a preliminary study presented by Leopoldo Spadea, MD.

Tijuana, Mexico-The Pulsion PS femtosecond laser keratome (IntraLase, Irvine, CA) provides uniform flap thickness that is reproducible and accurate between 100 and 180 ?m, according to Arturo Chayet, MD, who recounted his experience with the device.

Stanford, CA-The Artisan hyperopia lens (Ophtec BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) appears to provide good visual results for extreme hyperopia ranging from 3 to 12 D, according to phase III results reported by Edward E. Manche, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and director of cornea and refractive surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Atlanta-CIBA Vision has donated $30,000 to the International Center for Eyecare Education (ICEE) to provide eye-care services for people in Africa. The donation was made following a series of lectures by ICEE Chairman Brien A. Holden, PhD, throughout the United States.

Orlando-The winner of the 2002 Trout-man Award is Yuval Domniz, MD.

Washington, DC-On behalf of the Amer-ican Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), President-Elect Michael Redmond, MD, was presented an Award of Apprecia-tion from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at their annual convention here last month.

Fort Worth, TX-Alcon Research Ltd. is enrolling about 500 patients in a phase III study to compare the effects of anecortave acetate versus verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis) photodynamic therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.