UK pilot cataract surgery audit yields interesting findings
September 12th 2006A large survey has recently been piloted in the UK to demonstrate the use and benefits of electronic data collection with respect to rapidly monitoring the access, delivery and outcome of cataract surgery in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and to update benchmark standards for these parameters of care.
Foldable toric IOL safe and effective in high astigmatism
September 12th 2006According to Omid Kermani from the Augenabteilung der PAN-Klinik am Neumarkt, Köln, Germany, and colleagues, the implantation of a foldable toric intraocular lens (IOL) is a safe and predictable procedure for the correction of high pre-existing corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery.
Visual acuity a multifactorial metric
September 12th 2006Although image quality has a clear influence on visual acuity, it does not account for all the individual variability of other factors that must be involved including, measurement errors, or wavefront, optical or neural factors, Raymond Applegate said.
Three femtosecond laser comparisons: IntraLase FS30 comes out on top
September 11th 2006The IntraLase femtosecond FS30 laser creates a more predictable and more stable flap thickness than the Hansatome XP microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb) and the IntraLase femtosecond FS2 laser, according to research conducted by Baha Toygar and colleagues from Turkey.
Endophthalmitis: prevention better than cure
September 11th 2006According to Zdenek Gregor of Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, prevention of endophthalmitis will always be preferable to a cure. While the use of preoperative povidone iodine has managed to decrease the incidence of the infection, the hope is that per-operative intracameral antibiotics will further fuel a decrease in incidence of this worrying consequence of cataract surgery.
Monofocal, multifocal or accommodative IOL: which is best?
September 11th 2006Among the different IOL options for presbyopia, monofocals are probably by far the most practically used ones said Thomas Neuhann. He added that competing options must be able to beat an already high level of success and patient satisfaction.
Safe capsule bag cleaning with a new micro coaxial tip
September 11th 2006Khiun Tjia of the Netherlands believes that the new micro coaxial Aqualase tip (Alcon) is a promising tool for safe capsular bag cleaning and that treatment of the equatorial region using the tip could reduce posterior capsule opacification (PCO).
Pressure instability could explain pumping phenomena in cataract surgery
September 11th 2006Instability in the pressure line could explain the pumping phenomena sometimes reported during cataract surgery, according to Carlos Verges, Jorge Cazal and Cosme Lavin of the Department of Ophthalmology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.
Cefuroxime combats endophthalmitis
September 11th 2006It is possible to achieve a lower rate of endophthalmitis with a single injection of cefuroxime at the conclusion of cataract surgery than by using the more traditional subconjunctival/topical regimens, according to Per Montan of the St Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
RLE indicated on case-by-case basis
September 11th 2006Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is not reversible so doctors need to apply their surgical wisdom to identify the most appropriate cases, Jorge Alió of the Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Spain said. Often indications are based on the simplicity of the procedure but that doesn't always balance well with the best patient benefit.
SLT effective as both a primary and secondary treatment for glaucoma
September 11th 2006Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is effective as both a primary and a secondary treatment for patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to the results of two studies presented at the Ellex symposium.
Two eyes, two lasers, same patient: Schwind's ESIRIS versus Wavelight's 400Q
September 11th 2006Schwind's ESIRIS and Wavelight's 400Q laser systems are equally efficacious in correcting refractive error, according to a study presented by Yannis Aslanides, MD of the Emmetropia Mediterranean Eye Clinic in Crete, Greece.
Extra care essential for cataract with ocular surface disease
September 10th 2006Great care and detailed assessment are essential for cataract extractions where another ocular surface disease (OSD) is present, Thomas Neuhann said. Diseases range from dry eye, conjuntivalisation, irregular surfaces and corneal scars.
ReSTOR IOL good in post LASIK cataract patients
September 10th 2006The use of the ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon) for patients requiring cataract surgery after prior laser photoablation can result in excellent outcomes if optical results fall near emmetropia, according to Samuel Masket of the USA.
Intraoperative online pachymetry important safety feature
September 10th 2006An initial clinical evaluation of the new ESIRIS excimer laser with integrated, online, optical coherence pachymetry (Schwind), showed that constant corneal monitoring is an important safety feature for LASIK procedures, Kumar J. Doctor said.