News

The Pascal photocoagulator (OptiMedica) offers patients a quicker, less painful way to undergo panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). In addition, the system provides physicians with a less tedious experience while delivering a clinical response that is comparable to conventional photocoagulation, according to several speakers at a OptiMedica-sponsored meeting Saturday evening.

Successful long-term management of glaucoma requires a full spectrum of tools. These may include new technologies and pharmaceutical agents as well as interventional approaches involving laser or surgical therapy.

A pilot study of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech), a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist, showed that the drug is effective for treating diabetic macular edema, reported Peter Campochiaro, MD, who spoke at the Retina Subspecialty Day.

Ruboxistaurin (Arxxant, Eli Lilly) may be a useful new tool to prevent visual loss from diabetic retinopathy based on the results of the DRS2 Study, reported Lloyd Aiello, MD, PhD, during Retina Subspecialty Day. The study showed a reduction in the sustained vision loss compared with placebo. A total of 685 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes participated in this multicenter randomized phase III clinical study that was completed late in 2005, according to Dr. Aiello. He is associate professor of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, and investigator and head of eye research, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston.

Sleep apnea is associated with many eye diseases. While contradictory evidence exists of an association with glaucoma, it cannot be ruled out.

Collagen crosslinking is showing promise as a method for arresting progressive hyperopia after radial keratotomy (RK) and laser ablation, said Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD, at Refractive Surgery 2006.

With the introduction of the Spectralis HRA+OCT (Heidelberg Engineering), two diagnostic technologies for retinal imaging are available in one instrument, offering a broad range of research and clinical applications, explained Frank Holz, MD, at the Heidelberg Engineering media event prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Patients with symptoms of dry eye make up about 30% of patients in the general ophthalmology practice, yet until lately management of this common condition was difficult due to the complex, multifactorial nature of the disease and the subjective nature of patients' complaints. However, recent breakthroughs in understanding of dry eye are leading to improved diagnostic and treatment approaches.

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Surgical monovision is an attractive option for the patient with presbyopia who seeks refractive surgery and expects glasses- and contact lens-free vision after the procedure, said Mark J. Mannis, MD, at Refractive Surgery 2006.

Should physicians abandon the monocular treatment trial for assessing the efficacy of a glaucoma medication? That was the question debated in a point-counterpoint session during the glaucoma subspecialty day meeting.

Marcelo V. Netto, MD, received the annual Troutman Award this year for his paper describing the findings from wavefront analysis in a population of normal refractive surgery patients.

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Although the FDA considers autoimmune diseases a contraindication for LASIK regardless of disease severity, a retrospective study suggests that the surgery may be appropriate in patients with well-controlled or inactive disease, said Ronald J. Smith, MD, MPH, of Beverly Hills.

New Paradigms

Ophthalmic

Short-term use of topical steroids used in conjunction with other long-term therapies can help heal the ocular surface in patients considering refractive surgery, said Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Short-term results show that bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) seems to be safe and effective for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported Philip Rosenfeld, MD, PhD, during Retina Subspecialty Day.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was shown to prevent moderate vision loss over 24 months and to result in improved vision in some patients in the MARINA Study, according to Joan Miller, MD, who reported the results during Retina Subspecialty Day.

Although the FDA considers autoimmune diseases a contraindication for LASIK regardless of disease severity, a retrospective study suggests that the surgery may be appropriate in patients with well-controlled or inactive disease, said Ronald J. Smith, MD, MPH, of Beverly Hills.

DSAEK

Although almost half of all patients who undergo LASIK report dry eye symptoms, there is no real evidence that the refractive procedure causes chronic dry eye, according to James P. McCulley, MD, FACS, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Fort Worth.

The long-term results of the multicenter Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) indicated that the beneficial effect of treatment with antioxidants and zinc with copper persisted 10 years after the AREDS 1 trial ended, said Emily Chew, MD.

Prevention

Pellucid marginal degeneration is a subtle condition that could lead to corneal ectasia following laser eye surgery. Although it is atypical and rare, clinicians should learn how to identify pellucid and screen patients for it preoperatively, said Yaron S. Rabinowitz, MD, director of ophthalmology research, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.

Dispensing

A world-renowned authority on the role of nutrition and lifestyle in the prevention of disease will deliver the Manus C. Kraff Lecture on Science and Medicine at the 2006 Symposium of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in April.

New 3D monitor