FDA approves expansion of NeoVista's Phase III CABERNET trial
April 23rd 2008The FDA has approved an expansion of the Phase III CABERNET (CNV Secondary to AMD Treated with BEta RadiatioN Epiretinal Therapy) trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of NeoVista's epiretinal brachytherapy in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Arsenal of strategies enables safe surgery in IFIS eyes
April 21st 2008Cases of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) encompass a wide spectrum of severity, so it is important for surgeons to master several different strategies to increase the likelihood of achieving a safe outcome in these eyes.
Eye drop contamination comes from bottle, not solution
April 18th 2008Bottles of infected eye drops are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria at the bottle tip and not within the solution, according to a study presented at this year's American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) meeting.
Update and clinical pearls from the TVT study
April 18th 2008The Tube versus Trabeculectomy (TVT) Study found that nonvalved tube shunt surgery was more likely to maintain IOP control and avoid persistent hypotony and reoperation for glaucoma than trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) during the first year of follow-up.
Human embryonic stem cells have potential to treat retinal degeneration
April 16th 2008Regeneration of damaged retinal cells with the aid of stem cells may offer hope for the treatment of retinal degeneration conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a report published by the National Academy of Sciences (Volume 103).
Post-LASIK quality of life to be officially assessed
April 14th 2008A new study assessing the quality of life after LASIK is to be conducted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the FDA and the National Eye Institute, it was announced at this year's ASCRS meeting in Chicago, US.
Xibrom 0.09% and 0.18% formulations "nearly identical"
April 14th 2008A clinical trial of Xibrom (bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) has demonstrated equivalence of end-point achievement between the 0.18% and the 0.09% formulations, according to topline results published by ISTA Pharmaceuticals.
Triamcinolone shown to raise IOP and cause gonioscopic changes
April 11th 2008Intraocular pressure (IOP) rises significantly and rapidly in eyes that have received an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA), according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Ophthalmology.
Phase II trial shows epiretinal brachytherapy + bevacizumab improves VA
April 9th 2008NeoVista Inc?s epiretinal brachytherapy for wet AMD in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) has been shown to improve mean visual acuity (VA) in patients, with adverse events restricted to vitrectomy-related problems and not to radiation toxicity, according to results of a Phase II trial presented at the 31st Annual Macula Society Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, US.
Lucentis to be made available to all in England and Wales
April 9th 2008Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) is to be made available to all patients of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales, according to a report from the BBC. The final appraisal document (FAD) has been published ahead of final guidance, expected in June 2008.
Preop antibiotics may not be needed to prevent endophthalmitis after intravitreal steroid use
April 9th 2008A low rate of endophthalmitis can be achieved after intravitreal triamcinolone injection without the use of antibiotic prophylaxis on the pretreatment days, said Abdhish R. Bhavsar, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.