News

Emerging lens extraction and implantation technologies have worldwide appeal among ophthalmologists, and at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, it was evident at an evening symposium conducted by Alcon Laboratories.

Refractive surgeons can achieve better management of incomplete microkeratome cuts and buttonholes following LASIK by recutting a larger flap.

Advanced surface ablation using the MEL 80 laser (ASA80, Carl Zeiss Meditec) showed significant advantages compared with conventional PRK, especially for the recovery of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), pain, and haze formation.

VisiJet Inc. has received FDA approval for its EpiLift System, an ophthalmic surgical device designed for separating corneal tissue.

The IntraLase femtosecond laser (IntraLase) allows less traumatic implantation of micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology) compared with the conventional mechanical method of implantation.

-Available scientific information provides ample evidence that bimanual microincision cataract surgery (MICS) is safe and effective, but further study is needed to show whether it is better than the coaxial approach, said Randall J. Olson, MD.

Evolution in instrumentation has been important in making bimanual microincision cataract surgery (MICS) a safe, effective, and efficient technique, said Richard Packard, MD.

Lucio Buratto, MD, of Milan, Italy, was the 2004 recipient of the Binkhorst Medal. In his address to the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Dr. Buratto reviewed the history of phakic IOLs, the major designs, their indications, visual outcomes, and associated complications.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) produced collagen shrinkage changes in human corneas that were localized to 80% of the stromal depth compared with normal control corneas, according to Tatiana Naoumidi, MD.

Lively and active discussion among some of the world's best refractive surgeons was the flavor of a refractive surgery panel discussion, held Sunday night following the day's sessions at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

Iridex presented its IRIS Medical IQ 810, a state-of-the-art infrared photocoagulator, to attendees at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

Bausch & Lomb has upgraded its Zyoptix 100 laser system by enhancing the safety and accuracy of the unit by introducing iris-recognition technology. The company also introduced an Advanced Flow System for its Millennium microsurgical system.

With some of the leading ophthalmic surgeons and researchers from Europe and the United States in attendance, NuLens Ltd. introduced a new concept of accommodative IOLs for the treatment of presbyopia during an off-site presentation at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (AMO) is effective in reducing spherical aberration following cataract surgery, but no improvement in contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was found related to this spherical aberration reduction, according to Gonzalo Munoz, MD, of Alicante, Spain.

Richard Tipperman, MD, presented how the multidirectional features of the AquaLase technology on the Infiniti phacoemulsification system (Alcon Laboratories) allow for an improved approach to cataract surgery.

The question of how to calculate IOL power in children has been an issue of debate among physicians for some time.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) produced collagen shrinkage changes in human corneas that were localized to 80% of the stromal depth compared with normal control corneas, according to Tatiana Naoumidi, MD.

The U.S. Multicenter Trials of wavefront-guided treatment of hyperopia and mixed astigmatism with the CustomView Ablation System (VISX) indicated that 9 months after treatment both groups had similar good results and patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with the outcomes.

While millions of LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide, the long-term stability and efficacy of LASIK for the treatment of hyperopia remain uncertain.

Bimanual microincisional phacoemulsification is a safe, efficient, and effective technique for cataract removal in challenging cases, said Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

Rapid recovery of clear uncorrected vision is an important and valid goal of contemporary cataract surgery, said Robert Osher, MD, at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

The interim results of the Alcon Study Group reported at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons indicate that the CustomCornea Wavefront System (Alcon Laboratories) produces favorable outcomes and greater reductions in higher-order aberrations compared with conventional LASIK.

A dual-optic accommodating IOL (Synchrony, Visiogen) is showing positive results and excellent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 6 months, according to Gerd Auffarth, MD, during a clinical research symposium on accommodation and IOLs at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.