News

Contact lens practices are probably feeling the effects of more and more patients simply taking their prescriptions and buying their lenses on the Internet. But, if contact lens fitting is a valuable service that you offer and you want to improve your productivity and profitability, then you might want to make a few changes. Using the Internet to send email updates to patients, ordering supplies online, and giving patients the option to purchase on your Web store will make a big difference in your practice.

Ophthalmologists are well acquainted with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), but many ophthalmologists are only familiar with CPT's "Category I" codes. It is important for ophthalmologists to understand code Category III, since many eye-care services have appeared or will appear in this category.

CooperVision Inc. has redesigned its corporate Web site, www.coopervision.com, to include new technology and content in an effort to better serve the needs of practitioners and their patients.

Safilo Group announced the renewal of its exclusive licensing agreement with Jones Apparel Group to design, manufacture, and market prescription eyeglass frames for women and children, as well as women's prescription sunglass frames under the Nine West brand.

A compromised lipid layer plays a key role in the development and perpetuation of dry eye disease because it allows increased aqueous evaporation and fails to protect against friction between the blinking lid and the ocular surface. A proprietary brand of emollient eye drops (Soothe XP. Bausch & Lomb) was created to re-establish the tear film lipid layer and restore moisture, and it is an effective choice for providing symptomatic relief in patients with dry eye disease, says one optometrist.

Ophthalmologists who responded to questions about treatment of dry eye indicated that there are limitations in the available treatment options, especially for patients with moderate to severe cases of the disease, and that only 5% of ophthalmologists saw existing treatments as effective for the patients with the worst cases.

A clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of Optive eye drops (Allergan) in contact lens wearers. Participants reported no adverse events and that their lenses were more comfortable to wear; clinical assessment found no adverse events or complications after 4 weeks of treatment.

A review of the world literature shows that about one-third of patients who are undergoing LASIK already suffer from dry eye, and the proportion affected after surgery is similar. In most cases, however, dry eye does not appear to affect postoperative vision and satisfaction outcomes adversely. Identification of patients at risk and pre-treating may reduce the postoperative incidence of dry eye.

Ecabet sodium (ISTA Pharmaceuticals), an anti-ulcer and gastritis drug under development for the treatment of dry eye, showed positive results in a phase IIb clinical trial of the drug.

Recognizing and treating dry eye disease before LASIK is an important strategy for mitigating patient unhappiness after surgery.

A new product (NutriDox Convenience Kit, Advanced Vision Research) is designed to make the treatment of meibomitis, posterior blepharitis, and meibomian gland disease more convenient for patients and clinicians. The prescription-only system includes an antibiotic, nutrition therapy, and a lid-cleansing component.

A novel ophthalmic anti-allergy agent, epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Elestat, Inspire Pharmaceuticals), effectively controls ocular allergy in patients with dry eye, according to Jodi Luchs, MD, FACS. The drop has been shown to rapidly prevent ocular allergy symptoms by blocking H1 and H2 receptors, stabilizing mast cells, and inhibiting the release of proinflammatory mediators.

Dry eye is a chronic disease that requires adjustments to treatment, follow-up, re-testing, monitoring of progress, and changes of medication. Treatment should be tailored for each patient.

Bepotastine besilate 1.0% (Bepreve, ISTA Pharmaceuticals), an ocular allergy compound under new drug application review by the FDA, is effective in reducing ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis and also seems to improve other allergy symptoms.

The Wilmer Eye Institute will host its 26th annual Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting here March 16 to 20.

Important differences exist between the various classes of over-the-counter eye drops. Physicians play a vital role in explaining these differences, as well as their potential implications in the treatment of the symptoms of dry eye and other conditions, to patients. Educating patients about the available formulations not only may expedite the relief of their symptoms but also may save them time and money.

Everyone is given a special talent, which, if developed, can allow them to perform their talent really well. This explains why there are great singers, superb artists or musicians, and gifted mechanics, to name a few professions. Those talents often are limited to that particular setting, however; they are not always transferable into another area.

Complex visual hallucinations experienced by visually impaired patients are often indicative of Charles Bonnet syndrome. Individuals who experience these hallucinations usually understand that they are not real but will benefit from a doctor's explanation that they are associated with their vision loss and are unlikely to be a sign of mental illness.

Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $50.19 per share, or a total of about $68 billion, as of the Jan. 26 announcement of the planned merger. The companies expect the transaction to close toward the end of this year.

To help combat the unfavorable view the public has about pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently published updates to their "Code on Interactions with Health-care Professionals," which went into effect Jan. 1. PhRMA's basis for the updates is that "interactions should be focused on informing health-care professionals about products, providing scientific and educational information, and supporting medical education." Changes have been made in three major categories: gifting, consulting, and enforcement of the code.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) commended President Barack Obama for singling out the importance of eye and vision care when he signed the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

According to a study published in the February issue of Ophthalmology younger people seem to make judgments about the age and alertness of older people by looking into and around their eyes.

Roche will reduce its original offer to purchase outstanding shares of Genentech from $89 per share, or $43.7 billion, to $86.50 per share, or $42.1 billion, and will go directly to shareholders for approval, the company has announced.

Fortune magazine has named Genentech and Alcon Laboratories to its latest '100 Best Companies to Work For' list of U.S. employers.

The World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association have set March 12 as the second annual World Glaucoma Day.

Ophthalmology Times has been named a finalist in the 55th annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Awards competition recognizing editorial excellence.

The FDA has accepted for review a new drug application filed by Sirion Therapeutics Inc. for ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15%.

Patients treated with ecabet sodium demonstrated a strong positive trend in the objective sign of tear film break-up time and a positive trend in the objective sign of quantity of tears produced in a phase IIb study conducted by ISTA Pharmaceuticals.