Cataract & Refractive

Highlights from the ASCRS meeting, held 4–8 April 2008, Chicago, US.

Early experience from a pilot study shows that spherocylindrical error after cataract surgery can be corrected with a proprietary light-adjustable lens (LAL; Calhoun Vision) to improve uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), said Arturo S. Chayet, MD.

A new lubricating eye drop (blink Tears, Advanced Medical Optics) with the active ingredient polyethylene glycol is designed to provide a balance between viscosity and retention without sacrificing a patient's visual quality. It can help optimize the ocular surface before and after refractive surgery, aiding postoperative visual outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Refractive surgeons should be aware of the possibility that a surgical marker pen (Codman; Johnson & Johnson) could be a cause of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) after LASIK, said Wei-Han Chua, MD.

Canaloplasty with tensioning suture placement is growing in popularity owing to a combination of factors, including a successful training programme, an improved reimbursement picture, and favourable long-term data, said Richard A. Lewis, MD.

An aspheric IOL may be considered the implant design of choice for most patients with glaucoma who require cataract surgery, said Richard L. Lindstrom, MD.

The injection of DNA into the optic nerve resulted in light perception vision in patients with no light perception and very low vision, according to Sunita Agarwal, MD.

The intraocular position of different models of phakic IOLs show differences in space to the crystalline lens and the corneal endothelium, which may affect long-term results in terms of IOL interaction with surrounding tissue, according to a study published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

A Phase I study testing safety and tolerability of a new non-invasive drug delivery system, the EyeGate II Ocular Drug Delivery System (EyeGate Pharma), has been launched.

The increased level of ultraviolet (UV) rays in the Earth's atmosphere due to the depleted ozone layer is increasing the risk of cataract-induced blindness, according to a spokesman from the Fred Hollows Foundation.

The Akreos AO microincision lens (model MI60; Bausch and Lomb) and the Amaris excimer laser (Schwind) have been named amongst 33 winners at the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA).

Cases of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) encompass a wide spectrum of severity, so it is important for surgeons to master several different strategies to increase the likelihood of achieving a safe outcome in these eyes.

A surgical microscope designed specifically for cataract and anterior segment surgery - the OMS-710 Operation Microscope - has been launched by Topcon Medical Systems, Inc.

Cationorm, a cationic emulsion to treat dry eye, has been launched in France by Novagali Pharma.

As the Asian eyecare market begins to explode, Alcon is preparing to be close to the action by adding a manufacturing plant in Singapore.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) intraocular lenses (IOLs) provide better patient outcomes, which are more like refractive surgery in terms of reduced postoperative astigmatism and minimal induced aberrations, according to a French study.

Clopidogrel and warfarin are associated with a significant increase in minor complications of sharp needle and subtenon?s cannula local anaesthesia but are not associated with sight-threatening complications, according to a study published online ahead of print by Eye.

Microincisional bimanual phacoemulsification and non-penetrating glaucoma surgery appears to be a safe option for patients with glaucoma and co-existing cataract, according to a Turkish study.