News

Bausch & Lomb's shareholders have voted to approve a merger with Warburg Pincus.

Austrian pharmaceutical firm Croma-Pharma has acquired two companies, thus strengthening its cataract surgery portfolio and, according to the firm, moving it into the top five list of companies operating in the European ophthalmic market.

A chloramphenicol 0.25%-betamethasone 0.13% (C&B) gel combination has comparable efficacy and tolerance and better acceptance by patients than an aqueous tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 0.1% (T&D) preparation for controlling inflammation and prophylaxis of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery.

The field of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research continues to experience exciting and fascinating times, with the recent launches of new therapeutics and several others on the horizon giving hope to more patients than ever before. Coupled with advances in imaging and diagnostic technology, retina specialists now face AMD with fresh optimism - treatments and technologies are available that will help them to delay or maybe even halt disease progression in their patients.

Retinal detachment is still the most common serious complication of macular surgery.

In a review of culture-positive fungal keratitis seen at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, over a 13-year period, Candida has been identified as the principal isolate.

Alcon has received an approvable letter from the FDA for RETAANE 15 mg (anecortave acetate depot suspension) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), however the letter advised that an additional clinical study would be required before approval is given.

The use of dexamethasone eye drops following cataract surgery has a greater effect on the blood glucose profile of diabetic subjects than in diabetic subjects treated with diclofenac.

A UK team reports how they achieved significant reductions in macular thickness by using intravitreal bevacizumab.

Performing 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with oblique parallel incisions rather than with standard straight incisions, may allow for more complete postoperative wound sealing.

Genentech is seeking to restrict the use of its anti-VEGF drug Avastin by ophthalmologists in the US.

By 2010, glaucoma will affect 60 million people worldwide and cause blindness in more than 8 million.1 Despite the availability of effective treatments that delay or halt progression of the disease, an unacceptable number of people with glaucoma remain undiagnosed and untreated. Strategies for achieving earlier and more accurate diagnosis of glaucoma are therefore urgently needed to combat the rising burden of this disease in an ageing European population.

Alimera Sciences has entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with Emory University, USA to explore oxidative stress management as a treatment for ophthalmic diseases.

Surface ablation provides an opportunity to reduce the biomechanical weakening of the cornea. The downsides have always been pain and the relatively slow pace of visual recovery, but with Epi-LASIK, we are now able to manage those factors much more effectively

In order to minimize the toxic effect of indocyanine green (ICG) dye on the retina, concentrations should be kept as low as possible and repeat injections should be avoided.

OPKO Health has acquired exclusive worldwide rights for ophthalmic uses to a topical clinical stage compound, civamide, with potential applications for the treatment of dry eye.

Ophthalmic solutions containing steroids are 5.8 times more likely to be contaminated with bacteria than solutions that are steroid-free.

ThromboGenics, a biotechnology company focused on vascular diseases, has completed patient enrolment for a Phase IIa trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of microplasmin for the treatment of vitreomacular traction, including macular holes.

A thermosensitive glue for retinal implants provides an effective in vitro retinal adhesion that is completely reversible by lowering the temperature.

Results of an international survey have found that the majority of people aged over 40 years of age do not attend eye examinations.

QLT has entered into an agreement to acquire the privately held ForSight Newco II. The acquisition includes ForSight's proprietary ocular punctal plug drug delivery system.

Alacrity Biosciences has announced positive results from a Phase II study of its treatment for dry eye, ALTY-0501.

Patients at risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression may benefit from consuming a smaller amount of refined carbohydrates.

People with high blood levels of C-reactive protein may be at higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

Patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) who are treated early with intravitreal bevacizumab experience a dramatic improvement in visual acuity (VA) and clinical fundus appearance, without collateral vessel formation.

MacuSight has announced positive interim data from a Phase I study of its proprietary formulation of sirolimus (originally known as rapamycin) for the treatment of chronic, clinically significant diabetic macular oedema (DME).

The corneal stroma has the ability to clear microorganisms introduced during LASIK.

Repeat injections of bevacizumab are well tolerated; Bevacizumab reduces DME in the short-term; Unveiling a new clinical entity; Pupil dilation linked to glaucoma progression; Glaucoma scales fail to impress; New glaucoma progression predictors; Central vision loss & trabeculectomy; UK optometrists given prescribing powers; Higher retinal re-attachment success in patients with complete PVD; Every other year screening for retinopathy; A new approach for analysing patient compliance.

If a sterile unit dose of cefuroxime were available it would become the world standard for endophthalmitis prophylaxis following the startling proof of its efficacy in the ESCRS endophthalmitis study last year. That was the conclusion of a debate for and against intracameral antibiotics at the JCRS Symposium, Controversies in Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Persistent placoid maculopathy has features resembling macular serpiginous choroiditis but differs in its clinical course and effect on visual acuity.