News

"Communication" is defined as the exchange of information between individuals, for example, by means of speaking, writing or using a common system of signs or behaviour.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder of metabolism in which a defective or deficient insulin secretory response results in impaired glucose utilization and subsequent hyperglycaemia.

The significant relationship [between cost and stage of disease] demonstrates the important economic repercussions in health care systems world wide, if glaucoma is not dealt with quickly

Dementia could be detected during its early stages with the help of a simple eye test, according to the results of study carried out in the United States.

There is a marked increase in higher-order aberrations when a patient is in the supine position, according to the results of a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Phacoemulsification performed with a standard technique yields no significant differences in endothelial cell loss or endothelial morphology when compared with the procedure performed by bimanual microincision cataract surgery (MICS), according to the results of a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Women with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing glaucoma, according to study results published in the July issue of Ophthalmology.

Last year, Philip Rosenfeld of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, USA, announced some findings that made the ophthalmology community stand to attention. He claimed that intravitreal administration of the cancer agent, Avastin (bevacizumab), in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients yielded very positive results. Since then, industry journals have been inundated with reports of the benefits of this agent in an ophthalmic setting.

The Swiss authorities have approved Lucentis (ranibizumab) as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), making Switzerland the first European country to do so.

Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation, in eyes with PACG, allows us to achieve not only high visual acuity, but also to create favourable conditions for aqueous humour outflow.

Refractive surgery dates back to the 19th century, when L.J. Lans demonstrated the effect of applying heat to the cornea to treat astigmatism. Once considered only by the courageous, refractive surgery has now become an everyday alternative form of visual correction, made possible by improvements in our understanding of corneal anatomy and physiology and the development of remarkable new tools.

Inyx, a pharmaceutical company focused on drug delivery technologies and products has acquired six eye care products from Advanced Medical Optics (AMO). Consequently, it has assigned all business and marketing rights of the products to its wholly-owned marketing subsidiary, Exaeris.

Clear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs are new risk factors in post-cataract surgery endophthalimitis, Peter Barry revealed in the first presentation of the full ESCRS endophthalmitis study results.

Safety, with respect to loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, records better results for phakic IOL implantation than for LASIK with higher corrections

Combined surgical management of coexisting cataract and glaucoma has recently gained popularity because of the several advantages that it presents. These advantages include, decreased risk, easier management of early and long-term postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and performing just one surgical procedure to manage both problems.

The development of presbyopia in hyperopic people aged between 45 and 65 is a serious refractive problem that, until recently, has had no practical solution. Individuals in this category are not usually considered to be "patients" but, nevertheless, face real problems with their everyday near and distance sight. We call this problem "hyperopic presbyopia".

This month we are celebrating our first birthday. This time last year we launched the first issue of Ophthalmology Times Europe. I cannot believe it's come round so quickly. Although, when I reflect on how much has been achieved in such a short space of time, I suppose it's surprising that it has only been a year.

Researchers from the US based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a report explaining the causes behind the well-publicised dramatic rise of fungal eye infections among Americans.

The high incidence of neurodegenerative retinal diseases that lead to visual impairment and blindness has given rise to new technological and biological advances in the field of ophthalmology. Electronic retinal prostheses are among the most eagerly anticipated, yet complex devices to be developed. The expertise of retinal specialists, surgeons and engineers has been combined to thoroughly research the effect of electrical stimulation on retinal neurons, to develop micro-electronic chips, investigate new encapsulation methods that are bio-compatible and to develop methods of powering the subretinal devices.

80% of Tecnis patients and 85% of ReSTOR patients were very happy with all aspects of their vision, with the majority of patients in both groups deciding not to return to glasses, even for intermediate vision

OTE Yearplanner 2007

Yearplanner 07 example

All the news from the XXIV Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, held September 9–13 2006 in London, UK.

Microincision cataract surgery (MICS), hailed to be the next big development in cataract surgery, has not had the expected impact on surgeon's practice, David Leaming revealed, whilst detailing the results of his most recent survey on cataract surgery practice in Europe and the US.

Bausch & Lomb has introduced a stable chamber tubing system, as a part of the new micro incision vacuum pack, to its Millennium Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (MICS) platform.

The new *Acri.Lisa (*Acri.Tec) bifocal, acrylic IOL provides very good distance and near visual acuity and sufficient intermediate visual acuity, said Ulrich Mester. Pseudoaccommodation range is 5.5 D and it also offers improved contrast sensitivity. He noted, however, that halos are still present with the lens.

Wavelight has announced the receipt of two regulatory approvals for its intraocular lenses (IOLs), thus expanding its intraocular product range.

According to Oliver Findl, it is becoming increasingly important to use a wider variety of parameters to assess visual quality after cataract surgery in order to gain a better understanding of patient's day-to-day experiences.

Levofloxacin 0.5% eye drops should be the first choice for antibacterial prophylaxis and treatment, according to Professor P. Asbell of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA.

The use of foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) in cataract surgery is a trend that is continuing to rise across Europe, according to Mats Lundstrom speaking at the Outcomes of Cataract and Refractive Surgery symposium.