Articles

Glaucomatous patients can safely obtain self-tonometry measurements after applying a topical anaesthetic to their eye.

Cells at the back of the eyes of profoundly blind people monitor light levels and use them to set the body's clock to either day or night.

Two transporters that deliver alternative energy sources to the eye may help delay the retinal damage that occurs in diabetes.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is an effective long-term treatment for near-plano presbyopia.

Escalating treatment for glaucoma patients who have undergone penetrating keratoplasty (PK) significantly increases the risk of graft failure and poor visual outcomes.

People with low vision can improve their ability to watch television with a new technique that allows them to enhance the contrast of images of people and objects of interest on their digital televisions.

Judah Folkman, MD, the pioneer of angiogenesis research, died on January 15th 2008.

The US ophthalmic market will embrace the use of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) rapidly, whereas less flexible reimbursement programmes in Europe and Japan will delay their adoption in those markets.

A gene, which also behaves as a cancer precursor, has also been found to play a central role in the coordination of retinal proliferation and eye growth during foetal development.

Novagali Pharma's Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to conduct Phase I clinical trials of its Nova63035, for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DME), has been granted by the FDA.

Bausch & Lomb has entered into an agreement to purchase eyeonics, the maker of the Crystalens accommodating IOL.

By 2012 the market for optical coherence tomography (OCT) is predicted to hit the $800 million mark.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) are pleased to report that a solution has been found that addresses Genentech's decision to no longer allow compounding pharmacies to purchase Avastin (bevacizumab) directly from authorized wholesale distributors.

Ophthotech, Biogen and PDL BioPharma have entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for an anti-angiogenesis antibody to treat age-related macular degeneration.

Fovea Pharmaceuticals has received designation as Orphan Medicinal Product from the European Commission for rh-RdCVF, its treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Performing cataract surgery using a fluid-based method of phacoemulsification results in less corneal endothelial cell loss compared with conventional ultrasound phacoemulsification.

A new online database of retinal topography maps has been launched by the Optometrists Association of Australia.

A company in the US, Chakshu Research, claims that it has developed an eye drop that can remove cataracts and restore vision.

A research report published in the December issue of the FASEB Journal, describes a new experimental drug, endostatin, which can significantly reduce or eliminate abnormal blood vessel growth within the eye.

It has long been noticed that one side effect of the glaucoma drug Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution; Allergan) is increased eyelash growth, however, nobody could have predicted that cosmetic companies would start using small quantities of prostaglandins in products specifically designed for the "beauty" market.

Treatment with bimatoprost (Lumigan; Allergan) alone is as effective at lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) as a fixed combination of latanoprost and timolol.

NicOx and Pfizer have initiated a dose-ranging Phase II clinical study of PF-03187207, a treatment for glaucoma, in Japan.

January/February's product news

The pros and cons of surface ablation procedures were reviewed at the opening session of the refractive surgery subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

January/February research news

I recently attended a party where I was drawn into a conversation by some people who had one thing in common – LASIK. Somebody amongst the group had undergone the procedure six years ago (incidentally, that was my sister) whilst another underwent wavefront-guided LASIK just weeks prior. Each of the four people had a story to tell about their experience with the procedure but, overall, each claimed they were happy with the end result.

A controversial decision by NICE to limit the use of the anti-VEGF drug Lucentis in treating patients with wet AMD, is being reconsidered.

Tempted?

The World Economic Forum has selected 39 companies as Technology Pioneers for 2008 and NuLens is one of those honoured with this title.

With additional training, optometrists are at least as accurate as junior ophthalmologists in diagnosing glaucoma.