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Do you remember not long ago that a trip overseas meant virtually losing contact with home? Even a simple task such as making a phone call became an adventure- looking for the correct change with foreign coins, placing them in the appropriate slots, and then, of course, figuring out the time back home.

Editors Note: Birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) is an uncommon, but potentially serious, inflammatory disorder that involves both the choroid and retina. No systemic associations have been observed consistently to date. While a strong association with the HLA-A29 class I antigen suggests a genetic predisposition, the vast majority of HLA-A29-positive patients never develop BSCR, and the trigger in that small proportion of HLA-A29-positive patients that does develop the disease is unknown.

Editor's Note: I developed myectomy surgery more than 25 years ago, and this procedure has been confirmed to be the best surgical treatment for blepharospasm. I have performed more than 1,000 myectomy procedures, and while functional results (reduction in spasm) have not changed greatly in the past few years, cosmetic results have improved greatly and negative side effects and healing time have been reduced.

Tokyo-A new instrument designed for prechopping reduces phacoemulsification time by 50% and is ideal for high-vacuum and laser phaco.

Alexandria, LA-With greater surgical expectations from both patient and physician, it is imperative for the cataract surgeon to spend more time discussing the refractive component prior to surgery, according to R. Bruce Wallace, MD.

Orlando-Early results from a clinical trial for the reversal and treatment of presbyopia, using SurgiLight Inc.'s OptiVision technology, appear "promising," according to researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center.

This report provides a brief review of macroaneurysms, reviews two recently described applications of investigational tools that may assist in diagnosing a macroaneurysm when it is obscured by hemorrhage, reviews two approaches for the management of subhyaloid hemorrhage arising from a macroaneurysm, and discusses a rationale for the application of photocoagulation when treating selected macroaneurysms.

Zwolle, The Netherlands-Implantation of the AcrySof single-piece SA30/60 IOL (Alcon) using the Monarch II Injector is a promising procedure in which a single microincision as small as 2.75 mm is created.

Kansas City, MO-Making the transition from a standard phacoemulsification technique to a bimanual technique requires cataract surgeons learn to perform phaco through two micro-incisions and to develop their skills using an irrigating chopper.

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.

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.

few decades from now, we may be teaching medical students and residents to ask this very question: "What is your individual genetic profile (IGP)?"

Orlando-If peripheral iridotomy and medication fail to lower IOP, lens extraction may be the initial therapy of choice for some cases of chronic angle-closure glaucoma, according to Erik L. Greve, MD, PhD.

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.

Editor's Note: Approximately 25% of all new cases of blindness are attributed to diabetes, and it is the second leading cause of blindness in people under the age of 65 in the United States.

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.