News

The American Medical Association (AMA) has published a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code that applies to a proprietary osmolarity test (TearLab).

Eyetech Inc. has entered into a licensing and development agreement with SurModics Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop an extended-release version of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen) using microparticle technology.

The FDA has cleared a new, age-adjusted retinal nerve fiber layer thickness normative database for a proprietary ocular coherence tomography (OCT) device (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH).

The FDA has approved a supplemental new drug application for a once-daily bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution (Bromday [formerly called XiDay], ISTA Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of postoperative inflammation and reduction of ocular pain in patients who have undergone cataract extraction.

The FDA has cleared a new-generation multipurpose disinfecting solution (RevitaLens Ocutec, Abbott Medical Optics [AMO]) for silicone hydrogel and conventional soft contact lenses.

A new lubricant eye drop (Systane Balance, Alcon Laboratories) has been launched for patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.

About 23,000 people attended this year?s American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting in Chicago, according to the organization.

A new lubricant eye drop offers a new treatment option for patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.

A dexamethasone intravitreal implant is a notable new therapeutic option for eyes with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion or central retinal vein occlusion and may reduce the risk of vision loss as well as improve both the speed and incidence of visual improvement, according to one expert.

Analyses of data collected through 24 months of follow-up in a phase II, prospective, multicenter clinical trial support the conclusion that vascular endothelial growth factor blockade with ranibizumab is beneficial for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Primary readout results from 24 months of follow-up in the pivotal phase III fluocinolone acetonide in diabetic macular edema studies demonstrate that a novel investigational corticosteroid-releasing intravitreal insert provides rapid and sustained improvement in visual acuity and macular swelling with an acceptable safety profile.

Despite having a variety of imaging and treatment technologies available for retinal disease management, each technology has inherent properties that define its limitations. Integration of combinations of these technologies promises to be the best remedy for these individual shortcomings and may help achieve optimal outcomes.

Phase II study data indicate that pegaptanib sodium injection is an effective and safe treatment for diabetic macular edema.

Epimacular brachytherapy seems to be a safe and effective approach for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration based on the 36-month results of the NVI-III pilot study, according to one expert.

ISTA Pharmaceuticals announced Oct. 16 that it had received FDA approval to market bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% as a once-daily treatment for inflammation and reduction of ocular pain in patients who had undergone cataract surgery.

As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services prepares to implement a 23.5% pay cut on Dec. 1, physicians who treat Medicare patients are pleading with Congres to intervene and considering their options.

Port-based flow limiting is safer for the patient during vitreoretinal surgery because it is so instantaneous, does not occur at the console, and helps prevent retinal breaks.

Results of a recent clinical sutdy provide promising evidence of the value of ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence imaging in the evaluation of age-related macular degeneration.

The FDA has granted marketing clearance for a next-generation multipurpose disinfecting solution for silicone hydrogel and conventional soft contact lense.

An implantable, refillable pump for intraocular drug delivery currently in the prototype stage has potential applications that include treatment of glaucoma as well as several retinal diseases currently treated with frequent intravitreal injections.

Results from 12 weeks of follow-up in a phase I dose-escalating, safety and tolerability study evaluating intravitreal volociximab in combination with ranibizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration are favorable in showing no dose-limiting toxicity so far, according to one expert.

The chief medical editor reflects on stocks, retirement and careers in research.

The idea to use a nanosecond laser-based treatment to impede the progress of age-related macular degeneration seems to have been fruitful.

Automated structural technologies can detect changes in the optic nerve head and the retinal nerve fiber layer associated with glaucoma before perimetric testing.

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation combined with pars plana vitrectomy is a safe and highly effective technique for treating elevated IOP in pseudophakic eyes.

A published study of treatment-na?ve patients with glaucoma prescribed a prostaglandin analogue agent re-affirms that persistence with ocular hypertension therapy is an important problem.

Results of a retrospective study analyzing images acquired by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography show that when compared with healthy control eyes, the subfoveal choroid is thinner in eyes with glaucoma and thicker in eyes with ocular hypertension.

Learn from Benjamin Franklin's wisdom how all lenses are "specialty" lenses in a sense.