Cataract & Refractive

"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.

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.

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.

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.

Besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6% (Bausch & Lomb) has been recommended by the FDA for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Rolf Schwind, CEO of Schwind Eye Tech Solutions, has been presented with the Gusi Peace Prize 2008 in a ceremony held on November 24th in Manila, the Philippines.

Xibrom (bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution) 0.09% (ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) achieved the primary endpoint of its Phase III trial: absence of ocular inflammation 15 days postoperatively.

The BD range of Atomic Edge Limbal Relaxing Incision (LRI) knives for surgical correction of astigmatism has been launched by BD Medical. The knives, which feature a retractable safety shield, use single-crystal silicon, offering high performance at low cost.

Biaxial microincision cataract surgery (B-MICS) is more successful than traditional cataract surgery in improving optical performance and reducing higher order aberrations, according to study results published in the December issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Paediatric strabismus, particularly exotropia, increases the likelihood of psychiatric disease in later life, according to study results published in the November issue of Pediatrics.

I do not believe that safe and effective SBK can be performed with a microkeratome.

There are those who say that blue or violet light actually benefits the eye. If this is true, we must have evolved really badly.

Claiming that blue light is harmful and should be blocked is nothing more than a marketing ploy backed by absurd arguments.

Whether the stromal flap is thin or thick is irrelevant; it will never heal fully.

HOYA Surgical Optics has been distributing IOLs to ophthalmic surgeons in Europe since 2003. The name HOYA, however, represents more than just IOLs; the firm has a long tradition in high tech optics…

STAAR Surgical has created the Collamer Accommodating Study Team (CAST), a group of seven ophthalmologists who will investigate the accommodative properties of STAAR's Collamer intraocular lens (IOL).

The Phase IIb trial assessing the safety and efficacy of microplasmin in patients, showed complete resolution of vitreomacular traction or macular hole without need for vitrectomy surgery, according to a statement from the trial sponsor, ThromboGenics NV.

Contact anaesthesia is just as safe and effective as peribulbar application for combined cataract and glaucoma surgery, according to study results published online ahead of print by Ophthalmologica.

The Lamellar Corneal Surgery Module (LCS Module), with a hand-piece that can cut depths of 250?450 µm, has been released by Ziemer Group.

Following limited reports of adverse events encountered by US physicians using a particular batch of Healon D viscoelastic, AMO has recalled the remaining products in the batch.

CataractSurgery.com, an online resource for patient education, has been launched by Alcon, Inc.

The Premium Experience Network (PEN), a membership programme designed to enhance the professional competitiveness of refractive surgeons? practices, has been launched by Shareef Mahdavi of SM2 Strategic.

The TearLab Osmolarity System and Osmolarity Test Card have been submitted to the FDA for premarket authorization in the US, according to an announcement from the manufacturer of TearLab, Occulogix.

Sensitivity analysis could determine the rate of human error in strabismus surgery and reduce the need for repeated operations, according to results published online ahead of print by Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.