News

Wilmette, IL?Pre-procedure processing of patients, appropriate staffing and purchasing practices, scheduling, and billing and collection methods contribute to the efficiency of ambulatory health-care centers, according to a non-clinical study of cataract surgery in such centers.

South San Francisco, CA?Genentech Inc.'s ranibizumab (Lucentis), a much-anticipated potential treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has received priority review status from the FDA as part of its Biologics License Application filing.

New York?Two ophthalmologists performing research in the fields of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration have received $40,000 awards from the Helen Keller Foundation and Pfizer Ophthalmics.

Fort Worth, TX?Alcon Inc. has withdrawn its application for European marketing authorization for anecortave acetate suspension for depot injection (Retaane) 30 mg/ml after being told that more clinical data would be necessary for approval.

New York?Pfizer Inc. and NicOx, France's largest biotech company, have pledged to cooperate on a deal that gives Pfizer exclusive rights to NicOx's work in developing nitric oxide-donating technology for use in ophthalmology.

Baltimore?Cataract surgeons and their patients now have three multifocal IOLs to choose from, depending on the patient's needs and interests as well as the physician's preference for and experience with a particular lens.

Baltimore?Uveitis is a vision-threatening disease for which current therapy?namely, oral corticosteroids, antimetabolites, T-cell inhibitors, and alkylating agents?is not consistently effective. In addition, the side effects produced by these treatments are well known.

Salt Lake City?Significant wound burn occurs in approximately one out of 1,000 cataract surgery cases. However, there is the potential to decrease the incidence dramatically by changes in the surgical technique, modulation of the power in the eye, and the type of machine used during cataract surgery, said Randall J. Olson, MD. He is the John A. Moran presidential professor and chairman, department of ophthalmology and visual sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City.

Lt. Col. Scott D. Barnes, MD, of the Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC, recently returned from a 4-month voluntary tour in Iraq. As a theater ophthalmology consultant with the 86th Combat Support Hospital, one of the three busiest trauma centers in the world, Dr. Barnes served on the frontline of providing ophthalmic care.

Modern Solution introduces its direct advertising package for growing a LASIK practice. The program offers LASIK surgeons a measurable method for new patient acquisition with a unique combination of targeting new patients, tracking campaign responses, and quantifying results.

Bausch & Lomb announces that the FDA has approved the 217z100 Zyoptix excimer laser. The 100 Hz laser operates at twice the speed of the company?s current system in both standard and custom treatment modes.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) appears to be an effective and safe surgical option for treating astigmatism in eyes that are post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), said Darcey H. Wolsey, MD, MPH.

Early experience with corneal implants (Intacs, Addition Technology) to treat corneal ectasia including keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, and post-LASIK ectasia, seems promising, according to Audrey Talley-Rostov, MD.

Perforating keratoplasty can be performed using a femtosecond laser, according to Gerd Auffarth, MD, who described it as a "fascinating technology" at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

As follow-up increases, results continue to be favorable in the prospective multicenter study evaluating wavefront-guided epi-LASIK treatment for myopia using the Norwood EyeCare Epikeratome, reported Marguerite B. McDonald, MD.

Results of a pilot study suggest that "flapless epi-LASIK" may offer advantages compared with the standard technique for hastening epithelial healing, visual recovery, and reducing postoperative pain, reported Tom Elmer, MD.

With approximately 14 million Americans with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the latest developments in low vision aids for these patients is welcoming, noted Gholam A. Peyman, MD.

Two leading-edge technologies developed by the Japan Broadcasting Co. can help ophthalmic surgeons perform procedures more easily, replacing the traditional ophthalmic microscope, explained Kensaku Miyake, MD, who delivered the Charles D. Kelman Innovator's Lecture during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Correction of high myopia with a phakic IOL or by clear lens exchange does pose some risks for patients because these methods are intraocular procedures. To avoid the associated risks of IOL surgery - such as infection, cataract formation in the case of phakic lenses, possible endothelial damage, pupil ovalization, or zonular problem - surgeons might want to consider myopic keratophakia and excimer laser ablation instead, explained Luis A. Ruiz, MD.

"I just hired a new ophthalmologist. Can I bill his services under my name until I get him credentialed with the health plans?"

Word search puzzles are an effective way for patients to exercise their ciliary muscles after crystalens accommodating IOL (eyeonics) implantation, explained Paul Koch, MD, who developed a series of six exercise booklets, each containing 14 different puzzles.

The measurement of corneal hysteresis can play an important role in corneal pathologies and refractive surgery in an effort to improve patient outcomes. In a breakfast meeting Sunday, Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments presented a panel of physicians and scientists to discuss the principles of corneal biomechanical properties and the role of the company's Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) in measuring corneal hysteresis.

A study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the oscillatory movement in the new torsional handpiece (OZil) by Alcon was the highlight of the "Innovations in Ophthalmology" symposium Sunday night. The symposium was sponsored by Dulaney Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Alcon Laboratories.

The Ophthalmology Times staff, including Publisher Lauri Jorgensen and Editor-in-Chief Mark L. Dlugoss, welcomed members of the ophthalmic industry to the San Francisco Marriott on Sunday evening to celebrate the publication's 30th anniversary. A cocktail reception was held at the 39th Floor Lounge, The View, where more than 100 guests enjoyed the setting overlooking San Francisco.

Alcon Laboratories rolls out several extensions to its product offerings, including the AcrySof toric IOL, DisCoVisc ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD), and Systane Free lubricant eye drops.

Word search puzzles are an effective way for patients to exercise their ciliary muscles after crystalens accommodating IOL (eyeonics) implantation, explained Paul Koch, MD, who developed a series of six exercise booklets, each containing 14 different puzzles.

Short-term results with the Tetraform phakic IOL (Lenstec) implanted in eyes for the correction of high myopia indicate this anterior chamber lens is promising technology, said Donald R. Sanders, MD, PhD.

Results of a preclinical study undertaken at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, indicate higher aqueous humor concentrations of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones can be achieved by implanting an antibiotic-presoaked IOL compared with standard topical administration, reported Guy Kleinmann, MD.