Articles

Following designation of New Technology Intraocular Lens (NTIOL) status by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), AMO has introduced the Tecnis 1-Piece IOL to the US market.

Swiss researchers have identified the defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for childhood cataract by assessing family members who suffered from autosomal dominant juvenile cataract, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

PresbyLASIK or multifocal IOL implantation yield superior visual outcomes in patients with presbyopia, improving both near and distance vision, as opposed to accommodative IOL implantation, which improves distance vision only, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Refractive Surgery.

Prophylactic treatment with dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination is more effective than brimonidine in reducing IOP after phacoemulsification surgery, claims a study published in the January issue of Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice.

QLT Inc. has begun patient recruitment into its "CORE" study, a Phase II randomized, masked, parallel-group study of safety and preliminary efficacy of a punctal plug drug delivery system in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH).

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS), which began 20 years ago, was a landmark trial that produced important findings on surgical interventions and the role of IOP in progression.

The increasing use of prostaglandin analogues in Scotland has led to an increase in prescribing rates and a rapid increase in cost, whilst prescribing of beta-blockers has declined and trabeculectomy rates have fallen, according to a study published in the February 2008 issue of Eye.

The risk of glaucoma after refractive surgery procedures should not be underestimated, claims José Belda, MD, speaking at the Alicante Refractiva International meeting, held March 6–8 in Spain.

Injection-related complications such as infectious endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataract may occur with a frequency of about 0.15% after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or triamcinolone, independently of the drug injected, according to a study published in the February issue of Eye.

Visudyne (verteporfin) and Avastin (bevacizumab) combination therapy reduces the number of retreatments needed by half, according to Phase II study results presented at the annual Macula Society Conference in Florida, US.

Bevacizumab can produce remarkable results in infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), according to a free paper presented at the All India Ophthalmological Society meeting held in Bangalore earlier this year.

Shortening of retinal laser exposure time is just as effective as conventional, longer laser exposure in patients undergoing laser photocoagulation, but is significantly less painful, according to a study published in the January issue of Eye.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) does not degrade the optical quality of the cornea, however, it does introduce changes in coma and higher order aberrations, according to a Spanish study.

In technological terms, when a word is prefixed by 'micro' you come to expect that word to signify some form of technological innovation or advance. In ophthalmology, the word 'microincision' represents significant advancement, particularly in the fields of cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.

Removing cataracts using a bimanual microincision technique and implanting a traditional foldable intraocular lens (IOL) through a separate incision causes no more corneal astigmatism compared with a traditional coaxial technique using the same lens, according to a Finnish study.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) with the Whitestar ICE and CASE systems (AMO) can be performed safely and effectively even in the hardest nuclei, according to a Turkish study.

Patients who are currently hospitalized overnight for vitreoretinal surgery could safely be treated as day cases, thus providing significant improvements in efficiency, according to a report published in the February issue of Eye.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) intraocular lenses (IOLs) provide better patient outcomes, which are more like refractive surgery in terms of reduced postoperative astigmatism and minimal induced aberrations, according to a French study.

Clopidogrel and warfarin are associated with a significant increase in minor complications of sharp needle and subtenon?s cannula local anaesthesia but are not associated with sight-threatening complications, according to a study published online ahead of print by Eye.

Microincisional bimanual phacoemulsification and non-penetrating glaucoma surgery appears to be a safe option for patients with glaucoma and co-existing cataract, according to a Turkish study.

A Czech study has found that 2.2 mm square clear corneal incisions for microcoaxial phacoemulsification are very stable and provide adequate postoperative sealing.

There is a need to introduce smoking cessation support into routine ophthalmic practice, according to a report published in the February issue of Eye.

The new Custom Control Software on the MICS Millennium platform (Bausch & Lomb) results in less endothelial cell loss than torsional phacoemulsification performed on the Infiniti System (Alcon), according to a Greek study.

A round up of April's In Focus news

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) with implantation of an aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) through a 1.8 mm incision can minimize surgically-induced corneal and ocular aberrations and improve optical performance, according to a French study.

Children who are blind and disabled are often hidden in the society because of stigma, prejudice and negative attitudes of the able-bodied members of the family and community

Corneal grafts obtained from cancer patients may be associated with an increased risk of infection for the recipient, according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

During accommodation, changes in lens thickness are mainly caused by deformation of the nucleus. In older, non-accommodating lenses, the deformations occur predominantly in the equatorial region and do not affect the central curvatures of the lens, according to a report published online ahead of print by Acta Ophthalmologica.

The AcuFocus ACI 7000 corneal inlay could become a new, minimally invasive option for treating patients with presbyopia, Dr Günther Grabner announced at this year's Alicante Refractiva International meeting.

Intracameral cefuroxime is a safe alternative to subconjunctival cefuroxime and leads to a lower rate of endophthalmitis, claims a study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.