News

A new Web site helps subscribers prepare for their OKAP exams, written boards and recertification for boards.

Results of a prospective, randomized, patient-masked clinical trial evaluating three presbyopia-correcting IOLs show predictable refractive outcomes were achieved with all three technologies, but indicate there are some differences between the IOLs in visual performance, said Robert E.T. Ang, MD, Asian Eye Institute, Makati City, Philippines.

The European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug status for an immunosuppressant drug (Sirolimus, Santen Inc.) for the treatment of chronic non?infectious uveitis. The designation follows a positive opinion from the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products within the European Medicines Agency in June.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted transitional pass-through payment status and established a billing code for a telescope implant (Implantable Miniature Telescope [IMT] by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc.) under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. The new pass-through code, C1840, is effective October 1. It will enable outpatient facilities to obtain reimbursement for the telescope implant for covered procedures.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) will present Glaucoma 360, a three-day series of events offering a ?full-compass view? of the cure, catalysts, and care of glaucoma, Feb. 2 to 4, 2012, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Accutome has launched a new e-commerce Web site, www.accutome.com, that features more than 2,500 ophthalmic products.

Upon receiving CE mark approval to market in Europe, OptiMedica Corp. expects to begin shipping its laser system for cataract surgery (Catalys Precision) in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) has received an $11 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the largest National Institutes of Health grant in the hospital?s 187-year history, to coordinate the Harvard-wide Project on Antibiotic Resistance.

Ophthalmology Times Editorial Advisory Board member Julia A. Haller, MD, was formally named the first holder of the William Tasman, MD, Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology at the Wills Eye Institute on Sept. 8.

Major eye care Websites

The American Glaucoma Society (AGS) has updated its Web site at www.americanglaucomasociety.net.

Researchers hope that a clinical trial of a rapid, point-of-care test (RPS Adeno Detector Plus, Rapid Pathogen Screening Inc.), cleared by the FDA earlier this year for the diagnosis of adenoviral conjunctivitis, will help determine whether the test can help cut health care costs and reduce the number of incorrect diagnoses.

Contrary to claims made in a recent op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, cataract surgery ?is one of the most cost-effective major surgical procedures available today,? said American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) President Richard L. Abbott, MD, in an open letter.

Use of repackaged intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) has caused a cluster of serious eye infections in the Miami area, according to the FDA.

Compulink Business Systems, Inc. has announced it will sponsor practice consultant John Pinto on his month-long, trans?Pacific sailing adventure to support the Hawaiian Eye Foundation (HEF). In what is being called the ?Voyage to EHR,? Pinto?s voyage is meant to help educate and support the ophthalmic community during the transition many practices are making this year to electronic health records.

In conjunction with millions of children heading back to school, the new edition of the radio program ?Healthy Vision with Dr. Val Jones? features national experts discussing how early identification of vision problems and vision correction can affect children?s self esteem, confidence, and performance.

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) will hold its fourth annual Swing Fore Sight golf tournament Sept. 21 at the Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas in conjunction with Vision Expo West. All proceeds from the event will go to support sight-saving programs from PBA.

Essilor has declared Sept 5-11 as ?Four Eyes Pride Week? to encourage consumers to wear their glasses with pride. Essilor and one of its proprietary brands of lenses (Airwear) have partnered with author and artist Mary Engelbreit to ask people to change their Facebook profile pictures for the week to one of themselves wearing glasses

Abbott Medical Optics (AMO) has expanded its line of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) after receiving the European CE mark for a clear, viscous, low molecular weight dispersive OVD (Healon EndoCoat OVD).

CooperVision is voluntarily recalling limited lots of a proprietary toric contact lens (Avaira Toric) after receiving ?a small number? of complaints of temporary hazy vision and discomfort.

The FDA has cleared a pattern scan laser (MC-500 Vixi Multicolor Pattern Scan Laser, Nidek) that features a customizable choice of 532-nm green, 577-nm yellow, and 647-nm red wavelengths.

TearLab Corp. has launched the allaboutdryeye.com consumer Web site and social media program to support the company?s accreditation program in North America.

The Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research will host the 2011 Eye Ball Gala on Oct. 15 at the Raymond James Stadium Pirate Cove in Tampa, FL.

An IOL (Softec HD, Lenstec) for treating cataracts now is available in an expanded range of prescriptions, covering 15.0 to 25.0 D. Since its approval by the FDA in April 2010, it had been available in mid-range powers between 18.0 and 25.0 D.

The maker of an in-office test (InflammaDry Detector, Rapid Pathogen Screening) to detect elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP?9) in tear fluid expects to begin marketing it in Canada soon now that the company has been granted a medical device license from Health Canada. The product was also recently released in Europe and Asia.

David J. Apple, MD, died Aug. 18. He was 69.

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for a solid-state, true-yellow, 577-nm wavelength system (Pascal Streamline 577, Topcon Medical Laser Systems).

Sept. 15 is the application deadline for two new fellowships from the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) that mark the first time the organization will fund research projects rather than solely recognize researchers? achievements.

The FDA has extended by 3 months its target date to complete a priority review of the biologics license application (BLA) of aflibercept injection for intravitreal use (Eylea, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to Nov. 18.

Novartis and its Alcon division are working with the FDA, industry cargo thefts organizations, and law enforcement officials to recover products of Novartis, Alcon, and Falcon, a line of generic eye-care pharmaceuticals from the Sandoz division of Novartis, that were stolen on July 18 while being delivered to a customer?s distribution center in Florida.