Pars plana approach can provide successful outcomes
January 1st 2009Posterior capsule rupture with vitreous prolapse remains one of the most serious intraoperative complications during cataract surgery. Louis D. "Skip" Nichamin, MD, describes the benefits and technique for anterior vitrectomy using a pars plana approach.
Retinal detachment highly treatable due to latest approaches, according to study
December 24th 2008Although retinal detachments puts an individual at risk for vision loss or blindness, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a high probability of reattachment and visual improvement is possible by using one of the three currently available surgical techniques.
Visual impairment due to cataract affects mostly patients in poverty, according to study
December 16th 2008People with cataract-induced visual impairment are more likely to live in poverty than those with normal sight, according to a study conducted in three developing countries-Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.
Reading glasses meet the next generation, and do it with style
December 15th 2008According to the 2006 U.S. Census more than 112 million Americans are over the age of 45 and will most likely need reading glasses. This provides a unique business opportunity for dispensaries. As a generation who loves quality, style, and design, it makes sense that our new wave of shoppers will want the same attributes from their reading glasses. If we take the time to dress well, selecting just the right necktie, jewelry, or accessory, we are not going to want to pull out a bland pair of reading glasses in a meeting. Our love of brands and fashion will extend to our readers.
Retina 2008: The year of watchful waiting
December 15th 2008Retinal specialists seemed to hold their collective breaths in 2008 in anticipation of the results of a number of ongoing trials of drugs for various retinal pathologies. Medical retina and the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies were center stage again this year. Some of the highlights include bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) for retinopathy of prematurity, sustained-release ciliary neurotropic factor for dry age-related macular degeneration, anti-complement drugs, and the results of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research study.
Projecting optimism in the ophthalmology practice while acknowledging reality
December 15th 2008Some speculate that the current economic crisis is a result of financial institutions' misplaced optimism and trust in their companies. Ophthalmologists, who run practices, departments, divisions, etc., have to strike the right balance between sharing and recognizing the realities of whatever problems organizations face, and express the confidence that they can be overcome if the right things are done.
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology names recipients of 2009 awards
December 15th 2008Five scientists will receive awards from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in 2009. Four of them will deliver lectures at the organization's annual meeting, May 3 to 7 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Glaucoma therapies, technology expand in '08
December 15th 2008Although 2008 was not a year of major advances in glaucoma, it still was a time of progress. Structural imaging devices continue to improve; more data are emerging on surgical alternatives to trabeculectomy; and some novel medical therapies appear interesting, even though they are just in very early stages of clinical investigation. Perspectives on recent developments and current controversies are discussed.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology's future to be based on core values, responsibilities
December 15th 2008Throughout his address at the opening session of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting, President David W. Parke II, MD said that Ophthalmologists need to recognize that they have "a unique and critical duty to preserve sight where imperiled and to restore sight where impaired," he said. Dr. Parke also suggested ophthalmologists, as physician professionals, follow these "unassailable and majestic" core values: A commitment to patient safety and quality care first; a personal responsibility for patients' welfare; a pledge to respect the dignity of the individual; to be effective stewards of the profession in the service of the public good.
Ophthalmology 'powerfully positioned' to change state of health-care system
December 15th 2008Ophthalmologists are "powerfully positioned" to lead the effort to improve benefits and outcomes while diminishing costs associated with the health care system, said Institute of Medicine President Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD, in his keynote address at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
Patient presents with bilateral blurred vision
December 15th 2008A 51-year-old Latin woman presented to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute with a complaint of blurry vision in both eyes over the last 6 months. The visual loss was described as gradual, affecting both distance and near vision. The patient denied other symptoms of pain, redness, photophobia, floaters, or photopsias. The patient also denied any relevant medical history, medication use, or history of trauma. Family history was non-contributory. Ocular history was significant for "poor vision in my right eye since childhood," but no history of strabismus existed. The patient worked as a clerk at a dairy company and had a 15 pack-year smoking history, with occasional alcohol use.
Presbyopia and age-related near vision rates expected to increase, according to researchers
December 10th 2008In 2005, about 1 billion individuals worldwide had presbyopia or age-related difficulty seeing objects nearby and an estimated 410 million with the condition were unable to perform tasks requiring near vision, according to a report in the December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
CAST created to test properties of accommodating IOL material
December 7th 2008A team of seven leading ophthalmologists has been assembled to evaluate the accommodative properties of a proprietary material (Collamer, STAAR Surgical) used in the company's accommodating IOLs, it was announced in a prepared statement.