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Bethesda, MD- Ten patients with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP) will be the first humans to receive intraocular, polymer implants containing genetically modified human retinal epithelial cells that researchers hope will prevent further vision loss.

The Terry-Schanzlin Astigmatome System with vacuum speculum (Oasis Medical Inc.) is a disposable microsurgical cutting instrument designed to make uniform and controlled paralimbal incisions that are often used in combination with cataract and lens implant pro-cedures to reduce astigmatism.

The incidence of overcorrection after LASIK for myopia is low, but the results of re-treatment are variable. Re-treating often results in a shift back to myopia, leaving the patient unhappy. To improve the results of LASIK enhancement surgery, a new formula is warranted. In 1999, Drs. Lindstrom and co-workers noted that laser treatment achieved different effects in eyes with primary versus secondary hyperopia. They attributed this effect to dynamics of wound healing.

Although patients with uveitis are at increased risk of complications following cataract surgery with IOL implantation, due to pre-existing inflam- mation, improvements in technology, materials, and surgical techniques have greatly improved outcomes.

Groningen, The Netherlands-Early preclinical studies are yielding promise that an injected, artificial, capsule-filling lens may offer a possible solution for restoring accommodative ability lost in presbyopia or pseudophakia.

Nuremberg, Germany-The Acri.Smart 48S IOL implanted with the Acri.Glide/Acri.Shooter system (Acri.Tec, Berlin, Germany) enables cataract surgery to be performed completely with the benefits of ultra-small-incision techniques, said Wolfram Wehner, MD.

Atlanta-The FDA is allowing CIBA Vision to tell consumers they may use AOSEPT Clear Care and SOLO-care Plus with silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Clear Care is the first and only no-rub, peroxide-based formula in the United States to receive clearance for this indication.

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.

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.