News

Results of the 2008 International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology survey are consistent with market data showing a decline in the number of patients undergoing refractive surgery, but they demonstrate surgeon confidence in the procedure, with 35% of respondent surgeons having undergone LASIK or PRK in their own eyes. Use of the femtosecond laser for flap creation and preferences for thinner flaps and phakic IOLs for treating high myopia are growing.

Eye disease and sleep disorders are linked in several ways, according to research published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Eye disease and sleep disorders are linked in several ways, according to research published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Vision Research Center has launched a research Web site (www.visionresearchcenter.com) where experts in the ophthalmic community and patients can share their experiences and opinions concerning technology and therapies, according to a prepared statement.

A 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.

Eschenbach Optik has been named the exclusive North American distributor of the Ash Technologies Ltd. line of video magnification products.

Alcon Inc. has launched an online educational resource, www.cataractsurgery.com, for people who have cataracts, and their caregivers.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, will be the site of the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) meeting in February 2012.

We live in a connected world thanks in part to former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore. Dr. McDonnell shares his ambitions for the New Year: to rival Al Gore and win the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature.

A national prospective study is being planned to evaluate post-LASIK quality of life outcomes in a clinical setting. The trial is being coordinated by representatives from the FDA, the National Eye Institute (NEI), the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and it will be executed in accordance with the rules governing FDA and NEI clinical trials.

Intracameral injection of triamcinolone is very useful for "staining" vitreous that has prolapsed into the anterior segment to enable vitrectomy. Safety is favorable, but there are some issues to consider.

Posterior 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.

Although 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.

A new adjunctive treatment (Diamox, X-GEN Pharmaceuticals) is being marketed for open-angle glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and preoperatively acute angle-closure glaucoma where delay of surgery is desired in order to lower IOP.

See by Three, a program of the Children's Eye Foundation, has completed the first phase of its national research project to advocate effective screening of children for amblyopia so they will "see by three".

A world market research report is now available for IOLs through Reportlinker.com.

People 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.

A global biotechnology company focused in inflammation and neurology research, announced the launch of two monoclonal antibodies (Lumican and Keratocan, MD Biosciences).

According 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.

Kaenon Polarized has introduced its new Web site, which provides a user-friendly platform, offering interactive educational features, and enhanced e-commerce capabilities.

Eschenbach Optik of America has been named the exclusive North American distributor of Ash Technologies' line of video magnification products.

Essilor Vision Foundation has been named Healthcare Education Hero of the Year by the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Healthcare Alliance.

Viva International Group and Iconix Brand Group have signed a multi-year licensing agreement for Viva to produce and distribute Iconix Group's Rampage Eyewear brand globally.

Independent eye-care professionals (ECPs) raised retail prices of 20 leading soft contact lens brands a weighted average of 1.3% during 2008, according to recent data from ABB CONCISE's Soft Lens Retail Price Monitor.

Retinal 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.

The number of researchers and physicians working in the area of vision and ophthalmology at Indiana University (IU) is expected to double with the completion of the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute in 2010.

Alcon Inc. has executed a new agreement and broadened an existing agreement with two different companies to expand its products under development.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) voluntarily recalled a single lot of its ophthalmic viscosurgical device ([OVD] Healon D) after physicians noticed inflammation at some patients' 1-day postoperative visit.

Jonathan Etter, MD, of the Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, won first place honors in the sixth annual Ophthalmology Times Resident Writer's Award program.

Some 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.