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All successfully fitted patients reported immediate pain relief. The patients' subjective level of discomfort decreased and clarity of vision improved with children becoming more active and not resisting insertion of the eye drops

Zyoptix Aspheric, Bausch & Lomb's recent addition to its refractive armamentarium, has been found to induce significantly less amounts of spherical aberrations compared with conventional LASIK treatment, according to Dr Wing Kwong Chan, senior consultant and head of refractive surgery services at Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC). This technology could be most beneficial to patients with high order myopia or large pupils, and for professionals requiring best-possible night vision.

A better informed patient is a goal that all healthcare professionals strive for. Better informed patients are able to make better choices about their healthcare and give informed consent for a procedure.

Many doctors using ECP undertreat patients, which leads to unnecessary retreatments. This is understandable, as there is a fear of the consequences of over-treatment with ECP, but I have rarely, if ever, seen this

Ophthalmologists have been seeking to achieve the same quality and surgical success for high ametropia as has already been achieved for moderate ametropias. The analysis of refractive outcomes of procedures such as the Ferrara Ring implantation to correct early keratoconus, thermokeratoplasty to correct hypermetropia and corneal transplantation frequently reveals the presence of a residual ametropia that results in low or moderate visual acuity. It is our belief that the Artisan phakic intraocular lens (IOL) (Advanced Medical Optics) could go some way to adressing this issue. Hence, after mastering the surgical procedures involved for the implantation of the phakic IOL and its indication as an option for refractive surgery, we looked to assess the benefits of secondary lens implantation in the correction of residual ametropia and the impact it has on patient quality of life.

As always, there is a steep learning curve when dealing with new technologies but it is clear that outcomes with AlphaCor are continuing to improve

Retinal venous occlusions (RVO) are the most common visually disabling retinopathy after diabetes and age-related macular disease.1 The pathogenesis of RVO is multifactorial with both local factors and systemic diseases being etiologically important. It is essential that each individual contributing mechanism is established so that a beneficial treatment protocol can be developed to treat this debilitating condition.

Allergan has extended its strategic collaboration with ExonHit for the development and commercialization of drugs targeted at the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, pain and ophthalmology.

"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

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