News

Schwind's ESIRIS and Wavelight's 400Q laser systems are equally efficacious in correcting refractive error, according to a study presented by Yannis Aslanides, MD of the Emmetropia Mediterranean Eye Clinic in Crete, Greece.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) offers good long-term reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP), according to the results of a study performed by Rahul Yadav, MD and colleagues of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK.

Great care and detailed assessment are essential for cataract extractions where another ocular surface disease (OSD) is present, Thomas Neuhann said. Diseases range from dry eye, conjuntivalisation, irregular surfaces and corneal scars.

The use of the ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon) for patients requiring cataract surgery after prior laser photoablation can result in excellent outcomes if optical results fall near emmetropia, according to Samuel Masket of the USA.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) should be used before alteration of treatment or trabeculectomy, according to the findings of a study conducted by Bharat Kapoor and a team of colleagues from the UK.

A number of studies have been conducted and presented during a free paper session, supporting Alcon's research into its investigational AcrySof angle-supported phakic intraocular lens (IOL).

An initial clinical evaluation of the new ESIRIS excimer laser with integrated, online, optical coherence pachymetry (Schwind), showed that constant corneal monitoring is an important safety feature for LASIK procedures, Kumar J. Doctor said.

LASIK patients who make complaints symptomatic of dry eye may be suffering not from dry eye but from damaged, aberrantly regenerating nerve cells, said Timo Tervo.

There is no current proof that blocking blue wavelengths guarantees retinal protection and, couple this with the fact that blocking this form of light causes an actual loss in visual quality, Alessandro Franchini MD, suggests we concentrate our efforts on blocking UV and violet radiations instead.

The Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) is safe and efficacious for refractive lensectomy in hyperopia and presbyopia, according to Frank Goes, Belgium.

The Zyoptix XP (Bausch & Lomb) microkeratome achieved increased stromal bed quality when compared with both standard and zero compression Hansatome heads (Bausch & Lomb), Thomas Hammer said.

Phacoemulsification procedures consume significantly less fluid using torsional compared with longituinal ultrasound in hard cataract cases, according to Khiun Tjia of the Netherlands.

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) announced the launch of the Tecnis CL intraocular lens (IOL) at the XXIV congress of the ESCRS.

The LADAR 6000 excimer laser with high-speed ablation (Alcon) offers excellent visual outcomes, according to Ángel López Castro of Spain, speaking at the Alcon symposium.

The age of refractive surgery has introduced new aberrations to the human eye that require a shift in how visual performance is evaluated, said Ray Applegate, MD. Mesopic low contrast acuity best quantifies vision quality; it overcomes the weaknesses of other metrics and it can predict visual function among individuals.

While smooth wavefronts are to be preferred, some abberations may be beneficial and further study is need to identify them, said Jos Rozema, MD, of University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium.

The new MICS lens (Ioltech-Zeiss) is appropriate for the correction of intermediate vision in pseudophakia, according to Carlos Verges, Jorge Cazal and Marc Menezo of the Department of Ophthalmology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.

It is mandatory to develop precise , reproducible and accurate methodologies to obtain objective measurements of quality of vision, namely night vision, in order to create surgical techniques that will eliminate post-refractive vision disturbances, Joachim Murta said.

The primary function of biomechanical measurements is to improve safety and doctors can readily use these metrics in clinical practice today through the use of proxies, said William J. Dupps, MD.

The ophthalmic equipment manufacturer, bon optic, has unveiled its new topographer to the ophthalmic community.

From the 9-13 September, the Excel Exhibition and conference centre in London will open its doors to more than four thousand delegates for the 24th Congress of the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). This year's congress is full to the brim of symposia, courses and skills training, in addition to having one of Europe's largest ophthalmic exhibitions.

The ESCRS will be organizing a number of sightseeing tours during the meeting. The London City Tour will take in the major sights of London, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Harrods, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral and much more. There will also be an opportunity to visit Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, home to the British monarchy past and present.

Strabismus update

Alimera to market lid scrub

Delaying antibiotic treatment of conjunctivitis is the best strategy

Risk factors for secondary glaucoma in children

CCT a risk factor for glaucoma damage

Central corneal thickness (CCT) may decrease over time, particularly in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) but this may not be related to disease progression.

The May 2005 acquisition of VISX saw AMO inherit a large installed base of refractive surgery technologies, which not only complemented its refractive IOL portfolio, but also transformed AMO into the world's leading refractive surgical company.

December 2005 witnessed the launch of Carl Zeiss Meditec's latest model for customized refractive surgery; the CRS-Master 2.1. Equipped with a new wave of design enhancements, topography-guided therapy has now been added as a new functionality mode to the system.