Month: November 2013

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We thank Dr Coroneo for the comments and interest in our article. We agree that if the posterior capsule is stained with trypan blue, completion of the surgery, although more difficult, can still be performed successfully, and we believe it is importan…

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We appreciate the interest of Shah and colleagues in our recent article. They have made some excellent suggestions regarding our study and its application in clinical practice. They point out, as we did in our original study, that contact ultrasonic me…

Reporting Visual Acuities

The AJO encourages authors to report the visual acuity in the manuscript using the same nomenclature that was used in gathering the data provided they were recorded in one of the methods listed here. This table of equivalent visual acuities is provided…

Brilliant blue G shows internal limiting membrane after epiretinal membrane peel

Internal limiting membrane commonly remains after epiretinal membrane peeling, according to a study.The study authors suggested that re-staining with brilliant blue G (BBG) and peeling again may help remove the entire epiretinal membrane (ERM). The prospective study included 98 eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy and membrane peeling for idiopathic ERM. BBG was injected into the vitreous cavity and promptly washed out. The surgeon peeled the ERM and observed the underlying internal limiting membrane (ILM).

Allergan reports $1.53 billion in product net sales for third quarter

Allergan reported $1.53 billion in total product net sales for the third quarter, an increase of 12.9% over the third quarter 2012, according to a press release. Total specialty pharmaceuticals net sales increased 12.8% compared with the third quarter of 2012, and total medical devices net sales increased 13.4%.Quarterly diluted earnings per share attributable to stockholders totaled $1.10, up from $0.82 reported for the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share attributable to stockholders totaled $1.23, up from $1.04 a year ago.

Valeant quarterly revenue totals $1.54 billion

Valeant Pharmaceuticals reported $1.54 billion in total revenue for the third quarter, a 74% increase from the same period in 2012, according to a press release.Product sales totaled $1.5 billion, up from $852.7 million in the same period in 2012.Developed markets revenue totaled $1.14 billion, a 77% increase from the third quarter 2012, mainly attributed to the acquisition of Bausch + Lomb.

BLOG: Tear osmolarity and choosing an artificial tear

A part of our Dry Eye Protocol v2.0 is using tear osmolarity (TO) to assist in choosing the specific artificial tear or category of artificial tears to recommend to a patient. We always make a very specific recommendation, and we discuss it with our patients in the same manner in which we might discuss a prescription medication. In our SkyVision experience, we’ve found that patients take the need to lubricate more seriously if we discuss it with them in this manner.

Physicians, facilities navigate reimbursement landscape with emerging technologies

Cataract surgery is the most common refractive procedure performed on aging eyes, and it is often considered the “bread-and-butter” surgery in ophthalmology. Likely due to its popularity, Medicare and commercial insurance carriers have thus made cataract surgery a primary target when searching for cost savings. The Medicare physician payment was decreased by 12% in 2013, with an additional proposed decrease of 3% for 2014, partially attributed to changes in work value for cataract and complex cataract surgery. Combining cataract surgery with glaucoma treatment may be a value-added prospect for the (Read more...)