Cataract

The concept of vision à la carte allows all ophthalmic surgeons to design vision for each patient individually, using all of today’s technologies and techniques.

Sometimes, it is hard to prove what you know to be true is actually true. So, it’s nice to know there is a paper confirming something I have also known to be true: People who lose visual acuity as a result of cataracts will-if they have cataract surgery to restore their vision-live longer than those who do not have surgery.

There are several vital components surgeons need to take into consideration when treating children who have traumatic cataracts.

Cataract surgery not only can result in a reduction of IOP, it also provides benefits for future management of glaucoma.

There are numerous methods and factors surgeons should examine for patients with age-related macular degeneration and who require cataract surgery to avoid future problems.

The financial feasibility of using only one laser for all procedures is a given. Arun C. Gulani, MD, takes this one step further, arguing that perhaps the future may hold cases in which use of the femtosecond laser is a necessity, becoming a standard-of-care concept.

While manual limbal relaxing incisions and femtosecond femtosecond astigmatic keratotomies can address mild to moderate astigmatism, toric IOLs are quite effective at all ranges of astigmatism, relates one surgeon.

A single-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL has many features that make it a good choice for a monofocal implant in routine and challenging cataract surgery cases.

Postoperative hypotony is a problem not often seen by ophthalmologists, but when it occurs, elucidating its exact cause and treating it properly is imperative.

Using the strengths of both peristaltic and venturi phaco, a modified chop technique increases efficiency and safety in denser nuclei.

A new non-flared Kelman bent tip for torsional ultrasound phacoemulsification retains the same high-cutting efficiency of the mini-flared Kelman tip but without the latter’s propensity for inadvertent prolonged occlusion.

Outcomes from use of a proprietary femtosecond laser system (Catalys Precision Laser System, OptiMedica) to perform cataract surgery in a series of 850 eyes, of which 25% have some comorbidity, are testament to its reliability and safety.

Findings point to improvements in cleaning procedures, less reuse of cannulas

Higher-concentration drug statistically superior to vehicle for achieving resolution of inflammation

Phase IIb, III data show anti-inflammatory/mydriatic agent reduces miosis

Study shows better reproducibility with devices dedicated to standardizing capsulorhexis

The FDA has approved Bausch + Lomb’s Trulign lens, a toric posterior chamber IOL that corrects for astigmatism and has the capacity to deliver improved vision across a natural range of focus.

Survey results paint portrait of trends, technology’s effect on cataract practice

Lens demonstrated excellent rotational stability, visual outcomes in clinical trials

Once-daily dosing delivers rapid, potent control of postoperative pain, inflammation

Wound construction, IOL calculations, lens selection among variables in special population

Lens assessment with femtosecond laser imaging offers opportunity for cataract outcomes

Two cases illustrate benefits in managing dry eye before, after surgery with premium lens implantation

Challenging cases achieve good refractive outcomes with intraoperative aberrometry

Although cataract surgery is already the most-used intervention for glaucoma, a growing number of glaucoma specialists want to see timely glaucoma surgery accepted and reimbursed as an appropriate intervention for the long-term management of glaucoma, said Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH, professor and chief of the Glaucoma Service at Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

New data suggest that it may be time to stop worrying about broad inclusion criteria when evaluating patients with cataracts for potential femtosecond laser surgery. A retrospective review of more than 800 consecutive cases found that the technology provides high precision in the treatment of challenging cases with broad inclusion criteria, said H. Burkhard Dick, MD.

Physicians who wonder if they should make the investment in a new model of surgical system they currently use and like, the answer could be yes. Data presented by Barry Schechter, MD, showed a 22% time savings in uncomplicated cataract procedures with new equipment.

Whether a surgeon uses a laser for cataract surgery or manual methods may not make much of a difference in terms of postoperative inflammation. That at least is the experience of H. Burkhard Dick, MD, professor and chairman of ophthalmology and director of the University Eye Clinic Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

New clinical data suggest that an improved intraoperative aberrometer can help improve clinical outcomes for patients who receive an aspheric, hydrophobic IOL, said Dee Stephenson, MD, of Stephenson Eye Associates in Venice, FL.

Ophthalmology has a history of “strange,” and actually that may be good for the specialty. Of all the specialties of medicine, ophthalmology keeps seeing innovation evolve on a regular basis. The technology in this market is always evolving and it keeps getting better and more efficient.