News

Viscoelastic gets FDA OK

AMO's Healon D latex-free viscoelastic has been granted premarket approval by the FDA. The clear dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) is designed to be used during phacoemulsification, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, keratoplasty and glaucoma filtration surgery.

Restoring accommodation

Ophthalmology is perhaps two steps closer to a possible clinical application of lens refilling with silicon gel for restoring ocular accommodation thanks to a refined procedure developed by Dr Okihiro Nishi, MD of the Nishi Eye Hospital, Japan.

The iSpheric Model YA-60BB intraocular lens (IOL) (Hoya) has received FDA market approval. The lens has been available in Europe since 2003.

STAAR Surgical's Visian implantable collamer lens (ICL) & toric ICL (TICL) will allow surgeons to differentiate themselves in the slowing LASIK marketplace, according to the firm's president of international operations, David Bailey.

A femto future?

The act of collaboration is generally regarded positively. Uniting two parties that share a common interest usually yields achievements that could not have been possible if either party went at it alone, and so the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

The discovery of factors affecting retinal angiogenesis have implications for the treatment of vascularization disorders, according to results of a study published in the October issue of Nature Medicine.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) may have an application as an adjunct to antifibrosis therapy, according to study results published in the October/November issue of the Journal of Glaucoma.

PhysIOL used this year's congress as a forum to launch its new aspheric aberration-correcting intraocular lenses ? Slim AY 123 in a preloaded system and Micro AY for injection through a 1.8 mm microincision.

B&L expands offering

Bausch & Lomb has announced a joint venture with femtosecond laser developer 20/10 Perfect Vision, which will allow B&L to offer surgeons the complete 'all laser' refractive solution.

Next generation ReSTOR

Alcon has launched the +3.0 Add Power AcrySof ReSTOR aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) with natural chromophore. The lens gained its CE mark in late 2007 and has been available throughout the EU since mid-September 2008.

ILM peeling comes of age

Dr Didier Ducournau explains how the technique he invented based on a mistaken assumption has been refined over the last 21 years.

Crackdown!

As part of its crackdown on the use of unapproved drugs in the US, the FDA is warning all but two makers of balanced salt solution (BSS) to discontinue its manufacture and sale.

Dr Gunther Grabner, professor of ophthalmology at the Paracelsus University of Salzburg, conducted a survey on the advantages and limitations of femtosecond lasers, and concluded that they will come to replace microkeratomes fully.

In a worldwide first, Dr Luis Ruiz presented the preliminary clinical results of an ongoing pilot study concentrating on the non-invasive intrastromal correction of presbyopia.

The presbyopia debate

During the "Controversies in Cataract and Refractive Surgery" symposium, Dr Jack Holladay and Dr Theo Seiler debated the relative merits of presbyopia treatments.

Bimanual vs coaxial MICS

Bimanual microincision cataract surgery (MICS) and microaxial phacoemulsification provide optically better incisions but bimanual MICS respects corneal prolateness more than microaxial phaco, Professor Jorge Alió told delegates.

Recent acquisitions, division restructuring, and management changes prove that Carl Zeiss Meditec is very much committed to change. Ophthalmology Times Europe spoke with new CEO, Dr Michael Kaschke, about the challenges that he faces in an ever-evolving market.

Biometry of phakic IOLs

As the human eye is not geometrically round, biometry is required for proper sizing of phakic IOLs, Dr Liliana Werner told delegates in a presentation entitled 'Phakic IOLs: a report from the pathology lab'.

Dr Amar Agarwal and team describe a technique for adhering sutureless scleral-fixated IOLs with a biological fibrin sealant glue.

AMD gene discovered

The SERPING1 gene code influences the likelihood of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to study results published online ahead of print by The Lancet.

A new machine for DSAEK

Dr Alberto Villarrubia gives an overview of the new Artifical Anterior Chamber for the Amadeus II machine as a way to extract donor lamellae.

Monovision offers a safe and an effective option while multifocals are a high risk strategy, Dr Graham D. Barrett controversially told delegates during a session that discussed whether surgeons should introduce multifocal IOLs (MFIOLs) into their practice.

A standardized language of trauma classification can have value for prognosis as well as description, according to Dr Dante Pieramici.