Month: February 2013

New multifocal IOLs still show gender differences in satisfaction rates

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WARSAW, Poland — Average levels of satisfaction with new multifocal IOLs still show differences between women and men, according to one surgeon. The main reason for dissatisfaction after implantation in women is poor near vision, while glare and halos during night driving prevail among men. “In our previous study of 1,600 patients, we found significant differences in the acceptance of [multifocal] IOLs between males and females. More recently we wondered if there would still be a difference in the acceptance rates of the new [multifocal] IOLs in a time where (Read more...)

Quality of surgery, surgeon reputation influence decision to undergo refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery

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WARSAW, Poland — Quality of medical performance, reputation of the surgeon and fear of surgery seem to be the main factors in patients’ decision to undergo refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery, or RELACS, according to a study carried out at a large private clinic in Germany.“Price plays a secondary role. These patients agree to co-payment, and the extra charge seems to be of little concern to them,” Tim Herbst, project manager, said at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

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Pay-for-performance approach proves beneficial in German clinic

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WARSAW, Poland — A pay-for-performance system recently introduced at Bellevue Eye Hospital, Kiel, Germany, could set a model for quality-based payment in ophthalmology.“In German hospitals, we receive a fixed price for procedures. For cataract surgery, it is on average €450 to €500, independent of the quality of the service we provide,” Jörg Förster, CEO of Bellevue Eye Hospital, said at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. “A goal of modern health care is to develop a payment system in which payment is geared not (Read more...)

Second-generation micro-bypass stent significantly lowers IOP, medication intake

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WARSAW, Poland — Results of the Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery Study Group with the second-generation trabecular micro-bypass iStent inject implanted with a single-use injector showed a significant decrease in IOP and number of medications with a favorable safety outcome.The iStent inject (Glaukos) is single-piece, miniature, collar button-shaped heparin-coated titanium stent, implanted ab interno into Schlemm’s canal. Multiple lateral lumens are designed to provide an exit route for the aqueous from the anterior chamber, Manfred Tetz, MD, explained at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. “Results (Read more...)

Comparison of Treatment Regimens for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in Patients with AIDS in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy – Corrected Proof

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Purpose:
To describe the outcomes of different treatment approaches for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Design:
Prospective cohort study, the Longitudinal Study of the Ocular Complications of AIDS.

Participants:
A total of 250 patients with CMV retinitis and a CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/μl (n = 221) at enrollment or incident retinitis (n = 29) during cohort follow-up.

Methods:
The effects of systemic therapy (vs. intraocular therapy only) on systemic outcomes and the effect of intraocular therapies (ganciclovir implants, intravitreal injections) on ocular outcomes were evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures:
Mortality, CMV dissemination, retinitis (Read more...)

One-Year Strabismus Outcomes in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study – Corrected Proof

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Objective:
To evaluate the characteristics of strabismus in infants who underwent cataract surgery with and without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Design:
Secondary outcome analysis in a prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Participants:
The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study is a randomized, multicenter (n = 12), clinical trial comparing treatment of aphakia with a primary IOL or contact lens in 114 infants with a unilateral congenital cataract.

Intervention:
Infants underwent cataract surgery with or without placement of an IOL.

Main Outcome Measures:
The proportion of patients in whom strabismus developed during the first 12 months of follow-up was calculated using the life-table method (Read more...)