Articles

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has acquired two companies in a spending spree that has cost it approximately $828 million.

Contact lenses are a major risk factor for the development of fungal keratitis, according to a study published in the December 2006 issue of Eye and Contact Lens.

More prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of diurnal and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) function in glaucoma development and progression, according to Felipe A. Medeiros, MD, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of California at San Diego, USA, speaking at the glaucoma subspecialty session.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has voluntarily recalled certain lots of its 12 ounce COMPLETE MoisturePLUS multipurpose contact lens care solution and Active Packs, sold in the US.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has announced its acquisition of Wavefront Sciences and its planned purchase of IntraLase.

Happy New Year to you all. I'm sure, by now, the memories of Christmas have faded and the New Year's resolutions have already been broken but I do hope you used the holiday season to recharge your batteries, ready to face whatever 2007 may bring.

The surgeon does not change gloves in between cases but simply rinses with 0.5% chlorhexidine/70% isopropyl alcohol solution. Despite the simplicity of this, the rates of infection in Dr V hospitals is lower than US rates

Retinal cell transplants have successfully restored sight to blind mice, according to research published in a recent edition of Nature magazine.

The wavefront guided approach has certainly yielded the best outcomes in my practice; patient satisfaction rate is very high, while the retreatment rate is extremely low at 2.3%

Novartis has received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), recommending the European Union approval of its wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) agent, Lucentis (ranibizumab).

IntraLase has filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court for the State of California, US, against Carl Zeiss AG, its subsidiary Carl Zeiss Meditec and certain affiliates.

It's almost the end of the year. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer and the climate around the majority of countries in Europe is dipping to very unpleasant levels.

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the US National Institute for Health, is to fund a clinical trial comparing Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab).

In ophthalmology, particular emphasis is placed on clinical research and publications in order to gain entrance to higher specialist training. However, the length of time from submission of an article to a committee for review through to its publication, has often acted as a deterrent to many people who just want their voice to be heard As a result, concerns were raised that the length of time and administration costs of completing this process may result in a decrease in publications by junior doctors.1,2

Off-label intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (Avastin), for the treatment of neovascular and exudative ocular disease, appears to be safe, according to the results of an internet survey published in July issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

All successfully fitted patients reported immediate pain relief. The patients' subjective level of discomfort decreased and clarity of vision improved with children becoming more active and not resisting insertion of the eye drops

A better informed patient is a goal that all healthcare professionals strive for. Better informed patients are able to make better choices about their healthcare and give informed consent for a procedure.

Allergan has extended its strategic collaboration with ExonHit for the development and commercialization of drugs targeted at the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, pain and ophthalmology.

"Communication" is defined as the exchange of information between individuals, for example, by means of speaking, writing or using a common system of signs or behaviour.

The Swiss authorities have approved Lucentis (ranibizumab) as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), making Switzerland the first European country to do so.

Inyx, a pharmaceutical company focused on drug delivery technologies and products has acquired six eye care products from Advanced Medical Optics (AMO). Consequently, it has assigned all business and marketing rights of the products to its wholly-owned marketing subsidiary, Exaeris.

Clear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs are new risk factors in post-cataract surgery endophthalimitis, Peter Barry revealed in the first presentation of the full ESCRS endophthalmitis study results.

This month we are celebrating our first birthday. This time last year we launched the first issue of Ophthalmology Times Europe. I cannot believe it's come round so quickly. Although, when I reflect on how much has been achieved in such a short space of time, I suppose it's surprising that it has only been a year.

Researchers from the US based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a report explaining the causes behind the well-publicised dramatic rise of fungal eye infections among Americans.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS), hailed to be the next big development in cataract surgery, has not had the expected impact on surgeon's practice, David Leaming revealed, whilst detailing the results of his most recent survey on cataract surgery practice in Europe and the US.

Bausch & Lomb has introduced a stable chamber tubing system, as a part of the new micro incision vacuum pack, to its Millennium Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (MICS) platform.

The new *Acri.Lisa (*Acri.Tec) bifocal, acrylic IOL provides very good distance and near visual acuity and sufficient intermediate visual acuity, said Ulrich Mester. Pseudoaccommodation range is 5.5 D and it also offers improved contrast sensitivity. He noted, however, that halos are still present with the lens.

Wavelight has announced the receipt of two regulatory approvals for its intraocular lenses (IOLs), thus expanding its intraocular product range.

According to Oliver Findl, it is becoming increasingly important to use a wider variety of parameters to assess visual quality after cataract surgery in order to gain a better understanding of patient's day-to-day experiences.

Levofloxacin 0.5% eye drops should be the first choice for antibacterial prophylaxis and treatment, according to Professor P. Asbell of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA.