Surgery

With the instrumentation enhancements, it is easier for the surgeon to deal with peripheral pathology.

Doubts and concerns regarding efficacy and safety often accompany the introduction of technologies in IOLs. Recent concerns with a wavefront-corrected IOL (Tecnis, Advanced Medical Optics [AMO]) with regard to tilt and decentration are no exception to this rule.

Adelaide, Australia—Ophthalmic laser manufacturer Laserex has appointed Simon Luscombe as vice president of sales, Asia, in an effort to increase its Asian market share. Luscombe previously was in product management and sales management positions at Alcon and Advanced Medical Optics.

Tampa—Toric IOLs are a valuable tool in the cataract surgeon's armamentarium for correcting all levels of astigmatism, said James P. Gills Sr., MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

Baltimore—Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) chelation offers a low-tech, low-cost, effective treatment for calcific band keratopathy associated with chronic uveitis and other disorders, said James P. Dunn, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Ophthalmology Times.

Eyeonics has developed the crystalens SE System (Square Edge System), a modified design of the original crystalens accommodating IOL, which offers a 360? square-edge optic to help prevent posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Edina, MN—When IOL piggybacking is needed, combining the modified prolate anterior surface IOL (Tecnis, AMO) with a conventional spherical IOL is a good option because it provides patients the added benefit of improved optical performance and better quality of vision, said Y. Ralph Chu, MD.

Edina, MN—When IOL piggybacking is needed, combining the modified prolate anterior surface IOL (Tecnis, AMO) with a conventional spherical IOL is a good option because it provides patients the added benefit of improved optical performance and better quality of vision, said Y. Ralph Chu, MD.

Washington, DC—A continuing rapid evolution in technology brings promise for the future availability of better surgical methods for correcting presbyopia, said W. Bruce Jackson, MD, at World Cornea Congress V.

San Francisco - A panel of glaucoma experts from across the United States highlighted the latest advances in understanding glaucoma and caring for these patients at “Glaucoma 2005: Mastering Tools and Techniques for the 21st Century,” on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco. Now in its 5th year, the program included lectures, panel discussions, and a mini-symposium covering a variety of glaucoma issues with a distinguished faculty.

Atlanta—Eye-care professionals are shifting their business from HEMA to silicone hydrogel lenses, according to data from Health Products Research.

Lisbon, Portugal - The results of the 7th annual survey on foldable IOLs indicate that dislocation and decentration are by far the most common reasons for lens explantation, with incorrect lens power the next most important factor. Nick Mamalis, MD, reported the results of the survey - conducted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) - Monday morning at ESCRS’ annual meeting.

Lisbon, Portugal - MLI (formerly Massie Laboratories), of Pleasanton, CA, United States, and manufacturers of diagnostic and data capture system for the eye-care market, has named Keith Mullowney as the company’s new president, chief executive officer, and board chairman. The company also changed its name to Clarity Medical Systems.

Lisbon, Portugal – Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery is an evolving process, Oliver Findl, MD, from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, explained Saturday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Follow-up in the first 10 patients with the Artificial Silicon Retina microchip (ASR, Optobionics) implanted now ranges between 2 and 4.5 years.

Rochester, NY—Increased demand for Bausch & Lomb's PureVision SVS contact lens has the company potentially shifting gears away from its PureVision Toric lens, which was to be introduced in the United States this summer.

Atlanta—CIBA Vision Corp. said it is asking a federal judge in Florida to block Johnson & Johnson's Vistakon division from making, selling, and distributing silicone hydrogel contact lenses that it claims infringe upon its patents.

Miami—Cataract surgeons performing standard ultrasound phacoemulsification will find the AquaLase liquefaction device (Alcon Laboratories) is an easy technique to transition to and is one that offers multiple advantages for enhancing the safety of lens removal, said Sonia H. Yoo, MD.

Frankfurt, Germany—The design of the optic edge seems to be one of the most important factors in the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO). IOLs with a sharp edge have less PCO regardless of the lens material, according to Thomas Kohnen, MD.

Reposition the IOL first before performing a YAG capsulotomy in instances of symptomatic IOL decentration with concomitant PCO.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Results from a preclinical study indicate that fluoroquinolones available for ophthalmic use may differ in their effects on corneal healing, said Luis E. Fern?ndez de Castro, MD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

New Orleans—Results of a retrospective study evaluating outcomes in eyes with an Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV, New World Medical) implanted indicate that the FP7 model with its silicone flexible plate affords better IOP control than the S2 model featuring a rigid polypropylene plate.

New Orleans—Results of a retrospective study evaluating outcomes in eyes with an Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV, New World Medical) implanted indicate that the FP7 model with its silicone flexible plate affords better IOP control than the S2 model featuring a rigid polypropylene plate.

Boston—Aqueous shunts can offer a very effective modality for controlling IOP in challenging glaucoma cases, and their therapeutic index has improved thanks to innovations in technique and technology introduced based on clinical experience.

Cincinnati, OH—The latest edition of the quarterly Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery features videos demonstrating complication management and other surgical highlights from around the world.

Los Angeles—Wayne L. Hubbell, PhD, the Jules Stein Professor of Ophthalmology and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Objectives remain the same, as surgical techniques continue to evolve.

The choice of prophylactic antibiotic after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is extremely important because it affects the rate of corneal epithelial wound healing.

Cleveland—Comprehensive ophthalmologists who understand the mechanism of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan) and the underlying anatomy can find many functional and cosmetic uses for botulinum toxin in their practices, said Julian D. Perry, MD.

Washington, DC—A new ultra-small sleeve is making sub-2-mm coaxial phacoemulsification possible.