News

Washington, DC-Four manufacturers of ocular products have received FDA approval to market ofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3%, a generic version of Allergan Inc.'s Ocuflox, for the treatment of certain strains of bacteria in conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Washington, DC-New technology that advances cataract surgery is critical to boosting the quality of life of America's senior citizens, representatives of the ophthalmic industry told congressional leaders.

Atlanta-An Australian medical device company will take over the Epi-LASIK surgical product line as part of CIBA Vision's divestiture of its surgical business (also see Page 1). Norwood Abbey Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, bought the Centurion SES system and EpiEdge epikeratome separator for $10 million. The company paid $1 million when it signed the agreement in May, and it signed a note with CIBA Vision for $9 million for the balance of the technology and inventory price.

It is important to recognize that patients with low vision want to be able to participate in the same activities that patients with normal vision desire, such as watching TV or a movie.

Double-digit sales forecast for Asia region

San Diego-A prospective comparison of objective wavefront analysis using CustomVue LASIK (VISX) in one eye with patient subjective analog scale reports after a conventional LASIK procedure in the other eye found that there was an increased preference for use of the nondominant eye regardless of the treatment performed, according to John F. Doane, MD, FACS. The reason for this effect on patient preference is not known.

Procedure able to preserve contrast sensitivity, depth perception

System opens new luxury market in excimer laser technology

Patients' subjective complaints of halos and glare are improved; also optical zone enlarged

Study shows cell loss equal to natural aging, allowing IOL to be implanted in young patients

Anterior chamber lens meets or exceeds FDA guidelines in multicenter European trial

WaveLight creates laser subsidiary in Spain

Global assessment will become a more prevalent concept in glaucoma management.

Colleagues call innovator a giant in medicine

Researchers around the world have been working diligently over the last 25 years to develop artificial corneas for patients who are not good candidates for the current techniques of keratoplasty, according to Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD.

is clinical professor of ophthalmology at Oregon Health & Science University, Eugene, and is a founding member of his practice, Oregon Eye Associates.

The Internet has enhanced communication and rapid dissemination of information between researchers.

Higher-order aberrations decreased in most patients, with the change from baseline reaching up to 50%.

Most mild-to-moderate myopia could be treated with conventional therapy using excimer laser system

San Diego-The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL, STAAR Surgical) appears to be safe and effective for treating low to high myopia based on the 3-year FDA study results. There is, however, a low risk of developing a cataract as a result of implantation, explained Harry Grabow, MD, who reported the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.The criteria for inclusion in the myopic ICL study were –3 to –20 D of spherical equivalent (mean preoperative refraction, –10 D) and up to 2.5 D of cylinder. The refractive results were good with a mean stable postoperative refraction of about –0.5 D.

Six-month results show 88% achieving 20/40 for distance, 70% achieving J3 or better

William Halstead is justifiably given credit for popularizing and spreading the value and the virtue of surgical gloves around the world.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO, Santa Ana, CA) redefined its position in the ophthalmic community when it reached a definitive agreement April 21 to acquire Pfizer’s surgical ophthalmology business for $450 million in cash. The deal will boost AMO’s revenue base by 25% and allow the company bragging rights to the Healon line of viscoelastic products, the CeeOn and Tecnis IOLs, and the Baerveldt glaucoma shunt.“You don’t see many of these deals come across in a lifetime-in any industry,” said AMO President and Chief Executive Officer James V. Mazzo

More than 330 ophthalmologists from 24 states and several countriesattended "Glaucoma 2004: Mastering Tools and Techniques for the 21stCentury," on Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5, at the Plaza Hotel.

The use of antiproliferative agents has helped increase thelikelihood of successful filtering surgery by inhibiting the wound healingresponse. The problem is that these agents also contribute to the risk ofbleb leak and bleb-associated infection, reported Paul J. Lama, MD, of theUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, and the Veterans'Administration Medical Center, East Orange, NJ.

What are the best approaches to the glaucoma suspect, establishedglaucoma patient, and the patient with low-tension glaucoma? Those weresome of the topics covered in the afternoon session on Friday, June 4.

Global risk assessment is a relatively new concept in ophthalmology.In the field of cardiology, risk factors to aid in treatment decisions havebeen used for 50 years. Cardiologists and internists document such factorsas blood pressure and serum lipid profiles in all patients to determinethose who are at risk and need treatment.

Automated perimetry is an important tool for the diagnosis andmanagement of glaucoma. Using this tool, clinicians can identify the abnormalvisual field and then monitor for ongoing visual field deterioration, saidJody R. Piltz-Seymour, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, and the ScheieEye Institute, Philadelphia. She described the strengths and weaknessesof three systems currently used by clinicians.