News

Dispensing ophthalmologists face many challenges in opening and maintaining profitable optical dispensaries. Considering the volume of cataract surgery many ophthalmology practices are performing for their aging patient base, setting up the dispensary for delivery of post-cataract eyewear can be a major challenge. It's not so much in the fitting and dispensing of the eyeglasses, but in completing the proper paperwork both within the dispensary and filing with Medicare for reimbursement of claims.

Adding an optical dispensary to an existing ophthalmology practice can be a profitable and exciting venture, but one that must be organized carefully and executed deliberately. Ophthalmologists must plan-from the dispensary's inception to construction-exactly where everything will be and how it will appear to their patients.

Anaheim, CA-LASIK with the MEL-80 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) yields "remarkable" outcomes in the treatment of eyes with myopia and com-pound myopic astigmatism, said Frank J. Goes, MD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/Amer-ican Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-Corneal wavefront-guided LASIK appears to be an excellent option for correcting moderate degrees of irregular astigmatism due to previous refractive surgery, according to early results reported by Jorge L. Alio, MD, PhD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-The initial results obtained using the Allegretto Wave excimer laser system (Wavelight) and the M2 microkeratome (Moria) to treat hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism indicate that the technology is safe and effective, vision remains stable 1 year after treatment, and there is minimal regression.

The Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser system with the OPD Scan most importantly provides excellent visual out- comes for patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism. An added bonus is that it pro-vides surgeons an excellent return on their investment compared with other commercial- ly available laser sys- tems that are equipped with wavefront-guided technology, according to refractive surgeons who use the system.

Anaheim, CA-The 213-nm solid-state CustomVis laser (CustomVis, Balcatta, Australia) represents a new generation of tech- nology for refractive surgery, with a number of potential advantages, said Donald A. Sanders, MD, PhD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-Cyclotorsional registration is essential for optimizing the benefits of wavefront-driven refractive surgery, and it is best achieved using automatic iris recognition technology made by VISX, said Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, FACS, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/Amer-ican Academy of Ophthalmology subspe- cialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-Conductive keratoplasty (CK), a thermokeratoplasty technique used to reshape the cornea, appears to be a safe and effective approach for treating low to moderate hyperopia with little or no induced astigmatism, according to Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, medical monitor of the FDA multicenter trial.

Washington, DC-Micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology), which received FDA approval in the United States in 1999 for the treatment of mild myopia, are an alternative to tissue-ablating laser vision procedures and have a number of advantages.

Anaheim, CA-The recently approved Zyoptix system (Bausch & Lomb) for wavefront-guided ablation is the only customized laser approved for use with variable optical zones, and that is an important feature because larger op-tical zones give better out-comes, said Scott M. Mac- Rae, MD, during the International Society of Refractive Surgery/ American Academy of Ophthalmology sub- specialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-Surgeons and patients often consider refractive surgery to be a one-time intervention. A patient may have had RK or LASIK and possibly an enhancement, but then the doctor-patient relationship ended. This is no longer the case, nor should it be, explained George O. Waring III, MD, who delivered the keynote speech on refractive re-treatments during the International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-A panel of experts recently provided practical pearls for ophthalmologists and the everyday challenges they are likely to encounter with their patients, such as controlling IOP, choosing antibiotics, and treating the growing problem of dry eye. The panelists shared their insights during a continuing medical education seminar held in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting here.

Booth 3315 became a haven of excitement and jubilation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting in Anaheim, CA, last November, as Pfizer Ophthalmics held its coming-out party for the ophthalmic community-complete with cake and ice cream for attendees.

Anaheim, CA-Wavefront-guided CustomCornea LASIK (Alcon) is yielding favorable early results in the ongoing FDA clinical trial evaluating its efficacy and safety for the treatment of hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism, and mixed astigmatism, according to Omar J. Hakim, MD, FRCSC.

Montreal-Reduced uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) early after LASIK is an indicator that re-treatment may be needed to address residual refractive error.

Anaheim, CA-LASIK can be associated with a spectrum of complications that are of variable severity and may contribute to patient dissatisfaction, and it is important that refractive surgeons consider ways to prevent those events because they may not necessarily be correct-able with current technology, said Terrence P. O'Brien, MD, during the International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Anaheim, CA-Cross-linking of corneal collagen by topical treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure shows promise as a safe, effective, simple, and inexpensive nonsurgical treatment for keratoconus, said Theo Seiler, MD, PhD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Anaheim, CA-Outcomes from experience spanning more than 30 years and involving hundreds of patients indicate that full-time occlusion is a highly safe and effective method for treating amblyopia and accomplishing the goal of obtaining equal visual acuity, said William E. Scott, MD, in the fourth annual Marshall M. Parks Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Last summer, Pfizer Inc. announced it was selling the surgical ophthalmic business acquired in the acquisition of Pharmacia Inc. (See Ophthalmology Times, Sept. 1, 2003 issue, Page 3).

Pinellas Park, FL-A major, multidisciplinary education and advocacy effort is critical to protecting the public from the significant health hazards associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to a panel of experts.

The FDA has approved Refocus Group's request to begin phase II clinical trials of its scleral implants and scleral spacing procedure for the surgical treatment of presbyopia.

Alcon is asking the FDA to approve a new drug application for its travoprost 0.004% plus timolol 0.5% fixed combination (TTFC) for the reduction of IOP in the treatment of glaucoma.

New York-Lighthouse International and Verilux Inc. are partnering to raise awareness of the need for balanced lighting as an essential component of healthy vision.

Washington, DC-The Medicare Payment Assessment Commission (MedPAC) will recommend that Congress revise the payment system for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) so it falls in line with payments for similar procedures performed at a hospital.

Irvine, CA-IntraLase Corp. is seeing greater acceptance of its all-laser technology, reporting its lasers were used 136% more during the fourth quarter of 2003 than in the same quarter a year ago.

Toronto-QLT Inc. is temporarily lowering the price of verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis and QLT Inc.) by $55 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lowered the amount for which it would reimburse physicians.

Gamagori, Japan-Regulatory officials in Europe have granted the CE Mark to NIDEK Co. Ltd. for its Customized Aspheric Treatment Zone (CATz) software for the NIDEK EC-5000 excimer laser system.

Lake Forest, CA-American Optisurgical Inc. has purchased Paradigm Medical Industries Inc.'s phacoemulsification line to supplement its Horizon phaco unit.

San Francisco-The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) will induct its first woman president in 2005, when president-elect Susan H. Day, MD, moves up to that position.