News

Dorado, Puerto Rico—An international group of experts using a modified Delphi panel approach has developed recommendations for the management of dysfunctional tear syndrome (dry eye) to assist clinicians with their therapeutic decisions in the current era of expanding therapeutic choices, said Peter J. McDonnell, MD, at Current Concepts in Ophthalmology. He spoke at the conference, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and Ophthalmology Times.

Miami—Anti-inflammatory treatment using loteprednol etabonate suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb) appears to offer a safe and useful option for symptomatic relief in patients with dry eye, according to Roberto Beraja, MD.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—The IntraLase femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp.) can be used to make visual rehabilitation faster and safer as well as for refractive procedures, according to Sonia H. Yoo, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—Keratitis is the primary infection that may develop after LASIK, and opportunistic organisms are the predominant offenders. Infections after LASIK result from atypical microorganisms and can appear in clusters, according to Francis S. Mah, MD.

Louisville, KY—Recent advances in dry eye therapy based on improved understanding of disease pathophysiology are having a positive impact for successful contact lens wear, said Gary N. Foulks, MD, FACS.

Contact lens dispensing is an important addition to any dispensary. In fact, in today's general ophthalmology practice, dispensing all eyewear, including contact lenses, is practically a necessity. With excellent planning and efficient office procedures, the contact lens dispensing can be a profitable venture that enhances patient experiences, reminding them of the excellent medical care they are given at the office.

As a young man living in China, culinary arts meant more to Kang Zhang, MD, PhD, than a hobby. For young Zhang, cooking was a possible survival skill as he embarked on a new culture and adventure in the United States.

Staff members are patients' first point of contact, offering patients their first glimpse into what your practice is all about.

Take advantage of specialists in the practice and be well versed in treatment regimens.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—Newer techniques for managing the small pupil are effective, thus enabling safer phacoemulsification. Stephen Obstbaum, MD, reviewed the techniques that are available and demonstrated their use at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico—Along with povidone-iodine, perioperative use of a topical fourth-generation fluoroquinolone, either gatifloxacin 0.3% (Zymar, Allergan) or moxifloxacin 0.5% (Vigamox, Alcon Laboratories), should now be considered standard of care for chemoprophylaxis in cataract surgery, said Francis S. Mah, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting.

Proponents of bimanual microincision phacoemulsification (BMP) are discovering that the technique offers unique advantages over standard coaxial phaco in not only routine cases but also particular difficult and challenging procedures. In a previous article we covered the advantage of BMP in eyes that had undergone previous radial keratotomy. In this article, we will discuss the advantages in eyes with zonular laxity or frank zonular dehiscence.

Philadelphia—Fibrin tissue adhesive (Tisseel VH Fibrin Sealant, Baxter) is a safe and effective modality for securing autologous conjunctival grafts during pterygium surgery and offers many advantages for the surgeon and patient compared with suturing, said Sadeer B. Hannush, MD, attending surgeon, Cornea Service, Wills Eye Hospital, and assistant professor of ophthalmology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

New York—Patients undergoing primary trabeculectomy who are at high risk for bleb failure should be treated with either a single application of mitomycin-C (MMC; Mutamycin, Bristol-Myers Oncology) or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) intraoperatively followed by subconjunctival injection of 5-FU later, reported glaucoma specialist Celso Tello, MD.

German excimer laser systems manufacturer Schwind eye-tech-solutions announced the FDA has approved the sale of its Carriazo-Pendular microkeratome in the United States.

The FDA has issued an approvable letter for the fixed combination of travoprost 0.004% and timolol 0.5% ophthalmic solution (Extravan) for the treatment of glaucoma, according to Alcon Laboratories, its manufacturer.

Dunfermline, Scotland—Scottish Enterprise, which honors companies and individuals in Scotland who contribute to the global life sciences community, has honored Optos Inc. founder Douglas Anderson.

Paris—Yaron S. Rabinowitz, MD, became the third American ophthalmologist to address the Soci?t? Fran?aise d'Ophtalmologie (SFO) annual meeting in the organization's 111-year history when he spoke here May 8 about his keratoconus research.

Orlando—The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recently honored Leonard Apt, MD, professor of ophthalmology and founding director of the division of pediatric ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, at the group's annual meeting here.

Duluth, GA—Norwood EyeCare has appointed distributors for its Centurion SES System with EpiEdge in Japan, Thailand, and Russia.

When are dry eyes not dry? Fairly often, in my clinical practice.

Patients, especially those over age 40, are more educated about LASIK and often are seeking alternatives.

Durham, NC—While there is widespread agreement on the importance of optic disc examination in the care of glaucoma patients, studies suggest there is considerable opportunity for improvement in documentation as well as in the accuracy and reproducibility of assessments, reported Paul P. Lee, MD, JD, professor of ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, NC.

Accumulating data indicate that deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) is an excellent alternative to penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) as a corneal transplant procedure in eyes with endothelial dysfunction, according to Mark A. Terry, MD.

At this time there is no therapy that can restore vision after retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in patients with glaucoma. However, stem cell-based treatments do have the potential to restore function in individuals with various neurodegenerative diseases, reported Keith R. Martin, MD, of Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Most corneal subbasal nerves disappear immediately following PRK and LASIK and take several years to return to near preoperative densities, according to William M. Bourne, MD, who presented the effects of refractive surgery and topical glaucoma therapy on corneal nerve morphology during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting.

The quality of life in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is coming under increasing scrutiny in recent years compared with previous studies which focused primarily on intraocular pressure and visual field changes.

HMGCoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been evaluated in a small study with the hope that the agents will slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Results between the medication and placebo group were not significant at 12 months, but there were too few patients to reach definitive conclusions.