News

Neuroprotection, a strategy to slow or prevent the death of retinal ganglion cells, offers the possibility of slowing the rate of glaucomatous progression and preventing blindness. But although the underlying theory appears to be sound, much still needs to be learned through basic and clinical research before neuroprotection could become an integral part of glaucoma therapy.

Although presbyLASIK is still, by no means, perfect, it seems to present a good solution for certain cases, particularly in myopes and hyperopes.

At three months, 88% had monocular uncorrected near vision of J2 or better and 95% had J3 or better. A total of 84% were able to read newspaper-sized print without spectacles and 84% were satisfied or very satisfied with the results

I am not convinced that using two very different types of lenses in one patient is the best way to maximize the visual system

The femtosecond laser has the potential to be the ultimate corneal incision device - the possibilities are nearly limitless

Managing patient expectations, matching the lens and the right lens power to the right patient, showing the patient you care and keeping the patient fully informed are all key strategies to securing patient satisfaction.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has voluntarily recalled certain lots of its 12 ounce COMPLETE MoisturePLUS multipurpose contact lens care solution and Active Packs, sold in the US.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has announced its acquisition of Wavefront Sciences and its planned purchase of IntraLase.

Happy New Year to you all. I'm sure, by now, the memories of Christmas have faded and the New Year's resolutions have already been broken but I do hope you used the holiday season to recharge your batteries, ready to face whatever 2007 may bring.

A survey of British Ophthalmologists has found that there is a lower rate of serious complications after cataract surgery if sub–Tenon's, topical and topical–intracameral local anaesthesias are used rather than the "older" retrobulbar and peribulbar techniques.

Children born before week 35 of pregnancy have a greater risk of developing refractive errors than children born at full term, according to a report published in the November 2006 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

It is now possible, for the first time, to biopsy tissue from a living eye in order to determine which tumours possess high metastatic risk, according to a report in the November 2006 issue of Ophthalmology.

I have been disappointed by the outcomes of anti-VEGF monotherapy. I feel that far too many retreatments are required with no clear specified endpoint

The surgeon does not change gloves in between cases but simply rinses with 0.5% chlorhexidine/70% isopropyl alcohol solution. Despite the simplicity of this, the rates of infection in Dr V hospitals is lower than US rates

There is some evidence that compliance and persistence are better with prostaglandins than with other drug classes

Retinal cell transplants have successfully restored sight to blind mice, according to research published in a recent edition of Nature magazine.

The wavefront guided approach has certainly yielded the best outcomes in my practice; patient satisfaction rate is very high, while the retreatment rate is extremely low at 2.3%

Its almost time to close the door on 2006 and welcome another new year. But, before we do that we wanted to take you on a journey through the highs and lows of the past twelve months by reflecting on some of the most significant events to shape your industry this year.

Novartis has received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), recommending the European Union approval of its wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) agent, Lucentis (ranibizumab).

IntraLase has filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court for the State of California, US, against Carl Zeiss AG, its subsidiary Carl Zeiss Meditec and certain affiliates.

It's almost the end of the year. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer and the climate around the majority of countries in Europe is dipping to very unpleasant levels.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) corrects mild-to-moderate hyperopia, but the results may not be permanent, according to Jason Erlich, MD, of Stanford University School of Medicine, USA.

Clinicians should learn how to identify pellucid and screen patients for it prior to refractive surgery, according to Yaron Rabinowitz, MD, director of ophthalmology research, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA.

More prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of diurnal and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) function in glaucoma development and progression, according to Felipe A. Medeiros, MD, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of California at San Diego, USA, speaking at the glaucoma subspecialty session.

Oral antiviral medications offer an effective, more convenient option compared with topical antiviral therapy for patients with acute infectious ulcers associated with herpes simplex keratitis. Oral treatment increases the likelihood of therapy adherence, according to Deborah P. Langston, MD, FACS, speaking at the eye infection symposium.

Blue light filtering intraocular lenses (IOLs) provide protection against potential blue light toxicity without significantly affecting clinical functioning of recipients, said James D. McCulley, MD, during a spotlight session on pseudophakic IOLs.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis; Novartis) is an effective treatment for diabetic macular oedema (DME), according to Peter Campochiaro, MD, from the Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, USA, speaking at the Retina Subspecialty Day.

All the news from the 2006 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held November 11–14 2006 in Las Vegas, NV, US