Surgery

London-Exposure of the retina to excessive blue light is hazardous to the pigment epithelial cells and may underlie the increase in the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in individuals in the eighth and ninth decades of life.

The Clariflex and Sensar AR40e IOLs (AMO) are physician-friendly implants that provide patients with unsurpassed optical performance because of their proprietary OptiEdge (AMO) design, agree cataract surgeons who favor the OptiEdge IOLs.

Visual performance after cataract surgery is superior in eyes with the aspheric IOL implanted compared with other commonly used foldable implants, according to the results of a blinded, prospective, randomized study presented by Robert M. Kershner, MD, FACS.

Exciting progress continues to be made in IOL technology. However, as researchers develop new materials and designs, Nick Mamalis, MD, cautioned that care must to be taken to avoid revisiting old problems so that, as the Barenaked Ladies song title says, "Everything Old is New Again."

Editor's Note: The CrystaLens was recommended for approval by the FDA's Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel in late May. The lens may be commercially available later this year or early 2004. Dr. Doane's presentation was given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery prior to the recommendation.

Mainz, Germany-Refractive lens exchange with implantation of a foldable, multifocal IOL is a safe, effective, and stable surgical option for the treatment of hyperopia and myopia in the presbyopic population.

New York-The 1-year follow-up of the Hydroview IOL (Bausch & Lomb) indicates that the lens is safe and provides excellent postoperative visual outcomes, a low incidence of Nd:YAG capsulotomy, and no cases of decentration, according to Douglas Grayson, MD, FACS.

San Francisco-An interim analysis of data from an ongoing European multicenter study of the Phakic Refractive Lens (PRL, CIBA Vision/Medennium) indicates that the posterior chamber implant is a safe, effective, and predictable method for correcting high myopia, said Bo Philipson, MD, PhD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Blocking the canaliculus with silicone punctal plugs has been shown to improve the stability of the tear film, decrease the ocular surface staining scores and squamous metaplasia grades, and increase the goblet cell density, according to Dilek Dursun, MD.

The use of hyaluronic acid gel injections from non-animal sources is a safe, long-lasting treatment for facial rhytidosis, based on the results of a 5-year study of clinical experience with the filling agent.

Kansas City, KS-Incorporating cosmetic botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Botox Cosmetic, Allergan) treatment into an ophthalmic practice's realm of services can be very satisfying for patients and the practitioner, said Jemshed A. Khan, MD.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb will work with Faezeh Mona Sarfarazi, MD, to develop a single-piece, molded silicone lens with a dual optic design aimed at helping presbyopic patients.

Duluth, GA-Diclofenac sodium ophthalmic solution (Voltaren, Novartis Ophthalmics) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a proven track record. It is the drug of choice to relieve pain following cataract or refractive surgery, and it has maintained that position despite the increased incidence of corneal melt associated with a generic version of the drug, according to Douglas A. Katsev, MD. He described diclofenac as a staple in his private practice in Santa Barbara, CA.

In the ophthalmic market, there is a distinctive gap between industry leaders and followers.

Munich, Germany-The 2003 annual gathering of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) will open on Saturday, Sept. 6 and continue through Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the ICM Congress Centre, in this city in the heart of Bavaria.

Irvine, CA-Allergan's Botox (botulinum toxin type A) has officially made its way into the nation's lexicon as a household word.

San Francisco-A novel accommodating IOL (FlexOptic, Quest Vision) designed to mimic the natural crystalline lens through an ability to change optic sphericity is a promising new alternative to treating presbyopia, with the potential for superior efficacy and safety relative to other options for surgical accommodative correction, said John D. Hunkeler, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Washington, DC-New legislation introduced by two House committees in mid-June will not include a proposal to cut Medicare payment rates for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services.

San Francisco-Could phakic IOLs some day emerge as the dominant refractive surgical approach, especially considering the past problems with early innovations?

San Francisco-Patient noncompliance can be overcome with the delivery of medication to the eye with intraocular time-release systems, according to James P. Gills, MD, who spoke during the Innovator's Session at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Bausch & Lomb recently unveiled its SofPort System, an integrated, single-use, single-handed planar delivery IOL insertion system. The system is composed of the new MP-28 IOL injector and the new LI61-SE IOL.

San Francisco-The ClariFlex third-generation silicone IOL (AMO) is well tolerated in high-risk glaucomatous eyes, and the Unfolder Silver-Z insertion system (AMO) performs well in these eyes, with a very low incidence of cartridge jams or damaged IOLs, accord-ing to Thomas W. Samuelson, MD.

San Francisco-The Sensar IOL (AMO) with OptiEdge provides patients with excellent visual acuity, and after 1 year, it is associated with a higher incidence of clear posterior capsules and a lower rate of Nd:YAG capsulotomy compared with the parent model without OptiEdge, reported William J. Fishkind, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

San Francisco-The AcrySof Natural IOL (Model SB30AL, Alcon), containing a covalently bonded, blue light-filtering chromophore (ImprUV), more closely mimics the light transmission spectrum of the precataractous adult human crystalline lens compared with standard UV-absorbing IOLs without any adverse effects on vision, said Paul H. Ernest, MD, at the American Society of Cata-ract and Refractive Surgery an-nual meeting.

San Francisco-With its proprietary apodized diffractive technology, the AcrySof ReSTOR pseudoaccommodative IOL (Alcon) provides patients with excellent near and distance vision and only infrequently causes visual symptoms that are generally minimal and easily tolerated, said David Allen, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

The first one-bottle daily lens-care system for rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses will be available this month from Bausch & Lomb. The FDA approved Boston Simplus Multi-Action Solution in May.

Milwaukee-When an anophthalmic implant is required, in most cases, oculoplastic surgeon Russell S. Gonnering, MD, prefers using a non-wrapped porous sphere.

London-Subconjunctival injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan) can offer an effective treatment for upper eyelid retraction associated with thyroid eye dis-ease, said Jimmy M. Uddin, MD.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb will delay the regulatory filing for the intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant (Retisert), a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME), for up to 3 years while the FDA reviews 12-month safety data of additional eyes treated with implants.

The FDA has approved the use of CIBA Vision's Focus NIGHT & DAY silicone hydrogel contact lenses for therapeutic use, and AOSEPT Clear Care lens-care solution for use with rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses.