News

The American Medical Association (AMA) has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to lengthen the timeframe for registering and using the Open Payments system. This would allow physicians enough time to review and seek corrections of inaccurate claims made by pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and group purchasing organizations under the Sunshine Act, the AMS noted.

Research in glaucoma that evaluates the molecular interactions between resident and systemic immune cells and neurons is progressing with the goal of providing translational applications for immunomodulation as a neuroprotective strategy in patients with glaucoma, said Gülgün Tezel, MD.

Genentech has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the FDA for its treatment of diabetic retinopathy, ranibizumab injection (Lucentis).

Nicox S.A. has decided to exercise the option to co-promote its glaucoma and ocular hypertension treatment-latanoprostene bunod-with Bausch + Lomb in the United States.

Kala Pharmaceuticals has initiated a phase II clinical trial to evaluate a nanopartical platform in patients with intraretinal or subretinal fluid secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or diabetic macular edema (DME).

Ophthotech Corp. has initiated the first of several planned expansion trials, in addition to the ongoing E10030 (Fovista) combination therapy phase III clinical program.

The FDA has approved Regeneron’s aflibercept (Eylea) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Allergan has filed a U.S. lawsuit against Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and Pershing Square Capital Management that alleges insider trading.

Alcon Laboratories’ brinzolamide 10mg/mL and brimonidine tartrate 2mg/mL (Simbrinza) eye drop formulation have been approved by the European Commission to decrease elevated IOP in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The Danish Health and Medicines Authority, along with the Norwegian Medicines Evaluation Board, have granted marketing authorization to Alimera Sciences’ Iluvien for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) in their respective countries.

Results of a retrospective analysis of more than 432,000 eyes that underwent LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) as a primary procedure show a very low rate of postoperative microbial keratitis, said Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS.

After a meeting with a former fellow whose wife owns a university, Peter J. McDonnell, MD, discusses the real costs of higher education worldwide and how the United States can better its own education for the sake of its future students.

In the demonstration, the optician recommends and demonstrates eyewear products that will enhance the customer's visual lifestyle and appearance. The customer is educated and has the opportunity, whenever possible, of experiencing the recommended product.

A glaucoma specialist explores endoscopic visualization for the diagnosis and treatment of uveitic-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome.

A fixed-dose combination containing an investigational rho kinase/norepinephrine transporter inhibitor and latanoprost 0.005% achieved its primary endpoint, showing potential as a high-efficacy, IOP-lowering therapy in a phase IIb trial.

A retrospective cohort study found a significantly higher rate of detection of nondiabetic retinopathy findings using ultra-widefield retinal imaging compared with nonmydriatic fundus photography.

Data from the phase III VISTA-DME trial show aflibercept 2 mg every 4 or every 8 weeks remains superior to laser photocoagulation and is associated with stable improvements in best-corrected visual acuity and macular thickness.

The symbols, signs, and abbreviations used every day in medical records have ancient roots in history.

Surgeons can take steps to manage an opaque bubble layer by reducing femtosecond laser spot line separation during LASIK flap creation.

Supraciliary micro-stent implantation can serve as a safe and effective stand-alone treatment in patients refractory to topical glaucoma therapy.

Although surgical intervention is not always necessary in eyes with choroidal detachment, drainage should be performed if spontaneous resolution does not occur in order to restore normal anatomy and prevent trabeculectomy failure.

Hydrogel punctal plugs may be a safe and viable method for delivery of anti-glaucoma drugs in the future.

The optimal time of implantation of a corneal inlay (Kamra, AcuFocus) to correct presbyopia in ametropic presbyopic patients seems to be 1 week after traditional LASIK in a planned two-stage KAMRA procedure.

Implantation of two stents (iStent, Glaukos) may be another option for controlling IOP in phakic and pseudophakic patients with open-angle glaucoma who are refractory to one anti-glaucoma medication.

Where leadership may once have been seen as crafting a master plan and handing down directives, today leadership manifests as a collaborative process.

Results of a randomized study show both superior and inferior visual field defects impair drivers’ performance on the computerized Hazard Perception Test. However, superior visual field loss is associated with significantly greater worsening than inferior visual field loss.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty provided a majority of Afro-Caribbean patients with a mean IOP reduction of 40% with no need for medical therapy.

An investigational glaucoma device that shunts aqueous from the anterior chamber to a sub-conjunctival/sub-Tenon’s pouch is being evaluated in a prospective study of 35 eyes operated on at two centers.

The outcomes for shunt implantation show promise as an option for the management of uveitic glaucoma. In a retrospective chart review, 73% of patients had a decrease of at least 20% in IOP 6 months postoperatively.

The electronic health records and electronic medical records implementations come with endless upgrades whether your clinic is prepared or not.