Cataract & Refractive

Cataract surgeons agree that proper incision construction is paramount for achieving good postoperative stability that will reduce the risk for endophthalmitis. The safety of the clear cornea incision technique versus use of other incision types remains controversial, however.

As a modern ophthalmic surgeon, I feel a reading test for clinical practice must be highly standardized, accurate, easy and quick to perform, whilst also offering the opportunity to perform research.

New developments in diagnostic technology should enable better screening and follow-up of refractive surgery patients, said Dan Z. Reinstein, MD, delivering a keynote address during the refractive surgery subspecialty day preceding the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in November 2007.

The anti-inflammatory nepafenac 0.1% is more comfortable and at least as efficacious as ketorolac 0.5% in the prevention and treatment of postoperative ocular pain and inflammation.

Femtosecond lasers create highly reproducible flaps that correspond with preoperative intended thickness.

With regards to maintaining corneal biomechanics, sub-Bowman's keratomileusis (SBK) and advanced surface ablation (ASA) are improvements over conventional LASIK.

Elliptical excimer laser penetrating keratoplasty (EELPK) is an effective method of improving visual acuity.

Poor traffic gap judgement in patients with peripheral field loss (PFL) raises important safety concerns for their safety when crossing the road.

Patients who undergo LASIK may have an increased risk of developing depression, according to reports from the US.

LASIK in 2007 represents a wonderful world that can provide excellent efficacy, safety, and stability.

Surgically induced refractive errors can compromise vision following penetrating keratoplasty.

A new cataract gene's location and defect in the coding region was discovered.

Medically well-controlled glaucoma patients and patients with exfoliation syndrome may experience intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation shortly after cataract surgery. This can be controlled by the instillation of timolol maleate 0.5%.

Sub-Bowman's keratomileusis (SBK) is associated with a low complication rate.

The use of intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) is not warranted as a routine adjunctive treatment in postoperative endophthalmitis.

People who are dissatisfied with the results of LASIK are more likely to be referred to a cornea service by their doctor than by their LASIK surgeon.

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs often are administered for off-label purposes to patients who are undergoing cataract surgery, but surgeons should consider the cost, the risks, and the evidence available to support such use.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) does not degrade the optical quality of the cornea or induce a modification in corneal astigmatism.

LASIK for myopia over -10 D is both safe and effective in the long-term.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is an effective long-term treatment for near-plano presbyopia.

The US ophthalmic market will embrace the use of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) rapidly, whereas less flexible reimbursement programmes in Europe and Japan will delay their adoption in those markets.

Bausch & Lomb has entered into an agreement to purchase eyeonics, the maker of the Crystalens accommodating IOL.

By 2012 the market for optical coherence tomography (OCT) is predicted to hit the $800 million mark.

Performing cataract surgery using a fluid-based method of phacoemulsification results in less corneal endothelial cell loss compared with conventional ultrasound phacoemulsification.

A company in the US, Chakshu Research, claims that it has developed an eye drop that can remove cataracts and restore vision.

The pros and cons of surface ablation procedures were reviewed at the opening session of the refractive surgery subspecialty day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

In our experience so far, PML is a very successful procedure that has been well-accepted by patients and is in high demand at our centre. Currently, about 50% of our patients are PML candidates

An overall spectacle independence of 90% was achieved, however, I have found that some patients do still require glasses when using a computer for intermediate vision

PresbyLASIK treatment uses the principles of LASIK surgery to create a multifocal corneal surface aimed at reducing near vision spectacle dependence in presbyopic patients. This treatment constitutes the next step in the correction of presbyopia after monovision LASIK.1-3 Among the presbyLASIK techniques, central presbyLASIK 4 creates a central area, which is hyperpositive for near vision leaving the midperipheral cornea for far vision. 5 Positive clinical results of this surgical technique have been recently reported 4 and also tested objectively with a light propagation algorithm. 6

The development of the excimer laser has allowed more and more refractive surgical procedures to be developed, treating ever-expanding indications. As such, LASIK remains the most popular procedure for surgeons seeking to correct myopia. But what about hyperopia, which is traditionally thought to be more difficult to treat?