News

Oklahoma City-The delivery of remote care is one aspect of telemedical communication that is gaining increased attention because of its positive health and economic impact.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-New innovative approaches for treating dry eye have been emerging that researchers hope will alleviate symptoms for the enormous number of patients affected by this disease.

The Legacy phacoemulsification system with AdvanTec (Alcon) runs cooler compared with the Sovereign phacoemulsification system with WhiteStar (Advanced Medical Optics) under all experimental conditions in air, according to Kevin M. Miller, MD.

Salt Lake City-New instrumentation makes it virtually impossible to cause a wound burn during microphacoemulsification in human cadaver eyes.

Great Neck, NY-Capsular tension rings can be a valuable adjunct in patients with unstable or absent zonules who are undergoing cataract surgery, and they may have additional application for the management of late IOL decentration that is secondary to capsular phimosis, said Kenneth J. Rosenthal, MD, FACS.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Bimatoprost appears to have greater IOP-lowering effectiveness than travoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension, according to a small pilot study.

San Francisco-The newest version (A2) of the Carl Zeiss Meditec software algorithm for quantification of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using the third-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT 3) showed no improvement in glaucoma discriminating power compared with its predecessor software (A1), but it did reduce the variability of RNFL thickness measurements, according to a Tufts University glaucoma specialist.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost have comparable IOP-lowering effectiveness in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, according to a recent study.

Orlando-Adjustment for energy delivery calibration errors represents the single most important step excimer laser manufacturers can take toward achieving improved visual outcomes in eyes undergoing corneal ablative refractive surgery, said Jack T. Holladay, MD, MSEE, FACS, at the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons.

If ophthalmologists and other physicians are looking to the nation's capital for assistance in dealing with the jury awards that far exceed actual economic losses by plaintiffs, one doctor believes it is a colossal waste of time.

Dallas-Moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution (Vigamox 0.5%, Alcon Laboratories) was approved by the FDA on April 16 for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, following a 6-month review of the drug.

San Francisco-LASIK is a safe, effective, and accurate treatment for correcting ametropia in post-radial keratotomy (RK) eyes, reported Stephen M. Weinstock, MD, at the annual meeting ofthe American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery here.

Newark, NJ-Topical beta-blockers are much safer than physicians believe them to be, according to New Jersey glaucoma specialist Paul Lama, MD.

San Francisco-With the presbyopic population reaching 51% (141 million) in the United States, the interest in surgical correction of presbyopia will likely take off as the baby boomers look for alternatives to glasses, according to Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, who delivered the Binkhorst Lecture during the opening session of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-An increase in outflow facility appears to be the mechanism by which unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution (Rescula 0.15%, Novartis) reduces IOP, said Carol B. Toris, PhD.

San Francisco-Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are blind from glaucoma, and this number will rise enormously as the population ages over the next 20 years unless better detection and treatment methods are developed, said Nathan G. Congdon, MD, MPH.

Editor's Note: Anterior uveitis is the most common type of intraocular inflammation. Among patients with inflammation localized primarily to the anterior chamber, 50% or more are HLA-B27 positive. Inaddition, a number of these patients with HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis have, or will develop, an associated systemicdisorder such as ankylosing spondylitis,reactive arthritis (formerly known asReiter's syndrome), inflammatory bowel disease, or psoriatic arthritis.

Johannesburg, South Africa-A miniature glau-coma implant (Ex-Press, Optonol Ltd., Neve Ilan, Israel; marketed by CIBA Vision, Atlanta) that is implanted under a scleral flap has been shown to be safe and effective in lowering IOP in a prospective pilot study.

Del Mar, CA-Eyemakers Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire a public company that provides LASIK surgery to patients in the Southwest.

Cleveland-A protein produced by the body might help prevent abnormal blood vessel growth and treat diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cancer.

Washington, DC-The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the list of procedures it will cover, including several important ophthalmic procedures.

The FDA is looking for more analysis of data before deciding whether to approve ISTA Pharmaceuticals' ovine hyaluronidase compound for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage.

Orlando-The key to success in today's competitive contact lens market is to offer complete service and a full array of specialty contact lenses, according to one expert.

Woburn, MA-Advanced Vision Research has joined the growing number of physicians who have concluded that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in flaxseed oil, can relieve dry eye. The company recently added a dietary supplement containing these acids, TheraTears Nutrition, to its line of dry eye products.

Baltimore-LASIK presents a challenge to normal tear film dynamics, and some patients may be affected by prolonged neurotrophic epitheliopathy.

The paradigm of dry eye treatment is the use of solutions and lubricants applied to the eye. That is, dry eyes require topical medication in the form of artificial tears to restore tear production and comfort. Anything other than this is contrary to belief and intuition and a paradigm shift.

Los Angeles-Insertion of the Herrick Lacrimal Plug (HLP, Lacrimedics, Eastsound, WA) appears to be trouble-free for the majority of patients, with significant complications wuch as pyogenic granuloma and probing occurring in less than 10% of cases, said John C. Affeldt, MD, MPH.

Jacksonville, FL-In any disease, the differential diagnosis is paramount to ensure proper treatment. This is also true for patients who complain of dry eye before and after LASIK. Arun C. Gulani, MD, created a decision pyramid that allows him to get to the root of complaints of dry in his patients.

San Francisco-At 1-year follow-up, the majority of patients who received the hyperopic Implantable Contact Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA) for correction of moderate to high hyperopia were satisfied with an uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of at least 20/40 or better, noted Paul J. Dougherty, MD, who spoke during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting.

Montreal-In the clinical setting, night vision disturbances after LASIK cannot be predicted by pupil size, but rather are correlated with preoperative sphere and the photoablation optical zone size, said Mihai Pop, MD.