News

Drug noninferior for AMD

Two studies of a fusion protein (VEGF Trap-Eye, Regeneron) showed that all doses of the drug, including those administered every 2 months, to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration were noninferior to ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) in the number of patients who maintained their visual acuity

Radiation benefits AMD

The MERITAGE Study (NeoVista), a study to evaluate the effect of epimacular brachytherapy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration previously treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech), showed that the treatment results of radiation therapy were “interesting and encouraging” at the 2-year time point, according to Pravin Dugel, MD.

Ranibizumab inhibits VEGF

The HORIZON Study for retinal vein occlusion, an extension study composed of patients treated in the BRAVO Study for branch retinal vein occlusion and the CRUISE study for central retinal vein occlusion, showed that 0.5-mg intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor as in previous studies of the efficacy of the drug.

Results: CATT at 1 year

A head-to-head comparison of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) and bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) in the Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials indicated that at the 1-year time point, both drugs were clinically equivalent for treating the disease, said Daniel Martin, MD

Placido corneal topography is established technology for corneal imaging, but whether it is the best diagnostic technique to detect forme fruste keratoconus when screening refractive surgery candidates is a matter of debate.

Results of a preclinical pilot study demonstrate ocular iontophoresis accelerates transfer of topically applied riboflavin into the cornea compared with conventional application, said George O. Waring IV, MD.

Results from a prospective clinical trial show that corneal collagen crosslinking is a promising modality for treatment of keratoconus and postLASIK ectasia, said Peter S. Hersh, MD.

Leading refractive surgeons agree wavefront-guided ablation is a significant advance in laser vision correction, but have different opinions about its role in treating myopic eyes with low higher-order aberrations.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation results in substantially faster healing when used as an adjunctive therapy before and after PRK. The cornea re-epithelialized faster, the vision recovered faster, and the tear break-up time improved in patients randomly assigned to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, according to Nikki Heidi Ong, MD.

Patients with severe or progressive zonulopathy are at risk for late postoperative subluxation or dislocation of a capsular tension ring-IOL-capsular bag complex, which occurred about 6 years after implantation.

Results from 2 years of follow-up in a study of presbyopia correction with femtosecond laser intrastromal correction show continued safety, refractive stability, and maintenance of improvements in near visual acuity.

Based on the fact that extraordinary customer service can be a game changer to help position your practice for success in this unstable economy, this article builds from last month's piece on customer service.

Advocates of glaucoma research and education are banding together to present Glaucoma 360?, three days of activities all geared toward increasing awareness of research, treating patients, and finding a cure for the nation's second-leading cause of preventable blindness.

With the Office of Inspector General's heightened awareness of coding and documentation errors, physicians should be aware of some specific areas to check and double-check in their daily routine of documentation.

As results from the FDA IDE clinical trial are awaited, analyses of data from patients receiving earlier versions of an investigational presbyopia-correcting intracorneal inlay show that its efficacy for improving near vision remains stable for at least 3 years.

Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision hope the new femtosecond laser platform unveiled last month at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting will replace existing femtosecond laser systems.

European surgeons have access to a wide and expanding range of premium IOLs for implantation after cataract surgery/refractive lens exchange as well as several phakic IOLs.

ARVO's Web seminars are an opportunity to acquire the best practices and practical tools from experienced professionals without leaving one's office or home.

Grafting a thicker amniotic membrane onto the ocular surface may be a promising solution for patients who experience graft failure or require ocular surface reconstruction after penetrating keratoplasty.