Purpose: To assess eye-specific epiretinal membrane (ERM) incidence 3 years after phacoemulsification surgery, and ERM detection bias attributable to cataract.Design: Cohort study.Methods: We recruited 1932 cataract surgical patients aged ≥64 years at Westmead Hospital (2004-2007). The surgical eye of each patient was assessed for presence of cellophane reflex or preretinal fibrosis at preoperative and 1-month-postoperative visits, and annually thereafter, using retinal image grading. Agreement on ERM detection between preoperative and 1-month-postoperative visits was assessed using kappa statistics. Cumulative incidence of ERM from 1 month to 3 years postoperatively was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared to the 5-year incidence of idiopathic (Read more...)
Month: April 2013
Screening Finds Retinopathy Early in Diabetes (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — A screening program for diabetic retinopathy eventually diminished the likelihood of eye disease in patients with diabetes, English researchers found.
IL-1 antagonist relieves dry eyes
Clinical trial results point to a role for interleukin-1 targeted agents for the treatment of dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction.
Ocular tuberculosis presents a diagnostic challenge
Mycobacterial ocular inflammation typically arises without concomitant systemic or pulmonary disease and should be suspected in patients who do not respond to anti-inflammatory therapy.
Monthly ranibizumab beneficial in treatment of recalcitrant neovascular AMD
Patients with recalcitrant neovascular age-related macular degeneration achieved visual and anatomic gains out to 1 year after receiving monthly doses of 2 mg ranibizumab, according to a recent trial.The phase 1-2 super-dose anti-VEGF trial, or SAVE, i…
Sustained-release intravitreal implant for chronic DME now available in UK
Iluvien, a sustained-release intravitreal implant for the treatment of chronic diabetic macular edema, is now available in the United Kingdom, according to a news release from Alimera Sciences.Furthermore, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which ruled last year that Iluvien (sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide) did not meet cost-effectiveness thresholds, is scheduled to meet on May 15 to discuss the simple Patient Access Scheme Alimera submitted for the product.
Valve implant linked to reduced endothelial cell density in inflammatory glaucoma
Glaucoma valve implantation was associated with diminished endothelial cell density in children with uveitic glaucoma, according to a study.The cross-sectional case study included 80 eyes of 42 patients diagnosed with uveitis before the age of 16. The …
Deep level pneumatic dissection may improve success rate of big bubble procedure
Successful big bubble formation is possible when the cannula tip is inserted at an advanced level during pneumatic dissection, according to a study.The retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series included 100 patients with consecutive ker…
Two-Eye Training Superior to One for Amblyopia
(MedPage Today) — Amblyopia improved significantly after a 2-week dual-eye training session with the popular video game Tetris, investigators reported.
Western Researchers Confirm Pine Bark Extract Could Reduce Cataract Risk
A winter after discovering Canada for France, Jacques Cartier’s exploration crew started suffering and dying from the dreadful scurvy disease in 1535. But thanks to an Iroquoian healer, they were miraculously cured by a tea made from pine bark…
Dry eye disease symptoms alone insufficient for diagnosis
SAN FRANCISCO — Dry eye disease is likely more prevalent than assumed because patients can exhibit few or no symptoms but still have disease, according to a study presented here.“About 50% of patients in the general practice have mild to severe dry eye disease,” Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Vision gains maintained at 3 years after intracorneal inlay implantation
SAN FRANCISCO — Distance visual acuity and quality of vision results were maintained at 3 years in presbyopic patients who received an intracorneal inlay, according to a presenter here. The prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial comprised 507 patients at 24 sites throughout U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific who underwent pocket emmetropic implantation of the Kamra corneal inlay (AcuFocus) in the nondominant eye. Patients ranged in age from 45 to 60 years. All patients were followed for 36 months.
Correcting post-cataract refractive errors hinges on diagnostics, monitoring
SAN FRANCISCO — Use of PRK to manage refractive errors after cataract surgery poses various challenges, a speaker said here.When encountering post-cataract refractive errors, the surgeon must know what he or she faces and be prepared to take action, Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, said during Cornea Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Bipartisan Policy Center proposes deficit-reducing health care reforms
A “modernized, integrated Medicare system” along with tax reforms could achieve $560 billion in federal deficit reductions over the next decade, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, DC-based think tank that actively promotes bipartisanship to address key challenges facing the United States.The report, authored by former Senate majority leaders Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, MD; former Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici and former Congressional Budget Office Director Alice Rivlin, PhD, resulted from a year of research and discussions with stakeholders.
A National Survey of Practice Patterns: Temporal Artery Biopsy – Corrected Proof
Objective: To assess current clinical practice patterns for temporal artery biopsy (TAB) among clinicians in establishing the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.Design: A survey was sent via e-mail using the Survey Monkey website (www.surveymonkey.com; accessed January 24, 2013). The survey initially was sent in July 2010 and continued through October 2010.Participants: The survey was sent via e-mail to the members and affiliates of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, and the American College of Rheumatology.Methods: Data from the survey were collected via Survey Monkey and data analysis was performed using the Fisher exact (Read more...)
Pseudoexfoliation: Normative Data and Associations: The Beijing Eye Study 2011 – Corrected Proof
Objective: To assess the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and its associations in a population-based setting.Design: Population-based, cross-sectional cohort study.Participants: Of 4403 eligible subjects with an age of ≥50 years, 3468 individuals (78.8%) participated in the Beijing Eye Study 2011 (mean age, 64.6±9.8 years; range, 50–93 years).Methods: All study participants underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. After medical pupil dilation, PEX was assessed by an experienced ophthalmologist using slit-lamp-based biomicroscopy.Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence and associations of PEX.Results: Slit-lamp examination results were available for 3022 study participants (87.1%). Definite pseudoexfoliation was observed in 72 of the 3022 subjects, with a prevalence of (Read more...)
Quantitative Measurement of Interocular Suppression in Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Case-Control Study – Corrected Proof
Objective: The aims of this study were to assess (1) the relationship between interocular suppression and visual function in patients with anisometropic amblyopia, (2) whether suppression can be simulated in matched controls using monocular defocus or …
Evaluation of Lamina Cribrosa in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Enhanced Depth Imaging – Corrected Proof
Purpose:
To evaluate the features of the lamina cribrosa (LC) in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) patients using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT). The results were compared with those of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Participants:
Patients with PXG (n = 21) and POAG (n = 35) matched for age and visual field mean deviation (VF MD).
Methods:
Participants were imaged using SD OCT. Lamina cribrosa thickness (LT) and anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALD) were determined at 3 areas (mid superior, center, and mid inferior) by 2 examiners using an EDI mode (Read more...)
Characteristics of Incident Geographic Atrophy in the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial – Corrected Proof
Objective: To characterize the size, location, conformation, and features of incident geographic atrophy (GA) as detected by annual stereoscopic color photographs and fluorescein angiograms (FAs).Design: Retrospective cohort study within a larger clinical trial.Participants: Patients with bilateral large drusen in whom GA developed during the course of the Complications of Age-related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (CAPT).Methods: Annual stereoscopic color photographs and FAs were reviewed from 114 CAPT patients in whom GA developed in the untreated eye during 5 to 6 years of follow-up. Geographic atrophy was defined according to the Revised GA Criteria for identifying early GA.23 Color-optimized fundus photographs were (Read more...)
What is 25 Gauge Vitrectomy?
25 gauge vitrectomy has advantages other than no stitches and quicker healing. Due to the thinness of the instruments, the operation is now safer, too.