The Fourth of July is prime time for do-it-yourself fireworks, but as the holiday approaches, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is warning users to follow safe practices to reduce injury possibilities.
Approximately 10,000 people are treated for fireworks-related injuries in the emergency department each year, according to a press release from the AAO. These injuries include damaged corneas and retinas, ruptured eyeballs, along with burns, cuts and bruises.
“Consumer fireworks are a treasured part of Fourth of July celebrations, so it’s easy to forget the dangers they can pose,
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Second Sight reports quarterly loss
Second Sight Medical Products reported a net loss of $9.8 million, or $0.17 per share, in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a loss of $7.5 million, or $0.16 per share, in 2017’s first quarter.
Net sales totaled $1 million in the quarter, equal to 2017’s first quarter sales, according to a press release.
General and administrative expenses increased from $2.7 million in 2017’s first quarter to $3.2 million in the first quarter of the current year. Research and development costs also increased, from $1.9 million to $2.5 million.
(Read more...)
Ocular Therapeutix posts quarterly loss
Ocular Therapeutix reported a net loss of $13.8 million, or $0.40 per share, in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a net loss of $16 million, or $0.58 per share, in 2017’s first quarter, according to a press release.
The company posted $340,000 in revenue in the quarter from sales of ReSure sealant compared with $475,000 in 2017’s first quarter.
Research and development costs increased from $6.8 million to $8.2 million, led by expenses for development of the company’s hydrogel platform technology and portfolio of drug product candidates. General (Read more...)
First patient enrolled in platelet lysate biologic trial for dry eye with graft-versus-host disease
Cambium Medical Technologies has enrolled the first patient in a phase 1/2 study of its treatment for dry eye secondary to graft-versus-host disease, the company announced in a press release.
The randomized, multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled parallel study will enroll 60 patients at five U.S. sites to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Elate Ocular, a topical fibrinogen-depleted human platelet lysate biologic.
“To our knowledge, our study is the first to evaluate a standardized, cGMP processed, allogeneic vs. autologous, enriched platelet-rich-plasma lysate serum drop in a
Vitamin A supplementation may slow loss of cone function in children with retinitis pigmentosa
Children with retinitis pigmentosa who took vitamin A supplementation experienced a slower rate of loss of cone function compared with patients who did not take vitamin A supplements.
“Based on this observational study, the authors recommend that a daily age-adjusted dose of vitamin A palmitate be considered for children with retinitis pigmentosa and normal liver function to slow the course of their disease,” Michael A. Sandberg, PhD, co-author of the study, told Healio.com/OSN.
A retrospective, nonrandomized comparison followed 55 children with retinitis pigmentosa who took vitamin
Magnifying lens improves vision, quality of life in patients with advanced AMD and cataract
A novel high-add IOL is a promising option for patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration and cataract, according to one surgeon.
“There have been several attempts to design lenses for AMD, but they were difficult to implant, required a large incision and had quite a few complications like intraocular pressure elevations or surgical-induced astigmatism. One of the advantages of the Lentis Max LS-313 MF80 (Oculentis) is that it is the size of a normal IOL. It is foldable, 11 mm long, with an optic of 6 mm. It goes through (Read more...)
EyePoint gets stockholder approval for capital financing
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals has received stockholder approval for a second tranche of growth capital under a securities purchase agreement with Essex Woodland Healthcare Partners and Rosalind Advisors, according to a press release.Gross proceeds, which in…
Experts say lawsuit challenging Affordable Care Act could kill it
Arthur Caplan Robert Greenwald
Attempts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act have taken a new turn. Nearly two dozen states or their governors have filed a lawsuit against the United States government, HHS, IRS and several others claiming that Congressional action that lowered the tax on those who did not comply with the individual mandate to buy insurance voids the Affordable Care Act.
The new lawsuit, known as Texas v. the United States (2018), has some experts and medical societies concerned about its ramifications. According to AMA, the Trump (Read more...)
LumiThera LT-300 granted CE mark for treating dry AMD
The European Union has granted a CE mark for the LT-300 light delivery system, a treatment device for dry age-related macular degeneration, LumiThera announced in a press release.
“The CE mark allows LumiThera to begin commercialization throughout the 28 EU member states and coincides with the initiation of the LIGHTSITE II clinical study in select European sites in the upcoming months,” Clark Tedford, PhD, LumiThera president and CEO, said in the release. “We are excited to be able to offer a safe and effective early-stage clinical intervention for patients with (Read more...)
FDA approves iStent inject
The iStent inject trabecular micro-bypass system has received premarket approval from the FDA for the reduction of IOP, Glaukos announced in a press release.The approval is based on a pivotal, prospective, randomized, multicenter study of 505 mild to m…
VIDEO: Combination MIGS
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – At the Kiawah Eye meeting, OSN Glaucoma Board Member Savak “Sev” Teymoorian, MD, MBA, talks about tailoring glaucoma care by targeting different anatomical sites and combining minimally invasive glaucoma surgery procedures.
VIDEO: Canal-based glaucoma surgery
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – At the Kiawah Eye meeting, OSN Glaucoma Section Editor Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, discusses canal -based glaucoma procedures, highlighting two new minimally invasive glaucoma surgery devices pending FDA approval, the Glaukos second generation iStent inject and the Ivantis Hydrus.
VIDEO: Supraciliary-based glaucoma surgery
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – At the Kiawah Eye meeting, Reay H. Brown, MD, discusses the role of the Alcon CyPass micro-stent in the context of the current minimally invasive glaucoma surgery landscape.
Acucela’s oral DR formulation shows potential to reduce retinal thickness
Oral emixustat hydrochloride reduced central subfield retinal thickness more than placebo in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, with and without macular edema, Acucela announced in a press release.
The randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial enrolled 24 subjects to receive placebo or the study drug, titrated up to 40 mg per day. Patients in the study group experienced a mean reduction in central subfield thickness of 48.1 µm (P = .0764), as well as a mean reduction in total macular volume (P = .0263), compared with placebo.
“We are thrilled to (Read more...)
Telling it like it is about cataract surgery with no restrictions
Robert H. Osher
The ninth annual Cataract Surgery: Telling It Like It Is meeting will provide top-quality, uncensored, cutting-edge education to ophthalmologists unrestricted by current CME guidelines.
The meeting will be held Feb. 6-10, 2019, at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Uncensored education
The meeting will feature more than 40 faculty members, comprised of some of the most talented ophthalmologists from around the world. These teachers will provide attendees with instructional materials at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels to ensure
VIDEO: Visual outcomes of an EDOF toric IOL targeted for emmetropia or nanovision
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – At the Kiawah Eye meeting here, Kerry D. Solomon, MD, compares visual outcomes, patient satisfaction and visual disturbances in patients undergoing routine cataract surgery and implantation of an extended depth of focus toric IOL when both eyes are targeted for emmetropia and the non-dominant eye is targeted for nanovision.
Early VA gain predictive of visual response after dexamethasone treatment
Early visual acuity gain of 10 or more letters was predictive of a sustained response at 24 months after intravitreal dexamethasone treatment of macular edema in patients with retinal vein occlusion, according to a study.The 24-month, retrospective, mu…
VIDEO: Automated capsulotomy: Pearls for surgical success
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – At the Kiawah Eye meeting, OSN Cornea/External Disease Section Editor Elizabeth Yeu, MD, presents on the intraoperative use of the Zepto automated capsulotomy system (Mynosys Cellular Devices) in the OR at the time of cataract surgery.
Kala plans advancement of dry eye treatment
Kala Pharmaceuticals plans to submit a new drug application to the FDA this year for a formulation of a short-term treatment for dry eye disease, according to a company press release.
KPI-121 0.25% is being investigated as a 2-week course of therapy intended for the temporary relief of the signs and symptoms of dry eye. The formulation uses “Kala’s mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology to enhance penetration of loteprednol etabonate (LE) into target tissue of the eye,” the release said.
Data from one phase 2 trial and two phase 3 efficacy (Read more...)
FDA lifts warning letter against STAAR Surgical
The FDA has issued a close-out letter to STAAR Surgical, lifting a 2014 warning regarding the manufacture of Visian Implantable Collamer Lens devices, the company announced in a press release.
The FDA action is a result of “a comprehensive remediation program” that addresses the issues raised by the FDA and includes “assessment, remediation and upgrade of all aspects of STAAR’s quality systems to assure compliance with Quality System Regulations (QSR),” Caren Mason, president and CEO of STAAR, said.
The initial warning letter, issued May 21, 2014, listed multiple