News

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.

QLT Inc. has begun patient recruitment into its "CORE" study, a Phase II randomized, masked, parallel-group study of safety and preliminary efficacy of a punctal plug drug delivery system in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH).

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS), which began 20 years ago, was a landmark trial that produced important findings on surgical interventions and the role of IOP in progression.

The increasing use of prostaglandin analogues in Scotland has led to an increase in prescribing rates and a rapid increase in cost, whilst prescribing of beta-blockers has declined and trabeculectomy rates have fallen, according to a study published in the February 2008 issue of Eye.

The risk of glaucoma after refractive surgery procedures should not be underestimated, claims José Belda, MD, speaking at the Alicante Refractiva International meeting, held March 6–8 in Spain.

Injection-related complications such as infectious endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataract may occur with a frequency of about 0.15% after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or triamcinolone, independently of the drug injected, according to a study published in the February issue of Eye.

Visudyne (verteporfin) and Avastin (bevacizumab) combination therapy reduces the number of retreatments needed by half, according to Phase II study results presented at the annual Macula Society Conference in Florida, US.

Bevacizumab can produce remarkable results in infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), according to a free paper presented at the All India Ophthalmological Society meeting held in Bangalore earlier this year.

Shortening of retinal laser exposure time is just as effective as conventional, longer laser exposure in patients undergoing laser photocoagulation, but is significantly less painful, according to a study published in the January issue of Eye.

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.

In technological terms, when a word is prefixed by 'micro' you come to expect that word to signify some form of technological innovation or advance. In ophthalmology, the word 'microincision' represents significant advancement, particularly in the fields of cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.

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.

Patients who are currently hospitalized overnight for vitreoretinal surgery could safely be treated as day cases, thus providing significant improvements in efficiency, according to a report published in the February issue of Eye.

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.

A Czech study has found that 2.2 mm square clear corneal incisions for microcoaxial phacoemulsification are very stable and provide adequate postoperative sealing.

Nowadays, cataract surgery not only has a therapeutic purpose, which is to substitute an opaque lens with a transparent IOL, but it also has a refractive aim; to correct previous refractive defects in order to eliminate the use of spectacles. The need for a good postoperative visual acuity and a fast functional recovery has lead cataract surgery to become more and more micro-invasive in nature so that surgical trauma is reduced, a faster recovery and good, time-stable visual results are achieved.1 The achievement of this goal has been realized, thanks to the improvement of surgical techniques, in the form of microcoaxial phacoemulsification and bimanual microphacoemulsification,2 which now allow the almost complete reduction of surgically induced astigmatism.

There is a need to introduce smoking cessation support into routine ophthalmic practice, according to a report published in the February issue of Eye.

I have been so impressed with the aspheric optics and good centration of the Akreos MI60 that I use it as my first choice for implantation; including in patients with visual-critical occupations such as aviators and air traffic controllers

The new Custom Control Software on the MICS Millennium platform (Bausch & Lomb) results in less endothelial cell loss than torsional phacoemulsification performed on the Infiniti System (Alcon), according to a Greek study.

A round up of April's In Focus news

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) with implantation of an aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) through a 1.8 mm incision can minimize surgically-induced corneal and ocular aberrations and improve optical performance, according to a French study.

Results of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) study of endophthalmitis prophylaxis do not appear to have had a significant impact on the practices of US cataract surgeons, according to the findings of an online survey conducted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Cataract Clinical Committee.1 The survey results were reported by David F. Chang, MD, at the Spotlight on Cataracts 2007 symposium held during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Children who are blind and disabled are often hidden in the society because of stigma, prejudice and negative attitudes of the able-bodied members of the family and community

Corneal grafts obtained from cancer patients may be associated with an increased risk of infection for the recipient, according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

The cumulative experience of more than 20 years of treating retinal diseases with a variety of lasers has taught clinicians and researchers one very important lesson: less is more.