News

Jersey City, NJ-The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to two investigational therapeutics of Lux Biosciences, a privately held biotechnical company specializing in treatments for ophthalmic diseases.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb has made an equity investment in-and secured an exclusive option to purchase-AcuFocus Inc., a developer of corneal inlay technology for treating presbyopia.

Las Vegas-Refractive surgeons may be able to reduce the incidence of corneal ectasia through careful screening for probable and possible risk factors, the use of microkeratomes producing predictable flap thickness, and increased communication with their colleagues, said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Plymouth Meeting, PA-Genaera Corp. has decided to terminate its clinical development program for squalamine lactate (Evizon) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after a comprehensive review of its portfolio and market conditions.

Irvine, CA-Allergan Inc. is continuing to evaluate a clinical study of its brimonidine tartrate/timolol maleate ophthalmic solution 0.2%/0.5% (Combigan) in an effort to address FDA questions prior to final marketing approval.

Washington, DC-A bipartisan group of federal legislators has introduced a bill in the House and Senate designed to provide follow-up care for children with identified potential vision problems.

San Diego-Farzad Yaghouti, MD, chief refractive surgeon at Global Laser Vision San Diego, won the 2006

Las Vegas-Ophthalmologists have made great headway in the past year to ensure that surgery remains with surgeons, specifically in Oklahoma, where optometrists' efforts have been thwarted. Ophthalmologists, however, must continue this vigilance. One way to do so is by contributing to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Surgical Scope Fund, according to Randolph Johnston, MD, the AAO's senior secretary for advocacy.

Milan, Italy-A comparison of custom and conventional LASIK ablations showed that both procedures provided very good results in terms of the uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities (UCVA, BCVA) and refractive outcomes. Patients expressed greater quality of vision, however, with the results of the custom treatment, likely because of the better higher-order aberration values in that group, reported Luca Vigo, MD.

Las Vegas-A small intracorneal inlay (PresbyLens, ReVision Optics) may be an option for LASIK patients who have developed presbyopia, said Roger F. Steinert, MD, during a spotlight session on the management of presbyopia here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-Modern adjustable suture techniques in strabismus surgery are a significant improvement over those that were used when the technique was first described more than half a century ago, and any of the extraocular muscles now can be adjusted, said David L. Guyton, MD, in a presentation during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

As more and more ophthalmologists choose to provide full-service patient care, including eyewear dispensing, the relevant and growing complexities to the choice between an in-office edging lab approach versus an off-site, wholesale finishing lab solution have become increasingly important.

Time may be considered a key factor in selecting the level of service when at least half of the encounter consists of counseling or coordination of care.

Las Vegas-Studies of a 790-nm titanium-sapphire laser (SOLX 790, OccuLogix) used to perform trabeculoplasty in human donor eyes and in patients suggest that the laser may be an important tool for treatment of open-angle glaucoma due to benefits such as an IOP-lowering effect, low complication profile, and ability to repeat treatment periodically, according to Gabriel Simon, MD, PhD. He presented a poster on the findings of his research here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Las Vegas.

New York-Some antifibrosis drugs and techniques on the horizon appear promising, but more data, especially from controlled human trials, are needed, Paul J. Lama, MD, told those attending the Glaucoma 2006 meeting here.

Alexandria, Egypt-The debate over the efficacy of epi-LASIK and LASIK continues. Both procedures are safe, although the visual rehabilitation is slower in patients who undergo epi-LASIK. However, the visual results ultimately surpass those who had LASIK, according to Ahmed A. El-Massry, MD, who reported on a comparison study of the two procedures.

Las Vegas-The use of a femtosecond laser (IntraLase, Advanced Medical Optics) to create channels for placement of corneal implants (Intacs, Addition Technology Inc.) seems to provide better visual and refractive improvements compared with mechanical implantation of the segments, according to Aylin Ertan, MD.

Charleston, SC-Use of a particular computer-driven microkeratome (Amadeus II with EpiBlade, Advanced Medical Optics) results in a better-quality separation of the corneal epithelium compared with an alcohol-assisted technique, according to a laboratory study reported by Luis E. Fernandez de Castro, MD.

Minneapolis-Three-month results from a retrospective study of LASIK cases performed using the 30-kHz femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS 30, IntraLase Corp.) or a particular microkeratome (Hansatome, Bausch & Lomb) for flap creation indicate that both procedures are associated with excellent efficacy and safety but suggest some benefits for the all-laser surgery, reported Elizabeth A. Davis, MD, FACS, clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a partner in Minnesota Eye Consultants.

Belleville, NJ-Azelastine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Optivar, MedPointe Pharmaceuticals) offers safe and effective relief of ocular symptoms associated with seasonal/intermittent and perennial/persistent allergic conjunctivitis. In addition, the treatment is an important adjuvant in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis who may be receiving oral or intranasal medication to control their rhinitis, said John Favetta, MD.

Lynbrook, NY-Ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution 0.025% (Zaditor, Novartis) offers potent, fast-acting treatment for the signs and symptoms of ocular allergy with excellent safety and the convenience of availability as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, said Marguerite B. McDonald, MD.

Maui, HI-Results of a double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrated olopatadine 0.2% (Pataday, Alcon Laboratories) was more effective for preventing allergen-induced ocular itching and redness than epinastine 0.05% (Elestat, Inspire Pharmaceuticals and Allergan). In addition, the new higher-concentration formulation of olopatadine was more comfortable than epinastine, reported Francis S. Mah, MD, here at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Las Vegas-Identification and pretreatment of allergy patients can improve refractive surgical outcomes, said Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, at a continuing medical education symposium at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting. About 20% to 30% of refractive surgery patients have associated allergies, she added.

Wantagh, NY-Results of a multicenter, randomized, open-label study demonstrate that twice-daily epinastine HCl 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat, Inspire Pharmaceuticals and Allergan) has significant value compared with use of rewetting drops only for improving comfort among allergy patients suffering with contact lens intolerance.

Las Vegas-Ocular allergies affect up to 40% of the pediatric population, and this high prevalence has ramifications beyond providing symptom relief, said Terry Kim, MD, during a continuing medical education symposium here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Las Vegas-Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) is a promising research tool for vision assessment in the preverbal patient and one that is being used increasingly in the clinic, said William V. Good, MD, who discussed his research here during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Irvine, CA-Allergan will donate $1 million over 2 years to academic medical institutions to support fellows researching glaucoma and corneal and retinal diseases.

Irvine, CA-Visiogen Inc. has received FDA approval to expand the phase III clinical trial of its dual-optic accommodating IOL (Synchrony) in the United States.