News

A clinical trial has begun that will assess the safety and efficacy of a glaucoma shunt (Aquashunt, Opko Health) designed to lower IOP in patients with refractory open-angle glaucoma.

Bausch & Lomb announced the appointment of a new president, Peter Valenti, to oversee the company's North America vision care division.

During their 31st anniversary benefit Jan. 28, the Glaucoma Research Foundation will honor two physicians for their contributions to glaucoma research.

The Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009 was introduced with bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, according to prepared statements by The Vision Council and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), two supporters of the legislation.

The FDA Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee has unanimously voted to recommend approval of Bausch & Lomb's besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6%, according to prepared statements by Bausch & Lomb and InSite Vision.

Topcon Medical Systems has received FDA clearance for its enhanced 3D optical coherence tomography measurement software (OCT-1000 TrueMap) as an addition to its previously cleared OCT system (3D OCT-1000), according to a prepared statement.

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' new drug application for bepotastine ophthalmic solution (Bepreve) has been accepted for review by the FDA, the company announced in a prepared statement.

Researchers are studying the use of a NASA device to reveal the development of cataracts before a patient's vision clouds over.

Advanced Medical Optics has received FDA approval for a multifocal IOL (Tecnis) for patients with cataracts.

A clinical trial will be conducted by Johns Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute on patient adherence and clinical outcomes for people with glaucoma using technology (Memotext).

The FDA has recalled one lot of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device ([OVD] Healon D, Advanced Medical Optics [AMO]) following a voluntary recall by the manufacturer. The lot number, UD30654, is displayed on the side panel of each unit.

If polled, a majority of optical eye-care professionals (ECPs) likely would report that in addition to their primary pair of eyeglasses, they also own prescription sunwear or quality plano sunwear. Patients also should enjoy the lifestyle and protection that additional sunwear provides. The percentage of prescription sunwear actually dispensed, however, is drastically lower than those worn by ECPs.

Carl Zeiss Vision announces a new strategy for the development, production, and promotion of customized lenses for 2009.

Live Eyewear, a privately held corporation that manufactures OveRx (designed to be worn over prescription) sunglasses, was purchased by the company's president, Kieran Hardy.

A scanning laser polarimetry device, which examines the retinal nerve fiber layer, is a beneficial diagnostic tool for glaucoma suspects because it targets the area where the earliest damage from glaucoma is likely to be seen. It also is valuable in monitoring stability or progression in patients with established disease.

Safety data from a multicenter, double-masked, randomized clinical trial comparing the three commercially available prostaglandin analogue IOP-lowering medications containing benzalkonium chloride (BAK) were analyzed to investigate a possible relationship between BAK content and incidence of ocular adverse events. Latanoprost 0.005% (Xalatan, Pfizer), which exposes patients to the highest daily BAK dose, was associated with significantly lower rates of both ocular adverse events and study medication-related adverse events compared with bimatoprost 0.03% (Lumigan, Allergan) and travoprost 0.004% (Travatan, Alcon Laboratories).

The fixed combination of brimonidine and timolol (Combigan, Allergan) provided greater overall patient comfort, and IOP decreased significantly, compared with the fixed combination of dorzolamide and timolol (Cosopt, Merck & Co.) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Whether opting for an anterior or posterior approach when placing a glaucoma valve, both procedures appear to have similar success in lowering IOP and similar complication profiles, according to the results of a recent study. Nevertheless, some experts believe that the anterior approach may be more advantageous.

Frequency-doubling technology (FDT) has a role as a diagnostic and monitoring instrument for glaucoma, although it may be best used to complement the use of other testing methods, particularly with the newer version of this technology. Studies suggest that the FDT may detect early glaucoma in a different subgroup of patients than other testing devices, and long-term studies will be needed to confirm its effectiveness in detection of progression.

A recent study shows that although the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) is considered to be the standard in detecting eyes with elevated IOP and, therefore, glaucoma, a newer tonometer (Ocular Response Analyzer [ORA], Reichert) appears to be more effective. It also is suggested that glaucoma screening threshold pressure should be lowered from the current 21 mm Hg to 18 mm Hg, which may allow ophthalmologists to more effectively detect glaucoma in their patients.

Due to the frequent coexistence of ocular surface disease and glaucoma in older patients, clinicians should take steps to reduce the potentially damaging effects on the ocular surface of long-term use of glaucoma medication. Reducing the number of medications when possible and choosing those that do not contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride is an approach that may be beneficial in some patients.

Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is a form of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in which there is no known history of statistically elevated IOP; however, the definition of an upper limit of normal IOP is arbitrary. POAG is a multifactorial disease process with pressure-dependent and pressure-independent etiologic factors. In NTG, the pressure-independent factors likely play a more substantial role.

The retinal tomographer, a quantitative imaging instrument, is useful in both diagnosis and monitoring of ocular hypertension, suspected glaucoma, and early glaucoma.

The femtosecond laser may be useful in the treatment of advanced fungal keratitis, according to this case presentation.

Most physicians micromanage when a problem occurs in the office, instantly analyzing the issue and announcing the changes they want colleagues and staff to make. However, employees on the front line in factories, doctors' offices, etc., have more information, and often can come up with better solutions than the "all-knowing" manager. Delegation helps employees learn from the problem-solving experience, and that makes them more valuable.

Topcon Medical Systems Inc. has introduced a new slit lamp (SL-3G).

X-GEN Pharmaceuticals Inc. will begin marketing injectable acetazolamide for indications including open-angle glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and preoperative use for the treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Allergan has received FDA approval for its 0.03% bimatoprost ophthalmic solution (Latisse) as a novel treatment for hypotrichosis of the eyelashes.

Ophthalmologists in Canada are hoping that an outbreak of ocular inflammation in patients being treated with bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) will not cause stricter regulations against its off-label intravitreal use or deter doctors from using it to treat wet age-related macular degeneration. All of the confirmed cases were linked to a specific lot of the drug that was distributed throughout Canada and other parts of the world. Health Canada currently is working with an independent laboratory to complete tests to determine the cause of the outbreak.

The FDA last month approved a lens (AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +3 D, Alcon Laboratories) designed for implantation in patients with cataract and presbyopia.