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OCT a good AMD screening tool

In December 2006, the Swiss city of Geneva played host to the very first European glaucoma resident's course, designed for ophthalmic residents seeking the necessary skills for the diagnosis and therapy of glaucoma.

Welcome to this, the glaucoma special issue of Ophthalmology Times Europe. This month we aim to give you a taste of events from the International Glaucoma Society meeting, which was held in Athens in March. If you were not able to make it, we hope this section will allow you to feel as though you did not miss out on some of the important presentations.

Athens played host to the sixth annual International Glaucoma Society (IGS) congress, which ran from 28-31 March. Attended by more than 2,650 participants from around the world, the meeting earned the title of the most attended international glaucoma meeting ever held.

Bausch & Lomb has received new technology intraocular lens (NTIOL) status for the regular and violet-filtering models of its SofPort Advanced Optics intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Optometrists display a good ability to correctly identify and manage patients in busy accident and emergency (A&E) departments, according to a report published in the April issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

The growing popularity of LASIK and other new innovations in refractive surgery is set to push sales in the global market from $1.3 billion in 2006 to an estimated $4.5 billion in 2009, according to market research firm Kalorama Information.

The FDA has denied Eli Lilly's appeal of the agency's ruling requiring it to conduct an additional three-year study of ruboxistaurin mesylate (Arxxant) before it can be approved for treating diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has completed its acquisition of IntraLase Corp.

The growing popularity of LASIK and other new innovations in refractive surgery is set to push sales in the global market from $1.3 billion in 2006 to an estimated $4.5 billion in 2009, according to market research firm Kalorama Information.

Potentia Pharmaceuticals has announced that it is entering the clinical phase of development for POT-4, its lead drug candidate for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The Ziemer group is to assume all worldwide marketing, sales and support duties for AMO's Amadeus II automated microkeratome.

Digital imaging technology, used during primary care visits, can significantly improve screening rates for diabetic retinopathy, according to a report published in the March issue of Diabetes Care.

Non-infectious endophthalmitis is observed more frequently after injections of triamcinolone acetonide that contain preservatives (PTA) than after injections of preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide (PFTA), according to a study published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Azithromycin is just as effective and safe as tobramycin for the treatment of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis, according to a report published in the April issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

A study published in the March issue of Ophthalmology, has found that many young and middle-aged people of Chinese ancestry who are told they have glaucoma may actually be misdiagnosed. These patients who do not show disease progression may, in fact, have glaucoma-like symptoms caused by myopia.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare have announced positive preliminary data from a Phase II randomized study of the VEGF Trap-Eye treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Low-vision rehabilitation can lead to significant improvements in overall quality of life, according to study published in the April issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

Novagali Pharma has reported positive results from a Phase III clinical study investigating the use of its drug candidate, Vekacia, as a treatment for paediatric Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Statins may have protective effects on the development of both cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a report published in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Patients undergoing LASIK procedures experience an increase in halos around lights in night vision conditions, according to a study published in the April issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Bausch & Lomb has received new technology intraocular lens (NTIOL) status for the regular and violet-filtering models of its SofPort Advanced Optics intraocular lenses (IOLs).

A single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab can aid short-term improvement in visual acuity (VA) and decrease optimal coherence tomography (OCT) retinal thickness in patients with uveitic cystoid macular oedema (CME), according to a recent study published in the March issue of Opthalmology.

Acuity Pharmaceuticals, Froptix and eXegenics have executed a merger agreement that will bring the three companies together as one, to be called Opko Corporation.

An increased level of white blood cells can predict the risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to findings published recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) 0.5% and 1% offers at least equivalent relief from dry eye symptoms as hyaluronic acid (HA), according to a study published online by BMC Ophthalmology in March.

In persistent macular oedema, a single dexamethasone drug delivery system (DDS) treatment can significantly improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Pfizer has initiated the first in a series of planned clinical trials for PF-03187207, a new experimental medicine for the treatment of glaucoma.

Optometrists display a good ability to correctly identify and manage patients in busy accident and emergency (A&E) departments, according to a report published in the April issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

pSivida has signed a $165 million collaborative research and licensing agreement with Pfizer for its controlled drug delivery technologies in ophthalmic applications.