News

The UK Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians (FODO) is calling for a mediation service to handle disputes over refractive surgery.

As retinal specialists, we are truly fortunate to live in a time where we have several treatment options for patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). A fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant 0.19 mg (Iluvien, Alimera Sciences) is indicated for the treatment of DME in patients who have been previously treated with a course of corticosteroids and did not have a clinically significant rise in IOP.

Wills Eye Hospital’s “powerhouse” William Tasman, MD, passed away March 28, 2017, at the age of 87. In the same short period, the retinal world had another sad passing of Eliot L. Berson, MD, on March 19, 2017 at the age of 79.

Meaningful use and government mandates have added blocks all throughout the system that continue to add more and more time to each patient visit--and ends up damming up the clinic from ever getting their hands on the patient to do the exam.

Though further study is needed to determine conclusively whether or not femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) is associated with better refractive outcomes compared with conventional manual surgery, FLACS offers many other benefits that justify its use, according to Robert J. Cionni, MD.

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) offers some advantages compared with a conventional manual procedure, particularly for certain patients. Currently, however, FLACS does not result in superior outcomes and it has drawbacks that outweigh its benefits, according to Rosa Braga-Mele, MD.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with President Donald J. Trump, we can agree that part of his success was finding a way to skip the media, go around the career politicians, and go directly to the people. Is it possible that our legislative efforts have borne so little fruit because we’ve approached it as a politician would?

The 2017 meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) will be held May 5 to 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but at least one guest speaker will be sharing his “out-of-this-world” experiences.

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) facilitated a precise capsulotomy and reduced phaco energy in a recent ongoing study with about 100 consecutive eyes, said Jeffrey Whitman, MD, Key-Whitman Eye Center, Dallas.

A third system upgrade for a femtosecond laser system for refractive cataract surgery (Streamline III, LENSAR) will enhance the efficiency of the procedure, according to Jonathan Solomon, MD.

A newly released hand-held tonometer model (Icare ic100, Icare U.S.A.) features several design upgrades while retaining the rebound technology for measuring IOP that was at the core of the earlier model.

Retinal issues can impact cataract surgery outcomes, especially for those with multifocal or other premium lenses. While multifocal lenses may allow the patient to see more clearly across a range of distances, they may also decrease the amount of light that reaches the retina, exacerbating any issues that may already be present.

All of these cases scenarios, which are an everyday occurrence in my practice, demonstrate my desire to take every patient to emmetropia despite the “so-called” complexity of the cases.

Are you planning on going to a conference this year? As Howard Schultz, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks, summarized, knowledge and skill are your keys to earning more. Professional conference season is upon us. Which ones are you paying for you and your employees to attend? No matter how dedicated and organized your practice may be, it’s impossible to internally train each and every staff member to the high level of excellence your patients demand. Thoughtfully motivating and engaging employees takes a concerted and systemic approach to learning and skills training.

Achieving satisfaction for patients interested in a multifocal IOL begins with comprehensive preoperative screening and evaluation.

Recent surveys across most medical specialties confirm physicians in active practice preach to themselves and their patients about the fulfillment of providing intimate, life-improving care, but advise their children to avoid becoming physicians.

Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Xiidra, Shire) has demonstrated positive results for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Eye dryness scores for some patients have improved after two weeks of treatment with the topical drop.

A silicone punctal plug-based delivery system for ophthalmic medications (Evolute, Mati Therapeutics) provides precisely controlled medication release into the tear film and has been associated with positive results in initial clinical testing.

Patient symptoms are not an effective method to diagnose dry eye, as they often overlap with other pathologies. Tear osmolarity results provide clues for alternative diagnoses.

Poor regeneration of the epithelial basement accounts for most 'late haze' associated with PRK, LASIK, infections, or corneal transplants. Proper excimer laser maintenance may reduce irregularities.

Recombinant human lubricin showed potential as a new therapeutic approach to the management of dry eye disease in a small clinical trial. Compared with sodium hyaluronate, lubricin (Lubris BioPharma), significantly improved both signs and symptoms of moderate dry eye after two weeks of treatment.

Seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis are common conditions that are not always well-controlled with conventional therapy. Alternative approaches and novel investigational treatments are discussed.

A phase I/II trial enrolling patients with Sjögrens syndrome dry eye will be investigating  a synthetic fragment of a naturally occurring tear glycoprotein. Findings from extensive laboratory and preclinical research suggest that it is a promising novel therapy.

Chronic dry eye disease (DED) affects more than 25 million people and to date the only pharmacologic therapies are topical or involve punctal plugs. Results from two studies wth a neurostimulator indicate there may be a new pathway to upregulate the body’s tear system.

​A 19-month, open-label study of a novel bimatoprost, sustained-release ocular insert shows good safety and efficacy. The insert is polymer ring that sits atop the eye in the conjunctival fornix. Phase III trials are expected to begin in 2017.

Is your electronic health record (EHR) less than magical? Part of the problem may be how you are using it.

A transepithelial PRK (TransPRK) procedure (SmartSurface, Schwind eye-tech-solutions) provides the benefits of one-step, no-touch surface ablation plus rapid visual recovery, said Diego de Ortueta, MD.

One mistake ophthalmologists typically make with Facebook is to presume their practice websites and Facebook pages should contain similar information. Another misperception is that Facebook is a platform for the constant promotion of their specials, procedures, or new technologies in eye care.