News

In her latest blog, Joy Gibb, ABOC writes why allowing staff more learning opportunities builds better office morale.

In his latest blog, Mark Packer, MD, FACS, CPI, defends why doctors should not allow the restrictions of third party payers on reimbursement for cataract surgery to drive your diagnosis or your recommendations for treatment, as diagnosis and treatment must remain the surgeon’s sole responsibility if our profession is to retain any of its natural inherent authority.

When weighing the decision to adopt minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) into their practice, several advantages may support surgeons’ rationale, according to Richard A. Lewis, MD.

Novartis attempted to block studies in the United Kingdom comparing ranibizumab (Lucentis) and bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to an article published in The BJM, an international peer-reviewed medical journal.

In his debut blog, Arun C. Gulani, MD, recalls the great power of what ophthalmologists can really do for their patients.

Keratoneuralgia, also known as “pain without stain” is primarily a clinical diagnosis made for patients with corneal pain symptoms with minimal-to-no clinical signs and minimally, if at all, relieved by conventional dry eye treatments.

In this first of a two-part series Arun C. Gulani, MD, discusses how pterygium and pinguecula surgery can be approached cosmetically, even in extensive cases, and not only improved pathologically and functionally but also raised to a cosmetic outcome. Part 2 will address strategies for handling complex and recurrent pterygium surgery and complications such as scleral melts.

With the availability of a new slit lamp (Xcel 455, Reichert Technologies) also comes the ability for clinicians to switch easily to higher magnifications-further improving diagnosis and treatment-in a cost-effective instrument.

#Dressgate redux

As everyone knows, teenage girls have the knack of identifying the important new trends that come to define our culture: boy bands, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and reality television. For this reason, I became instantly alert when Dean, a talented ophthalmologist and loyal Ophthalmology Times reader, contacted me one evening about what was shortly to become the latest Internet sensation.

Participating in clinical trials can be rewarding. Not every eye-care practice is set-up for participation in clinical trials, but for those that invest the time and energy to become a high-quality research center, the benefits to both practice and patients can be quite significant.

Despite the advent of advanced technologies-such as corneal stromal collagen crosslinking (CXL), intracorneal ring segments (ICRS), toric phakic and pseudophakic IOLs, and keratoplasty-patients with keratoconus are mostly being managed with spectacles and/or contact lenses.

In her debut blog, Donna Suter, president of Suter Consulting Group, writes why patient perception of your office can be emotion-laden and as quick as a hail storm of controversy because patient care puts you and your team in a fish bowl.

The activity in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves a close association between endothelial cells and pericytes, the latter of which wraps around endothelial cells of the capillaries and venules.Pericytes regulate blood flow, clear cellular debris, are a key factor in the blood-brain barrier, and stabilize maturation of endothelial cells, explained Elias Reichel, MD, professor of ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, and vice chairman, New England Eye Center, Boston.