News

Lisbon, Portugal - LASIK is an effective tool in the management of high astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Furthermore, a two-step technique may be preferred over a one-stage procedure because it allows for better evaluation of refractive changes induced by the keratectomy, said Ahmed Galal, MD, PhD.

Lisbon, Portugal - Schwind eye-tech-solution GmbH, Kleinostheim, Germany, presented several refractive-oriented products at the ESCRS meeting.

Lisbon, Portugal - Nidek Co., Gamagori, Japan, introduces its CV-7000 Phacoemulsification System and its Nex-Acri IOL.

Lisbon, Portugal - WaveLight Laser Technologie AG, Erlangen, Germany, introduces the Rondo microkeratome at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

Lisbon, Portugal – In an effort to create a synergy that will benefit all of the European ophthalmic community, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) have announced that the ESCRS will assume the administrative duties of the retina society.

Lisbon, Portugal – A viscoanesthesia-type of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) did not show toxic or cataractogenic effects in rabbit eyes, according to a four-part study conducted at the Moran Eye Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States.

Lisbon, Portugal – Blue-blocking IOLs, which recently have been promoted as being vision protecting, may not be so. Martin Mainster, PhD, MD, of the University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, explained that the argument in favor of blue-blocking IOLs is theoretical at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Lisbon, Portugal – The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) celebrated 10 years of co-editing the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at the ESCRS Congress President’s Dinner on Friday night.

Lisbon, Portugal – The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) has announced its 2005 board members at the XXIII Congress of ESCRS. The new board will serve a 4-year term.

Lisbon, Portugal – Reading visual acuity and reading speed may depend of the type of IOL, according to one surgeon. Werner Huetz, MD, and colleagues compared three IOLs: the Array SA40N (AMO), the Tecnis ZM001 (AMO), and the AcrySof ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories).

Lisbon, Portugal – Pupil ovalization after implantation of IOLs is a rare occurrence. However, when it develops, it must be addressed immediately and effectively, according to Antonio Marinho, MD, PhD, of the University of Porto, Portugal.

Lisbon, Portugal – Cataract surgery in developing countries is a massive problem, but the cost of performing phacoemulsification in these countries is highly prohibitive.  For that reason, extracapsular cataract surgery is performed with implantation of a polymethymethacrylate (PMMA) IOL.

Lisbon, Portugal – Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery is an evolving process, Oliver Findl, MD, from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, explained Saturday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Lisbon, Portugal – Sealed capsule irrigation (SCI) using steroids in water is a new technique being studied that may prevent posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. Gerd Auffarth, MD, PhD, from Heidelberg University Eye Clinic, Heidelberg, Germany, described this approach Saturday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

It may come as no surprise to many patients of Richard Gotlib, MD, PhD, that he is passionate about his life's work as an ophthalmologist.

Washington, DC—Rotating corneal autograft offers a viable method for visual rehabilitation in highly traumatized eyes that are at risk for a poor outcome after penetrating keratoplasty (PK), said Sai Kolli, MD, at World Cornea Congress V.

Needham, MA—Outcomes achieved with the fluid-ventilated, gas-permeable Boston Scleral Lens (Boston Foundation for Sight) in approximately 1,000 eyes underscore its role as a valuable option for eyes with severe ocular surface disease and many other corneal disorders that would otherwise be candidates for penetrating keratoplasty, said Perry Rosenthal, MD.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Increased knowledge about detecting visual field deterioration has been garnered from glaucoma trials.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Early treatment of ocular hypertension can decrease the incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma. Risk factors can be assessed relatively simply in the office to identify patients at high and low risk of developing glaucoma, Michael Kass, MD, said.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—A comparison of penetrating with non-penetrating glaucoma surgery, specifically deep sclerectomy and trabeculectomy, indicated that the latter provided better control of IOP 7 years after the surgery, according to Stefano Gandolfi, MD. When deep sclerectomy was converted to a penetrating procedure, the surgical success rate increased significantly.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—A new study offers hope that the serious adverse effects of carboplatin chemotherapy for retinoblastoma could be minimized by local delivery in a fibrin sealant sustained-release vehicle.

Santa Barbara, CA—Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), have made discoveries that could lead to improved recovery after retinal reattachment surgery and inhibition of undesirable cellular effects that lead to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Montreal—Combination treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using verteporfin photodynamic therapy (Visudyne PDT, Novartis/QLT Inc.) plus intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide appears to improve visual outcomes and reduce the number of re-treatments necessary to achieve lesion regression compared with standard PDT alone, albeit with the recognized steroid-associated risks of cataract progression and IOP elevation, said Albert J. Augustin, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Boston—Epinastine HCl 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat, Inspire/Allergan) safely and effectively relieves the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis due to cat dander, according to the results of a clinical trial conducted by researchers from New England Eye Center, Tufts University, Boston.

Orangeburg, NY—The low-dose modified corticosteroid loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb) is effectively used during the acute phase of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, according to Ayman Matta, MD, PC, FACS.

The conjunctival allergen challenge model is highly reproducible and has a highly standardized grading system.

Miami—Despite the presence of new therapies for ocular allergies on the market, nedocromil sodium ophthalmic solution 2% (Alocril, Allergan) may be an effective choice for some patients, said William Trattler, MD, in private practice at the Center for Excellence in Eye Care, Miami.

Washington, DC-An unstable tear film can decrease functional visual acuity and may be the primary target for treatment of dry eye, said Kazuo Tsubota, MD, at World Cornea Congress V.