News

The FDA has approved a new drug application by ISTA Pharmaceuticals for the once-daily liquid formulation of timolol 0.5% as a therapy for glaucoma.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Supplemental inspired oxygen may decrease macular thickening due to diabetic macular edema (DME), according to the results of a pilot study presented by Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Washington, DC-Pulsed treatment with the 532-nm, diode-pumped, frequency doubled, solid-state green laser (OcuLight GLx, Iridex) appears to be a safe and effective method for closing the retinal arteriolar connections that feed early stage lesions of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), said Robert P. Murphy, MD.

Iowa City, IA-The development of gene-directed therapy for common genetic ocular diseases that will be deployable on a population scale rests on coordinated research involving a series of steps. However, judging from progress made so far, such modalities might become clinically available soon, said Edwin M. Stone, MD, PhD.

Miami-Treatment with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is showing promise as a new therapy for choroidal neovascularization (CNV), according to Michael J. Tolentino, MD, who spoke at Angiogenesis 2004.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-A series of studies is evaluating the angiostatic cortisene compound anecortave acetate (Retaane, Alcon Laboratories) as both a prophylactic and therapeutic intervention for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), said Jason S. Slakter, MD, at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

The FDA has approved Merck Human Health's dorzolomide HCI (Trusopt) ophthalmic solution 2% for use in pediatric patients. The drug is used to treat elevated IOP in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.