News

Orlando-The accommodative response in pseudophakic patients with an accommodative posterior chamber IOL (Human Optics, Erlangen, Germany) implanted is difficult to interpret when measured by various clinical tests, and the pseudophakic accommodation should be differentiated from pseudoaccommodation, according to Achim Langenbucher, PhD.

Space invaders

Baltimore-Using aggressive lobbying techniques and grassroots organizing, optometrists in certain regions of the country have succeeded in getting legislation passed and introducing bills that would enable them to perform laser and surgical procedures, prescribe any class of medicine including narcotics and IV injections, perform diagnostic tests such as fluorescein angiography, and require eye exams of children before they enter school (See related article, "The perfect storm," Ophthalmology Times, March 1 issue, Page 1).

Cataract removal by means of phacoemulsification has improved over the last 35 years in small, incremental steps. The sequential introductions of capsulorhexis, foldable IOLs, clear corneal incisions, and topical anesthesia have made small improvements in the safety andefficacy of cataract surgery and as a whole have taken us one giant leap forward.Bimanual phacoemulsification is just another one of these small steps that may ultimately enhance our ability to offer the best surgical procedure to our patients.

Baltimore-Researchers are working to improve their understanding of the cascade of events that lead to retinal degeneration and vision loss. This active research could lead eventually to clinical treatments, according to Jennifer Sung, MD, who spoke at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology Meeting here.

Orlando-Emerging imaging technologies are revolutionizing ophthalmologists' understanding and treatment of a variety of ocular disorders, including angle-closure glaucoma, according Jeffrey M. Liebmann, MD.

Baltimore-Ophthalmologists can now use new guidelines on how best to treat optic neuritis based on the results from the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT), which followed long-term outcomes for 10 years, according to Neil R. Miller, MD, who spoke at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology Meeting.

Baltimore-Macular edema is the final common pathway for visual loss in many diseases, but so far, available treatments have not been effective in improving visual acuity to 20/20 in a significant percentage of patients, according to Julia A. Haller, MD, who spoke during the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, here.

New York-Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide appears to be a useful adjunct to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis) in the treatment of eyes with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), said Richard F. Spaide, MD, at the Macula 2003 meeting here.

Orlando-Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide may be a therapeutic option for stabilizing or improving vision in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), said Jost B. Jonas, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Treatment for presbyopia is on the horizon, with refractive surgeons comparing notes on their results with early studies of LASIK correction. Among them, Gustavo Tamayo, MD, scientific director of Bogota Laser Refractive Institute and Aruba Laser Refractive Institute, Bogota, Colombia, reported his results with the latest software in the VISX Star S3.

Orlando-LASIK alone or in combination with other procedures can be a safe and effective method for providing useful vision to eyes with post-penetrating keratoplasty (PK) ametropia, said William W. Culbertson, MD, at the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Orlando-Posterior chamber phakic implants can offer safe and effective correction of moderate to high myopia with stable refractive outcomes, low risks of operative and postoperative complications, high patient satisfaction, and the benefit of less induction of optical aberrations relative to LASIK, according to James J. Salz, MD.

Baltimore-Taking a firm stance against deceptive advertising for LASIK and other ophthalmic procedures, Matthew Daynard, Esq., outlined Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advertising requirements at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, here.

Atlanta-For the third consecutive year, Emory Vision is the recipient of the Cons-umer's Choice Award. The state-of-the-art center in Atlanta is being honoredfor excellence in laser vision correction surgery.

Des Plaines, IL-Addition Technology Inc. will host a roundtable discussion regarding its micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs) during the annual conference of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery to present case studies and promote their use.

Houston-Tracey Technologies and EyeDirecti will provide customers with bundled custom LASIK surgical trays and the Tracey Visual Function Analyzer under a new exclusive joint agreement.

Santa Barbara, CA-Miravant Medical Technologies will file its first new drug application for marketing approval of PhotoPoint SnET2, for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Minneapolis-Neal A. Sher, MD, FACS, of Eye Care Associates here, is seeking candidates for a research study of an investigational drug for the treatment of dry eye after LASIK.

Orlando-Synthetic keratophakia may offer a safe and effective method for refractive correction, according to the interim fol-low-up data from an FDA trial evaluating a hydrogel intrastromal corneal inlay (PermaVision, Anamed)-plus data on the procedure from outside the United States.

Orlando-Surgical monovision can be an effective treatment for presbyopia, offering high rates of patient satisfaction without compromising stereoacuity, said Steven E. Wilson, MD, at "Back to the Future," the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting at the American Academy of Ophthalmol-ogy annual meeting.

Orlando-Correction of hyperopia promises to be a very exciting area of refractive surgery in the future, said Douglas D. Koch, MD, at "Back to the Future," the refractive surgery subspecialty day prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Orlando-Ultrasonography is an important imaging modality for all medical specialties. D. Jackson Coleman, MD, focused on the importance of ultrasonography in ophthalmology and described its capabilities at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Memphis-The Ophthalas EyeLite Photocoagulator (Alcon) features a 532-nm diode-pumped frequency-doubled YAG laser that makes it a powerful and reliable choice for endoscopic, laser indirect ophthalmoscope (LIO), and slit-lamp delivered photocoagulation procedures, said Steve Charles, MD.