News

Chicago?Evaluations of refractive surgery outcomes using a computer-based predictive model indicate that wavefront-guided LASIK results in better visual quality than optimized or conventional LASIK, regardless of the level of preoperative higher-order aberrations (HOAs), said Capt. Steven C. Schallhorn, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day program during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

By revealing that the first generation of LASIK procedures were inducing higher-order aberrations (HOAs), wavefront technology answered a key question about why outcomes had been less than perfect. At the same time, it raised a new question: How best to use that information to improve outcomes? In response, two different approaches, wavefront-guided (WFG) treatments and wavefront-optimized (WFO) treatments, emerged. So far, the FDA has approved three laser systems for WFG treatments: Alcon's CustomCornea, Advanced Medical Optics' CustomVue, and Bausch & Lomb's Zyoptix. In 2003, the agency approved one system for WFO treatments: WaveLight's AllegrettoWave.

Lisbon, Portugal?The preliminary results from the ongoing FDA trials of a comparison of wavefront-guided and wavefront-optimized treatments with the Allegretto Excimer Laser (WaveLight Laser Technologie AG) indicate that the two treatments provide similar results, reported Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual meeting.

Lisbon, Portugal?LASIK and Epi-LASIK procedures performed using Alcon Laboratories' CustomCornea system provide patients with excellent results in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) levels and higher-order aberrations (HOAs).

Lisbon, Portugal?Conductive keratoplasty (CK) achieves improved near vision in patients with presbyopia who have undergone a successful previous LASIK or PRK procedure. CK is the next logical refractive step for these patients as they age and want to remain free of spectacles, according to Daniel Durrie, MD.

Chicago?In-depth studies of corneal healing after wavefront-guided PRK are providing an understanding of the postoperative course of changes in refractive errors and wavefront aberrations, said Keith Holliday, PhD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting sponsored by the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Based on data from the last available follow-up visit (mean 2.5 months postop), the iris registration group had 50% less residual cylinder compared with the controls.

FDA approval of the crystalens (eyeonics), in addition to the AcrySof ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories) and ReZoom multifocal (AMO) IOLs, allows ophthalmologists the ability to offer various choices of presbyopia-correcting technology with the hope of providing a surgical procedure that will greatly reduce or eliminate their patients' dependence on glasses following cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange. Hype and rumor regarding accommodating lens technology has created confusion regarding just how effective or ineffective these particular lenses may be. A review of the results in peer-reviewed medical literature in addition to an analysis of theoretical considerations with regard to the limits of accommodation provided by these lenses should clarify their ultimate usefulness in the average ophthalmic practice.

Chicago?Contamination of short-cycle sterilizer reservoirs may be responsible for an outbreak of postoperative endophthalmitis/toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) in a multisurgeon clinic, said Simon P. Holland, MD, FRCSC, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Baltimore?The prevalence of cataract is high among the Hispanic population of Mexican descent living in the United States?2.8%, according to a recent report from the Proyecto VER (Vision and Eye Research) survey of Hispanic individuals living in southern Arizona. A number of barriers, including lack of medical insurance and difficulty speaking English, impede these individuals in obtaining cataract surgery, according to Aimee Teo Broman, MA.

Norristown, PA?The FDA has cleared the Fugo Blade for peripheral iridotomy (PI) creation for angle-closure glaucoma and with IOLs, including AC IOLs and phakic IOLs.

Fort Collins, CO?PR Pharmaceuticals (PRP) will work with OSI Pharmaceuticals to develop a sustained-release formulation of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen) using its proprietary ProPhase encapsulation technology.

Menlo Park, CA?Three venture capital firms have promised $2.4 million in seed funding to start ForSight Labs, a new incubator of firms to launch ophthalmic medical device technologies. Representatives of Morgenthaler Ventures, Split Rock Partners, and Versant Ventures will also take seats on the ForSight Labs board of directors.

While pharmaceutical companies increasingly target consumers, doctors remain the focal point.

Baltimore?The Medicare reimbursement system may seem like a bowl of alphabet soup, but physicians can't afford to ignore what lies behind the acronyms because of the enormous impact on their practice bottom lines, said Michael X. Repka, MD, secretary for federal affairs for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

San Francisco?David E.I. Pyott wants to conquer glaucoma. He hopes that one day the cure is found.

Maui, HI?HyperCruise using the Cruise Control device (STAAR Surgical) enables high-vacuum, low-energy phacoemulsification with stable fluid dynamics for cataract removal that is safe, efficient, and results in excellent patient outcomes, reported Elizabeth A. Davis, MD, at Hawaiian Eye 2006.

Baltimore?A trial program that provided support and advice to older nursing home residents with poor vision improved their access to cataract surgery substantially. But the debilitated condition of many of those residents led to hesitation about surgery not only from physicians looking after the older people but also from their guardians, according to ophthalmologists at the Johns Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore.

Baltimore?Secondary hydrodissection is a valuable technique for enabling safe and efficient phacoemulsification in eyes with a softer crystalline lens that does not initially rotate in the capsular bag to allow use of standard cracking and chopping techniques, said John D. Gottsch, MD.

Chicago?Cataract and glaucoma can occur in eyes with phakic IOLs, but the risk of those complications can often be minimized by careful surgical technique and IOL sizing, said Antonio Marinho, MD, PhD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting sponsored by the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Daniel Jewelewicz, MD, believes that ophthalmologists tend to be creative people. Since childhood, he has been drawing and painting with watercolors. Now, Dr. Jewelewicz shares his love of art with his community to raise funds for the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) through an annual exhibit in Delray Beach, FL, called "Visions."

Chicago—A birthweight of less than or equal to 1,250 g was a dependable criterion for screening of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a small, single-center retrospective study. Using this standard also reduced the number of screenings performed and consequently lowered the cost of screening, said Shailesh K. Gupta, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville.

Chicago—Screening to detect preclinical vision loss in children is important and should ideally be done in the offices of pediatricians or family practitioners. In addition, it is now time to add objective testing to pediatric practices, according to Robert W. Arnold, MD, who spoke at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Chicago—An inverse correlation between age and recurrence of amblyopia following cessation of occlusion therapy was found in a large retrospective chart review, reported Rahul Bhola, MD, fellow, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

It might be wise to counsel patients regarding the possible but likely low risk of NAION, especially for individuals with a higher risk for NAION.

Chicago—The pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, OSI/Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) exploratory phase II data indicate that the drug seems to be successful for treating diabetic macular edema (DME), according to Steven D. Schwartz, MD. He reported the findings of the Macugen Diabetic Retinopathy Study Group during the retina subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Baltimore—Given that many people fail to receive preventive screening for diabetic retinopathy or regular follow-up once diagnosed, telemedicine screening warrants a role in the effort to manage this disease better, according to Alan R. Malouf, MD, FACS. Dr. Malouf spoke at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting here, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Ophthalmology Times.

Chicago—Empiric intravitreal therapy remains the mainstay for initial management of most cases of endophthalmitis while the roles of pars plana vitrectomy and treatment with systemic antibiotics are more variable, said Dennis P. Han, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.