News

An implantable miniature telescope (IMT, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies Inc.) may help improve visual acuity in patients with bilateral, end-stage macular degeneration, according to the phase II/III results at 6 months.

Stuart L. Fine, MD, covered the evolution of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over the last 35 years in his Jackson Memorial Lecture during the opening session of the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Laserex held a breakfast symposium Sunday morning to address the merits and mechanisms of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and to provide a forum to discuss the efficacy of SLT in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

FCI Ophthalmics (Booth 5339) announces that it has been awarded distribution rights for the Mackool Cataract Support System (CSS).

The tenets of evidence-based medicine, rather than anecdotal evidence, can be used to improve cataract and refractive surgery outcomes, concluded panelists at a breakfast CME symposium on Sunday.

Perhaps more valuable if less provocative than clues to the "Da Vinci Code," as set out in the bestselling thriller, are the keys to the glaucoma code, which could lead to improvements in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

NuLens Ltd., a company formed 2 years ago in Herzliya Pituach, Israel, has developed a new accommodative IOL technology that offers more than 10 D of accommodative power, according to Joshua Ben-Nun, MD, chief scientific officer, NuLens, who spoke at a breakfast session during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Eyeonics announces that it has received FDA approval to market its accommodating IOL (Crystalens) in 0.25-D steps.

Up-to-date results from participants in the FDA clinical trial of the recently approved phakic myopic IOL (Verisyse, Advanced Medical Optics) demonstrate that implant provides excellent refractive outcomes with a good safety profile, said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Prevention of postLASIK dry eye by recognition and management of risk factors is critical because treatment of dry eye that develops after LASIK can be challenging, said Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, in a keynote address at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Late onset bleb leakage usually occurs 2 to 3 years after glaucoma filtering surgery with an incidence between 2% and 9%. This condition warrants treatment, according to Philip P. Chen, MD, who spoke during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

A new preventive approach to perforating ocular injuries seems to prevent the almost inevitable development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) that follows this type of injury, according to Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Patients who undergo intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) injection for the treatment of retinal disease should be closely monitored because of the risk of steroid-induced IOP, explained Michele C. Lim, MD, during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. and Laser Diagnostic Technologies Inc. (LDT) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Carl Zeiss Meditec's acquisition of LDT.

Ophthalmologists can improve glaucoma care by evaluating the optic nerve to assess the patient's risk of progression, according to speakers at a CME symposium Saturday. Faculty members provided the audience with tips for determining disease severity through optic nerve evaluation, employing a systematic approach to the evaluation, identifying patients at risk of disease progression, and determining the most effective treatment.

Laser presbyopia reversal (LAPR) is showing significant promise and patient satisfaction based on 12-month follow-up results from a U.S. clinical trial, said Sandra C. Belmont, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Following its recent initial public offering, IntraLase has positioned itself for growth in the keratome market.

Refractive surgeons shared their experiences with the One Use-Plus microkeratome (Moria) for LASIK flaps as well as clinical trials using the new Epi-K device (Moria) for epi-LASIK, which is not yet available in the United States.

Two phase III trials, one phase II trial, and one extension trial of anti-VEGF agent Lucentis (Genentech) are under way.

The C-01-99 phase III clinical trial, which compared a 15-mg dose of anecortave acetate (Alcon Laboratories) with standard administration of verteporfin for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), found that there was no statistical difference between the two treatments.

The VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Inhibition Study in Ocular Neovascularization (VISION), a phase III appraisal of three doses of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) (0.3, 1, and 3 mg) compared with a sham procedure, found that the 0.3-mg dose of Macugen improves visual outcomes in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Refractive lens exchange with implantation of the Acrysof ReSTOR IOL (Alcon Laboratories) is an effective method for providing an excellent range of vision for presbyopic myopes or hyperopes, said Francesco Carones, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Results of the 2004 ISRS/AAO refractive surgery survey show some continuing trends, a few surprises, and the impact of new technology on refractive surgery practices.

Laser presbyopia reversal (LAPR) is showing significant promise and patient satisfaction based on 12-month follow-up results from a U.S. clinical trial, said Sandra C. Belmont, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

Valuable new data continue to be gleaned from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). In this large randomized, controlled clinical study of 4,753 patients, investigators at 11 sites evaluated the effect of antioxidants vitamins C and E and zinc compared with placebo in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Topical application of mitomycin-C (MMC) is more effective for preventing corneal haze after PRK than it is for treating existing haze, but further studies are needed to establish the long-term corneal safety of this strongly cytostatic agent, said Marcelo V. Netto, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting.

San Diego-Implantation of the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical) to treat myopia has a negligible effect on the corneal endothelium 3 to 4 years after implantation of the lens, according to Henry Edelhauser, PhD.

San Diego-Recurrent outbreaks of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) seem to be associated with problems with cleaning protocols and bacterial contamination. Constant vigilance and maintenance of strict cleaning protocols are essential to prevent recurrences of DLK, said Simon P. Holland, MD.