Surgery

Cataract removal by means of phacoemulsification has improved over the last 35 years in small, incremental steps. The sequential introductions of capsulorhexis, foldable IOLs, clear corneal incisions, and topical anesthesia have made small improvements in the safety andefficacy of cataract surgery and as a whole have taken us one giant leap forward.Bimanual phacoemulsification is just another one of these small steps that may ultimately enhance our ability to offer the best surgical procedure to our patients.

Orlando-Posterior chamber phakic implants can offer safe and effective correction of moderate to high myopia with stable refractive outcomes, low risks of operative and postoperative complications, high patient satisfaction, and the benefit of less induction of optical aberrations relative to LASIK, according to James J. Salz, MD.

Rochester, NY-A federal circuit appeals court has upheld a ruling that Bausch & Lomb's PureVision contact lenses infringe a patent owned by CIBA Vision that the company uses for its silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Memphis-The Ophthalas EyeLite Photocoagulator (Alcon) features a 532-nm diode-pumped frequency-doubled YAG laser that makes it a powerful and reliable choice for endoscopic, laser indirect ophthalmoscope (LIO), and slit-lamp delivered photocoagulation procedures, said Steve Charles, MD.

Orlando-The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (Pharmacia) is a revolutionary development in foldable IOL technology with significant visual function benefits for cataract surgery patients, concurred speakers at a Pharmacia-sponsored continuing medical education symposium held during the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Philadelphia-Wills Eye Hospital and Tulane Medical Center are joining efforts to study the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared with conventional medical management as monotherapy for open-angle glaucoma.

Lexington, KY-One of the newest viscoelastic products approved by the FDA is 1.2% sodium hyaluronate (CoEase, Advanced Medical Optics), which exemplifies the trend toward developing agents with both dispersive and cohesive properties.

Experience in ongoing clinical trials points to the potential of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser (Photon, Paradigm Medical) as an effective and remarkably safe alternative for removing soft lenses, said Michael B. Limberg, MD.

Salt Lake City-An evaluation of four materials available for the manufacture of IOL haptics showed that polymethylmethac-rylate (PMMA), elastimide, and polyvi-nylidene fluoride (PVDF) had similar loop memory at a level that was significantly higher than that of polypropylene (PP) haptics. All lenses had a silicone optic.

Cincinnati, OH-The toric implantable contact lens (ICL) from STAAR Surgical promises to expand the range of patients who can be treated with phakic implants by enabling the treatment of astigmatic myopia and, eventually, astigmatic hyperopia.

Orlando-A new light-adjustable IOL (LAL) has been designed that will allow for noninvasive correction of residual refractive errors present after cataract surgery, said Daniel M. Schwartz, MD, during the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Researchers are ready to begin testing the LAL in clinical trials, he added.

Ophthalmologists are always looking to broaden their procedure offerings to increase their revenue stream.

The Selecta Duet (Lumenis), a new dual-purpose laser system, brings anterior segment surgeons a cost-effective and space-saving solution for treating both glaucoma patients undergoing selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and pseudophakic patients in need of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for secondary cataract.

Patients with high-risk glaucoma have a sight-saving option that is providing promising results.

Fort Worth, TX-Alcon has received FDA clearance for its Opti-Free Express Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution "no-rub" formula for use with silicone hydrogel lenses. The indication has been added to the product's carton, label, and package insert.

Orlando-The Contact Lens and Eyecare Symposium (CLES) will offer more than 130 hours of accredited continuing education courses from which to choose during the group's inaugural meeting, Jan. 22 to 26 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.

Cincinnati, OH-The quarterly Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery has published two more issues in 2002 that are available free to residency programs in the United States and surgeons abroad.

Santa Clara, CA-Lumenis Ltd. is hoping to broaden the use of its ophthalmic laser products via two new strategic alliances with Ellex Medical Pty. Ltd. and Moria S.A.

Newark, NJ-Multimodal therapy, close surveillance with prompt intervention for early signs of failure, and long-term suppression of fibroblastic activity may help improve long-term success rates of glaucoma filtering surgery, said Paul J. Lama, MD.

Editor's Note: HIV/AIDS continues to be a major health problem, not only in the developing world, but in North America and Europe as well. Although the incidence of ocular complications of HIV/AIDS has decreased dramatically since the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), the prevalence of HIV positivity continues toincrease, particularly among heterosexual women and minorities.

FDA News

Los Angeles-Considering the limited availability of published randomized trials, glaucoma surgeons should remain skeptical about the safety and efficacy of viscocanalostomy and deep sclerectomy with collagen wick, said Donald S. Minckler, MD.

Mexico City-Surgical treatment of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) by the creation of retinochoroidal anastomosis (RCA) may become an effective therapy for some patients with CRVO, according to Hugo Quiroz-Mercado, MD.

Rockville Centre, NY-Implantation of a posterior chamber phakic refractive lens (PRL) (Medennium phakic refractive lens, CIBA Vision, Duluth, GA) demonstrated positive visual outcomes in the treatment of high hyperopia, according to Alexander Hatsis, MD, who presented the results of the FDA phase II trial.

Wilmette, IL-The use of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan) to remove facial lines is the latest cosmetic procedure craze to hit the national morning programs and evening magazine shows.

New York-Eyelid ptosis following botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan) therapy is directly related to using frontalis injection, though other investigators have not linked the characteristic droopiness to that approach, said Michael Kane, MD.

The management of refractory and complex glaucoma is a challenging and often humbling undertaking. These difficult-to-treat glaucomas include neovascular, traumatic, uveitic, secondary angle closure, postsurgical, and refractory open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

New York-The incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was found to be significantly lower following cataract extraction with the Nd:YAG laser (Dodick photolysis system, ARC Laser Corp.) than with conventional phaco, according to a study performed at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital (MEETH), New York.

Los Angeles-Polishing the anterior capsule after phacoemulsification and lens implantation does not appear to reduce the incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In fact, substantially more eyes that underwent this procedure after cataract surgery needed posterior capsulotomy, a startling finding reported by Kevin M. Miller, MD.

Jackson, MI-The new AcrySof Natural IOL (Model SB30AL, Alcon, Fort Worth, TX), which has a light transmission spectrum similar to that of a 53-year-old human crystalline lens, is the first of its kind that has become commercially available. It effectively filters blue light between 400 and 500 nm and preserves contrast sensitivity and color perception, according to Paul Ernest, MD.