News

Combigan (brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5%) can cause allergic symptoms in significant numbers of patients, according to Dr Subash and co-workers from Kingston Hospital, UK.

Non-penetrating layer-by-layer trabeculectomy in ostias of Schlemm's canal produces a pronounced and sustained effect and can be applied successfully in patients with therapy resistant open angle glaucoma, according to Dr Dashevskiy from the Munich University of Technology, Germany.

Late stage glaucoma is associated with considerable health and social care costs and a lower visual acuity (VA) is also predictive of a lower quality of life, according to John Thygesen from University Hospital Copenhagen, Denmark and colleagues from France, the UK and Germany.

In eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), trabeculectomy with low dosage mitomycin-C (MMC) and intensified postoperative management offers an increased success rate and a lower incidence of complications, according to Professor Alfredo Reibaldi of the University of Catania, Italy.

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) is an effective approach for the long-term management of difficult glaucoma cases and should be considered as a first-line treatment for refractory glaucoma, according to Francisco Lima, MD speaking at the "Surgery & Lasers in Glaucoma" session.

Non-penetrating glaucoma surgery (NPGS) is a safe and effective filtering procedure and could offer an alternative to trabeculectomy in patients with open angle glaucoma, according to Dr Aslan and colleagues from Ege University School of Medicine, Turkey.

Litigation proceedings initiated by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) in 2001 against QLT and Novartis Ophthalmics, have been settled.

A study published in the March issue of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, has found that long-term treatment with a topical steroid after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is no better at preserving endothelial cell density than short-term treatment.

Cessation of therapy with warfarin may not be necessary in patients receiving anticoagulation who are undergoing vitreoretinal procedures, according to a report in the March issue of Retina.

A study published online ahead of print in Ophthalmology, has highlighted the associated risks between blindness and smoking and warns that people with unilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related maculopathy (ARM) should be advised that they are increasing their risk of developing the disease in the second-eye.

Visual improvements for low myopia is significantly slower after LASEK than after LASIK, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Refractive Surgery.

Patients with age-related maculopathy (ARM) undergoing cataract surgery can expect favourable visual and quality of life outcomes one to three years following surgery, according to the results of a study published in the March issue of Eye.

Iridex has been granted a summary judgement, by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, on its against Synergetics.

Lux Biosciences has begun treating patients in a pivotal clinical trial programme of LX211.

Preliminary results from a Phase I trial of TargeGen's TG100801 eye drop for macular degeneration, has found it to be well tolerated in humans.

Nitric oxide-donating derivatives of latanoprost for the treatment of glaucoma have been shown to successfully lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in preclinical studies.

Tacrolimus is relatively safe and effective in reducing rejection and prolonging graft survival in subjects with high-risk keratoplasty.

Staar Surgical has revealed that its Visian toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) is unlikely to receive FDA approval in 2007.

SR Pharma has launched a Phase I clinical trial of RTP-801i.

A Phase I clinical study of Athenagen's topical eye drop therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), ATG3, has found it to be safe and well tolerated.

Results of a Phase III trial of the once-daily formulation of Xibrom (ISTA Pharmaceuticals) has found it to be both safe and efficacious.

The 1st of March was declared "ORBIS Day" in New York City, USA, by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Eyemaginations has been selected by Carl Zeiss Meditec to release two new patient education animations.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS) and phacoemulsification result in similar visual outcomes and early endothelial cell loss.

Fear of going blind may be more likely to motivate teenagers to stop smoking than the fear of heart or lung disease.

For most patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), triple therapy offers significant and sustained visual improvement after just one cycle of treatment.

Senior doctors have accused the independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) scheme for NHS cataract services of being an expensive over-reaction to the need to increase the rate of cataract surgery in the UK.

Glaucoma medication timolol exerts a direct antioxidant effect, protecting human endothelial cells from oxidative stress.

The annual cumulative cell loss in eyes implanted with toric iris-fixated phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) is two to three times greater than in normal eyes without surgery.

IntraLase has entered into an agreement with Escalon Medical to settle all outstanding disputes and litigation between the parties.