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.
As part of its commitment to the field of ophthalmology, Pfizer Inc. has developed and funded several philanthropic programs in the area of eye care.
Salt Lake City-The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL, Calhoun Vision) is an exciting new technology for the future, said Nick A. Mamalis, MD.
Anaheim, CA-An increasing number of IOLs are being developed to achieve improved vision in patients with extreme levels of myopia. One such lens is the Artisan/ Verisyse phakic IOL (Ophtec USA/Advanced Medical Optics), said R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, who reported the results of the FDA clinical study here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
Anaheim, CA-The recently approved model AT-45 accommodative IOL (Crystalens, eyeonics inc. [formerly C&C Vision]) is expected to be a very useful practice addition for surgeons in their management of presby-opia, said D. Michael Colvard, MD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/ American Academy of Oph-thalmology subspecialty day meeting.
Anaheim, CA-Although longer follow-up is needed to determine whether the pseu-dophakic, blue light-filter-ing IOL (AcrySof Natural, Alcon) reduces the risk of progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), available indirect evidence provides sufficient sup-port to advocate its use in cataract surgery, said Robert J. Cionni, MD.
Kansas City, KS-The new Emerald-Ease Simple Syringe Unfolder (AMO) offers cataract surgeons another alternative for implanting the AR-40E IOL (Sensar with Opti- Edge, AMO) through an unenlarged phaco incision, said John D. Hunkeler, MD.
Eugene, OR-Implantation of the anterior surface modified prolate IOL (Tecnis, Pfizer Ophthalmics) results in improved functional vision for cataract surgery patients compared with a standard spherical IOL, said Mark D. Packer, MD.
Munich, Germany-The AcrySof ReSTOR pseudoaccommodative IOL (Alcon) with its apodized diffractive optic provides patients with excellent near visual acuity without compromising distance vision, signifi- cantly reducing contrast sensitivity, or increasing the incidence of severe visual disturbances compared with monofocal con- trols, said James A. Davison, MD, FACS, at the XXI Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons here.
Kansas City, KS-The foldable acrylic AR-40E IOL (Sensar with OptiEdge, AMO) contin-ues to provide positive results as the number of eyes with implants and duration of follow-up increase, said John D. Hunkeler, MD.
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