News

Orlando-Retinal translocation surgery may be an option to consider for some patients following unsuccessful photodynamic therapy (PDT). Eugene de Juan Jr., MD, explained why this treatment course may result in the best vis-ual acuity outcome, in selected patients, at the annual meeting of the American Acade-my of Ophthalmology.

Orlando-Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics) is used widely to treat predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The therapy, however, has met clinician resistance for treating occult CNV despite good visual results in the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) Study and the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) Trial, according to Joan W. Miller, MD.

Orlando-The involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor, in vascular permeability is a relatively newly recognized role. Blocking the up-regulation of VEGF seems to be a promising avenue of research in the prevention and treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Padua, Italy-The MP-1 MicroPerimeter (Nidek Technologies) combines fundus perimetry and fundus imaging in one unit. The instrument enables the structures of the macula and retina to be observed by infrared light, and images are displayed in real time on a monitor.

Dallas-The PanOptic Ophthalmoscope (Welch Allyn) is a "significant technologic advance" in ophthalmoscopy because of the unparalleled views it provides of the retina, the rapid ease of entry into an undilated pupil, and the clarity of the view, according to Robert D. Gross, MD.

Recent innovations represent significant enhancements to the Millennium Mi-crosurgical System (Bausch & Lomb), according to vitreoretinal specialists who use that platform. The Millennium Trans-conjunctival Standard Vitrectomy 25-gauge (TSV25) system allows minimally invasive pars plana vitrectomy and other vitreoretinal surgeries to be performed without the need for separate opening incisions or closing sutures.

Posterior juxtascleral injection of he angiostatic steroid analog anecortave acetate (Alcon) has been associated with a remarkable safety profile in clinical trials evaluating it for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neorvascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The recently introduced Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (HRA 2, Heidelberg Engineering) offers a number of new features that further enhance the diagnostic capabilities of this second-generation device and make it even more user- and patient-friendly, according to two retinal disease specialists.

Orlando-Adherence to recommendations from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group on the use of antioxidant and zinc supplementation for preventing advanced AMD has significant public health implications, said Frederick L. Ferris III, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Orlando-Contact lens-assisted, pharmacologically induced keratosteepening (CLAPIKS) is a safe, simple, and often effective modality for treating hyperopia present after laser vision correction surgery, said Jay McDonald II, MD, during the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmol-ogy annual meeting.

Baltimore-Physicians are weathering a climate of economic disturbances. Reimbursements continue to decline as expenses continue to increase, fueled by higher liability premiums, managed care, increased documentation requirements, and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Orlando-The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (Pharmacia) is a revolutionary development in foldable IOL technology with significant visual function benefits for cataract surgery patients, concurred speakers at a Pharmacia-sponsored continuing medical education symposium held during the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Orlando-The incidence of diplopia after cataract surgery is lower when topical anesthesia is used compared with regional anesthesia, according to Julio Yangy?MD, who described the results of a 3-year study at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Mountain View, CA-IRIDEX Corp. has launched a new educational Web site designed to educate people about laser treatment options for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Princeton, NJ-Advanced Biomedical Research Inc. has launched a new ophthalmic division, called ABR InVision, devoted to conducting clinical studies in glaucoma, retinal and corneal diseases, cataract, refractive surgery, and neuroprotection.

Philadelphia-Wills Eye Hospital and Tulane Medical Center are joining efforts to study the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared with conventional medical management as monotherapy for open-angle glaucoma.

Orlando-Refractive surgeons need to understand that the procedures they perform and their potential complications can adversely affect quality of vision, said Thomas Kohnen, MD, during the refractive surgery subspecialty day meeting prior to the Amer-ican Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Orlando-The viscoadaptive material 2.3% sodium hyaluronate viscoadaptive (Healon5, Pharmacia) is an excellent choice during cataract surgery for creating space, protecting tissues, and neutralizing positive pressure, as well as for traits such as viscomydriasis, clarity, and removability, noted Robert H. Osher, MD.

Cataract surgeons whose preferred viscoelastic is DuoVisc (Alcon), the product co-packaging 1% sodium hyaluro- nate (ProVisc) and 3% sodium hyaluronate/ 4% chrondoitin sulfate (Viscoat), appreciate its advantage in allowing use of either a cohesive viscoelastic or a dispersive agent during portions of the procedure when each is needed most.

Sewickley, PA-Sodium hyaluronate 1.6% (Amvisc Plus, Bausch & Lomb) offers the right balance of desired viscoelastic properties, making it useful during each stage of cat-aract surgery and an excellent choice for nearly all phacoemulsification cases, agree cataract surgeons Richard A. Bowers, MD, and Andrew Tharp, MD.

Houston-A modification to the tip design with Aqualase technology (Alcon) seems to make the procedure more successful with denser nuclei, reported Robert Lehmann, MD, who has been using the technology successfully for almost 3 years. Aqualase technology, which uses heated fluid instead of ultrasound energy to melt nuclear ma-terial, eliminates the energy and time of standard ultrasound phacoemulsification for small-incision cataract surgery, he said.

Lexington, KY-One of the newest viscoelastic products approved by the FDA is 1.2% sodium hyaluronate (CoEase, Advanced Medical Optics), which exemplifies the trend toward developing agents with both dispersive and cohesive properties.

A filtering device called "Cruise Control" that prevents fluctuations and surges during cataract surgery is the latest upgrade to the Sonic Wave phacoemulsification system (STAAR Surgical), according to I. Howard Fine, MD, who helped develop the enhancement.

The burst mode power modulation feature of the Millennium system (Bausch & Lomb Surgical) enhances surgeon control and improves the efficiency and safety of phacoemulsification. It also allows for bimanual surgery through ultrasmall incisions using a sleeveless phaco tip, according to users.

Experience in ongoing clinical trials points to the potential of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser (Photon, Paradigm Medical) as an effective and remarkably safe alternative for removing soft lenses, said Michael B. Limberg, MD.

Norristown, PA-The Fugo Blade (MediSURG Research and Management Corp., Norristown, PA) is now in its second year of clinical use in the United States, and more than 500 U.S. surgeons have completed instructional courses and are now certified in this patented technology.

Placement of IOLs is simplified with the Unfolder Silver-Z and Emeraldimplantation systems (Advanced Medical Optics), say cataract surgeons experienced with those devices.

Precautionary measure