News

A new layer in the human cornea-discovered by researchers at the University of Nottingham last year-has been found to play a vital role in the structure of the tissue that controls the flow of fluid from the eye.

As Bob Costas’ eye infection caused him to step away from his Sochi Olympics reporting duties, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is reminding the public of the importance of seeking prompt medical treatment and practicing good hygiene to reduce the spread of what can be highly infectious eye conditions.

Bilateral panuveitis associated with retinal vasculitis has been found to be the most common ocular manifestation-and administration of oral systemic corticosteroids was the most common intervention-according to a 25-year study of the uveitic patterns in Behçet’s disease in Saudi Arabian patients presented by J. Fernando Arevalo, MD.

Nicox S.A. has decided to re-focus its naproxcinod development efforts, granting an undisclosed financial partner the right to enter into a period of exclusive evaluation to assess the potential development of the drug and of next-generation nitric oxide (NO)-donors outside the ophthalmology area.

Bausch + Lomb have announced the U.S. introduction of BLIS (Bausch + Lomb Injector System), designed exclusively for use with the enVista glistening-free, hydrophobic acrylic IOL.

Alan G. Kabat, OD, discusses why olopatadine 0.2% is his preferred anti-allergy medication for managing mild-to-moderate seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

A surgeon undergoing implantation of a corneal inlay to treat presbyopia enjoys the same visual benefits as his patients with the device.

Numerous clinical trials are under way that may help to define the role of immunotherapy in ocular allergy.

Thorough treatment of the ciliary processes-combined with measures for minimizing postoperative IOP spikes and inflammation-will lead to improved outcomes when performing endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation with cataract surgery.

Long-term trial data for a small-aperture corneal inlay (Kamra, AcuFocus) for presbyopia turned in superb results.

Evaluation and management of penetrating orbital injuries is largely guided by knowledge about the foreign body and is improving with advances in imaging technology.

Analyses of data from large clinical trials have been undertaken to determine how patient age and treatment-specific variables may influence the systemic safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment.

The surgical procedures and botulinum toxin A injections widely used today to treat strabismus may be supplanted within a decade or two by new drugs and devices that are more effective.

A new algorithm for the management of allergic conjunctivitis encourages collaboration and consensus among colleagues with different expertise as well as greater emphasis on ocular signs and symptoms by physicians who are not eye-care specialists.

Surgeons with experience using the femtosecond laser for refractive lens surgery discuss the safety benefits and challenges accompanying its use.

A recent article in The New York Times1 suggests that physicians-because we understand the implications of a serious illness diagnosis and the implications of treatment and the associated morbidity-die “better” than do non-physicians.

Vision health disparities are a serious issue in the United States among minorities, and many are hoping provisions in the Affordable Care Act will be able to alleviate the issue.

Arun C. Gulani, MD, explains his concept of addressing anterior corneal scars with laser PRK (not PTK) straight to 20/20. In the next article, he will explain how to build the cornea with various modalities in presenting it for laser PRK.

Optical dispensary designers discuss what they have seen this year as far as lighting, fixture plans, visual merchandising, and color scheme trends.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is offering an educational brochure, “Eye Health and Allergies.” The complimentary brochure is designed to provide patients with useful information on how eye allergies occur, common signs and symptoms, and practical advice on how to treat eye allergies.

A phase III VISTA-DME trial of aflibercept (Eylea) injection-a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME)-showed a sustained improvement from baseline in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at week 100, compared with laser photocoagulation.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was designed to provide health insurance for millions of uninsured citizens with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, expanded services like screening and preventive health coverage, and be less costly for patients and the government.

The probability of blindness due to glaucoma has decreased by nearly half since 1980, according to a study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has named one of its own-Rohit Varma, MD, MPH-to become chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the USC Eye Institute, as well as to serve as professor of ophthalmology and preventive medicine and hold the Grace and Emery Beardsley Chair in Ophthalmology.

Studies evaluating treatment of progressive keratoconus with corneal crosslinking (CXL) show greater benefit using an epithelium-off versus epithelium-on technique. However, epithelial removal by laser-assisted phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) may give better results than manual debridement, according to a study presented by Ronald N. Gaster, MD.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced dosing of the first patients enrolled in its phase IIb study of PG324, a novel fixed-combination treatment for glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The FDA has issued 510(k) Clearance for Nidek’s new CEM-530 specular microscope.

Prevent Blindness is now accepting applications for its 2014 Joanne Angle Investigator Award.