News

San Francisco-Levofloxacin (Quixin, Santen)-the new kid in the fluoroquinolone family-is less likely to encounter resistant strains of bacteria than the two older members of that antibiotic family, ofloxacin (Ocuflox, Allergan) and ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan, Alcon), according to David Hwang, MD.

Despite considerable effort and expense, new technology has yet to yield an incisional instrument better than the traditional steel blade for use in ophthalmic and facial plastic surgery.

Seattle-The dry eye that some patients experience after LASIK is a direct, not an indirect, result of damage to the corneal nerves, said Steven E. Wilson, MD.

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman-The OPD Scan (Nidek Co. Ltd., Japan) is a combined refractive power aberrometer and corneal analyzer that measures both the wavefront of the entire eye as well as the topography of the corneal surface.

London-A Hartmann-Shack wavefront scanning device is an effective aid in correcting difficult irregular astigmatism following previous LASIK, according to London anterior segment specialist and refractive surgeon Julian Stevens, MD, FRCO.

New York-The risk of inducing ectasia during LASIK could be reduced if refractive surgeons would aim for thinner flaps, according to Dan Z. Reinstein, MD, of the Reinstein Institute and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York.

New York-The short-term elevated IOP that takes place when a microkeratome suction ring is applied to the eye during LASIK does not damage the retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL), according to New York researchers.

Cleveland, OH-Excimer laser technology offers the refractive surgeon state-of-the-art tracking and scanning capabilities when performing laser refractive procedures, according to Ronald R. Krueger, MD.

Rochester, NY-The greatest impact in diagnosing wavefront error and treating higher-order aberrations will be seen in patients with irregular astigmatism, post-refractive surgical errors, and post-penetrating keratoplasty, according to New York refractive surgeon Scott M. MacRae, MD.

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.

Los Angeles-A new marker is available that allows added precision for orientation of the eye during LASIK.

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.