News

Durham, NC-Results of a 9-month randomized, dose-masked, multicenter clinical trial of a fluocinolone acetonide sustained drug delivery system to treat posterior uveitis resulted in significant gains for the eyes that received implants when compared with fellow eyes that did not receive implants, said Glenn J. Jaffe, MD.

The breadth of offerings at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Resource Center and Technology Pavilion at the first joint meeting with the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) is extraordinary. Physicians can try the demo for the Basic and Clinical Science Course on CD-ROM, flip through the latest patient education products, get help with critical business issues such as coding, and learn the ins and outs of acquiring and installing an electronic medical records system.

Tel Hashomer, Israel-Results of preclinical studies suggest that minocycline has potential utility as a neuroprotective agent in the management of optic nerve diseases, said Hani Levkovitch-Verbin, MD.

The diagnosis of glaucomatous progression is a daunting task for the ophthalmologist. Just 20 years ago, we began subjectively evaluating stereoscopic optic disc photos and series of visual fields.

New York-"The time to think about preventing a shallow anterior chamber is the moment you decide to perform a trabeculectomy," said Jody R. Piltz-Seymour, MD, at the Glaucoma 2004 meeting here.

New York-The best time to start treating a bleb-associated infection resulting from trabeculectomy is when its first warning signs appear, reported Paul J. Lama, MD, at the Glaucoma 2004 meeting here.

New York-Hypotony maculopathy-damage to the macula caused by clinically significant low IOP-has several causes, including overfiltering blebs, bleb leak, cyclodialysis cleft, and ciliary body effusion/detachment, reported Celso Tello, MD, at the Glaucoma 2004 meeting here.

New York-How do you determine whether a patient identified as having suspected glaucoma has glaucoma or will develop glaucoma? When should you treat a patient? How aggressive should treatment be?

That particular charm that belongs only to New Orleans has lured the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) back to this magical city for its annual meeting.The 2004 meeting is the first joint meeting with the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE).The main meeting will be preceded by 2 days of subspecialty presentations on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23. All subspecialty day events and those of the main conference, Oct. 23 to 26, will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

New York-The 2004 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research, given posthumously, honors Charles D. Kelman, MD, for transforming cataract surgery "from a risky and lengthy ordeal (2-week hospital stay) into a safe and quick outpatient procedure that has spared millions of people throughout the world from blindness," as well as for inspiring similar advances in a number of other medical specialties.

New York-It is not usual for a memorial ceremony to be punctuated by roars of laughter, but the commemoration held here on Sept. 13 for Charles D. Kelman, MD, was as unusual as the man himself. The tribute was as full of the liveliness, enthusiasm, and love that he expressed for everything in his life-from saxophone playing to song composing to helicopter piloting and to his medical and scientific studying that revolutionized ophthalmology.

The [VETS] coalition wants nothing short of surgery by surgeons and said it is dedicated to seeing to it that veterans receive their right to the highest quality of medical care.

Los Angeles-The results from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) demonstrate Latinos suffer high rates of visual impairment and blindnessin association with high prevalencesof several vision-threatening eye diseases that may often go undiagnosed and untreated, said the study's principal investigator Rohit Varma, MD, MPH

There has been a recent trend toward thinner flaps for LASIK to decrease the risk of corneal ectasia following surgery. Other advantages exist as well for patients undergoing thin-flap LASIK.

San Diego-The Artisan Hyperopia IOL (Ophtec BV) appears to be safe, effective, and stable for the treatment of high and extreme hyperopia, according to Edward E. Manche, MD, who reported the interim results of the FDA phase III clinical trial at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Lewiston, NY-The Magellan Mapper Corneal Topographer (Nidek) is a valuable new tool for the preoperative evaluation of refractive surgery patients, said Claus M. Fichte, MD.

An off-label use of the CustomCornea procedure (Alcon Laboratories) to re-treat symptomatic eyes of patients who had undergone a previous refractive procedure produces dramatic reductions in visual symptoms, according to James J. Salz, MD.

San Diego-Inducing negative spherical aberration may be desirable after conductive keratoplasty (CK). Results of a study showed that patients with negative spherical aberration after CK met the target refractive error and target vision compared with patients with positive spherical aberration, according to Stephen Pascucci, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Emerging lens extraction and implantation technologies have worldwide appeal among ophthalmologists, and at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, it was evident at an evening symposium conducted by Alcon Laboratories.