Articles

Nanotherapy for AMD

The use of green gold nanoparticles may have a place in the therapy of cancer and ophthalmic diseases, according to a study presented at this year's meeting of the Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Attend the Heidelberg symposium, Next Generation Retinal Imaging: Multi-Modality Tracking Laser Tomography, at the 8th Euretina meeting in Vienna

The incidence of suspected endophthalmitis in patients who have received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatments in a community setting is very low, according to a study published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Diabetes-induced changes to 37 separate proteins of the vitreous may be the key to understanding the mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a study to be published in the June issue of the Journal of Proteome Research.

Clinical doses of Avastin (bevacizumab; Genentech) and Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) are equally effective in neutralizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while Macugen (pegaptanib; Pfizer) has no effect, according to a study published online ahead of print by the Journal of Investigative Ophthalmology.

Diagnoses using digital slit-lamp images are comparable to diagnoses using 35 mm photographic slides for some anterior segment abnormalities, according to a study published online ahead of print in Eye.

The incidence of capsular block syndrome (CBS), although rare, can be increased by design features of lenses implanted during cataract surgery, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Patients with a positive family history of glaucoma are 10 times as likely to have visual field (VF) defects at the time of their diagnosis, according to a study published in the April issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, the official Journal of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

Taflotan (tafluprost; Santen Oy), a benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-free prostaglandin analogue for the treatment of glaucoma, has received marketing authorization in Denmark and Germany, making it the first preservative-free prostaglandin eye drop to be approved.

The World Glaucoma Day inspired glaucoma specialists around the world to rally local support in order to undertake an enormous task: to reduce the number of people who are unnecessarily going blind from a treatable condition.

QLT Plug Delivery, Inc. has demonstrated proof of concept of its punctal plug drug delivery technology, showing that it is both well tolerated and effective at lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).

Vidus Ocular, Inc, the developer of the Aquashunt device for glaucoma, has been acquired by OPKO Health, Inc.

The European Commission and the European Patent Office (EPO) have named Optos plc as European Inventor of the Year in the SME and Research category.

VIEW 2, a Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of VEGF Trap (afilbercept; Regeneron) versus Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) administered by intravitreal injection for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), has dosed its first patient.

A pilot study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Medidur FA (fluocinolone acetonide; Alimera) with Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) against exudative age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) has begun patient enrolment.

A hybrid contact lens designed for eyes that have suffered corneal trauma or undergone either refractive surgery or penetrating keratoplasty has been launched by SynergEyes Inc, US. The SynergEyes PS lens can also be used in eyes with degenerative corneal conditions.

Three separate studies on eye health examine the role of antioxidant supplements, the relationship of visual acuity and mortality, and the causes of glaucoma in the May 2008 issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Gene therapy has been used successfully to improve visual function in a patient with a genetic disorder of the retina, Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), as reported in a study published online ahead of print by the New England Journal of Medicine.

VEGF Trap (Regeneron) maintains a significant improvement in the visual acuity of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) patients up to 32 weeks, according to a study presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Xibrom (bromfenac 0.09 mg ophthalmic solution; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) significantly improves visual acuity outcomes and lowers retreatment rates when administered as an adjuvant to Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients, when compared with Lucentis monotherapy, according to a poster presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).