Inflammation & Infection

The findings of a new study will enable clinicians to make more accurate diagnoses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and uveitis while giving people a better understanding of their prognoses, according to its authors.

Patients with moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may benefit from topical loteprednol etabonate and eyelid scrubs with warm compresses, according to researchers in South Korea.

The duration and pattern of action of pain-suppressing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used prior to photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) varies with the NSAID used, according to South Korean researchers.

In this article, the author discusses a recent study determining the frequency of 'Floppy eyelid' syndrome among patients of an active working age range.

Endophthalmitis is most often caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and the antibiotics vancomycin and ceftazidime seem to perform well in treating it. That was one of the findings of a 25-year retrospective study conducted by Dr Ronald C. Gentile, of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and his colleagues in New York City and San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Temperatures measured by a newly developed non-contact ocular surface thermographer (OST) can be used to evaluate the efficacy of topical anti-allergic agents because of the significant correlation of the conjunctival surface temperature and the severity of conjunctival allergic reaction, according to recently published data.

In this article, Dr Solborg Bjerrum discusses his recent study assessing whether there is an increased risk of post-op endophthalmitis in private clinics versus public hospitals.

What to investigate: aqueous, vitreous or both?

Diagnosing and managing dry eye patients can be challenging. Here Dr Philipp Steven looks at a new way of treating tear film osmolarity, the TearLab Osmolarity System, which he believes could dramatically simplify the process.

Foresight Biotherapeutics, Inc. has announced data from a pre-clinical study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the topical administration of FST-100 in a highly regarded Ad5 NZW rabbit model of adenoviral conjunctivitis.

BD OcuSeal Liquid Ocular Bandage, a fully synthetic protective barrier to be used for post-surgical, post-traumatic and non-traumatic ocular conditions, has been launched in Europe by BD Medical?Ophthalmic Systems.

According to research analysts it is estimated that as little as five percent of a topically applied drug ever reaches the intraocular tissues due to drug loss as the result of tearing, lacrimal fluid-eye barriers, and blood-ocular barriers.

The fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert; Bausch & Lomb) surgical implant can prevent blindness in cases of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO), according to research at the University of Iowa, US.

There is an association between uveal and a variety of skin melanomas, according to study results published in the March issue of Ophthalmology.

ESBATech AG, a developer of antibody fragment therapeutics, has initiated a Phase IIa study in patients with acute anterior uveitis, designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of topically applied ESBA105.

Fungus and microbial infection are the most common causes of infectious scleritis, according to study conclusions published in the February issue of Eye.

ESBA105, an anti-TNF alpha antibody fragment designed to reduce inflammation in patients undergoing cataract surgery, has begun a Phase Ib/IIa trial, according to an announcement from ESBATech AG, the antibody's developer.

A New Drug Application (NDA) for ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15% against herpetic keratitis, submitted by Sirion Therapeutics, Inc, has been accepted for review by the FDA.

Professor Scott Cousins explains how we can use our knowledge of drusen formation to find new ways to combat dry age-related macular degeneration.

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 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.

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.

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.