News

San Francisco-"If you wanted to be at the start of a major change in how we do things in glaucoma, you're there," said Richard A. Lewis, MD, who spoke during the Stephen A. Obstbaum, MD, Honored Lecture at Glaucoma Day.

San Francisco-What advice would you give to President Obama to help navigate health-care reform? Three people well acquainted with the challenges that the president will face answered that question here at Glaucoma Day.

San Francisco-Although the debate continues regarding the pros and cons of different approaches to antibiotic prophylaxis for postoperative endophthalmitis, available data are clear in demonstrating that it is critical to assure an effective concentration is present at the time of surgery and maintained in the early postoperative period, said Randall J. Olson, MD, John A. Moran Presidential Professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.

San Francisco-An interim analysis of data from an ongoing U.S. clinical trial shows corneal collagen crosslinking using riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA) light has promising efficacy and safety for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and postLASIK ectasia, said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta.

San Francisco-Femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) has potential advantages over conventional PKP performed with manual corneal trephination.

San Francisco-In eyes with normal endothelium requiring corneal transplantation, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using Anwar's big-bubble technique can result in visual acuity outcomes that are at least as good as those experienced after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and with the advantage of causing fewer complications than the full thickness procedure, said Donald H. Tan, MD, deputy director and head, corneal service, Singapore National Eye Centre, and head and professor of ophthalmology, National University of Singapore.

The FDA has approved trypan blue ophthalmic solution 0.15% (MembraneBlue, Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center International, b.v.) for use as an aid during vitrectomy procedures by staining the epiretinal membranes and, thereby, facilitating the removal of tissue, according to a prepared statement.

QLT Inc. has released results from its phase Ia trial of QLT091001, a new drug QLT is developing for the potential treatment of Leber's congential amaurosis.

Bausch & Lomb has launched a multitiered education initiative to raise consumer awareness of presbyopia and the option of multifocal contact lenses, according to a statement issued by the company.

Alimera Sciences Inc., has made available the interim, 12-month safety and efficacy data from the first human pharmacokinetic study of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert (Iluvien), which is currently under development for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, the company said in a prepared statement.

HyperBranch Medical Technology Inc. has granted BD Medical-Ophthalmic Systems, a unit of Becton, Dickinson and Co., an exclusive worldwide license to market its liquid ocular bandage (OcuSeal), according to a prepared statement.

The FDA has accepted for review a supplemental new drug application submitted by Sirion Therapeutics Inc., which seeks market approval of difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Durezol) for the treatment of endogenous anterior uveitis, according to a statement issued by Sirion.

A lack of access to eye-care services for residents in rural and low-income areas has become a major public health crisis in America, according to analysis from the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

iScience Interventional has launched a new surgeon support Web site, called iForum, that can be viewed at www.iforummd.com, according to a release issued by the company.

ThromboGenics has completed patient enrollment for a phase II trial of microplasmin intravitreal injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, according to a statement issued by the company.

Bausch & Lomb and Santen Pharmaceutical Co. have entered into a licensing agreement for the development of certain IOL materials, according to statements issued by the companies. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

Bausch & Lomb and Pfizer have entered into a co-promotion agreement that involves both companies? prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in the United States, the companies announced in a joint statement.

Alcon announced in a prepared statement that the FDA has approved its aspheric toric IOL (AcrySof).

President Barack Obama has signed an order to lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, according to a prepared statement.

Roche and Genentech announced that they have signed a merger agreement in which Roche will acquire the outstanding publicly held shares of Genentech for $95 per share, or $46.8 billion, according to statements issued by both companies.

Bausch & Lomb has launched a marketing initiative with the goal of raising U.S. awareness of presbyopia and multi-focal contact lenses.

Beams of light are being used as a less invasive, less expensive approach to spot early stages of retinal damage from diabetic retinopathy by measuring blood flow in the back of the eye, according to scientists in California.

Ophthalmologists looking for a new avenue for growth might want to consider adding bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% (Latisse, Allergan) to their repertoire.

After following a rigorous clinical comparison of excimer laser platform technologies, LCA Vision is finalizing plans to reduce the number of platforms at each of its LASIKPlus vision centers from three to two.

European Union-Public screenings were scheduled to take place on World Glaucoma day today at a variety of venues including private practices and hospitals in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, in observance of World Glaucoma Day.

Rome-Tiziana Fattori, MD, of Per Vedere Fatti Vedere onlus in Italy explained the reasons behind the launch of a campaign to abolish bureaucratic procedures inhibiting patients from undertaking treatment for glaucoma.

London-In observance of World Glaucoma Day (WGD), the Motion Displacement Test (MDT), developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, in partnership with University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology and City University London was on display as part of a demonstration of the latest glaucoma diagnostic equipment.

Latin America-World Glaucoma Day events occurred across Latin and Central America. In Argentina, Maria Carrasco, MD, of Hospital Perrupato granted radio interviews about glaucoma in Mendoza. Television, radio, and newspaper interviews also were scheduled in San Pedro, Argentina (Jorge Marceillac, MD), Santa Cruz, and Buenos Aires.