News

One-year data from the pivotal Phase II/III VEGF Inhibition Study inOcular Neovascularization (VISION) indicate that selective anti-VEGF165(Macugen, Eyetech/Pfizer) treatment improves visual outcomes and offersa highly favorable systemic and ocular safety profile, said Steven Schwartz,MD.

Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, announced that the biotechnologycompany is enrolling patients into a Phase III clinical trial for its age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD) drug Lucentis (ranibizumab, rhuFab V2).

Washington, DC-Reimbursement rates for some ophthalmic ultrasound procedures have gone up instead of down after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) adjusted its new fee schedule.

Yokneam, Israel-Lumenis Ltd. is hoping to re-establish a distribution agreement with WaveLight Laser Technologies AG after the German laser manufacturer abruptly terminated the companies' distribution agreement.

Switching to electronic medical records (EMRs) is the smart thing to do. An EMR puts information-legible information, databases of it-right at your fingertips.

Dorado, Puerto Rico-New imaging technologies for glaucoma allow physicians an objective, reproducible, and more user-friendly approach to documenting structural damage to the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). This is particularly important because, in the majority of glaucoma patients, structural damage occurs before standard visual field loss, noted David S. Greenfield, MD.

Dorado, Puerto Rico-A combined approach of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) and wavefront-guided PRK is useful for treating residual myopia with corneal striae, according to Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD.

The use of wavefront technology and customized ablation to treat aberrations and of the fourth-generation fluoroquinolones to prevent infections were the primary topics of a symposium on new technologies in cataract and refractive surgery held in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, Anaheim, CA.

The FDA soon will approve standards for contrast sensitivity testing in clinical trials. The approval is a step that will not only make the administration of this test easier for ophthalmologists but its comparison with clinical trial data and other testing centers simpler and more valuable as well.

At this year's ARVO meeting, glaucoma specialists can broaden their clinicalknowledge of topics ranging from surgery and wound healing to neuroprotectionto retinal nerve fiber layer imaging. Members of Ophthalmology Times'Editorial Advisory Board reviewed dozens of glaucoma abstracts to be presentedat the meeting. Some of the board's selections are highlighted here.

Among the 233 sessions dedicated to retina, almost 75 are free papersand symposia sessions. The Editorial Advisory Board of OphthalmologyTimes reviewed the retina abstracts to be presented at this year's meeting.Some of the board's selections are highlighted here.

Dorado, Puerto Rico-Physicians need to take a proactive approach to patient chart documentation as audit activity continues under the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program, established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, said practice management expert Donna M. McCune, CCS-P, COE.

Baltimore-The use of systemic medications in uveitis therapy often is associated with superior outcomes, and the best results are likely when physicians adhere to proper dosing techniques and closely monitor patients for side effects, said Douglas A. Jabs, MD, MBA.

New York-Contrast sensitivity testing provides a more comprehensive assessment of vision than visual acuity testing. This testing is especially important when assessing, treating, and following patients who have undergone LASIK or those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or cataracts.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is busy planning an exciting national publicity campaign to promote eye injury awareness and prevention to the public. But it still needs one thing-you!

San Diego, the host city of this year's American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, May 1 to 5, offers attendees an ideal climate for enjoying the great outdoors. Take some time to explore the surroundings with a run on the beach, a bike ride on a scenic trail, or for the more adventurous spirit, rock climbing in the backcountry.

Clinicians and information technology experts have made steady progress toward developing fully electronic health information systems, particularly in ophthalmology. However, as third-generation electronic health record (EHR) systems emerge on the market in 2004, a standard clinical terminology or reference set of clinical terms will be needed to support clinical documentation, decision support, and workflow.

"Self-sacrifice usually contains an unspoken demand for payment."

Minneapolis-Conventional LASIK treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism using a large optical zone does not appear to be accompanied by an increase in night vision complaints of glare or halos, said David R. Hardten, MD.

St. Louis, MO-Dry eyes should be treated aggressively before obtaining wavefront measurements that will be the basis for planning refractive corneal laser treatments and re-treatments, said Jay S. Pepose, MD, PhD, Pepose Vision Institute, St. Louis, MO.

Anaheim, CA-"Careful preoperative evaluation of patients and appropriate perioperative and postoperative management are needed to modulate the healing response effectively and maximize the success rate of combined cataract and glaucoma surgery," said James C. Tsai, MD, at the American Acad- emy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-The investigational drug pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) has been shown to stabilize and improve vision and showed effectiveness against all three subtypes of lesions involved in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Lawrence J. Singerman, MD.

The Middle East may not be at the top of the list as a popular tourist destination at present. But for Grant Heinz, MD, there are few places in the world the Mesa, AZ, oculoplastic surgeon would rather visit.

Anaheim, CA-Infection after LASIK is uncommon, but when it happens, the consequences can be devastating, said Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD, at the International Society of Refractive Surgery/American Academy of Ophthalmology subspecialty day meeting.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Carl Zeiss Medi-tec AG is building a reference center featuring its MEL 80 excimer laser in a new hospital here.

Washington, DC-The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) once again plans to expand its coverage for ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics).

Mountain View, CA-Add Mississippi to the list of states whose Medicare administrators will pay for transpupillary thermother-apy (TTT) treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Gaithersburg, MD-Conductive keratoplasty (CK) could replace excimer laser surgery as the treatment of choice for presbyopia if the FDA follows the recommendation of its advisory panel.