News

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Numerous factors have been studied to determine an association with the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Barbara Klein, MD, MPH. Family history, however, is by far the factor that stands out among the crowded arena of suspects. She reported why this is the case at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Montreal—Twenty-three gauge sutureless transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy is effective for certain diseases of the posterior segment. The technique has the advantages of minimally invasive transconjunctival surgery without some of the limitations associated with 25-gauge surgery, reported Reza Iranmanesh, MD.

The risk of scarring was increased 3.6-fold among patients who wore contact lenses at baseline relative to those who did not wear contact lenses.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Confocal microscopy allows corneal nerve density to be measured in vivo, which has been especially helpful in identifying dramatic decreases in the nerve densities after PRK and LASIK. Using this technology, investigators can measure the increases in the densities over time following the surgeries. There are, however, artifacts that may interfere with microscopy results that must be controlled, according to William Bourne, MD.

Washington, DC—Ectasia can occur after an otherwise uncomplicated LASIK procedure, even in the absence of recognized risk factors, said Shawn R. Klein, MD, at World Cornea Congress V.

Washington, DC—Reduction in myopia, central corneal flattening, and improvement of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) occur rapidly after the initiation of orthokeratology (ortho-k), but this modality also appears to result in changes in higher-order aberrations and corneal pachymetry, reported Iane G. Stillitano, MD, at the World Cornea Congress V.

The incidence of microbial keratitis after LASIK has been reported to range from one in 1,000 cases to one in 10,000 cases. There are no prospective studies in the literature that accurately document the true occurrence rates.

Washington, DC—A continuing rapid evolution in technology brings promise for the future availability of better surgical methods for correcting presbyopia, said W. Bruce Jackson, MD, at World Cornea Congress V.

New Orleans—Using highly sensitive techniques, investigators have discovered that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is present in a high percentage of asymptomatic individuals, said Herbert E. Kaufman, MD, Boyd professor of ophthalmology and pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, Louisiana State University Eye Center, New Orleans.

Washington, DC—Results of studies measuring energy used during cataract removal by phacoemulsification provide convincing evidence that the Infiniti Vision system (Alcon Laboratories) is a significant advance in optimizing surgical safety and efficiency, said Richard J. Mackool, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Australian children have a relatively low prevalence of visual impairment. The primary causes of visual problems are uncorrected astigmatism and amblyopia, according to Dana Robaei, MBBS, MPH, who spoke at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Rockville, MD—Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD, will receive the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's 2006 Weisenfeld Award, presented annually for excellence in ophthalmology.

Des Plaines, IL—Addition Technology Inc. has formed a non-profit foundation to help keratoconus sufferers who need financial support to afford an Intacs procedure.

Colorado Springs, CO—On Sept. 1, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) launched its Tecnis foldable acrylic IOL (ZA9003) in the United States after receiving FDA approval for marketing in August.

South San Francisco—Genentech Inc. said it intends to file a complete Biologics License Application (BLA) in December for its ranibizumab (Lucentis) treatment for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In addition, the company said it was recently notified that the FDA denied a request for fast-track designation for the investigational drug, which would allow for a rolling BLA submission.

Montr?al—The addition of intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) has been associated with impressive efficacy for improving and stabilizing vision and reducing the need for repeat photodynamic therapy (PDT) after 12 months of follow-up in the FOCUS (RhuFab V2 Ocular Treatment Combining the Use of Visudyne to Evaluate Safety) trial, said Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

After a priority 6-month review, the FDA approved nepafenac ophthalmic suspension 0.1% (Nevanac, Alcon Laboratories), a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prodrug, for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery.

Reaction to the OSI-Eyetech merger varied from analyst to analyst, with some expressing shock that OSI would pay so much for a company that will face strong competition from ranibizumab (Lucentis). That drug, in development by Genentech, has generated impressive data showing it might even improve vision in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) although trials of the drugs were radically different and cannot be compared.

New York—The $935 million acquisition of Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. by OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. will boost research and development (R&D) opportunities for both companies, while preserving Eyetech's integrity as a stand-alone business unit, according to leaders of both organizations.

San Francisco - Results from the Collaborative Normal Tension Glaucoma Study provided the first and still best evidence that lowering IOP by 30% in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) does prevent or slow the progression of glaucomatous visual field loss, said Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH, associate professor, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami.

San Francisco - Debate continues over whether to perform neuroimaging in patients with typical normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), but there are warning signs that should prompt ordering magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium, said Christopher A. Girkin, MD, MPH, associate professor of ophthalmology and director, glaucoma service, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

San Francisco - The diagnosis of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) should be approached as one of exclusion with careful evaluation of the patient for other etiologies that may underlie observed structure and function changes, said Andrew G. Iwach, MD, associate clinical professor of ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco.

San Francisco - Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is likely primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with a lower baseline IOP. However, it is probably worthwhile to continue to draw a distinction between these two entities because it provides an opportunity for identifying risk factors that may have varying influence depending on the level of IOP, said Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, the Frances and Ray Stark Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles.

San Francisco - Both IOP and the rate of aqueous flow follow a circadian rhythm and that has significant implications for the evaluation and treatment of patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma, said Robert N. Weinreb, MD, director, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, and distinguished professor of ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego.

San Francisco - Compliance and persistency with IOP-lowering medications are difficult to assess but important to address because they affect treatment results, said Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH, associate professor, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami.

San Francisco - Optimal medical therapy for most patients needing IOP-lowering treatment may be as simple as one or two bottles, said Robert D. Fechtner, MD, professor of ophthalmology, director, glaucoma division, Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.

San Francisco - Based on a review of efficacy, safety, and compliance issues, Shan C. Lin, MD, now considers a prostaglandin analogue as his drug of first choice for medical treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. For select patients, however, beta-blockers may still be appropriate if the cosmetic side effects of the prostaglandin analogues or their cost present significant obstacles to use.

San Francisco - Early diagnosis of glaucoma does matter because it offers an opportunity to alter the significant morbidity associated with this disease, said Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH, professor of ophthalmology, director, glaucoma service, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.