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Contrary to early expectations, researchers have discovered anamazing amount of heterogeneity for inherited retinal diseases,including genetic, allelic, phenotypic, and clinical heterogeneity.This complexity means that it is possible to identify the cause ofone particular, common retinal disease?autosomal dominant retinitispigmentosa (ADRP)?in only about half of the patients.

The dog model is an appropriate choice for developing and testingnovel therapies applicable to human patients because theapproximately 300 dog breeds are genetically isolated populations.Furthermore, it is believed their phenotype is similar to that ofhumans, according to Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD, professor ofophthalmology and medical genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine,University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Increases in choroidal thickening are integral to ocular growth andvision, as demonstrated in bird models, and are not merely afocusing mechanism, according to one physician.

Joan W. Miller, MD, and Joel S. Schuman, MD, are the winners of the2006 ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Translational Research Awards.

The recipients of the inaugural ARVO/Alcon Early CareerClinician-Scientist Research Awards were announced during thekeynote session Sunday evening.

In keeping with the theme, "Building International Collaborations,"as the focus of the 2006 Association for Research in Vision andOphthalmology (ARVO) meeting, two keynote speakers are doing theirpart to promote global partnerships in vision research.

While early data show that vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) may prevent vision loss and even produce gains in patientswith wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), much remains to belearned about the class of VEGF inhibitors. Only one drug in thisclass, pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, OSI/Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) hasbeen approved, while others are in the clinical trials pipeline.

For thousands of ophthalmologists and vision researchers, a springtrip to Fort Lauderdale, FL, is an annual tradition that mixes alittle bit of sunshine with a whole lot of academics. Thattradition continues this year, with the 2006 Association forResearch in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting fromSunday, April 30 to Thursday, May 4.

For thousands of ophthalmologists and vision researchers, a springtrip to Fort Lauderdale, FL, is an annual tradition that mixes alittle bit of sunshine with a whole lot of academics. Thattradition continues this year, with the 2006 Association forResearch in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting fromSunday, April 30 to Thursday, May 4.

Baltimore?Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been the mainstay of treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) until recently when combination therapies (PDT and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) agents started to be explored.

Fort Lauderdale, FL?For thousands of ophthalmologists and vision researchers, a spring trip to Fort Lauderdale, FL, is an annual tradition that mixes a little bit of sunshine with a whole lot of academics. That tradition continues this year, with the 2006 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting scheduled for Sunday, April 30 to Thursday, May 4.

Native Americans used their experience and were able to care for themselves very well.

New York?The Scleral Spacing Procedure (SSP) for Presbyopia with PresVIEW Scleral Implants (PSI) (Refocus Group Inc., formerly PresbyCorp) provides significant improvement in near visual acuity (VA) and no change in the uncorrected distance VA, according to Barrie D. Soloway, MD, FACS.

New York?Alcon Laboratories was honored recently by ORBIS International for its 25-year commitment to helping reduce the prevalence of blindness in developing countries.

New York?When glaucoma suddenly stole vision from Minnesota Twins' Kirby Puckett's right eye and forced his retirement from Major League Baseball in 1996, it offered those in ophthalmology a remarkable opportunity to increase awareness about the disease.

Ophthalmologists have long been frustrated by their inability to stop or reverse glaucoma. Once the diagnosis has been made, they try valiantly to preserve what vision remains.

ASCRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are working together to develop measures of performance.

For almost 2 years, I have pioneered a change in phaco needleconfiguration to improve the safety of cataract surgery. The DeweyRadius Tip, manufactured by Microsurgical Technologies (MST,Redmond, WA) is a standard phaco needle with a simpleexception-no sharp edges. This rounded design can be appliedto any phaco needle of standard gauge, bevel, or bend.

When Stephen R. Powell, MD, is spreading cheer throughout the community, his patients usually do not recognize him. Why? Dr. Powell moonlights as a unicycle-riding clown.

An ophthalmology practice located right on the border of two states, with patients coming from the many rural communities surrounding Danville, VA, and northern North Carolina, can be a real challenge.

Atlanta?A 6-year study confirms the safety of dual-laser blepharoplasty for aesthetic rejuvenation of the upper and lower eyelids. Describing a series of 320 blepharoplasties, Harley Freiberger, MD, a dermatologic cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles, reported that no permanent complications were observed, and that lesions healed rapidly and patients were quickly able to return to normal activity.

Indianapolis?Squalamine lactate (Evizon, Genaera) seems to be safe and effective when administered with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics/QLT Inc.) to patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Thomas A. Ciulla, MD.

Cambridge, England?Research published in the January issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology found not only a strong association between pack years of cigarette smoking and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) but also an increased risk of AMD in nonsmokers exposed to passive smoking.

Montr?al?A modified version of the Amsler grid, with a backlit screen and other changes, improves detection of scotomas and is easier for patients and clinicians to use, according to designer Elie Khouri, MD, a Montr?al ophthalmologist.

Bethesda, MD?The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) indicatedthat supplementation with micronutrients has a protective effect inpreventing the development of advanced stages of age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD). Emily Y. Chew, MD, reviewed thefindings of the role of micronutrients for the treatment of AMD.

Boston?Ruboxistaurin mesylate (Arxxant, Eli Lilly), an investigational drug that is an oral protein kinase C (PKC) beta inhibitor, reduced the occurrence of sustained moderate vision loss by 40% in patients with moderately severe to very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, reported Lloyd P. Aiello, MD, PhD.

Miami?Is it time to retire fluorescein angiography in light of the commercial availability of optical coherence tomography (OCT)? Certainly not, because they are complementary technologies that are integral to the management and treatment of retinal diseases, explained Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA.

Boston?The 12-month results of two randomized clinical trials of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) indicate that the drug shows encouraging signs of activity against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).