Articles

Research claims that imaging devices can effectively support ophthalmologists with glaucoma diagnosis

)? Oraya Therapeutics, Inc., announced today that enrollment is now underway for the first ever masked and sham-controlled study to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of radiation therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The groundbreaking clinical trial is being conducted at seven European sites, and will include a minimum of 150 patients, with approximately one third of those receiving a sham exposure and the remainder receiving radiation dosing of either 16 or 24 Gray (GY).

Heidelberg Engineering has launched an informative microsite about BluePeak blue laser autofluorescence.

Combination bevacizumab and 25?J/cm2 or 12?J/cm2 PDT significantly reduced the number of bevacizumab treatments required over six months. This study aimed at examining number of treatments, but not visual acuities. However, visual acuities responded favourably in all three groups.

The full scientific programme for the March Congress is now available.

Novartis is to exercise its option to purchase the remaining shares in Alcon, Inc., owned by Nestle S.A. at a weighted average price of US$180 per share in cash following the agreement between Nestle and Novartis in April 2008.

A 13-year-old boy was referred because of visual deterioration in his right eye. The visual acuity was two metres of counting fingers. Indirect ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy revealed exudative macular oedema as well as tumour-like telangiectatic vessels and exudation in temporal periphery.

In this article R.V. Agrawal et al., assist ophthalmologists in accurately diagnosing anterior uveitis.

A recent study, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology found that injections of a corticosteroid, triamcinolone directly into the eye may slow progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR).

A comparative evaluation of local anaesthesia for cataract surgery, published in The Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery says that randomized clinical trials are needed to facilitate statistical methods of metaanalysis to establish convincingly the overall benefits and efficacy of the various local anesthesia procedures in cataract surgery.

The President of the Macular Disease Society (MDS), Gwyneth Dickinson, has been awarded the MBE in the UK's New Year's Honours. Mrs Dickinson, a former nurse, is honoured for her voluntary work as a trustee, Chairman and now President of the Society.

Crystalens AO is the first aberration-free accommodating IOL

Alcon acquires Optinol and enters glaucoma surgical market.

Ophthalmic surgeon Bobby Qureshi is the first in the UK to implant light-adjustable lenses (LALs), which have the capacity to be altered after surgery to provide the best vision for each individual eye without glasses.

Northeastern University engineering professor Jeffrey Ruberti and his research colleagues are breaking new ground in the technique known as "hybrid tissue engineering" by attempting to combine cow tissue with human tissue to produce corneas for human transplant.

Rayner Intraocular Lens Limited, has marked a milestone with a celebration to honour the 60th anniversary of the implantation of the first intraocular lens (IOL) in a patient. The late Sir Harold Ridley implanted the first IOL on 29 November 1949 at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Due to the controversial nature of the surgery, this first surgery was conducted in almost total secrecy.

Fight for Sight has announced £500,000 funding for a new research programme to develop an optimal model of care services for patients with inherited retinal diseases. The five-year programme will be led by Professor Graeme Black, Director of the National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, supported by Professor Tony Moore of Moorfields Eye Hospital and Miss Susie Downes of Oxford Eye Hospital.

Findings published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology have found that intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) combined with panretinal photocoagulation in patients with open angle neovascular glaucoma (NVG) can reduce iris and angle neovascularization and temporarily inhibit further PAS formation.

In the December issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology Brandeis University researchers published a paper about the highly precise scleral lens, to treat severe cornea or ocular surface disease, the Boston Ocular Surface Prosthesis (BOS-P).

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has announced that Saflutan (tafluprost) has been accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Advanced Cell Technology has filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase I/II multicenter study using embryonic-stem-cell-derived retinal cells to treat patients with Stargardt?s Macular Dystrophy (SMD).

A study into the process of retinal cell death could hold the key to stopping a variety of eye diseases that cause blindness, according to a report from a team of researchers from the Yale School of Medicine reported in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Poor communication is leading to a high number of mistakes in ophthalmic surgeries, according to a study published in the November issue of Archives of Surgery.

NeoVista has announced that treatment for neovascular AMD using the company?s VIDON ANV Therapy System has begun in Europe. The new system replaces the current course of eye injections with a surgical vitrectomy and a single dose of beta radiation.

Oertli?s new surgical platform Faros, has received its CE mark after meeting EU consumer safety, health or environmental requirements. This important step for the platform keeps it on schedule for an expected March 2010 release.

The IOPtiMate laser-based system, from the Bio-Light Group, used for the non-invasive filtration treatment of glaucoma has received European Patent Office approval.

The NAVILAS laser system, as reported on in the OTE Digest back in May this year ( What is Retinal Navigation? ) has been given FDA approval.

Lumenis is to undertake a clinical study into the efficacy of selective retina therapy (SRT) in diabetic macular oedema (DME).

Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. unveiled the latest version of its diagnostic ultrasound system (Eye Cubed) at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Adrienne Graves, CEO of Santen Inc., has been appointed to the Glaucoma Research Foundation?s board of directors.