Telescope may serve as permanent prosthesis for bilateral AMD
September 15th 2004San Diego-An implantable miniature telescope in the capsular bag provides a permanent visual prosthetic device for patients who are legally blind from bilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While there is a learning curve, an early assessment of the implantation indicates that anterior segment surgeons are familiar with the standard phacoemulsification and manual extracapsular surgical skills used for this procedure, according to David F. Chang, MD.
Multifocal ablations are option for correcting presbyopia
September 15th 2004Multifocal ablations have been gaining ground for the correction of presbyopia in the past year. Here at the University of Ottawa we have been studying this approach with the VISX STAR S4 excimer laser, with promising results as many patients are able to achieve excellent near and distance acuity.
RLE for high myopia considered safe, effective in short term
September 15th 2004San Diego-With the availability of foldable IOLs able to correct up to -31 D of spherical error, refractive lens exchange (RLE) for high myopia is now an option for patients hoping to achieve a good refractive outcome. However, patients will need to be monitored long term for potential complications, such as retinal detachments and posterior capsular opacification (PCO), explained Thomas Kohnen, MD, who spoke during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
CK effective in low-level hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism
September 15th 2004San Diego-Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is proving to be a versatile procedure that also can be used as an off-label procedure to enhance the vision of patients who have undergone cataract extraction. The visual results were excellent and patients expressed satisfaction. CK may be a more attractive procedure for this patient group because of safety and economic considerations, according to Louis D. "Skip" Nichamin, MD.
Wavefront measurement methods discussed
September 15th 2004The only constant in the relatively young life of refractive surgery has been change. Even now as our patients reap the rewards of decades of research in the form of customized wavefront ablation, currently unforeseen improvements are inevitable.
Device-independent tool interprets corneal topography
September 15th 2004San Diego-There is a great variety of instruments and displays commercially available to assess corneal topography. The array of instrumentation makes it increasingly difficult to interpret corneal topography maps correctly. During the Innovator's Session of the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Stephen D. Klyce, PhD, introduced a device-independent neural network-based tool that automatically interprets corneal topography maps.
Sudden unilateral anterior uveitis is key to diagnosing spondyloarthropathies
September 15th 2004Portland, OR-Seronegative spondyloarthropathies are the most likely group of diseases that ophthalmologists will encounter in their practices, yet many cases will be overlooked if doctors rely on classic textbook definitions of symptoms, according to James T. Rosenbaum, MD, professor of ophthalmology and medicine, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.
Verteporfin developer honored for research
September 15th 2004Vancouver, British Columbia-A research chemist from QLT Inc. who helped develop the verteporfin for injection (Visudyne, QLT/Novartis Ophthalmics) treatment for age-related macular degeneration is among 13 chemists from four companies who have been named Heroes of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society.
Intravenous agent safe, effective anti-angiogenic compound
September 15th 2004Fort Lauderdale, FL-Intravenous squalamine lactate being developed by Geneara Corp. shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according toresults of a phase I/II trial presented by Charles A. Garcia, MD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Medical liability: How does ophthalmology weigh in?
September 15th 2004The nation's medical liability crisis has yet to waver, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). With the addition of Massachusetts this summer, the AMA's official crisis chart is now composed of 20 states-up from 12 in 2002.
Implantable contact lenses used for wide range of myopia
September 1st 2004San Diego-Implantable contact lenses (ICLs) are safe and effective for treating a wide range of myopia, -3 to -20 D, based on the 3-year results from the U.S. multicenter Myopic Implantable Contact Lens Clinical Investigation. Donald R. Sanders, MD, PhD, presented the results at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Epithelial speciments viable 24 hours after epi-LASIK
September 1st 2004San Diego-Mechanically separated epithelial sheets following epi-LASIK appear to remain viable and retain their stratification 24 hours after the procedure, according to Vikentia J. Katsanevaki, MD, PhD, who spoke during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Wavefront-guided ablations help treat mixed astigmatism
September 1st 2004San Diego-Wavefront-guided ablations for the treatment of mixed astigmatism and/or high myopia using the CustomVue system (VISX, Santa Clara, CA) are providing good preliminary results, considering the challenge of treating these eyes with difficult refractions.