ESCRS 2006
All the news from the XXIV Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, held September 9–13 2006 in London, UK.
All the news from the XXIV Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, held September 9–13 2006 in London, UK.
Search by date or type of news.
DateDay One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four
TypeIndustry or Product news | Scientific news
Disclaimer:This information has been independently developed and provided by the editors of Ophthalmology Times Europe.
The sponsors do not endorse and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content or for practices or standards of non-sponsor sources.
These articles may discuss regimens that have not been approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies. For full prescribing information including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse experiences please see the appropriate manufacturer's product circular.
News by date
Day One: 9 September 2006
AMO unveils new silicone Tecnis IOLThe new lens features blue modified C PMMA haptics for improved visibility and easier implantation, frosted OptiEdge design for reduced edge glare and reduced posterior capsule opacification and highly biocompatible silicone.
New topographer launchedThe Eye Top S (bon optic) allows acquisition of axial, normalized and user defined maps and simulated K readings in 25° meridians.
Promising results for new quality of vision metricIt 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.
Torsional better than longitudinal ultrasound in phacoPhacoemulsification procedures consume significantly less fluid using torsional compared with longitudinal ultrasound in hard cataract cases, according to Khiun Tjia of the Netherlands.
Good pseudoaccommodation with MICS lens at one yearThe 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.
Can we quantify the quality of vision?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.
Wavefront aberrations come in good, bad and ugly varietiesWhile smooth wavefronts are to be preferred, some aberrations may be beneficial and further study is need to identify them, said Jos Rozema, MD, of University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium.
How to measure biomechanical properties todayThe 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.
LADAR 6000 offers good visual outcomesThe 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.
Day Two: 10 September 2006
Leading investigators support Alcon's AcrySof IOLA 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).
SLT recommended as first line therapySelective 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.
Intraoperative online pachymetry important safety featureAn 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.
Nerve problems can create dry eye symptomsLASIK 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.
Blue light-blocking IOLs unnecessaryThere 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.
Extra care essential for cataract with ocular surface diseaseGreat 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.
ReSTOR IOL good in post LASIK cataract patientsThe 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.
SLT is the sensible optionSelective 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.
Tecnis multifocal safe and effective in hyperopia and presbyopiaThe Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) is safe and efficacious for refractive lensectomy in hyperopia and presbyopia, according to Frank Goes, Belgium.
Better stromal bed quality with Zyoptix XPThe Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) is safe and efficacious for refractive lensectomy in hyperopia and presbyopia, according to Frank Goes, Belgium.
Day Three: 11 September 2006
Early clinical results support Da Vinci FS laserSwiss firm Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems took advantage of the ESCRS congress to reveal its femtosecond laser Da Vinci to the ophthalmic community.
Tightening Schlemm's canal reduces IOPTensioning of Schlemm's canal may reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in non-penetrating surgical treatment of open angle glaucoma (OAG), according to the results of a study conducted by Manfred Tetz and colleagues from Germany.
Safe capsule bag cleaning with a new micro coaxial tipKhiun Tjia of the Netherlands believes that the new micro coaxial Aqualase tip (Alcon) is a promising tool for safe capsular bag cleaning and that treatment of the equatorial region using the tip could reduce posterior capsule opacification (PCO).
Pressure instability could explain pumping phenomena in cataract surgeryInstability in the pressure line could explain the pumping phenomena sometimes reported during cataract surgery, according to Carlos Verges, Jorge Cazal and Cosme Lavin of the Department of Ophthalmology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.
SLT a consistent and effective treatmentSelective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an effective treatment for glaucoma and offers good long term outlooks, according to Madhu Nagar of the Clayton Eye Centre, UK.
RLE benefits most eyesIn most eyes, the benefits of refractive lens exchange (RLE) outweigh the risks and it can provide a large improvement in patient quality of life, David Hardten said.
Monofocal, multifocal or accommodative IOL: which is best?Among the different IOL options for presbyopia, monofocals are probably by far the most practically used ones said Thomas Neuhann. He added that competing options must be able to beat an already high level of success and patient satisfaction.
Two eyes, two lasers, same patient: Schwind's ESIRIS versus Wavelight's 400QSchwind'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.
RLE indicated on case-by-case basisRefractive lens exchange (RLE) is not reversible so doctors need to apply their surgical wisdom to identify the most appropriate cases, Jorge Alió of the Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Spain said. Often indications are based on the simplicity of the procedure but that doesn't always balance well with the best patient benefit.
Cefuroxime combats endophthalmitisIt is possible to achieve a lower rate of endophthalmitis with a single injection of cefuroxime at the conclusion of cataract surgery than by using the more traditional subconjunctival/topical regimens, according to Per Montan of the St Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Clear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs new endophthalmitis risk factorsClear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs are new risk factors in post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis, Peter Barry revealed in the first presentation of the full ESCRS endophthalmitis study results.
Endophthalmitis: prevention better than cureAccording to Zdenek Gregor of Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, prevention of endophthalmitis will always be preferable to a cure. While the use of preoperative povidone iodine has managed to decrease the incidence of the infection, the hope is that per-operative intracameral antibiotics will further fuel a decrease in incidence of this worrying consequence of cataract surgery.
Mixing and matching IOLs the way to goMixing and matching diffractive and refractive multifocal lenses increases overall visual performance by enhancing range of vision, according to Angel López Castro of the Laservisión Clínica Oftalmológica in Madrid, Spain.
SLT effective as both a primary and secondary treatment for glaucomaSelective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is effective as both a primary and a secondary treatment for patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to the results of two studies presented at the Ellex symposium.
Manipulation of Schlemm's effective in treating glaucomaAccording to Manfred Tetz and colleagues, Germany, dilation and tensioning of Schlemm's canal may be an effective, non-penetrating surgical method for the treatment of open angle glaucoma (OAG).
Day Four: 12 September 2006
B&L launches new stable tubing systemBausch & 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.
Wavelight announces two IOL approvalsThe first approval was for the Lentis L-403 lens, which has a very large optic and is made of the company's proprietary HydroSmart acrylic material. The second approval was for a three-piece hydrophobic acrylic lens.
Visual acuity a multifactorial metricAlthough image quality has a clear influence on visual acuity, it does not account for all the individual variability of other factors that must be involved including, measurement errors, or wavefront, optical or neural factors, Raymond Applegate said.
Foldable toric IOL safe and effective in high astigmatismAccording to Omid Kermani from the Augenabteilung der PAN-Klinik am Neumarkt, Köln, Germany, and colleagues, the implantation of a foldable toric intraocular lens (IOL) is a safe and predictable procedure for the correction of high pre-existing corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery.
UK pilot cataract surgery audit yields interesting findingsA large survey has recently been piloted in the UK to demonstrate the use and benefits of electronic data collection with respect to rapidly monitoring the access, delivery and outcome of cataract surgery in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and to update benchmark standards for these parameters of care.
Toric posterior chamber phakic lens is safe and effective at one yearAccording to Alaa El Danasoury and colleagues, Toric ICL (TICL; STAAR Surgical) implantation is safe, effective and predictable in its correction of compound myopic astigmatism.
Comparing aspherical IOLs: Tecnis remains on topAccording to Alessandro Franchini, it is insufficient to design an aspheric lens that maintains a certain degree of spherical aberration simply to achieve a degree of pseudo-accommodation.
*Acri.Lisa good for distance, near and sufficient for intermediate acuityThe 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 haloes are still present with the lens.
Levofloxacin should be the first choice for antibacterial prophylaxisLevofloxacin 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.
MICS has made very little impact on US and EU surgeon practiceMicroincision 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.
Accommodating lenses: the solution to presbyopiaHoward Fine, MD, speaking at the ISRS/AAO symposium, believes that the answer to correcting presbyopia lies in accommodating lenses rather than multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).
Wavefront: many measurements, deep analysis, one cutThe carpenter's rule is measure twice, cut once. The wavefront aberrometry rule should be measure hundreds of times, then analysed, and then cut once, Dr Robert Iskander said.
ECOS proving to be a useful tool for cataract surgeons in EuropeThe 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.
News by type
Industry and product news
AMO unveils new silicone Tecnis IOLThe new lens features blue modified C PMMA haptics for improved visibility and easier implantation, frosted OptiEdge design for reduced edge glare and reduced posterior capsule opacification and highly biocompatible silicone.
New topographer launchedThe Eye Top S (bon optic) allows acquisition of axial, normalized and user defined maps and simulated K readings in 25° meridians.
LADAR 6000 offers good visual outcomesThe 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.
Early clinical results support Da Vinci FS laserSwiss firm Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems took advantage of the ESCRS congress to reveal its femtosecond laser Da Vinci to the ophthalmic community.
B&L launches new stable tubing systemBausch & 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.
Wavelight announces two IOL approvalsThe first approval was for the Lentis L-403 lens, which has a very large optic and is made of the company's proprietary HydroSmart acrylic material. The second approval was for a three-piece hydrophobic acrylic lens.
Scientific news
Promising results for new quality of vision metricIt 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.
Torsional better than longitudinal ultrasound in phacoPhacoemulsification procedures consume significantly less fluid using torsional compared with longitudinal ultrasound in hard cataract cases, according to Khiun Tjia of the Netherlands.
Good pseudoaccommodation with MICS lens at one yearThe 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.
Can we quantify the quality of vision?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.
Wavefront aberrations come in good, bad and ugly varietiesWhile smooth wavefronts are to be preferred, some aberrations may be beneficial and further study is need to identify them, said Jos Rozema, MD, of University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium.
How to measure biomechanical properties todayThe 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.
Leading investigators support Alcon's AcrySof IOLA 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).
SLT recommended as first line therapySelective 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.
Intraoperative online pachymetry important safety featureAn 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.
Nerve problems can create dry eye symptomsLASIK 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.
Blue light-blocking IOLs unnecessaryThere 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.
Extra care essential for cataract with ocular surface diseaseGreat 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.
ReSTOR IOL good in post LASIK cataract patientsThe 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.
SLT is the sensible optionSelective 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.
Tecnis multifocal safe and effective in hyperopia and presbyopiaThe Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) is safe and efficacious for refractive lensectomy in hyperopia and presbyopia, according to Frank Goes, Belgium.
Better stromal bed quality with Zyoptix XPThe Tecnis multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) is safe and efficacious for refractive lensectomy in hyperopia and presbyopia, according to Frank Goes, Belgium.
Tightening Schlemm's canal reduces IOPTensioning of Schlemm's canal may reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in non-penetrating surgical treatment of open angle glaucoma (OAG), according to the results of a study conducted by Manfred Tetz and colleagues from Germany.
Safe capsule bag cleaning with a new micro coaxial tipKhiun Tjia of the Netherlands believes that the new micro coaxial Aqualase tip (Alcon) is a promising tool for safe capsular bag cleaning and that treatment of the equatorial region using the tip could reduce posterior capsule opacification (PCO).
Pressure instability could explain pumping phenomena in cataract surgeryInstability in the pressure line could explain the pumping phenomena sometimes reported during cataract surgery, according to Carlos Verges, Jorge Cazal and Cosme Lavin of the Department of Ophthalmology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.
SLT a consistent and effective treatmentSelective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an effective treatment for glaucoma and offers good long term outlooks, according to Madhu Nagar of the Clayton Eye Centre, UK.
RLE benefits most eyesIn most eyes, the benefits of refractive lens exchange (RLE) outweigh the risks and it can provide a large improvement in patient quality of life, David Hardten said.
Monofocal, multifocal or accommodative IOL: which is best?Among the different IOL options for presbyopia, monofocals are probably by far the most practically used ones said Thomas Neuhann. He added that competing options must be able to beat an already high level of success and patient satisfaction.
Two eyes, two lasers, same patient: Schwind's ESIRIS versus Wavelight's 400QSchwind'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.
RLE indicated on case-by-case basisRefractive lens exchange (RLE) is not reversible so doctors need to apply their surgical wisdom to identify the most appropriate cases, Jorge Alió of the Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Spain said. Often indications are based on the simplicity of the procedure but that doesn't always balance well with the best patient benefit.
Cefuroxime combats endophthalmitisIt is possible to achieve a lower rate of endophthalmitis with a single injection of cefuroxime at the conclusion of cataract surgery than by using the more traditional subconjunctival/topical regimens, according to Per Montan of the St Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Clear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs new endophthalmitis risk factorsClear corneal incisions and silicon IOLs are new risk factors in post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis, Peter Barry revealed in the first presentation of the full ESCRS endophthalmitis study results.
Endophthalmitis: prevention better than cureAccording to Zdenek Gregor of Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, prevention of endophthalmitis will always be preferable to a cure. While the use of preoperative povidone iodine has managed to decrease the incidence of the infection, the hope is that per-operative intracameral antibiotics will further fuel a decrease in incidence of this worrying consequence of cataract surgery.
Mixing and matching IOLs the way to goMixing and matching diffractive and refractive multifocal lenses increases overall visual performance by enhancing range of vision, according to Angel López Castro of the Laservisión Clínica Oftalmológica in Madrid, Spain.
SLT effective as both a primary and secondary treatment for glaucomaSelective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is effective as both a primary and a secondary treatment for patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to the results of two studies presented at the Ellex symposium.
Manipulation of Schlemm's effective in treating glaucomaAccording to Manfred Tetz and colleagues, Germany, dilation and tensioning of Schlemm's canal may be an effective, non-penetrating surgical method for the treatment of open angle glaucoma (OAG).
Visual acuity a multifactorial metricAlthough image quality has a clear influence on visual acuity, it does not account for all the individual variability of other factors that must be involved including, measurement errors, or wavefront, optical or neural factors, Raymond Applegate said.
Foldable toric IOL safe and effective in high astigmatismAccording to Omid Kermani from the Augenabteilung der PAN-Klinik am Neumarkt, Köln, Germany, and colleagues, the implantation of a foldable toric intraocular lens (IOL) is a safe and predictable procedure for the correction of high pre-existing corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery.
UK pilot cataract surgery audit yields interesting findingsA large survey has recently been piloted in the UK to demonstrate the use and benefits of electronic data collection with respect to rapidly monitoring the access, delivery and outcome of cataract surgery in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and to update benchmark standards for these parameters of care.
Toric posterior chamber phakic lens is safe and effective at one yearAccording to Alaa El Danasoury and colleagues, Toric ICL (TICL; STAAR Surgical) implantation is safe, effective and predictable in its correction of compound myopic astigmatism.
Comparing aspherical IOLs: Tecnis remains on topAccording to Alessandro Franchini, it is insufficient to design an aspheric lens that maintains a certain degree of spherical aberration simply to achieve a degree of pseudo-accommodation.
*Acri.Lisa good for distance, near and sufficient for intermediate acuityThe 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 haloes are still present with the lens.
Levofloxacin should be the first choice for antibacterial prophylaxisLevofloxacin 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.
MICS has made very little impact on US and EU surgeon practiceMicroincision 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.
Accommodating lenses: the solution to presbyopiaHoward Fine, MD, speaking at the ISRS/AAO symposium, believes that the answer to correcting presbyopia lies in accommodating lenses rather than multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).
Wavefront: many measurements, deep analysis, one cutThe carpenter's rule is measure twice, cut once. The wavefront aberrometry rule should be measure hundreds of times, then analysed, and then cut once, Dr Robert Iskander said.
ECOS proving to be a useful tool for cataract surgeons in EuropeThe 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.
Disclaimer:This information has been independently developed and provided by the editors of Ophthalmology Times Europe.
The sponsors do not endorse and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content or for practices or standards of non-sponsor sources.
These articles may discuss regimens that have not been approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies. For full prescribing information including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse experiences please see the appropriate manufacturer's product circular.
