News

Researchers in the Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute have developed and tested a novel procedure to prepare human amniotic membrane for use as a scaffold for specialized stem cells used to treat some corneal diseases.

The United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its final guidance for a sustained-release intravitreal implant (Iluvien), clearing the path to patient availability through the National Health Service (NHS).

Chronic pain can occur after refractive surgery, but it also can occur in patients with non-surgical ocular disease. It is important to distinguish both the causes and the manifestations of pain before one can successfully treat it, according to Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD.

Bayer HealthCare of Leverkusen, Germany, has entered into an exclusive collaboration with Inception Sciences Inc. of San Diego and Versant Ventures of San Francisco to develop treatment options for patients with retinal diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and geographic atrophy (GA).

Throughout 2013, there were several studies done that showed various new technologies and advancements have not only shown better refractive outcomes in cataract surgery, but could continue benefiting the outcomes in the future.

A look at the growing options and enthusiasm for intracameral, as well as topical antibiotics for infection prophylaxis.

New devices show increased interest in providing users with combined surgical systems

While US cataract surgeons still have limited access to pseudophakic correction technology, there were several premium IOLs made available this year that offer toric correction, an important step forward.

Refractive focus also includes posterior corneal astigmatism, aberrometry for toric IOLs

Refractive technologies also advance with laser-assisted cataract surgery

A pictorial about eating ourselves to death in America

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s aflibercept (Eylea) injection for the treatment of macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

A careful history taking-with special attention to risk factors-may aid ophthalmologists in the prevention of diplopia after surgical procedures, said Anya Trumler, MD.

Alcon Laboratories Inc. has launched ocriplasmin, its treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), in Canada.

The Vision Care Institute, an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., has announced that 100,000 eye care professionals attended courses throughout its network of 14 sites worldwide.

In New Orleans, the theme song “The Saints Go Marching In,” sings the famous line, “I want to be in that Number.” The American Academy of Ophthalmology is hoping that thousands of its members will want to be in that number too-the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry, formally introduced on Sunday.

Before Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, steps aside from his role as the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s president, he said he does not look back to recount his time in the office. Instead, he addressed the future.

Calling it an “innovator’s dilemma,” Mark S. Blumenkranz, MD, reflected on the extreme difficulties inventors often face in the beginning of a technological advance.

A corneal inlay (Kamra, AcuFocus) for presbyopia seems to be a good treatment option for emmetropic and ametropic presbyopic patients, as well as for presbyopic patients who underwent a previous LASIK procedure, said Minoru Tomita, MD, PhD.

Part-time patching resulted in only a mild reduction in deterioration of intermittent exotropia (IXT), according to Brian G. Mohney, MD.

Findings from an international trial with follow-up in some subjects now extending beyond 6 years show that a retinal prosthesis (Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, Second Sight Medical Products) remains safe, said Allen C. Ho, MD.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has clouded the future of ophthalmology, said William L. Rich, MD.

Looking to the future of dry eye management, Penny Asbell, MD, said she sees multiple examples of hope: a new device, trial findings, and emerging FDA and non-FDA approved therapeutics.

When asking the question, “What’s the ideal surface ablation: Laser, scraping, or alcohol?” it is not surprising that the response from Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, favors an approach known as Epi-Bowman Keratectomy (EBK).

Though fluoroquinolones remain mainstays for treating infectious keratitis, new medical therapies are emerging, said Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD.

The reality of glaucomatous progression bites, said Joel S. Schuman, MD-and it can bite even before structural or functional change is clinically noted by current technology.

When mild glaucoma and a visually significant cataract are both present, the risk/benefit calculus now seems to fall on the side of doing phaco, or a phaco-plus procedure, said James D. Brandt, MD.