Taking outdoor activities to an extreme is a way of life for William L. Benedict, MD. Whether it's kayaking, mountain biking, or snow skiing, he is constantly pushing his skills to the limit.
Baltimore-All phakic IOLs are associated with potential problems, although evolution in implant design has been accompanied by declining complication rates, said Walter J. Stark, MD.
A craniocervical arterial dissection usually results from a tear in the intimal arterial layer. This tear allows the formation of a false lumen containing a clot, which can lead to thromboembolic complications (stroke). If the dissection is subintimal, stenosis of the artery is the likely end result. If it is subadventitial, the result is a "pseudo-aneurysm" (Figure 1).
Columbia, MO-Neuroretinitis may be linked to multiple sclerosis in some patients, according to the results of a small case series. Further study, however, is warranted, reported Kyle Williams, MD.
Baltimore-Amblyopia is a relatively common problem in children, but there is no consensus on the best treatment. Recently, there has been increasing interest in using atropine drops instead of patching, but they are not FDA approved for that indication, said Michael X. Repka, MD.
London-Routine testing for color vision deficiency is not a reliable method to detect digoxin toxicity in patients taking the drug for heart failure or other cardiac problems, said J.G. Lawrenson, PhD.
Wailea, HI-Olopatadine 0.2% (Patanol, Alcon) significantly reduced itching and redness for 24 hours, according to the results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Boston-Ophthalmic solutions of azelastine HCl (Optivar, Asta Medica/Muro Pharmaceutical Inc., Tewksbury, MA) and olopatadine HCl (Patanol, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) both effectively inhibit the activation of normal cultured human mast cells and the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tryptase, and histamine. However, azelastine seemed to be substantially more potent for treating ocular allergy when the two drugs were compared in an in vitro study.
Chicago-The diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory glaucoma remain one of the most challenging problems for ophthalmologists, according to Chicago glaucoma specialist Jon M. Ruderman, MD.
Maui, HI-Evidence-based guidelines for the medical management of glaucoma developed by a panel of glaucoma specialists aim to enhance clinical decision-making for the general ophthalmologist, said Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, at the annual Royal Hawaiian Eye meeting here.
S?o Paulo, Brazil-Hyperhomocysteinemia appears to be associated with exfoliation syndrome and might be a modifiable risk factor for that disorder, said Roberto M. Vessani, MD, who was a glaucoma fellow with Glaucoma Associates of New York and is currently glaucoma preceptor, glaucoma service, department of ophthalmology, University of S?o Paulo, Brazil.
CA-The FDA approval of gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% (Zymar, Allergan) marks a milestone as the first fourth-generation fluoroquinolone to enter the ophthalmic market. The therapy for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible strains of bacteria also has a unique mechanism to prevent development of antibiotic resistance, according to Allergan.
Yusuke Oshima, MD, PhD, in a presentation at the 38th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, discussed the advantages of using a beveled-tip ultra-speed probe for complete vitreous shaving during retinal detachment vitrectomies.
Data show excellent refractive stability, strong visual acuity across all distances, and contrast sensitivity comparable to monofocal IOLs.
Like many of us, Vance Thompson, MD, loves wine. For Dr. Thompson, director of refractive surgery for Sioux Valley Clinic in Sioux Falls, SD, vacations to California's Napa Valley led to a business opportunity that teaches him much about wine, people, and business.
S?o Paulo-A comparative study has demonstrated that the M2 130 Single-Use microkeratome (Moria, Antony, France) performs identically to its reusable counterpart, the conventional M2 110. In addition, the Single-Use microkeratome is significantly easier to use and allows greater visibility, according to Renato A. Neves, MD, director of Eye Care Oftalmologia LASER Vision Centers here.
Use of drugs and drainage implants also improves trabeculectomy outcomes
A phacoemulsification software upgrade further enhances safety, efficiency, and control for surgeons performing torsional ultrasound with proprietary handpiece and phaco system.
Ophthalmologists end their discussion on the management of dry eye disease with other ocular comorbidities highlighting key takeaways and prospective advances in care and outcomes.
Survey examines experiences and perceptions of patients living with GA.
Almost all current phacoemulsification techniques involve both the breaking up of the nucleus into pieces and phacoemulsification. The mainstream techniques in current implementation are the divide-and-conquer method and the chopping techniques. The Lambda technique is an innovative implementation of the divide-and-conquer technique.
Washington, DC-The addition of insurance coverage for prescription drugs in the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act signed by President Bush is being called an historic victory for seniors.
Niagara Falls, Ontario-Switching to once-daily instillation of nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution (Alocril, Allergan) is an effective alternative for maintaining control of ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis after acute relief is obtained with twice-daily administration, according to an environmental study conducted by Michael Alexander, MD.
Editor's Note: Anterior uveitis is the most common type of intraocular inflammation. Among patients with inflammation localized primarily to the anterior chamber, 50% or more are HLA-B27 positive. Inaddition, a number of these patients with HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis have, or will develop, an associated systemicdisorder such as ankylosing spondylitis,reactive arthritis (formerly known asReiter's syndrome), inflammatory bowel disease, or psoriatic arthritis.
Lisa Nijm, MD, says preoperative osmolarity testing can help clinicians manage patient expectations and improve surgical results.
Wailea, HI-Olopatadine 0.2% (Patanol, Alcon) significantly reduced itching and redness for 24 hours, according to the results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Visual merchandising is the art of displaying merchandise to encourage sales. Dispensing ophthalmology practices can create eye-catching displays by following some simple rules. Grouping frames by price point and brand helps to organize options for the customer. Displays can highlight individual brands through repetition, a pyramid design, using odd, rather than even numbers of items, considering the texture of background materials, and more.
Business publications have been dominated recently by stories of corporate tricks, distortions, falsehoods, and a wide variety of other malfeasance. Corporate governance is thus receiving attention like never before. It has been a topic of major concern at the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government as well as in society at large.