Articles

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.

Compensation of cyclotorsion using iris registration can be helpful in decreasing misalignment of the axis of correction and in improving the overall outcome of LASIK, according to a study to be published in the April 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Cardiovascular mortality tends to increase in black persons with diagnosed and treated open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OH), and the risk of death and cardiovascular mortality are increased further in those patients treated with timolol, according to a paper published in the March 11, 2008 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) provides a more accurate measure of glaucomatous visual field loss and intraocular pressure (IOP) when compared with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Glaucoma.

It is more cost-effective to perform routine tonometry in all initial ophthalmic patients than in none at all or in just high-risk glaucoma patients, according to a paper published in the March 2008 issue of Eye.

A protein, called Robo4, has been identified which appears to play an important role in the development of stable, working blood vessels.

The incidence of endophthalmitis following injections of anti-VEGF drugs is lower when the injections are given in an office setting than the rates reported from clinical trials, which require a more extensive pre-injection regimen.

According to a presentation at the All India Ophthalmological Society meeting, when used appropriately, bevacizumab can produce remarkable results in children with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Preoperative tear volume may affect recovery of the ocular surface after LASIK and could increase the risk for chronic dry eye.

Topical levofloxacin penetrates better than ofloxcin or ciprofloxacin into the aqueous of eyes with functioning filtering blebs.