Targeting refractory vitreous seeds in retinoblastoma
October 15th 2016A retrospective study reviewing outcomes of 17 consecutive eyes with retinoblastoma treated for refractory vitreous seeds found intravitreal topotecan was safe and resulted in complete regression in all eyes after a mean of three injections.
ARVO 2017 making global connections in vision research
October 15th 2016Though the year is quickly winding down, clinical education opportunities still abound for clinicians and vision researchers via the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). For instance, a one-day public workshop will focus on the newest clinical data on inherited retinal diseases and future clinical trial designs aimed at developing therapies to stem vision loss.
Simultaneous ocular myasthenia gravis and thyroid eye disease: beware
October 15th 2016Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disease that is usually seen in patients with Graves’ thyrotoxicosis although it can also be seen in hypothyroid as well as euthyroid patients. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is also an autoimmune antibody mediated disorder characterized by fluctuating weakness of the skeletal muscles that can occur with TED.
Multiple Imaging Modalities based on Eidon Technology
October 14th 2016Giovanni Staurenghi, professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Milan speaks about OCT, infrared, and autofluorescence base images used in practice. He explains how using blu autofluorescence imaging speeds up flow in cleaning and helps in diagnosis.
Why single-instrument screening for keratoconus remains a dream
October 1st 2016The promise of simple, objective, single instrument-based screening for highly asymmetric keratoconus in patients considering LASIK is still more of an idea than reality. Multiple metrics can identify early keratoconus in a minority of affected eyes, but none of the metrics consistently identify early corneal abnormalities and none of the metrics identify the same eyes as being at elevated risk for ectatic disease.
When did I become everyone’s honey?
October 1st 2016Here’s a scenario: You walk up to the local fast food counter for lunch. The morning is still fresh in your mind, and all the afternoon projects are pushing their way into the forefront of your brain. Distracted is under stating where your mind is at. You finally get to the order person, and a 16-year-old sings out: “Hi sweetie, what can we do for you today?”
Performing femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty for keratoconus
October 1st 2016A retrospective study evaluating outcomes in patients with keratoconus found that when compared to femtosecond laser-enabled keratoplasty (FLEK), femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FsDALK) had similar overall visual and refractive outcomes with a statistically significant lower overall graft rejection rate.
Epi-on CXL: Safe, effective option for treating thin corneas
October 1st 2016Patients with thin corneas as the result of keratoconus, ectasia following LASIK, or pellucid marginal degeneration can safely undergo epithelial-on collagen crosslinking with pulsed UV light and achieve visual benefits from the procedure.
Frozen, fresh corneal donor carriers yield similar clinical outcomes
October 1st 2016Five-year results from a study of the Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 implant suggest that frozen and fresh corneal donors offer similar clinical outcomes-with no significant differences in device retention, visual rehabilitation or complication rates.
5 intriguing ARVO abstracts about uveitis
September 26th 2016At the 2016 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Seattle, about 100 uveitis and uveitis-related papers and posters were presented by researchers from around the world. The presentations covered a wide range of research initiatives that are underway to treat–or at least understand how to address–uveitis. Here are five intriguing abstracts of research that were presented at the meeting.
NASEM declares eye health a public health imperative
September 24th 2016In order to avoid a public health crisis and keep up with increasing vision loss among the aging baby-boomer generation, correctable vision impairments must be eliminated by 2030, according to a report issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
Selecting the right DME patients for long-term steroidal implants
September 24th 2016An increasing number of treatment options have given patients facing diabetic macular edema (DME) new hope in the face of this chronic, progressive, and blinding disease. Experience and time have shown us there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for patients with DME. To get the results we want, we need to screen our patients and match them with the treatment protocol best suited to their needs.