News

Bausch & Lomb have been busy this year, using the opportunity presented by the ESCRS congress to make several announcements concerning their cataract and refractive business.

Alcon, Inc has launched the +3.0 Add Power AcrySof ReSTOR aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) with blue light filter. The lens completed CE mark approval in the third quarter of 2007 and will be available throughout the EU beginning next week.

On August 20th, Tiolat Oy, manufacturer of the iCare Tonometer, underwent a makeover and changed its name to iCare Finland Oy. In a conversation with Ophthalmology Times Europe, newly-appointed CEO Ari Tiukkanen outlined the reasons behind the recent name change, and discussed how the new name fits into the company's plans for the future.

Dr Robert H. Osher, MD, demonstrated a new range of micro scissors and forceps showcased for the first time in Europe by Geuder. The line of modular instruments for small incision surgeries has been designed in collaboration with Dr Osher. The series of seven capsule forceps and five capsule scissors provide access to a variety of meridia inside the eye, with tips angled from straight through 45 to 90 degrees, horizontal and vertical.

Good multifocal IOL (MFIOL) candidates are highly motivated to be spectacle independent and tend to have an easy going and adaptable personality. They have healthy eyes and a low degree of astigmatism. Hyperopic presbyopes tend to make the best candidates.

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.

WaveLight today introduced the Allegro BioGraph, a combined Biometer using the OLCR (Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry) measuring principle. For use in cataract and refractive surgery, the device delivers contact-free measurement, supplying data on axial eye dimensions and the complete anterior segment in a single, one-click measurement.

Mixing and matching multifocal IOLs can produce excellent visual acuity across near, intermediate and far distances and can generate a very high degree of patient satisfaction, Dr Scipione Rossi told delegates.

Preop chair time is vital for multifocal patients to correctly evaluate motivation and manage expectations correctly, Dr Jorge Alio told delegates during a presentation on how to rescue an unhappy multifocal patient.

Topcon and Oculentis have announced a European cooperation agreement covering sales, marketing and new product development. The deal will bring Topcon into the surgical market and give Oculentis access to Topcon's extensive sales and distribution network.

Following CE mark approval last month, Alcon proudly showcased the latest offering to its lens family; the AcrySof phakic lens.

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

Schwind and Zeimer announced today that they will cooperate to supply an integrated all-laser LASIK solution.

Corneal crosslinking showed remarkable stability in a recent rabbit study, Dr Gregor Wollensak told delegates during the session on New Surgical Approaches to Keratoconus.

Doctors need to carry out a standard preop assessment for dry eye risk before undertaking a LASIK procedure. The assessment should include a validated symptom questionnarire, such as the OSDI or DEQ.

PhysIOL today announced the European launch of its aspheric aberration-correcting intraocular lenses - Slim AY 123 in a preloaded system and Micro AY for injection through a 1.8mm microincision.

David Bailey, president of international operations at Staar Surgical, makers of the Visian ICL & TICL, says ICL technology allows surgeons to differentiate themselves in the slowing LASIK marketplace.

Phakic IOLs offer slightly better results than LASIK for high myopia Dr Pablo Artal, of the Optical Laboratory in the University of Murcia in Spain, told delegates.

According to a report published in the September 5th issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, two processes in the retina, which in combination contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), can be disrupted by antioxidants.

iScience Interventional has been granted 510k clearance from the FDA for its canaloplasty microcatheter for the catheterization and viscodilation of the Schlemm's canal in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals has been granted Fast Track designations by the FDA for NT-501 for the treatment of visual loss in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

According to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, differences in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of quinolone antibiotics may affect the incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery.

The implantation of the double intraocular lens (IOL) system (IOL-VIP) can improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with low vision due to advanced maculopathy, according to a report published in the September issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

A study published in the September issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, has discovered that wearing swimming goggles may elevate intraocular pressure (IOP).

There are no statistically significant differences in outcomes when wavefront-guided LASIK is performed with or without iris recognition (IR), according to a report published in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

A travel guide to help you get the most out of your stay in Berlin during the XXVI ESCRS congress.

The genetic mutations responsible for Duane's retraction syndrome (DRS) and strabismus have been identified, according to a study published online as a Science Express Report.

There is a large variation in the blood flow to the macula across a 24-hour period in old, but not young, eyes, according to results published in the August issue of the Journal of Glaucoma.

Dr Terence Devine details the unique attributes of Bausch & Lomb's Stellaris MICS platform for 1.8 mm coaxial MICS

Eating oily fish just once a week may cut the risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by half, according to results of the EUREYE study, published in the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.