The hygiene hypothesis suggests that smaller family sizes as well as the use of antibiotics and vaccines has led to an allergy epidemic. Probiotics could reverse that epidemic and reduce the risk of developing atopic diseases and, potentially, nasal and ocular symptoms of respiratory allergies.
Las Vegas-Identification and pretreatment of allergy patients can improve refractive surgical outcomes, said Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, at a continuing medical education symposium at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting. About 20% to 30% of refractive surgery patients have associated allergies, she added.
Las Vegas-Ocular allergies affect up to 40% of the pediatric population, and this high prevalence has ramifications beyond providing symptom relief, said Terry Kim, MD, during a continuing medical education symposium here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Baltimore-Beta blockers continue to play an important role as an ocular hypotensive agent for both primary and adjunctive treatment, and when a beta blocker is indicated, the novel formulation of timolol maleate 0.5% ophthalmic solution with potassium sorbate (Istalol, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) is a good choice, said Alan L. Robin, MD.
Las Vegas-In pediatric eyes with uncontrolled aphakic glaucoma and no history of previous surgical intervention, trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) and placement of an Ahmed glaucoma implant (AGI, New World Medical) result in comparable outcomes with respect to successful IOP control and rate of complications, according to the findings of a prospective, randomized study undertaken at the Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
Ocular surface disease (OSD) in patients with glaucoma is surprisingly common, yet it remains an under-recognized condition by eye-care specialists. Among patients with severe OSD, approximately two-thirds concurrently are afflicted with glaucoma (range, 42.9% to 88.4%).1 OSD encompasses a myriad of ocular conditions, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Irvine, CA-ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc. has submitted an investigational new drug application with the FDA for its eye-drop formulation of bepotastine to treat allergic conjunctivitis.
Jersey City, NJ-Now that the 30-day waiting period has ended for the investigational new drug application filed by Lux Biosciences Inc. for the development of LX211 in uveitis, the company will begin three controlled, double-masked clinical trials of the next-generation calcineurin inhibitor in early 2007. The studies collectively will enroll more than 500 patients in North America and Europe.
Houston-Intestinal surgeries-such as gastric bypass, resections of the large and small bowel, and gallbladder removal-may interfere with the intestine's ability to absorb vitamin A, resulting in the potential for severe deficiencies and compromised vision.
New Paradigms
Pellucid marginal degeneration is a subtle condition that could lead to corneal ectasia following laser eye surgery. Although it is atypical and rare, clinicians should learn how to identify pellucid and screen patients for it preoperatively, said Yaron S. Rabinowitz, MD, director of ophthalmology research, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.
Stockholm, Sweden-The Perfect Capsule (Milvella), a sealed capsule irrigation device, seems to be very useful in very small eyes for preventing posterior capsular opacification (PCO), according to Maria Kugelberg, MD, PhD.
Below is a partial list of the contributions made by researchers at the Jules Stein Eye Institute and the University of California, Los Angeles, over the past 40 years.
Las Vegas-Bausch & Lomb has received U.S. FDA approval to add a cold oxygen plasma treatment to the manufacturing process of gas permeable (GP) contact lenses made with Boston materials. B&L made the announcement recently at the American Optometric Association Congress and Annual American Optometric Student Association Conference.
Charleston, SC-Pediatric cataract surgery with IOL implantation and primary posterior capsulectomy plus vitrectomy is associated with a satisfactory outcome, especially in children operated on after their first birthday, said Rupal H. Trivedi, MD, MSCR.
New York-Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD, co-director of Glaucoma Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, and assistant professor of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, received the New York Academy of Medicine's 2006 Lewis Rudini Glaucoma Prize for the discovery of an enzyme that contributes to nerve cell death in the eye in glaucoma.
Joseph L. Demer, MD, PhD, acknowledges that stunt flying makes even the pilot flying the plane sick. But for part of his 22 years of flying, Dr. Demer did stunts in the skies over California.
Palo Alto, CA-Darius Moshfeghi, MD, pediatric retina specialist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, and one of just a few physicians in California's Bay Area trained to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is using technology to bring his expertise to premature babies without having to travel to see them.
Las Vegas-Bausch & Lomb has received U.S. FDA approval to add a cold oxygen plasma treatment to the manufacturing process of gas-permeable (GP) contact lenses made with Boston materials. B&L made the announcement recently at the American Optometric Association Congress and Annual American Optometric Student Association Conference.
Nashville, TN-There are no simple answers to the most fundamental questions about children's eye screening, such as who should be screened, at what age, what should be screened for, and how.
La Jolla, CA-Screening for problems that affect school performance can be a challenge, according to David B. Granet, MD, who posed the question: "Who evaluates whether patients understand what they see?" Dr. Granet explained the task of pediatric ophthalmologists.
While the Goldmann applanation tonometer is a very accurate instrument for measuring IOP compared with previous instruments, ophthalmologists now know that central corneal thickness (CCT) is much more variable than was believed when the instrument was developed.
Addition Technology Inc. has acquired CooperVision Surgical’s AlphaCor and AlphaSphere and plans to add these products to the Intacs line of corneal implants.
Wavefront preparation time plus the surgical time equals the actual time of the procedure. Different factors associated with each platform add to the preparation time for the procedure.
Coming home in the evening, I sometimes feel compelled to share with my daughter and spouse something I learned at work that day. This is always a mistake. Invariably my wisdom is greeted with a quick retort from my teenage daughter: "Dad, stop talking." My darling wife and love of my life is more generous; after expressing interest and asking a few questions, she tells me where I have gone wrong. Sometimes this results in an argument, as it did on this evening.
