The new indication is for treatment of adults with diabetic macular edema who have an artificial lens implant (pseudophakic) or who are scheduled for cataract surgery (phakic). FDA Approvals
Month: June 2014
FDA OKs Implant for Diabetic Eye Disease
(MedPage Today) — The FDA has approved an intravitreal steroid implant for diabetic macular edema patients who already have a lens implant or who are going to have cataract surgery.
PK yields significantly better results than endothelial keratoplasty, DALK
Early results for lamellar and endothelial corneal transplantation techniques were inferior to penetrating keratoplasty, according to the results of a large study conducted in Australia.“The new procedures of lamellar keratoplasty that have evolved over the past two decades have been adopted enthusiastically by corneal surgeons worldwide. Although outcomes have been promoted as being significantly better than those of the well-established alternative of penetrating keratoplasty, the evidence for this claim is unconvincing outside of single-center studies,” the authors wrote in the study.
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals to merge with QLT
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with QLT to help drive shareholder value and increase research and development.The companies also plan to continue pursuing a potential partnering agreement for QLT’s late-stage retinoid program, which is nearing phase 3 development, according to a press release from Auxilium.
EU Panel OKs Aflibercept for Diabetic Macular Edema (Eylea)
The company marketing the drug in the United States has asked the US Food and Drug Administration to add this indication as well. International Approvals
Mati receives patent for novel punctal drug delivery platform
Mati Therapeutics has been granted a U.S. patent for its nasolacrimal drainage system implants for drug therapy, the company announced in a press release.U.S. patent 8,747,884, entitled “Nasolacrimal Drainage System Implants for Drug Therapy,” covers crucial elements of Mati’s novel punctal plug delivery system for the treatment of ocular indications (PPDS). The design includes mechanisms for retaining the punctal plug in the nasolacrimal system during drug elution, according to the release.
Practice-Changing Highlights in Glaucoma
Find out whether you are up-to-date with the latest glaucoma surgery enhancements. Medscape Ophthalmology
Classifying Vitreomacular Disease
A classification system that defines the features of vitreomacular adhesion, vitreomacular traction, and macular holes is useful for diagnosis and research. Medscape Ophthalmology
FDA approves Ozurdex for treatment of certain patients with DME
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozurdex for the treatment of diabetic macular edema in certain patients, Allergan announced in a press release.The sustained-release, biodegradable dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex, Allergan…
OCT-guided femtosecond laser increases safety, accuracy of Kamra inlay
Real-time optical coherence tomography-guided femtosecond laser technology increased safety and accuracy of the Kamra corneal inlay in patients with history of LASIK, according to a study.“An important advantage is that femtosecond laser pulse can be placed individually at different locations within the cornea, allowing accurate cuts and adjustment of individual cut patterns, more stable corneal and visual outcomes, and better surgical safety,” the authors wrote in the study.
New resource to help more blind young people into work backed by UK Ministers
The Royal London Society for Blind People, a leading charity for blind and partially sighted young people has launched a dual purpose resource pack.
How to perform DMEK: An introductory guide for young ophthalmologists
In June’s installment of The Young Ophthalmologist, Martin Disiramer, MD, and Ricarda M. Konder, MD, discuss tips and techniques to consider in learning and performing Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty.
American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend marijuana for glaucoma treatment
The American Academy of Ophthalmology – the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – is reminding the public that it does not recommend marijuana or other cannabis products for the treatment of glaucoma.
Wearable computer gloves ‘help teach braille’
Researchers from Georgia Tech have created a wearable computer glove that they say can teach people to read and write braille, even when their attention is elsewhere.
Eye health action plan focuses on improvement strategies, progress monitoring, effective cooperation
The World Health Organization 2014 to 2019 Global Action Plan for the prevention of avoidable visual impairment, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2013, is being translated into workable programs and practical commitments.“Our team has met with representatives of the ministries of health in the WHO region of the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean region, in the African region and Western Pacific, and will be shortly in Southeast Asia. In Europe we have been involved in several clinical meetings including the action plan in the agenda,” Ivo Kocur, MD, WHO (Read more...)
Study validates telemedicine approach to ROP screening
Trained non-physician evaluators who studied retinal images transmitted to computer screens at a remote central reading center successfully identified newborn infants likely to require a specialized medical evaluation for retinopathy of prematurity (RO…
Study links nearsightedness to higher education and years spent in school
German researchers have found strong evidence that attaining a higher level of education and spending more years in school are two factors associated with a greater prevalence and severity of nearsightedness, or myopia.
Telemedicine may be optimal for screening retinopathy of prematurity
New data support the validity of remote evaluation by trained nonphysicians for infants at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity compared with standard diagnostic examinations, according to researchers.“This study provides validation for a telemedicine approach to ROP screening and could help save thousands of infants from going blind,” lead author Graham E. Quinn, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a press release issued by the National Institutes of Health about the study.
Higher education levels linked to increased nearsightedness
Those of us on our computers may want to take a break and head outside; new research suggests the more time spent studying and the less time outside, the higher the risk of myopia.
How Far Would You Go for Science?
Dr. Roger Steinert shares a story told by Nobel laureate Dr. Barry Marshall, whose great discovery of Helicobacter pylori as the cause of peptic ulcer disease was difficult to swallow. Medscape Ophthalmology