News

Half of patients with ocular allergies report experiencing symptoms year-round. While nearly all of them take eye drops to treat their symptoms, the majority report limited or no effect from over-the-counter drops, according to a new survey. The results suggest that new treatment approaches would improve both symptoms and quality of life.

When you do not have enough money or time, a well-worded post script can be your best friend. Whether you are the new doctor who doesn’t have a large database or the kind-hearted provider who accepts all those low-paying plans and really can’t afford the estimated 60 cents per unit cost of a fall postcard campaign, please consider adding a P.S. to emails and a red-ink P.S. to all patient-directed, routine postal pieces.

How do the newer anticoagulant medications compare with warfarin when it comes to the risk of intraocular bleeding? A meta-analysis published in JAMA Ophthalmology did a systematic review of phase 3 randomized trials looking at over 100,000 patients.

Why it is that ophthalmologists who read the same papers in the same journals have such widely varying approaches?

Ocular blood flow has been associated with the incidence, prevalence and progression of glaucoma, but its potential causative role remains a subject for debate. Better insights may be on the horizon using OCT angiography and sophisticated mathematical modeling techniques.

Transepithelial topography-guided PRK can help correct irregular astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

Pattern electroretinography (PERG) and visually evoked potential (VEP) tests can objectively evaluate the function of axion and retinal ganglion cells. These test results can add another component in successfully treating patients with cataract and/or glaucoma.

Aqueous angiography facilitates increased understanding of aqueous humor outflow that can provide individualized treatment for IOP control.

The European Commission has approved adalimumab (Humira, AbbVie) as the first biologic treatment for chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis in paediatric patients from 2 years of age who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.

So far, 2017 has been a very exciting year for both ophthalmology and healthcare as a whole. We still have a few months left for more excitement, so stay tuned!

A new small-aperture intraocular lens (IOL) extends patients’ depth of focus as well as multifocal IOLs with fewer dysphotopsias, researchers say.

Scleral tunnel, “glued” fixation technique works better than alternative fixation techniques in cases where intraocular lenses (IOLs) cannot be placed in capsular bag or in the sulcus, according to Sumit Garg, MD.

The most recent analyses of data from the ARMOR (Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring in Ocular micRoorganisms) Surveillance Program can guide clinicians choosing antibiotic therapy for initial empiric therapy and infection prophylaxis. The information also reinforces the importance of prudent antibiotic prescribing to limit the development of bacterial resistance to existing options, according to Penny Asbell, MD.

Ophthalmology Times wants insight on antibiotics and eye infections from clinicians in the field - so the editors asked you. Readers like you helped by completing our survey and telling us about your experience with postoperative infections after eye surgery, if you use topical antibiotic prior to cataract surgery, how you choose antibiotics in a routine surgical prophylaxis, and more. The 118 U.S.-based ophthalmologists who responded were entered into a drawing to win a $200 gift card, with the winner being an ophthalmologist in Houston.

Patient excellence training should focus more on how to build a human connection while entering data into a terminal than how to use the latest and greatest diagnostic equipment. People over the age of 35 are either looking for life balance (in the case of a Millennial) or that respect he or she had in the professional arena before retirement (in the case of Baby Boomers.)

Though extended depth-of-focus lenses tend to be more forgiving of residual refractive error and mild decentration than other presbyopia-correcting IOLs, it is important to select patients carefully and follow good preoperative protocols for a successful outcome.

Addressing patient dissatisfaction after presbyopia-correcting IOL surgery requires listening to understand the problem. Time and patient reassurance may be adequate for resolving some issues.

The idiom “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” is meant to convey the importance of not entering a challenging situation without the proper equipment at hand. The concept that one must come properly prepared and equipped to any important task or confrontation is well-appreciated by ophthalmic surgeons, but this particular expression is rarely used by ophthalmologists teaching eye surgery to residents.

Surgeons should use a centroid value for surgically induced astigmatism rather than a mean or median value when working with toric IOL calculators.

When exploring novel treatment options for the management of IOP, clinicians should consider a number of independent factors ranging from beneficial behaviors to body position.

When it comes to recommending a premium IOL, a patient’s glaucoma is only one factor to consider. Just like any other patient planning cataract surgery, visual needs and preferences for/against glasses are also important factors.