News

New York-Several options can be offered to refractive surgery patients who are candidates for surface ablation procedures, and those individuals should be informed about differences between procedures with respect to speed of visual rehabilitation and postoperative comfort, said Gary R. Fishman, MD.

Rockville, MD-The Association for Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) has announced the next recipient of its Friedenwald Award and a new member of its supporting organization's governing board.

Vancouver, British Columbia-Peter Hnik, MD, MHS, has been named chief medical officer of iCo Therapeutics Inc. The biotechnology company is developing pre-existing drugs for a range of new conditions affecting isolated biologic environments-areas such as the eye, spinal cord, and joints, where locally administered application of these therapies would have minimal systemic distribution and fewer safety issues.

Santa Ana, CA-Mich?l Shuler has joined Advanced Medical Optics [AMO]/VISX as the new laser vision correction director of global strategic accounts. Primarily working with VISX technology, he will assist management with key accounts domestically and internationally.

In November 1976, President Gerald Ford and Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller likely "got down" to the popular new song, "Play That Funky Music" and viewed the top-grossing movie, Rocky. Mao Tse-Tung died, two amateur electronics enthusiasts developed the Apple computer in a California garage, USC beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the Celtics swept Phoenix in the NBA finals, and Cincinnati prevailed over the Yankees in the World Series. The cost of a home averaged $48,000, a gallon of gas was 59 cents, the Dow's high for the year was 1,004, yours truly was a college sophomore, and Ophthalmology Times mailed its first issue.

Bescia, Italy-A patient questionnaire about their experience with refractive surgery is in the process of development by the Italian Refractive Surgery Society. The preliminary results reported by Elena Scaffidi, Psych MA, indicate that the questionnaire was well perceived by patients and provided a great deal of input for improving their experience.

Lexington, KY-Animal studies point to two components of drusen as the driving force for the neovascularization that causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD) -a discovery that opens the way to early detection and drug therapy to prevent the condition, said Jayakrishna Ambati, MD.

Waltham, MA-OxiGENE Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to treat eye diseases and cancer, is now focusing its ophthalmology strategy on oral or other non-intravitreal forms of administration of Combretastatin A4 Phosphate (CA4P) for age-related macular degeneration.

Boston-Global bio-nanotech company pSivida Ltd. has begun a phase II clinical trial of the steroid receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU486) as an eye-drop treatment for steroid-associated elevated IOP. The investigator-sponsored trial is expected to involve up to 45 patients in the United States.

Below is a partial list of the contributions made by researchers at the Jules Stein Eye Institute and the University of California, Los Angeles, over the past 40 years.

Los Angeles-As the Jules Stein Eye Institute (JSEI) celebrates 40 years of contributions to research, education, and patient care this month, construction is approaching for a major new building that will help carry the institution into future decades.

Exhibit Hall Highlights

Bayer Healthcare and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. have agreed to collaborate on the development of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Trap through a global plan that encompasses the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye diseases, and other eye diseases and disorders. The companies jointly will commercialize the VEGF Trap-Eye outside the United States and will share equally in profits from ex-U.S. sales. Within the United States, Regeneron has exclusive commercialization rights in all indications and will retain 100% of profits from any such sales.

eyeonics, manufacturer of crystalens, placed 45th in technology for Deloitte’s prestigious Technology Fast 500. The list ranks the top technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies in North America, based on the percentage revenue growth from 2001 to 2005. The company experienced 5,596% revenue growth during that time.

PBA accepting

VISX University

The FDA approved the over-the-counter use of ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution 0.025% (Zaditor) for the temporary prevention of itchy eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis. The drops treat eye itch associated with pollen, ragweed, grass, animal hair, and dander without the potentially negative effects of a decongestant.

Miami-Although post-LASIK diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) typically develops in the early postoperative period, it is important to be aware that late-onset DLK can occur, said William B. Trattler, MD.

The problem of tissue drag, which once plagued ophthalmic surgeons, is largely a thing of the past?thanks to groundbreaking work conducted several decades ago by Leonard Apt, MD, currently professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Online information

ISTA Pharmaceuticals acquired from Senju Pharmaceuticals an exclusive North American license to an eye-drop formulation containing bepotastine, an investigational ophthalmic treatment for allergic conjunctivitis. This is ISTA Pharmaceuticals' first license for the ophthalmic allergy field.

Ophthalmic Imaging Systems (OIS) will serve as the exclusive vendor to the International Vision Networks (IVN), the only specialty group purchasing program for ophthalmologist offices and ambulatory surgery centers, for new digital imaging system units used in the ophthalmic setting. Systems include ophthalmic PACS, fundus cameras, and slit lamps.

The 2006 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Las Vegas will feature two acclaimed physicians at the opening session on Sunday, Nov. 12 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

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The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a 5-year, $14.6 million grant to fund a study of age-related macular degeneration.

Theatre schedule