News

San Francisco-Fibrin glue may be a better choice than sutures for patients who undergo primary pterygium surgery with conjunctival autografts, according to Luciano P. Bellini, MD, of the Department of Ophthalmology, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

San Francisco-Current methods used to evacuate the capsule of lens epithelial cells and other lens material are not sufficient to prevent late complications of Soemmerring's Ring formation, posterior capsule opacification (PCO), and unwanted fibrosis after pediatric cataract surgery, said Brian Zaugg, BS.

San Francisco-Treatment of the cornea using a novel microwave device is being investigated as a new approach for performing corneal refractive surgery without damaging the epithelium, removing tissue, or compromising structural integrity, said John Marshall, PhD.

San Francisco-Young ophthalmologists should not bow to society's pressure to conform, and they constantly should be challenging the status quo. That was the message from Robert H. Osher, MD, as he delivered the Charles D. Kelman Innovator's Lecture.

San Francisco-Refractive surgeons can take pride in something they typically may not consider: the role they play in public safety.

San Francisco-A practice-to-patient communication service from Smile Reminder helps vision-care providers communicate directly with patients by automatically sending text or e-mail messages.

San Francisco-Refractive-cataract surgeons now have a tool to guide the outcomes of their cataract procedures (ORange Intraoperative Wavefront Aberrometer, WaveTec Vision).

San Francisco-When performing wavefront-guided surface ablation for the treatment of varying degrees of myopia, similarly good visual and refractive outcomes are achieved whether using alcohol or a microkeratome for epithelial delamination and whether the flap is removed or replaced, according to the results of a retrospective, single-center study reported by Sadhana Kulkarni, MD.

San Francisco-Gaussian fitting on inverse normalized pachymetry maps enables quantification of the depth and width of focal thinning associated with keratoconus and is showing promise as a new method for diagnosing this corneal ectatic disease, said David Huang, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

San Francisco-Both ultrasound pachymetry and a proprietary Scheimpflug imaging device (Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer, Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems) produced excellent repeatability of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements, and the repeatability was strong for both "virgin" and post-refractive eyes, according to Mitchell P. Weikert, MD, MS, assistant professor of ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.

San Francisco-The dynamic stimulation aberrometer provides "objective and observer-independent measurements of accommodation and is a suitable instrument for the planning of treatment of presbyopia," said Matthias Elling, MD, Ruhr University Eye Hospital, Bochum, Germany.

San Francisco-Simultaneous topography-guided PRK with riboflavin/ultraviolet A (UVA) corneal collagen crosslinking is showing promise as a safe and effective approach for treating eyes with progressive keratoconus, said Ronald R. Krueger, MD, medical director, Department of Refractive Surgery, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

San Francisco-Intraoperative subtraction pachymetry may be less accurate and more prone to measurement error than postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements, according to Yohko Murakami, MA, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

San Francisco-Results of a study using an ex vivo model suggest a possible role for air bubble-induced trauma in loss of endothelial cell density after Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), said Anna Hong, MD, a resident at the Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC.

San Francisco-The combination of canaloplasty and phacoemulsification surgery in patients who have both cataracts and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) results in a dramatic decrease in both IOP and the number of anti-glaucoma medications patients must take. Bradford J. Shingleton, MD, a glaucoma and cataract specialist with Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, presented 2-year results of an ongoing prospective, randomized international study of canaloplasty in patients with POAG who also presented with a visually significant cataract.

San Francisco-Bausch & Lomb Storz Ophthalmic Instruments recently launched two new continuing education programs available at www.StorzOphthalmicCE.com. Participants will receive contact hours approved by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Inc., the International Association for Healthcare Central Service Material Management, and the Texas Nurses Association.

San Francisco-Through an increase in the pulse repetition rate, a new femtosecond laser system (VisuMax, Carl Zeiss Meditec) enhances the precision of therapy, shortens treatment times, and further improves patient comfort, said the manufacturer in a prepared statement.

San Francisco-Creation of a multifocal corneal is a safe and effective option for reducing spectacle dependence in eyes with pseudophakia implanted with a monofocal IOL, according to Gustavo Tamayo, MD, of Bogota Laser Refractive Institute, Bogota, Colombia.

San Francisco-Results of a prospective clinical evaluation undertaken at the Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, are consistent with the world literature in showing a very high rate of patient satisfaction after LASIK. Importantly, the data also indicate that dissatisfaction may resolve if the underlying issues are identified and addressed, said Kerry D. Solomon, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the institute.

San Francisco-Wavefront-optimized excimer laser ablation does not appear to induce night vision disturbances-in fact, patients were more likely to report fewer night vision disturbances after the procedure than they did preoperatively, according to Olivia Lee, MD, Emory University, Atlanta.

San Francisco-When analyzing multifocal lens performance, it is important to follow patients over time and to remember that there is a brain behind the eyes, said Manfred R. Tetz, MD, of the University of Berlin, Germany.

San Francisco-Large preoperative pupil size does not positively correlate with an increase in visual symptoms after wavefront-guided myopic LASIK, according to the results of a prospective study reported by researchers from Stanford University, Stanford, CA. The relationship between pupil size and quality of vision after LASIK is a source of controversy with various publications reporting different results, said Annie Chan, MD, who is in the residency program at the university's Department of Ophthalmology.

San Francisco- Non-penetrating canaloplasty may provide an effective and safe alternative to standard trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to Diamond Y. Tam, MD, University of Toronto.

San Francisco-Results of the most recent American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)/European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) survey on foldable IOLs requiring explantation or secondary intervention indicate a shift in the leading causes for these procedures, said Nick Mamalis, MD, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.

San Francisco-Ophthalmologists and optometrists can and should work together as colleagues in service to patients but with appropriately defined responsibilities. That's the word from guest speaker David W. Parke II, MD, the new executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

San Francisco-Three programs in different geographic areas of the world serve as models of success in addressing cataract, the top cause of blindness globally, said David F. Chang, MD, who delivered the Binkhorst Lecture during the opening session.

San Francisco-At the opening general session, Bradford J. Shingleton, MD, summarized the activities and accomplishments of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) during his 1-year tenure as president of the organization.

San Francisco-The first session of a unique training program, Premium Lens Boot Camp, to help refractive and cataract surgeons grow their accommodating/multifocal lens business will be held June 5 at the O'Hare Marriott, Chicago.

San Francisco-New three-dimensional (3D) flat-panel displays (TrueVision Systems Inc.) will enable cataract and refractive surgeons to display live and recorded content of the surgical view from a microscope or slit lamp.

San Francisco-If you had a very ill patient, you would examine his or her vital signs frequently. The same holds true when the "patient" is the U.S. economy, said John B. Pinto, of the ophthalmic practice management consulting firm J. Pinto & Associates.