Ophthalmology Times Staff Reports

Topcon Medical Systems has introduced a new computerized lensmeter (CL-300 Computerized Lensmeter) in U.S and Latin American markets.

Glaucoma expert M. Bruce Shields, MD, will lecture at the Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee (UT) Health Science Center Department of Ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology Times Associate Medical Editor Robert H. Osher, MD, received the Kelman Award at the Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology.

Updates on research into therapies for both early- and late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP) were presented at the Retinal International World Congress.

Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL) is participating in the Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) summer symposium in Williamsburg, VA.

Patient enrollment has been completed for a phase III clinical trial of oral voclosporin (Luveniq, Lux Biosciences) for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis.

Steven L. Galetta, MD, has been appointed the Philip K. Moskowitz, MD, Professor and Chair of the department of neurology, and Laura Balcer, MD, MSCE, has been appointed vice chairwoman of the neurology department at the New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center. The appointments are effective Nov. 1.

ThromboGenics NV has announced that the FDA has accepted the filing of the biologics license application (BLA) for ocriplasmin intravitreal injection 2.5 mg/ml and granted it priority review. The proposed indication of ocriplasmin intravitreal injection is for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) including macular hole.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for the procedure used to implant miniature ophthalmic telescopes (Implantable Miniature Telescope [by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz], VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies).

The FDA has approved a dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) (Healon EndoCoat OVD, Abbott Medical Optics) for use as a surgical aid in cataract extraction and IOL implantation.

Acucela Inc. has been named as a recipient of the 2012 Emerging Leaders award from the Japan-U.S. Innovation Awards

NicOx S.A. and Rapid Pathogen Screening Inc (RPS) have entered into a licensing agreement that gives NicOx access to RPS’s point-of-care ocular diagnostic tests.

Synergetics USA Inc. has received 510(k) marketing clearance from the FDA for its proprietary vitrectomy system (VersaVIT).

A $10,000 educational scholarship is up for grabs in Prevent Blindness America’s (PBA’s) 2012 Most Beautiful Eyes Contest.

Ophthalmologists should consider gender differences in arm length and reading distance preferences when prescribing reading glasses or bifocal lenses, according to a recent study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Such factors mean that women tend to desire assistance with presbyopia symptoms earlier than men do.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision today upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while providing clarity, also opens the door to a degree of uncertainty.

FDA approval has been granted for a trabecular micro-bypass stent (iStent, Models GTS100R/GTS100L; Glaukos), making the device the first ab interno glaucoma implant to be approved in the United States, according to the company.

The number of Americans aged 40 or more years who are experiencing vision impairment and blindness has increased 23% since 2000. That is one of the findings of the 2012 update of the “Vision Problems in the U.S.” report, a study released by Prevent Blindness America (PBA) and the National Eye Institute.

A laser system for cataract surgery that combines a femtosecond laser, three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, and a proprietary pattern scanning technology (Catalys Precision Laser System, OptiMedica) has been selected as a winner of R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 award.

Currently, no approved treatments exist for dry age-related macular degeneration. One company hopes to change that situation through the use of stem cells. Learn more about the trial getting under way.

Bausch + Lomb (B + L) has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA, seeking approval for a bromfenac ophthalmic solution (Prolensa) for the treatment of ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery.

The FDA has approved a hydrophobic acrylic IOL (enVista, Bausch + Lomb [B + L]), and once the FDA clears its its supporting insertion system, the lens will be fully released commercially in the United States.

The FDA has cleared a laser system (LensAR) for anterior capsulotomy with and without laser phacofragmentation during cataract surgery. The system is being prepared for commercial launch in the United States.

Cerebral damage, not retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), may be the primary risk factor for visual impairment in preschool children who were born extremely prematurely, according to a Danish study published online in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) is warning the public about the dangers of using fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted for use a dexamethasone 700 µg intravitreal implant (Ozurdex, Allergan) in the National Health Service. The implant is for use in adult patients with macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) whose conditions are not clinically suitable for laser treatment. This latter group includes patients with dense macular hemorrhage and patients in whom previous laser treatment has failed.

Ophthalmologists should be able to consider prescribing bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) instead of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) without interference from pharmaceutical companies, maintained the writers of an editorial published online June 6 in Nature Medicine.

Results from a phase IIb, prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) show significantly better improvement in visual acuity among patients receiving combination therapy with Fovista (formerly known as E10030, Ophthotech), an investigational pegylated aptamer directed against platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF-B), plus ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) compared with a parallel control group receiving ranibizumab alone.

Ophthalmologists someday may perform ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) tests during routine eye exams to identify patients who are at high risk for stroke, according to researchers at the University of Zurich.

Johnson & Johnson (J & J) Vision Care Institute President Phil Keefer has announced his decision to retire Sept. 1 after a 23-year career with the company and more than 40 years in the eye-care industry.