News

More than 300,000 proprietary implantable contact lenses (ICLs) of collagen-copolymer material (Visian Implantable Collamer Lens, STAAR Surgical Co.) have been implanted in patients around the world. More than 75,000 have been the toric version of these lenses, approved in all major markets in the world, with the exception of the United States.

A new therapy (Retaine MGD, OCuSOFT) is available for those who have dry eye syndrome and meibomian gland dysfunction.

Ophthalmic clinical application specialists Cynthia Kendall, CDOS, ROUB, and Cathy DiBernardo, CDOS, ROUB, have joined the Quantel USA Inc. medical division. They will create new customer clinical education programs and train sales representatives in relation to the diagnostic ocular ultrasound systems and surgical lasers developed and marketed by the company.

Planning is in full swing for the fifth annual Prevent Blindness America (PBA) Swing Fore Sight Golf Tournament. The event will be held in conjunction with Vision Expo West on Sept. 5 at the Royal Links Golf Club in Las Vegas.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety has granted marketing authorization to an intravitreal implant with sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide (Iluvien, Alimera Sciences Inc.) for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies.

An improved version of a first-point-of-care diagnostic test for conjunctivitis (AdenoPlus, Rapid Pathogen Screening [RPS]) has been granted waived status by the FDA under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).

Optovue has received FDA 510(k) clearance for an updated version of its proprietary spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system (RTVue XR FD-OCT system).

A modified surgical technique for centering the optical core within the donor graft used in a Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis (Boston KPro) is an easy-to-learn alternative that seems to allow for reproducible centration of the donor assembly.

Topical branded nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are safe to use in patients with evaporative dry eye syndrome and in those with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Ophthalmologists should not order routine genetic tests for patients with common disorders like age-related macular degeneration until there are specific therapeutic interventions available to treat the disease based on the genetic information.

The acceleration of research focused on dry eye over the past several decades has led to an increase in knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of the disease.

Dry eye comes in a variety of guises and, once diagnosed, may require various therapeutic options.

The world of glaucoma management in 2012 is feeling the impact of not only a variety of challenges, but also new opportunities.

Many ophthalmologists may be dropping the ball when treating moderate dry eye, which could result in progression to more severe stages of disease.

Having the ARVO meeting in any of various locations enables the group to accommodate more program options and have a variety of hotel options nearby.

FDA investigators say counterfeit vials of Roche/Genentech's bevacizumab that have turned up in U.S. medical practices for the second time in 2 months have no active ingredient.

Tear osmolarity is well correlated to visual function, and may also be a key marker of dry eye disease

Ophthalmologists expressed a little more optimism than primary-care physicians, when asked to evaluate the financial state of their practices in a national survey conducted in 2011.

The golden rule, a maxim the author learned in kindergarten, remains crucial to his practice of medicine today.

It is vital to identify and prevent dry eye and blepharitis pre-surgery because these conditions can affect IOL calculations and more.

The tear layer approach is effective in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome.

Though advances have been made in achieving better functional vision in some patients with ocular injuries, the overall rates of improvements in visual acuity have remained static for three decades.

Marguerite McDonald, MD, an ophthalmologist with Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, has been named the recipient of the Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL) 2012 Visionary Woman Award.

MacuCLEAR Inc. is beginning phase III studies for its lead compound, MC-1101, for the treatment of early-stage (dry) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

OptiMedica Corp. has announced that its proprietary platform that combines a femtosecond laser, integrated three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, and a proprietary pattern-scanning technology (Catalys Precision Laser System) has been granted CE mark approval for creating single-plane and multi-plane arc cuts/incisions in the cornea during cataract surgery.

A diet rich in zinc, vitamins C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids promotes health in the aging eye, according to a multidisciplinary roundtable of experts convened by the Ocular Nutrition Society and representing the fields of ophthalmology, optometry, diet and nutrition, and primary care.

Patients taking oral fluoroquinolones have a higher risk of developing a retinal detachment compared with those who are not taking them, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Results of motor vehicles agency-administered vision tests do not necessarily reflect fitness to drive, according to a study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.