News

The 2009 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting highlighted research on the latest therapeutics in retinal disease, dry eye, lid margin disease, ocular allergies, and other conditions.

One "policy wonk" suggests that physicians are performing too many procedures (about 30% too many), and that if they no longer perform unnecessary procedures, money will be freed up to reform the health care system.

A prospective study including 51 patients who underwent bilateral wavefront-guided LASIK for low to moderate myopia assessed visual symptoms at follow-up visits through 12 months after surgery. There was no evidence that large preoperative pupil size correlated with increased risk of unwanted postLASIK symptoms.

Cataract surgeons confronted by capsular rupture with vitreous prolapse usually favor performing limbal vitrectomy over using a pars plana approach.

A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an editorial in American Family Physician, articles in the general media outlets, and an updated patient advisory statement from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology aim to further education primary care physicians and patients about the association between a patient's use of tamsulosin and complications or difficulty during cataract surgery.

One resident wonders, what does your Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program score say to others about you as a resident? With the exception of applying to oculoplastics fellowships, in the global scheme of things, it may make no difference. On the other hand, some residents wished they had done better because they would have been thought of more positively within their program.

Drug-releasing contact lenses may provide correct and consistent dosages of medication for patients, according to findings published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

No scientific evidence supports the view that subtle eye or visual problems cause learning disabilities, according to a revised policy statement on learning disabilities, dyslexia, and vision issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6% (Besivance, Bausch & Lomb) is a new topical ophthalmic antibacterial indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and administered via sterile ophthalmic drops.

A next-generation progressive addition lens (Definity, Essilor of America Inc.) features proprietary technology (Dual Add 2.0 ) and design in clear (Trivex) material and gray and brown (Transitions VI).

A new position statement has been released by the Joint Commission to clarify the interpretation of standards regarding steam sterilization.

Prevent Blindness Ohio (PBO), along with Prevent Blindness America (PBA), has named June as Vision Research Awareness month.

Researchers studying the molecular genetics of glaucoma are discovering new genes by applying high-powered technologies to their analysis of family pedigrees and looking for clues in animal models. These genetic discoveries are moving this field toward clinical applications.

A new hybrid contact lens (SynergEyes Multifocal, SynergEyes Inc.) is being offered for the management of emerging presbyopia.

The latest version of a proprietary femtosecond laser (iFS, Abbott Medical Optics) offers a 150-kHz repetition rate and expanded options for flap customization.

Thousands of military personnel receive PRK or LASIK every year. Among Air Force personnel, the procedures have proven to be remarkably safe and effective. Based on a 1-year case review conducted by four ophthalmologists deployed to Afghanistan and eight deployed to Iraq, the most common complication was patients deploying too soon after having had refractive surgery performed.

A retrospective case-control study comparing data from preoperative evaluations with a non-contact applanation tonometer (Ocular Response Analyzer, Reichert) suggest that this device may be useful in helping to identify eyes with forme fruste keratoconus at risk for post-LASIK ectasia.

Social networking sites are being explored as tools for medical education and communication. Internet and SMS technologies increasingly will play a role in the professional lives of doctors, says Ophthalmology Times' medical editor.

An advanced LASIK procedure that uses an excimer laser and femtosecond laser (CustomVue iLASIK, Abbott Medical Optics) is safe and effective, and it provides excellent refractive outcomes, based on 1-month results of an ongoing, multicenter, prospective, non-comparative evaluation of 20 patients.

Contact lens-related microbial keratitis accounts for significant vision loss and health-care expenditures each year. Early identification and treatment can help improve prognosis, but better diagnostic methods are needed. Research to understand the effects of soft contact lenses on tear film physiology may provide new insights on pathogenesis and prevention.

No statistically significant differences were found in the results of LASIK performed with two combinations of devices for femtosecond flap creation and excimer laser vision correction. Both systems produced excellent clinical outcomes. One combination (VisuMax and MEL 80, both Carl Zeiss Meditec), however, was associated with less scatter and more predictability for refractive outcomes than another (Allegretto Wave Eye-Q, Alcon Laboratories; IntraLase FS60, Abbott Medical Optics). Additional research is needed to determine what effect the two femtosecond lasers might have had on the results.

Data from patients enrolled in prospective studies evaluating treatment of low to moderate myopia with astigmatism using a toric IOL (Visian Toric Implantable Collamer Lens, STAAR Surgical), wavefront-guided (WFG) LASIK, or WFG PRK were compared in a retrospective analysis. Although some differences were identified, all procedures overall were associated with favorable outcomes.

The newest program of the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research is Women in Eye and Vision Research, launched at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's 2009 annual meeting to further develop and strengthen the career paths of women who conduct eye and vision research.

Abbott Medical Optics said it has decided to halt future production of its newest ophthalmic viscosurgical device, 3% sodium hyaluronate (Healon D), citing concerns about the company's ability to ensure a continuous supply to the market.

Current topography-based methods for keratoconus screening have limitations. Researchers at Doheny Eye Institute have been working to develop a method for capturing focal thinning that is characteristic of keratoconus using optical coherence tomography-derived pachymetry maps. A method based on fitting the data to a Gaussian waveform is showing promise.

War veterans often confront many injuries during their tours, including vision loss.

The One Use-Plus microkeratome (Moria) equipped with the 90-µm head, which cuts an average flap thickness of ~100 µm, is a single-use solution for performing sub-Bowman's keratomileusis. It performs with excellent reproducibility, comparing well with the femtosecond laser, and creates high-quality, planar-like flaps and smooth stromal beds.

Terms such as quality, style, and value may not be typically associated with the specialty eyewear industry. Certain brands are crossing the divide and making an appearance in corporate and industrial settings to provide protection and aesthetics in one package.