News

In his debut blog, Zack Oakey, MD, defends Sen. Rand Paul's actions against the American Board of Ophthalmology, and challenges his colleagues to do the same.

With the vast of information available online these days, it is only natural to want to search via ‘Google’ a past or current love, or even a potential employer to find out more about them. Patients also tend to search the Internet for physician recommendations-or negative comments-before choosing the right doctor for their ailment.But do physicians do the same for their patients? More importantly, is that even an acceptable practice?

Implant exchange in multifocal IOL recipients unhappy with their vision is better performed sooner rather than later. It is even better to avoid the exchange whenever possible by identifying and addressing a treatable cause for the patient’s complaints.The best strategy of all is to prevent dissatisfaction in the first place by attention to patient selection and preoperative management, said Stephen G. Slade, MD.

Dr. Heier, professor of ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, evaluated the currently used regimens to determine the ideal approaches for these patients.

Physicians who would like to work part-time should understand the economic issues involved and learn how to manage staff, patient volume, and costs effectively.

In patients with the rare disease of tumefactive multiple sclerosis, brain lesions may be mistaken for tumors. Treatments of high-dose steroid therapy and plasmapheresis can be considered.

Postmarketing clinical experience with ocriplasmin shows treatment success is higher when patients are chosen based on ideal criteria. No safety signals have emerged, but safety is being investigated more closely in ongoing trials.

Preserving vision in patients with diabetes requires ophthalmologists to be aware of the importance of reinforcing preventive strategies, maintaining communication with internists/diabetologists, and keeping up to date with current treatment approaches.

Ranibizumab effectively managed pigment epithelial detachments in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration regardless of size at baseline.

Endoscopy can be valuable in identifying and addressing problems in the posterior segment.

Patients treated with aflibercept intravitreal injections for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion had a significantly greater decrease in central retinal thickness and significantly greater improvement in vision compared with laser at the end of the 52-week VIBRANT trial.

Studies that focus on switching treatments for exudative age-related macular degeneration may represent more real-life scenarios. However, future prospective studies with predetermined switching criteria and follow-up are needed.

More information is needed to understand the natural history of vitreomacular adhesion/vitreomacular traction and risk of progression to clinically significant vitreomacular traction.

Head-to-head randomized controlled study found ranibizumab to show more favorable results to treating macular edema secondary to BRVO than a single dose of dexamethasone.

An analysis of independent data published in AREDS Report 38 shows that the response of patients with moderate to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to treatment with zinc or the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation varied substantially based on genotype.

Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, shares his perspective on how microinvasive glaucoma surgery has been integrated into his daily practice.

A novel imaging device is being tested for monitoring patients’ eye drop instillation techniques at home and in clinic.

Sheldon Silver was, until recently, Speaker of the New York State Assembly. This post made him one of that state's two or three most powerful political figures. He was forced to resign his post when indicted for corruption.

Careful preoperative assessment is imperative for patients who may be candidates for the telescope implant. After implantation, patients are actively engaged in their rehabilitation with a low-vision specialist.

Using real-world experience, a retinal surgeon highlights the optimal settings for use of steroid implants for treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Social media platforms are popular, multiplying, and potentially a way to reach patients with reliable information that could help build doctor-patient relationships and improve adherence to glaucoma medication.

In his debut blog, Dr. Packer writes of a cautionary tale to physicians when stuck between the wants and needs of married patients.

In assessing patients with glaucoma, ophthalmologists should look beyond the standard clinical metrics and consider how the disease may be impacting daily living.

Aflibercept is reportedly superior to ranibizumab and bevacizumab when treating some patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical trial.

A majority of Americans say they would be willing to use videos for their physician visit, according to a Harris Poll survey.

A novel photo-sharing app will most definitely not be named ‘the new Instagram’ for those who enjoy posting selfies or photos of their cats.

Highly variable myopia shifts can occur in pseudophakic children. IOL exchange seems to be an acceptable option for treating the high myopia that can develop with lens implantation in children.However, the use of IOLs in growing eyes remains controversial, and outcomes are uncertain because of lack of data, according to Courtney Kraus, MD.

The role of science and theory behind the nutritional influences on dry eye disease is explored by the co-authors.