Articles

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be a useful indicator for predicting death from stroke or cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online ahead of print by the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Novartis is to purchase 25% of Alcon from majority stakeholder Nestlé, with an option to purchase Nestlé's remaining shares, which currently amount to approximately 52% of Alcon.

A new study assessing the quality of life after LASIK is to be conducted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the FDA and the National Eye Institute, it was announced at this year's ASCRS meeting in Chicago, US.

A clinical trial of Xibrom (bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) has demonstrated equivalence of end-point achievement between the 0.18% and the 0.09% formulations, according to topline results published by ISTA Pharmaceuticals.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) rises significantly and rapidly in eyes that have received an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA), according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Ophthalmology.

Which is better at detecting glaucomatous progression: the physician's judgment, based on skills such as interpreting optic disk photographs, or new technologies?

Nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery has little potential to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) values, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Ophthalmology.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering drugs are more effective in eyes with low central corneal thickness (CCT) than those with high CCT, according to a study published in the March issue of Journal of Glaucoma.

NeoVista Inc?s epiretinal brachytherapy for wet AMD in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) has been shown to improve mean visual acuity (VA) in patients, with adverse events restricted to vitrectomy-related problems and not to radiation toxicity, according to results of a Phase II trial presented at the 31st Annual Macula Society Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, US.

Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) is to be made available to all patients of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales, according to a report from the BBC. The final appraisal document (FAD) has been published ahead of final guidance, expected in June 2008.

A low rate of endophthalmitis can be achieved after intravitreal triamcinolone injection without the use of antibiotic prophylaxis on the pretreatment days, said Abdhish R. Bhavsar, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Following designation of New Technology Intraocular Lens (NTIOL) status by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), AMO has introduced the Tecnis 1-Piece IOL to the US market.

Swiss researchers have identified the defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for childhood cataract by assessing family members who suffered from autosomal dominant juvenile cataract, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

PresbyLASIK or multifocal IOL implantation yield superior visual outcomes in patients with presbyopia, improving both near and distance vision, as opposed to accommodative IOL implantation, which improves distance vision only, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Refractive Surgery.

Prophylactic treatment with dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination is more effective than brimonidine in reducing IOP after phacoemulsification surgery, claims a study published in the January issue of Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice.

QLT Inc. has begun patient recruitment into its "CORE" study, a Phase II randomized, masked, parallel-group study of safety and preliminary efficacy of a punctal plug drug delivery system in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH).

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS), which began 20 years ago, was a landmark trial that produced important findings on surgical interventions and the role of IOP in progression.

The increasing use of prostaglandin analogues in Scotland has led to an increase in prescribing rates and a rapid increase in cost, whilst prescribing of beta-blockers has declined and trabeculectomy rates have fallen, according to a study published in the February 2008 issue of Eye.

The risk of glaucoma after refractive surgery procedures should not be underestimated, claims José Belda, MD, speaking at the Alicante Refractiva International meeting, held March 6–8 in Spain.

Injection-related complications such as infectious endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataract may occur with a frequency of about 0.15% after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or triamcinolone, independently of the drug injected, according to a study published in the February issue of Eye.

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.

The loss of confidence in bimanual microincision surgery over the years has caused many surgeons to seek an alternative approach that balances the advantages of minimally invasive cataract surgery with the safety of a sleeved tip. The hunt is also still on for a multifocal lens that offers good vision across all distances, coupled with a low incidence of side effects.

Modern cataract surgery requires the implantation of a lens with design features that ensure stability, excellent biocompatibility and minimal posterior capsule opacification (PCO), using an injector which is safe and predictable, through an incision that is as small as possible. Is this possible without compromising standards? I would argue that it is.

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.