Calcium supplements may increase the risk of cardiovascular
events, namely myocardial infarction, in postmenopausal
women, according to a study in the BMJ.1
Ian R. Reid, MD, of the University of Auckland, New
Zealand, and colleagues reassessed data fro…
Month: May 2011
Merck to Acquire Inspire Pharmaceuticals for $430 Million
Merck and Co., Inc. (Whitehouse Station, New Jersey),
announced that it will acquire Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Raleigh, North Carolina), for $430 million.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary,
will commence a tender offer …
Toric IOL Reduced Astigmatism After Cataract Surgery
Refractive astigmatism after cataract surgery in patients
with corneal astigmatism was significantly lower when a
toric IOL was implanted compared with a spherical IOL.1
Researchers conducted a retrospective review of clinical
records that included pat…
Rayner Recognized for Profit Growth
Rayner Intraocular Lenses, Ltd. (East Sussex, United
Kingdom), was included in London’s Sunday Times
Pricewaterhouse Coopers Profit Track 100, “Ones to
Recognize,” which lists 10 companies that have either had or
predict good profit growth. In ad…
Alcon and Novartis Complete Merger and Form New Alcon Division
After more than a year and a half of negotiations, shareholders
of both Alcon, Inc. (Huenenberg, Switzerland) and
Novartis AG (Basel, Switzerland) have approved the merger
of the two companies. Alcon will become a newly formed
division within Novartis …
Visian ICL V4c Receives CE Mark
The Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) V4c (STAAR
Surgical, Monrovia, California) received the Conformité
Européenne (CE) Mark, according to a company news
release. The V4c incorporates a proprietary port in the center
of the ICL optic. The size …
Visual Acuity Worsened 2 Years After Cataract Surgery
One in eight patients who underwent cataract surgery
lost at least 2 lines of pinhole visual acuity during the 2-year
postoperative period, according to a study in the emBJO/em.sup1/sup
The Cataract Surgery and Age-Related Macular
Degeneration study in…
Bausch + Lomb,Technolas to Codistribute Femtosecond Laser
Bausch + Lomb (Rochester, New York) and Technolas
Perfect Vision GmbH (Munich, Germany) announced an
agreement in principle to globally distribute the first femtosecond
laser capable of performing both cataract and
refractive procedures on one platform…
Mononucleosis,Low Sun Exposure May Raise Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Infectious mononucleosis coupled with low levels of
ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation could increase one’s risk of
developing multiple sclerosis (MS).sup1/sup
George C. Ebers, MD, of the University of Oxford, and colleagues
examined hospital admissions …
Schwind Amaris 750S Safe, Effective in LASIK,LASEK
The Schwind Amaris 750S (Schwind eye-tech-solutions,
Kleinostheim, Germany) demonstrated high precision, predictability,
and safety in both LASIK and LASEK treatments,
according to 6-month data published in a news release.
Maria Clara Arbelaez, MD, of …
Jackson Laboratory Team Finds Genetic Clue To ’emergency’ Glaucoma
Bar Harbor, Maine — Jackson Laboratory researchers and their collaborators have reported their discovery of a gene implicated in an acute and severe form of glaucoma known as angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). The gene’s activity points to previously unsus…