Articles

Reichert has received 510k clearance from the FDA to market the Reichert-Optopol Spectral Optical Coherence Tomographer (SOCT) in the US.

Sirion Therapeutics has entered into an exclusive agreement with Bridge Pharma for the worldwide rights to develop and market topical ophthalmic formulations containing Bridge's proprietary anti-inflammatory agent norketotifen.

Clinicians have an array of techniques and devices available to them for assessing progression of glaucoma, and more are under development. Such tools rely on either subjective or objective measurements, with the latter generally providing more reliable results. Frequent, long-term follow-up with one or more of those approaches will increase the likelihood of detecting progression early.

Alcon has announced positive efficacy and safety results from its second controlled proof of concept clinical study of anecortave acetate administered as an anterior juxtascleral depot in the sub-Tenon's space to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

It is recommended that all babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) be screened at 12 months to identify amblyogenic factors such as squint and refractive error.

Preliminary results of a study using the NSAID Xibrom (bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09%; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) therapy in combination with Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), suggests that it may result in fewer injections being required.

DLK post FS LASIK

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) occurs more frequently after LASIK performed with the IntraLase 15 kHz femtosecond laser than after LASIK performed with the Moria M2 microkeratome.

Incision sizes needed to remove cataracts have been significantly reduced by new technology, such as the vision enhancement system (Stellaris; Bausch & Lomb) which allows surgeons to make two 1.8 mm cuts on either side of the eye.

According to an article in UK newspaper The Sunday Times, blind children in the UK are being taught to "see" by using the same method used by bats, dolphins, and whales: clicking their tongues.

When the amount of optic nerve damage is taken into account, there is little difference in the optic disc topography of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and those with primary angle-closure glaucoma.

A study published in the January issue of Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, has found that the high proportion of corneal infections linked to contact lens solutions are fuelled and made resistant to treatment by the formation of a highly resistant structure of microbial cells held together with a glue-like matrix material, called biofilms.

Telemedicine benefits

Using a telemedicine system to assist ophthalmologists in developing countries with the diagnosis and management of various ophthalmic conditions can be successful.