News

New Delhi, India-A married couple of ophthalmic surgeons in New Delhi, India, had a dream. Arun Sethi, MD, and his wife, Reena Sethi, MD, wanted to donate their time and professional skills to help reverse the tide of curable blindness in their area. However, never did they imagine what an impact they could make with a variety of assistance.

Houston-The aging characteristics of the crystalline lens must be considered before performing refractive surgery because the cornea and the lens are coupled together like a two-lens telescope.

San Francisco- A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that the proportion of respondents who described themselves as "general" or "comprehensive" ophthalmologists has held steady at between 48% and 51% since the 1998 survey.

If your practice does any appreciable amount of cataract surgery, it is important to make sure that both your optical and billing staff are well trained in the proper paperwork procedures should patients require eyewear after surgery. This means providing eyewear that satisfies and enhances both their vision needs and their personal preferences.

Bethesda, MD-A recently introduced high-molecular-weight, high-viscosity viscoelastic, UniVisc (CIBA Vision Surgical, Duluth, GA), performs well, is surgeon friendly, and seems to be a valuable addition to the surgical armamentarium. It is indicated for use to protect the corneal endothelium during cataract surgery, IOL implantation, and anterior segment surgical procedures.

DuoVisc (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX)-packaging the cohesive ProVisc (1% sodium hyaluronate) and the dispersive Viscoat (3% sodium hyaluronate/4% chondroitin sulfate) together in a single unit-is an excellent viscoelastic choice for almost all cataract surgery cases and for surgeons across all levels of expertise, agree I. Howard Fine, MD, and Susan M. MacDonald, MD.

Dorado, Puerto Rico-Healon 5 (Pharmacia) can be used routinely during cataract surgery once the surgeon understands how it differs from other viscoelastic agents, reported Roger Steinert, MD, at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting sponsored by Johns Hopkins University of Medicine.

New York-A dual approach to viscoelastic use during phacoemulsification combining 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Ocucoat, Bausch & Lomb Surgical) and sodium hyaluronate (Amvisc Plus, Bausch & Lomb Surgical) affords surgeons the opportunity to benefit from the positive features of each and allows surgery to be performed very safely and efficiently, said Robert Ditkoff, MD.

San Francisco-Pars plana injection of viscoelastic is an excellent technique for managing the difficult problem of a posteriorly dislocated IOL. By levitating the IOL forward, this maneuver can facilitate IOL suturing or exchange through an anterior segment approach, according to David F. Chang, MD.

Durham, NC-Real and measurable progress is being made in identifying major genes that are integral to the development of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Washington, DC-Supporters of H.R. 2484 are hopeful national coverage for vision rehabilitation services will become a reality in this second session of the 107th Congress.

Farmington, CT-A newly discovered gene provides at least a partial solution to the puzzle of normal-tension glaucoma, according to Mansoor Sarfarazi, PhD.

Baltimore-Radiation therapy is the present standard of care for optic nerve sheath meningiomas, according to Neil R. Miller, MD.

New Orleans-Surgeons need to understand that hyperopic LASIK is profoundly different from myopic LASIK, said George O. Waring III, MD. It is especially important to convey this message to patients who typically may be imbued with the notion

Since the release of the topical beta-blocker timolol maleate (Timoptic, Merck) some 2 decades ago, glaucoma patients have been the beneficiaries of a cascade of new IOP-lowering pharmaceuticals.

FDA advisors OK reverse geometry lens

A test for the optineurin gene will be available to ophthalmologists soon - possibly this year and certainly by 2003, said S. Kumar Chandrasekaran, PhD, CEO of InSite Vision, Alameda, CA.

When faced with a patient having lash or eyebrow hair loss, a careful history searching for clues is help-ful. Hair loss involving the eyelashes or eye-brow area may result from several conditions including skin diseases, drug side effects, endocrine abnormalities, metabolic abnormalities, inflammation, toxins, radiation effects, systemic diseases, infection, and trauma.

The acute onset of a red, painful, proptotic eye will almost always cause the emergency room or primary-care physician to elicit an immediate ophthalmic consultation for the possibility of orbital cellulitis or orbital mass. In the absence of systemic infection or sinusitis, however, orbital inflammatory pseudotumor is more likely to be the diagnosis.

Alameda, CA-Early indications are that the Ocugene glaucoma genetic test (InSite Vision, Alameda, CA) has the potential of becoming a useful tool in determining the likelihood of glaucoma development or progression in certain patients.

Hamilton, Ontario-The results of a phase I clinical trial demonstrate the safety and potential efficacy of scleral expansion band (Presby Corp., Dallas, TX) surgery for reducing elevated IOP, according to Aaron W. Rifkind, MD.

Memphis, TN-Travoprost 0.004% ophthalmic solution (Travatan, Alcon) is an effective IOP-lowering medication in patients of all racial origins. However, travoprost reduces IOP more in black patients compared with non-black patients, and its efficacy in blacks exceeds that associated with both timolol (Timoptic, Merck) and latanoprost (Xalatan, Pharmacia), said Peter A. Netland, MD, PhD.

Cincinnati, OH-The IOP-lowering effect of dorzolamide HCl/timolol maleate (Cosopt, Merck, West Point, PA) is comparable to that of brimonidine tartrate (Alphagan, Allergan, Irvine, CA) and timolol maleate after 6 months of treatment.

Washington, DC-Unoprostone isopropyl 0.15% (Rescula, Novartis) may be a viable option for further lowering IOP in patients with advanced glaucoma whose disease is uncontrolled by maximum tolerated medical therapy, said Leslie S. Jones, MD.

Indianapolis-Pooled 6-month data from two multicenter, double-blind, parallel studies demonstrate that once-daily treatment with bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% (Lumigan, Allergan) is safe and more effective than timolol 0.5% for controlling elevated IOP, said Louis B. Cantor, MD.

Baltimore-Patients who received latanoprost (Xalatan, Pharmacia Corp., Peapack, NJ) to treat glaucoma were more likely to adhere to their regimens and less likely to discontinue their medications compared with patients who are prescribed beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, or brimonidine, according to Gail Schwartz, MD, and her colleagues.

Ann Arbor, MI-Quality of life is remarkably similar among patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma randomly assigned to initial treatment with medication or trabeculectomy, according to Nancy K. Janz, PhD.

N onpenetrating glaucoma surgery in expert hands is as efficacious as trabeculectomy for controlling IOP but results in significantly fewer complications, said Tarek M. Shaarawy, MD.