News

A study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggests that retinal changes have possible prognostic implications regarding the survival of persons with diabetes.

Using a decagonal transplant shape in perforating keratoplasties (pKPL) delivers promising results.

A study of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with Humira, a tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) blocker, has found that the drug cuts the rate of uveitis flares by approximately half.

Patients undergoing 25-gauge vitreoretinal surgery are more likely to experience postoperative serous choroidal effusion and hypotony than patients undergoing 20-gauge procedures.

STAAR Surgical has entered into an agreement to acquire the interests of all other shareholders in Canon Staar.

Genentech is delaying its plan to restrict the use of Avastin by ophthalmologists in the US until January 2008.

A telemedicine system using nurse-captured retinal images could potentially improve retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) management.

Results of a clinical trial investigating Ellex's non-thermal Retina Regeneration Therapy (2RT), demonstrates the therapy's potential to improve and stabilize visual acuity (VA) and reduce retinal oedema in patients with diabetic maculopathy and macular oedema without causing damage to photoreceptors.

LASIK is a safe and effective procedure in the correction of myopia five years after surgery, according to a study in the September issue of Ophthalmology.

The FDA has approved Allergan's Combigan for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

A study in the September/October issue of the European Journal of Ophthalmology has shown that the silicone plate Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) results in lower intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with the older polypropylene plate AGV.

A conference, which was set up in response to the recent report by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) dismissing the importance of glaucoma screening, has recommended a re-evaluation of the findings.

Alcon has received all the required regulatory clearances relating to its tender offer for WaveLight AG.

Results published online by The Lancet, from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study have revealed that fenofibrate is the first lipid modifying agent found to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy.

Researchers have identified a cell that causes eye cancer, suggesting for the first time that deliberate genetic manipulations may encourage the brain to heal itself.

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals has completed enrolment for three ongoing clinical studies evaluating NT-501 as a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Smokers with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) should not be taking the age-related eye disease study (AREDS) formulation of vitamins and antioxidants, as it puts them at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, according to a presentation given at the Retina Subspecialty Day of this year's AAO congress in New Orleans, US.

Secondary glaucoma is a common consequence in patients undergoing surgery for congenital cataracts, although it may not occur until years after the initial operation.

Eye problems are going undiagnosed in many children in the UK because of poor screening and the low uptake of free testing.

High quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) images cannot be obtained in a large percentage of glaucoma patients without pupillary dilation.

Research published online ahead of print by Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, has revealed that allergic ocular diseases can be classified and clinically evaluated using a grading system.

Amblyopia nearly doubles the lifetime risk of bilateral visual impairment.

First eye cataract surgery is probably more cost-effective over a patient's remaining lifetime than if they have no surgery at all.

Bilateral implantation of the Acri.LISA 366D distance-dominant bifocal intraocular lens provides a satisfactory full range of vision.

Conformal fractionated radiotherapy should be the first choice of treatment for optic nerve sheath meningiomas.

Transvitreal optic neurotomy (TON) improves the visual acuity and visual fields in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) of recent onset.

The final report of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT) showed that the long-term visual outcome is favorable for patients with unilateral acute optic neuritis even in the presence of multiple sclerosis.

CCI unrelated to endophthalmitis risk. US surgeons not following recommendations of European endophthalmitis study. NSAID use questioned, and much more.

All the news from the meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held November 10–13 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used off-label for multiple purposes in cataract surgery, but such treatment is often being administered with limited supporting evidence and carries a high cost along with potential risks.