Articles

Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) has been approved for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Japan, Novartis has announced.

GlaucomaCheck, an online visual field test allowing for clinical grade at-home glaucoma screening, has been launched by VisionRx.

Former US President Jimmy Carter has dedicated a statue representing the "Gift of Sight" to the Lions Clubs International in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The Vision Care for Kids Bill of 2009, legislation to provide vision care to children without health insurance, has been introduced in the US after being approved both by the Senate and by the House of Representatives.

A team in the Philippines has defined criteria that need to be met in order to obtain an optimum tissue quality for corneal grafts.

ASP-440 - a protease, developed by ActiveSite Pharmaceuticals and an inhibitor of plase kallikrein - may provide an effective therapeutic treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to study results published in the February 2009 issue of Hypertension.

Iplex (mecasermin rinfabate), a complex of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I) and its predominant binding protein IGFBP-3 (rhIGFBP-3) developed for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), has been granted orphan drug designation by the EMEA, according to a statement from Iplex developers Insmed Inc and Premacure AB.

Phacoemulsification can increase visual acuity in uveitis patients, concluded a study published in the January issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

The Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) has been approved by the FDA, according to an announcement made by AMO, the manufacturer of the lens.

MacuCLEAR and Mystic Pharmaceuticals are to collaborate on MacuCLEAR's upcoming Phase I/II trials of MC 1101 for the treatment and prevention of progression of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The FDA has accepted for review a New Drug Application for Bepreve (bepotastine ophthalmic solution; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

The use of mobile telephones does not increase the risk of uveal melanoma, according to a study published online ahead of print by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

International Stem Cell Corporation has begun preclinical testing of a stem cell treatment for retinal disease including macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

A clinical trial assessing glaucoma treatment compliance of patients using text and telephone messaging technology has been launched by the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, US.

Use of warfarin or clopidogrel is associated with a significant increase in non-sight-threatening complications during cataract surgery, concluded a study published in the January issue of Eye.

"The Big Eye Test", a programme to provide privately-funded eye examinations to the general public, has been launched in the UK.

The Investigational New Drug (IND) application for NVC-422, a molecule under investigation by NovaBay Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of eye infections, has been cleared by the FDA, triggering a development milestone payment from Alcon to NovaBay of $1 million.

A great variety of fungal agents may cause endophthalmitis, and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, according to a study published in the November/December 2008 issue of Retina.

The Phase III trial of microplasmin for the treatment of back of the eye disease has been initiated, according to a statement from ThromboGenics NV, the developer of microplasmin.

The level of various inflammatory factors in the vitreous fluid is a significant factor in the severity of diabetic macular oedema (DME), according to study results published in the January issue of Ophthalmology.

As of March 31st this year, Cary Rayment will retire as president and chief executive officer of Alcon, Inc; he will be replaced on April 1st by Kevin Buehler.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has been acquired by Abbott, a global pharmaceutical and medical device company, the companies have announced in a statement.

Both selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and latanoprost are effective at controlling the level and fluctuation of intraocular pressure (IOP), according to a study published online ahead of print by the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Fixation stability influences the visual outcome following macular hole surgery, according to study results published in the January issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

Cell apoptosis caused by free-radical formation during phacoemulsification can be mediated by the introduction of ascorbic acid, according to a study published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Penetrating deep sclerectomy (combining deep sclerectomy with trabeculectomy) delivers promising intermediate results in the treatment of paediatric glaucoma, according to the conclusions of a study published in the January issue of Ophthalmology.

Most candidates for cataract surgery have a degree of corneal astigmatism, which should be considered by intraocular lens (IOL) manufacturers, concluded a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

It is difficult to determine whether or not cataract surgery is being used more frequently in the UK than is necessary, according to study results published in the January 2009 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

A long-term course of injections of botulinum toxin ("Botox") offers a viable treatment for complicated strabismus, according to study results published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Optic or haptic damage has previously accounted for over 14% of intraoperative foldable lens explantations. However, an increasing focus on operating procedure standardization and strict guidelines regarding the reuse of materials have led to a rising trend in the use of disposable materials.